In early December Chanel West Coast and her posse visited rock nyc HQ looking tired, bedraggled and as though they’d just stepped out on bed. The night before Chanel had played SOB’s and then made her way to 1Oak where the rich and famous play.
Stephanie Rizzo and I quizzed Chanel and friends for an hour but since I just about had the story a coupla months earlier I sat on it. I pushed Chanel on the music; the album Now You Know, a Cash Money release, had dropped to pretty numerous acclaim and Chanel had opened for Lil Wayne on his summer tour. Because she is pretty and appears on two very popular MTV shows, Roy Drydek’s Fantasy Factory (Which is in its 6 and final season) and “Ridiculousness” which is the America’s Funniest Video of the Greatest generation and should keep her busy forever.
Chanel continues working hard to get taken seriously and her completely unglamorous appearance at our offices made her nothing but friends among the women here. Chanel, tucking into her Taco Bell and joking with her DJ and managers, is a picture of normality in an abnormal business.
We talk rap, with Chanel pledging allegiance to Drake though not Yeezus, and we talk boys, apparently her current squeeze is in the rap business as she confides to Stephanie. Chanel is very open, very easy going, the atmosphere is friends on a day trip after a long night out.
I liked her the first time I met her and I liked her this time: Chanel is a serious musician who is willing tio use her stardom to further her music. Now You Know is a good album and the newly released oldie “I Love Money” is still her most purely enjoyable track: hand clapping dollar slapping awesomeness.
The brand new “Holiday” has the best opening ever, a super moody beat pattern opens it, with the sound of a whip coming down every third line, and Chanel’s flow never this good before. It is an atmospheric money track itself but once she goes Twista on your butt it is much more than that. I love it.
Come back for tacos again Chanel! Before you get too big for us…
I Love Money – B+
Vacation – A-