Coco Bean
Coco Bean Interview
SBS: Coco Bean! Stoked to have you with us my friend. Let’s get some history from ya & put everyone we can on the same page here…what were the most pivotal moments in your life that led you to decide making music was what you wanted to do? What flipped the switch from thinking that it might be a good idea, and changed your perspective to feel like it was something you HAD to do, you know what I mean? Somewhere along the lines in your journey, there’s a moment in time, or perhaps several, that made music such an important goal in your life that you had to pursue it one day – tell us what you can.
Coco Bean: First of all, its soooo great getting the chance to finally talk to you. I know we’ve been trying to make this happen for a few months. So before we go any further thank you for having me!
Ok, pivotal moments. Geeeezzzzz. There were many! I’ve had so many impactful, gut wrenching and emotionally pulverizing moments like so many other people. In those devastating times I knew that I had to do something, but I didn’t know what it was I was supposed to do.
I remember being in middle school in the music room auditorium. It’s packed with kids, and it was sooooo messed up. What I mean by that is that all the white kids were on one side and all the black kids on the other. Being with all the black kids, even at that age, I knew and felt that the situation was allllll wrong and knew that I had to try doing something. I decided to walk across the room to ‘the other side’. Even though it was only a matter of mere feet it felt like I had embarked upon Homer’s Odessey. I could literally feel my shoes growing heavier and heavier with each step. The weight of social norms were like enormous links of a rusty chain piled upon my person with each passing moment. Emotionally exhausted upon my arrival I was greeted with sneers, looks of objections and unabashed remarks, “What are you doing over here?” “Get outta here, Darkie”, “Go back to where you came from.” It was terrible. I retreated.
Upon returning to what most would expect to be a safe haven I was instead greeted with “Why’d you go over there’s?” “You think you, white?” “F’in Oreo!” I felt so alone. So Isolated. I found an old paint-chipped wooden chair in the corner and fought back the tears….unsuccessfully.
I knew then that I had to do something but had no idea of what to do or how to process what happened. The line “….Too Black For The Whites, Too White For The Blacks” in “My Name Is Coco Bean” is about that day in middle school.
SBS: Obviously, you’re probably more excited than ever, ready to launch your new single out into the world any day now at the time this interview was written. “My Name Is Coco Bean” is stocked & loaded with personality, and of course, features a legendary guest star to rock the mic with you as well. I think it’s better if you explain the details though…why don’t you tell the people out there what “My Name Is Coco Bean” is all about, and tell us about how you secured one of the true titans of the industry to come out for your debut! How much of your own personal history did you write into “My Name Is Coco Bean?
Coco Bean: You have nooooooo idea how thankful I am to have SNOOP DOGG as the feature. Actually, I think you do have an idea. 🙂
I have been fortunate to work with the great and talented people over at Anno Domini Nation and they hooked it up. The original track for “My Name Is Coco Bean plus 3 others (all 4 are in the can) all came out of the Anno Domini / Legion Beat camp. Their relationship with Uncle Snoop made it possible. But it cannot be understated that none of this would have happened without Snoop Dogg making himself available by giving away “Game.” Of course, Snoop is a business man, so rights were secured and licenses were signed. Because, at the end of the day it is the Music “Business.” Plus, I am extremely thankful that it was handled in such a manner. Because if an artist wants to have longevity in this arena an artist must respect the business in addition to the art.
The version of “My Name Is Coco Bean” released on December 1st is a remix from the one and only ERIC KUPPER!
“My Name Is Coco Bean” is a “Hello” to everyone out there who has been told to “give-up” or “give-in”. Let’s hang in there and get to where we’re going together…. Okkkkay!!!
