Cooking Up With Kev & Ria Graham Owners Of The Caribbean Restaurant Kokomo

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
You are now angel what I call ye?

Speaker 2 (00:13):
What's epic? Way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela Yee
and Jasmine Brand is here.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good morning Angela, Good morning Jasmine Brand. Now it is.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
A pretty big week this week because the iHeart Festival
is coming up this weekend, so I'm gonna be out
there for that. But before I go out there, I'm
actually moderating a pianel at the Congression of Black Caucus
in DC.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
You live in d C. I do live in d C.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
So I'm gonna be out there, and it's about black
health and so I'm really excited for that because that
is actually one topic that I cannot.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Stop talking about. Super important. Yeah, and I think in.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Particular when we start thinking about everything that happened during
COVID and all of the disparities that you saw and
you know who was dying, who was getting more sick
underlying health issues, you saw how affected are coming unity
was and so for me, this is just a really
important conversation. So the main thing about the Congression of

(01:06):
Black Caucus too is it's all about legislation, and it's
all about those types of solutions and what type of
bills can be passed. So I'll be moderating this panel discussion.
So if you are going to be a Congressional Black Caucus,
make sure you come and see us, because you know
at the same time that this is a very serious topic.
It's a very important one. But you know, the way

(01:28):
that we do things.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
What do you mean by that?

Speaker 2 (01:31):
You know, I mean, while we're having this really important
and serious conversation, it is going to be also something
that's very compelling, Oh for sure, you know. So I
just want to make sure that people come out and
attend this for sure.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
In addition to that, iHeart Festival is this weekend. So,
like I said, it's a really crazy next few days
for me.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
Active, very active, very active now.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
In the meantime, as much as I like to talk
about things like our health, I also like to talk
about entrepreneurship. Okay, And so we have a couple on
the show today that actually are in business together. You
know that can be difficult, but Ria and keV they
own Kocomo, which is a super popular restaurant in New York.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
They also were part of the Grammys Gifting.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
They've done a lot of amazing things, but Coocomo has
expanded into other restaurants. I know they have a major
announcement that they want to talk about for the first
time up here, and so we'll be discussing that business
with them. You know, the restaurant business is a really
difficult one. So for them to open up a restaurant
in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, which is definitely a very.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
White neighborhood or the way to say.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
It, and it's a Caribbean restaurant, so they're unapologetically who
they are in this neighborhood, as they should be. But
also they opened during a pandemic and a location that
everybody said everything before them failed, so everyone was telling
them not to do it, and they have managed to
successfully open Cocomo and stay open. And so we're going
to have a great conversation and about that and about

(03:01):
entrepreneurship and about working with your significant other.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
All right, so let's get it started.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
You know, it is way up with Angela Yee And
as always, we start the show with you guys spreading
some positivity, shining a light on them. Eight hundred and
two nine two fifty one fifty isn't I'm gonna call
us up. Let us know who you would like to
shine a light on. It's way up with Angela Ye,
shine a light next.

Speaker 5 (03:22):
We're gonna buck up.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
I'm gonna shine, I'm gonna shine.

Speaker 6 (03:26):
Turn your lights on, y'all spreading love to those who
are doing greatness.

Speaker 5 (03:30):
Shine a light on, shine a light on. It's time
to shine a light on them.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
What's up is way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela
Yee and Jasmine Brand is here with me. Yes, yes, indeed,
and you know what time it is. We want to
spread some love. We want to shine a light and
right now I want to shine a light on everybody
who works with Black Health. I'm actually doing a panel today,
moderating a panel for a Congressional Black Caucus, and that
is the conversation and I'm excited that they reached out

(03:59):
to me about this. But it's a Black Health conversation
advancing cardiovascular health equity, and that's today from one to
two pm Eastern. But just the work that they've been
doing at Black Health around making sure that people are
aware of any type of heart issues that we might have.
We talk about our diet. One thing I'm talking about

(04:20):
is at the time that I had high cholesterol and
they actually knew about that.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, because I discussed it like many many years ago,
and how scary that can be. And the doctor telling
me you may have to be on medication for the
rest of your life.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
That's crazy.

Speaker 7 (04:33):
That.

Speaker 3 (04:34):
Yeah, if you don't.

Speaker 2 (04:35):
Worry about this now, it may not be an issue immediately,
but later on in life it could really affect you.
So I just want to thank them for having me
and having such an important conversation at Congressional Black Caucuss
and talking about legislation and things that they are actually
doing to make sure that you can monitor yourself at home. Okay,
all right, so shout out to Black Health. I shine
a light on you. Eight hundred two nine two fifty

(04:56):
one fifty is a number.

Speaker 3 (04:57):
What's up? Shaye? Who do you want to shine a
light on?

Speaker 8 (05:00):
He Ancela?

Speaker 9 (05:01):
Oh my god, I love you so much.

Speaker 8 (05:02):
Hey girl, I.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
Love you too, Shay, Who do you want to shine
a light on?

Speaker 8 (05:07):
I want to sind of like, oh my baby.

Speaker 10 (05:08):
So Key.

Speaker 8 (05:09):
So that's his nickname. I'm not about to say.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
His government Oh my baby.

Speaker 9 (05:14):
He is one of the best and brightest Black men
I know. We have seven children together. We've been together
for twelve years and he's always been there for me.

Speaker 11 (05:24):
He's always had my fits.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
Now, the Salmon children together twelve years, and you can't
say that man's name to us.

Speaker 8 (05:29):
That's crazy because we were Polly.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
So okay, they're Polly. Oh okay, got it here. So
the seven kids part of the community of poly women
are all you get.

Speaker 8 (05:42):
All those are minds.

Speaker 12 (05:43):
Okay, he actually has or more than are outside. Okay,
we got a big family. But even still, I wanted
to trying to like women because honestly, since we've been together,
he helped.

Speaker 8 (05:54):
Me grow as a woman.

Speaker 12 (05:55):
He's helped me develop my skills. I've never met a
black man like. He's somebody who gravital toward as opposed
to running away.

Speaker 8 (06:04):
From the family dynamic, and that's something that I've always wanted.
I'm getting emotional. He's more than I can ever imagine
ever thought I deserved.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
Wow, twelve years and look, whatever your relationship dynamic is,
whatever works for somebody works for somebody, and this is
working for her.

Speaker 8 (06:22):
It's definitely working for us.

Speaker 12 (06:24):
Like we've been together this long, we've been Polly officially
because I'm by we've been Polly officially for.

Speaker 8 (06:30):
About four years now.

Speaker 12 (06:32):
And honestly, it was something that I bore to him, okay,
and I'm like listening by that, you will. I don't
want to step out on you. I don't want to
be a thing where it's like, oh.

Speaker 8 (06:43):
She's just mine. Let's bring somebody in. Let's make a
community out of it, let's build. And he was like, honestly,
I'm down.

Speaker 13 (06:52):
Did you did you have comment you were you? Did
you pick or did he suggest the who the woman was?
Or is that something that you kind of did led
the way or actually.

Speaker 8 (07:02):
It's a mix of both.

Speaker 9 (07:04):
Now, But in the beginning I allowed.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
Him to pick, okay because it was her idea. Yeah, okay,
And do you love all your sister wives too?

Speaker 8 (07:13):
One of them we don't get along? Came out here?

Speaker 3 (07:17):
Okay?

Speaker 12 (07:18):
How many?

Speaker 3 (07:18):
How many are there?

Speaker 11 (07:21):
How many?

Speaker 8 (07:21):
There are three of us?

Speaker 3 (07:23):
Okay? So okay, all right, two out of three you
get along with?

Speaker 4 (07:26):
Not bad?

Speaker 3 (07:27):
Well, thank you, Shay, congratulations, thank you? All right. Well
that was shining light on him.

Speaker 2 (07:33):
And when we come back, we have a yee t
and let's talk about Travis Scott. He had an eight
hour deposition and we'll tell you why. It's way up
with Angela yee.

Speaker 5 (07:42):
Sure, she's about to blow the lead off this spot.

Speaker 14 (07:44):
Let's get it.

Speaker 5 (07:45):
Angela's feeling that yee t. Come and get your tea.

Speaker 3 (07:49):
What's up? His way up with Angela?

Speaker 14 (07:50):
Yee.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
I'm Angela yee. And Jasmine Brand is here.

Speaker 2 (07:53):
Yes, I'm here Angela and it's time for your yee
t and mention. Y'all go to the Jasmine brand dot com.
Absolutely all right, you have an entertainment sight that actually
has a lot of exclusives too. All right, well, let's
started up with Travis Scott. He is now fully cooperating
with authorities. He was in court on Monday answering questions
about the Astro World Festival incident.

Speaker 3 (08:11):
You know that happened in twenty twenty one.

