La La (entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Alani Vazquez Anthony (born June 25, 1979) is an American
actress, disc jockey
, and television personality.
. They lived in Brooklyn
, where Alani, Vazquez's brother, and her two sisters were born. As a child, Vazquez was involved in many activities, but music was her main interest.
, Vazquez worked as a programming assistant at WHTA radio. While a student at Redan High School
, she received her first big break with her debut in a radio show, alongside Ludacris
, called Future Flavas. After working for some time at the station, she decided to relocate to Washington, D.C.
, where she attended Howard University
and studied Communications
. While at Howard, she worked as a disc jockey
at WHUR, the campus radio station.
In 1999, she moved to Los Angeles, California
, and went to work at KKBT radio. There, she was noticed by MTV
and was invited to audition, although was not called back until a year after the audition. She was the co-host of MTV's Direct Effect and Total Request Live
. She has also hosted the reunion specials for all seasons of VH1
's Flavor of Love
, both seasons of I Love New York
, the first season of Real Chance of Love
, the first season of Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School
and For the Love of Ray J
. In addition, she often introduced stories on MTV's High School Stories
and she appeared as a dean
on VH1's Charm School with Ricki Lake
.
Vazquez made her film debut in 2001 in Two Can Play That Game
. Her other film credits include Urban Massacre (2002), Monster Island
(2003), and You Got Served
.
on Christmas Day
2004. Their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, was born on March 7, 2007.
They were married by Michael Eric Dyson on July 10, 2010 at Cipriani
's in New York before 320 guests, including Justin Timberlake
, Kim Kardashian
, Khloe Kardashian
, Lamar Odom
, Ciara
, Trina
, Chris Paul
, Amar'e Stoudemire, Serena Williams
, Kenyon Martin
, Hakim Warrick
, Jim Boeheim
, Ludacris
, Kelly Rowland
, Spike Lee
, and LeBron James
. The ceremony was filmed by VH1
and aired as part of a reality series on the couple, titled La La's Full Court Wedding.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, and television personality.
Early years
Vazquez's parents were both NuyoricanNuyorican
Nuyorican is a portmanteau of the terms "New York" and "Puerto Rican" and refers to the members or culture of the Puerto Rican diaspora located in or around New York State especially the New York City metropolitan area, or of their descendants...
. They lived in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, where Alani, Vazquez's brother, and her two sisters were born. As a child, Vazquez was involved in many activities, but music was her main interest.
Career
In AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Vazquez worked as a programming assistant at WHTA radio. While a student at Redan High School
Redan High School
Redan High School is a public secondary school located in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The school is south of the city of Stone Mountain....
, she received her first big break with her debut in a radio show, alongside Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
, called Future Flavas. After working for some time at the station, she decided to relocate to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where she attended Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
and studied Communications
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
. While at Howard, she worked as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at WHUR, the campus radio station.
In 1999, she moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, and went to work at KKBT radio. There, she was noticed by MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and was invited to audition, although was not called back until a year after the audition. She was the co-host of MTV's Direct Effect and Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
. She has also hosted the reunion specials for all seasons of VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
, both seasons of I Love New York
I Love New York (TV series)
I Love New York is a reality television series, which first aired on VH1. It features Tiffany Pollard in a quest to find her true love. The series is a spin off of another relationship competition series, Flavor of Love, which featured Pollard as a finalist in two consecutive seasons...
, the first season of Real Chance of Love
Real Chance of Love
Real Chance of Love is an American reality television dating game show featuring two brothers Ahmad Givens and Kamal Givens , of the rap group The Stallionares, and former contestants on I Love New York, who are looking for love....
, the first season of Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, known as Charm School: Flavor of Love Girls in Europe, is the first season of the VH1 reality show Charm School. It is a spin-off of Flavor of Love created by the producers of The Surreal Life and Flavor of Love spin-off I Love New York...
and For the Love of Ray J
For the Love of Ray J
For the Love of Ray J is a dating show on VH1 featuring hip hop singer Ray J. The program has a format similar to Flavor of Love, I Love New York, and Rock of Love. One source notes that it "will be produced by the same geniuses" as those shows, 51 Minds...