SBS: Let’s get some perspective from ya Coco Bean. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s freakin’ AMAZING that you got a world-class caliber artist like SNOOP DOGG to be on your latest track…but in the grand scheme of things, your resume in the music world is still being established, ain’t it? I could find another track out there to listen to that got traction like “White Girl Wasted,” and evidence of a few more that existed…but you get what I’m saying – relatively, you’re still trying to break into the music scene in many ways. I think it’s a pretty awesome world we’re living in where someone like Snoop will take the time to help assist another artist with leveling up, and be reachable & open to collaborations of all kinds. What was it about Tha Dogfather and his talents that you wanted specifically to be featured on your new cut? There’s a world filled with incredible artists – what made Snoop the right fit for “My Name Is Coco Bean?
Coco Bean: I actually have been releasing music on Spotify and all the other platforms pretty consistently since 2018. “White Girl Wasted” was the first release. Since then I actually accumulated over 3 Million Streams. But unfortunately all of my music was taken off of Spotify. I was RRRRRRUINED when that happened.
I made the mistake of not vetting an overseas company throughly for media marketing. Despite the fact that I explicitly stated ‘NO FAKE STREAMS. NO BOTS, ETC. the company did it anyway and everything I worked for was gone! I tried to plead my case, but nobody was listening. That was truly my absolute lowest point. For the first time I honestly thought about giving up. But then I decided to pray about it. I prayed because I truly had nothing left.
Then guess what happened; a local Cleveland DJ (Michael Filly) called me three days later after checking out “White Girl Wasted” and turned me onto New York Promoter Executive Producer, BRAD LeBEAU who only took my call because of Michael. BRAD agreed to accept “White Girl Wasted” by enlisting Grammy nominated DJ STONEBRIDGE from Sweden. In the meantime, here comes The D-O-Double-G (God Bless you Snoop). BRAD calls up internationally renowned DJ Producer, ERIC KUPPER and herrrrre we are. I’m recounting these events to you, because when I consciously let the tragedy of getting kicked off Spotify and losing 3 Million streams and being at peace with the entire situation, that’s when everything started to happen. I remember being in a hotel room on my knees praying “please take care of this, because there’s nothing else I can do.”
SBS: From the looks of things…it seems like “White Girl Wasted” traces back to 2018 from what I can find out there online, though it has recently been refreshed and re-released as an EP this year as well. You combine that, with a brand-new single, and an appearance from a guest-star that’s one of the best to ever do it…and the math seems to suggest that this year is a bit of a relaunch year for the music of Coco Bean – is that fair to say? I guess the obvious question is, what makes this time different than the last time? Has your approach, perspective, or focus shifted when it comes to the art of making music? Everyone’s entitled to a fresh start…we grow up, we evolve, we sharpen our craft – we shouldn’t always be tied to the past as we make our way forward creatively – we mature, and we improve on what we’ve done before. How will you make the next years ahead for Coco Bean the most groundbreaking so far?
Coco Bean: I had a total of 17 releases before getting kicked off Spotify and reached something like 82 countries. With no radio airplay or label support that took a lot of hard work. I’m still very proud of the songs I put out. There are at least 2 or 3 that I would love to re-release. It kinda sucks, because songs are like your kids and it feels like the kids weren’t given a fair chance. So, if anything is re-release it will be because I’m fighting for my kids!
SBS: It is crystal clear to me that you have a lot of genuine FUN when you’re making music, and that slipping into your alter ego of Coco Bean gives you a whole lot of freedom to embrace that spirited side of yourself – I think that’s awesome. Even just reading some of the titles of tracks that were originally released back in 2021 had me chuckling…like “Your Mighty Cute A$$” for example. There’s more out there online that I can see than I can hear of course…but like I was saying, it seems like you’re set on the idea of changing that for the future ahead. Will we see the re-release of some of these tracks you made in the past, or have you moved on from all that? When you’re listening to a track you’ve made back for the first time, what is it that you’re listening for now? What’s the identity? What does a Coco Bean cut have to have in order to make the grade for you to put it out, and not end up on the cutting room floor?
Coco Bean: “Your Mighty Cute A$$” is actually one of the tracks that I would love to put back out there. It was written in like 10 minutes. It’s pure fun! Performed it at a summer party right after it was recorded and everyone fell out! It wasn’t written as a Coco Bean song, but I think it’s something “CB” can sink his Pimp Stick into.