Speaker 13 (08:13):
I know, I was just trying to think when this
actually happened. It seems like it was long longer ago,
but I guess that's only two years ago.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
To me, I felt like it was like not as
long really.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, But they said his deposition was a typical legal procedure.

Speaker 3 (08:25):
He was there for.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
Eight hours, you know, fully cooperating and the event, you
guys remember this was November fifth, so that's really literally
like it's almost November, now, yeah, and that's when a
concertgoer started to kind of really get congested at the
front of the stage. And then according to local authorities
and attendee claim that people were getting stepped on and

(08:47):
jumping the fence. And then Travis Scott and Drake who
was a special guest continued to perform even though there
was an ongoing stampede. So this is the first time,
by the way, that he has answered questions officially from
lawyers regarding the incident that left ten people dead and
several hundred injured. But I feel like it definitely changed
a lot as far as the way that artists interact

(09:10):
with their audience when you see something happening, taking more care,
you know, stopping the show, making sure everybody's safe, if anything.
That's something that I feel like people are a lot
more mindful of now than they ever have been in
the past.

Speaker 3 (09:23):
This was such a tragic accident that happened, all.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Right, so they're going to see and June, a grand
jury was convened to see if he and other ast
war planners should face criminal charges, but no official charges
have been filed. Just so you guys know, Okay, all right, now,
a man in Connecticut and Westport pleaded guilty, and that
is in a two million dollar scheme defrauding fifty cents business.

(09:48):
Y'all know fifty don't play about his money. I don't
know who decided.

Speaker 3 (09:52):
This is a good idea, right, but this.

Speaker 2 (09:54):
Man was selling champagne and kognak at artificially inflated wholesale prices.

Speaker 3 (10:00):
His name is Mitchell E. Green. He's forty four years old.

Speaker 2 (10:02):
He pleaded guilty on wire for charges on Monday in
federal court in Newark, New Jersey. But apparently he was
supposed to negotiate the best deals possible for his employer,
but he set up secret side deals to inflate what
fifty cent was paying so that he could get millions
of dollars in kickbacks. So he ended up getting about
two million dollars in kickbacks, a lot of kickbacks. And

(10:25):
this is all between June of twenty seventeen and February
of twenty twenty. He worked outside agreements with two French
distilleries to get these kickbacks to a limited liability company
that he created called Q Brand's Consulting. Now that company
paid out nearly fifteen million dollars for Champagne and Cognac,
and he ended up keeping about two point two million
dollars in his pocket secretly that he called quote agency fees. Okay, Now,

(10:49):
Green did file for bankruptcy earlier this year. Sire Spirits
is contesting his appeal for a stay on paying any amounts.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
Because he has his bankruptcy case.

Speaker 2 (10:59):
And so the the Spirits company, the fifty has Sire Spirits.

Speaker 3 (11:03):
They were awarded six point two million dollars in damages. Interesting,
doesn't fifty had a son name Sires?

Speaker 15 (11:08):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (11:08):
Okay, got it's Cu yes, so it's named after his son. Okay,
all right.

Speaker 2 (11:12):
And lastly, there is a Behind the Crime limited series
from Dan Abrams that's going to be on TB and
the first episode is focused on Nipsey Hustle's murder. So
this is basically a Law on Crime Behind the Crime series.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
It launches or just launched actually yesterday, okay, September twenty.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yeah, So if you can check it out and see
that episode, I'm sure that's hard for a lot of
people to watch, absolutely, but Law on Crime president Rachel
Stockman said, we were excited to partner with two B
on this incredible series, which will take viewers right inside
the heart of these emotional, gripping true crime stories.

Speaker 15 (11:45):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (11:45):
Okay, all right, well that is your UTM. When we
come back, we have About last Night. That's where we
discuss things that went down last night, and it's always
pretty interesting to see what everybody was doing last night. Okay,
you guys can always also always hit us on social
media Way up with ye and tell us about your
last night.

Speaker 3 (12:02):
It's way up with ye.

Speaker 5 (12:04):
Yeah last night, So about last night?

Speaker 11 (12:08):
Last night?

Speaker 5 (12:09):
Last night, Jiz I.

Speaker 2 (12:10):
Went down what's up as way up with Angela Yee?
I'm Angela Yee, and Jasmine Brand is here with me.
Happy Friday Eve, Angela, Yes, Happy Friday Eve, your favorite
day of the week. Yes, And it's time for About
last Night. Now, y'all know this is when it comes
to movies. This is like my favorite time of the year.
It is it's before Halloween, so all these horror movies

(12:30):
are coming out on all the streaming services and in
the movies. I actually reserved my tickets for Saw, for
the new Saw movie that's coming out next week Friday,
So I reserve those.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
Why do you like to be scared? I really want
to see this new Exorcist movie. Listen. I might even
fly to La to see it. Why do you like
to be scared? I don't know.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
This actually dates back to when I was really young.
The Exorcist is actually the first horror movie I ever saw.

Speaker 3 (12:56):
Okay, I don't know if I've ever seen of Exorcis.

Speaker 2 (12:59):
Anyway, it's not as now as it was when I
was young. That movie scared me so much when I
was little. First of all, I watched it by myself
in the basement. Oh my gosh, you think you were
I was probably like six or seven. Watched all these
really really I used. I watched all of the Nightmare
on elm Street movies. I did too, Yeah, all the
Friday the Thirteenth movies. I remember watching some movie called

(13:21):
April Fool's Day fright Night.

Speaker 13 (13:24):
Did you ever have bad dreams the Little Boys? You
ever had bad dreams when you were little?

Speaker 4 (13:28):
Old?

Speaker 7 (13:29):
No?

Speaker 2 (13:29):
But when I saw The Exorcist, I used to have
to sleep with the light on. And I also, you know,
I was really young. I couldn't even like close the
door if I was in the bathroom because I was
just frightened.

Speaker 3 (13:40):
So that's your favorite genre, Yeah, horror movies? Are for sure.
I mean I like other things too.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
When it comes to watching a movie, I like being scared.
Now sometimes I'm disappointed because some movies aren't as scary
are as advertised. But you know the Nun too, And
you got to take a picture of all the nuns
from the Nun two I did.

Speaker 3 (13:58):
I was really jealous.

Speaker 13 (13:59):
I try to get you to get a picture, but
you were getting to make up done. You couldn't sneak out.

Speaker 2 (14:02):
That's part of the Conjuring series. And I love the Conjuring.
I think that's and that's based on a two story.
Never saw the Conjuring And to me, like the best
horror movies are the ones that are based on a
two story. I just watched The Pope's Exorcist, also My
God on Netflix in the tall Grass. I watch all
of these movies.

Speaker 13 (14:19):
You know what, as an adult, the times that I'm
watching a scary movie is usually I'm with you and
you kind of.

Speaker 3 (14:24):
During the pandemic we watched everything.

Speaker 15 (14:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 13 (14:27):
And Angela also, if you fly next to her, she
likes to watch the same movie as you. So sometimes
she likes to put no, she'll put on a scary movie.
You know, it was a good smile. I watched that
on the phone.

Speaker 3 (14:35):
You kept tapping me and try to make me look
at the scary stuff, like why this person's face off? Yeah,
Texas chains massacred. So you've already got tickets two story too.
You've already got your tickets reserved for Saw Saw Okay,
for the new Saw movies. Yes, never, but this is
the time of the year that I love to go
to the movies. Now, speaking of which, you know, I

(14:56):
watched two the movies also, yeah you do. There's a
lot of money to be made in two movies.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
Too, definitely is We're about to do our own Okay.
But I want to shout out to my guy, Dennis Reid.
I was actually in a movie that he produced. I
did like a little quick.

Speaker 3 (15:11):
Role in that. And Dennis is from Detroit. He's from
the deep. He's from Detroit.

Speaker 2 (15:15):
But he also has a series right now called Street
Legal that's on two beats, season two, and in season
two of episode two, it is an episode called Frenemies
and it's based on loosely on stan Quela Robinson.

Speaker 3 (15:28):
You know she went to Cabba with her friends. Oh
I remember that story.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
And listening to her friends of shady things went down.

Speaker 3 (15:36):
It was video of it. You know, they were beating
her up.

Speaker 2 (15:39):
She died, and the family still has not gotten justice.
So they're very upset about this, you know series in
that particular episode Frenemies that came out. Now the names
were changed and the storyline is also different, but they
did send out a cease and desist. So Dennis is
gonna call in and we want to discuss, you know,
what this is about and what his intentions were, and

(16:02):
I want to hear what he has to say, you know,
on his behalf, because they are definitely trying to get
this movie or this series, that particular episode taken down,
all right, So Dennis Reid is going to be calling
in about his two B series Street Legal when we
come back.

Speaker 3 (16:15):
It's way up with Angela yee. That was about last night.

Speaker 7 (16:18):
Yay.

