Month: December 2011

JASMINE WITH KOJO!
Its that time of year! Full of Christmas cheer and numerous Christmas parties to attend. this past 6 days alone I have had 3 work parties, dinners and cocktails, attended the very fabulous posh peoples puffa jacket party for designer Mon Clare at their Christmas cocktails evening, shook my booty at the Adidas EIM end of year bash at under the bridge at Stamford bridge, congratulated the Spirit of London ambassadors at the SOLA Christmas ball at the Mayfair Hotel,
So last week Mariah flew into town to attend Prince Azim’s NOBLE GIFT GALA ball at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane. The Noble Gift Gala is an event that pays ‘tribute to those who help support and foster awareness for children and the empowerment of women around the world.’ Mariah was the guest of honour at the event and received the 2011 Noble Gift Humanitarian Award for her efforts in helping disadvantaged children. Mariah has generously donated her time and energy to a range of philanthropic causes near to her heart, including Save the Music and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. A tremendous supporter of children’s charities, both domestic and international, Mariah, in partnership with the Fresh Air Fund founded Camp Mariah, a retreat for inner city children to explore career development. So you can see that Mariah’s impact transcends the music industry to leave an indelible imprint upon the world at large.
On the Saturday morning Upon her arrival, MC was welcomed by a huge crowd of her fans outside the Dorchester who congratulated her on her new baby twins otherwise known as “dembabies” and sang her original Christmas tunes “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Oh Santa,” and “When Christmas Comes”. MC spoke to the fans, signed autographs and even took pictures with the fan gifts later posted on her twitter. We hung out in her suite all afternoon and then made our way down to the red carpet where my favourite desperate housewife- Eva Longoria looked sweet in a long flowing purple gown and she bought along her boyfriend of 10 months, Eduardo Cruz, brother of Penelope Cruz. I also spotted legendary model Jerry Hall on our table who wore a knee length black dress and opted for flat shoes as she arrived with her husband Warwick Hemsley. Wealthy lady about town and new reality TV star Tamara Ecclestone arrived in an attention grabbing black sequined dress but none outshone our girl Mariah who was the guest of honour at the event and received the 2011 Noble Gift Humanitarian Award for her efforts in helping disadvantaged children. The event was held at the Dorchester Hotel and honoured Mariah Carey for her charity work. Proceeds went to Eva’s charity-The Eva Longoria Fund and there were plenty of celebrities on hand to donate. We were treated to musical performances by Leona Lewis, Dionne Bromfield and a wonderful band and Mariah made a very heartfelt touching speech when awarded her award by Prince Azim. A great night!

