BIPOLAR NAKED Where Style is Exposed May Issue
4/20 with Juelz Santana
Freeway’s Freedom of Speech The Man behind Bella Briela
Organic Garden Collective
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BIPOLAR NAKED May Issue
MEET THE FAMILY
LaRae Wilson, an Indiana native who currently resides in Los Angeles, is the creative spirit behind fashion label, Bipolar Gear. Bipolar: having or marked by two mutually repellent forces or diametrically opposed natures or views. Bipolar Gear is the evolving, expression of individuality combining two extremes at the same time. Established in December of 2008, Bipolar Gear Designer LaRae Wilson’s passion for creating 2
groundbreaking colorful and eccentric men’s and women’s wear by creating pieces that make you feel sexy and young. This is a second career for LaRae, who has been in the education field for over 15 years. Inspired by the colors of her students clothing, she began a journey in the everchanging world of fashion. She describes her vision as, “me, my sewing machine, and my imagination”. Fashion is innovation at its finest, it is ever changing
and everlasting, as is this collection. Filled with the wardrobe of a confident woman seeking individuality and uniqueness of expression. LaRae took the mainstream indecisive woman and provided her with the combination of comfort, style, and a fresh look. “Our mission is to provide stylish comfortable clothing, while encouraging dialogue and promoting self- expression”.
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CONTRIBUTORS Jasmine Jones Fashion Photographer
NikĂŠ Lovett Fashion Correspondent
Deon Lucas Fashion Correspondent
Marlin Barnes Editorial Correspondent
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CONTENTS
Features Page 6
The Man Behind Bella Briela Page 10
Freeway’s Freedom of Speech Page 21
Organic Garden Collective Page 28
4/20 with Juelz Santana Page 34
From Classy to Sassy....Designer Lashan Goodwin Page 38
Landry’s Limos
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“I know restaurants are a risky business so I went with fashion school.” ~Kassaye Bekele
The Man Behind Bella Briela By: LaRae Wilson
In 2007 Kassaye Bekele the designer for Bella Briela came to a cross road were he had to make a change in his life. Just a simple idea planted a seed in his mind and as it grew, he began to vaguely see the road he needed to take. A year later, Kassaye knew fashion and clothing was where he needed to be. With any trade, he needed to learn the fundamentals. In search for a school, Kassaye was touch by a family called Fashion Careers College(FCC). That’s right a family, not knowing that soon FCC would soon be his family and new home.
Two years later, Kassaye participated in his first runway show at The Golden Hanger, a FCC show. At that show Kassaye displayed his hard work, sweat, & blood on the stage not knowing that he was to meet his future business partner & friend. This was the birth of Bella Briela. Soon after Kassaye finished school and went to work on the first line which was debut at the Hard Rock Hotel. Don’t expect him to stop there. Kassaye has more plans to come and will take anyone with the same drive and motivation with him.
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Where are you from? I was born and raised in San Diego. I use to work all kinds of odd jobs from being a cashier to sales to construction. I even worked on the shipyard. I think it’s pretty ironic to be a fashion designer after all of that. The funny thing is... I use almost all those skills I acquired at though jobs. How long have you been in the industry? I started sewing when I went to school, in 2008. Before that, I never did anything fashionable, other than put on my own clothes or help my girlfriend get dress lol. When did you know that you wanted to be in the fashion industry? Well, I knew I wanted start my own business, so I figure I start in a area that I was strong in... Cooking or clothes. I knew restaurants are a risky business so I went with fashion school. What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry? Just the fact of going through the motions. When I see people and they tell me what my accomplishments are. It’s a warm feeling.