Speaker 5 (16:18):
She back at Angela is on what's up?

Speaker 3 (16:24):
It's way up with Angela yee. I'm Angela yee.

Speaker 2 (16:26):
Jazzmine brand is hanging with me because that's my girl
and we actually have a mutual friend on the line.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
Dennis Reid. Hey, Dennis.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
Now, Dennis, by the way, is producing and directing a
lot of movies and a lot of these movies and
series are on two B. I was actually in one
just for full disclosure. But you have a series called
Street Legal, right, Dennis, Right, And there's one episode. It's
season two, episode two. It's an episode called front of
Me's and that, by the way, nice. But this is

(16:57):
an episode that is based on Shanquela Robinson.

Speaker 3 (17:01):
We all know her as a young woman that was
killed in Cabo. Tragic story.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
Tragic story, and nobody to date has been charged with
her murder and the family is wondering what happened. Now, Dennis,
can you talk to us a little bit about what's
going on because they have issue a cease and desist
to to be Because that episode Street Legal is based
on Shanquelas story, It wasn't.

Speaker 11 (17:24):
A based off her story. It's based off the situation. Okay,
So it's not about her. It was like basically, well
her story, nobody said who killed her, nobody said they
got nobody got charged, none of that. Well, our story,
it was just like the situation. So we took the
situation that happened and we said what should have happened

(17:46):
in our story? Okay, you know what I mean. So
it wasn't based after her. It's just a loosely based story,
just like Law Order, any other cripshaw.

Speaker 3 (17:55):
What was the issue that her family had.

Speaker 11 (17:57):
They had an issue with just saying that it was
based after her, Like they said that we made her
look like like she was in a bad light. We
never said nothing bad about her, like. It wasn't about her.
It's about a situation, a woman that killed in Mexico.
That was the story that we did. They didn't say
exactly how she got killed. They didn't say nothing. We

(18:19):
did our own stuff.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
And it wasn't The name of the character wasn't Tinquola either, right.

Speaker 7 (18:25):
No, it wasn't.

Speaker 3 (18:25):
Her name is Niki, right, Her name is Nikki, so
it's a different name.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
But I do feel like they do have a lot
of series that bass.

Speaker 13 (18:33):
Are inspired by or by a true story or loosely based.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
So Tube hasn't pulled this, right, No, We've had a.

Speaker 11 (18:40):
Meeting last week, so you know, they haven't pulled it.

Speaker 13 (18:44):
On a positive side of this, I hope and I'm
sure Dennis you hope this too.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
I hope that this brings more of an awareness.

Speaker 2 (18:50):
To because it felt like this was a big story
and then all of a sudden it kind of went away.

Speaker 3 (18:55):
Well yeah, so hopefully this.

Speaker 11 (18:57):
Said nothing about it. Like as the world stopped talking
about that story. Once we did that one episode, everybody
started talking about it again. But just being real, every
episode came from something. It came from a different situation
from the Brad situation, the situation where why I'm dis
in basketball coach. All our stuff came from something. It

(19:17):
came from a scenario, you know what I mean. And
we made our own life story of it.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (19:23):
So I do want to say though, I understand like
the family saying that this is opening up painful wounds
and things like that. Have you spoken to anybody directly
or is there anything that you want to say to
the family.

Speaker 11 (19:36):
Me personally, my brother was murdered, right, I don't ever
want anybody to feel like we are opening up any
womblves But I also know that every time they look
at the internet, they talk about it. They talk about
it all the time, you know what I mean. And
it's a heartbreaking thing. Like I feel bad for them
to lose a child that is the most horrible thing

(19:58):
ever in life.

Speaker 3 (19:59):
And justice yeah and no.

Speaker 11 (20:01):
Justice, But they're not gonna face start can't talk about
on the news. Though when it come on the news,
it's gonna hurt their feelings, you know. And I understand
it though, like nobody wants to hurt nobody's feeling, especially
about the child, Like that's the worst, you know. But
they do it on the news, they do it on
social media everything. When they look at her bed room,
they're gonna be hurt. And I know, if I'm happy

(20:23):
to my child, I probably wouldn't live in the same house,
you know. But this is just the world that we
live in, all right.

Speaker 2 (20:30):
Well, Dennis, I want to thank you for calling in,
you know, because I know you personally. I know that
would never be your intent for something like that to happen.
And I am hoping that they do get some justice
in the family because you know, I understand that it's
not easy, but I also don't know that legally there's
anything that could step you from you know, having this existing.

(20:54):
It's based on some true events, but the story is
completely different as far as even them being in the.

Speaker 3 (21:00):
Courtroom, even the name of another person.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
You know, they did they did end up on the series,
like getting charged, right, yeah, yeah, Well.

Speaker 3 (21:08):
We hope that happens in real life. In real life.

Speaker 11 (21:12):
Yeah, I pray that they get all the justice that
they're supposed to get because the loser child man, that
is like the worst thing ever.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
Yeah, all right, well, thank you, Dennis. We appreciate you
for calling in. All right, Thanks, bye bye, Dennis, Thank you.
All right. Well that was Dennis Reed.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
Thank you so much for calling in to clear some
things up and provide us with some more information. We'll
see how this goes and keep updating you. And when
we come back, we have yet we'll talk about Fat Joe.
He gave a gift to Bill Clinton, and we'll tell
you what it is. It's way up with Angela yee.

Speaker 6 (21:46):
The rooms from industry shade to all of us and
out send Angela's feeling that.

Speaker 5 (21:52):
Ye what's up.

Speaker 2 (21:54):
It's way up with Angela yee. I'm Angela yee and
dadsmind brand.

Speaker 3 (21:57):
Is here with me. Angela. It's my favorite day of
the week, as it is a Thursday. Party time. All right,
and let's get into this a yet.

Speaker 2 (22:05):
Now, Fat Joe you know he has his Air Force ones,
his Nikes Terror Squad Nikes.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
I actually got a pair, you did, yes, so oddly.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
Enough, I was a dykeman and I was at some
of the games New York versus New York, and they
actually gave me a pair of these Terror Squad Nike
Air Force one sneakers.

Speaker 3 (22:26):
So have you worm yet? I?

Speaker 2 (22:28):
Well, I put them on while I was at the game.
I kind of feel like because they're so hard to get.
He said, they sold that in five minutes. I don't
know if I want to just like wear them.

Speaker 3 (22:35):
Yeah, let's not. Let's just keep them in the box.

Speaker 2 (22:37):
But they are nice, you know, So shout out to
Fat Joe for that. And he actually gifted our former
President Bill Clinton with a pair.

Speaker 3 (22:45):
Here he is doing that Pruss.

Speaker 8 (22:48):
How to sneak it in the game and how they
bring you into bil.

Speaker 5 (22:51):
Wow, it wouldn't be a fish.

Speaker 14 (22:54):
Does that make him?

Speaker 5 (22:56):
He's an honorary member of the squad.

Speaker 2 (22:59):
Fat Joe was at a Clinton Foundation event and so
that was his special delivery that he managed to get
on camera for him.

Speaker 3 (23:06):
I hope Bill Clinton, where's these sneakers? I feel like
you will look at him looking down at this. This
is dope though.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
And I actually tried to wait for a Fat Joe
to get to the game because they said he was
coming to the later games. But I have been there
for hours and I was watching the women play gotcha.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
You know, Obama definitely would a warm right away. He
would definitely what that would be a good look with
him and his suit and everything. All right.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
Next up, let's talk about Tamar Braxton. We talked about
her car robbery and how she said that she just
doesn't feel safe anywhere. Well, now she is saying that
she just doesn't even want to live in Atlanta anymore.
She wants to move out of the luxury building and
remove herself from Atlanta completely, But she does work for
des Nation, so she can't just up and leave like that.

(23:51):
There's surveillance video that shows four men removing goods from
her Black Bentley. It was expensive clothing items she's tuck
in the building security. As how the robbers could have
gained access to the building in the first place. She
feels like there should be some type of compensation for
her losses. But you know what's gonna matter if on
the contract to park there, it says that they're not responsible.

Speaker 3 (24:12):
How liable.

Speaker 13 (24:13):
Yet if it does feel like such an invasion when
someone breaks into your home or your car or anything
like that, So I totally understand her feeling like, I
don't feel safe, I don't want to be here.

Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, she said, she feels like she's being watching. That's
a terrible and dangerous feeling. Have you ever had anybody
break into your car or your home?

Speaker 13 (24:29):
Yeah, I've had someone break into my car, and I
also have they didn't really still they stole the car. Actually, yeah,
they stole the car. Car and they stole the car.
I did live in the hood, not that that matters.
And then I did have when I was younger. Someone
broke into me and my mom's house when I was
when I was so scary and made me want to
like move because you don't know, but we didn't really
have much of a option, so we had to stay there.