Finally I caught up with my old MTV BASE talent and friend Kojo who has been plonking his fingers in many pies in a way that makes me stay proud of him. As well as hosting comedy nights across the country and performing onstage weekly Kojo is also now the main breakfast show presenter on ChoiceFM radio and his star looks to expand even more next year! Kojo popped into the BBC staff canteen for a catch-up. He explained to me that after his very successful stint at MTV BASE (he was even nominated for a CDN Award for Kojo’s comedy funhouse!), he had gone to America to learn and grow as a person and comic. He won a place in the American stand up show “last comic standing” and so got a visa so thought he could use the visa to stay and work with one of his mentors –hip hop godfather Russell Simmons. he explained to me that he ‘’wanted to learn how to really do well because at one stage I really lost my hunger’’. He continued ‘’I had done MTV Base, Fresh Prince of Hackney and many more and was giving to many others but felt slightly lost so went to get his hunger back in the USA’’.
‘’I did that for a year’’ he explained ‘’I wanted to just go away and live. Richard prior wrote about what he lived, his real experiences. It took me a lot of courage to pack and move. It was character building. I knocked on a lot of doors and everyone was too busy. In New York I had no time to worry about others. All of us were on our own grind and hustle. It was about how to survive’’. But proving he still does have the Hackney boy in him Kojo hustled and got himself onto New York radio stations like Hot 97 with DJ cypher sounds.
After a year Kojo was ready to return home. He told me felt like he had enough experiences to talk about. Kojo gushed ‘’People think the USA is great etc but I really missed the UK’’.
Kojo had decided that his Game plan on his UK return was to do mainstream shows. He took no bookings for a year except his corks wine bar regular Sunday comedy cub and jongleurs comedy club to pay the bills. ‘’I was Looking at other big British comics like Michael McIntyre etc so I spent 2 years doing mainstream festivals like the Edinburgh festival so people could see I was credible. My experience with the BBC and MTV Base all adds to my stand up. Hanging with Russell in New York and accompanying him on yoga classes and business-this all opened my eyes’’.
Kojo admitted that he really wanted to write a film with producer Damien jones who produced Kidulthood /Adulthood. He learnt that writing was a good talent to have credits for so he wrote a film and a cartoon series. He wrote numerous scripts and 2 are about to go into production. One is a film called “The Weekend”. Another is a cartoon animation titled “The Hoodz” about a black family who win the lottery and think all their troubles have gone. But they’ve just begun. Kojo’s film is in production from march and expected to be out in October.
Keeping the whole scene unified is important to keep pushing more new talent out into the nation and one man helping do that is my friend and film director/actor Noel Clarke who has put Kojo in his new movie titled ‘’The Knot’’ which is out on valentines day 2012. In THE KNOT Kojo plays a delivery guy in a strong role in 5 scenes!
As many of you already know, ChoiceFM approached Kojo to become the breakfast show presenter earlier this year in March too. Kojo said he felt like this was a natural transition and progression. Kojo stated ‘’ I wanted to have a voice’’. Next he brought in his co host- DJ Max, as he wanted a female co-host with experience. Now he is talking to a very diverse audience-he has his comedy fans as well as a captive daily morning radio audience. When asked who his favourite radio host was from ChoiceFM’s history Kojo immediately stated old favourite Geoff Shuman due to his daily morning prank calls. ‘’I always respected Geoff’s co-host DJ martin jay too who was there 14 years, Martin gave me a lot of good advice and supported me when I took over from him’’.
Next Kojo is putting on another one-man live show called ‘‘live n kicking’’. This was inspired he says as ‘’I’ve spent 11 years doing things on MTV and online and there just aren’t enough big opportunities for us to do our own thing-so I’m doing my own thing again. Now its time for me to get something on the public’s shelves. People buy DVD’s. And I want to be on shelves with Michael McIntyre and other mainstream comics. Live and kicking will take me in a different direction and we are filming it for DVD release. . I’m much more mature now than I ever was. In the show I will be talking about my thoughts on the riots and why they happened. And Obama. Will we ever have a black prime minister? And why David Lammy isn’t it. I have invited David Lammy but have no idea if he’ll turn up. I’ll be talking about my own experiences of being in foster care and many other things that the ethnic communities are afraid to talk about. I’ll have a section on Relationships. I’m in a relationship now. (And yes my lady will be in the house!)’’
Live n kicking IS all about the stories. It’s about Kojo’s progression. No doubt all his mates from the press, celebs, footballers and more will be in the audience. Lets continue to catapult our ethnic young talent up and all make this night a huge success! Will you be in the house? I will!
To get on board the next stop in Kojo’s rise to fame check www.OFFICIALkojo.com for tickets-see you there!

CDN AWARD NOMINEE FILM MAKER YEMI BAMIRO WITH JASMINE AND MUSIC ARTIST AKALA
The great and the good from the TV world all upped sticks and made their way to Manchester this past week for the annual CDN TV (CREATIVE DIVERSITY AWARDS) AWARDS.
I found myself on a train with one of my MEDIA TRUST DIRECTORS as well as SKY TV’S bigwig lady (managing director-entertainment and news) Sophie Turner Lang speeding to the BBC’s new northern home in Manchester called media city. Media city is a massive small town like development built in Salford on the quays so very pretty location-even though the wet rain and torrential winds didn’t greet us with warmth.

On arrival at the event we were greeted by trays of wine and champagne and a canapé reception where I caught up with music artist Akala-who was presenting an award and also nominated for 2 awards, ITN news reader Charlene White, former radio 1 producer for Trevor Nelson/ current BBC radio producer-Devon Daley, TV producer Yemi Bamiro-nominated for his TV show on channel 4-life of rhyme starring Akala and many more.
Former channel 4 head of diversity and mayoral candidate Oona King was dressed more casually than ever in lilac pants and shirt, the BBC big wig Pat Younge was looking well, coronation streets Shobna Gulati (Sunitta) looking very foxy in a tight pencil skirt and sequinned top that showed off her full cleavage with killer designer heels and a long flowing high ponytail, a few Hollyoaks presenters, and other TV power players.
Tameka Epsom from Eastenders hosted the night with Cherlee Houston. Both had a few autocue problems. The script that was written was quite wordy and long winded-not the best set up for a comedienne actress but she did her best.
Director of the BBC Mark Thompson did a great intro where he mentioned that BBC’s 3 new main aims include wanting to represent young people better and more fairly. From there it was award after award. Jimmy Akingbola and Ellen Thomas onstage-presented Best Drama Award- winner to the BBC show Luther which stars my friend and yours-the delectable Idris Elba. Chief Exec from Channel 4 David Abraham presented TV company of the year (for diversity behind and in front of screen) to Endemol who make reality shows like Big Brother and Survivor! Coronation Street’s Shobna Gulati presented best comedy and entertainment programme award to Phoneshop! The Diversity Innovation Award went to Battlefront! Best News Award went to the BBC Journalism Trainee Scheme.
Best Factual Programme winner was the amazing series Panorama-undercover care-the abuse exposed. All in all a great night that really showed diversity is in a good place with more of a focus on it than ever before. An amazing man called Clive Jones CBE who founded the CDN spoke at the end when he was awarded the Fellowship Award and said that when he was heading up many mainstream broadcasters like ITV back in the day he was astonished that with the UK’s diverse population that they weren’t represented fairly or equally on TV. He had his team add a black actor to coronation St years ago and sat back in his chair to watch the great moment and then held his head in his hands as he noted the black actor was portraying a thief that had broken into Emily Bishops store!. Clive added facts that made the audience sit up and note that if you have an African or Asian surname you will have to send at least 20 more CV’s out to jobs to even be considered for an interview. That Chinese boys perform better than Caucasian boys but still get paid 20% less, by 2051 the black and ethnic minority population in the UK will be 20million-so 30% of the TV audience will be ethnic-isn’t it time to start investing in our diverse cultures now? food for thought for all media makers.

JASMINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STYLIST TO THE STARS-KAREN BINNS AND INTERNATIONAL MUSIC STAR-ESTELLE!
I ended the week by having dinner with Estelle who was back in her hometown of London on some promotion before heading out to Asia for some promotion. I took her and a few friends to the IVY CLUB- next door to the infamous IVY RESTAURANT but even more exclusive as it’s not for the public but members only. We had a great evening reminiscing and catching up over Bellini’s.
Ending on a great note- YOUNG PEOPLES QUESTION TIME has been given the green light for BBC3-so finally our youth will have their thoughts, hopes, frustrations and voices heard. The greater population will be able to see just what the young are going through and hopefully a greater connection between society will bring forth a lil more harmony- whoop whoop!

JASMINE WITH MICHELLE WILLIAMS!
This week I’ve been up to Manchester to the BBC’s new media city and back for the CDN CREATIVE DIVERSITY AWARDS, West London’s finest superstar Estelle popped back home for a few days to talk about her forth coming new music, attended 4 early business Christmas parties, 2 dinner parties and launched one new TV show-UK 360! PHEW! IM TIRED JUST READING THAT!

In a week that’s seen Chipmunk celebrate his 21st birthday, Game, Miguel and Jill Scott pop through our capital city for shows I made time for only velvet toned singer with the sveltest figure ever from Destiny’s Child-the diva that is Michele Williams invited me to a very special, opulent night to watch her perform her Single ‘’On the run’’ at The gallery at the Westbury Hotel in Central London. As we arrived the paparazzi were already there awaiting that ‘’stepped out of the car’’ shot and the queue was lined up with guests going all around the block. On entry we were offered unlimited silver trays of prosecco and tiny canapés that were delicious! at the drinks reception where I spotted former eternal singer Vernie, Multi-award winning Casting Directors for commercials, film, TV, dance, music videos, world tours and more-Mark Summers, Shakazulu restaurant owner and man about town roger Payne, MOBO head Kanya King, music PR maven Fiona Ramsay and many other movers and shakers from the more glitterati scene.
I had a lovely catch up with ex eternal singer Vernie who still looks as classy and sophisticated as she ever did and is living her life like it’s gorgeous!

JASMINE WITH EX ETERNAL MEMBER VERNIE AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR JOSEPH ROSS.
Someone also mentioned to me that whilst we were hob nobbing with Michelle Williams, the original line up of girl group Sugababes were in the studio that very night (Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan) and that they were coming back with a vengeance. Well done to them all I say-that was the bestline up and how ironic what with the latest line up already having broken up and been dropped by their current label!
Next a camera crew from SKY LIVING came over to ask if we would mind commenting on a young lady they were making a lookalike programme on. They pointed across to a young lady that they said was a Beyonce lookalike and asked us to comment on her. Well it was awkward. The lady was beautiful in her own way but by no means resembled Bey. In fact I felt bad for her cos it felt like the TV people might be for TV purposes making her look a bit of a fool. the lady was tall, wearing a very un Beyonce style pair of shoes, wrongly matched to skin colour flesh coloured tights, a cheap gold sequinned tunic that barely covered her bum, and had huge bouffant styled black hair! Bey would never have hair darker than honey, her waist would betightly cinched in with a corset and this lady was not in any way a lookalike. She was clearly very nervous and felt out of place. I felt bad for her. The Beyonce I know and love would be smiling 100% of the time in public through her teeth even whilst talking and be extremely confident and work the room. Oh dear. I can’t wait to see the finished show.
Anyhoo-I digress-0the main reason everyone was actually there was to see a REAL destiny’s child. Once we had all finished gossiping we were led to the basement area into a beautifully extravagant room with paintings and plushness where Michelle performed her song alongside 2 female dancers and totally rocked the place with her sassy vocals.
At the end of the night we were all sent home singing the single as we left and handed a beautifully bespoken cupcake made by ‘’cute as a cupcake’’ with an image of Michelle on top. So we literally ate Michelle Williams!

