Parris Ly'nell Fluellen[2] (born February 12, 1980), better known as Cha Cha or Parris Franz,[3] is an American rapper, songwriter, and actress. She gained recognition in the late 1990s for her contributions to hip-hop, and later transitioned into acting.[citation needed]
Early life and education
Cha Cha was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began rapping at the age of 10 [citation needed] and attended Cass Technical High School. She later took acting classes at Michigan State University and is currently a student at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles.
Music career
Cha Cha signed a recording contract with Epic Records after making guest appearances on the Hav Plenty soundtrack, Shae Jones' Talk Show, and Tash's Rap Life. She released her debut album, Dear Diary, on September 14, 1999, which featured collaborations with prominent artists such as Nas and Juvenile. The album's single, "New Millennium (What Cha Wanna Do)," reached #86 on Billboard's R&B chart.[citation needed]
Following Dear Diary, Cha Cha contributed to several projects by rapper Royce da 5'9", including his mixtapes Build and Destroy and M.I.C. (Make It Count), as well as his second studio album, Death Is Certain.
Acting career
Cha Cha transitioned into acting, taking on roles in films and television. Her film credits include:
- Office Outbreak (2006) as Sasha
- Stomp The Yard: Homecoming (2010) as a dancer
- A Day of Trouble (2018) as Jennifer
- Chocolate City (2015) as a club patron
- Entourage (2015) as a rave promoter
She appeared on MTV's The Lyricist Lounge Show and played roles in shows like Meet the Browns (2010), Let's Stay Together (2012), and A Cross to Bear (2015). Cha Cha also worked as an on-air personality for Clear Channel and Radio One. [citation needed]
In theater, she starred in productions such as Soul Kittens Cabaret and A.I.M.: Angry Insecure Men, reprising her role as Mari Rodriguez in the play's film adaptation. Other notable performances include My Brother Marvin: The Marvin Gaye Story[4] and Afeni Shakur: In Her Defense,[5] a play about Tupac Shakur's mother. [citation needed]
Discography
Albums
Year | Title | Chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
U.S. R&B | |||
1999 |
|
86 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rap | US | |||
1999 | "New Millenium (What Cha Wanna Do)" | 28[6] | — | Dear Diary |
"He Likes" (featuring Jagged Edge) | — | — | ||
2001 | "Stick 'Em" | — | — | What's the Worst That Could Happen? |
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Office Outbreak | Sasha | |
2010 | Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming | Dancer | |
2014 | A.I.M: Angry Insecure Men | Mari Rodriguez | |
2015 | Chocolate City | Club Patron | |
2015 | Entourage | Rave Promoter | |
2018 | A Day Of Trouble | Jennifer |
Short film
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2010 | This Time | Ta'sia |
2018 | Surprise! | Jaz Allen |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | The Lyricist Lounge Show | Customer | |
2010 | Meet the Browns | Patient | Episode: "Meet the Harassment" |
2010 | Christmas Cupid | ||
2012 | Let's Stay Together | Waitress | Episode: "Leave Me Alone" |
2015 | A Cross to Bear | Tasha |
References
- ^ "HERE WE GO AGAIN". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "WELL". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ "Parris Franz Bio". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ Thornton, Audrey (2013-03-07). "Zeola Gaye's 'My Brother Marvin: The Stage Play' at The Warner Theatre by Audrey Thornton". DC Theater Arts. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
- ^ Watkins (@GrouchyGreg), Grouchy Greg (2008-02-11). "Play Launches Showcasing Tupac's Mom's Struggle". AllHipHop. Retrieved 2025-02-03.
- ^ "New Millenium (What Cha Wanna Do)" (Hot Rap Songs chart), Billboard, July 17, 1999.
External links
- Cha Cha/Parris Franz at Facebook
- Parris Franz on IMDb
- Cha Cha on Twitter
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