(24:50):
But yeah, that's that doesn't feel good, all right.

Speaker 3 (24:52):
And I did have somebody break into my car. I cried.
I cried. I had my car practice, like and I
had a practic.

Speaker 2 (24:59):
You know, in New York they have alternate side of
the street parking, so you got to move your car
from side to side. So I had my car parked
in this spot for two days and I came out
and the glasses broken on the driver's side, and I
remember just being so frustrated. I was late to work
that day because I had to bring my car. I
had to drive my car someplace to get the glass fixed,
and I was like sitting on glass.

Speaker 3 (25:19):
Oh my gosh, that's a little traumatic. Yeah, I get that.
Was it raining too. I feel like it might have been,
because you know, that always adds an extra layer. I know,
all right now.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
Paramount Plus has removed Russell Brand's comedy special after these
sexual assault allegations, and YouTube and BBC are also distancing
themselves from him. He's been accused by four women of
sexual assault.

Speaker 7 (25:40):
Wow.

Speaker 2 (25:41):
His most recent stand up special, Russell Brand Rebirth, still
remains available on Netflix, and Netflix did not immediately respond
to an email requesting comment on the status of that.
But I was listening to some of the audio. Oh yeah,
things that he said before in the past. Here's one
thing kind of.

Speaker 14 (25:58):
You or your daughters. No, you may not.

Speaker 3 (26:02):
No, I've got two gages. They just know, and I'm no,
none of them neither.

Speaker 5 (26:09):
Doors.

Speaker 3 (26:10):
You can't can't selfish when you have your own dorters,
you'll know why I said that. Yeah, so some of
those old audios will definitely come back to bite you.

Speaker 13 (26:19):
I wouldn't be surprised if more platforms started taking out
more of his stuff m HM.

Speaker 2 (26:23):
Now, accusers have not been named or publicly identified themselves,
but it does include one woman who says that she
was sexually assaulted during our relationship with him when she
was sixteen years old.

Speaker 3 (26:34):
Yeah, oh is right. Okay, so we'll be following this story.

Speaker 2 (26:37):
But his management agency terminated all professional ties to him,
and even though he is denying these allegations, they said
they believe they were horribly misled by him. Okay, all right,
well that is your yet and when we come back,
we have under the radar. These are the stories that
are not necessarily headline news. They are flying under the radar.
It's way up with Angela.

Speaker 6 (26:57):
Yews in the news that relates to you. These stories
are flying under the radar.

Speaker 3 (27:04):
What's up?

Speaker 2 (27:05):
Its way up with Angela ye, I'm Angela yee. And
Jasmine from the Jasmine brand is here.

Speaker 3 (27:09):
I'm here Angela.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
That's right, and it's time for under the radar. These
are the stories that are not necessari with the headline news.
They are flying under the radar. All right, First, let's
talk about craft. They are recalling American cheese slices, and
that is due to possible choking hazards.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
So they said there was a temporary issue.

Speaker 2 (27:28):
One of their wrapping machines make it possible that a
thin strip of that film on it may remain on
the slice after the rapper has been removed, so.

Speaker 3 (27:35):
You could easily choke on that or gag on that.

Speaker 2 (27:39):
So no other Craft products are affected, but nearly eighty
four thousand slices of this cheese is deemed to potentially
cause a choking hazard. So if you guys did get
some Craft singles, then make sure you are aware of that.

Speaker 3 (27:52):
Careful.

Speaker 13 (27:53):
As a mom, I'm always conscious about feeding my kids
certain things because you know they can choke them esially
when little.

Speaker 3 (28:00):
So that's interesting.

Speaker 2 (28:01):
Yeah, So for anybody who did buy anything, you can
return them to where they were purchased for in exchange
or a refund. Or you can also contact Craft from
nine am to six pm Monday through Friday at eight
hundred and two eighth eight two five two, And that's
how you can see if a product is part of
a recall and get a reimbursements. All right, All right,
now working out something that I have been lacking.

Speaker 3 (28:24):
You struggle with this.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
But there is one time window that is best for
weight loss, and you know what time that is? What
time exercising between seven am and nine am. That's what
it's been associated with having a lower waste circumference and
body mass index than people who work out during midday
or evening, according.

Speaker 3 (28:41):
To a study.

Speaker 2 (28:41):
But I do want to say, what would you like
to say? Work out whenever you can? Okay, if that
time period is not what is viable.

Speaker 3 (28:49):
For you, because a lot of people are going to
work during this time.

Speaker 2 (28:51):
Listen, I never could work out in the morning because
I used to have to be at work so early.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
And now I actually can. And I was for a
little while and I stopped. You can always sart again tomorrow.
I can start again next week. That's interesting seven to
nine Okay, cool? Yeah, good to know, all right.

Speaker 2 (29:07):
And over ninety percent of Americans have cut spending and
they're planning to cut spending through the holidays, and so
for the past six months, they're saying ninety two percent
of adults have cut back on discretionary spending. And that
means when it comes to shopping for clothes and dining out,
consumers are most skittish about doing those.

Speaker 3 (29:24):
Things you like, not me. Well, I need to right that.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
I definitely have cut back, and part of it is
because I don't have a choice right now. I have
a lot of investments going on and nothing has paid
off yet, so I'm cash poor, as they say. But
fortunately I do have, you know, some real estate ventures
that are still ongoing.

Speaker 3 (29:46):
But sometimes you got to put out that money and
just deal it. I don't even know any other way
to say it. Poor with a burthday.

Speaker 2 (29:52):
It is really tough around the holidays. And I will
say this, it's September. My mom's birthday is September twenty sixth,
my brother Iseptember twenty ninth, My best friend is September
twenty fifth. It's like everybody late birthday, and I think
September and October are popular birthday months. You know why
Why because a lot of people's parents had sex during

(30:14):
the holidays.

Speaker 3 (30:15):
Oh yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (30:16):
So as a matter of fact, let me do a
deep dive and see what is the most popular birthday.

Speaker 13 (30:21):
My rain's birthday, my daughter's birthday was this month. And
I think I got pregnant in January, so maybe oh yeah,
because you had it early.

Speaker 8 (30:26):
Yeah, I did.

Speaker 3 (30:27):
She was supposed to be born in October.

Speaker 2 (30:29):
August is the most popular month for birthdays, really, and
a late August birthday means December conception. Okay, so then
it could be also like New Year's which would be September.
But yes, for some reason, everybody I know is September,
all right, all right, and July through October are the
most popular birth months in the United States, but August
overall is the most popular month.

Speaker 3 (30:50):
All right.

Speaker 2 (30:50):
I'm Angela Yee and that is your under the radar
when we come back. By the way, we have the
way it mixed at the top of the hour, plus
keV and Ria. They are a beautiful couple, but they're
also business partners. They own a restaurant in New York
called Kocomo. They opened another takeout spot called ox Kale
that's more focused on food that's cleaner for you love it.
And they have another venture coming that they're going to

(31:12):
talk about for the first time on Way Up with
Angela Yee.

Speaker 3 (31:15):
She's like to talk like they Angela Jean, like they
Angela jee Man.

Speaker 5 (31:19):
She's spilling it all.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
This is yeat well, what's up as way up at
Angela yee. I'm Angela yee, and Jasmine.

Speaker 3 (31:28):
Brand is here with me, Yes, Angela, I'm here all right.

Speaker 2 (31:31):
So let's talk about dance hall because you know it's
yea tea time, it's dance hall.

Speaker 3 (31:36):
You love dance all, Yes, it is definitely my.

Speaker 2 (31:38):
Favorite thing to listen to what I'm jogging or working
out what Byron Messilla is saying that Taliband is the
biggest dance all song since two thousand and five.

Speaker 3 (31:46):
That is a huge song, that is, But that's a
strong statement. But he got a lot of backlash.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
I think he had to know that that was going
to cause backlash, and he actually went on social media
he said, ps I got a build Bard album by myself.
Big song and bad song, different and biggest song in
dance hall since two thousand and five.

Speaker 13 (32:06):
You know why this is smart because people that have
not heard this song, were don't remember, are definitely gonna
go and stream this song.

Speaker 2 (32:12):
You know what the first song I thought of too,
because since two thousand and five, that's eighteen years okay
of dance hall. Now, romping Shop, how's that go? Oh
my gosh, that's what Spice and Vibes Cartel. Actually, when
I first started here at iHeart. That was like the
song we played NonStop.

Speaker 3 (32:30):
Okay, I don't know it.

Speaker 2 (32:32):
That's the same song that was sampled by Neo Misindependent.
Maybe listen, I'm terrible at Actually.

