Month: December 2010

JASMINE WITH EMANUEL JAL AT HIS VIDEO SHOOT IN LONDON.

Only a couple of days to go until Jesus birthday and I’ve been attempting to cram as much onto my already full to overflowing to-do-list as possible-i’m in the States right now skiing and frolicking in the snowy mountains with my Christmas family-the Carey-Cannons!.But before i left the UK……..

All my employers had Christmas parties and dinners that I had to attend so I plopped out the same frock (there’s still a recession darlings!), to go to the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 buildings. I was exceptionally behaved, worked the room, smiled a lot, listened to all, introduced people, didn’t get drunk, no embarrassing dancing ,didn’t upstage my superiors and so am hopeful about my promotional prospects in 2011 LOL.

Hip hops answer to Rankin, Paul H gave a talk at the Apple store about being a paparazzi in the music world. In the past 2 decades he has photographed every urban act on both sides of the pond and is on every record label and artists speed dial for press and promo shots. A lot of his past work was shown as well as a healthy yet bewildering amount of info about camera equipment and picture/stills copyright laws and so on.

JASMINE WITH KEVIN J, MARTIN JAY, EDDIE KADI AND ITV’S MONIQUE RICHARDS…..AT ALEXANDER AMOSU’S CHRISTMAS PARTY.

Next R&B Ringtones entrepreneur turned luxury goods maker Alexander Amosu threw his Christmas party at Aura nightclub in Mayfair where he exhibited his most expensive suits in the world, his diamond encrusted phones and much more to a very diverse crowd of guests that included business men, wide boys, city slickers, brassy ladies, TrayC and Paige from X Factor , comedians Eddie Kadi and Kevin J, ChoiceFM breakfast DJ and soca king Martin Jay, Chucky Venice , MTV Africa head Alex Akossi and other movers and shakers. Champagne and canapés were served by staff wearing Amosu tee shirts and more than usual networking and business cards were exchanged.

JASMINE WITH ALEXANDER AMOSU AT HIS CHRISTMAS PARTY AT AURA.

MTV BASE comedian and CHOICEFM weekend DJ Kojo threw his Christmas comedy funhouse special at Sound Bar in Leicester square where the A TEAM of UK new skool comedians did their thing to a packed house. The ever funny Baba tunde, white comic that black folk love Kevin j, of course Kojo’s crowd adore him, and then finally Slim had the audience in stitches. Kojo had a musical interlude from singer Cherri V who was very capable and now just awaiting her big break. The night was entertaining from start to finish and I salute kojo for providing a continuous night of fun where young urban comedy fans can safely come and mingle and enjoy the scene in the current climate.

JASMINE WITH KEVIN J, BABA TUNDE, KOJO AND SLIM……AT KOJO’S CHRISTMAS COMEDY FUN HOUSE.

In order to tick off all on my to-do-list I had actress, presenter and Scary Spice Mel B’s sister Danielle Brown join me for chai tea lattes and Starbucks luxury fruit bread whilst having my hair trimmed at celeb hair salon 3V in Notting Hill ,where we caught up on life and laughed about our old skool beef back in the day when we used to hate each other. I used to be mean about her on my radio slot and she understandably wasn’t best pleased. Now we’ve grown up and are wiser we chortle over those days.

Next to the sports spaceship headquarters of the Adidas inner sanctum in Covent Garden where Paola and Akua-the celeb team guru’s had laid the showroom open to me. It was like a dream come true as I was told ‘’ we have laid out a spread of apparel and shoes in your sizes in the client room for you to pick and choose whatever you’d like’’. I was like Usain Bolt in supermarket sweep as I tried not to dribble over the box fresh smell of new 3 stripe sneakers and slick leisurewear. Adidas have dressed me for years and as most of the flyest stars on the planet rock the brand I’d assumed they handed it out freely. It was a few years ago when I realised this wasn’t true at all. An array of UK and American acts would pass through MTV and compliment me on my exclusive garms and when id tell them to reach out to Adidas I would be told that they’d been rejected as ‘’Adidas are very choosy about whom they actively involve to wear their brand’’. I was staggered. These were pretty big names. Clearly Adidas knew something I didn’t cos they’re no longer around. I should’ve known the brand were ahead of their time when noting their inner clothing labels state ‘’caution-sliding and spinning across floors in this clothing can cause burns’’- clearly the preferred brand for breakdancers lol. Meanwhile I’m currently on the snowy slopes rocking my ‘ Stella McCartney for Adidas ski suits and all in one flight suits with hoity toity fur clad rich madams asking where I found my ‘’delightful attire’’. Go ask somebody!.

