Lauryn Hill makes rare appearance in New York

For days, there was internet buzz about an intimate Lauryn Hill performance. Few people knew the time or place, but the tightly guarded show was advertised as a special reward for American Express' Starwood Preferred Guest cardholders. Attendees weren't sure what to expect with Hill's recent performance track record tarnished by late starts and rumored diva antics, but besides an hour delay (which is becoming the norm) the show at the W Hotel in New York went on without a hitch.

Lauryn Hill and her band covered Bob Marley's "Zimbabwe" and Martha and the Vandellas' "Heatwave" then went on to play Hill staples including "Doo Wop: That thing" reportedly delighting audiences for over an hour past stage time.


Hill hasn't released a studio album since 2001's MTV Unplugged, though the internet continues to be a source of live material for fans of the guarded star. Her recent appearances have brought speculation about drugs and mental illness, but the rumors haven't seemed to slow her down; her performances continue to draw favorable reviews from critics.

One of those rare artists in the R&B/Hip Hop world, Hill is equal parts talent, creativity and defiance that keep fans and naysayers alike wondering (or worrying about) what her next move will be.


(Left: a past Hill performance)

Speaking of Stephanie Mills...

We mentioned singer Stephanie Mills in our previous "Divas Simply Singing" post. Here she is at only 16 years old (!) singing the song that became her signature, "Home."

We're glad to see Stephanie back 'Home' on the stage these days. They just aren't producing talent like this these days (but we'll reserve that for another post...).

Cocoa Lounge Review: Divas Simply Singing

This past weekend a number of notable divas got together and used their incredible diva powers for good: They simply sang--for a fabulous cause...of course.

Divas Simply Singing, held at the Wilshire E Bell Theater in Los Angeles, marked the 16th year that great women of song, stage and screen donated their time and voices to raise money to benefit Aids healthcare. The event was established by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (star of the original Broadway hit Dreamgirls. Younger audiences may remember her as Moesha's mother). Ralph initially began the Divas show sixteen years ago to honor those friends who lost their lives in the early 80's to a then mysterious disease.

The sixteenth annual event saw divas like Stephanie Mills, Regina Bell, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Lewis, Karen Clark Sheard, Tremaine Hawkins, Shanice, American Idol Alums:Jennifer Hudson, Frenchie Davis, Paris Bennett, and Rahsaan Patterson (an "honorary diva" who's soul stirring rendition of Sade's Love is Stronger than Pride transcended the realm of performance--it was an experience). Even divas that didn't sing found a way to shine: Karen Briggs--a Diva "Simply Stringing"--played a compelling violin solo of Amazing Grace that brought the audience to it's feet, while hilarious comedian Niecy Nash was a Diva "Simply Speaking."


Original Dreamgirls cast members Sheryl Lee Ralph (l) and Loretta Devine (r) with actress Jenifer Lewis (center).

The night was one full of laughter, beautiful music and the antics of Sheryl Lee Ralph, 'oh diva divine' who during many fabulous wardrobe changes sang, laughed, joked and cried.

Frenchie (American Idol, Rent) who received a standing ovation for her rendition of "I am Telling You," blogged about the show:

"I have such a tremendous amount of respect for every woman who was on that stage....and to be considered amongst them was just....wow! I am so thankful."

Divas Simply Singing was Simply Amazing! For more information about Divas Simply Singing visit: http://www.divassimplysinging.com

The Cocoa Lounge Remembers Tamara Dobson

We recently featured an article that a rumor was circulating that actress Tamara Dobson may be returning to the screen. Unfortunately, the buzz was unfounded. Tamara Dobson, former model and star of the Cleopatra Jones films of the 1970s died recently in her hometown of Baltimore after a battle with mutiple sclerosis. She was only 59.

If you are unfamililar with Ms. Dobson's accomplishments, here's a biography that we featured on the Cocoa Lounge in our early days:

Tamara Dobson earned a degree in Fashion Illustration at the Maryland Institute of Art. It was no suprise that the striking 6' 2" Baltimore native would later decide to head to New York to become a model. Before heading to Hollywood, Tamara Dobson plugged products for 25 television commercials. In the early 1970s it was almost impossible to see adverstisements geared to black audiences that didn't include Tamara Dobson or then-model, Richard Roundtree (who also became a huge action star in the Shaft films).

She later won the role of Cleopatra Jones beating out over 100 other young ladies who auditioned. Cleopatra Jones (1973) and Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975) were two of Dobson's most popular films, providing young black women with a classy, sassy film icon that they could identify with. After the Cleopatra Jones films, however, Dobson would appear in only a few televsion movies and series and would disappear from the Hollywood scene forever, leaving two films to stand as testament to the box-office clout that black women can have--when given the opportunity.



Related Posts: Tamara Dobson Returns?

The Girls of Summer: Must-haves for every playlist

Coming to an iPod near you! Five of the most promising talents this side of the Billboard Hot 100...