ME. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SLIP THE ‘MONA LISA’ INTO MY POCKET DISCREETLY.
Bonjour readers! I’ve just returned from a short break in Paris where I experienced 4 very extravagant days and nights which included showing a Paris virgin (someone who’s never visited Paris-not a sexually inexperienced Parisian!), the sights of the city!
The Eurostar tipped us out at the infamous gare du nord train station and a taxi scooped us up and delivered us to our hotel based in the trocadero district in the 8th arrondissment just off the world famous champs elysee. We spent days exploring the Louvre where my friend pondered how difficult it would be to steal the Mona Lisa painting, taking silly photos in front of the Eiffel tower in strange perspectives that make it look like we are touching the tip of the tower, and walking into every designer store along the bling covered rue saint-honour exciting the assistants by insinuating we were buying up the store, especially when we walked into D&G with American music star Florida!!
We had 3 extremely expensive dinners at opulent establishments, the Buddha bar (extremely stush, great setting under a giant Buddha-but awful food and service), KONG restaurant (designer / architect Philippe starks place-stunning ariel views, sexy venue and people and amazing food!), and finally my favourite-L’Cantine- (a very sexy restaurant with a live dj playing classic soul and r&b as diners dined in a beautifully decorated modern dimly lit sexy venue). Things I pondered whilst out there; is it a requirement by law that every French citizen wear a mon clare puffa jacket? Has anyone tested whether raw minced meat eaten as a French delicacy can cause food poisoning? Is wine a mandatory accompaniment with absolutely EVERY meal? Do French kids have style genes from birth that mean they look as if they were styled by a vogue editor? Why are Japanese tourists so obsessed with Louis Vuitton clothing-the stores looked like a rave was in full swing with 24-7 queues outside? Are most French people rude to the English or is it just that they refuse to try and communicate with us in English? Can we teach British cafes how to make real hot chocolate the way the French do with real cocoa? Do the Paris tourist board realise what a faux pas it is that they demolished the café outside the Louvre that Carrie Bradshaw visited in sex and the city? Did you know that Frances president Sarkozy has real big pimping merit- no one is allowed to toot or beep their car horns at any time outside his residential palace in case they wake him-now that’s gangsta! Hilariously French taxi drivers explained to us that the British, American and Japanese embassies were so stingy they didn’t want to pay towards the rue saint honour Christmas lights all the way down the street outside their buildings hence the beautifully lit street is all unified in twinkling decorations until you arrive outside these 3 buildings where its just dead as if Christmas forgot it! Idiots guide to Paris tourist tip; flag down your own taxis as the concierge requesting it for you incurs a 15-euro surcharge before you’ve even stepped into the car!

SWAY, ADAM DEACON AND BASHY WITH US AT CITY HALL!
Before that though London was a buzz with the London 360 event at city hall where we began with a drinks reception before escorting everyone into the main city hall amphitheatre chamber for a talk and screening of the highlights for series 1.
TREVOR NELSON, ADAM DEACON, EDDIE NESTOR AT LONDON360!
Supporters like Alesha Dixon, Trevor Nelson, Eddie Nestor and I spoke in the Mayor’s chamber in front of an audience of 300 of London’s movers and shakers. The event was to celebrate London 360 series 1 and its impact on the residents and stories about London’s communities.

LONDON360 SERIES 1 AND 2 REPORTERS WITH ME!
Reporters from series 1 and 2 talked about their experiences. Trevor emphasised his love of London and why a show like this is necessary. Organisers from a variety of organisations like Orin Lewis from the ACLT explained how involvement in getting his story out there had helped his profile and Eddie Nestor spoke about the career progression for our reporters from TV to radio and beyond.

ACLT’S ORIN LEWIS WITH ME AND MY L360 REPORTER FUNMI OLUTOYE.
Many of our reporters have gone onto a wide variety of jobs within the media like Sky News, ITN, the Jeremy Kyle show, Tiger Aspect production company, SBTV and Shine TV. Many of London’s most influential press and bloggers (Grimedaily, the Mactwins/Hub entertainment, 3AM girls-The Mirror, THE VOICE, OHTV and more) scrambled around at the end to grab press interviews with acts like Sway, Bashy, Princess Nyah and the big wigs that run London from City Bridge. If you know any youngsters between 18-25 years old that want a start on their media career ladder get in touch with me at hiphop.com! We are London-. People. Powered. Change!.