The Cocoa Diaries

So Long, Farewell...

2010-06-04T20:54:00.004+01:00

Hey folks, if you're still with me (and I'm truly appreciative if you are), I've now moved home. From now on you can catch me at www.thecocoadiaries.wordpress.com. This site is now defunct.

Bye bye Blogger, it's been real.

With Love

Ms Quiche xxx

2010-03-06T00:54:00.009Z

Arise Magazine: Still Rising After All These... Months

This is the gorgeous cover of the new issue (issue 8) of Arise magazine. The striking visage belongs to Somalian model, Ubah Hassan who is featured inside the mag illustrating a piece on natural hair (apparently texture is all the rage this season... as if we needed telling). I've been a fan of this magazine since it launched over a year ago. I'm delighted that it's still in existence considering so many magazines geared towards black audiences with high production values tend to fall by the wayside a la Colures and the fab but short-lived, Suede magazine. And even more encouraging, the magazine has gone down in price to a credit crunch friendly £2.95, so do go out and support the cause. I picked up a copy a couple of weeks ago and am ashamed to admit it's under my desk somewhere, yet to be read (slapped wrists).

Estelle Unleashes The Freak

2010-02-25T00:11:00.001Z

A wee preview of Estelle's forthcoming single 'Freak'. Mmmm. this looks interesting. Will post more when the full video premieres on Friday.

Essence Goes in Search of an IT girl

2010-02-24T23:39:00.004Z

In overseas news, I discovered from the fabulous Ondo Lady that Essence magazine is holding a competition to find the consummate IT girl. The winner of the prize will be featured in the September issue of Essence and will win a contract with Elite Model Management (oooh, how very ANTM! Can almost image Tyra holding pictures and slowly mouthing the words). I’m a HUGE Essence fan, although if I’m being honest, I do feel the magazine has lost its soul somewhat since the departure of Susan Taylor. Back in the day when I was a regular reader, Susan’s monthly spiritual column was the first page I would turn to. She was the heartbeat of the magazine, and her influence could be felt throughout the pages, which had a lot more soul and grit to it. But hats off to Essence for embracing the digital age. Their website is great - it’s updated frequently and chocker block with interviews, pap snaps of celebrities and stories of relevance to Black women worldwide. I also love the various blogs they have with influential people from the likes of Iman to media darling Emil Wilbekin. And as for the modelling completion? Well I would enter but I’m told that *ahem* it’s only opened to those who are based in the US. *Sigh*, Chanel Iman, you‘re lucky this time.

Sade is our PRIDE

2010-02-24T23:00:00.002Z

For the first time in Pride magazine's 18 year history, Sade will grace the cover. The issue hits the shelves this week. Enough said.

Cocoa Read: The Ice Cream Girls, Dorothy Koomson

2010-02-24T00:18:00.008Z

Reading is something I do less often since having my little Khy Khy. Prior to motherhood, I would easily plough through a book every couple of weeks. Nowadays I’d be lucky to get through one per month. That is of course, unless I’m truly engrossed in a ‘can’t put down-able’ read. You know the kind where you stay up untill some ungodly hour totally immersed in the chapters, and before you know it, you’ve fallen asleep with your glasses on and the pages of the book lying face down on your cheeks. Mmmm, well this very same thing happened to me on several occasions while reading the brilliant Ice Cream Girls by author Dorothy Koomson. Before I go on to tell you about the book itself, can we just take a few moments to applaud the sublimely talented Ms Koomson. Dorothy is one of the most celebrated new talents in the women’s contemporary fiction world. Ice Cream Girls is the author’s 6th novel, which as we know in the touch-and-go world of book publishing is quite an achievement. One of Dorothy’s previous novels, My Best Friend‘s Girl, was selected for a Richard and Judy Summer Read and went on to sell an impressive 500,000 copies.

I first learnt of Dorothy Koomson - the author, when one of her books ‘Goodnight, Beautiful’ landed on the editorial desk at Pride. The girls in the office all read the book and gave it a glowing report. As for me? I just couldn’t go there. The novel is based on a Mother whose life is torn apart when her son falls into a coma after a freak accident. As a Mother of a young boy that was just a little to scary a prospect to even contemplate. So I left it well alone. So anyhow, back to Ice Cream Girls. A few weeks ago I received an advance copy of the book and decided to give it a go. By the first couple of pages: I was hooked. To give you a brief rundown without giving too much away: the book follows two women whose lives become inextricably linked through an incident which occurs during their mid teens. Serena and Poppy are both young, vulnerable schoolgirls who become romantically involved with an abusive and manipulative teacher. Things come to head in a climatic scene leading to a whodunit type situation to rival the who killed Archie storyline in Eastenders (wasn’t that brilliant by the way?) Dorothy’s magic is her spot on characterisation. Lead protagonists, Serena and Poppy feel real and tangible, you inadvertently take on their emotional baggage as they attempt to navigate through life carrying the heavy burden of their insufferable past. By the end of the book you’re rooting for both women, hoping they’ll stop warring against each other and realise they were both victims. I love when a book forces you to think when you read the closing page. I was left thinking about how real an issue sexual abuse is in schools. I went to quite a regular comprehensive in south London, and lost count of the amount of girls who were dating guys at least 10-15 years their senior. I wonder what happened to them? Like Serena and Poppy, are they still dealing with the consequences of their actions, all these years later? Yup, The Ice Cream Girls will take you there, so be prepared to do a lot of post-book reflecting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It had all the elements I love in a novel - non stop drama, great characters, a message and an unpredictable ending. If you do get round to buying a copy, I’d love to hear what you think.

The Ice Cream Girls is out now. Order a copy from Amazon.

Fresh for 2010

2010-02-19T18:03:00.004Z

Mmmm, how shame do I feel posting a New Year’s entry when we’re a mere week and spare change away from March 2010? *bows head in shame*. But anyhow, for what it’s worth - I’m back folks! I know it’s been a while, and I kinda feel as if I’m continually making feeble excuses for my online absence. However, on this occasion it’s definitely a case of life getting in the way. So what have I been up to? Well without boring you to death with every detail, there’s been quite a lot of change in my life over the last few months. I’ve finally moved home - yay! I’m still in south east London but just a little bit further out than I used to be. My new abode is a lovely split level, two bed apartment with a roof area which has the most bootiful view of the city (to our left is Canary Wharf and I wave to the 02 building practically every night and pretend I am enraptured, with my lighter in the air at a gig in the Arena). But needless to say, it hasn’t all been sweetness and light. Rich and I have endured more than our fair share of ‘new home dramas’ which culminated with a dramatic Backdrft-esq visit from the fire service after a pipe attached to our boiler burst and wouldn’t shut off. You should’ve seen us both. We were skating across the wet kitchen floor, clothes drenched, with bucketloads of water in our hands, which we were capturing to try and prevent it from spilling downstairs into our poor neighbour's appartment. Not nice. I’m keeping my fingers and toes cross that there won't be any more incidents for now, because I’m almost certain that my ole ticker can’t cope with any more unforeseen circumstances of that nature… Pray for me. So that was our lil home drama. On a more positive note, my little K has finally started ‘big school’. He started the first week in January and managed to put on a brave face as his nervous wreck of a Mama fought the urge to blubber the whole of Brockley down. It’s kinda scary to see already the numerous changes in his personality - from his confidence to maturity - in such a short space of time. Gawd help Rich and I. Before we know it, he'll be a bumbling, incoherent, aspiring Grime emcee. And that’s more or less it folks. I’m finally started to feel a bit settled, and now my Broadband has finally been installed by Sky (it only took ‘em 2 months), I’m ready to get back in the swing of things, blog wise.

Hope your new year is treating you well

Ciao

MsQuiche

Pride's Crimbo 09 Issue

2009-11-26T15:43:00.006Z

The December issue of Pride hits the shelves round about now and features Hollywood hottie Zoe Saldana on the cover – isn’t she lovely? The actress is set to star in the forthcoming James Cameron directed sci-fi blockbuster Avatar, and talks to Pride about her role, embracing her Black Latina roots, and not wanting to be viewed as a ‘black sexpot’ (Pah! We’re not sure if we believe you on that one Zo’s). Other articles to look out for include a discussion about the BNP post Question Time, the British recolonizing the Turks and Caicos, as well as interviews with the Editor of Now magazine, Abigail Blackburn, and Secret Millionaire star Caroline Marsh.

Ensure you pick up a copy, I think we've put together a great issue this month.

Christmas Shopping Offer to TCD Readers

2009-11-25T00:02:00.006Z

London based stylist Zoe Husskisson has launched an online gift consultation service which is perfect for xmas. Style Elite Personal Shopping Service promises to take the stress out of shopping, by saving you much needed time and energy. Style Elite Personal Shopping is offering readers of The Cocoa Diaires this service at a discounted rate of £10. If interested, please email info@style-elite.com quoting reference Cocoa Diaries.

See below for a sample gift portfolio, showcasing a few gift ideas:

GIFT IDEAS REPORT

Purchaser: Sister
Recipient’s Age: 21
Gift Occasion: 21st birthday present
How much does the purchaser want to spend: £0-150
Recipient’s Style: Vintage Chic
Any other relevant information regarding recipient: “My sister is a girly girl who loves feminine and vintage things (clothes, bags, jewellery etc). She has just moved into a flat with her best friend and loves finding unusual interiors from markets and her travels. She prefers vibrant and soft colours as opposed to dark tones. She is also a perfume junkie who loves to collect unusual bottles. I would like to give her something special for her landmark birthday that will last and she will treasure”

Gift Ideas:
Based on your responses to the form we have found a few gift ideas for your sister. All gifts reflect your sister’s love for vintage products and also her interest of fashion, beauty and home interiors. We are confident that your sister will be more than happy with any of our choices and look forward to helping you find your next special gift.

First choice: Mirror, Mirror

This unique birdcage mirror is the perfect addition to your sister’s new home. The bird perched on top of the frame makes this a stylish and unusual present. She will love the charming vintage mirror which will instantly add a romantic feel to her home.

Price: £125

www.bouf.com

Second Choice: Heaven Scent fragrances not only smell divine but will also look so chic on your sister’s dressing table.

La Prairie’s three Life Thread

Price: £42.50

Product:
Product Info: La Prairie has created a new trilogy of fragrances that suit the many moods and moments in a woman’s life. Silver, a warm, sensual fragrance that is somehow citrusy, floral and musky; Gold, a spicy scent that is both feminine and powerful; and Platinum, a sophisticated scent that screams luxury, with woodsy tones meeting strong floral. The three are encased in gorgeous lucite bottles wrapped in strands of silver, gold and platinum, respectively.

Alexandra Burke is Looking for Support

2009-11-24T23:17:00.003Z

Hey folks, just wanted to alert you to the fact that my fave X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, is looking for a supporting act from anywhere in the world through TalentHouse.com for an exclusive 'Nokia Good Things' concert in the UK on December 9th.

Click here for more info

Here's a little bit of background info on Talenthouse.com:

Talenthouse is the leading platform for creative collaboration, providing artists opportunities for recognition and compensation. Talenthouse embraces artists at every level of their career, as well as all supporters of the arts. Attracted by the potential for discovering, collaborating with and mentoring emerging talent, many global brands and acclaimed industry icons are involved with Talenthouse by hosting Creative Invites. Brands choose Talenthouse to engage in a dialogue with their audience in a targeted, relevant and credible context. Talenthouse currently focuses on film, fashion, music, art and photography. For more information, log onto www.talenthouse.com

The Rebirth of Janet: Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

2009-11-22T00:53:00.006Z

It took Janet to bring me out of blogging retirement, God bless you Ms Damita Jo. But I had to, just HAD TO give props to the woman who I’ve admired since I was a greasy faced teen trying to learn the entire dance routine to ‘What Have You Done for me Lately’ in my Ma’s bedroom.

Back in the 80’s Janet was unstoppable. Ladies, who didn’t want to be as sassy and badass as Janet in the Pleasure Principle video? Remember that banging fringed weave? The casual cool of her black slacks and denim jacket get up? The rude girl choreography? One word: fiyah! And what about the effortless execution of the intricate military moves in the iconic Rhythm Nation video?There’s no denying that Janet was the shiznit, although she didn’t receive the respect and kudos that the likes of Madonna and Whiney did. But then the unthinkable happened. Janet fell off. It happened somewhere after the Velvet Rope when her musical output nosedived in quality and became a sea of banal, uninspired, corniness. By the time the Superbowl ‘nipple-gate’ incident occurred I had sworn off Janet completely. The woman who I once held in such high regard had in my eyes transformed into a desperate, attention-seeking has-been, who was doing her hardest to try and stay relevant Ooooh the shame of it!

In a tragic twist, it would be the death of her big bro Michael that would bring her back to form (or at least in my eyes anyway). To be honest, when I heard that Janet had a new tune out I couldn’t have been less interested. But the opening bars of ‘Make Me’ stopped me dead…Wait a minute, this sounds like throwback Janet. Like hot gyal Janet. Like ‘do you know who my brother was’ Janet. Yay, what a result. The video premiered today and I’ve played it around 5 times already. Admittedly there could’ve had a bit more choreography for me to copy, but I know I'm just being greedy. Great to have you back JJ!

Sidenote: And how much do I love that little ode to MJ "Don't stop it baby, don't stop till you get enough"? Awww, RIP Michael.

Relax. Just Do It.

2009-10-20T23:51:00.006+01:00

Hey folks! How you doing? Just wanted to take a few moments to apologise for my blogging absence. I wish I could say there was a particular reason for me going awol, but there isn't really. I guess I'm just feeling a little burnt out. So my brain has decided to take a mini vacation, but I promise I'll be be back soon. In the meantime take the time to get acquainted with the fabulous links listed on the bottom right. I'm promise you pure Blog Fiyah! Oh and I haven't disappeared offline altogther. I've more or less given up on Facebook, but you can catch me on Twitter pretty much all the time. Click on my Twitter button if you wish to follow follow me.

Ciao for now

Ms Quichexxx

Stills from BBC Drama - Small Island

2009-09-02T13:23:00.009+01:00

Here are some images from the forthcoming BBC Drama, Small Island, starring Naomie Harris and Ashley Walters. The two part series is based on the award winning novel of the same name written by Andrea Levy, and tells the common tale of young Jamaican immigrants who arrive in the UK in hope of a better life, only to get a hostile reception from their host country. Really looking forward to this. Let's hope the Beeb do it justice. Transmission date is unconfirmed but will most likely air in October.

R&B Singers Turn Entrepreneurs

2009-09-01T14:50:00.007+01:00

Here's a sneak peek of Beverley Knight's ad campaign for her new make up range K By Beverley Knight (launching on September 17th) and Mica Paris's fashion collaboration with plus size retailers Simply Be. What do you think?