1. Emily King

J Record's best kept secret is doing damage to our iTunes playlist with her empowering scorcher, “Walk in My Shoes.” Check Emily King out!







2. Janelle Monae

Mix the voice of a modern Billie Holiday with the fashion sense of Miseducation-era Lauryn Hill, and you've got Janelle Monae. We really can't let go of her uptempo anthem "Let It Go." Check Janelle Monae out!





3.Shareefa

Strong vocals and a hot track keeps Shareefa's "Need A Boss," in constant rotation in the whip. With all the fragile voices in radio friendly r&b right now, Shareefa's soulful sound is a welcomed digression. Check Shareefa out!





4. Miss Jack Davey

of J*Davey fame took one of our favorite tracks, "Electric Relaxation" by A Tribe Called Quest and gave it some 2006 feminine flair. Reminiscent of a young Erykah Badu, Jack Davey is part of a new wave of R&B artists ushering in an alternative sound. Check J*Davey out!





5. Algebra Blessett

No equation was necessary for us to deduct that we dig Algebra's sound. Her sweet love song, "U Do It 4 Me," is great for a Sunday morning ride or quality time with the one who does it for you. Check Algebra Blessett out!

Project Runway: Season Three's Got Seasoning

From The ATL to Atlas New York: Michael Knight

Blink and you missed him in the first few episodes, but Michael Knight's eye for fashion is undeniable. The glimpses we got of his coffee filter dress in episode 1 and his stunning number in the dog challenge made us hungry for more. He looks more hip hop than high fashion, and may have been wrote off early by the likes of judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. But Mike has obviously got skills that could possibly pay the bills for a spot in the final three. Only time will tell. For now, we're just waiting for him to get at least a minute per episode in...

Black Girls Rule The Runway

If you've been keeping tuned in to Bravo's Reality Darling, Project Runway, then you've probably noticed the unmistakable flavor of this season's cast. Aside from the drama in the workroom--and there's lots of it--is the drama on the stage. We're not eluding to backstage catfights, or seam sabotage, but to the FIERCE runway stylings of a sizeable number of sistas that take the stage each week. The proof is in the pudding. The first three challenges have went to exquisite garments made even more exquisite by models at the top of their game.

Anybody who knows Cocoa Lounge's history knows that we love to profile fresh faces in the industry. The good casting folks at Runway have cut our job in half. Take a look at some of our favorite models from the show:


Clockwise from top left: Camilla B, Katia Bissou, Marilinda, and our personal favorite, Nazri Segaro.

Barbara Walters: A Lesson in Inappropriate Touching

Barbara Walters couldn't seem to keep her hands to herself--and off her African American guest hosts, Brandy and Tanika Ray, two of many black women sitting in the seat once occupied by Star Jones on The View.



The clip made VH1's Best Week Ever and highlights an issue many African Americans--women and men--find themselves tangled in (pun intended).

Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child (right) recently sat-in with The View chicks. Someone must have informed Barbara that the touching thing wasn't going over well because she didn't fondle Kelly's hair but she did touch some sensitive spots for the singer--namely her recent split with her football fiance. Ouch!

That Barbara Walters is out of control!

Raven Symone takes on 'Adventures'

Though the Disney television series That's So Raven has run its course, the Walt Disney company isn't finished with its hitmaker, Raven Symone yet. Raven has signed an acting and producing deal with Disney and is now attached to star in a remake of the 80s classic "Adventures in Babysitting." You guys remember this one, right? The 1987 film, which starred Elisabeth Shue, follows the misadventures of a high school teen stuck babysitting a trio of trouble-makers for one night. We're sure Raven could spice this one up with that crazy comedic timing of hers.

The deal follows a successful nearly five year partnership between Raven and Disney. That's So Raven has been one of the Disney Channel's highest-rated shows for several seasons. Symone also struck gold on the network with the Cheetah Girls films based on the books written by Deborah Gregory. Raven stars in the upcoming Cheetah Girls 2 set to air on the Disney Channel this August.

Tamara Dobson Returns?

If you haven't seen Cleopatra Jones in action, then you probably don't know who Tamara Dobson is. The model-turned-actress starred in the successful Cleopatra Jones action films in the early 1970s and disappeared from the film and television scene altogether shortly after. Along with Richard Roundtree (Shaft) and Pam Grier (Foxy Brown), Tamara Dobson was the equivalent of a superhero to action fans of the era.


Rumors have it that Tamara Dobson will return to the screen in an upcoming Rudy Ray Moore Dolemite film but with Rudy's recent health issues, we're not sure if this one will ever see the light of day.

In the meantime, if you'd like to see Tamara Dobson again (or for the first time), we'd recommend renting Cleopatra Jones or Cleopatra Jones and the Casino Gold.


The Casino Gold film is a Cocoa Lounge favorite. How often do you get to see an action flick starring an African American woman filmed on location in Hong Kong? Correct us if we're wrong, but we don't think that has happened since 1975.

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