Radio 1 DJ Reg Yates threw his weekly Sunday night party fondly called Trading Places where there are usually unannounced guests like CL Rock and Pete Smooth, Idris Elba and other fresh types gracing the scenario. It’s a struggle to energise yourself on a Sunday night but so worth it. Reg is smart-he’s well aware that only die-hard mates venture out for fabulosity on a Sunday school night.

Then it was time to kick frivolity to the kerb and get serious for a moment as my friend and PR expert Rozan Ahmed told me about Emmanuel Jal’s global initiative for peace. To give you some background, Emmanuel comes from Sudan originally, he’s a former child soldier and through quite unbelievable struggle has become as a world renowned recording artist, actor and activist; his latest release being the Warchild LP to accompany the successful documentary. Emmanuel is currently focused on the upcoming referendum in Sudan. As I’m sure you may have heard, the country’s public will soon be deciding as to whether or not Sudan secedes as a nation – as Africa’s largest country, which to many of us is beyond depressing.
The outcome, either way, is likely to result in a full-blown war, and so Jal’s core messages of peace and unity, disseminated through a number of upcoming campaigns and summits will be a focus from now, up until the referendum. Emmanual was in London to spread the message and shoot the video for his single ‘’we want peace’’ and told me “I believe I survived for a reason… to tell my story… to touch lives.”

Emmanuels story is so erratic that he was born on an unknown date in the early 1980s. Imagine that- not knowing your birthday but being responsible for lives being saved as he achieves his initiative. He has a unique style of hip-hop, with its message of peace and reconciliation, born out of his personal experiences.

Emmanuel’s live appearances have included Live 8 and Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert. He’s performed with acts such as Faithless, Alicia Keys, Razorlight, Supergrass and Fat Boy Slim in Europe, and has toured the United States as part of the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival, and appeared at Alicia Keys’ Keep a Child Alive Black Ball 2010 in London.

The video was shot in Kentish town studios and feature many of the UK’s well known faces, so go check it out and support where you can. We might all be celebrating at copious parties with unlimited amounts of festivefun but there are fellow brothers and sisters that need minimal time and effort from us this season. Visit the website www.we-want-peace.com. Its crucial that we focus on prevention….if we knew the haitio disaster was going to happen we’d do everything in our power to stop it-right?. Happy holidays!

JAMINE WITH ‘JAMAICAN SNOWMAN‘-KAT’

So the countdown begins-it’s a week until Jesus birthday!

This week I’ve had to run around doing chore after chore, I’ve been interspersing fabulous and basic. FABULOUS=I’ve been juggling a few different staff parties- trying to appease various bosses when I cant attend every function because they all clash (but the ITV party was definitely the best!). BASIC=my library books had to be returned –oh yes-I STILL belong to the local library. My mum got be interested in books very early on and its always a treat so I buy books I want to keep but I also regularly borrow books-what a luxury!.  FABULOUS=On Monday night I popped into ringtone/luxury goods guru Alexander Amosu’s party, the day before we were at a friends and family Christmas drinks at Paul H-(hip hop photographer of this generation) home, FABULOUS=then we had our girly Christmas dinner at skylon at the royal festival hall- brilliant views, average food. BASIC=

Then I made my 6 month regular dental appointment – good healthy, strong teeth are one of life’s essentials-after all who wants dentures when they hit old age-yuk,not me! FABULOUS=then fresh breathed I ran up to a studio in Kentish town to join music artist Emanuel jal to feature in his video shoot (more on that next week!).