Naomi Would Rather Keep Earning Than Not Wear Fur

2009-09-01T12:50:00.009+01:00

Naomi Campbell is featured on the Daily Mail's website, after pictures emerged of her modelling in a new ad campaign for New York fur designer Dennis Basso. The writer of the piece accuses the model of being a hypocrite due to the anti fur stance she took when she was a model/spokesperson for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), who created the famous tag-line "I'd rather go naked than wear fur". In all honesty I thought Naomi had long severed ties with PETA, and had been spotted wearing fur on a few occasions since. Whatever the case, she still looks amazing. Click here for the article

My Carnival U Turn

2009-08-31T12:27:00.008+01:00

Picture source

Wasn’t it me who only a few days ago said I wouldn’t be going back to Notting Hill Carnival? Umm, so why did I find myself yesterday afternoon packed like a tin of sardines being carried along with the crowds on Portobello Road? Yup, I succumbed. It took only a few persuasive phone calls from my cousin and there I was heading to our designated meeting place, bringing Khy along for the journey. The good news: it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be, and to my surprise Khy wasn’t at all frightened by the crowds or the noise, and on the contrary was bopping along to the sounds of Donaeo like a carnival pro. The bad news: it was long. We spent the whole day walking for miles trying to find the floats with the flamboyant costumes and before you knew it Khy started to get really tetchy. Things got progressively worse when he announced that he needed to go to the toilet and needed to go quickly. Anyone who has ever been to an event of that size knows that’s an impossible feat. But my son being my son refused to empty his bladder in a discreet place “Mum, I can’t, everyone will see my bum bum”. So instead I headed to the yucky Porto loos where there was a ridiculously long queue, and I knew there was no way he would hold out for that long. My only other option was to use a shop or someone’s house. Sounds like the perfect solution, but the catch is of course you have to pay for the privilege. The places I came across were charging anywhere between the region of £1 to £3. I know - blue murder! Eventually we came across this lovely looking Notting Hill apartment where the man at the gate uttered the magic words “kids go free”. I virtually pushed Khy through the doors before he changed his mind, and voila - problem solved. Or so I thought. After rejoining my fam and anticipating at least a couple of hours of dancing, my son simply decided he had enough. All it took was me refusing his request for an ice cream before he embarked on one set of wailing that could be heard above the booming sound systems. That was it. Enough. I promptly said goodbye to my carnival crew, headed to the nearest train station and was home in an hour or so nursing the biggest headache and sore feet. What is it they say about always trusting your instincts?

Kinda Strange: Puma's Bolt Arms Ad

2009-08-30T02:03:00.004+01:00

Okay, I'll admit I've developed another obsession with Usain Bolt following his earth shattering, record breaking performance at the World Championships in Berlin. I just came across this ad by Puma advertising the Bolt Arms - which is basically a foam constructed pair of arms replicating his famous lightning pose. I saw a few spectators at the games waving these around, and thought it was pretty funny. Anyway, the ad is kinda cheesy. Poor Usain.

It's Baccannal Time!

2009-08-28T00:09:00.021+01:00

Tomorrow will mark the 45th birthday of the Notting Hill Carnival, wow, forty five years! Back in the day, around this time of year, I’d be making some serious preparations ahead of the carnival celebrations. My girls and I would be deciding what outfits to wear, what sound systems to check out, and you know yours truly would be practicing the latest dance moves to execute them at Europe's biggest street party. But that was then. Today my Bank Holiday shenanigans are more likely to consist of a visit to Ikea, or a vigorous house clean from top to bottom followed by a couple of hours spent with relatives. Yup, I know - BORING! You see, unfortunately once you get to a certain age the fun element of carnival is superseded by fear. I know in my case, year after year I’d read the horror stories and worry that I might be caught in the crossfire of a gang war, get robbed, crushed in a stampede or some other life threatening incident. The last time I remember attending around 6 years ago, true to word, I did get caught up in a crush and promised myself that if I ever got out alive, I wouldn’t go back. So far I’ve kept my promise. Not to say I don’t miss it though. I do. Desperately. I was contemplating taking my son to the kiddie carnival on Sunday, but I don’t know if either me or him are ready for that (he’s only 4). Maybe next year. Just maybe.

But anyhoo, in proxy of me actually going down to West London to ‘hol’ up mi foot and jump’ I thought I’d compile a little list of top carnival tunes as voted by my Twitter and Facebook fam, followed by a little homage. So here goes:

TOP CARNIVAL TUNES

Let the Beat Hit 'Em - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, as voted by ME!

Flex - Mad Cobra, as voted by my Richie

Dollar Whine - Soca Boys, as voted by Diane, Christy and Marie

Feeling Hot Hot Hot - Arrow, as voted by Janice

Tease Me - Chaka Demus & Pliers, as voted by Mikey

Hol Up You Foot and Jump - Zulu Lightning, as voted by Shach & Laura

Gimme D Ting - Lord Kitchener, as voted by Senga

Fools Paradise - Melissa Morgan, as voted by Venice Webb

You Know You’re at Notting Hill Carnival When…

- You pay £10 for a piece of jerk chicken, rice and peas and a can of coke and don’t even screw about it.

- Walk for at least 20 miles and spend the entire day dipping it low like a teenager, not feeling the effects until two days later when you can‘t get out of bed.

- Whine with at least one aesthetically challenged/ dirty old man who you ordinarily wouldn’t give the time of day to. Hey, it’s carnival after all.

- Spend most of the day arguing with your friends (or most likely a friend of a friend) about which sounds to visit: “What do you mean she wants to listen to acid jazz? Listen, this ain’t in Camden. Laters to that”

- Devote too much time and energy to finding the Westwood stage, only to get there and find yourself squash up in a Slam dance situation (Onyx stylee) with dudes who looked like they’ve just stepped out of Pentonville.

For further information on the Carnival visit www.nottinghillcarnival.com

MOBO Awards Nomination Pardee

2009-08-27T22:58:00.008+01:00

Kanya King: MOBO Awards founder and CEO

So last night I attended the MOBO Nomination Party at the Mayfair Hotel and have to admit - I had a bloody good night. Call it the free booze. Or the fact that I haven't been out in eons. Or maybe it was ha ing the opportunity to have a giggle and a quick boogie with old faces I hadn't seen in ages. Or was it the fact that I got to meet Britain's Got Talent dance crew, Flawless? I dunno what it was exactly. But all I know is that I stumbled home just after 10pm last night feeling all giddy, excitable and filled with a lorra lorra love. If I'm being honest I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to the nominations, but you can read the full list here. I did enjoy the performances though. Bashy and Estelle's little sis, H-Boogie performed their single 'Your Wish is My Command' with plenty of gusto. Then little bitsy Jade Ewen took to the stage and executed a very confident rendition of her single 'My Man', I was quite impressed. While she was singing I kept shouting to anyone who would listen "Why didn't they give a song like this to Alex (Burke), she would've killed it" (NOTE: I'm too upset to talk about Alex's debut single... I just can't). Other artists in the building included Beverley Knight, Lemar, Sabrina Washington, Wiley, Kano and Peter Andre. They've yet to announce who will be hosting the awards, but they will take place in Glasgow on September 30th. Planning on attending?

Visit my girl Janice at Madnews for more pics.

2009-08-27T22:27:00.005+01:00

It's definitely raining hot magazine covers at the moment, and with this in mind I couldn't resist posting ID's latest cover featuring the latest crop of supermodels including Jourdan, Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez and Arlenis Sosa. I love the aptly titled cover line - Pretty Young Thing, which is also an obvious nod to MJ (RIP). I'm also loving the Robert Palmer Addicted to Love video homage. One look at the simple black dresses, slicked back hair, and bright red lippy, lets you know that the fashion director was definitely pumping the iconic 80's rock anthem through his/her speakers when thinking up concepts. Loves it!

And now for the original

Rihanna: Strikes a Pose!

2009-08-27T18:18:00.003+01:00

Rihanna is absolutely untouchable in the style stakes at the moment, no other R&B starlet comes even close. Hark at my girl on the cover of the September's Vogue Italia this month.To coin fashion's most overused phrase: simply fi-eeerce! Source

Naomie Harris Covers Pride

2009-08-27T09:54:00.004+01:00

Hey folks, I've been a bit off the radar of late, but I'm back!! Just a quick one to prompt you to pick up the latest issue of Pride. Actress Naomie Harris graces the cover and was interviewed by yours truly. Naomie will be starring in the BBC's adaptation of Andrea Levy's novel, Small Island which will air this autumn. I've seen a few clips of the film and it looks as if it will be pretty decent. I hope you like the interview if you get a chance to read. Naomie is a total sweetie, but that can sometimes work against you when writing features because there isn't anything particularly controversial to draw upon to generate discussion and debate. That said, I admire Naomie's low key demeanor. She doesn't really do the red carpet "celebrity" thing, and just wants to bag decent roles and make great films. Some of today's entertainers should really take note.

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick - Chicken!

2009-08-10T23:42:00.011+01:00

So off I headed to the Horniman Museum for what I thought would be a relatively calm and serene Sunday afternoon event. THIS IS WHAT I WAS FACED WITH. Was soooo not prepared for the madness, mayhem and exceedingly long queues of yesterday's Jerk Cookout festival which took place in Forest Hill, South East London. I went to the same event about 3 years ago and there were literally about 500 people I'd say. Yesterday, apparently the numbers were in the region of 20,000 plus. Wowser. I'm really happy for Tony Fairweather and his team who put the event together, but I'm really not certain if they'll be able to hold it at the same venue next year if it continues to grow so rapidly. And admittedly, it is a good idea. The initial format was to have a handful of Caribbean food caterers battling it out to see who could make the baddest, lip smacking jerk chicken. This year I think they scrapped the competition element and instead opted for loads of Caribbean food stalls selling their mouth watering cuisine to plenty of willing customers. The queues were huge people - I'm talking an hour's wait for a piece of jerk chicken. Yeah it tasted good, but the verdict is still out on whether it was worth such a long wait. This year along with the food stalls, they also added 2 stages with live music, PA's and even attempted a world record of 5000 people doing 'The Candy Dance' simultaneously. Would love to tell you how that went but was too busy standing in line for chicken.

*Note: I blatantly nicked the pic of Facebook. If it belongs to you and you object to it being posted, please feel free to email me at keysha_ifeoma@hotmail.com

You're Beautiful...Woman

2009-08-10T23:00:00.004+01:00

This post is super late, late, late. But for my UK based peeps, I need to ask what you are you up to this coming Saturday? Nadda? Okay, well if that's the case then I urge you to head down to the Highgate Newton Community Centre in North London to check out You're Beautiful Woman, a groundbreaking event celebrating black beauty inside and out. With a host of events to empower and inspire, guests can immerse themselves in the wonderful things on offer such as seminars, workshops, beauty demonstrations and stalls selling everything to make you feel beautiful. My mate, the lovely Ronke over at The Musings of Ondo Lady is part of the You're Beautiful team, so you know it's gots to be good. Visit their official site for further details.

And I'll leave you with this oldie but goodie, that I always think of whenever I hear the name of this event.

Can't Get it Outta My Head: New Bashy

2009-08-10T22:51:00.005+01:00

Just checked out Your Wish is My Command the new video by Bashy featuring Estelle's lil sis H-Boogie. I hear this track on 1-Xtra all the time and had no idea it was Bashy. Loving the whole tongue in cheek retro vibe. Check out the tight pants and Travolta-esq pelvic thrusts - luvs it. Huge big ups to Bashy for always attempting to take it there by being witty, provocative and inventive in equal measure. And with the 70's being of my favourite artistic eras, he gets extra extra cool points.

Gimme Some of That Good Hair

2009-08-02T00:18:00.003+01:00

Another trailer from Chris Rock's forthcoming comedy-doc 'Good Hair', scheduled for a US release in October. No word on whether it will be released in the UK as yet (boo). It looks brilliant.

Richard Sits Pretty On His Hot Tin Roof

2009-07-30T22:43:00.004+01:00

Image sourced from www.choice-fm.co.uk

I’m delighted to hear via madnews.biz that Richard Blackwood has landed a part on the forthcoming West End production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. The classic Tennessee Williams play will run at the Novello Theatre from 21 November to April 2010, following a successful stint on Broadway. Directed by Debbie Allen, the former dancer brings with her a heavyweight cast including James Earl Jones, Adrian Lester, Phylicia Rashad and Sanna Lathan. Richard is the latest addition to the cast and he is set to play a character named Brightie. Having never seen the play I can’t confirm whether this is a substantial role, but then again, I don’t suppose it really matters. Being part of such an esteemed cast in one of theatre land’s most anticipated plays can only be a good thing. This is a great feat for the actor/comedian who has never shied away from revealing the personal turmoil he has endured over the last couple of years (click here for an interview that I did with him last year for a recap). Proof once again that no matter what life throws at us, we should never write ourselves off. Congratulations and all of that Mr Blackwood. And wow, I sooooo can’t wait to see this play.

August issue of Pride

2009-07-24T13:37:00.007+01:00

The August issue of Pride magazine will be out next Friday, featuring UK soul singing sensation Beverley Knight on the cover. Our Bev is gearing up to release a new album entitled 100%, which is out in September. It will be the first release from her new record label entitled Hurricane Records. The singer will be extending her entrepreneurial wings even further with the launch of a new make up range called K Cosmetics, available in stores such as Selfridges and John Lewis from October. I've had a quick dabble at some of the pressed powders and lip-glosses, and it's actually pretty decent. Best of luck with it all Ms Knight.

Bev's new video Beautiful Night

Pride's beauty spread

Pride's fashion spread

July issue of Arise magazine

2009-07-24T13:28:00.007+01:00

The July issue of Arise is out on the stands and features Nigerian supermodel Oluci on the cover, and looks great as usual. Check out a few pics. www.arisemagazine.net

Catherine Kallon: Fashion Blogger on the Rise

2009-07-24T12:57:00.006+01:00

Check out the Evening Standard's profile on fashion blogger, Catherine Kallon, 34, who runs the popular style blog www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com The piece traces Catherine's career trajectory from city PA earning a decent crust, to unexpected redundancy, to current role as full time blogger. Click here to get the full low down. Really inspiring.

You Lil' Beauty: England Crowns First Black Pagaent Queen

2009-07-22T23:25:00.005+01:00

Congratulations goes out to Rachel Christie who was crowned the first black Miss England last night, and will now go on to represent her country in the Miss World 2009 competition taking place in South Africa. I don't know, but for some reason I thought there had been a black Miss England before. Just goes to shows how much I pay attention to beauty competitions *shrugs*. Rachel is the niece of sprinting champ Linford Christie, and less than 24 hours after her win some are already speculating that it was nepotism that led to her victory. Hmmm, let's see how this latest development pans out shall we? In the meantime, I say enjoy your victory Rachel.

Vogue Italia's Black Barbie Speesh

2009-07-22T22:03:00.013+01:00

Vogue Italia attempt to prove their naysayers wrong by releasing a follow up to their high-profile 'A Black Issue' edition, which featured a winning cast of black models and was published last summer to much fanfare. Many critics were wary that the Italian fashion rag created the issue as a cheap gimmick created to appease those who accused the fashion industry of being too Eurocentric. So to prove their critics wrong, this year they've put together a 21 page pictorial supplement consisting of a variety of Black Barbie dolls. I'm sure Naomi, Jourdan, Chanel Iman et al were delighted by that decision. However I'm not gonna lie - I adore these images.

Jessica Huie on the Cover of Tesco Magazine

2009-07-09T22:49:00.007+01:00

Check out the beautiful Entrepreneur/PR extraordinaire, Jessica Huie along with her daughter Monet on the cover of Tesco magazine. I've yet to pick up a copy, but judging by the cover line the piece focuses on Jess being motivated by her daughter to achieve her goals. Ms Huie is one of the fastest rising stars in the the business world. In 2006 she founded Colourblind Cards, a black greetings card company based here in the UK, and has gone from strength to strength. Visit www.colourblindcards.com for details. Don't mama and daughter look stunning?

