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.