The Voices of Bel-Air
Come to find out...the Bel-Air cast are a bunch of multi-hyphenate people.
It is currently 8:30am in Nigeria, so Happy November! 💚
I spoke to you about the first two seasons of Bel-Air in April, and if you missed our update on the app, the third season aired almost three months ago on Peacock, and it was just spectacular.
A little memory jig…
No, we are not discussing the series again, but what we will do in this log is speak on some of the characters who we found out to be recording artists. At this juncture, I hope you are not wondering how we figured this out. Are you even a filmhead if you do not go ahead and Google the characters? Did you enjoy what you watched if you were not stalking them on social media? The answer is NO and NO!
Of course we are fully aware Coco Jones (Hilary Banks) is musically gifted, but did you know our two-way love triangle survivors: LWC—LWJ (being Lisa, Will, Carlton, and Jackie) also have musical range? Among them are singers, songwriters, a dancer, etc. Don't you just love a talented cast with amazing skill sets?! I know I do.
Simone (Lisa) was my very first discovery, and I was stoked and stuck! To my pleasant surprise, she has been in the industry for a while, shining in the R&B scene with an impressive discography and a hypnotic voice. Her sound feels very whole and refreshing, and she has so far blessed us with one album, Divine Mistakes (2024), amongst other singles and features. Well, the good news is Ms. Jones will be dropping her second studio album, Magnet, today! You should definitely check it out.
With only two songs on streaming platforms, Jabari Banks (Will Smith) does not sound like an artist that just got here. His musical talent shows itself just a few minutes into his debut single, Something Else (2023). His delivery was effortless! And a couple months ago he came back with a vibrant track, Weekend Drive, successfully propelling his musical career. I am seated here, front row, waiting for all he will do with that special voice.
Carlton may have been the most annoying character on Bel-Air, but at least he shares the same element of ‘cool’ with Olly, because what do you mean you are a music producer, songwriter, singer, and actor? Sholotan (Carlton Banks) describes his sound as “music for the interconnected,” and it just makes perfect sense! Having listened to his music for a while now—an EP titled Jive (2018) and an album Smoke Chasing (2022), among other singles—it feels like a blend of hip-hop, R&B, afrobeats, and pop—you know, just all the good things. He recently released a track, Bodye (2024), which I was left no choice but to obsess over since it was basically living on my IG feed. That song sets you in motion, and the music video? Sensational, because where did they learn how to dance like that? The routine was so smooth, and I loved all the BTS content Sholotan blessed us with.
Jazlyn Martin (Jackie a.k.a. Ms. Messy, a.k.a. Too cool for these boys) is the new kid on the vocal block as she released her first ever single, Perfect, just four months ago, and her debut EP, Identity Crisis, which I describe as ‘pure and needed art,' in August. From Martin’s released works, I could tell how good a storyteller she is, as she so beautifully embeds real-life encounters into her songs. And that EP? Her debut?? This is how I know she is going to be here for a good and long time. She strikes me as one of those artists you call a musician and not just a singer. I may be in a hurry with my judgment, but you cannot possibly say she is not on her way there. Listen to her project, and you just might share the same sentiments. PS: Jazlyn is also a professional dancer. A ‘Jack of all trades and master of all’ in the flesh!
There is no way we would end this and not rightfully reaffirm Grammy winner, thee Coco Jones (Hilary Banks). I mean, she has been on our radar since the Disney Channel show Let It Shine in 2012, where she starred and performed, and has now put out numerous singles and four (4) Extended Plays: her early self-titled Coco Jones (2010), followed by Made Of (2013), Let Me Check It (2017), H.D.W.Y. (2019), and her most recent and widely recognized EP, What I Didn’t Tell You (2022), which solidifies her position as a rising force in contemporary R&B. Jones is such a talented artist and I cannot wait to hear what more she has for us, especially with her upcoming full-length album.
And finally, you would not believe this, Little Ms. Put you on some good stuff’ went a notch higher and created a public playlist on Spotify just for you! This is my way of honoring these gifted people: Simone, Jabari, Olly, Jazlyn, and Coco, and of course letting you have a taste of good rhythm and melody. I curated this playlist for your listening pleasure: a whole lotta R&B/Pop to move your hips to, a good mix of hip-hop to induce adrenaline, and even Afrobeats to keep the vibes locked in. You would love this!
The House of Bel-Air is officially yours, courtesy of your favorite, messy TV-bunch and my humble self. GO STREAM!
NB: I do not own rights to any of the photos used in this log.
N E W S
Two logs ago I suggested some Nollywood titles that were set to air in October, which are all now streaming, of course, but The Smart Money Woman S2 started showing just yesterday on Azuwa Studios, and the release schedule is as follows: Episodes 1&2 - October 31, Episodes 3&4 - November 7, Episodes 5&6 - November 14, Episodes 7&8 - November 21, Episodes 9&10 - November 28.
Do you recall Blood Sisters, Netflix’s first Nigerian original series that had us hyped in 2022? Well, Mo Abudu and her team at Ebonylife have confirmed a second season is in the works. So fingers crossed it gets released by 2025. If you are yet to see the first season, go on Netflix now because that's one of the best pictures out of Nigeria.
Up next on Chrysé: LAGOS FASHION WEEK.
Yes, I love them all. A very creative cast including Cassandra & Adrian.