Young voices kojo edition

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23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012

Jourdan Dunn wins top award

KOJO

Life and laughs

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NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2013 THE VOICE ! 25

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UK comedian Kojo talks to YV’s Dionne Grant about taking radio by storm, moving into acting and why variety is the spice of life

A

S FAR as accomplishments go, UK comedian Kojo has a few under

his belt.

He is the unmistakable and quick-witted voice behind Capital XTRA’s morning breakfast show, remains one of the country’s top young black comics and has more recently embarked upon a burgeoning career in film.

Yet, despite the more recent fanfare, there is one achievement that stands head and shoulders above the rest as the “best thing� the Hackney-born star has ever done. “That’s got to be my comedy club at Corks [Wine Bar],� Kojo says. “The best thing I’ve done in my life to date is that.�

Every Sunday, patrons from all around the UK would make the weekly pilgrimage to the

hottest (my words, not his. I was in the queue too) Central London spot for a side-splitting taste of the best UK comedy had to offer.

And a host of famous faces, including US comedy heavyweights Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock, passed through the legendary doors, realising that if they wanted to tap into the heart of the UK’s black comedy scene, Kojo’s Comedy Club was the place to do it. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is tell jokes,� he says. “Going from that little thing [Corks], to all of this extra stuff has been a humbling journey.�

Rising to national prominence in 2007 after the overwhelming success of his oneman show, The Fresh Prince of Hackney (later screened on MTV Base), Kojo then spent some time in America perfecting his craft with the help of

comedy greats and “friends�

Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart.

Upon his return to the UK, the comic released his first DVD and has appeared in a number of UK films – including recent UK flick It’s A Lot alongside former Young Voices cover stars, comedian Eddie Kadi and the film’s director, Femi Oyeniran.

Then in 2011, he became the face (and voice) of Choice FM’s popular breakfast show (now Capital XTRA) alongside co-host Jade Avia. “The thing I love about radio is that I’m able to be myself.

You can’t fake who you are at 4am in the morning. For me, my job is to get people to school, college and work with a smile on their face. That’s all I want to do.�

However, last month, many of those smiles were wiped

from the faces of his muchloved listeners after Global Radio, the owners of Choice FM, made the controversial decision to change the station’s name to Capital XTRA, axe long-standing DJs and transform the musical output from hip-hop, R&B and reggae to ‘urban dance’. “For me, it was hard being the face of the station and a brand that I had grown up with to all of a sudden get told that all this change is happening and it’s going to happen next week, that was a lot of pressure,� Kojo admits. “But for me, although losing Choice FM was sad, we left on a high. We had our highest listenership ever and we will forever have the memories.� One of which he says was co-hosting a show with his “brother�, actor and comedain Kevin Hart.

And although Kojo says that it was hard losing colleagues many of whom had become friends - in the shake-up, he understands why the changeover needed to happen. “As a businessman, the business side of me was thinking about my position at the station. Do I want to be a Londonbased radio presenter for the rest of my life? No. I’m a comedian who has always been national so why shouldn’t I be a part of a national radio station?�

He says he will now use his position of influence to incite “positive change�. “That’s all I’m interested in,� he says. “For me, I’m just trying to leave a legacy. I’ve

become involved with the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) and give blood.

When I was told the [low] numbers of people that actually donate, it was embarrassing.

Now it’s about changing that mindset. We complain about a name change, but we’ve got a chance to change people’s lives and no one wants to step up. These are the things I’m more interested in solving.�

The comic will also embark on a world tour, which will take him back to his family’s Ghanaian hometown, South Africa and Amsterdam, while he gears up for the release of his reality show Life & Laughs.

The fly-on-the-wall documentary will “give people the opportunity to see my lifestyle and all that I do. The main aim is to show people from the outside

what it looks like from the inside – not that it’s that different to what I put out there.�

Kojo, who recently signed to major talent agency Cole Kitchenn as he seeks to expand his empire further, added: “I still go for auditions and I’m told ‘no’. I don’t get every gig that I go for. I want to show that the work rate never stops. In fact, it gets harder. “I think this generation is cut differently from the older generation. We have our fingers in so many pies. There are MCs and musicians who are involved in films and haven’t had an album out in years. You have to consistently find other ways of expressing yourself.�

It’s A Lot is out now. Life & Laughs will be released online in December. For more information about Kojo and his upcoming projects, follow @OfficialKojo on Twitter--

JOURDAN DUNN:

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25 BUSTED? F F U B

Dear Kat,

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a mother of one, but my boyfriend (who is not the father of my son) wants another baby.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m 19 and my son is two. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel ready to have a baby, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just started college and have a part-time job, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to lose my boyfriend.

He says he wants us to be a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;properâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; family and feels that will only happen once we have a child together.

You always give good advice, can you help me?

Anon

BUSTED

Hi Anon,

Reading your letter made me smile. It is so refreshing to see young people think before they act.

As a mum-of-one, you say youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not ready to have a second child as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just started college and now have a part-time job, those should be your priorities. As Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you know from past experience, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy doing both of those things when you have a new child.

Your boyfriend needs to understand that and support you in those ventures.

His reasons for wanting a child seem very selfish, as though he believes that because you do not have a child with him, he is not important enough. Reassure him this is not the case and explain, just like you did to me, that you are not ready for another child.

If he decides to leave you because of that, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say he has done you a favour. A man who truly loves you, would want the best for you.

Let me know how you get on.

BUFF NAOMIE HA RRIS: Just pants!

NATALIE GUMEDE:

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RITA ORA: Kiss from a ro se Dizzee Rascal

Â&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x153;I'm tired of putting up with these 2 faced pri*ks at Radio 1! If anyone's got a problem let me know. All this nice guy sh*ts dead!

KIM AND KANYE

26 ! THE VOICE NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2013

LE T T A B R E T POS KENDRICK

d BIG SEAN

LAMAR an

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