. In addition, she often introduced stories on MTV's High School Stories
High School Stories
High School Stories is an original program that aired on the MTV network, and featured stories of pranks, scandals, and controversies kids took part in when they were in high school...
and she appeared as a dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
on VH1's Charm School with Ricki Lake
Charm School with Ricki Lake
Charm School with Ricki Lake is the third season of the VH1 reality television series Charm School. Fourteen contestants from Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels and Real Chance of Love must change their old ways and learn improvement through acts of charity work...
.
Vazquez made her film debut in 2001 in Two Can Play That Game
Two Can Play That Game
Two Can Play That Game is a 2001 romantic comedy film written and directed by Mark Brown. The film stars Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut, and Anthony Anderson.-Plot:...
. Her other film credits include Urban Massacre (2002), Monster Island
Monster Island
Monster Island may refer to:*Monster Isle, the Mole Man's base in the Marvel Comics canon introduced in "The Fantastic Four" #1*Monsterland and Monster Island, home to a number of kaiju in the Godzilla series...
(2003), and You Got Served
You Got Served
You Got Served is a film written and directed by Chris Stokes, manager of its stars, recording artist Omarion, Marques Houston and the members of boy band B2K. The plot concerns a group of dancers, who take part in a street dancing competition...
.
Personal life
Vazquez became engaged to Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
on Christmas Day
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2004. Their son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, was born on March 7, 2007.
They were married by Michael Eric Dyson on July 10, 2010 at Cipriani
Cipriani S.A.
Cipriani S.A. is a privately owned international corporation based in Luxembourg that owns and operates luxury restaurants and clubs around the world including Harry's Bar in Venice and formerly the Rainbow Room in New York City....
's in New York before 320 guests, including Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, model, actress and businesswoman. She is known for the E! reality series that she shares with her family—Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and its spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York...
, Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian
Khloé Kardashian Odom is an American businesswoman, television personality, radio host, socialite, and model...
, Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom
Lamar Joseph Odom is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.-Early life:...
, Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
, Trina
Trina
Katrina Laverne Taylor , better known by her stage name Trina, is an American rapper, songwriter and model from Miami, Florida. Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's second studio album www.thug.com to the single "Nann Nigga"...
, Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
, Amar'e Stoudemire, Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
, Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Lee Martin is an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "K-Mart", he plays for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. He was selected first overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, and has played in the NBA for the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets...
, Hakim Warrick
Hakim Warrick
Hakim Hanif Warrick is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently with the Phoenix Suns. Commonly nicknamed "Helicopter" and "Skinny", the 6'9", 219 lb forward was a major part the Syracuse Orange's run to the 2003 National Championship, often being most remembered...
, Jim Boeheim
Jim Boeheim
James Arthur "Jim" Boeheim is the head coach of the men's basketball team at Syracuse University. Boeheim has guided the Orange to eight Big East regular season championships, five Big East Tournament championships, and 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three appearances in the national...
, Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
, and LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
. The ceremony was filmed by VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and aired as part of a reality series on the couple, titled La La's Full Court Wedding.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Two Can Play That Game Two Can Play That Game Two Can Play That Game is a 2001 romantic comedy film written and directed by Mark Brown. The film stars Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut, and Anthony Anderson.-Plot:... |
Bobby the DJ | |
| 2002 | Urban Massacre | Pam Jackson | |
| Total Request Live Total Request Live Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests... |
Herself | TV series | |
| 2002–2006 | Direct Effect Sucker Free Sucker Free, known as Sucker Free Daily on weekdays and then Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays, is MTV2's sole hip-hop video block. Previously, Sucker Free aired weekdays for one hour, then eventually sporadically until the week leading to February 28, 2010. Sucker Free Countdown, its 2 hour top 15... |
Host | TV series |
| 2003 | 50 Cent: The New Breed 50 Cent: The New Breed 50 Cent: The New Breed is a 2003 documentary by rapper 50 Cent.-Background:It stars 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and others, distributed by Interscope Records... |
Herself | Documentary |
| Sex and the City Sex and the City Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes... |
MTV Interviewer | TV series; episode: "The Post-it Always Sticks Twice" | |
| 2004 | You Got Served You Got Served You Got Served is a film written and directed by Chris Stokes, manager of its stars, recording artist Omarion, Marques Houston and the members of boy band B2K. The plot concerns a group of dancers, who take part in a street dancing competition... |
Herself | |
| Monster Island Monster Island (film) Monster Island is the name of a campy 2004 made-for-TV horror movie in the 1950s monster movie style. It stars Carmen Electra, Daniel Letterle, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Adam West, C... |
Herself | TV movie | |
| One on One One on One (TV series) One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter... |
Kendra | TV series; episode: "Phatheadz" | |
| Soul Plane Soul Plane Soul Plane is a 2004 comedy film starring Kevin Hart, Method Man, Tom Arnold, D.L. Hughley, Mo'Nique, Loni Love, K.D. Aubert, Godfrey, and Snoop Dogg.-Plot:... |
Herself | ||
| Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno The Inferno is the eighth season of Real World/Road Rules Challenge. It aired in 2004 on MTV, composed of twenty cast members, and took place in Acapulco, Mexico. In this challenge, the winning teams would receive a prize at the end of each mission. They would then nominate two players from their... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion Show" | |
| 2006 | Da Jammies | Angelique | Voice |
| Flavor of Love Flavor of Love (Season 1) Flavor of Love is the first season of the VH1 reality television series Flavor of Love, in which Flavor Flav brings female contestants into his mansion to compete for his love. The first season aired weekly from January 1, 2006 to March 12, 2006, with a total of ten episodes... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion" | |
| Chappelle's Show Chappelle's Show Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,... |
Herself | TV series; episode: #3.2 | |
| Flavor of Love 2 Flavor of Love (Season 2) Flavor of Love is the second season of the VH1 reality television series entitled Flavor of Love, in which Flavor Flav brings female contestants into his mansion to compete for his love... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion: After the Lovin" | |
| 2007 | Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, known as Charm School: Flavor of Love Girls in Europe, is the first season of the VH1 reality show Charm School. It is a spin-off of Flavor of Love created by the producers of The Surreal Life and Flavor of Love spin-off I Love New York... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion Show" |
| 2008 | I Love New York 2 I Love New York 2 I Love New York 2 is a reality television show on VH1 that stars Tiffany "New York" Pollard who is on a quest to find her true love. Her relationship with season one's winner, Tango, ended shortly after the season concluded. Unlike the first season, Mauricio Sanchez did not return as "Chamo", New... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion Show" |
| 2009 | For the Love of Ray J For the Love of Ray J For the Love of Ray J is a dating show on VH1 featuring hip hop singer Ray J. The program has a format similar to Flavor of Love, I Love New York, and Rock of Love. One source notes that it "will be produced by the same geniuses" as those shows, 51 Minds... |
Host | TV series; episode: "Reunion Show" |
| Charm School with Ricki Lake Charm School with Ricki Lake Charm School with Ricki Lake is the third season of the VH1 reality television series Charm School. Fourteen contestants from Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels and Real Chance of Love must change their old ways and learn improvement through acts of charity work... |
Judge/Dean | ||
| 2010 | La La's Full Court Wedding | Herself | TV series |
External links
- Official website
- MTV.com-Onair- Meet the Vjs
- Read MTV's profile of La La on MTV.TV
- http://www.radioplanet.tv/lala-vazquez-talks-charm-schoolLaLa Vazquez interview with DJ Whoo KidDJ Whoo KidDJ Whoo Kid is a hip hop DJ and of Haitian descent raised in Queens Village, New York but with strong roots to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. He is currently signed to G-Unit Records and its subsidiary label, Shady Ville Entertainment...
, Sirius Radio/RadioPlanet.tv]