I was most excited about going to see 90’s ladies perform at the 02. First up were girl band SWV  (Sisters with voices) the original line up-  Coko, Le-lee and Taj. They were cool, fly, fresh and had bundles of attitude back in the day with hit after hit so I was not missing the original trio doing their thing. They looked beautiful, sounded as good if not stronger than in their hey day and really rocked the venue. Hundreds of fans looked ecstatic and sang along word for word to hits like ‘Weak, I’m so into you, you’re the one and more’.

The headlining act on the night was one time bad boy artist and former wifey of the Notorious B.I.G-Faith. I must confess when I first heard that Faith was headlining over SWV I did a double take!? After all Faith has a gorgeous voice but SWV had all the hits. Oh well, I was open to the show as SWV had kicked it off so strongly. I had faith but alas it wasn’t enough. Faith doesn’t have immediate hits that spring to mind but has always been an amazing performer. Her vocals sounded strong but her heart just wasn’t into it. Her stage presence and organisation was bad and she continually went off for breaks and blaming her band for putting on the wrong backing track versions and so on. She was disappointing.

I finished the week off by indulging my child side and going to panto at Hackney Empire. Did I really? Oh yes I did!! Former MTV BASE and CHOICEFM host Kat was playing the snowman in Jack and the Beanstalk. Yes you read correctly. There’s a snowman in Jack and the Beanstalk. I haven’t been to a panto for years so didn’t realise there’s the main story as we know it, and then there are the ‘other characters’. I adore the Hackney Empire. So many great shows, talent and memories from watching the stage as a kid at the 291 Club to modern day where I’ve stood on it a few times myself. The cast for the panto were all very well rehearsed and professional. Kat was hilarious as the Jamaican snowman with his patois accent and white afro wig!.The star of the show was undoubtedly the panto dame who had us all roaring. The sets were pretty breath taking for a non-West End theatre but it was the emergence of the giant that was most impressive. A real giant. Huge .ginormous. humungous. There weren’t many men in his costume. Nor did he look mechanically operated. I was fascinated with how they achieved that. The story line was both entertaining and amusing to very young kids as well as the odd adult humour gag chucked in every now and again. If you’re looking for a traditional panto with an urban flavour (the occasional street slanguage phrase and soca track thrown in) then take the family and friends to see this!

This next week’s full of festive activities. First on my list is the Ultimate Boogie Nights show at O2 where Sugarhill Gang and Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King are performing and then it’s on to my mate Idris Elba’s (Stringer Bell in The Wire) London Christmas party before I head off to be with my Christmas family.

At this time lets not forget that whilst life is about being the best human being we can be and having fun is essential- life has light and shade and whilst some are laughing others are crying. Many people around us wont be full of Christmas cheer due to their personal circumstances whether they are incarcerated (I see you and read all your letters-thank you!), lost a loved one (I know many of you have recently), and this year will be their first alone without them, financial woes due to redundancies and so on (its affecting us all!), illness with loved ones (always within our circle) , poverty, aged folk and so on. At this time lets show seasonal good will and spirit which has gone down the pan in recent years and do just 1 good deed for another fellow human being that will be grateful for that chat over a cup of tea, a goody bag full of cakes and fruit, a kind letter or phone call or a grocery shop for someone that cant get around easily. I’m off to do the big shop for my dads retirement home and help them put decorations up and will then pop into friends for tea and cake- quality time is worth much more than material gifts so this season give someone yours.

JASMINE WITH PR MAVEN VANESSA AMADI AND ESTELLE

I’ve spent hours this week trying to explain to young people that nothing comes without hard work. So many young people reach out to me for opportunities and expect instant reward and fabulosity. Life doesn’t work like that. I receive e-mails from students that are professional therefore I put them on and give chances where I see them. I also get texts and e mails from randoms that I would never bother replying to. They say things that are unprofessional and over familiar. For example this week. ‘’Whattup Jasmine. I wanna do a job like yours so I need to do work experience with you, can you call me on this number and let me know when I can come to a party with you and see what’s what’’. Hilarious!.