Mica Paris Tour Dates

2009-07-09T13:49:00.005+01:00

One of my fave ever songstresses, Mica Paris, announces details of her forthcoming nationwide tour. If you've yet to see her live, I urge you to do so. See below for dates:

SEPTEMBER

10 CROYDON ASHCROFT

11 CHRISTCHURCH REGENT CENTRE

18 GRAVESEND WOODVILLE HALLS

20 RHYL PAVILLION

26 ST ALBANS ALBAN ARENA

OCTOBER

1 WARRINGTON PYRAMID AND PARR HALL

2 MOTHERWELL CONCERT HALLS

7 BIRMINGHAM JAM HOUSE

8 PETERBOROUGH CRESSET

9 BASILDON TOWNGATE THEATRE

10 COLNE MUNICIPAL THATRE

11BOGNOR REGIS BUTLINS

16 HARLOW PLAYHOUSE

21 LICHFIELD GARRICK

22 BATLEY FRONTIER CLUB

28 GRAYS THURROCK CIVIC HALL

NOVEMBER

12 EDINBURGH JAM HOUSE

13 GLENROTHES ROTHES HALL

14 BARKING BROADWAY THEATRE

29 MINEHEAD BUTLINS

Hotel Babylon Actor Releases Debut Novel

2009-07-09T13:16:00.004+01:00

Talented actor Michael Obiora is one of the leading cast members of BBC TV series, Hotel Babylon in which he plays the camp and charismatic hotel worker, Ben. I haven’t seen the show in a while, but always enjoyed watching Ben’s performances. To me his character was funny, daring, and a refreshing change from the archetypal drug-dealing, gun toting roles that keeps Britain’s Black male acting population in employment via TV programmes like The Bill. I’ve since seen Michael as a guest on various shows appearing as himself and he seems incredibly insightful and intelligent. On August 8th he will be releasing his debut novel ‘Black Shoes’ published by Matador books. The book is about a young, black successful Property Developer who is constantly reminded of the stereotypes assigned to his race. The press release reads: "Through the exploration of love, friendship, paranoia and ignorance, Black Shoes looks at a professional man's quest to find his way through the maze of negative stereotypes, and his own personal battle with his identity." Mmm, sounds interesting.

Gone Too Soon, but Never Forgotten

2009-07-08T22:40:00.005+01:00

Closure... At last.

Sleep well Michael

Highlights:

Stevie Wonder had the world in tears

And so did Usher

Powerful euology from Rev Al Sharpton

Touching speech by Brooke Shields

Mariah & Trey Lorenz

Andrae Crouch Choir (No More Crying Now, We Are Going to see the King)

A Long Time Coming: VV Brown's Debut Album

2009-07-03T22:25:00.007+01:00

Singer-slash-song-writer-slash musician, VV Brown releases her long awaited debut album on July 13th entitled Travelling Like The Light. Signed to the iconic Island Records, the label has been cleverly creating a buzz around VV by releasing several tracks in advance of the album such as ‘indie doo wop’ anthems Crying Blood and Leave. But can the singer live up to the hype? I had a brief listen at work today and must admit, although it’s not necessarily the type of music I would load onto my MP3 player, its definitely listenable. Its got bag loads of energy, attitude, and Ms double Vee's vocals and lyrical phrasing is as original as it gets. I’ve been endorsing the style icon in the making on this blog since I first became aware of her, so needless to say, I wish her the best of luck.

Reminisce on the Love we Had

2009-07-02T00:29:00.010+01:00

My adolescent self has taken a battering over the last week. Learning of the demise of one of my favourite Charlie’s Angel (RIP Farrah), and then the shock death of Michael Jackson a few hours later… Believe me when I say that the tragic events of that day will be forever etched in my memory. Then yesterday when I logged onto my Twitter account (which has become somewhat of a digitalised grim reaper) I noticed that Vibe magazine was one of the hottest trend topics. The talk in Twitterville was that the magazine had folded. Jeez... Hasn't my fragile, tween-aged self suffered enough over the last 7 days?

Vibe magazine inspired me to pursue a career in magazine journalism. I can remember clear as day the first time I became acquainted with what was to become my holy grail of the magazine world. I was living at home with my folks, swotting for my exams with my college friend Aretha. After a few hours of studying, Aretha (who was a lot trendier than me) pulls out a copy of this new magazine called Vibe that she claimed was the mutts nuts. Instantly I was mesmerized. The mag had a stylish black and white cover of Naughty By Nature‘s Treach, not to mention, breathtaking photography, provocative features and candid insights into the lives of our favourite celebs.

Subsequent to the launch issue I bought virtually every issue during the mid to late 90’s. Vibe spoke to me like no other magazine had. The magazine not only concerned itself with matters of celebrity but it also tackled pertinent socio-political issues of concern to young black adults such as Aids & HIV, crime, domestic violence and sexuality. It represented my young adult self, and was perfectly packaged in this big, bold glossy bound magazine that dominated the space on every newsstand that it graced. I’d get lost in the bylines of writers such as Danyel Smith, Asha Bandele, Karen R Good and Emil Wilbekin like a pupil in training. Needless to say my ultimate goal was to become a staff writer there.

When I travelled to New York one summer with my friend I visted the offices of Vibe and recall feeling as if I was standing on sacred land. I decided to casually drop by to introduce myself and left my CV with the guy at the reception desk. At the time the offices were virtually empty but I couldn’t care less. I was so giddy with excitement that I wanted to document the moment by taking a picture. As I rummaged through my bag to find my camera my friend who was with me at the time shot me a look and told me to put it away. When we left the building I asked her why she acted that way, and I’ll never forget her reply. “Well if you’re intending to work there one day, don’t you think it would have come across as quite unprofessional if you’re standing there taking pictures.” Point taken. But still…

So where does my relationship with Vibe stand in 2009? Ironically I was reading a brilliant book on feng shui at the start of the year which urges budding practitioners to get rid of things that no longer serve them emotionally, intellectually, spiritually or otherwise. I thought long and hard about my shelf full of Vibes taking up my book/magazine space. Do they still serve me? The answer was I hadn’t even flicked through any of them for the whole time I’d been living in my flat which is coming up to 10 years. Nuff said. So off I went to the recycling station on the main road to dump them. I kept hold of a few issues that I thought were priceless gems. The cover with Lisa ‘Left Eye’ posing as a fire woman when she was in the midst of a real life arson trial. The strange one of Biggie snuggling up to Faith, their opposite complexions colliding like day and night. *Clears her throat and sings in a Barbara Streisand voice* Memories. Of the way we were.

I stopped buying Vibe around the early noughties I’d say. I’m not sure whether it was mainly to do with me just getting older and being concerned with more pressing matters than 50 Cents latest beef. Or whether Vibe had merely lost its soul. Probably a combination of both in all honesty. But now the shock has worn off, I take solace in the principles of feng shui that espouses that whenever we let go of things we shouldn’t pine over it as we’re simply making way for new things, new thoughts, ideas and creativity. Onwards and upwards peeps.

Night night Vibe.

Good Times

2009-07-01T22:35:00.002+01:00

Every time I think I’m coming to terms with Michael Jackson’s untimely death, I receive an email or a Facebook/Twitter link that pulls the life out of my heartstrings. The attached clip is one such item. It’s merely a random interview recorded at the height of Michael’s fame, which features MJ and big sis Latoya just sitting around in their house participating in random chat, as brothers and sisters do. Take a look at how happy he seemed. How at ease he seemed. How stunning he was. How funny he was. Seriously guys, I’ve got a lump the size of a buffalo lodged in my throat. Michael’s life should not have ended so tragically.

Michael & Janet

2009-06-30T15:39:00.007+01:00

Beautiful photo tribute to the relationship between brother and sister, Michael & Janet Jackson. For more pics visit the Essence website here

Still can't believe it...

Michael Jackson: Curtain Call

2009-06-26T00:30:00.009+01:00

So tired. So much to say/write. But I can't. Right now I'm glued to my TV as I realise I am witnessing history. So many poignant MJ memories:

- Watching Thriller for the first time at my friend Mandy's house and being equally in awe of his brilliance as I was petrified of the werewolfs and zombies jumping around the screen.

- Learning the routine from start to finish with my brother and performing it in front of my mum and my aunt.

- Hearing the Thriller album for the first time and thinking it's the most perfect and complete album I have ever heard in my life.

- Queuing up from the crack of dawn to see Michael perform at Wembley Stadium only to have someone come out and announce that he won't be showing up as he is unwell (ironically I was planning to see him again next month).

- Watching my four year old shock out to 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' and it warming my heart.

I truly believe that it was the stress of the planned 02 shows that caused Michael to have a heart attack. But didn't he always say he wanted to die on stage? I guess the fact he died mere hours after rehearsing for his comeback tour means in some way he did. Now all we are left with is the music and his legacy. And I plan to dig deep into his back catalogue tmrw in way of celebration. Look out for your girl moon-walking and hee hee-ing down the street.

RIP Michael Joseph Jackson: August 1958 - June 2009 xxx

Mine and Richie's favourite ever Michael Jackson song

A Belated 'Happy Father's Day'

2009-06-22T10:16:00.006+01:00

Hey folks, how did you spend your Father's Day? I had quite a manic one. I didn’t arrive home until at 5am that morning following my cousin's 40th birthday party shenanigans. Surviving on only four hours sleep, I cooked the family a slap up meal before falling asleep at just after 8pm (lightweight). My Daddy lives in Jamaica so I wasn’t able to spend the day with him. So I’m dedicating my favourite father themed song to my Pops, Rich, and all the other Dads out there who play an active role in parenting. Check out the extremely syrupy and over-sentimental 'Daddy's Home' by Cliff Richard. Altogether now, awwwww.

Canada's Got Talent, Eh!

2009-06-10T23:19:00.013+01:00

My Canadian cousin is gonna get mad at me for saying this, but I’ve never considered Canada to be a formidable force in music. Sure we’ve been exposed to the likes of Bryan Adams, Alanis Morisette and err, Snow, but I’d be pretty hard pressed to think of any other Canadian singers/rappers who have really made their mark on the world stage. Until now that is. Who would've thunk that the two main artists creating a buzz on the scene right now both hail from the land of maple syrup.

Melanie Fiona

First up is Melanie Fiona, a stunning soul chanteuse of Guyanese heritage, born and raised in inner city Toronto. A couple of months ago I would continuously hear her debut single 'Give it to me Right' being played on BBC 1-Xtra and would find myself humming along. Rich refers to her as a 'Black Duffy', and I kinda hear where he is coming from with that. But I quite like the juxtaposition of her soulful vocals with the slightly alternative Carlos Santana-esq musical accompaniment. Mel is signed to Island Records and will release her debut album later this month.

Drake

Next up is the rapper-slash-singer, Drake. I’ll admit I’m not as bowled over by Drake* as Melanie Fiona, but the rest of the hip hop world appears to be. Over the last month or so his name has been all the all over the social networking sites like the piggy flu pandemic. I naturally assumed that he was from the US, my guess being maybe one of the boroughs in NY. But I was wrong. Turns out that young Drake is also from Toronto. According to Wilki he is a mere 22 years young and initially started out as an actor before catching the music bug. A few mix tapes and guest appearances later, and Drake is now working with everybody from Kanye to Lil Wayne and Jay Z.

I stand duly humbled folks. Never let it be said that Canada doesn’t have talent. If there are any Canadians out there reading this, please feel free to set the record straight. Is there a hotbed of talent out there that just doesn't receive the recognition? Are you tired of being overshadowed by your American cousins? Could you throttle Snow for going world-wide with that 'Licky boom boom down' nonsense?

* I now get the hype. I've heard the Drake track 'Best I Ever Had' a few times now and absolutely love it.

What am I Using Now?

2009-06-06T03:31:00.007+01:00

I got more than a little bit excited when I was tagged by Ondo Lady to do a beauty post. Unbeknown to many, buying, trying and lusting after beauty products used to be one of my favourite pastimes. My fascination started when I was a kid. Whenever I could get the opportunity to have a nose round my mum’s bedroom I’d rummage through her make up bag and plaster my lips with her fire engine red Fashion Fair lipstick and orangey brown loose face powder (speaking of which, Fashion Fair have seriously upgraded their range, check them out). Then I'd top it off with a spritz of her Giorgio Beverly Hills perfume. Next I would take a bath, and douse myself in mum’s treasured Jean Nate after bath splash (wow that took me back, had to resort to Googling it as I’d forgotten the name). Now who remembers the green liquid with the pungent perfumey smell? To me the product sums up the gloriously decadent 80’s. I would use it and instantly feel all glamorous and sophisticated like the iconic Alexis Colby. My penchant for luxury beauty items would occasionally get me into trouble though. I can recall when I was probably around 13, my mum sent me down the road to buy shampoo. Now ordinarily she’d buy a cheapo brand like Vosene spefically catered towards European hair that cost a couple of quid. But I’d since discovered products for black hair in mags like Essence and Ebony so took it upon myself to use £3.99 of her £5 to buy a shampoo by Dax. Funny that, I thought she’d be appreciative of the gesture. But lord did I feel her wrath when I got back home and received a thorough cussing. And trust me, my mum was/is no shouter. So me being me decided to get a job (working for my mum ironically) so I’d be able to buy my own damn products. Then years later I got the upgrade - a Saturday job in Superdrug in Lewisham. Wa-hay! Believe me when I say I thought I had died and ascended to beauty heaven. These days I’m not as obsessive as I used to be, but still have my favourites. Check out my current hot list:

Hair

Shampoo - Organic Root Stimulator Uplifting Shampoo - I’ve been using this for a few years now and it really works for me. Leaves your scalp feeling squeaky clean, and it’s not drying either.

Conditioner - Organic Root Stimulator - Hair Mayonnaise - Every black woman should have a jar of this in their bathroom. I’ve got natural hair so my hair has a tendency to get really dry and needs regular deep conditioning. For best results, I leave it on for a few hours and when I wash off my hair feels super soft and tangle free.

Styling products – Carol’s Daughter - Hair Milk. I read about this product on the fabulous Afrobella blog. As Carol’s Daughter is no longer available in the UK I had to ask my friend to cop me a bottle when she went to New York last year. Trust me ladies, it’s worth the hype. My hair absorbs moisture like crazy, but Hair Milk leaves my hair feeling silky smooth for days.

Body

Cleanse – Raddox Shower Gel
Moisturise – I used to be hopelessly devoted to Palmers Cocoa Butter, but as my local beauty supply store are getting too outrageous with their prices (I really am my mother’s daughter, right?), I’ve now made a switch to the worthy and much cheaper Queen Helene’s Cocoa and Mango Butter. Smells good enough to eat too, yum.

Deodorant – Really not that fussed about brands, but at the moment I’m using Palmolive Soft and Gentle Aromatherapy Sensual: Jasmine and Rose Orchid extract.

Sun care – "None at the mo but I guess I should get on it" - ditto!

Face

Cleanse – I used to be able to use anything on my face until around the age of 19 when my skin became hyper sensitive. So as you can imagine, once I find a product that works, I use it for a long time. At the moment that product is Neutrogena Visibly Clear: Gentle Exfoliating Wash.