What do you love and hate about your industry? I love sewing and making patterns... I love sketching and making it come to life. I love process. Then doing the fashion shows are like putting the cherry on top. I hate disorganization, negative people, and no progress. I avoid those type of things in the industry because they will drain my time and energy. What impact do you want to have in the fashion industry? Colossal... I always was the kid you remembered. You never forgot me. I plan to do just that. Be remembered. What are you currently working on? I’m currently working on starting a circuit of fashion shows, so be on the lookout for the name. What do you love the most about your new project? Getting into producing fashion shows, meaning I can take it a step closer to portraying my vision on canvas, the way I want it. Bella Briela
321 Treewood St San Diego, CA 92114 619-888-6001 kassaye@bellabriela www.bellabriela.com
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“I make I make reality rap, music that people feel, you know!!”~Freeway
Freeway and Andre Arnez
Freeway s Freedom of Speech By LaRae Wilson
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“LaRae you will be interviewing Freeway, in a week,” was the text message I received from music industry mogul Willie Beats (A text from Willie is almost like having the “bat signal”). I have to admit I didn’t know much about him, but what I saw and learned has made me a HUGE HUGE HUGE FREEWAY FANATIC!!!! I have always loved the true lyricist can flow without all the hype. Freeway is just that an authentic brotha, low-key type of guy that you instantly notice. He came into the venue with little entourage or fanfare, and not all SUPER-HOLLYWOOD. I was pleasantly surprised by his soft spoken demeanor and gentle nature. Freeway, is an
rapper, best known for his tenure on Roc-AFella Records and his affiliation with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, he is recognized by his highpitched delivery (akin to that of Ghostface Killah) and for the long beard he keeps due to his Muslim faith. His moniker is derived from the name of the infamous drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross. He was a member of the rap group Ice City, is a member of the rap group State Property and recently signed to Cash Money Records but only lasted one and a half years with the label. The record labels Freeway is now with are Rhymesayers Entertainment and G-Unit Philly.p
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So what have you doing? “Just came from Louisiana, had a show out there. What is different out there. Louisiana the people are different they just got over a fucking flood and people are still struggling down there. The crowd was good they always fuck with me out there.
The event was set-up like a showcase, with some hometown rappers opening and Freeway closing the show. First, not to knock anyone who has the passion to get in front of a crowd and put it out there. BUT MAN.....Check your skill level first. One “rapper’s” lyric was....one, two, three...three, two, one. I fell out!!! They all weren’t as whack as that..but for real. I was What are you doing out here? “Got a show happy to see the more seasoned rappers get on tonight at the Rhythm Lounge in Long Beach. stage and elevate the situation. Izova, local Shutting it down Freedom of Speech Tour. We rapper from Long Beach killed the game, with put together a project called Freedom of his acapella get down. Andre Arnez from Speech Tour we are on tour for a couple Victorville was equally amazing, but with a months, just running around and promoting totally different swag. that. The entire crowd was still waiting for Freeway Where can people find you, “It is going to be and you could feel them get more eager after EVERYWHERE; in stores, online, every performer. It was at this time, that i EVERYWHERE!! When asked about his happened to catch him before he took the stage music, “It’s real, passionate you know, and wished him luck! everybody that know me , you know they know what type of music I make I make reality rap, Well trust me...HE NEEDS NO LUCK!! This music that people feel, you know!! says man was able to take the small intimate crowd Freeway.” on an emotional journey. We were transported to a place where current, rap (hip-hop) won’t and At this point, I had to get my invite to the can’t go!! I felt like throwing up my lighter, concert to see how this man does the damn rolling and a fat one and doing the reebok!! But thing!!!! After moving the party from the first since I was in public and in 2012, I just put my location to the Rhythm Lounge in Long camera phone in the air and waved it a just Beach...it came to me that it was going to be a didn’t care!! GO FREEWAY..thank for keeping long night. it honest, real and relevant!! Freeway fan for life!!!
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BIPOLAR NAKED May Issue Tye Anderson, Andre Arnez
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“
Organic Garden Collective By LaRae Wilson
Stephanie
As I walk into the Clinic, I was greeted by Stephanie of O.G.C, a sweeter person can’t be found.