Readers, after my school exams, a levels and university degree I taught dance and aerobics for years whilst juggling my runner job at a TV company where I did gruelling night shifts photocopying, driving, collecting meals and drinks before being the opportunity to prove myself as a floor assistant on a morning TV breakfast show. Thereafter I have done a variety of presenting, producing, directing, scripting editing jobs at a number of TV companies that involve long hard hours of work and constant preparation. The harder I work the more gets offered to me and the luckier I get with my social life being blessed too. Nothing comes easy. All good things do not come to those who wait but to those who work. Excuse my rant but often we can’t believe the slackness we see professionally.

This week when not juggling writing and work commitments, I had a good old laugh at comedian Kojo’s Comedy Fun House as he gave me a table at Sound Bar. Next it was a sumptuous dinner with Adidas head celeb honcho Paola Lucktung, before trekking up to Hackney to see my friend ,one time presenter and dance partner Kat in Jack And The Beanstalk. I ended the week going to a private party thrown by party man about town Tim Wade for his mate Will I Am and the Black Eyed Peas at nightclub Cirque.

My West London sister Estelle flew into town for one night only (as your average superstar diva does), for a show at Hammersmith Apollo with John Legend and The Roots, we had post show dinner at Almada- a restaurant so stush that there’s no sign outside, it looks like a private home in Mayfair and you need a password to get in. I guess this is how the people that move in high circles stay amongst their own dahhlings. Estelle as usual looked classic yet fly in that unique way that only she does and treated her sisters and friends to dinner and some very dangerous looking red shots she fondly called ‘’red snappers’’ that were bourbon and cranberry juice. We debated the usual: music acts, boy friends and fashion before shoving her onto her plane back to her New York home.

After that I had to organise a Sunday afternoon bowling session for 30 people where we took over the lanes and screamed and shouted lots. I had a non-strike game which had me mortified so I blamed it on the 4 year old daughter of a friend that ‘’had been taking my turn’’. Cringe. I hate losing, at anything.

Straight afterwards we attended the comedy roast show at Shepherds Bush Empire where ex Eastenders actor Mohammed George aka Gus the road sweeper was the nights victim. Comedy Roasts feature a panel of comics all lining up one after another to cuss and embarrass their subject. As you can imagine Mohammed was an easy target and whilst I was anticipating chortling at his discomfort-which I did-I actually warmed to him after the show. The comics firing Gus were MTV BASE’ Kojo, BBC impressionist and sketch writer Jason Lewis, Baba Tunde, Kane Brown, female Felicity Ethnic, white comic Kevin J and host Richard Blackwood. Part one of the show saw the comics all do a quick stand up set and part two was when they all went in on Gus. Relative newcomer Kane Brown was up first and in all honesty-not that funny, a little awkward and stilted, next was Baba Tunde who was hilarious as was Jason Lewis who wasn’t just funny but cutting and original too. Jason cussed his fellow comics too which started a whole car crash of bitching between them all. Jason accused Kojo of being a joke stealer, Kojo accused Jason of being a nobody, Jason cussed Richards presenter to music transition, actually EVERYONE cussed Richards music career, and part in a recent theatre show and it doesn’t help that he’s now going to be playing Donkey in the West End musical of Shrek. Baba tunde and Jason were the strongest having the audience rolling in their seats with very well written, original, side splitting material. All in all the comics cussed each other more abusively than they did Gus- shake my head!Truly an amazing night of entertainment!