Moisturise – Dermatological E-45 Cream

Mask - Again, likely to cause a break out, so I don’t use.

Lip Balm - Shevelle, my beauty Ed buddy always winces when I say this, but for me good old fashioned Vaseline does the trick.

Makeup

Primer – MAC Studio Fix powder NW45
Eye Shadow – Don’t really wear eye shadow anymore. Takes too much time.
Eyeliner - Revlon
Lip gloss – Shev blessed me with a beautiful gloss recently called Candy Shop Mocha Mania. Gorgeous finish, stays on forever and smells like coffee too. Mmmm.
Mascara – No preference for any particular brand.
Nail Polish - I’m impatient so tend to buy Rimmel’s 60 Seconds polish.

I tag Disney Rollergirl, K Hart, Kwana Writes, Adenike's World and Waltzing Matilda

I'd also love to hear about your favourite beauty buys and beauty stories.

The Cocoa Diaries feautured on The Musings of Ondo Lady

2009-06-06T00:54:00.004+01:00

Hey folks, wow am I seriously behind on my postings or what? Earlier on in the week I was featured on the wonderful The Musings of Ondo Lady blog, and interviewed by Ronke about The Cocoa Diaries. The interview was quite a defining moment for me, as it was my first official interview as a blogger, yay. If you’ve yet to check it out give it a read and let me know what you think. Click here.

And once again, thanks Ronke.

Oooh oooh oooh Ms Grace

2009-05-24T23:25:00.003+01:00

Only just seeing this now - the inimitable Grace Jones being interviewed by Jonathan Ross for his show last Friday. Miss Thang is still as maddy maddy as ever. In the interview she discusses how red wine has contributed to her youthful looks, her somewhat lax approach to disciplining her son (which I thought was hilarious), and growing up in a strict Christian household in Jamaica. I can't even imagine Grace sitting on a church pew, bible in hand, singing Rock of Ages. This woman needs to write her autobiography, because no doubt God broke the mould when he made her.

Discovering: Speech Debelle

2009-05-11T22:19:00.004+01:00

Am I the only latecomer to this particular party? A couple of days ago I had never heard of south London lyricist Speech Debelle, before reading Matilda's brilliantly written feature article in the Independent (well done girlie) as well as Malcolm Mackenzie's profile in this evening's edition of The London Paper. I've just checked out a couple of her tracks and all I can say is hmmm, interesting. Her style and vocal delivery is going to be a bit of a grower methinks (squeaky voice juxtaposed against sombre subject matters = a confused me), but she seems like a really engaging character so I am willing to be patient. Plus, she doesn't look or sound like any other emcee around right now, which warrants a multitude of gold stars for that alone. See below and judge for yourselves.

Acoustically Kelly

2009-05-11T21:29:00.007+01:00

The UK's own adopted sister, Kelly Rowland, performed an acoustic set of her new single "When Love Takes Over" at Radio 1's Big Weekender Live Lounge a couple of days ago. For the most part I think it's quite a nice performance, although to coin a Randy Jackson phrase, " a lil' pitchy in parts". Nonetheless I'm still rooting for Kells, and look forward to hearing her solo stuff in the not too distant future. She seems well suited to that whole laid-back, unplugged, intimate venue vibe.

The Rebirth of Mica

2009-05-10T12:41:00.004+01:00

What becomes of an eighties soul diva, who was once considered the most talented vocalist this country has produced, before the proverbial rug was pulled from under her feet? Well in the case of Mica Paris, the answer was to try her hand at something new. The singer blazed into the charts in 1988 with the stellar album 'So Good’, before falling off the radar as she struggled to forge a solid musical identity. But she wasn’t quite ready to disappear altogether. Like most practical thinking sistas, our Meesh simply learned how to diversify. The south east London born and bred vocalist went on to host the successful 'Soul Solutions' series on BBC Radio Two, starred in a West End musical, and acted as a fashion/life guru in the popular prime time series What Not To Wear. (We won’t focus too much attention to the reality TV lows of Celeb Air or Strictly Come Dancing, nah, we‘ll just pretend they never happened). Now just over twenty years after her debut release, Mica is back with a new studio set called “Born Again". The album consists of 12, ultra polished, mature, easy listeners. Lead single “Baby Come Back” was produced by James Morrison and has that finger snapping, pop/rock ambience that mainstream audiences should latch onto. There are also a few surprise cover versions in the mix. Eric Benet’s “You’re The Only One” which is featured on his current set “Love & Life” gets the Paris voice over, which suits her trademark throaty vocal delivery to a tee. There’s also a remake of the Keyshia Cole track “I Remember", which if I’m being honest sounds a tad more believable from the current queen of ‘achy-breaky-heart’ ballads. Mica closes the set with a walk down memory lane courtesy of a subtle acoustic version of her hit single “My One Temptation”, as well as everybody’s favourite jazz standard - “Summertime". While not surprisingly “Born Again” doesn’t have a standout club banger such as the Omar produced “I Should Have Known Better"(1990), it’s good to have her back… it really is. And if you’ve yet to check out one of Mica’s live shows, I strongly recommend you do so. Visit www.micaparis.com for updates.

Mo' Dizzee

2009-05-09T09:30:00.001+01:00

Mr Rascal appeared on Jonathan Wossy last night, and I found the interview quick a chuckle. In case you missed it, check it out.

Can't Get it Out of My Head: Bonkers By Dizzee

2009-04-30T23:58:00.003+01:00

Okay, so he may have messed up slightly with Obama-gate on that cold November night, but there is something about Dizzee Rascal that I find quite endearing. I think it’s the personal growth. Comparing the shy, inaudible, awkward teen that he was when he released his debut album ‘Boy in Da Corner‘ (which was a wicked album by the way), to the jokey, jovial, media friendly man that he has become today, just brings a smile to my face. Check out the video to his new Armand Van Helden single Bonkers, which is as it says on the can - kinda bonkers. The video is so ‘Aceeeed - Summer of Love 1992’ - loves it.

Get to Know: Lenora Crichlow

2009-04-30T23:23:00.004+01:00

We’ve seen her on Sugar Rush and most recently Being Human, and now talented young actress, Lenora Crichlow is set to star in the forthcoming BBC drama Material Girl. Based on the bestselling book ‘Fashion Babylon’ written by Imogen Edwards-Jones, learn more about the show on the fabulous The Musings of Ondo Lady - one of my daily blog fixes. Click here to read.

Tinchy Stryder feat N-Dubz are... No.1

2009-04-28T12:42:00.002+01:00

I don't really pay much attention to the pop charts now that Top of the Pops has kicked the bucket (RIP). However, my interest was sparked yesterday when I heard that Tinchy Stryder's track Number 1, featuring... wait for it... N-Dubz has now topped the charts. Mmm, guys, are you really trying to tell me this is the biggest song in the country right now? Seriously? Now I'm truly beginning to believe that my theory about N-Dubz is true. But credit where it's due. Congrats Mr Stryder man.

Raphael Live in London

2009-04-28T12:03:00.007+01:00

I had the pleasure of seeing the legendary Rapheal Saadiq in concert last night, and all I can say is wow wow wow! What a singer. What a performer. What a musician. Despite the puce clouds, torrential downpour and lukewarm reception from the audience (seriously, why do people part with their hard earned cash just to stand with their hands in their pockets looking as if they'd rather be indoors watching Holby City?), my guy stood on stage for just under two hours and gave it his all. Sweat, funk, heart, guts: the lot. My only critique would be he took too long to get to the material that most of the crowd were waiting for - namely the Tony Toni Tone & Lucy Pearl stuff. For the most part he performed a lot of material from his new album ‘The Way I See It’, which if you’ve heard the lead single ‘Love That Girl, you will know is deeply inspired by the sound of Motown. And indeed it felt very much like an old skool Motown revue. The band were decked in black suits with white shirts and skinny ties. Raphael was rocking a banana yellow suit with white shirt and black nerdy glasses - tress cool. There were hand claps, foot stomps and Temptations inspired dance moves for extra effect. Dude truly went all out. But as much as I love Motown, and you know I love Motown, an hour or so into the show I had had enough. And so had the rest of the audience judging from the lacklustre response bestowed upon the talented showman. But after hearing classics like Anniversary (choon) Just Me & U (bigger choon) and It Never Rains (in Southern California) (immense), I was in my element. But the crowd still remained unmoved (SMH while KMT).

Estelle is Welcomed in Jamrock

2009-04-28T10:19:00.005+01:00

Queen of quirk, Estelle, graces the cover of the latest issue of JAMROCK magazine. I first heard of this mag a couple of years ago but have yet to see it here in the UK. From what I can deciper it's a lifestyle mag that is similar to Vibe magazine, but focuses on issues of interest to Caribbean Americans. Nice concept. And isn't this a great look for Ms Swaray? Loving the sophisticated jazzy chaunteuse vibe.

Give A Lil' Love

2009-04-24T22:57:00.004+01:00

Has anybody been watching American Idol? I’ve been a reluctant customer this season (are you really telling me that’s the best talent they could find throughout the whole of America?), but as there’s not much happening telly wise on a Friday night, then hey, why not? Now tell me... Lil’ Rounds. Did she deserve to get voted off? Admittedly she’s made some dire song choices throughout the competition, but I thought she kinda brought home with the Chaka classic tonight, no? No one can deny that lil’ lady has one set of pipes.

Slight digression, but how great was it to see Paula choreograph a dance routine on the results show? I actually forgot that she was the dogs bollocks of the dance world back in the day, and she’s not just some mumbling, bumbling, eccentric old Auntie type who landed the hottest gig on US TV by chance occurrence. To reacquaint you with the old Abdul fabulousness here’s a vintage vid for you. This track came out around the time I fancied myself as a bit of dancer/choreographer type, so best believe I’m sitting here wanting to get my Lydia Grant on.

What's the Word?

2009-04-20T22:29:00.003+01:00

I rolled through my favourite concert venue, the Indig02 in Greenwich, on Saturday to see the legendary funk outfit Cameo. The group came to prominence in the mid 80’s with hits such as ‘Word Up’ and ‘Single Life’, before slipping into obscurity during the 90’s. I was still a schooler when the group were at the height of their fame, so it was great to see them live in the flesh all these years later. Believe me when I say they haven’t lost any of their edge, eccentricity or stage magnetism. And you’ll also be delighted to know that front-man Larry Blackmon is still rocking the fire engine red cod piece! My guy was whinning his hips with so much vigour that I had to turn my head on several ocassions because the moves looked obscene. No surprise that the highlight of the night was when they performed ‘Candy’. Anyone who has frequented RnB clubs in recent years will be familiar with the Candy Dance which was featured in the African American rom com, The Best Man. Picture a thousand plus revellers trying to perform this repetitive routine in synchronisation. Pure jokes! The night was topped off with an after party featuring back to back soul classics from the 80’s and early 90’s. I saw so many old faces from my primary and secondary school that I felt as if I had stepped back in time. All I kept thinking was ‘wow, I wonder what so and so has been doing over the last 20 years?’. A very surreal and reflective night, but a feelgood one nonetheless. Word!

New Sounds: Laura Izibor

2009-04-14T21:27:00.007+01:00

Dublin based songstress, Laura Izibor, releases 'Don't Stay' the new single from her forthcoming album 'Let The Truth Be Told'. Have you checked out Laura's music yet? (www.myspace.com/lauraizibor). If you are into heart warming old school soul with lyrics from an artist who digs deep, then this will be right up your street. There are only 1o tracks too, which is the perfect number for me (don't you hate those 22 + track albums with multiple interludes and such nonsense?) Vocally Laura sounds like a blend of Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, and dare I say it - errm, Joss Stone. But don't hold it against her. Check out the promo for the song. The album is out on May 15th.

BBC's 1-Xtra Celebrates 30 Years of Hip Hop

2009-04-06T14:39:00.003+01:00

The Beeb's black music radio station, 1-Xtra celebrated 30 years of hip hop with a special show featuring the UK's home-grown talent doing renditions of famous US hip hop tracks. Ms Dynamite took on Lauryn Hill, Roll Deep performed a Wu Tang track, and Chipmunk performed the Sugar Hill Gang classic Rappers Delight. Check it out!

Bringing Intelligence Back

2009-04-03T23:34:00.006+01:00

Adieu President Obama & Michelle O! It was so nice to have you here. Jeez, what a whirlwind couple of days. But did we really expect anything else from the most powerful couple in the world? Michelle’s visit to the north London comprehensive school was the highlight for me. Can you imagine how super excited the pupils at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school must have been when they realised that the surprise guest scheduled to speak at their school was none other than America’s First Lady? It’s the kind of 'moment' that will stick with you for life, right? I remember when one of the Capital Radio DJ’s rolled into our primary school back in the day, it was absolute pandemonium. Yeah, I know, doesn’t really compare does it, but you catch my drift. Michelle’s speech was moving to say the least. Just watching her clap excitedly while watching the young singer, or choke up while reading her emotive speech really set me up for the day. My favourite quotes:

“I never cut class. I loved getting A’s, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world. You, too, with these values, can control your own destiny. You, too, can pave the way.”

"Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude."

“For nothing in my life ever would have predicted that I would be standing here as the first African-American First Lady. I was not raised with wealth or resources or any social standing to speak of. I was raised on the South Side of Chicago — that’s the real part of Chicago.”

I just love how the Obama's are bringing talent, tenacity and intelligence back into the public domain. Vapid & talentless ‘celebrities’ must be O’ding on their anxiety pills right about now.

A clip from the visit

Beenie Wants A Taste of Love

2009-04-02T22:35:00.008+01:00

Who knew that fallen rapper Flavour Flav could exert such powers of influence over his music industry peers. As atrocious as his reality show is, Flavour of Love, continues to somehow inspire others with Beenie Man being the latest star to jump on the dating show bandwagon. According to Overgroundonline, the reggae DJ is gearing up to film a pilot for his reality show tipped to be titled Girls Dem Sugar. This sounds bad. I mean, really bad. My eyes are already bleeding just conjuring the mental image of a bunch of purple headed weave-a-holic dancehall queens performing x-rated handstands in the hope of becoming Beenie's Suga. Ewww!

Tonight I Had To: Turn My Sound Down Low

2009-04-02T22:13:00.006+01:00

In case you're still recovering from American Idol contestant Megan Joy, totally desecrating Bob's 'Turn Your Lights Down Low'. Here's the far superior version from daughter in law, Lauryn Hill. There, there, you can relax now folks...

My Breakdance? 25 Years Old? Never!

