Honor Cocoa Chanelle Recognition

2020 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge and celebrate individuals and events of historic significance which add vitality, sensitivity, understanding and inspiration to the diversity and values of the people of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Cocoa Chanelle upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the New York City Women's History Month Ceremony to be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at the Side Bar in New York City; and WHEREAS, This auspicious event will be hosted by Kangol Kid with music by DJ Donny Oh B; in addition, there will be Special Guest Appearances by: CL Smooth, Roxanne Shante, Kool DJ Red Alert, Sparky Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Grandmaster Dee, Funk Master Flex, Grand Puba, Dinco D, Full Force, and Allure; and WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn, New York, Cocoa Chanelle was raised by her grandmother in West Virginia; at the age of 12, she began entering local talent shows and rap battles; the following year, she started deejaying; and WHEREAS, She was inspired to deejay and rap by her older brother, Andre; immediately following high school graduation, Cocoa began her deejay career on a professional level; executives from First Priority Music were in search of a deejay for their new group, hip-hop duo Kings of Swing and Cocoa was hired and became their official deejay and was featured scratching and rapping on their debut album; and WHEREAS, Her big break came in 1994 when she became the first deejay to work for BET Networks; she spun on their popular weekly teen talk show "Teen Summit"; Cocoa is known for doing turntable tricks at shows; in the club, she has a versatile playing style that includes Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, House, Classics, Old School & Top 40's; and WHEREAS, Respected worldwide, Cocoa Chanelle has traveled around the world deejaying in many places including: Africa, Russia, Japan, London, Switzerland, Greece & Germany, to name a few, as well as spinning LIVE for over 20,000 people at the world's most iconic arena, Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks halftime show; and WHEREAS, Cocoa Chanelle is an award-winning Deejay/On-Air personality with over 16 years of radio experience in the No. 1 market in the United States, New York City's HOT 97 of Emmis Communications and seven years on-air experience with BET Networks, making her the first deejay, male or female, hired as an in-house deejay for the network; and WHEREAS, By many, Cocoa Chanelle is best known for her 16-year radio career in New York City; in 2012, she accomplished making her own show No. 1; today, she continues to grow, not only as an entertainer but as an International Humanitarian; and WHEREAS, In 2018, while visiting South Africa to perform at the Times Square Arena, Cocoa Chanelle used her time in Africa to fulfill her true-life purpose of philanthropy and humanitarian services by providing food and shoes for children and families living in poor villages of Soweto; and WHEREAS, New York State is home to countless women, strong and colorful threads vital to the fabric of our rich heritage, who have and continue to contribute to the advancement of our culture through their traditional and non-traditional roles in society; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when events of such noble aims and intentions are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Cocoa Chanelle upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the New York City Women's History Month Ceremony on March