Alexandra Shipp Talks "Aaliyah: Princess of R&B;" and the Backlash Against the Film

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• published: 12 Nov 2014
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Alexandra Shipp isn't here to cause a fuss. The up-and-coming actress/singer and star of Lifetime's Aaliyah biopic, Aaliyah: Princess of R&B; (premiering Saturday at 8 p.m. EST) is only interested in one thing: honoring her hero. While gossip sites have made sure to track the film's rollercoaster ride of a production, Shipp—who's just getting started on writing her own music—has remained calm, collected, and gracious, asking fans, naysayers, and casual viewers instead to celebrate the legendary singer with her. As she walks through the Complex office and says hello to everyone in her path, it's clear that's just who Shipp is, really: ​an old hippie reincarnated in the body of a goofy 23-year-old who isn't interested in flames. And after a few minutes of talking to her, you can see why the Phoenix native is as easygoing as the desert town that raised her. In the video above, get to know what Shipp really thinks about embodying Aaliyah and the backlash surrounding her biopic. And below, read all about what makes her the artist she is today. What was the music scene like in Phoenix? For me, growing up, it was emo music. It was mosh pits, it was Blessthefall. It was just before Paramore came out. Of course, my first concert was Janet Jackson. Going and seeing her put on these big, amazing live shows. But going out with my friends to see shows, I’m talking getting punched in the face, mosh pits, wearing way too much eyeliner, having the checkered Vans—this was by the time I was old enough to go without my mom. I grew up with a single mother, so that leash was always very tight. It’s still tight today. I keep telling her to cut the cord and she won’t. [Laughs.] But I was so emo. My Myspace was all black. I loved that stuff. I grew up on so many different types of music, which I was really fortunate with. My dad loves Funkadelics, he loves the Jacksons. He really got me into funk R&B; music growing up. And then my mom is like the total opposite, listening to Deva Premal, hippie kirtan music, and all kinds of classic rock as well. I grew up loving Janis Joplin. I have a very long and beautiful love affair with Elvis Presley. I own every record he ever made, so I have about 150, almost 200 records of his. So much that I haven’t even listened to all of them. I see an Elvis record that I don’t have and I’ll buy it and put it in my collection. Why Elvis? There’s something about his voice. It's low, and that little scratch with the record player just gets people excited. He just smooths you out and yet lifts you up. It’s great for dinner parties. Anyone who ever asks me what kind of music to play, [I say] Elvis. People love it. Subscribe to Complex for More: http://goo.gl/PJeLOl Check out more of Complex here: http://www.complex.com https://twitter.com/ComplexMag https://www.facebook.com/complex http://instagram.com/complexmag https://plus.google.com/+complex/ Entertaining videos that bring to life Complex Media's authoritative take on trendsetting music, sneakers, style, pop culture, video games, tech, cars, and art—featuring your favorite celebrities from the past, present, and future. COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, and committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations—both multi-culture and multicultural—that define our new America. We make culture pop.