What is a “Pimp Stick” you ask? Coco Bean’s “Pimp Stick” is his S.O.K. (Scepter of Kewl). More about that later!
SBS: From what I can see, you’ve been crafting a whole career in the entertainment business. Pretty much from day one too from what I’ve read in your bio online…you were like, six when you started pursuing music – but your experiences from there have led you in multiple directions. You’ve got credits like actor, writer, and producer to go along with what you do in music as well – I mean, heck – you’ve got yourself a full-on legit page at IMDB even! From what I’ve read, you’ve also got a part in an upcoming film called Bob Trevino Likes It as well – what can you tell us about that? In general, what do you feel like the crossover elements are in a career that shares time with both acting and music – does one side of that story of yours contribute to making the other better, and vice versa? How does acting play a role in making you a better musical artist, I suppose that’s what I’m saying – or does it? Maybe they’re two completely separate things that don’t overlap at all, I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking lol! I think we can point to several artists out there that have successfully crossed over between both realms, but I’m not sure doing one thing necessarily makes doing the other thing any easier. What do you think Coco Bean? Will establishing success in one industry make it come automatically in another these days?
Coco Bean: I’ll tell you something. When I told you about being on my knees saying a prayer earlier in a hotel, that hotel room was in Kentucky. I was there because I was on my way to the movie set of BOB TREVINO LIKES IT. Which is directed by Tracie Laymon — remember that name. The movie stars John Leguizamo and Barbie Ferreira. It’s going to be great.
So anyway, there I was in my hotel room having to focus on the role I was about to film in a few hours knowing that I was just kicked off of Spotify with 3 Million Streams wiped away in an instant. I was able to put that all away and be “in the moment” for the task at hand partial because of the training as an actor at 1st Team Actors Studio.
A direct line can be drawn from my acting studies to my musical creativity. Lessons at 1st Team Actors Studio have been somewhat of a “Zen-Like” experience for me to be honest. Training there has been so much about accepting who I am as an artist and as a person. Knowing and understanding that as an artist “You Are Enough” is such a large part of the process. Knowing that you already have everything you need. I also have to say that the owners, Lauren Nichols and Angela Boehm, focus on developing the true person within the artist instead of trying to turn a person into an idea of what an artist should be.
Also, gotta say that the instructor at 1st Team are actors who have worked with Oscar Winning performers. Lauren Nichols, Peter Lawson Jones, David Vegh, Kathleen Zion, Tom Nagel and others understand that being an artist is about being at peace from within. They have had a hugggggge impact on my artistic growth. I know for a fact that my journey as a recording artist embracing the alter ego that is Coco Bean is a direct result of my growth and freedom as an actor.
SBS: I tell ya my friend, I never manage to squeeze half of what I’d like to talk about into any interview I’ve ever done. Which is amazing really, because I ramble on like nobody else I know. Anyhow. I make sure I cover my angles and do my best to ensure nothing gets left out – and I do that by offering our guests the ‘SBS Open Floor’ here at the end of each interview I do. It’s an open space…a blank canvas…a spot where you can say absolutely anything else you’d like to the people out there Coco Bean. How you choose to use it, is entirely up to you. It has been a complete pleasure talkin’ tunes with ya! I certainly wish you all the best in your career going forward from here, and I look forward to the next time we get to check in on ya & see what you’re up to next. The floor is yours brother-man – cheers & thanks again!
Coco Bean: Dude, your questions were incredible! I’ll just keep my closing thoughts simple. Be true to yourself! Don’t be afraid to be you! Never, Never, Never Give Up! Surround yourself with people who believe in you and what you are about. Always believe in yourself. Trust in the greater power, because that greater power is there to help you. Remember that greater power is for good. That greater power is Love!
Find out more about Coco Bean from the official pages below!
Main Site: https://cocobeansuperstar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phil.elam.56
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philelam
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustusBoyzTrain
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0e3FLOGrbliHllzels7xMn
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