become physician addict to narcotics, a opiates, pain killers, like vicodin, oxycotin and narco. I was soma and vicodin was my thing, but that was three years of vicodin and soma and that “What we do here is we are a nonprofit didn’t work so we changed it to narco and the organization. We offer help, advice, and herbal number kept going up to the 20 milligrams. This medication to folks who are ill.” was all do the pain before the surgery, because I “Ill with arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and injuries had to wait, then the nerve pain and the bone similar to my own. I started out with an injury. I pain, after the surgery, and I will always of the nerve pain the rest of my life and it was un was a general manager for a well known large bearable. But because I built such a resistance to chain of pet supply , I ended up having a very the narcotics it took more and more then back accident and broke my back and I had depression set in and anxiety, then paranoia, major surgery I ended up dying, coding on the table three times. It took me about two years to everything would enhance my pain, as opposed to elevating it. I was even getting epidurals in my come out of that within those two years I
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back, but really nothing was helping. It got to the point that psychology I just couldn’t handle it, my family or anything, everything changed. In order to detox off of this they sent me to a pain specialist, who put me on strange pills it was awful. Then I was turned on to Rodney and his first Wellness Clinic by a friend of mine. I was his 2nd or 3rd patient and I never left him. It took me 5 1/2 years to really understand the business. You have to have a lot of compassion you have to understand, it is not about getting high. We are a Wellness Center and we take what we do seriously.” “In an average day we see around 150 patients daily, and on the weekends 175-200 patients. These patients range from having arthritis to having cancer. Matter of fact I had cancer, after I healed up from my back surgery they diagnosed me with cancer. It was a shocker, because it was like LORD haven’t I been through enough? The name that come to everyone’s mind when they hear my story is JOB. The first place I stopped by when I got the news was Rodney and he was there for me. He knew exactly what I needed. What I needed was compassion and care.” “Today we are here celebrating 4/20 and it is a great day that shows that herbal medications and holistic medicine is where it’s at. It is time for us to stand up and show doctors that are fond or are unsure of it. “ When asked her feelings on doctors prescribing synthetic marijuana pills to cancer patients instead of the natural herbal her response was, “I feel that for the physicians it is ok, but they are unable to bake with it or manipulate it to meet the patients needs. We can adjust the dosages it with edibles, if it is a body pain we can go into more Indica’s to give the body more relief, we can go add more Sativa to deal with the weight and his body is still taken care of.” What are your thoughts on legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes? “It is all about taxes we, pay our taxes we did pay our state taxes we are lucky to
live in California which is a great state. I have been like I said I have been working with herbs forever, not just marijuana. I am part native American we have teas that will bring fevers down we use rosemary for wounds.” In California, we are so open do you feel like other states will ever understand the benefits of marijuana, even if it was legalized? “I think it would be great for the general population, but it wouldn’t be good for the drug company. Do I think they would try to bump in. I believe that the government and and the drug companies are hand in hand. But I believe that the President can make a difference just like he did here in California.” OGC 9774 Katella Ave Suite 102, Anaheim CA 92804 Phone: (714)-675-5329 Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am-2am, Fri-Sun: 10am-2am
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“Like a kid in a candy store”~ LaRae WIlson
Hanging Out with Juelz Santana on 4/20 By LaRae Wilson April 20th marked a high holiday for marijuana enthusiasts, who have long used "420" as code for cannabis and who celebrate the date's appearance on the calendar on April 20, or 4/20 with concerts, stoner-film marathons and controlled substances or an herbal sort. This year, with the date falling on a Friday, made it a great way to end the week!!! I was lucky enough to enjoy MY HIGH HOLIDAY with the one and only Juelz Santana, at Organic
Garden Collective or O.G.C. (in Orange County, CA) for short. Thank God for abbreviations, because when you’re you getting it in, how will you remember ORGANIC GARDEN COLLECTIVE? I found the 4/20 environment to be peaceful and calming. I had a great 4/20/12, and by the looks of of it, so did Mr. Santana!!! Follow Juelz Santana:
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BIPOLAR NAKED May Issue Willie Beats, Juelz Santana, Tye Anderson
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BIPOLAR NAKED May Issue
FROM CLASSY TO SASSY... DESIGNER LASHAN GOODWIN BY LARAE WILSON
When I think of beautiful high-end dresses, I think of my friend, designer Lashan Goodwin and her DEBUT line L By Lashan . Her keen eye for high-end textiles and trim is astonishing. Lashan has broadened her fashion portfolio to include a new playful young miss line, called Very Conceited. Lashan Goodwin is a California based designer from the Bay Area born and raised in Oakland. “We have many designers like myself, I had wished San Francisco had a Fashion week like most”, says Lashan. “I believe that I grew up as such a girlie girl fashion had no choice but to be something fun and interesting in my life”. Lashan breaks down her customer by stating, :My customer, My girl is 21 years old to 45 years young. She is the “ONE” who wants to make a statement when getting dresses to go to work, or a night out. I have two collections, “L By LaShan is my signature line and Very Conceited is the FUN Flirty line. I can’t live without fashion. I have only been designing for a few years, but I have many surprises up my sleeve!!! My slogan is “BEAUTY IS CONFIDENT AND I BELIEVE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY ARE VERY CONCEITED…SOMETIMES!!”
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When did you know that you wanted to be in the fashion industry? In high school, I was always dressing my friends and I putting outfits together at all the favorite stores in the mall and my friends would ask me to style them for a party. I grew to love everything about fashion. I said that I would start my own collections of happiness for people to enjoy.