JASMINE WITH CHANNEL 4 HEAD OF DIVERSITY OONA KING AND REPORTER RAGEH OMAAR

Then it was time for THE ANNUAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY NETWORK AWARDS 2010. It’s the second one ever. Last year was hosted by Alan Carr at Channel 4 headquarters, this weeks was hosted by Gok Wan at the Royal Opera House. Apparently Channel 4 diversity officer Oona King (who was wearing a turquoise Indian salwar kameez on the night) pulled some big strings to get the venue, which was beautiful. The CDN Network is made up of all the major TV broadcasters and for the past 2 years has been looked after by Channel 4 who on this night passed the baton to the BBC who will run the ship for the next couple of years. Gok Wan wasn’t as raw and fresh as Alan last year who had us all rolling with his freestyle political incorrectness. The 3-course dinner was interspersed with the awards, which included most ground-breaking programme (awarded to My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding), breakthrough production talent (awarded to Tamanna Rahman) and company of the year (awarded to Bwark Productions). The dinner menu was simple but fresh and tasty- mint and goats cheese salad, sun blushed tomato stuffed chicken and a rhubarb parfait finished off with coffees.

I caught up with the delightful ITV News presenter Charlene White who looked gorgeous in a classy red dress, T4 presenter Rick Edwards who looked dashing in his whistle and flute, actor Omid Dgalili and presenter Anita Rani presented awards alongside news correspondents Krishnan Guru Murphy and Rageh Omaar. Both these men astound me with their articulate and concise news reporting skills-I was honoured to be in their company.

Lenny Henry also presented an award getting it wrong with his misinformed jokes again. Something about the Royal Opera House having not ever seen so many black faces. He clearly isn’t aware that loads of urban music, break-dance shows and similar events take place there and have been for many years that attract numerous black people. Clearly most of us have moved ahead leaving him stuck in his eighties joke world. Double cringe. The night was extremely inspiring and its heartening to note that there is a huge group of talented people out there in the media whop like me feel very passionately about bringing a diverse group of people into TV that wouldn’t usually have an opportunity to join this world. If you’re looking to get into TV and have found it difficult thus far you might want to look into the Cultural Diversity Network-I cant recommend it enough as a proactive organisation that’s helping change the face of media as I know it.

JASMINE WITH CHUCK D AND FLAVA FLAV

Okay don’t panic but its nearly that time of year where nuff money must get spent, gifts must be pondered, bought and wrapped, more layers must be worn, and excitement must be planned to within an inch of our lives! I’m exhausted just thinking about it! This weeks been full of scripting, writing columns, cooking for dinner parties and kicking orange autumn leaves around outside. I know, I’m a sucker and most appreciative for the wonders that surround us daily that god has bestowed on us. And I am totally sober writing this too!. Its true. I love life!

I did have some fun moments though- work is just something I do in between fun- one of these fun moments including a private invitation and audience with the legends that are Public Enemy! Chuck D and Flava Flav held a very intimate gathering of family and friends in Shoreditch in an underground basement where they talked to us about their current lives, the past and then finished by performing all their hits to us! It was surreal and a once in a lifetime experience. I wasn’t a huge public enemy fan at school as my then boyfriend played them 24-7 and quoted lines at me in his very hardcore pro black manner. But now years later I TOTALLY appreciated their intellect and songs. Twins Sarah and Sally from BLAG magazine had organised the night after doing the bands publicity for the past 12 years- they’re also known for throwing parties and DJ’ing for acts like Lupe Fiasco, Red Hot Chili Peppers and James Brown to DJing for Pharrell and Nigo and N*E*R*D to name a few. Clearly the BLAG mag twins and Public Enemy are the best of mates apparent by the warm banter between them all on the night. Sarah told me that on this short trip they ‘’ thought it would be fun to tackle it completely differently, no press releases, no junkets, just getting a great group of people in one room for a memorable experience – to meet P.E, hear all about them directly with a Q&A and a secret performance’’. Guests included press, radio, TV, DJs, UK talent, influencers and the idea was to give people an experience they’d want to talk about afterwards and we did!. Its also very clear that Chuck and Flav love to meet people! They spoke to us first with chuck leading in his charismatic manner whilst Flav as usual provided the perfect sidekick with his extrovert crazy self.