Speaker 3 (32:41):
You clearly are not trying to sing it for me,
so I can know what you're talking about. But it's fine. Continue.
You want me to sing Romping Shop to you too.
It's a huge song.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
Okay, I later, but anyway, the producer for Romping Shop
this is interesting, actually wrote Taliban not even a dance hall.
He said, conscience who did broke off your back? Shout
out to contents. He was also on Lipserve. That's a
huge song. He also collaborated with Chris Brown. He did
a face a face palm emoji. Okay, okay, Charlie Black,

(33:09):
you know Party Animal?

Speaker 3 (33:11):
You know that song? Oh my god, you do know
these songs? You just don't know Coffee Toast I do
know that, okay, thank you. Busy Signal. We love Busy
Signal also.

Speaker 2 (33:22):
And all right, yeah, Busy Singing actually performed the angela
ye day as a surprise that Christopher Martin brought him
out before. But yes, there's a lot of songs that
have been huge. But for a Byron, that's his opinion
and that's his song.

Speaker 3 (33:34):
He should think that. He should think that.

Speaker 13 (33:36):
And also, like I said, it's making us go listen
to it now so we can kind of are you
back and forth about it?

Speaker 2 (33:40):
So good good job for him, Yeah, So a lot
of huge songs, but for him, that confidence, boy, I
know I want that confidence.

Speaker 7 (33:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
But shout out to all of the dance hall artists
you know right now to competition. We love to see it,
all right, Kim Kardashian and Odull Beckham Jr. We told
you this story yesterday about the two of them quote
unquote hanging out after he broke up with his girlfriend
Lauren Wood. Well, she posted a message and some people,
by the way, we're trying to dispel those rumors, and
they said, oh, they just have mutual friends.

Speaker 3 (34:10):
It's a friendship circle. So she posted Lolo.

Speaker 2 (34:13):
Wood posted staying present in the moment as the closest
you get to trusting the unknown. And then I see
in the comments people are like, Kim carrying, got nothing
on you. I wipe the floor with Kim just so
you can walk on the clean surface. So everybody, I
guess felt like that was a shot.

Speaker 13 (34:29):
Okay, Yeah, I mean if you post anything, actually, it
could be like a crayon box. Fee would be like,
oh she's talking about him, She's responding, it's what does
it mean? It makes us all kind of talk, you
know what I'm saying, right, and here we are talking
talking Oh pretty things? By the way, is what makes
you talk?

Speaker 4 (34:45):
Yep?

Speaker 2 (34:46):
You know Byron Messilla talking about talibans. You know Lauren
Lolo would posting a quote cryptic message, Yeah, staying present?

Speaker 3 (34:54):
All right. Demi Levado, she recently did an interview.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
She was on the Lady Gang podcast and she talked
about how she feels the most confident during sex, which
is not true for everybody.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
Here's what she had to say. I'm going to be
a little risque. Yeah, say, I feel the most confident
when I'm having sex because you're so present.

Speaker 8 (35:15):
Yes, you're not thinking about what is actually like what
cloudsier judgment throughout the rest of the day.

Speaker 3 (35:22):
Do you feel the most confident during sex, Jasmine brand
It depends on who I'm having sex with, So what
I'm super comfortable with?

Speaker 5 (35:29):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (35:30):
Yeah, yeah, I think you know she's right because a
lot she did say a lot of women. It's not
that way for a lot of people. Yeah, and that's true.

Speaker 2 (35:37):
Sometimes you can have a lot of insecurities. Yeah, You've
had people calling to ask ye to discuss like their
insecurities during sex, and people are like, I turn the
light off. You know, you don't want to get up
and walk around naked because you don't love the way
you look.

Speaker 13 (35:50):
You know, after I had a baby, I was a
little self conscious about my body because I had see section,
so I had this scar. So I never really cared
about my body like that. But then after I had
this scar, I was just like, you know what, I
had to realize too.

Speaker 3 (36:01):
Guys don't care. I do not care at all how
bad you look. They don't care. They don't have it.
They're there. It's happy to be here. Yeah, So that's
all we need to remember, all right.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
And speaking of someone who's happy to be there, Yo, Gotti,
when I tell you he celebrated Angela Simmons birthday in
the biggest way.

Speaker 3 (36:17):
We didn't get a chance to talk.

Speaker 2 (36:19):
About that previously, but I want to talk about birthdays,
right and just the most romantic birthday that you've ever
had that you can remember. We'll discuss it when we
come back. I see you looking confused, but it's way
up at Angela.

Speaker 7 (36:32):
Ye.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
Let's discuss the most romantic birthday surprise that you've ever had.

Speaker 3 (36:36):
It's way up at Angela. Ye, Angela ye what yep
is way up with Angela Ye. I'm Angela yee. And
Jasmine brand is here.

Speaker 2 (36:46):
Yes, I'm here Angela and we are talking about romantic birthdays, Jasmine.
This is all from Yo Gotti. He actually had Angela
Simmons in tears just with everything that he did for
her for her birthday. We saw they were on a
beautiful on vacation. There were roses everywhere, chanel boxes, candles,
there was a saxophone player. They followed them out onto

(37:08):
the beach. You know, they were definitely celebrating and doing
it big. I have to say, just imagine how Yo
Gotti was after Angela Simmons and got her now and
he is not dropping the ball.

Speaker 3 (37:21):
Is this her first birthday with him?

Speaker 5 (37:23):
Or no?

Speaker 13 (37:24):
I don't because I'm wondering. Is it like he's going
all out because is this how it's going to always be?
Or this is how he is with women he loves?

Speaker 2 (37:29):
Or I mean he's definitely planning things, and he posted
happy birthday show to you the one, two, and three. Oh,
that's all right, and then live it up. You know,
it's whatever you want. And she said, I'm crying, but
this is so cute, and so she was excited. You know,
she bought him a tesla for his birthday.

Speaker 3 (37:47):
Oh yeah, remember that.

Speaker 2 (37:49):
And so now she's happier than she's ever been. I
just think, Yo, Gotti was not playing no games. He
mentioned her in the song and then she ended up
being with someone else having a baby.

Speaker 3 (38:00):
Thought it wasn't going to happen.

Speaker 2 (38:01):
And now here we are on the beach getting serenaded
on our birthday.

Speaker 3 (38:05):
I love that they're so cute. We looked for you, Angela,
and we left that for you too. Yo got it,
because clearly they make each other happy. So now back
to you. What is the best birthday, most romantic birthday
that you've ever had. I don't really do birthdays too well.
I'm not the best.

Speaker 13 (38:19):
You know about celebrating my birthday when I took you
to oh yeah, angel took me oncation my birthday.

Speaker 3 (38:25):
You know what.

Speaker 13 (38:26):
A long time ago, my boyfriend at the time flew
my best friend into town and surprised me on my birthday.

Speaker 3 (38:31):
And I thought that was very thoughtful. See, that's sweet.
I like that he knew he knew you knew your
friend knew that that would mean a lot to you.
It's surprised me. I didn't see it coming out of it.
Was it was really really thoughtful.

Speaker 13 (38:41):
I thought, yeah, Okay, I don't know if that was
the most romantic, but it's super memorable, right, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (38:45):
And I've had great birthdays like where I showed a
better restaurant and he wasn't there, okay, but they were
like roses everywhere. Everything was paid for for my friends.
Oh that's nice, you know, So that was nice. And
then I've had great birthdays where, you know, with my
ex we definitely celebrated, like massages by day, get to

(39:06):
the hotel, everything.

Speaker 3 (39:08):
Is set up and ready and waiting for you. Yeah,
that's sweet.

Speaker 4 (39:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
So I'm trying to think if there's anything in particular
that stands out in my mind. My birthday sucks because
it's right after Christmas and New Year. It's so close
to New Year's It is the worst time to have
a birthday, guys, because everyone's exhausted from like partying and celebrating.

Speaker 13 (39:26):
I don't know if I've ever been with you on
your birthday, it's like so close. We're always coming from
a trip, I feel like, and I'm like, okay.

Speaker 3 (39:32):
Yeah, it's like over, y'all are done. Yeah, like okay, girl.
But when we celebrate a little early, I feel like
I usually have a birthday party after my birthday.

Speaker 2 (39:40):
Yeah so because people are like exhausted and broke at
that time, after the holidays. But yes, so just the
most thoughtful things I think are the most important. Just
people doing small things for you that they know will
mean a lot to you. Yeah, I think is what
really the meaning of that is, even if you like
cook for me or something like that. I'mthing like most

(40:01):
guys i've dated don't really cook like that. I've dated
a couple of guys that can cook a little. They
probably got like two dishes.

Speaker 13 (40:08):
My ex can cook his tail off, you hear me.
We used to hotel had a tail, He had a
tail and he cooked it off.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
All right, Well, that is it. I've got to do better.

Speaker 2 (40:18):
But to me, I mean as far as like birthdays
that people try to surprise me too, and it's like impossible.
I feel like a lot of times people have tried
to surprise me and I always find out because my
friends will be like, because my friends are real friends,
you'll be like f RYI, yeah, you got to try
to surprise you and then I find out.