2009-03-26T22:06:00.010Z

“Out in the streets/you won’t survive by being weak/this is our time/walls were made for us to climb. All 80’s kiddies out there should be familiar with the lyrics of this popular chart topping street-soul ditty. Entitled ‘There’s No Stoppin Us’, the track was performed by Ollie & Jerry (Who? I hear you under 30's cry) and was the theme track to the wonderful, remarkable, super dupa cinematic classic - Breakdance. Oh how I love that film. I can recall the first time I set eyes on it clear as yesterday. It’s Catford, South London, 1984. Me, my bro and my cousin all head down to the local cinema to check out this new flick called Breakdance. It’s a scorching summer’s day. You know, one of those gorgeous, sweltering types that we used to get back in the day. So we purchase our tickets, popcorn and drinks and head towards our seats. For 90 minutes I am awestruck. I’m inspired. Heck, I think I’m in love. The film was designed to showcase and celebrate street dance, specifically breakdancing and body-popping. The storyline was typical Hollywood triumph over adversity fodder. Main protagonist Kelly or Special K as she was later christened, is an aspiring jazz dancer who befriends a couple of street dancers named Ozone and Turbo. Together they form a dance trio and aim to enter a prestigious dance competition but are vetoed by their elitist dance rivals. Okay so the storyline is as simplistic as it gets, but along the way you have many a golden screen moment. The electrifying dance sequences, the awesome soundtrack which includes the stellar soul classic Ain‘t Nobody by Rufus and Chaka Khan, and just the general tongue in cheek humour, really appealed to my pre teen self. Oh, and did I mention that I fell in love? The supremely talented dance sensation that was Turbo (played by Michael Chambers) absolutely blew me away, and was probaly one of my first crushes (altogether now, awwww). What I also remember about that day was how hyped everyone was after the film finished and the credits rolled. Guys were rushing to the front of the cinema to show off their locking and popping skills. It was just general pandemonium but in a fun and harmless way. The film was hugely popular in the UK and was really the first time mainstream audiences were exposed to the phenomenon of breakdancing and body-popping. Although there were other films that were deemed as more authentic to the art of street dance such as Beat Street and Wildstyle, Breakdance, or Breakin’ as it was known in the States, was by far the most accessible.

So why am I bringing it up? Well B-Dance celebrates it’s 25th anniversary next month and will be commemorated by a special edition DVD. Oh yeah, there was also a sequel Electric Boogaloo, but I wouldn’t waste my time checking it out if I were you. It’s about as watchable as Grease 2, in other words, really really bad. So what happened to the cast members? Hmmm, well let’s just say they failed to set Hollywood alight. Lucinda Dickey (Special K) has had bit parts in TV shows like Perry Mason and films like Ninja III. Similarly, Michael Chambers AKA Turbo AKA My First Crush has had parts in films like Bill & Ted’s Great Adventure and Naked Gun - woo hoo. And not to be outdone Adolfo Quinones (Ozone) has also absconded to bit part heaven. Oh well, in my eyes you will always be superstars guys. Happy quarter century.

Now check out the B-Boy Battle

Hee Hee!

2009-03-05T15:06:00.004Z

My emotions are running wild with regards to this whole Michael Jackson comeback fiasco (Michael Jackson to Play Residency at 02Arena). I’m mortified, amused, sceptical, curious and nonplussed. If I’m scared for him, I wonder how the man himself must be feeling right now? Probably quaking in his glitter spangled socks as I write this. Can’t even imagine him lasting through 5 song set, yet alone a gruelling 10 night tour (or even 30 according to some reports). Yet despite this, a teeny weeny part of me wants to go to catch a piece of history, however catastrophic it might end up being. What do you all think? Will you be the first in line to cop a ticket, or do you think it's all one big con?

Sister Act The Musical: I'm So Excited

2009-02-26T23:08:00.007Z

Whoopi pictured with Patrina.

One of my favourite musicals is gearing up to receive a theatrical makeover in a couple of months. Sister Act, the classic musical comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, is scheduled to make its West End debut at the Palladium Theatre in May. Am I the only one who is beyond excited by this? Seems so. While discussing this tantalising news with one of our lovely contributors over the phone, I received this dispassionate response from Litte Miss Far From Impressed. Me: “So Sister Act the Musical starts in May, wow, I’m soooooo excited” … (Silence). Me: “Monica, are you still there? Did you hear me? Monica: “Yeah, I heard you. I HATE musicals”. Ohhhhh kay then, yet another reminder that I need to bring it down a couple of notches on my excitement quotient. I get far too animated about things most consider barely worthy of discussion.

So who’s gonna be in it, who’s gonna be in it? (Sorry, still at it; can’t contain myself). Well according to the press release, after a year long search, a 24 year old singer/actress by the name of Patrina Milner has been cast in the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier, made famous by Whoopi. I’ve just You Tube’d Patrina, and the girl can surely saaang! I’m quite conflicted by that actually. I liked the fact that Whoopi could barely carry a tune and in her nightclub singing days would perform as a second rate Diana Ross complete with bad wigs, bad make up, and ill fitting sparkly numbers. But apparently the producers wanted a more rousing gospel feel to it, hence the appointment of power chops Patrina. And I guess in all honesty you’d feel hard done by after parting with your hard earned cash only to head to the theatre to hear bad singing. I know I certainly would. To find out more about the show visit www.sisteractthemusical.com

For old school heads, here's a number from the film

Cocoa Chat: Trisha Goddard

2009-02-26T20:49:00.002Z

Photo credit: The Daily Mail

Whenever I think of the DC3 classic "I'm a survivor, not gonna give up” yadda yadda yadda, I think not of the hilarity of the perfectly poised Beyonce pretending to be shipwrecked, but of daytime TV queen and perennial survivor - Trisha Goddard. What hasn't Trisha been through? Depression. Divorce. Her own DNA dramas which revealed that the white dad she believed was her biological father, was in fact not. In all honesty she could probably fill a couple of seasons of her show based upon her own traumatic life experiences. When it was revealed last year that she had breast cancer, I thought to myself: my gosh, hasn’t she been through enough? However, in no time at all she successfully battled the disease and is currently fighting fit. I must admit, I’ve never really been a fan of her show, so felt quite indifferent about interviewing her. But after a 30 minute conversation with this one woman powerhouse I'm now a fully signed up member of the Trisha Appreciation Club. In a word - inspirational. I hope you agree after reading the interview, which is also featured in the latest issue of Pride magazine, out now.

So your show recently ended on Channel 5, so this is like a new chapter in your life. What have you been doing since, and what are your plans for the future?

Actually we’re still doing the show because it doesn’t end till the end of the year. We’re still in production, so I haven’t really begun to think about it to be honest.

How did you feel when it was announced that your show would be axed, did you feel as if it was time to go, or do you have so much more to give?

I’m quite philosophical about it to be honest. I always think when one thing ends something else begins. It will be nice to be creative in other ways.

So tell us about the initiative you are involved in the NHS Patient Choice?

Well I got involved for a variety of reasons. I’ve always been involved the health world albeit the mental health world and well being. The Patient Choice is the beginning of a new initiative that I very much support because anything that supports the consumer is a must in my mind. So being able to choose when and where you go to hospital is very important. Anything that takes away the added stress of having an operation has got to be a plus. For instance my husband had to go and have an extraction to have his wisdom tooth taken out. And the hospital he went to was the hospital that I got treated for breast cancer from and that freaked him out. He didn’t think it was going to freak him out, but had he thought about that in advance he probably would’ve wanted to go to another hospital.

As you’ve just mentioned, you recently battled breast cancer. What kept you going through your battle with the disease, was it a strong sense of faith, family support, your work etc?

Yes, ditto for all of those. I had a strong sense of faith and I was very fit. The doctors told me time and time again that the fact I was working out with weights, I was running, I was still recording the show, the fact that I was fit and doing these things meant I had the energy to keep up and keep going all the way through. And a sense of faith as well, my strong family ties, specifically my husband and my daughters. And I guess the resilience that you build up over the years.

Jade Goody has been criticised for being so open about her cancer plight, but you were equally candid. Why did you make the decision to go public with news of your cancer and did you ever at all regret it?

I didn’t mean to be to be quite honest. I would have kept it quiet but the story leaked. Mainly because at the time I was so knocked for six I just wanted to hunker down with my family and deal with it. The last thing you're thinking is ‘yippee lets have a press conference’. And also when it was leaked I had some family that didn’t know about it. Only my immediate family and my business partner knew, not even my staff knew. I thought if I was going to say anything to them I would say this is the state of play, this is what the results are and this is what the prognosis is. At that point I didn’t know. So people say how brave I was to share it with the rest of the world. I could lie and say ‘oh yes, I was’ but the reality was it was taken out of my hands I didn’t have much of a choice.

Throughout the experience we saw a whole new Trisha. You cut off your hair and looked great. Are you still wearing your short crop?

Yep, I do the show wearing a wig because I don’t want the guests focusing on me. But otherwise I’ve still got my cropped hair. I’ve had the colour changed a bit to what I call black blonde. And now I’m really getting into it. And it’s funny because one of my anthems while I was running and going for treatment was the India Irie song ‘I Am not my Hair’, it’s my absolute anthem because of the positive lyrics. And it’s interesting that I’ve now gone back to my roots, literally, and wearing my natural hair for the first time since 1988. So I think you sort of get real. And I like it. I can be edgier and funkier.

So how are you feeling now?

Great. I’m still weight training I’m still running; it’s part of my life. I’ve had numerous doctors say they’ve learned a lot from me. All of them said they’ve never come across someone like me, who not only worked through my treatment but continued to run and train. I had nausea I had diarrhoea my eyes dried up, I had mouth ulcers, throat ulcers - I had the lot. But it didn’t impact on me so badly. I didn’t know that I was particularly suffering that badly because I didn’t go on those (cancer) websites as I find them a bit victim-ish. So I just thought all that I was going through was normal. And each time something came up like mouth ulcers I’d ask my doctor and I’d find out to gargle with Panadol. But it didn’t drag me down. Every time I’d start running I’d initially start off feeling like throwing up or crawling under a bush, but 15 minutes in I’d be like ‘yeah!’. I had all my uplifting ‘I Will Survive music’ on my I-Pod, so by the end of the hour I’d be ready to go and work.

You’ve been through so many adversities but always seem so unfazed by any curve ball that life throws your way. What do you attribute to this attitude?

I probably appear that way, but going through things is like wading through dog poo. But at the time, I just take it a step at a time rather than think ‘oh my God’. Plus, the more you go through the more you learn you that you can withstand. I think resilience is important, it’s the greatest gift we can teach our children. And the way we teach our children resilience is not to bail them out of every situation, but to let them know you are there and to let them figure things out. Because the more they get practice at dealing at stuff, the better they’re going to be at life. Unfortunately in this day and age too many parents are quick to bail their kids out. But my kids weren’t allowed to have mobile phones until they were in their teens. And even then they had to pay. They’ve never ever been given money. They have to work for money. No jobs, no money.

You are one of few black women on terrestrial British TV, why do you think there are still so few of us on the box?

Oooh don’t get me started (laughs). You know what I find so hypocritical. The press are raving on about how fantastic Barack Obama is, I’m sorry but it’s bullshit. Because while they’re all raving on about how it’s going to change the world, yet over here in the UK they’re just sitting here. Because we’ve got equal opportunities, and anti-discrimination laws that’s all they think they have to do. There is no will in this country. And also we have a class system that holds us back, whereas you don’t have that in the States. Okay, I’m gonna just ask a question and throw it out there. I’m on television every day. Before being on Channel Five, I was on ITV every day. Now don’t get me wrong, I know them and admire them,but Fern Britton, my friend Fiona Phillips who has been so good to me and Lorraine Kelly. Now we all see ourselves as kind of the same group. I challenge you to add up how many times the others have been on the front of magazines, and how many times I have been. Now the only time it got me down was when I was really ill and you have bad times, and I said to my husband “I must be ugly. I’m obviously not as good looking as Lorraine Kelly and Fiona Phillips because no one wants me on the front cover of their magazine.” So I’m just throwing that question out to magazine editors, why when I’m on television as much as my other friends, am I still deemed too unpopular to be put on the cover of their magazine?

Deadenders: The Verdict

2009-02-25T13:03:00.003Z

Well I missed last night's "history making" episode of Eastenders, but enjoyed reading the recap from Janice @ Madnews. Have a (Pat) Butcher's here:

Eastenders Does A Vogue Italia

2009-02-24T13:26:00.008Z

Picture: Patrick Truman, courtesy of the BBC.

Hang on to your hats folks, apparently tonight's episode of Eastenders will feature an all black cast. According to various media sources Patrick Truman (played by Rudolph Walker) will school Chelsea (Tiani Benjamin) about the harsh realities that Caribbean immigrants endured upon arrival to 50's Britain. In the spirit of the good old fashioned Eastenders monologue Patrick will apparently make reference to the Notting Hill race riots, Martin Luther King, and racist slogans such as 'Keep Britain White'. The Sun newspaper claim that although the BBC haven't advertised it as an 'all black episode', there won't be a word uttered from a non-black barmaid, shopkeeper or passer-by, which suggests that the Beeb have done a U turn in their decision to promote it for some reason.. Mmm, it's a bit of a weird one. As it's only being publicised/leaked now, I'm for once going to agree with the Sun. And while this gallant effort by the programme makers should ignite some sort of excitement within me, on the contrary, my mind is on standby, gearing up to go into cringe mode.

For the uninitiated, Eastenders is one of the UK's longest running soap operas. However, their track record in race representations leaves a lot to be desired due to their heavy reliance on racial caricatures & stereotypes. In the past couple of years alone we've had Gus the dustbin man/Gary the drug dealer/Patrick the nice but dim jolly man from di islands/Denise, the archetypal angry black woman... You catch my drift.

My son, the gang member

2009-02-23T12:53:00.003Z

Photo from the Guardian

Interesting piece in the Guardian, about Suzella Palmer, a criminologist who uses her teenage son as a case study to examine black youth violence. Click to read.

All ARISE

2009-02-19T23:48:00.007Z

Last year my ever so thoughtful buddy copped me a copy of ARISE magazine, a new glossy published by the people behind This Day Africa, the charity dedicated to bringing awareness of the issues affecting Africa through fashion and music. I have to say; the magazine was truly breathtaking. The cover featured catwalk goddesses Alek Wek, Naomi Campbell and Liya Kebede, and inside there were back to back fashion shoots with models donning couture from predominantly African designers. The second issue of the magazine is out on sale now. But in these economically challenging times, I really had to think twice about the hefty £4.95 cover price (didn't they get the memo on recession), and ended up picking up a 65p copy of Star magazine instead. Blah!

www.arisemagazine.net

They Call Me Grace...That's Not My Name

2009-02-19T22:49:00.016Z

Gosh, what an absolute snooze-fest last night's BRITS Awards was. With the exception of Take That and dare I say it - Girls Aloud, the show was totally lacklustre in my opinion. I was really looking forward to Estelle's duet with the Ting Tings, as I love both artists'. But for me, the pairing just didn't work. I don't know if it was lack of rehearsal time, but there was zero onstage chemistry and musically their respective sounds clashed big time.

Ms Swaray definitely channelled her inner Grace Jones last night. I know a lot of people aren't feeling her futuristic get up, but I applaud anyone who is willing to be a bit daring, and take a few style risks. In case you missed it, check out the performance below.

One ELLE of a Night!

2009-02-10T22:47:00.007Z

Images sourced from elleuk.com

Not even the torrential downpour was going to stop the long-limbed Louboutin wearing fashionistas from attending last night’s Elle Style Awards. Considered the Oscar’s of the fashion world, the event took place in central London and in usual fashion attracted high profile guests including Sienna Miller, Courtney Love and the PM’s wife, Sarah Brown. Cocoa beauties included Thandie Newton who wore a rainbow hued Jonathon Saunders dress, Naomi Harris who kept it fuss free in a black figure hugging knee length dress; Alexandra Burke who took a style risk by donning a sequin D&G nautical dress (mmmn, the verdict's still out), and VV Brown who stayed true to her quirky style by rocking a vintage top with a Luella Bartley prom style skirt.

