Senate Resolution No. 2901

BY: Senator PARKER

        COMMENDING Cocoa Chanelle upon the occasion of her
        designation  for special recognition at the New York
        City Women's History Month  Ceremony  on  March  25,
        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
25, 2020; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Cocoa Chanelle.