Rejection can be redirection, and this is the testimony of Grammy winner Coco Jones, who took home the win for 2024 Best R&B Performance. The South Carolina-born actress and singer claims music is her first priority, however acting would be her window of opportunity to make her mark in the music industry. With acting taking a front seat, she went on to land roles on Disney shows and movies, which included “So Random!” (2008-2011), “Good Luck, Charlie” (2009) and “Let It Shine (2011-2012), according to TV Insider. Jones showcased her musical talents by singing on multiple tracks for the “Let It Shine” movie, where she played Roxie and co-starred with “Abbott Elementary” actor Tyler James Williams. This elevated her visibility in the music realm and established a more secure position for her in the industry as an actor, she said during the 2024 Grammy In The Schools Fest (GITS Fest). “Acting would be something that I saw around music, especially on Disney Channel, when typically if...

When you’re that girl, technology just adds a little pizazz to the cause! For Coco Jones, the evolution of tech has afforded her not only the luxury of pouring her talents into music but has enhanced the creative control over the art she puts out for her fans. In particular, social media has played a huge role in her success as an independent artist. “Being able to create my own content and build a fan base, not based on an outside opportunity from, you know, a show or a movie,” said Jones during an exclusive interview with AfroTech at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture. “Also, I can record my own music, I have my own home setup where I can just be creative and produce high-quality content from my home because of technology. I feel like I have more creative control.”