Speaker 3 (40:34):
Yep, that's true. All right.

Speaker 2 (40:35):
It's way up with Angela Yee. When we come back,
speaking of celebrating birthdays. I know Kevin Rhea. They are
a couple, Kevin Ria Graham. They own Kocomo. They founded
that restaurant in Brooklyn. It's a Caribbean restaurant. But they
have a great story of how they met and now
they're doing business together. And I'm sure they're going to
have some great tips for anybody who is dating someone

(40:56):
and you know, thinking about, hey, can we work together?
Can we make this happen if you're interested in the
restaurant business. How they did it is amazing. So I
cannot wait for you guys to hear this. It's way
up with Angela Yee. keV and Rie A coming up next.

Speaker 5 (41:08):
Hey, yeah, she back at it. Bringing up with Angela
Yee is on.

Speaker 14 (41:17):
What's up?

Speaker 2 (41:17):
It's way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela Yee and
Jasmine brand is here with me. Now, one thing I
will say in Brooklyn, we have the best Caribbean restaurants.

Speaker 3 (41:26):
Yeah, y'all do. And I will take you to all
of them. And I've been. I feel like I've been
to almost all of them.

Speaker 2 (41:30):
Yes, and when you're not here, you miss Caribbean food,
do because it's really good.

Speaker 3 (41:35):
Well, we have an amazing couple.

Speaker 2 (41:36):
They have a restaurant called Cocomo, and you can look
them up on social media Cocomo n YC. But he
started off I know him for being a chef and
he used to do a lot of private dinners and
then his wife actually worked in marketing for restaurants. The
two of them hooked up and opened up Cocomo. And
they also have a new restaurant called ox Kill that's
more of a take up a.

Speaker 3 (41:56):
Clean eating And they have some more things in the
works that they're going to talk about.

Speaker 2 (42:00):
But I'm excited for you guys to hear their story
because entrepreneurship is fascinating to me and I like to hear.
There's no one way to do it right, so I
like to hear what people's journeys are. So when we
come back, Kevin, Ria are going to talk to us
about their journey and opening our restaurant together as a
couple during the pandemic and while having a baby, and

(42:21):
then two and then three.

Speaker 3 (42:22):
All right, it's a way up at Angela yee.

Speaker 5 (42:27):
You way up with Angela yee.

Speaker 3 (42:30):
What's up this way up.

Speaker 2 (42:31):
With Angela yee. I'm Angela yee. Jasmine Brand is here,
my guy DJ Nori is here.

Speaker 14 (42:36):
That's right.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
And we have the.

Speaker 2 (42:37):
Owners, the founders of Coocomo and Brooklyn and I know
y'all hearing me talk about Cocomo all the time, but
keV and Ria are here. Welcome, thank you, and they
are by the way, I just want to put this
out there. They are married, Okay, they are a couple
running a business together, which in itself is a job.
So let's talk about you guys opening during the pandemic
and how difficult that was.

Speaker 15 (42:58):
We planned on opening probably March thirtieth, and then we
found out probably like second week in March.

Speaker 3 (43:07):
That the whole world was about to shut them.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
Because I'll never forget March thirteen, three one three day,
I was in Detroit, and I think I.

Speaker 13 (43:13):
Hit you and was like, hey, are you gonna be
able to get back like, I don't know if you're
gonna be able to go out.

Speaker 3 (43:17):
None of us knew what was it about to happen.

Speaker 15 (43:19):
Yeah, so it was a real crazy time for us
because number one, I was nine months pregnant as well.
Number two, it was our first business that we poured
everything into, like.

Speaker 3 (43:29):
We just knew it was it was gonna work. And
then when we got that message, it was.

Speaker 1 (43:34):
Kind of like it was kind of a time to
like panic a little bit, but a little we just
we actually set a panic and we kind of went
to prayer a lot more. You know what I'm saying,
But I don't really worry a lot about things. I
kind of like feel like if I put the muscle
into it, it's gonna work. But with the prayer and
the muscle and the hard work that we just kind
of like put towards, it was like, you know, COVID
is gonna happen, but we still gonna.

Speaker 14 (43:54):
Do what we gotta do.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
Not only was it COVID, but you guys were in
a location in Williamsburg, and if you know, you know,
Williamsburg does not have no Caribbean restaurants at all, and
that was a location where a lot of businesses have
been there prior to you guys, and they did not work.

Speaker 3 (44:09):
They did not work.

Speaker 15 (44:10):
But then to add on to that, I was going
to say, the whole George Floyd thing was happening at
the same time, so it was like a lot and
we were about to have our first son.

Speaker 14 (44:20):
Like it was, Yeah, there was a lot of mental
health going on at that time. I do remember that.
I do remember times on breaking down when we were
on he.

Speaker 3 (44:28):
Was crying throughout the whole labor. I was like, are
you crying because my son or.

Speaker 1 (44:34):
I didn't know what was going on with me at
that time, and I realized that after I had put
a post on social media. I wrot like three pages
about it on social media about just kind of recognizing
that this mental health is real and just trying to
be visible and vulnerable to everybody else to be like
it's okay, you know what I'm saying. So at that time,
with the restaurant and the black rights movement, Black Lives Matters,
and then just COVID and everything's happening and having my

(44:57):
first son all at once, I was just there, Like
I remember holding my son on the staircase and just crying.
Ria came out through him like what's And I'm like,
I don't know, but I.

Speaker 13 (45:09):
Ask, what's your background will allow you to prepare for
going into business to a restaurant business, which is.

Speaker 3 (45:14):
Really yeah, because I know keV as a chef, I
know him as a promoter. Yeah, yeah, promoter.

Speaker 7 (45:19):
We all.

Speaker 3 (45:24):
Having a background in marketing for restaurants.

Speaker 10 (45:26):
Yeah, marketing.

Speaker 1 (45:27):
The chef life was something I got into from We
started off doing nightlight promotions with you know, and then
we kind of started, you know, night life was kind
of up and down, you know what I'm saying, So
we wanted to kind of come back in a game
with something new. So we started cooking our own food
and figuring out like, you know, people love food and
people love the party.

Speaker 14 (45:43):
So we jumped on he.

Speaker 1 (45:45):
Jumped on that day party wave early and then we
were like, you know what, We're gonna switch this whole
thing around and just give people all different types of
Caribbean food and just mix it with everything and just
infuse everything. And that's kind of how I got in
the kitchen and I got started hosting parties. So you know,
I'm mostly like the main host, and you know, I
got to give props to my boy Omar. He was
the main chef, but he taught me a lot of
the color and every stuff I know to this day.

(46:05):
So you know, I got to pay homage to that
in that relationship.

Speaker 2 (46:08):
All right, Jasmine Brand is here, DJ Norry is here,
and we are talking to keV and Rhea. They are
a couple, but they're also the owner of the restaurant
Cocomo and Williamsburg, Brooklyn and even you guys bringing Caribbean
culture into Williamsburg. What is that like for the residents there, because,
like I said, it is a very white neighborhood.

Speaker 15 (46:25):
They've just been so receptive to us being there and
the only complaint that they have is that they can't
get a reservation.

Speaker 3 (46:32):
Okay, of course, you know.

Speaker 1 (46:33):
Cocomo's is basically a representation of unity. Love, you know,
together is love of culture, love of food, Caribbean, love
of people. You know what I'm saying. That's what me
and Rea represent and it also represents our love story.
You know, I'm saying, the journey that we had to
take to get here and just kind of like bringing
everything together. Oh what is your love story? So it's
real funny me or we have met twice. The first
time we didn't know we met, but that was God

(46:54):
trying to, you know, point us, to put us together.

Speaker 14 (46:56):
But we kind of ignored it. And we met at
stage forty eighth.

Speaker 3 (47:01):
I remember that that. It's like I've been in a nightclub.

Speaker 14 (47:04):
Night club.

Speaker 1 (47:04):
Yeah, this is when I was like big time promoting,
trying to take over the city and I did this
annual women black party.

Speaker 14 (47:11):
She was there. She was there because you got invited
by one of the progers.

Speaker 1 (47:14):
I was working with co workers and I was actually
leaving that night and I saw Ria in the office
upstairs and she wasn't supposed to be in the office.
We was like, this is what we was counting the
money and doing all the business.

Speaker 15 (47:25):
I think I should just tell my side.

Speaker 5 (47:27):
I threw it like this.

Speaker 14 (47:30):
I threw out, you do it at the office, while to.

Speaker 3 (47:35):
Let's be clear, the office, the home gift so much.

Speaker 14 (47:41):
Tell me what I skipped.

