It’s been a long time since Michel’le and Suge Knight parted ways, but their daughter is growing up to be a beautiful young woman. She steals the cuteness of both her mom and dad.
They say children are bundles of joy. This statement would prove to be so true and relevant, especially in the case of R&B songstress Michel’le.
Michel’le is the mother of Bailei Knight, one of Suge Knight’s five children. In her biopic, called “Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le,” she tells of the complicated and overwhelming experiences in her career and with her two exes — Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.
THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD
It's been almost 3 years now that her ex-husband, Suge Knight, was sentenced to 28 years in prison on manslaughter charges. The sentencing followed a fatal hit-and-run in 2015, which claimed the life of record label head Terry Carter.
The “No More Lies” singer is a domestic violence survivor from both men, but one of the things that keep her going is her daughter's presence. Another is her son with Dr. Dre, Marcel.
Bailei has been the beam of light that brings hope and joy to Michel’le, and for all his faults, Suge joined hands with his ex to shield their child from media attention while growing up.
Singer Michel'le (L) and Bailei Knight at the 42nd Annual Gracie Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on June 6, 2017 | Getty Images
BAILEI AND THE PUBLIC
More recently, the public is getting to see more of Bailei, and the teenager is a delightful blend of Suge and Michel’le. Michel’le constantly takes to her Instagram to share photos of her daughter, who turned 18 on November 29, 2020. In the caption, she wrote:
"Verified I have arrived the day is near ... it’s called 18 !! #lifeisanideal"
With Suge in jail, Michel’le makes it her absolute duty to be there for their daughter, a task that is most likely not difficult since they already share a close bond.
MICHEL'LE, DRE, AND KNIGHT TRIANGLE
For those less initiated into the history of Californian hip-hop, Michel'le is an unknown. At best, a singer who has lent her voice to a few hits such as Tupac's "Run Tha Streetz."
Yet, the figure of Michel'le is central to the rise of a major player in the music industry, Dr. Dre. She also allegedly caused the split between Dr. Dre and Suge Knight in 1996. This became a turning point in Dr. Dre's career.
Michel'le Denise Toussaint was born in 1970 in Los Angeles. In 1987, the young singer received a call from the World Class Wreckin' Cru. This was the first group of Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, and they were looking for a last-minute vocalist to record their single "Turn Off The Lights."
After signing onto Ruthless Records in 1989, she started dating Dr. Dre, and by 1991, they welcomed their first child, Marcel. They dated for six years, and after the relationship ended, she revealed that she suffered physical abuse at his hands, which led to her substance abuse.
As her relationship with Dr. Dre ended, Michel'le started dating Suge Knight, and this reportedly led to the fallout between the two men, with Dr. Dre leaving Death Row Records in 1996 to found Aftermath.
In 1999, she got married to Suge Knight, who also physically abused her, and in 2002, they welcomed a daughter named Bailei. However, the marriage was considered invalid because Suge Knight was still married to another woman.
PRAISES FOR SUGE KNIGHT
The “Something In My Heart” hitmaker also once admitted that even though Suge was a horrible husband when they were together, he remains a great father to all of his children.
She echoed her thoughts in an Instagram post shared one week after the sentencing of the former Death Row Records CEO. Alongside a photo of Suge kissing their infant daughter, Michel’le wrote:
“...My comfort being so close, yet so far has and will from this day change things [...] My comfort is to all.”
In 2018, Suge Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison. The sentence was for manslaughter charges after a hit-and-run incident claimed the life of record label head Terry Carter.
Even though she had to reveal the CCTV footage and explain what was happening to their then-12-year-old, Michel'le has vowed never to stop her daughter from seeing her father.
She maintains the father-daughter relationship between Suge and Bailei, making plans for the teen to visit her dad in jail regularly.
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