MOVING THIS BLOG

Cocoa Nut, Cocktails & Real Talk has moved to a new page.


iamacocoanut.wordpress.com


Meet Me There...x

BRAND NEW VIDEO: MAXWELL - Fistful of Tears

A FRIDAY TREAT to my 'Cocoa Nut, Cocktails & Real Talk' readers.
Swoon away to the brand new video from Soul legend MAXWELL.

BRAND NEW: Akon ft. Quincy Jones - Strawberry Letter 23

BRAND NEW video from Akon and the legendary Quincy Jones (note the SICK letter 'Q' engraved on his piano).

Q also gets his own lil mama to oogle. Check it out!

Coconut vs Cocoa Nut

So a few people have asked me (or not asked me DIRECTLY but via the chinese whispers system) why I would want to label myself as a 'coconut', in the derogatory meaning of the word. I knew this was going to throw up questions, but this is a blog right? So let's talk about it.

First of all, the site address for this blog is I am a cocoa nut, not I am a coconut. Apart from the OBVIOUS difference in spelling there are other differences too. (Oh dear, as I write this post, a man just got on the train and sat opposite me. He is completely hairless. No moustache, balding and no eyebrows and best of all VERY orange. As in tango'd! Not sure how I'll concentrate now...)

Anyway, I am a cocoa nut because:

1) I'm nuts about most things cocoa (cocoa as in 'of colour'). Music, fashion, polity, pop culture...
2) I chose cocoanut because most people know I'm pretty nuts about the Tropical regions of the world. And a coconut is the reference I chose to represent that interest of mine.

Effectively, its a creative name with hidden meanings. Just like life.
There. Explained.

Now, let's move on... xx

NB: Besos for all the encouraging words I've received so far for Cocoa Nut, Cocktails & Real Talk.

A Cairpirinha toast to you from me.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Drake - "OVER" Official Video

I've been liking the track (still don't think it's the best choice for his first single) but I'm not bowled over by the video (and I wasn't for "Best I Ever Had" - is this going to be a pattern?). However, the creative is growing on me after watching it a third time.

But here it is...

A Cocoa Ciroc toast to Drake on this one!

LEDISI - Live at Bush Hall, London 9th April 2010

So, I went to see LEDISI perform live at Bush Hall last Friday with two of my Oprah Club girls and got to spend a little time with the star backstage.
This was my first time seeing her live and I was ABSOLUTELY blown away. The vibe was insane, her voice was insane and most vitally, the crowd were listening. LISTENING.

I go to a lot of concerts and it's not often a crowd stand there and absorb every single note & lyric; watching every move (and flick of her dreadlocks lol). It wasn't the same as your typical gig. She didn't waltz onto the stage, bark out material and swan off. She saaaaaang, effortlessly might I add, danced and I mean sweat-dripping, gut busting dancing and she preached. It was an experience and her audience interaction was as though it was one-to-one friend talking to a friend, kinda thing.
Before ending the show, she left each body in the audience with three life lessons, which I will share with you:

1) Have Faith
2) Love Yourself
3) Watch who you allow in your circle (I like this one)

If you haven't heard of this woman before you have to educate your ears NOW.

Her new album 'Turn Me Loose' is out now but my favourite Ledisi album is 'Lost & Found'

At least have a listen on Spotify first :-)

Listen to Ledisi if: You want to be inspired, lifted & empowered

A Mai Tai toast to Led!

She Was My Pillar of Strength

My beloved grandmother passed away earlier this week at the age of 96. Everyone who knew her knows she was a strong woman. She leaves behind a legacy of 6 children, 21 grandchildren and almost 20 great-grandchildren. Effectively, she lives on...RIP Grandmum. We love you x
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

EVOLVING & EMPOWERING - WHO ARE YOU, REALLY?

It's currently the most talked about video. "Window Seat" by Erykah Badu. Some think she's crazy for walking down a busy street whilst shedding all her clothes, COMPLETELY, some see it as a real depiction of empowerment; a rebellion against Groupthink culture. I'm with the latter.

It's genius! If you haven't seen it yet, you're a faffer.

BUT, have a watch of the video backwards (below). I don't know what you see but I see an UNCOMFORTABLE FEAR; running away from being different.

Who are you, really? Are you sprinting towards freedom or are you scuffling at the sidelines, too afraid to try?

It's not an easy question for all to answer but I do urge you to think about it.

THE INTRO

So I guess this makes me a blogger now.


A few things about me first (I'll spare you the details) here are my likes and dislikes in keyword format.


Likes: Music, all things Tropical & Latin, African music & fashion, partying, family, my cousins, best friend, cocktails, Twitter, travelling, Dominican Republic, Bachata, Sushi, Arise Magazine.


Dislikes: Potholes, fuku, waiting, arrogance, discrimination, douchebag (the word itself), GROUPTHINK.


Listening to right now: New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh - Erykah Badu.