Coco Solid

Coco Solid (born Jessica Hansell in Auckland, New Zealand) is an emcee and writer. Her musical style is a mixture of hip hop, disco and electronica.^[1] She works with multiple collaborators across the globe.^[2]

History

Solid worked with Erik Ultimate (Benjamin Buchanan) over her first five albums touring to the US and Europe and attending SXSW.

Solid was named in the top 10 albums of 2005, 2006 and 2007 in the Sunday Star Times, The Listener or on Radio New Zealand National.^[3] New York rapper Princess Superstar has covered the hook of Denim & Leather in her song, Monday Morning.^[4]

Solid's single "Crimefighters" received the New Zealand college radio BNet Award for "Best Hip Hop Track" award in 2007. It has also reached No. 1 on BNet charts.^[5] Solid & Erik Ultimate rapped with Kiwi group Flight of the Conchords at SXSW 2006. This was posted on YouTube and has received over 500,000 views.^[6]

Coco Solid and Eric Ultimate have supported Girl Talk, Avenue D, The 5.6.7.8's and King Brothers in NZ. Overseas Coco Solid has rapped alongside Sway, TTC, O'mmas Keith from Sa-Ra, Spankrock and The Rogers Sisters.

Coco Solid received the APRA Professional Development Award for song-writing in March 2009.^[7]

Solid completed a ten date tour to Mexico, New York, Berlin, Cologne, Lisbon, Porto and Tokyo in March and April 2009.

Solid released a mix tape on cassette called "Pacific Rims" which includes the singles "I'll see you inside" (with Pepepe from Mexico) and "Architecture" (with longtime collaborator Jizmatron) which stayed on the benet charts for months.

Current projects

Solid is in a duo called Parallel Dance Ensemble with Denmark hip-hop producer Robin Hannibal (from Owusu & Hannibal) after meeting him at the 2008 Red Bull Music Academy. The duo are released a 12" and digital EP on 25 March 2011 on German label Permanent Vacation. The first single "Shopping Cart" was No. 1 on Radio Active for four weeks and tweeted by Gilles Peterson. "Juices" also hit the charts in 2011.

Solid is part of four piece grunge band Badd Energy which is signed to Flying Nun Records in 2011.

Solid features on other producers tracks. Most recently with Lorenz Rhode on German Label Exploited Records.

Discography

Albums

• Rap N Roll (2003)
• Denim & Leather (2004)
• Erik Ultimate presents Denim & Leisure (2005)
• Gentlemen Prefer Bombz (2006)
• The Radical Bad Attack (2008)
• Parallel Dance Ensemble (2009)
• Possessions & Obsessions (2011)
• Pacific Rims (2011)
• Possessions & Obsessions Remixed (2012)
• Underwater Pyramids by Badd Energy (2013)

Records

• Graffiti Girls 4 Life (2008)^[8]
• Parallel Dance Ensemble (2009)
• Run (2010)
• Possessions & Obsessions (2011)
• Possessions & Obsessions Remixed (2012)
• Underwater Pyramids by Badd Energy (2013)

References