Speaker 15 (47:42):
Let me know. I got invited to the club by
my coworker Mannie Hey Manny, and it was traveling to
Atlanta that same night. I had her earli earlier to me,
her future boyfriend, so I had anyways, so I had
my luggage with me, and he was like, why don't
you just put it in the office, come back when
you ready, and you know, it's all good, and I'm okay, cool.

(48:03):
So the party is almost done, but I have to
go catch my flights. I'm like, let me go to
the room, wait for my taxi to come, and then
I'm a dip. In comes this guy, rude as hell,
sees me sitting there, doesn't even say a word to me,
speaks to the person that is in the room with me,
and goes people in his room.

Speaker 3 (48:23):
And I'm like, excuse, future wife, that's you know what
your kids that's been here. So he literally kicks me
out the room.

Speaker 15 (48:33):
So I'm in the middle of stage forty eight, dragging
my carry on through the clubs.

Speaker 14 (48:37):
So that's when I felt bad.

Speaker 3 (48:40):
He didn't come back and give me.

Speaker 1 (48:41):
That's why I felt bad. But she had lucky. I
seen her walking out and it was raining outside.

Speaker 3 (48:48):
It was horrible, and.

Speaker 1 (48:53):
The crazy party is the crazy party is. I never
looked at her. I never looked at her face until
she walked out the door. I was there with my
boy was a photographer, and he was like, oh, she's
hot as hell. When I looked like she was, but
she hot.

Speaker 3 (49:09):
So fast forward. I'm working at a restaurant Swede.

Speaker 15 (49:13):
We had this uh we're black history of guest chef
tasting whatever, and he was a part of Omar's kitchen.

Speaker 3 (49:20):
So that was one of the people that we hired.
I knew he was a part of it, and I
was like, yo, this is.

Speaker 8 (49:27):
Exactly.

Speaker 15 (49:27):
I'm like, you know what, I keep a professional I'm
at work. Boom bam boom, Like let's keep it cordial.
So he comes and then I'm like, why you keep
finding every excuse to talk to.

Speaker 3 (49:38):
Me because I don't want to talk to you.

Speaker 14 (49:41):
I didn't know what.

Speaker 3 (49:43):
She was when you kicked out right, he was on
my body? Okay, I was, I was, I was.

Speaker 14 (49:50):
You should have seen that.

Speaker 3 (49:53):
Could be your future husband. She said, he was on
my body.

Speaker 1 (50:01):
So I asked that was two days after the event,
and you know, she said yes, obviously because we both
had three kids later.

Speaker 14 (50:08):
You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (50:08):
But the crazy part is that she knew about the
situation up until you think. I think you told me
on like our sixth date or something like.

Speaker 3 (50:15):
You didn't say nothing the first day.

Speaker 14 (50:17):
The first day.

Speaker 1 (50:18):
It was first day, and what did you think when
she told you, when she told me on a third
date or something like that, I was like, what the
hell are you talking about? Because she was like, we
met before and then she told me the situation. I
was like, there's no way that was you.

Speaker 3 (50:29):
Did you apologize? I think I did apologizing now.

Speaker 14 (50:34):
Sorry, er, I think it was meant to be.

Speaker 7 (50:45):
It.

Speaker 14 (50:47):
I married her nine months later.

Speaker 2 (50:48):
All right, Kevin and Ria Graham are here. They are
the founders of Kokomo. They also own ox Kill and
they have some new ventures coming that we're going to
talk about. It's the Way Up at Angela Yee. We
have more when we come back.

Speaker 5 (51:03):
Yeah, she back at it. Bring in the Way Up
with Angela Yee is.

Speaker 3 (51:08):
On what's up as Way Up with Angela Yee. I'm
Angela ye Jasmine.

Speaker 2 (51:11):
Brand is here and DJ Norri hung out for this interview.

Speaker 3 (51:14):
This is my guy.

Speaker 2 (51:15):
He always DJs at Angela ye Day. And we have
the founders of Cocomo, keV and Ria Graham here.

Speaker 3 (51:21):
So now, how did you How did you propose I
was pregnant?

Speaker 1 (51:26):
No, no, well I proposed that at a restaurant. It
was your friend, it was your cousin's birthday. Dinner, and
then with other people that just kept showing up that
had nothing to do with her cousin, and they I
told him to stay outside and stay in the back,
but Ria kept seeing them, and it was like, what
the hell's going on here? So I ended up on
proposing it and hack she they're doing a videography and everything,
and that's how.

Speaker 5 (51:47):
I did it.

Speaker 3 (51:47):
When did you you said, nine months later? When did
you know that she was the one?

Speaker 14 (51:50):
Oh? Like the first date? The first date that she
was two hours later?

Speaker 3 (51:54):
Even two hours?

Speaker 5 (51:54):
Good?

Speaker 3 (51:55):
You deserve I didn't want to go, to be honest,
you deserved that. Okays like well numbered over. I feel
like como you guys were part of. Was it the Grammys?
The gift back? What gift back?

Speaker 14 (52:06):
Was it the Grammys gift back?

Speaker 10 (52:08):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (52:08):
That was huge.

Speaker 1 (52:10):
I'm glad you're telling me, because I mean, we were
hoping that it would be huge, and we knew the
significance of it. But a lot of times you just
do these things and you kind of just like invest
in the opportunity and hope to see the feedback.

Speaker 14 (52:20):
And I mean things have been flourishing.

Speaker 1 (52:22):
We've had a few people come from the Grammys come
by and you know that was amazing just to be
like to get that visibility.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
How did they get that with the Grammars that you
gotta certificate to come to Cocomo. Yeah, And like I said,
it's always a special place to me because I love
Michael Kay Williams so much and just the amazing positive things.

Speaker 3 (52:41):
And he was like, we're going to cook them out.
And that was my first time there.

Speaker 14 (52:44):
Yeah, he told everybody come there.

Speaker 3 (52:45):
Yeah he did.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
And just the under a year he turned into like
my mentor big brother. He would call me, text me,
come by the restaurant. We would say outside, have long conversations.
He would pray for me, pray for my family. You
know what I'm saying. He kind of just like brought
everybody to the rest and he's like, we got to
support this company.

Speaker 14 (53:02):
You know what I'm saying. He was an amazing dooman.
I love him to death. I'll never forget the impact
he had on me.

Speaker 3 (53:06):
We love Michael Cay.

Speaker 13 (53:07):
Will listen to Angela. Is he passed the Angela because
Angela tells everyone.

Speaker 3 (53:10):
About your came. I came there with Malcolm Mays the
day that he did the service.

Speaker 14 (53:16):
That night after after Malcolm.

Speaker 3 (53:20):
He was like, come on, we going to Kokoma. I said, perfect.
She tells her friends, she tells everybody on the radio.
So this is a beautiful full circle moment now.

Speaker 2 (53:30):
But honestly, like I love to support you know, not
just a black owned business, but an amazing business, but
a couple who I feel like is you know, I know,
we hate to say a couple of goals, but the
fact that you've been able to raise three children in
the midst of all this, open a restaurant in a
place that people told you not to open it because
everything else failed prior to that, during a time when
everybody told you don't do that. I read that you

(53:52):
guys went through a depression, you know during that time,
because it's not easy. But to be flourishing the way
that you are and running the business. We all know
the restaurant business is one of the hardest absolute places
and businesses to succeed in.

Speaker 1 (54:05):
I want to I want to say one more thing,
if it's I want to make sure on top of
what you just said, I want to make sure I
give read of her flowers. So, like you said, she
not much pregnant opening a restaurant in Brooklyn youngest woman
to open a restaurant in that area, first Black woman
to open a restaurant in that that's true.

Speaker 14 (54:22):
No, it is true.

Speaker 7 (54:23):
It is true.

Speaker 14 (54:23):
I researched it is true.

Speaker 3 (54:26):
Did you know what deep dive.

Speaker 14 (54:30):
DM DM whatever they want, you know the truth. You
know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1 (54:34):
And to do that while pregnant in COVID, you know
what I'm saying, not knowing where the world was going
to be twenty six when you open the restaurant, twenty
five five to open her first time entrepreneurs first restaurant.

Speaker 3 (54:47):
She's a mother mother. Shout out to my mother.

Speaker 14 (54:51):
Definitely, you know what I mean.

Speaker 1 (54:52):
I just want to make sure I give the women
in my life stay flowers, and this is the woman
in my life, so she gets the flowers.

Speaker 9 (54:58):
I love this.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
Thank you guys so much for coming through. I appreciate
y'all so much. Check out Cocomo NYC. Make sure you
guys go there. Support black owned business. But the food
is amazing, so do your diet to the side. When
we come back, we have ask ye eight hundred and
two ninety two fifty one fifty is a number.

Speaker 3 (55:15):
If you have any questions, call us up. We got you.
It's way up with Angela yee.

Speaker 5 (55:20):
Okay, everybody since with.