Chuck said the early years of hip-hop were memorable because ‘’We were happy to be travelling the globe- we were amazed that fans just turned up’’. Chuck added that he was pleased so many media had attended the evening as ‘‘its Journalists job to report about real hip-hop as well as new stuff’’.
Chuck revealed ‘’There’s a standard in this hip-hop game we continue to represent and we’re gonna show people in Africa this month what its about when we go out to Nigeria for the MAMAs- MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS’’. Chuck and Flav reiterated that they didn’t believe in needing passports to travel across the planet as the earth belonged to us all and that border controls and ‘’ Governments split people up-cultures bring people together’’. Speaking about young people, hip-hop and entertainment now as to compared back in the day chuck stated ‘’
These days drugs liquor and alcohol are the stars of the show cos the audience can’t rely on the talent onstage to be entertaining anymore so they have to rely on those extras to ensure they have a good time’’. I couldn’t believe he said that as that’s what I ALWAYS say! .

Regarding reality shows chuck insisted Flav couldn’t be put in the same category for his ‘’Flava of love’’ show as your average reality star because ‘’Flava flav has a real background and talent. I don’t know what the hell Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian do except just be’’. Flav spoke on wanting to get back home ASAP now as he’d been on the road a while and ‘’needs sun as he’s getting lighter!’’.

Chuck also stated his thoughts on expanding ones mind ‘‘unless you travel and leave your block you won’t move forwards’’.

Chuck added that he alone has filled 3 passports from his travel. Unlike many of the younger acts these days chuck understands the equal importance that press and media play in an acts career ‘’ We gotta come back with good music to please you the DJ and journo’’. Well noted sir-well noted!.

Chuck also revealed “I’m the only one in the collective that doesn’t play a musical instrument-i can’t even play the state lottery, on the other hand Flav plays 15 instruments-keys ,drums, piano, trombone, French horn, cello, tuba and more!’’. Flav smiled humbly but added ‘’but I don’t know how to read music, I play by ear’’.

Not threatened by new younger artists Chuck confirmed ‘’There’s a certain language you use to reach the adults and different lingo to reach the kids so we don’t try to emulate the new acts. Rhyming now is so elementary with 30 year olds rhyming like a 12 year old’’.
When pushed though the boys didn’t comment on names just exchanged knowing looks. We could all guess the acts they were referring to.

When someone asked why years ago Public Enemy expanded the DJ, mic and turntables set to include a live band instead of keeping the rap art form raw chuck defended his moves explaining ‘’we chose to add live instruments cos it became very limiting- just a raw mic was punk like but we needed to move on and couldn’t have done that without instruments’’. Chuck recalled that when he suggested that the act include live music Flava Flav was suspicious and unenthusiastic recalling ‘’Flav was the same, he asked me ” what u bringing these band motherf****** around for!”  Chuck recalls meeting Flav in the studio for the first time years ago recalling “he had a black geri curl, I said you can’t smoke in here!’’.  Flav laughed  “I’m grateful for a lot that chucks father taught me, my crew are best in the world, I wouldn’t trade them for anything’’. Then Flav took over with his excitable self telling us at length about ALL his other current and hypothetical new projects like “La Flav spirits” with a variety of flavours like cherry, berry ,olive ,sweet tea, bubble gum and more. I also have La Flav cognac ,also Chateau La Flav wine, also a couple of movies, and I’ve just finished doing voice overs for an American cartoon “Yahoo and friends”
, and I have a new Flava Flav cartoon, I’m also launching a line of Flava sharkskin wear…….’’. At this point we wrapped it up and let the legendary twosome perform their greatest hits for us during which they sounded as fresh and exactly as they did years ago on wax-it was breath taking! Then as we clutched at them for photos, shout outs and more they managed vto escape for their gig the same night at the 02 where they proved to me beyond a doubt that whilst I have the utmost respect and champion all the new young British acts that are doing so well right now, they really cant be tested against the live presence and articulate skills that the old skool acts that week showed me. The manic, passionate energy and vibe of Red and Meth, the untouchable intellect of KRS-1, then finished up with the iconic hits of Public Enemy. It was no competition. Old skool wins!.