Meet *CoCojenkins (one Word)

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to *CoCojenkins (one Word). We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

*CoCojenkins, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I say this as unseriously as possible – I have the pleasure of being an only child, raised by two loving parents, and I also happen to be a LEO. The stereotype of Leos is that they’re full of themselves, and I am, with a lot of love. I truly hope everyone loves themself as much as I love myself, and I have a hard time understanding when people doubt themselves, because humans are so amazing!
The stereotype of only children is that they’re spoiled, and I was/am – with love. My parents poured so much into me and supported most of the things I wanted to do. They were very attentive and always there. I share this with pride but also to let parents know how important they are in their children’s lives. Both parents, Mom AND Dad.

To back track a little bit, when I sit back and look at what we’re up against, I DO understand why people can doubt themselves. Even with such a solid foundation of support, it’s a constant battle every single day/moment to put yourself out there and be 100% you and comfortable in your own skin at all times. As I get older though, I feel more and more settled within myself and who I am.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

People think I do a million things, but in my head, I only do 2 things – I’m an artist, and I run a platform called “There’s Nothing to do in Vegas.”

There’s Nothing to do in Vegas aka NTDLV.com aka @nothingtodolv on IG is my baby. It literally started with a simple, tiny, idea. Where can one find things to do in Vegas that weren’t Cirque Du Soleil shows or Celine Dion? I was (am) a bass player in a Hip-Hop band for 8 years – Rhyme N Rhythm, and we were having a hard time getting the word out about our shows. It was bulletin boards on Myspace, the bulletin board at The Beat Coffeeshop, and a facebook status stating “CoCo Jenkins has a show this weekend and hopes you can come!”
As a fan, thirsty to explore the scene, it was difficult to discover where to go and what to do.
Because I was so obsessed with finding these people, places, and things, I eventually started to learn where to go and what to do. Pretty soon, I was posting statuses stating, “CoCo Jenkins has a show this weekend, and here are some other dope events happening too,” along with a list of various events of all genres.
In 2014 I went to my motherland – Manila, Philippines. I scoured the internet for cool things to do when I found a website called heygarch.com, where I went to an event and connected with my people – musicians, rappers, and singers. Inspired, I came back and started a Craigslist (ugly)version of my website with a calendar app. It honestly wasn’t that bad – on the desktop it was clean, but it didn’t work on cell phones, and that obviously doesn’t work. When heycoco.com was available for $10,000, I decided on theresnothingtodoinvegas.com.

My boyfriend at the time, Arturo Cecena, who stills help me with @nothingtodolv tingz, suggested I start an Instagram. It was 2015, and I was seriously opposed to smartphones. Sidenote, I actually never got a smartphone until 2017 when I went to China for a month. Anyways, he started an IG for me – @nothingtodolv, and I just started off posting flyers, and other odds and ends that I thought were interesting in Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. I just kept doing that everyday until this moment right here, and I’m going to keep doing it until.

On the surface, NTDLV.com is an events platform, but it’s really a place for people to find their home. For people to find the other weirdos who are just like them and into the same weird things for which they used to get ostracized. Some people get offended when I say it, but I use the term “weirdos” very intentionally and with pride. I used to get called “weird” every single day from age 11 until who knows when. But all those same people see me now and tell me “It’s so cool you still play cello and do music still” or “CoCo, you’ve always been yourself.” I’m talking all the way back to middle school CoCo – she is probably almost fully healed. (I say “probably almost” because who knows if there are any other triggers I haven’t worked on.)

And then of course it’s about highlighting the beautiful people, places, and things that come from this very specific vortex on Southern Paiute Land, created by a handshake between the Mormons and the Mafia (as my bf RED would say). Some very cool art comes from this desert, and you can find out all about it on NTDLV.com 😉

As an artist, I feel like it has taken me some time to find my way, but I do believe I am finally starting to land. In 2020, I started making beats via looper, because I couldn’t figure out how to work a DAW (like Ableton, Reason, Logic, etc). Some of those beats turned into songs, and wow, I didn’t even know I could write songs. Coming from a classically trained background on cello & piano, and playing bass aka background in a Hip-Hop band, I just never even fathomed. It’s so wild when you let others dictate what you do and who you are. It’s such a relief when you finally just do YOU. Sometimes I think I’m doing me, 100%, and then I get a swift reminder to free myself even more!
I wrote a few songs that I’ve never recorded, and am now finally doing, thanks to a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, while continuing to build beats and produce songs for King JaRED, Uhmeesa Fuego, and others.

In 2021, I started DJing, and let me tell you that I have SO much fun DJing/MCing. I say “MCing” as well because DJs truly Move the Crowd (if they’re good)! I’ve been privileged enough to “Just do You, CoCo” when I DJ, and good enough that people love what I play. Music has been a passion of mine for so long that I should have been blending songs a long time ago. The reactions from people are great, but it’s the best when I impress myself (like a skate trick)! Plus, I love to play music that people have never heard, including my beats and music from my people and community. I will 100% mix “local artists” on a set if the song is fire and makes sense, and that’s how you boost the sound of a city.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

-Be open minded but use discernment – I’m so open and trusting of everything that if sense anything I dislike, I listen and pay attention. And then leave. But being open minded has literally opened many doors for me and also just helps me understand people more.

-DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Why does your song, fashion brand, art piece, dance routine, platform etc. need to be put out for consumption if it’s not different? If it’s just for you and your peoples, cool, but public consumption – don’t waste anyone’s time with the same.

-Music – and apply the first two things! I’m also grateful for my diverse journey into music from jazz to traditional Chinese music, to all different kinds of music from Latin America, to Romantic period sonatas to the most underground Hip-Hop played on 91.5fm The Word Up Show.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

YES.
Big shouts out to Giselle for being down so fully for so long.
Pridestyle Pro has been an awesome partnership.
But I still am looking to connect with whoever sees themselves fit to uplift and propel the mission of NTDLV.com. The mission is connecting people to other people, places, and things to do, in (and even out) of Las Vegas. Let’s tap in, for real.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.NTDLV.com
• Instagram: @cocojenkinsbeats & @nothingtodolv
• Youtube: @nothingtodolv

Image Credits

Benny Digital
Snake God
Johnathan Johnson
Chase Stevens