Before there was Drake, there was Jimmy. Wheelchair Jimmy. I learned about life's toughest challenges, including eating disorders, rape, pregnancy, and not getting chosen for the cheerleading squad from a group of Canadian teenagers that composed one of the greatest TV shows of the millennial decade. Drake recently teamed up with his old squad to give us the Degrassi reunion we didn't know we needed.
His recently released video, "I'm Upset" included cameos from the cast that we all grew to know and love, and featured more than a few moments that will take you down memory lane.
Here were a few of the best moments from the video that gave us some serious nostalgia:
All In The Family
We get to see almost all of the characters, minus J.T. (played by Ryan Cooley), who acted their way into our hearts more than 10 years ago right where we left them. The video begins with Drake waking up in bed with a bodacious beauty to an alarm for his highschool reunion. He later meets up with his former bad-boy bestie who we all know as Spinner Mason (played by Shane Kippel) to crash their ten-year reunion in true 6 God fashion. We get a glimpse at the school where it all went down before they enter the wild party that later ends in flames, as to be expected.
How Jimmy Became Wheelchair Jimmy
One of the most iconic scenes on Degrassi is when Jimmy gets shot by a former classmate dealing with mental issues in a school shooting that leaves Jimmy paralyzed, and his shooter, Rick (played by Ephraim Ellis) dead. In the video, we see Rick in a similar scene, but instead of the aforementioned outcome, Rick is met by a clique of Drake's goons.
Before Heartbreak Drake, There Was Hazel
Degrassi had a predominately white cast, but there was always some melanin poppin' on the screen, and that's partially what made the show so relatable. Drake's first girlfriend on the show, Hazel Aden (played by Andrea Lewis), made a cameo in the video and proved that black don't crack. On the show, Hazel was a voice for us all and defied the 'black girl sidekick' stereotype but still dealt with discrimination and bullying based on her Muslim heritage with grace. Not to mention, she also had Jimmy's back after he got shot. She's a real one and it was great to see her looking as good as ever.
Emma & Manny 4 Life
One of my favorite relationships on the series was the friendship between Emma and Manny. Early in the series, Manny became aware of her sexuality and it got her into a whole lot of trouble, meanwhile her best friend Emma, tried her hardest to reel her in. In the video, we see an ageless Emma and Manny, with their same dynamic. Manny is pulling down her top, while Emma pulls it back up. It was a small moment, but it reminded me of how watching their relationship develop molded my views on sexuality.
The Credits
At the end of the video, we hear the familiar theme song and get a chance to see 'then and now' photos of all of the Degrassi cast members. I was already going to go look up old pictures, but this just made the process that much easier.
The visual was directed by 22-year-old rising star Karena Evans, who also directed "God's Plan", "Nice for What", and SZA's latest video featuring Donald Glover as the Adam to her Eve, "Garden (Say it Like Dat", and was a treat for Drake and Degrassi stans alike. If you're feeling nostalgic like I am and now feel the need to binge watch the entire series, you can check out every episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation ever on YouTube.
Drake also announced the release of his new album, Scorpion, which is set to release Friday, June 29 but until then you can check out the video below:
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
