On Thursday morning I met up with a skankless Deborah Adedokun at Drip Coffee in Five Points seeking a random exchange of ideas. I'm never really sure where these things will go, proven here by an entire conversation based on a playoff bracket between nineties era R&B singers - outside of the five minute derailment on the outcome of a shark vs. octopus match-up. Goodness. I just realized I ripped off Celebrity Deathmatch. There are no new ideas.

Debbie and the SkanksDebbie and the Skanks

Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford

First match-up: Aaliyah vs. Brian McKnight

After seeing Queen of the Damned, I think I am a bit biased. And even though she's not really a vampire queen, I'm going to go with Aaliyah.

I mean, obviously Aaliyah is...

...Not alive. Yes that hurt.

So what was the premise of that movie? This is real.

Yes, it's totally real. Aaliyah wins.

Mariah Carey vs. Sisqo?

Mariah Carey. Have you seen Siqso lately? He looks like a crackhead but at least he's not blonde anymore.

Mary J. Blige vs. Joe

I have so much more respect for Mary J. I feel like she wouldn't even get caught up. She'd be like, “I'm not even doing this with you. I've got bigger and better things to do, you can just go ahead and take it. So, I guess Joe moves on.

R Kelly vs. Des'ree

She's an older chick, so R Kelly isn't going to get caught up. Although R Kelly does fight dirty. I think R Kelly would win this one. I feel like Des'ree might have principles – he doesn't.

So, now into the second round, Mariah Carey will be facing off against R Kelly.

Mariah Carey. I heard she lost her voice and I watched this Christmas video singing that “All I Want For Christmas” hit and she literally couldn't sing it and I teared up. The mighty have fallen. It was scary. I'm hoping it was a laryngitis bout and that shes back and at full strength.

Next up, we've got Aaliyah and Joe.

Aaliyah will win that one. She's the undead anyway. So... it's going to be "Crazy" up against "The Undead" at this point. That is epic, that's like one of those Shark vs. Octopus fights. This is hard.

Think about like it's a movie and if you're watching it who do you want to see win?

I want to see Aaliyah win but I feel that's why it wouldn't happen. It's just wishful thinking, it's like me wishing her back to life. And Mariah has more hate in her heart, so I'm going to go with Mariah.

See also: About Last Night - Debbie and the Skanks

Debbie and the SkanksDebbie and the Skanks

Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford