That time the Queen of Zess floored DJ Khaled

If we coined the hashtag #covidfunk, Shinelle Latoya Cottoy would know exactly what we’d be talking about. Known as Nelly Cottoy to her fans, she’s a fast-spitting, tongue-twisting lyricist in the local "zesser" music industry.

The covid19 pandemic and the stringent measures taken by the government to stem its spread couldn’t have come at a worse time for Cottoy.

"At first I almost went into depression knowing that I'm unable to work (and I do this full time) and that eventually money would run out because I didn't make millions last year, and I also did not prepare for this pandemic. (I'm horrible at saving, but learning now). Plus we came fresh out of Carnival straight into it (covid19) and dancehall artistes don't really make money at Carnival time so this is our season to work. So I felt it,” she told WMN.

However, in a twist of fate, a chance online encounter and some creative thinking has led to a life-changing experience for the 24-year-old.

“Shockingly, during the pandemic is where I found the time to start an online show called Quarantine Prank to pass the time,” she said.

“The plan was to join international celebrities’ live shows and prank them for my fans’ entertainment.

Cottoy explained the concept and how she came up with it.

"I didn't want to be like the rest, having online ‘zess shows’ and just playing music for girls to call in and dance. So I didn't do it. One night I had a dream that I was on the live pranking somebody and that's when the initial idea hit me to have a prank show!

“Since nobody is doing that, and having a background as a YouTuber, and some of my fans had requested I act again. I immediately got up (it was about 2 am) and designed the artwork (oh yes! I'm a graphic designer as well) and sent it to my mom (and manager Rhonda Prince-Moraldo). I called her as soon as it was sunup and she agreed to let me do it.

So that was the creative thinking. And here’s where the twist of fate and chance online encounter came in.

“While at home that same day (April 27) I saw that DJ Khaled was live and I said, ‘you know what Nelly, it's now or never, send a request to join.’

“So I sent it not even knowing what I was about to say or if I was going to be accepted and then I rest my phone down. Before I knew it, I heard him saying ‘hello’. When I looked at my screen there he was!"

Excitement!

“I immediately flew up, we chatted a bit about Trinidad and Tobago, he let me speak to one of his son's nanny who is also a Trini, and then he asked me what I do ‘profession wise’. I then told him I'm a dancehall artiste and would love to spit something for him. He said, ‘you better.’ Then I told him to tell me when to go. He said, ‘Lard a Mercy, Go!’ and the rest is history," she told WMN.

DJ Khaled seemed to be quite impressed with Cottoy’s performance, which can be viewed on YouTube.

She told WMN, "I believe it was God putting me at the right place at the right time with the right mindset. I mean, what are the chances of a little Trini girl getting accepted to join such a major personality live and also blowing him away to the point where he called me ‘a special one,’ and said ‘put you on a stage, them cyah ramp with you.’

“On top of that DJ Khaled never posts when he talks to his fans but somehow he made sure to repost little ole me. I'm beyond grateful. This is a one in a million, lifetime opportunity," she added.

Cottoy has since changed the title of her live show to Quarantine Prank or Chant. What has also changed is her exposure. Cottoy said her manager's phone lines are “blowing up" with calls, her following on social media has increased significantly and her live show has gone viral. Several producers and media agencies have already contacted her.

Now, what no one would believe is that Cottoy is actually somewhat shy and soft-spoken, a far cry from her videos and performances.

She laughed. "Nelly Cottoy and Shinelle Cottoy are two completely different persons. She's the fun one, lol, the girl I created who fears nothing, who loves the stage and loves to entertain a crowd. She loves the feeling of constantly being at events. Whereas Shinelle could spend the entire day cooped up inside watching Sponge Bob or Netflix with a lot of food and be completely satisfied," she revealed.

So just who is Shinelle Cottoy?

The only child of Prince-Moraldo and Damian Cottoy, she was born in St James and while she has no siblings, she said she was never really alone. She spent her childhood with her grandmother, Janet Cottoy, an aunt and cousins. When her grandmother died in 2008, Cottoy moved to her mom's home in Petite Valley and grew up with her maternal aunt, Ashlyn Williams (DHQ Naughty), who is two years older. Because of how close they are in age, the two became almost inseparable.

"After my grandmother passed away, my mom raised me as a very sheltered child but my young aunt…was the one who loved adventure. It was almost like having a fun devil on my shoulder while mom was there trying to raise an angel lol so I guess that's where the different personalities came into play," she joked

She also credits her ability to "switch up" to her godsister, Shania Alexander and Jermaine James (Mr Tek it 2 dem) who both encouraged her to embrace all aspects of her personality.

At age 14, Cottoy formed the dance company Inkredible Kreations and she’s a registered dance instructor with the Ministry of Community Development, through its Train the Trainer course. Her focus, she said, has mainly been training back up dancers. She works out of her studio in St Augustine and her students range in age from five to 35.

Cottoy said while she knew she could excel as a dancer, she also wanted to showcase her capabilities as a singer and composer as well. She would eventually take the advice of calypsonian Edwin "Crazy" Ayoung and enter the calypso/soca industry. In 2017, Cottoy made her soca debut with Wuk It Up, recorded by Lil Ville of Money Circle Records and performed at the National Youth Soca Star competition. She won the title after performing her original song and Devon Matthews' The Journey.

Despite this success, she knew soca was not for her.

"I gravitated to dancehall instantly because of the feeling it gives me. I came from a dancing background and I always loved to see Jamaicans dance to their music. They have so much fun and do so many dangerous stuff that it excites me. When a producer sends me a dancehall beat to ride I never know what to expect. It allows me to be free. I can go from intense almost rap like lyrics to funny, commanding dance lyrics at any time I want and people react to each differently. Yet still it's all dancehall. The beats just trigger something in me," she elaborated.

While, Cottoy's first dancehall song, Jockey Rider was written by fellow artiste Buffy, she said she loves the freedom of being able to bring her own vision to life. She can write lyrics after just listening a to a beat and has recently been helped by Jamaican dancehall writer, Roberto Davis.

Cottoy said her decision to enter the dance hall music industry has been discouraging at times. She said she has often felt as if an artiste can be blacklisted without their detractors even knowing their names. She said she experienced it, but it had the complete opposite impact on her. "My mother raised a strong woman and I have a fighting spirit. So I use every negative to influence a greater positive. I let their attempt to blacklist me motivate me to do better.

“Dancers from Chile, Mexico, Sweden, USA and other countries, even Jamaica… have been sending me videos pushing my music. Even international DJ's. But I'm constantly fighting for support in my own country while internationally they're giving me it without even asking. However, I must say, not all locals are like that. The ones who actually loved my work from the beginning and heard the potential and kept pushing me are the ones that also helped in keeping my chin up. I love my country and I refuse to let a few bad apples spoil the bunch," she told WMN.

She wants DJs to stop "stifling songs released by artiste." She said it pigeonholes them into only releasing what the DJs choose to play and often those songs are never played outside of TT. More, she said, can be done to promote TT dancehall globally.

As for her supporters, Cottoy said her mom and manager has never given up on her, even when she felt like doing so.

"Happy Mother's Day, mom! You see me, you see her. She would spend her last to make sure I look the part. She would attend every single interview and event of mine all hours of the morning then get up and go to work like normal. She is my superhero and my best friend and there is no way I would be where I am without her. Everything I do, I do it for her. I'm working as hard as I can today so that my mom can live the life she deserves tomorrow. I'm her only child, which means she already bet everything on me. So my only option is to win or die trying," said an emotional Cottoy.

And while she remains grateful to all disc jockeys who play her music, she is especially thankful to DJ Shorts, who stuck it out with her during her first year, just trying to gain momentum. She was also thankful for the support of Curtis Lopez (DJ UCL) and Big Mike. She is also mindful of fellow artiste including Lexi, Danger, Lil Sin, Starboi, Mr Grill, Cali Gray and the Infamous K, I, who all pushed her to "keep at it".

Cottoy urges aspiring artistes to find someone doing what you want to do and be just as determined as them to succeed. For her it has been her uncle, Oswin Williams, who just started taking his rap career seriously and is already leaving his mark in Mexico.

As for her next step, Cottoy confidently told WMN: "What else? To be known worldwide as the Queen of Zess aka The Dancehall Queen of TT… to use this to our advantage and take local dancehall to the world. My goal has always been to let the world see that we can do more than just soca, and now that I have the opportunity to do so. As soon as covid19 is over I am going to run with it. I wanna take my mama to the BET awards. I want her to cry beautiful ugly tears of joy as she hears my name call. These are dreams that I am determined to make a reality."

See Nelly Cottoy perform for DJ Khaled at https://youtu.be/VRFXJyuIEyc