Gongs & Grime at this Year's Grammy's

2009-02-09T23:57:00.006Z

Congratulations and all that good stuff goes out to Noel Clarke for picking up a BAFTA Award at last night’s star-studded ceremony. The actor/director won the Orange Rising Star Award, the only accolade to be voted by the public. Meanwhile across the pond, my girl Estelle was wowing her American boy plus countless others at the illustrious Grammy Awards, where she not only performed with Kanye West, but also picked up a Grammy for best rap/sung collabo. Psst, I’ve got a confession to make. I really liked Estelle’s outfit, although I know it’s been panned by the critics for it’s salutary nod to Dr Spock and his Star Trek cohorts. Hmph, whatever. They just don’t know style. It certainly was a great night for the Brits. Witnessing the likes of Adele, Coldplay, Duffy and M.I.A receive their props made me feel quite a sense of pride (although to be quite honest I was mortified at M.I.A’s ill-fitting dress and cringe-worthy performance) . I definitely feel there’s a strong resurgence in British popular culture that the world probably hasn’t witnessed since the swinging sixties. Yay Britannia!

As per usual, I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime to watch the frocks, shocks and frolics that was the Grammy Awards Red Carpet Arrivals on the E Channel. Such compulsive viewing, I tell ya. First up was the visibly uncomfortable interview between Red Carpet host Ryan Seacrest as he tried his best to avoid foot in mouth disease whilst interviewing Jennifer Hudson (welcome back Jen). He definitely tore up the rule book though when it came to interviewing T.I. The normally cool and debonair American Idol host within a heartbeat transformed into our very own Jeremy Paxman, his line of questioning as follows: “So you’re going to prison for having a carload of guns? (cue: awkward response). "And you've learned from this experience, right.” (add another awkward response). Talk about random. And so widely inappropriate considering the occasion. But nothing however could top the news coming in from sidelines. One minute we were witnessing a live televised dressing down, the next we’re being told that Chris Brown won't be appearing due to his arrest earlier that morning for felony battery. Huh? Sounded well dodgy. But as the story materialisesd it became apparent it was indeed true, and his young lover, Rihanna (who also cancelled her appearance), seemed to be the unnamed victim of the alleged assault. The gossip blogs are currently going into overdrive, salivating over a variety of salacious stories which lay claim to know the reason behind the altercation. Whatever the case, I think it’s pretty sad. To lose it so badly gives us some an indication of the kind of pressure cooker environment that these young stars are under. Let’s not forget that behind the diamond studded earrings, and Gucci shoes, lie just a couple of kids.

Valentine's Cocoa Calendar

2009-02-06T07:03:00.017Z

Wow, it’s nearly Valentine's already, can you believe it? While I’m not adverse to the season of love, I’m certainly not one of those hopeless romantics who go all out by ordering a trailer load of rose petals, shiny heart-shaped balloons, or anything equally crazy. *Shrugs*, I guess I've never really been that kinda girl. But anyway, I'm not complaining. As cheesy as it is a concept it's a day to get glammed up and head out for a night on the razz nonetheless. So for those celebrating in and around the capital, here are a few happenings going down that might entice you to battle the cold and go out and celebrate.

Bamboo Grove

Bamboo Grove is a Caribbean restaurant located right in the heart of South Croydon. Owned by renowned chef Anthony Cumberbatch, I visited for the first time last week and can personally vow that the food is truly lip-smacking. I usually frown upon words like “nouvelle cuisine” when applied to Caribbean food, but trust me, it definitely works. If like me, you're a seafood junkie, I'd wholeheartedly recommend the three fish curry. Little miss gluttony here devoured the whole plate entirely and has been routinely dreaming about it ever since. The braised oxtail is great too. Anthony will be creating a special Valentine's menu during the season of love, so check him out at www.bamboo-grove.co.uk

Jazzie B & Soul II Soul - 14th Feb

Ready to go back to life, back to reality? Well join Jazzy B and his funky associates, Soul II Soul, as they take to the stage at the Jazz Café for one night only. The group are still going strong, having relocated to Antigua to create what sounds like some kinda of funky soul commune. I’m pretty certain revellers can expect a melange of classics such as “Keep On Movin’” and “Back 2 Life”, as well as more recent material. For further info visit www.jazzcafe.co.uk

Jodeci - 14th Feb

Well look what we have here, us Brits can’t get enough of Jodeci. Although the group haven’t had a hit in years, they still have a loyal fan base in the UK, and every Valentine's it's almost a given that they’ll roll into town for a series of gigs. This year they’ll be appearing at Wembley Arena alongside R&B singer, Joe. Provided that they all actually turn up, it should be an interesting gig. Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk for bookings.

Image by Flasch photography

Yolanda Brown - 14th & 15th Feb

Mobo award winning Jazz saxophonist, Yolanda Brown, is set to headline her own Valentine’s concert this month. Comprising of a full live band and special guests, Yolanda is one hell of a performer and a total sweetie. I have a sneaky suspicion that the gig on the 14th is sold out, but don’t take my word for it. Visit www.jazzcafe.co.uk for info.

Rose Royce - 14th Feb

The group behind enduring soul/funk classics like ‘Car Wash’, Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ and ‘Wishing on A Star’ head to the Indig02 this month for a Valentine's concert. I saw this Rose Royce randomly at Catford Broadway about four years ago and they are phenomenal live. Now reunited with lead singer Gwen Dickey, audience members will be in for a treat. Visit www.indig02.co.uk for ticket info.

Mica Paris - 20th & 21st Feb

I'm such a Mica stan. The singer of 80's hits such as 'My One Temptation' and 'Where Is The Love' is sadly now known more as a TV personality/ reality TV star than the phenomenal soul singer that she was born to be. I've never seen her live so I'm particularly excited about her forthcoming shows at the Jazz Cafe. For details visit www.jazzcafe.co.uk

Freddie Jackson - 28th Feb

Soul crooner Freddie Jackson performs at the Indig02 this month. The man behind soul classics such as 'Rock Me Tonight' and 'You Are My Lady' hasn't performed in the UK for over 10 years, so I suspect lovers of old school soul will be out in their droves to see this one. Tickets are priced between £30-50, visit www.indig02.co.uk for further details.

N-Dubz: I Put A Spell on You

2009-02-05T01:16:00.009Z

It’s official, N-Dubz done juju* up the whole of England. This morning I was getting dressed for work when I heard GMTV’s Andrew announce that the group would be performing after the break. Huh? But didn’t they appear on the show a mere few weeks ago, I asked myself. See, see, they’re playing tricks on my mind: juju. You still don’t believe me do you? Okay, read on. So there I was a couple years back at the MOBO launch when I first came across this group named N-Dubz. Comprising of two guys and a girl, they bounced onto stage with the confidence of seasoned artists. Then they started their - ahem - “performance”, the girl doing her Fergie, Black Eyed Peas thing, and the boys trying their best to communicate some kind of decipherable speech via their so-called rap. I chuckled inwardly. Their set reminded me of those end of college year performances you had to endure when you were younger. You know the ones with the crackly backing tracks, awkwardly constructed melodies, and crappy vocals from the college hottie who was more than convinced she was gonna be a superstar. But surely this can’t be right? We’re not at Southwark College; we’re at one of the most prestigious black music events in the UK. Then it dawned on me. I thought ‘awww, how cool of auntie Kanya to allow her nephews to perform at such a high profile event’ (I’d later discover that none of the members are related to MOBO founder, Kanya King ). So I turn to the girls standing close by and smile that kind of “we all know they’re shit but let’s humour them” smile. Stunned, I’m to discover that said girls are not only bopping along to the song, but mouthing the lyrics too. Juju! And then the next thing I hear N’Dubz are signed to a major record label and their publicist is calling up to ask for press coverage. Juju. Then platinum record sales: juju. And then the final straw occurred when they grace the premises of GMTV twice, finally confirming my theory of their “special powers”. Best be careful of them N-Dubz boys ladies, can’t say I didn’t warn you.

How's this for profound lyrical content

All I've got is these pictures of ya
And your light blue bruk down Nokia
Papa (Can You Hear Me), N-Dubz

*For those who don't know, juju is a West African term for witchcraft. This post should hopefuly make sense to you now, lol.

N-Dubz, Ouch

Thinking About Jade

2009-02-05T00:02:00.002Z

Maybe it’s the mummy thing, or maybe it’s because I’ve lost two close family members to cancer. To be quite honest, I’m not entirely sure of the reason, but all I know is that without a doubt my heart is bleeding buckets over the news that Jade Goody’s cancer has spread. Initially when the news broke I assumed this would be just another episode in the reality star’s drama filled life. That this would be another footnote in her colourful history, providing the reality TV star with fodder to peddle to the likes of Hello and OK magazine for a tidy profit. But alas, it hasn’t quite gone according to script. The prognosis is bleak. Initially given a 50/50 survival rate, that was then reduced to 40%, and now specialists concede they are just looking for ways to prolong her life for as long as possible. I’m really hoping she’ll revert to form and bring out that fighting spirit we’ve become accustomed to over the last few years. Chin up girl!

Snowed Under

2009-02-02T20:55:00.015Z

So this morning my house phone starts ringing about 7am, I try to catch it, but typically it stops as soon as I pick up the receiver. Seconds later my moby goes off and I start to panic (I always get anxious when the phone rings super early) so quickly fish my phone out of my bag. Instantly my nerves evaporate when I see my son's nursery number flash up. It gets better. It's Sandra, the General Manager sounding all serious. "Hi Keysha, we're just calling to let parents know that nursery will be closed today due to the heavy snow". "Huh...okay". " We've taken the advice of Transport For London who advise that people should only travel on the roads if their journey is absolutely necessary. Plus, there is no form of public transport, all services have been suspended". "Oh really?" (big cheshire cat grin). Wow, I couldn't have dreamt up a better start to the week. Like Sir Bob Geldof and his Boomtown Rats I'm also pretty adverse to Mondays. Absolutely loathe them. But this Monday was magical. I loaded up my laptop and worked on some of my pages while sipping tea and eating homemade shortcake biscuits under the duvet (bliss). Khy, obviously enchanted by the snow, insisted we go out and make a snowman. Although initially reluctant, we eventually succumbed to his whinging and ventured out into the blitz like conditions. 15 mins later we had our own little toddler sized frosty. I love crazy, unpredicable days like this, it really makes you feel alive. More snow expected on Wednesday. Bring it on!

Death of a Nation

2009-01-31T00:33:00.000Z

Word on the street is that black magazines and newspapers are redundant. Outdated, done with, about as on trend as a Michael Jackson impersonator. Last week one of Britain's only two black newspapers went into administration. The New Nation launched in 1996 and at it's peak sold in excess of 20,000 copies a week. Combining a heady mix of celebrity news, provocative features, politics and sports, the publication was a fresh and exuberant alternative to its more politicized rival - The Voice. But although off to a flying start, last year the paper nosedived rapidly only managing to shift a mere 6000 copies a week. Over the last few days I've read two informative articles which offer insight into the downfall of the New Nation. Overground Online asks whether the future of Black newspaper is online, while journalist Angela Foster asserts that we still need black press in her piece for the Guardian. I should really know from experience not to read the comments posted on the Guardian website when issues regarding race is raised. The ignorance of some of the individuals who post is astounding. It still baffles me that some people can become so enraged by the actions of a community who have decided enough is enough. That tired of being misrepresented or ignored by the mainstream media, they have decided to create something that reflects their interests. I almost wet myself laughing when one commenter said well surely the fact that the papers dedicated masses of coverage to the Obama presidency campaign and the Victoria Climbie case proves that the mainstream press are serving the needs of the African Caribbean community. Wow! I stay here humbled and thankful for your kindness massa *breaks into a uncle Tom-esque tap dance shuffle*. Excuse me for thinking that the extensive Obama coverage was due to the fact that he was running for the top position in the highest office, and not some kind of altruistic act of tokenism. These comments prove we still have a long long long way to go before we can really throw around misleading terms like 'multi-culturalism'. As for the future of black publications? Who knows. As a black woman who works for a black magazine, obviously this is an issue of concern for me. I totally agree with some of the comments made in the Overground Online piece. Some Black media outlets in the UK need to move with the times, and recognise that the future of media is definitely online. I'd really love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Why do you think black newspapers and magazines are failing to sustain its audience? Or do you even think there is a need for black mags and papers in 2009?

Baby Faced Obama's

2009-01-30T19:11:00.007Z

"It’ll be interesting to see what life has to offer."

Michelle Obama, 1996

I know most of the population is Obama'd out, but just thought I'd share this email that just arrived in my inbox. It's from an interview the childless Barack and Michelle conducted for The New Yorker in 1996. To me, their modest expressions and surroundings once again demonstrates that in life anything is possible. Such a sweet little read, see below.

On May 26, 1996, Mariana Cook visited Barack and Michelle Obama in Hyde Park as part of a photography project on couples in America. What follows is excerpted from her interviews with them.

MICHELLE OBAMA: There is a strong possibility that Barack will pursue a political career, although it’s unclear. There is a little tension with that. I’m very wary of politics. I think he’s too much of a good guy for the kind of brutality, the skepticism. When you are involved in politics, your life is an open book, and people can come in who don’t necessarily have good intent. I am pretty private, and like to surround myself with people that I trust and love. In politics you’ve got to open yourself to a lot of different people. There is a possibility that our futures will go that way, even though I want to have kids and travel, spend time with family, and like spending time with friends. But we are going to be busy people doing lots of stuff. And it’ll be interesting to see what life has to offer. In many ways, we are here for the ride, just sort of seeing what opportunities open themselves up. And the more you experiment the easier it is to do different things. If I had stayed in a law firm and made partner, my life would be completely different. I wouldn’t know the people I know, and I would be more risk-averse. Barack has helped me loosen up and feel comfortable with taking risks, not doing things the traditional way and sort of testing it out, because that is how he grew up. I’m more traditional; he’s the one in the couple that, I think, is the less traditional individual. You can probably tell from the photographs—he’s just more out there, more flamboyant. I’m more, like, “Well, let’s wait and see. What did that look like? How much does it weigh?”

