Coko's A Champion In Spirit

If anyone can start a praise party it's Cheryl "Coko" Clemons. The former SWV frontwoman's trademark shrill has not lost its potency and might be even stronger as she lifts her voice to spread the gospel. The Bronx native sings amid a reggae-tinged "Make A Way" and the spirit-filled "May Be My Last Time" and jubilant anthem "Let Me Go." But the title track is among the champion selections."It's another uplifting and encouraging song written by my pastor. I like to inspire others and it happens to be one of my favorite songs on the album."

Although her first commitment is to her faith-based music, Coko is currently traveling with the other two sisters with voices, Taj and Leelee, performing in different cities with the Heads of State--Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant. But she makes it clear that there are two songs from the group's brief anthology that she won't even hum--"Downtown" and "Can We?" We think two strikes is pretty good considering the laundry list of SWV faves means that the ladies graduated from an era where bump-n-grind sentimentalities didn't dominate our airwaves. With her mind and spirit intact, Coko approaches her music with a let-go-and-let-God confidence. "I never have a plan, things just sort of fall in place when I'm putting my album together. My only plan is to continue make good music."