Was your project inspired by anything in particular? No I just go with the flow….I put things together and see what I come up with that is a little daring. What do you hope to accomplish in this next year? I would love to have my collection in a major department store. That would be happiness for me. Until then, I will continue to do my work and live my life of fashion. I love to see [people dress, and shop putting things together. Fashion is part of your everyday life you may not think so but when you get dresses in the morning, you do pay attention to what you’re wearing, even if you plan it or not. You walk out of the house making a statement with your clothes.
What was your biggest accomplishment in the industry? My entire journey to this point is my biggest accomplishment. I have gotten an overwhelming positive response. I have so much support from all the models, and other designer that I really didn’t expect it. It is a fabulous feeling to be able to produce even one out of 10 pieces For more information about Lashan Goodwin that someone will like. contact: What do you love and hate about your industry? I love the fact that no one can really tell you that fashion is one way. Fashion is fun, fabulous, and free!!! It’s whatever you want to wear. What impact do you have on your industry? I’m bringing the fashion world excitement and something unpredictable to look forward. What’s next? RIGHT? How do you know when your goals are met? I look at my sketches for next project and in an amount of time I see those same sketches come to life. What makes you Bipolar? That question is funny to me. Well what makes me Bipolar is everyday life of seeing people not in my designs… I would say that is very conceited of me too say that. What are you currently working on? I am working on some fun pieces using bright colors, that are fun and outgoing. I am also working on some new bathing suit pieces incorporating crochet. What do you love about your new project? I get to expand my horizons and play a little more than I had before on other projects. I am really mixing the patterns and going outrageous with the color palette.
youareveryconceited@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/lashan.goodwin
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BIPOLAR NAKED May Issue
“It was a great night filled with surprises!!!” I love fashion and Fashion on the Real was a great experience!” ~LaRae Wilson
Landry’s Party BUS Service By LaRae Wilson
Landry's Limousine & Party Bus Service is a family owned business located in Gardena, CA. It was started in 1984 by Landry Hampton Jr. Since that date, they've purchased other companies, expanded the fleet to 12 vehicles and have grown into one of the most preferred ground transportation providers on the West Coast. Landry's Limousine has accomplished this with hard work, customer service and attention to detail. They deliver the finest in ground transportation services for corporations and leisure travelers.
At Landry's Limousine Service, both our fleet and chauffeurs are fully licensed and insured. They take pride in our business and strive to provide you with total luxury service. Our diverse fleet will accommodate all your transportation needs. Our expert staff will provide you with prompt, courteous service. We provide nationwide affiliate connections enabling Landry's Limousine to be your one-stop shop for all your transportation needs.
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We are located in Gardena, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA, just minutes away from the airport and downtown metro areas. This facility enables us to maintain and "detail" each vehicle so that it is ready each day to transport you or your very important clients in the comfort and quality that is the hallmark of our company. Landry's Limousine Service is a family owned corporation dedicated to exceeding customer expectations and providing our clients with safe, reliable, luxurious transportation. We take pride in delivering safe, courteous and dependable service that will eclipse customer transportation expectations.
and downtown metro areas. This facility enables us to maintain and "detail" each vehicle so that it is ready each day to transport you or your very important clients in the comfort and quality that is the hallmark of our company. Our office and sales staff are highly motivated individuals who are dependable; detail orientated and likes to work in a busy, multi tasking environment. A background in the hospitality industry is preferred. We employ only the most professional and dependable chauffeurs in the industry. Many of our chauffeurs have years of experience and will make your ride relaxing and productive. We know that our reputation rides with these professionals every day.
Landry Hampton Jr., President & Founder, started as Landry's Limousine Service in 1984 with one stretched six passenger vehicle. A lot Contact: of hard work, customer service and attention to detail allowed our company to grow into one of www.landryspartybus.com the most preferred ground transportation 310-505-9383 provider on the West Coast. Landry, together with an exceptional staff, hope to build on past success to provide our clients with safe, reliable, luxurious transportation. Landry's Limousine chauffeurs are professional employees who enjoy providing first class service to our clients. Our chauffeurs maintain the highest standards in the industry. Our insurance carrier must approve all new chauffeurs and each must undergo drug testing and a complete background and criminal history check. New chauffeur training includes a requirement to view education videos on defensive driving techniques and customer service. All chauffeurs are required to wear black suits, white shirts, and our own company tie. Our chauffeurs are expected to assist passengers with their luggage and personal effects. Whether it is late at night or the middle of the day, our chauffeurs will escort clients to their door and wait until they are safely inside before departing. We are located in Gardena, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA, just minutes away from the airport
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