BARACK OBAMA: All my life, I have been stitching together a family, through stories or memories or friends or ideas. Michelle has had a very different background—very stable, two-parent family, mother at home, brother and dog, living in the same house all their lives. We represent two strands of family life in this country—the strand that is very stable and solid, and then the strand that is breaking out of the constraints of traditional families, travelling, separated, mobile. I think there was that strand in me of imagining what it would be like to have a stable, solid, secure family life. Michelle is a tremendously strong person, and has a very strong sense of herself and who she is and where she comes from. But I also think in her eyes you can see a trace of vulnerability that most people don’t know, because when she’s walking through the world she is this tall, beautiful, confident woman. There is a part of her that is vulnerable and young and sometimes frightened, and I think seeing both of those things is what attracted me to her. And then what sustains our relationship is I’m extremely happy with her, and part of it has to do with the fact that she is at once completely familiar to me, so that I can be myself and she knows me very well and I trust her completely, but at the same time she is also a complete mystery to me in some ways. And there are times when we are lying in bed and I look over and sort of have a start. Because I realize here is this other person who is separate and different and has different memories and backgrounds and thoughts and feelings. It’s that tension between familiarity and mystery that makes for something strong, because, even as you build a life of trust and comfort and mutual support, you retain some sense of surprise or wonder about the other person. ♦

B.I.G Shoes to Fill

2009-01-27T22:58:00.005Z

I've just returned from a screening of Notorious, the film based on the life of the Notorious B.I.G, and have to admit: I quite enjoyed it. I wasn't a huge Biggie fan back in the day, but ended up with both of his albums and played the life out of his posthumous release 'Life After Death.' Now I'll admit I was initially skeptical when I heard this film was in production. I mean, what was the point? He only passed away the other day (in reality it's been nearly 12 years, wow) and the story too familiar to be of dramatic interest. But I was wrong. Sitting in the cinema I found myself fully immersed in the narrative, feeling a pang of nostalgia, not to mention proper old, as I realised how quickly time has caught up with us all. The music was the soundtrack of my youth, as I'm sure it was for many other twenty and thirty-somethings. Big Poppa took me back to the days of hooking up with my first serious boyfriend. Mo Money, Mo Problems took me back to my carefree student days when Wednesday nights you would find me raving at Hanover Grand without a care in the world. Oh I could go on and on. You know what else I came up with? Puffy, as much as he grates, is a genius. You lose track of how much he has achieved and at such a young age. He was in his mid twenties when Biggie died. Just a baby.

The casting for the film was pretty much spot on. Jamal Woolard who plays Biggie thankfully brought it home after a shaky start. I really admire Derek Luke as an actor, but the verdict is still out on whether he did a commendable job as Puffy. I think he just slightly lacked the cocky swagger we've come to know and love. The job of portraying Voletta Wallace wasn't much of a stretch for Angela Bassett, as we've seen her play the role of strong black matriarch on countless occasions (what happened to the Jamaican accent though)? The actress who played Faith was good, although I wasn't wholly convinced of Naturi Naughton's portrayal of Lil Kim. I dunno, she just didn't seem believable.

But all in all, a very watchable film. And it's nice to see a piece of history we helped to create get the Hollywood treatment. The film is on general release on Feb 13th. Try and support.

Cleopatra Coming Right Back At Cha!

2009-01-27T22:06:00.005Z

Who remembers those three chirpy lasses hailing from Birmingham called Cleopatra? They reached their peak during the early 90's with indelible classics such as 'Cleopatra's Theme' (you know the one, "Cleopatra Coming At Ya") and then disappeared almost as fast as they arrived. Well in case you were wondering whatever happened to...? The girls are all grown up now, and set to return to our screens next month on Living TV's Pop Goes the Band. The trio will appear alongside other 80's/90's has-beens such as Bucks Fizz, Shakatak and serial-reality TV personality, David Van Day of Dollar fame. The press release from Living reads:

Every week viewers will witness the efforts of a different band as they bravely undertake the daunting task of recapturing their heyday. Once the transformations are complete, each group will be unveiled to perform their best known hits for their closest friends, family and biggest fans at their very own explosive reveal parties at the end of each show.

Translation:Every week we will take pleasure in watching a bunch of disillusioned has-beens who should really know better publicly humiliate themselves for our enjoyment.Oh lawdy, what have Take That started? Now everybody thinks they can make a comeback. The show airs on Living on Feb 9th. Can't wait.

Revisit the girls during their glory days

At Last

2009-01-21T23:04:00.005Z

In the words of Brownstone I'm five miles till empty. Had a late one last-night following an ever so frantic day of editorial deadlines as well as that other minor event that received just a smidgen of media attention... what was it again? Oh yeah, the inauguration of President Obama. Wow, wasn't it something? Did you cry? I was personally taken aback by the sheer magnitude of the occasion, and had to swallow the lump at the back of my throat once or twice. Watched most of it at work, and after he was sworn in headed down to Broadway Theatre in Catford for a celebratory concert. Good times were had, the only sour note being me fluffing up my lines while introducing an act on stage - too shameful. But hey, it happened to Obama. Maybe I was subconsciously channelling him, minor flaws and all. Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Happy Obama Day/Week/Month or however long you plan to celebrate.

Off to bed now for those much needed zzzzz's

Ciao for now

Ms Quichexxx

More VV

2009-01-19T11:40:00.003Z

The new video from VV Brown to accompany the second single 'Leave'. The track is out on Island Records on March 2nd. Lovin it!

Naomi and Linda Square Up

2009-01-18T01:29:00.005Z

Ahh bless the cottons of those ever so considerate Creative Directors of Canadian fashion label DSquared2. So determined were they to make Naomi feel at home that they centered their new ad campaign around the supermodel's favourite activity - having a ruckus. Poor Linda. I bet she wished she never rolled out of bed for $100,ooo on that particular morning. According to Femail, the original Supermodels are back to give their fresh faced successors a run for their money. Naomi, 38, Linda, 43, Claudia, 38, and my personal fave, Christy Turlington, 40, are all fronting major ad campaigns this year. Now we just need to get Cindy in on the act. Read the article here.

The BAFTA's Tout Noel as a Rising Star

2009-01-18T00:15:00.003Z

Congratulations goes out to film director, Noel Clarke, who has been shortlisted for a BAFTA Award. The 37 year old actor/film-maker is listed among four others including Juno actor Michael Cera, for his gritty street drama, Adulthood. The Orange Rising Star Award will run in conjunction with the Mirror, and is the only award that is voted for by the public. Despite the recognition though, Mr Clarke doesn't seem too confident that he'll seal the deal. He told reporters:

"I think I'm the underdog. I don't think anyone is expecting me to get it. I think people know who they think will get it. I think Rebecca Hall's brilliant so if anyone I wouldn't mind if she won, although Fassbender's great and so is Toby, so for me there's no favourite to who I prefer," he said.

Now come on Noel, that's hardly keeping within the spirit of 'Yes We Can'. In all honesty I think he's in with just as much as a chance as anybody. Adulthood was a good film, and pretty impressive for a first time director. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in February, but I can guarantee that I won't be watching. Is it just me, or is the BAFTA's the most boring ceremony known to man? I'll make do with catching up with the highlights online.

To vote for Noel visit www.orange.co.uk/bafta

New music: Ashley Walters feat Mutya - With You

2009-01-17T03:10:00.005Z

For those of you who have been tuning in to Celebrity Big Brother, you probably know by now that Mutya Beuna vacated the house last night (sidenote: I can just picture Coolio crazily rubbing his hands in glee, yelling like some mad ghetto scientist: "I love it when a plan comes together"). I must admit; you've disappointed me Muts. I thought you'd be great value for money. There I was expecting you to display all manner of crass, chav-tastic behaviour, but what do you do? Huh? Leave it all to Tina. Apart from a few teen type strops, you were like...you know, normal. Hmph. I feel robbed. Anyway, you've just come out in time to fulfil your promo duties with Asher D/Ashley Walters, or whatever he calls himself these days. I quite like this track. It's got a nice old school, rare groove vibe about it. Although the less said about the video, the better.

Motown's Magic

2009-01-14T13:35:00.052Z

Motown Records celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this week. During my mid teens I embarked on a love affair with the music of Motown that has lasted to this day. My fixation began one day while perusing through my local library for music related biographies. I stumbled across a baby pink hard-back book (the title escapes me), which promised to take me on a journey through the corridors of one most successful record company in history. I read the book from cover to cover and in a matter of days was hooked. The story of Motown is nothing short of magical. It's a real life fairy tale, with more than a few gory bits thrown in for good measure.

Of course there wouldn't be a Motown if there wasn't a Berry Gordy. A former boxer, Gordy entered the music biz as a songwriter before cottoning on to the fact that the bulk of the profit lies in production and ownership. Young, ambitious, and full of entrepreneurial spirit, he decided to start up a family run record label in his home city of Detroit, which he christened Motown. Inviting local artists to come in and audition for his new label, soon enough the building became a hotbed of talent. Competition was fierce. It's no wonder then that the company has produced some of the most legendary figures in entertainment. Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie are just some of the names who got their break at the label.

Throughout the 60's the music of Motown dominated the charts not only in the US, but throughout the world, rightfully earning the nickname 'Hitsville USA'. Fifty years later and the records remain timeless. 'My Girl', 'The Tracks of My Tears', 'Baby Love' - these are indelible classics that whether young or old, most of us can identify within the opening bars. The success of Motown not only lies in the music, but Gordy's foresight and business acumen. As a Black organisation operating within the racially turbulent times of 60's America, Gordy adopted an ethos which ensured that the music crossed racial, age and class boundaries. All artists went through a vigorous grooming process. They took choreography classes, were taught how to talk, how to dress, and how to conduct themselves at all times. Yet despite the illusion of wholesomeness, behind the Colgate smiles lie many a tale of heartbreak. Marvin Gaye's drug battles, and subsequent demise have been widely documented. But there were other casualties too. Some succumbed to alcoholism, many ended up penniless. while others sadly never obtained the success they set out to achieve. Yet despite this, we can't take anything away from Berry Gordy and the remarkable legacy he has left with Motown. No doubt he has paved the way for the likes of other successful African American music moguls like P-Diddy, Russell Simmons and Dr Dre to follow. So cue drumroll, ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding: Happy Anniversary Motown!

If like me, you're a fan, then check out this documentary which aired on BBC's 1-Xtra this week. Want more? Then watch this special episode of the Culture Show which documents the history of Motown.

My Top Ten Motown tracks:

1. Let's Get it On - Marvin Gaye

By far the sexiest record ever made, WOW, you can just feel the sexual tension ooooozing out of the speakers. Absolutely love this song, and absolutely luuurved Marvin. He was such a hottie, and what a voice. I searched high and low on You Tube to find this video of him performing 'Let's Get It On' on America's Soul Train. It was filmed during the height of his popularity, and it each time I see it makes me chuckle watching the flock of females swooning all over him.

2. Endless Love - Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

The perfect love song. So tender, so pure, so tear inducing. Whenever I hear this song I can't resist the urge to sing in a real pitch voice imitating Diana. She was my childhood hero. No matter what they say about you Ms Ross, you're still The Boss.

3. Do You Love Me - The Contours

Two words - Dirty Dancing! This track marks my favourite scene in the film when Baby enters the basement party carrying a watermelon (oh the shame of it), only to be confronted by a sea of contorted bodies bumping and grinding to the strains of this song: "Work work, you better shake it up baby"!

4. Oooh Baby Baby - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

Another certified smoochie. I adore Smokey's sweet falsetto. Although before my time, I can't help but feel a sense of loss when you compare songs like these to the brash, explicit nonsense we have to put up with today. My dad tells me that when he was a young lad and would attend R&B dances in Jamaica, you couldn't even approach a woman unless your suit was neat, and your shoes nicely polished. My oh my, how things have changed.

5. Ribbon in the Sky - Stevie Wonder

I had to include Stevie of course. This one came to mind because I heard it today at work. Lyrically beautiful, with such a simplistic arrangement, sang in the most tender and heartfelt way. Awww!

6. All Night Long - The Mary Jane Girls

In the early eighties Motown took a raunchy turn (guess they had to keep up with the times) and released this song by the Mary Jane Girls, a sexy girl group who were the protegee of soulful hell-raiser, Rick James. Another timeless classic. This song reminds me of family house parties, when the DJ would sneakily slip in a few soul tracks for us kiddies, before going back to playing 70's reggae.

7. Distant Lover - Marvin Gaye

Oh the passion, the anguish, the despair. When Marvin sang a tune you can tell he meant every word. The ultimate break-up tune. Tissues at the ready.

8. My Girl - The Temptations

How could I not include this classic? With the remarkable lead vocals of David Ruffin, and the clever lyrics of song-writing dynamo, Smokey Robbinson, this song was always going to be huge hit. "I've got soooo much honey, the bees envy me/I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the tree". Brilliant!

9. Diana Ross - Upside Down

This track for me symbolises the moment when Diana arrived as a solo artist, shedding her goody two shoes persona for the role of a sassy disco diva. Produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic fame, this song hasn't aged in the slightest. DJ's can still play it at a club/party today and the dancefloor will be heaving.

10. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5

Michael, Michael, Michael, it still baffles me how someone so young managed to sing with such raw emotion. What a tune. Extremely soulful, and a definite departure from the more pop orientated stuff that Motown had come to be associated with.

What's your favourite Motown track(s), or favourite Motown memory? Would love to know, so drop me a line.

Why VV's Tops!

2009-01-13T19:35:00.015Z

If there's any justice in the world we should be seeing a lot of this young lady in the upcoming year. VV Brown is a 24 year old singer/songwriter who hails from Northampton, and is the hottest signing to Island Records, the iconic label behind Amy Winehouse. So what does she sound like? Unlike anyone you've heard before. Her influences are far reaching, resulting in a unique hybrid which blends 50's doo-wop, punk, dub and indie pop. Her brilliant debut single 'Crying Blood' is currently receiving heavy rotation on my You Tube playlist. I call it my 'clean up' tune. The 3 minute blast of energy instantly puts you in an upbeat mood, and will have you cleaning up your home from top to bottom in no time. The video to accompany the track is ultra cool. I love her throwback style - the crazy flat top hairstyle, the trainers with sparkly mini-dress, the offbeat dance moves - what a refreshing change to the generic R&B chick we've been force fed for the best part of the last 10-15 years. Many compare VV to the equally vivacious Janelle Monae. I've only heard a few Janelle tracks, so I'm not wholly familiar with her music, but I get the comparison. This year I predict that the likes of VV, Janelle, Laura Izibor and Santogold will step to the forefront. And about time too. It's time the world recognised that Black women are not an homogeneous group. We are just as distinct and varied as any other group.

Despite her album not dropping until Spring, VV was recently longlisted as a finalist for the BBC's Sound of 2009. The list is designed to find the best up-and-coming acts for the coming year, and although she didn't win (she came 7th, placed just behind Lady Ga Ga) it's a great accomplishment nonetheless. Read her unique story here.

And when you're done check out Crying Blood below, followed by a few clips from her channel - VV TV.

The Cocoa Diaries featured in IFB

2009-01-10T18:12:00.007Z

The Cocoa Diaries is featured in Independent Fashion Bloggers. Ronke from the fabulous The Musings of Ondo Lady has written an informative piece about the meaning of various blog, listing why for marketing purposes, it's important to select the right name. Click here for the full piece.

Mel Says: "I'm Totally Fit"

2009-01-08T23:00:00.002Z

Those Spicers really know how to milk an opportunity for all its worth, don’t they? Last year ‘Posh’ tried to convince the world that she’s a bonafide fashion designer by launching a clothing range. And now Mel B is getting in on the act by presenting herself as a fitness guru. The bubbly Northerner has just released ‘Totally Fit’ a three disc DVD, which consists of a 28 day plan of aerobic and resistance work out, as well as her dietary tips. I’m not really into exercise DVD’s but having seen a few scenes from this one it actually looks quite decent. Looking every inch the LA starlet, Mel conducts the class next to a swimming pool in what looks like Hollywood Hills. Her hair and make up looks immaculate (after all, this is LA ), and her body looks amazing. Rich has already asked if he could “borrow” the DVD after I finish with it, the cheeky so and so. As for the routines? Well the steps are varied and intricate enough to keep you interested, and you'll definitely leak a few beads of sweat. We already know she’s a loud-mouth, so you’ll either love or loathe the shrieky instructions “For anyone with jibbly bits I’m gonna tighten you up” she exclaims! Gosh, what would Jane Fonda think?

