Halle Berry and Angela Nissel get "Mixed Up"

Some of you hip hop fans may remember Angela Nissel as the co-founder of Okayplayer. She has since gone on to write the critically-acclaimed memoir, "The Broke Diaries," based on her hilarious adventures living below the 'broke line' and is currently a writer/consulting producer for the NBC dramedy, Scrubs.

Now Angela Nissel is teaming up with Halle Berry and HBO to develop "Mixed Up," a tentatively titled series based on The Broke Diaries and Angela's most recent novel, "Mixed: My Life in Black and White." The show will focus on a biracial woman and her two friends as they tackle racial and financial issues after college (Daily Variety).

We're not sure if Halle Berry will star or just produce but this project--if greenlit--may just be our Entourage or better yet, Sex in the City.

Fresh Face [#006]: Joy Denalane

Afro-German, Joy Denalane, is a musical chameleon. Not only is her music a blend of genres that include Soul, Afrobeat and Hip hop, her lyrics are equally as diverse--Denalane will sing in English, German, Xhosa or Shangan (South African languages) without batting an eyelash.

Though she's been in the musical game for years, her fanbase has been largely focused in Europe--but that's quickly changing. Joy was featured on the German version of Common's single "Go!" and is sure to draw attention in the US with her latest R&B single "Let Go."

If you haven't yet discovered Joy, you don't know what you're missing.


Watch the video for "Let Go" here. (Real Player)

Lachanze Hits A High Note at the Tony Awards

It looked like it was going to turn into a Tony Award shut-out for the Broadway adaptation of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. The show, which was nominated for a whopping 11 Tony Awards, went home with only one but stage veteran Lachanze's Best Actress in a Musical win is a great reflection of the this young womans' talent and a huge honor for the show.

Lachanze will leave the The Color Purple in November, so if you want to catch her award-winning performance as "Celie" you'd better get tickets soon. If you can't make it to New York to experience the show live, you can purchase the musical's soundtrack or pop in that classic movie DVD.

"You tole Harpo to beat me!"


A scene from the musical, The Color Purple

The Barriers Have Broken: Black Tennis Stars Emerge in France

It's been over 10 years since the Williams Sisters turned pro. They're domination in the sport of tennis shattered stereotypes and old attitudes but most importantly, broke barriers that have long stood in the way of black athletes excelling in the predominantly white sport.

But it looks like those once iron-clad barriers may now be a thing of the past.

If you've caught any coverage of the French Open this year, you may have noticed the increase of young black athletes on the Roland Garros clay. Aside from the usual suspects Venus Williams and James Blake, the sensational Frenchman Gael Monfils and Americans Mashona Washington, Shenay Perry and Jamea Jackson all graced the courts of the Grand Slam Championship. Though none made it to the final, Venus Williams and James Blake were the last Americans standing in Paris and Gael Monfils is fast-becoming one of the sports brightest young stars.

Finally, the (tennis) playing fields are leveling. We can't wait to see what these young athletes serve up next.

Vivica A. Fox to 'Dance With The Stars?'

Rumors have it that Vivica A. Fox may be joining the celebrity boogie list for ABC's Dancing With The Stars. We can't help feeling just a tad bit nervous for the actress after witnessing the spectacle that was Master P last season.

We hope Vivica knows what she's doing...

Oprah vs. Hip Hop: The Rap Attack

50 Cent is popular for his rap disses; his tongue-lashings have been known to destroy hip hop careers. His most recent beef with Oprah is drawing other rap elite in what is developing into one of the greatest hip hop beefs since the east coast-west coast rivalry--and Big O isn't even a rapper.

Now, we love hip hop, but some of today's popular rap lyrics aren't suitable for the children that consume them, let alone stay at home moms and middle aged women--Oprah's core audience. Couldn't you just see 50 Cent serenading Oprah's viewers with an ultra-bleeped out version of "P.I.M.P" or taking those sweet older ladies to his "Candy Shop?"

Ludacris, and most recently, Ice Cube, have added logs to the fire of the Oprah roasting. Ludacris, infuriated that some of his interview had been cut out of an Oprah taping for the film Hustle and Flow, recently made statements that suggested Oprah trimmed his comments because he was a rap artist. (Come on, Ludacris. We love ya’, but it's called the Oprah Winfrey show. EVERYONE's comments are edited for time).

We can't help feeling that this is an attempt to dethrone the Queen of Talk using the guise of Hip Hop music. If Oprah’s producers are smart--and you can bet they are--next season's Oprah will feature a roundtable of Hip Hop artists who want an opportunity to have their say.

But, really, some rappers should put out more responsible lyrics if they want to speak to a mature audience. But that's another blog altogether...

Tags:oprah and hip hop, ludacris, 50 cent beef, ice cube, hip hop, cocoa lounge

What in the world is a Frangela?

If you’ve watched VH1’s Best Week Ever, you’ve experienced Frangela.

The comedy duo, comprised of Frances Callier and Angela Shelton may be most famous for their funny take on celebrities from a black girl’s perspective but the duo have been at it for years. Remember the Oxygen animated series Hey Monie (that later ran on BET)? Yep, that was Frangela.

The LA Times calls them “a rare black female humor duo…” but the Cocoa Lounge calls them simply, “genius.” These two women are definitely making their mark and their brand of comedy only improves with age.

Remember When? [#001]: Whitney Houston on Arsenio

Thought we'd post an 80s Flashback courtesy of youtube:



Remember when Arsenio's show was just about the best thing on television?

Whitney's voice was definitely a gift.

Movie News: Black Panthers in (and out of) love?

A Black Panther love story set in the late 1970s starring Mos Def and Sophie Okonedo? Say it is so.

If the project goes as planned, Okonedo and Mos Def will star in the independent film, Stringbean and Marcus. First-time filmmaker Tanya Hamilton, who also wrote the story, will direct.

Sounds like an interesting plot: the drama of the politically-charged panther party mixed with a love story? We know it's tough to get an independent film off the ground but we certainly hope this one's a go!

The Cocoa Lounge Remembers: Octavia E. Butler

Literature has lost one of its greatest modern writers: Octavia E. Butler, a pioneer in science fiction, died recently at her home in Washington.

We just learned of her passing and like many of her fans, are stunned to say the very least.



Do yourself a favor and pick up Kindred, Wild Seed or any of her other titles and get acquainted with the work of Octavia Butler.

She will be deeply missed.

Corinne Bailey Rae: Put HER record on

UK native, Corinne Bailey Rae, was recently hailed the "sound of 2006" by the BBC. Find out why as she performs her hit "Put your records on" live.

Fresh Face [#005]: Jordan Richardson

Do we really need a tv show to tell us who America's Next Top Model will be? Maybe. But if young Jordan Richardson sticks around the fashion scene, we're pretty sure who at least one of them will be.

Chances are, you haven't heard of Jordan Richardson just yet, or even seen her face. But if this supermodel in training keeps up her pace, she could join the ranks of models who we've come to know and love on a first name basis: "Naomi," Tyra", "Iman" and "Gisele."


Keep your eye out for the young beauty who has already landed campaigns with United Colors of Benetton and Abercrombie and Fitch. Recently, she was spotted on the runway at New York Fashion week 2006, modeling for Project Runway finalist Chloe Dao.

Jordan is definitely a contender for the "Best 'fro in the business" and certainly one to watch.

Jordan is represented by VNY Model Management