Speaker 6 (55:22):
Its relationship for career advice, Angela's dropping facts, you should
know this is.

Speaker 3 (55:26):
Ask ye what's up? His way up with Angela?

Speaker 1 (55:29):
Yee?

Speaker 2 (55:29):
I'm here and Jasmine from the Jasmine brand is here
and we got Chris on the line.

Speaker 3 (55:34):
Chris, what's your ask ye?

Speaker 11 (55:36):
So basically, my girl, I mean, this is not a
new thing.

Speaker 8 (55:39):
Females go on period, they have their emotional cycles.

Speaker 11 (55:41):
But you know when she gets on her she's extra moody.

Speaker 7 (55:45):
And my my question is, you know, how do I
really go.

Speaker 11 (55:48):
About females on their electional cycle? Should I leave them alone?
Should I do the opposite?

Speaker 7 (55:53):
You know?

Speaker 3 (55:54):
But you can't just be normal? Or what do you mean?

Speaker 7 (55:56):
No?

Speaker 3 (55:56):
He cannot be normal?

Speaker 11 (55:57):
I mean, thank you take Oh, That's what I'm asking.

Speaker 8 (56:01):
What is the best thing to do, because as a man,
you want.

Speaker 9 (56:04):
To make her feel comfortable?

Speaker 3 (56:06):
Whynot?

Speaker 7 (56:07):
You tell me?

Speaker 11 (56:07):
But at certain times, and nothing's working because.

Speaker 10 (56:10):
She's on her metural type, boy, and she's going through
stuff in her head.

Speaker 7 (56:13):
So I'm just asking.

Speaker 2 (56:15):
Listen, Jasmine, let me tell you something. Jasmine did not
come out for my birthday trip. One year because she
had her period.

Speaker 13 (56:22):
Yeah, it was I have really I have, I have
really bad well, I have really bad cramps. And every
woman is different. Angela doesn't have some perhaps severe cramps.
I used to have really bad cramps where I had
a baby. And so you saying your girlfriend is very
moody during her cycle.

Speaker 11 (56:36):
Yeah, she said. She said she has bad cramps too,
and I would tell her like it could be worse.

Speaker 8 (56:40):
She's like, no, this is the worst.

Speaker 3 (56:42):
No, No, the answer is not telling her it could
be worse. That's number one, because you have no idea
what it feels like. You need that, yeah, you have,
you don't know what it feels like, so you can't tell.

Speaker 2 (56:52):
That's like her telling you if you got kicked in
the testicles or it could be worse.

Speaker 3 (56:56):
You like, nope, Like this is about it.

Speaker 2 (56:58):
But what does she say when you ask her, look,
how can I best uh support you during this time?

Speaker 3 (57:05):
What does she say?

Speaker 4 (57:06):
She says?

Speaker 11 (57:07):
She says she feels like she I don't know her
hold her own space so she could think about stuff
and whatnot.

Speaker 8 (57:15):
It has nothing to do with me or whatnot.

Speaker 11 (57:17):
I guess she just goes through stuff mentally.

Speaker 7 (57:20):
But I'm telling her like I understand you're going through
these things.

Speaker 11 (57:24):
But as a man, I could feel a way because
I feel like I can't do anything for you.

Speaker 3 (57:28):
You can't.

Speaker 11 (57:29):
I can't help you.

Speaker 3 (57:30):
No, no, you can. You can give her.

Speaker 11 (57:33):
But that's kind of frustrated sometimes though, not being.

Speaker 3 (57:35):
Able to listen with your pardner.

Speaker 4 (57:37):
But you have to.

Speaker 13 (57:37):
But you have to be at peace with this. So
you she wants her space, so you give her space.
If she has a favorite meal that she likes around
that time or right before her cycle, if she likes
dark chocolate, or maybe she likes a heating pad, or
maybe she just wants you to check on her every
now and again, and just give her. If she just
wants space, that's really simple, and you gotta really you
got to. You have to let go and know for
a week every month, this is you know, this.

Speaker 3 (57:59):
Is how support you support support her invisibly, like you
just do a little small things that might help her
be more comfortable. But if she says she wants to
be left alone, at least she's telling you explicit directions. Yeah,
you can even.

Speaker 4 (58:12):
Tell me, She'll tell me that, but then tom she'll say, oh.

Speaker 7 (58:16):
Will you or stuff like that.

Speaker 13 (58:18):
You know, listen, it'll change sometimes. So before her next cycle,
you say, hey, do you know what you think you'll need?
Because I just want to be prepared. If not, it
can change, I'm okay with it. Maybe get her a
little gift, little little period packet, give her, like some
of her favorite snacks and some app believe or whatever
medicine she likes in a little heat pad, and and
mind your business and just check on her.

Speaker 2 (58:38):
Now, you know what, It also doesn't hurt to see
sometimes certain foods and things can affect how your period
affects you. So on a holistic level, there might be
things that could be beneficial that you could do some
research on that could be helpful for her.

Speaker 13 (58:52):
Definitely, when I changed my diet, it got a little
better for me, So that may be something she want
to consider too.

Speaker 11 (58:57):
Now you're right, you're right because the other day I
started at oubi and I shared with her.

Speaker 3 (59:02):
Yeah, all right, well look I feel like yeah, will
definitely work through this though. He's a good boyfriend.

Speaker 7 (59:09):
Duh. Yeah, thank you, Thank you guys.

Speaker 3 (59:11):
Okay, take care.

Speaker 13 (59:14):
Bye.

Speaker 2 (59:15):
All right, Well that was ask Casey. We can answer anything, yeah,
except what it feels like to get kicked in the
testicles eight until two ninet two. Fifty one fifty is
a number you can have your last words in case
you couldn't get through, call us up and you can
always at any time during the day leave a message.

Speaker 3 (59:29):
It's way up with Angela Yee.

Speaker 14 (59:31):
Take up the phone.

Speaker 5 (59:33):
To get your voice heard. What the word? Here's the
last word on way up with Angela Yee.

Speaker 3 (59:39):
What's up?

Speaker 2 (59:39):
Its way up with Angela Yee. I'm Angela Yee and
Jasmine brand is here.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
This was a good show, Angela. Yes it is Jasmine.

Speaker 2 (59:45):
I wish people couldn't know how funny you are in
real life outside what just things that you do?

Speaker 3 (59:50):
Like you fall upstairs?

Speaker 10 (59:51):
I do.

Speaker 3 (59:52):
I'm a followers.

Speaker 7 (59:53):
Is that?

Speaker 3 (59:53):
Is that a faller? I'm a fault? Yeah?

Speaker 13 (59:55):
And uh, your producer Dan is shaking's head because he's
he business this. He's witnessed this for and my defense.
I was a little under the influence though, But I.

Speaker 3 (01:00:03):
Enjoy that, Like I enjoy people who are like all
who fall you enjoy it. They're like just fun to
be around, okay, because you can laugh at yourself. I
laugh at myself too, and you also make fun of everyone. Yeah,
and good fun.

Speaker 2 (01:00:16):
Okay, all right, well you guys get to have the
last word. Eight and two fifty fifty.

Speaker 7 (01:00:23):
Hey, what's going on? Angela?

Speaker 4 (01:00:24):
Yee?

Speaker 7 (01:00:25):
This is Glynn Ross. I want to shine a light
on my mother, Shirley Row. Today is her born to day.
He's eighty one years young. She's super fly, she's super
Dope's gonna shine a light on the Thank you for
giving birth to me. I love you, The family loves you.
She's so flies. She's like the best woman, the sweetest mother,

(01:00:45):
the sweetest woman that you ever know. Thank you so much,
Please give especially shout out. Shine a light onto my mom.
Angela yee, shine a light onto yourself and thank you,
big up to you, ma, love you so much. Happy
birthday again.

Speaker 4 (01:00:57):
Thought this was the number two, the place to show
what we're talking about with the cheese shake, the living one,
the blueberry one, the maple one. I've just seen one again.

Speaker 11 (01:01:07):
All right, boy, what's up?

Speaker 8 (01:01:09):
Agently?

Speaker 5 (01:01:10):
I like what you're doing, baby girl, Keep going.

Speaker 7 (01:01:12):
I love your show.

Speaker 11 (01:01:14):
You got all my favorite some of my favorite repords
on your show.

Speaker 5 (01:01:17):
Keep going, girl, do your thing. We proud of you all.
My black sister.

Speaker 10 (01:01:21):
I have a time to have a situation. I'm in
a relationship with a female, but I'm actually really tired
of it, and I don't know. I don't want to
break her heart and I want to be by myself,
the better myself. I don't want to break your heart.
I don't know what to do.

Speaker 11 (01:01:34):
Give me to my safe thank you.

Speaker 5 (01:01:37):
Going way out with Angela Yee