Available to order from www.totallyfit.com (21.99).

Naomie to Star in Small Island

2009-01-08T21:19:00.008Z

A few years ago you’d be hard pressed to get on any train or tube without seeing a commuter holding a copy of Andrea Levy’s 'Small Island'. The book, about a pair of Jamaican immigrants and their relationship with their English landlords, put Levy on the literary map affording her with various awards and critical praise. The BBC have since announced that they are producing a feature length film based on the novel. The project is in the pre-production stages but it has been confirmed that Naomie Harris will take the lead role as the main protagonist, Hortense. 2009 should be a breakthrough year for Naomie. The talented actress has starred in numerous Hollywood blockbusters such as Miami Vice and The Pirates of the Caribbean series, but still remains relatively unknown in her country of birth. Alongside her leading role in Small Island she’ll also star on in indie Rom Com My Last Five Girlfriends, loosely based on Alain de Botton's Essays in Love. Let's hope she finally gets the recognition she deserves.

You're Having a Bleeding Laugh!

2009-01-08T20:26:00.008Z

So rumours that Leona Lewis is writing an autobiography are true. Publishing giants Hodder and Stoughton recently announced that they are pairing up with the Hackney born singer to release a memoir based on her meteoric rise to fame. Lewis will allegedly detail her rise from Pizza Hut waitress to international superstar. Now, hold up, did I miss something? Isn‘t this like 10-15 years too early? What about waiting for the breakdown, the battle with drugs, the bankruptcy - isn't that the stuff that all good autobiographies are made of? Obviously not. In these extra savvy times, it's all about all about striking while the iron is super sizzling hot. The book will be released in October to coincide with her second album. I suspect there will be lots of pictures.

Back To UK Blak - Five Star

2009-01-06T19:27:00.006Z

Am I the only one who is already totally engrossed in this year’s Celebrity Big Brother? Yesterday just watching the tragic dance moves of the eccentric, woman-child, Latoya Jackson, conjured memories of Britain’s own version of The Jacksons - Five Star. Oh how I wanted to be the 6th member when I was growing up. I even wrote to Jim to fix it for me to appear alongside them (true story). But thankfully he saved me from a lifetime of embarrassment. Although having said that, there’s no denying that Britain’s First Family of Bling knew how to through down a choon. ‘Let Me Be The One’ was my track. Unlike their subsequent hits (Rain or Shine anyone?), this song had an authenticity and credibility that was deeply lacking during their superstardom years. So where are they now? Well after the money dried up they relocated to Los Angeles. Stedman has since moved back to the UK and is (cough cough) making an album. And next month Denise is set to star in Thriller Live, the multi-media musical based on the life of Michael Jackson (obviously still enthralled by the moon-walking mad genius). With the likes of Take That and New Kids forming successful reunions, I’d pay good money to see the fab five don those red sequin jumpsuits once again. What do you reckon?

Let Me Be The One

Get Lifted!

2009-01-05T22:43:00.004Z

Happy New Year luvvies!

So how was yours? I had a great entry into the 09. I spent the night at my friend’s church, where the uplifting and invigorating words of her Pastor was just the nourishment my soul needed. I’m not gonna lie. My 2008 was far from great. The most worrying aspect being the number of times I’ve been ill. At the start of the he year I caught a cold that I just couldn’t shake. And then I contracted a stomach infection, and had to virtually live on water and cream crackers for two months. I lost a stone in weight, and my friends would often joke that that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. But losing weight due to ill health is far from a good thing. On the contrary, it’s scary and unnerving. As soon as my appetite returned I got right into the business of putting on weight (quite a refreshing change from calorie counting I can tell you), but now I’ve reached what I think is my ideal weight for my frame, I need to slow my roll and ease up on the stodge.

Along with my health woes, last year the stresses of having to cope with being the mum of an active toddler, and juggling a demanding full time job, also intensified. I tell you, the appeal of being a woman who “has it all” lost it’s shine many moons ago. I now realise it‘s a myth. For a woman to successfully execute these two extremely demanding roles often means it’s at the detriment of her mental and physical well-meaning. Want proof? Then check my medical records for the last 12 months. Or for a more informative view check out the teachings of Dr Christiane Northup who I’ve only recently become aware of after watching her on Oprah a few days ago. Northup appeared on the talk show queen’s couch to shed some much needed light on women’s health issues. A powerful orator, she is a strong believer of the connectedness between our physical and emotive selves. On the show she explained that many common ailments that women in particular are susceptible to such as high cholesterol levels, insomnia, irritableness and headaches, are a direct result of what’s going on in our minds. The body is simply the conduit which alerts us to the fact that something’s up. The Doctor is passionate about us doing away with the Superwoman myth and putting ourselves first AT ALL TIMES (yes you heard right, not your partner, kids, or boss). She also recommends that we actively pursue the things that give us pleasure and implement it into our schedules, much like we would the laundry, or weekly shop. Sitting at home watching I almost went into Tom Cruise couch mode, screaming “yes, yes” at her revolutionary words. Oprah is equally in awe, and couldn’t stop harping on about Northup’s best selling book 'The Wisdom of Menopause’, which she apparently keeps by her bedside and refers to as her bible. Despite the misleading title, the book is aimed at women who are 35+ and entering the second phase of their lives. Sounds like me to a tee. I’m going to order a copy off Amazon and will let you know my thoughts.

So the New Year has gone off to a flying start and I can hardly wait to get stuck in. Despite the aforementioned gloomy spots, I can’t forget my blessings. I’m feeling a lot healthier, am gainfully employed, have a loving hubby to be, and a smart, beautiful son. And how can I forget my wonderful blog buddies. Thank you for bearing with me and my sporadic posts. This year I intend to take The Cocoa Diaries to a higher level, bringing your more posts and additional features.

I hope you stay with me for the ride!

Have a blessed 09

Ms Quichexxx

Can't Get it Outta My Head: Bubbly - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

2008-12-23T00:26:00.005Z

This is so not usually my cup of cocoa, but I'm so loving this made for Channel U instant classic - Head Shoulders Knees and Toes (Bubbly). Okay, so the lyrics may be beyond basic (ladies, let me see you go down low, wid the heads shoulders knees and toes), and the video looks as if it's been filmed using a home camcorder picked up at a Currys clearout for £199. But hey, who's watching that? Press play, turn up the volume, and make sure your learn the dance moves before your Xmas family do. Your 15 year old cousins/nieces/nephews will be well impressed...

The Alexandra Effect!

2008-12-22T21:54:00.008Z

Gosh, I'm still spinning from the excitement of last week's X-Factor finals that I've barely had time to blog...Okay, in truth I've been saddled with yet another horrid flu-ish, bug-ish thing that I've barely had enough energy to run a comb through my unruly afro, yet alone blog. Mmmm, so this conversation may seem just slightly redundant considering the event in question happened over a week ago, but bear with me.

Yeah, she did it! Congratulations to my girl Alexandra Burke for winning the coveted X-Factor title. For those who don't know, the X-Factor is Britain's equivalent to American Idol which finds 10 eager wannabes battling it out week after week for a £1 million pound record contract. Along with Idol, the X Factor is also the brainchild of Simon Cowell, and a certified ratings winner here in the UK.

So along with fellow contestant, Rachel Hylton, Alexandra was my favourite from the get go. The North Londoner is a mere 20 years old, but has a vocal maturity that belies her young age (think a little Gladys mixed with sprinklings of Mica and Toni Braxton). Throughout the live shows she gave consistently versatile and polished performances and quickly became the bookies favourite. The final showdown saw Alex compete with runners up JLS and Eoaghn. But after a show-stopping duet between the budding chanteuse and her American "idol", Beyonce, could there really be any other winner? Since claiming victory Alex’s debut single Hallelujah has stormed to the top of the UK charts, marking what I hope will be the start of a successful career.

I'm not going to go into much further detail but will leave you with these random questions/ observations:

- Now that she's won do you think they'll turn her into another bland, ex-reality pop star that makes soppy, middle of the road music such as Lemar and Leona?

- And speaking of Leona, what's with the comparisons? So they're both young, women of colour, who both happen to sing really well. AND?? They sound nothing alike and have totally different personalities. SO STOP!

- Wasn't it refreshing to see pictures of a young black woman splashed across the front pages of the national newspapers, who wasn't a rape victim, thief, or young single mother who murdered her kids?

- That said, it was equally annoying to witness the whole sexualisation of a black woman in the tabloids, especially considering she’s so young. “Cheryl has banned me from having sex” read the headline in the Sun. On closer inspection Alex merely said that Cheryl advised her to abstain from boyfriends for a while.

- If, like me, your life was on hold for those three hours while you watched the finals, didn't you want to shake/slap/pinch Alex and shout 'pull it together girl' after her mini-breakdown following her Beyonce duet? Honestly, when she was announced as the winner I thought we were gonna witness a live cardiac arrest on national TV. It got a little worrying at one stage.

Ah well, I guess that's all folks until next year. Here are my fav Alex moments...

Silent Night

Candyman

Listen

Alesha Dixon's new video - Breathe Slow

2008-12-11T19:43:00.003Z

Breathe Slow is the second single to be be released from Alesha's new album 'The Alesha Show'. The video was shot in Las Vegas and features the singer roaming the city of that never sleeps in full showgirl attire, juxtaposed against some Flashdance-esq studio routines. The track is kinda middle of the road bubble-gum pop... would even go so far to say "catchy" even. Have a peek!

Stells Covers Stella

2008-12-10T21:34:00.004Z

Girl of the moment, Estelle graces the cover of this week's Stella magazine, the fashion supplement found in the Sunday Telegraph. The cover line reads 'Why Estelle is the Saviour of British Soul', and features the singer giving her two cents worth about her arduous rise to fame, and the lack of opportunities available to Black British artists. The interview isn't available on the Telegraph's website as yet, but you can take a peek right here.

Pieces of a Dream Job: Natasha & Semhal from La Diosa

2008-12-10T19:22:00.014Z

La Diosa is an exclusive jewellery range created by young entrepreneurs, Natasha Faith and Semhal Zemikael. The London based duo travelled the world to seek inspiration for their designs, vising far flung locations such as the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Thailand, Tokyo and Malaysia. The result is La Diosa - a striking collection of hand-made original jewellery pieces.

Natasha and Semhal have also won a string of accolades including The Precious Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008, finalists of the Cosmopolitan Awards 2008- and voted in the Top 3 young UK Entrepreneurs, LaunchLab UK. They are also sponsors of the Girls! Make Your Mark Awards. Here's their story.

We earn a living by designing statement jewellery that is unique, fabulous and empowering. La Diosa is stocked in Harvey Nichols and an exclusive boutique in Chelsea. Our company is set to launch in New York next year and our whole team is very excited about that! We work hard and it's starting to show.

The moment we knew we wanted to be jewelry designers was when we visited the ruins of Chichinitza in Mexico. The jewellery that these women and men would adorn themselves with was simply phenomenal. I remember standing in a resound silence as I focused on the bead work and detail of some of the necklaces and earrings and I finally had to ask someone, "How and why did they wear such huge pieces of jewellery?" The response Sem and I both received was the turning point of our future, "These women and men would wear each piece with pride and honour. The more striking the piece, the more powerful the individual." At that moment I knew that jewellery in the modern sense could mean so much more than a fashion item, it could portray power, beauty and mystery. These three characteristics are synonymous to a Goddess like the very women who wore this "power jewellery", hence our name La Diosa, The Goddess in Spanish.

Our story on how we entered the industry is a complicated one! We are not your typical designers who studied in a particularly academic way (Natasha). I strongly believe it is not necessary to go to university to become a successful business person. In fact I think in some cases it can damage your creativity and lead you to become institutionalised. So we decided to travel and gain some inspiration and knowledge at the same time. The experience was rewarding in itself, but what we have achieved as result is amazing (Sem).

I would say that the relationship we have is very much like a sisterly one. We argue and love just like family. Because of this we had to figure out a way that we could debate professionally without the other person taking it personally. It took some time to get there but after living in someones pockets for almost a year abroad you learn to respect them. We both understand that the empire we are building cannot survive without the other.

The highlight of my career thus far has been seeing the look on my mother's face when we won Entrepreneur of the Year at the Precious Awards. Before then it would be safe to say that there has been so many highlights that it is difficult to pin just one (Natasha).

I would be lying if I said running a business was easy. We face challenges constantly, meaning we always have to be on our toes and be ready to face the situation head on. The key to dealing with challenges is learning from them! Making mistakes and learning from them are the best lessons you can learn. No business course can teach you that (Sem).

The advice we would give to others trying to break into the industry is just go for it! The hardest part of business is sometimes actually starting believe it or not. So many people wish for their own careers but procrastination and fear of failure are quick to stop them. The fear of failure is a big one, but you need to make a choice.. Will you finally take the risk, challenge yourself and prosper or will spend the rest of your life wondering "what if...?" Just make sure that whatever it is you decide to do it's because you love it more than the money.

Banks can be difficult so we never approached them! The Prince's Trust saw potential in us. We had a good plan, did the legwork and were without a doubt passionate about our venture so they were happy to support La Diosa. When you have a strong business plan funding can become easier to access, however if you have the right people running the business then capital can become even more available. Banks and organisations invest in people more than plans.

Our future ambitions include launching "La Diosa Possessions". Possessions will include a range of statement handbags, sunglasses and shoes. We'll also be launching "Dios", our new jewellery range for men. We also aim to build on our celebrity client list, launch in New York next year and build our brand to become an international powerhouse - so watch out.

For further info visit www.ladiosa.co.uk

Constance Talks About Libel Court Case Victory

2008-12-08T23:00:00.007Z

For those who have read Constance Briscoe's best-selling memoir, 'Ugly' you have probably been probably been paying close attention to the recent libel case brought against her by her mother. For those who don't know, Constance Briscoe is one of Britain's first black judges. In 2005 she published a memoir revealing the years of physical and emotional abuse she endured at the hands of her mother.

Routinely called "ugly", Constance describes a catalogue of horrors including being beaten by a stick, having her breasts pinched and twisted so severely that she had to undergo reconstructive surgery, being locked in a cellar, and being made to sleep in urine drenched bed sheets. At her lowest point Constance attempted to commit suicide by drinking bleach. Despite the somewhat humorous and nonchalant way in which these incidents were described, it was simply heartbreaking to read. The book caused a stir naturally, and sparked much needed debate about the culture of beating which is still very much inherent in the the black community.

Constance's mother recently took her daughter to court claiming that all the allegations made in the book were lies, and Constance was just a fantasist. Initially I began to feel quite worried about this turn of events. What if we had all been sold a pack of lies? I thought. What if Constance was just abusing her powers of the law and had simply used her poor vulnerable mother as a means to fame and fortune. I pondered.

However, last week Constance won the trial and her mother now faces £500,000 in legal fees, which she has been ordered to pay to Hodder and Stoughton, the publishers of the book. At 74 years old Carmen Briscoe (Constance's estranged mother) could stand to lose her house. Constance however has gracefully requested that the courts ensure that her mother keeps her home and doesn't end up on the streets. Ironic, eh? Such a tragic ending to what already was a sad story. Constance' Read one of Constance's first post-trial interviews here: