Issue #13 2022 by The Official Black Magazine

Issue #13 2022

It’s about Hip Hop and Culture EXC L U SI VE I NT ERV IEW S Henry Simmons, DJ Damage, & more. GET TO K NOW Trendsetters & What’s Poppin!

AMIN JOSEPH How The Arts Gave Him Direction in Life!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

#13 2022

WHAT’S I N S I D E

FEATURE: AMIN JOSEPH Amin Joseph, cover selection for our 13th Issue, is a classically trained and high sought out actor. His story and journey is one that begun with The Arts and gave him direction in life and the discipline he needed to form a life and career of abundance.

WHAT’S POPPIN: BEAUTY + FASHION Beauty is empowering and produces confidence. We believe in ourselves much more when we look good in our own eyes. Tips to secure that confidence and highlighting the people that provide acts of service by beautifying the world.

WHAT’S POPPIN: HEALTH + WELLNESS WHAT’S POPPIN: MUSIC Music is an essential ingredient to life and element in our culture. Music is a key to unlocking creativity and conveying powerful messages, through acapella or over a beat. All audiences of gender, race, and generation should be represented by an artist who they relate to. Josh X - Mo Shakray - Amira Unplugged - Tyrone DuBose

Being creative enables us to develop extraordinary art such as clothing, dancing, songs, and writing. Applying innovation and vision amplifies our ability of expression. Tapping into creative energy can improve health and wellness. Dr. Telma - Yolonda Ross

WHAT’S POPPIN: ENTERTAINMENT For many Black people in entertainment, the craft is a platform to report what is taking place in their communities and bringing realities to life. Although the stories provide awareness, it also showcases the lack of diversity in the industry and the dedication black people have to breakthrough. Vincent Vermignon - Michael Russaw - Dushaun Thompson Chelsea Harris - Cedric Sanders - Kamal Bolden

WHAT’S POPPIN: CULTURE Culture is passed down by generations. The new generation contributes their own flare and sometimes, unknowingly, adopts customs from older age groups. The culture in today’s society is more inclusive than it ever has been. Watts Homie Quan - Michael Nzungize

WHAT’S POPPIN: ART It is important to diversify an aesthete or a general observer’s mindset by putting them in front of artwork made by black people. Artists and observer’s perspectives expand more when they are exposed with diverse expressions of Black culture. Eric Jordan - Will Hawkins

TRENDSETTERS Trendsetters are individuals who create their own lane and path in life. They live and march by the beats of their own drums. These individuals have put in the time and energy to be the trendsetters for this issue. Cortez G West - Jason Kalambay Lauren Carothers

EXCLUSIVES We had the amazing opportunity to speak with individuals who have created careers in Entertainment and Sports. They grace our screens on multiple channels and platforms and remind us we can do anything we put our minds to. Henry Simmons - DJ Damage - Monique Coleman Allen Lazard

PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE US Inspiration is the name of the game for us because stories are meant to ignite something in us. They bring hope, aspiration, inspiration, and help us to never give up on our dreams. They deserve their flowers! www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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CEO & Publisher

Michael Cox

Chief Operating Officer

Get in contact Office

Anthony Perry

1325 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Director of Photography

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Curtis J. Moore

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Fashion & Style Director

All Social Media

Jazmine Hill

Associate Managing Editor La'Var Howell

Media & PR Coordinator NaShaye Jackson

Sports Editor Marcus Greaves

@theofficialblackmagazine Corporate Promotions , Sales & Advertising michael@theofficialblackmagazine.com Media Relations & Partnerships nashaye@theofficialblackmagazine.com Story Submissions & Pitches media@theofficialblackmagazine.com

Beauty Editor Danita Rodriguez

Travel & Leisure Editor Bri Rice

Arts & Culture Editor Tre'lon Grant

Copy Editor Grace Godwin

Graphic Designer

Allison Chick

Associate Graphic Designer

Emma Tideswell

Contributors CM Lucas Gloria Peebles Katherine Fernandez D'Andre Head Bri Carrington Kimberly Genwright Chrystopher Henderson Clisver Alvarez Juaneca Harris Kiera Price Christine Snyder Ramona Rodgers Tyroneca Booker-Griffin Zachary Weg Kaila Haith

Photography Credit Amin Joseph Cover Shoot Photographer - Curtis Moore Stylist - Jazmine Hill MUA - Stephanie J

DJ Damage

Photographer - Curtis Moore Stylist - Jazmine Hill MUA - Stephanie J

Henry Simmons

Photographer - Curtis Moore Stylist - Jazmine Hill MUA - Stephanie J

Allen Lezard

Photographer - Deondre Zink Stylist - Lady Maximo MUA - Stephanie J

Chelsea Harris

Photographer - Rowan Daly

Yolonda Ross

Photographer - Mallory Talty

Lauren Carothers

Photographer - @freddybeezy

Rholye Ivy King

Photographer - Courtesy of Rhoyle Ivy King

Kayla Brianna

Photographer - Shaun Andru

Cortez G West

Model: Cortez G. West Photography By: MissFit Studios Stylist: Chauncey Adams Male Grooming: Nina Larose Fashion By: Patch Adams Design / Bonnie Hyde LA / Dime Optics Art Direction: Cortez G. West / Chanette Thompson Sponsors: Good For You LLC. / Tote&Carry, INC / Patch Adams Design / Bonnie Hyde LA

Monique Coleman

Photographer - Allegra Messina

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words from the editor This 13th issue is about hip hop and culture and how unapologetically we as black people can be in the way we express ourselves, create paths of success and establish careers. I want to make sure that with each issue you don’t just read about black excellence, but you see that black excellence is not one thing. Black excellence does have a common component we all share and that’s achieving the goals we set for ourselves. But like snowflakes Black excellence doesn’t look the same for the other person nor should you strive for it to be the same. I want this issue and all issues moving forward to showcase the beauty in how different we as Black people can be in our art, business, culture, wellness, and all other pursuits that combine us in this connected Black experience. There is a love and affinity I have for us as Black people that you get to experience with each person highlighted and represented in this issue. I’m excited to have Amin Joseph on the cover as he is an actor who stands tall in his craft and who is a black man. A conversation with him is like going to a college class where the professor switches between psychology, sociology, and philosophy. It is because when he talks about the love of his craft he always ties it back to the human experience. Thank you to everyone who has continued to support the magazine Starting something during the pandemic sounded like a crazy idea, but being able to wake up each day to tell Black stories sounded like the best idea I could have ever had. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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Q& &A WITH RHOYLE IVY KING

#13 2022

Let's start by getting to know you. Who is Rhoyle Ivy King? I’m a creative from Texas! I trained and did theater in New York before making the move over to LA. I’m a Capricorn if that means anything to you, and my love language is quality time.

Rhoyle you represent a new age in what it means to live loud and proud through a character in a predominantly black show that takes place on a fictional historically black campus. What does this role mean to you in terms of representation and adding a voice to part of the LGBTQIA community? For me it means that young queer youth get to see themselves reflected in the HBCU experience that they’ve always belonged in too. That young Non-Binary people get to see a character begin to trail blaze a path for herself, in a space that was constructed for two genders. Which can still be the case in so many spaces today. My hope is that they become inspired to continue stepping into their light, without feeling like they are only limited to opportunities that currently exist. We get to make our own.

Did you think this role would become a beacon of representation? Oh not at all. Initially, I was only brought into say a few lines in the pilot, carrying the story along. It wasn’t until our Showrunner told me that she would love to have me come back for season 1 did I realize that this was really happening.

How do you prepare for a role like Nathaniel? Are there any similarities in what happens with your character to what you have experienced in your life? Before we started season 1, I had a wonderful conversation with GLAAD to really make sure I had as much information as possible. They solidified for me that all though Nathanial and I aren’t the same gender the intersectionality’s between us (specifically us both having gender non-conforming expression) was definitely bring a really important kind of authenticity to playing this role. To build more of her personality for season 1, I really pulled on people that I felt represented that strong outpour of love she has. Two people I really looked to were: Nicco Annan (P-Valley), who was a choreographer for the pilot, and he took time and spoke love & life into me and several other cast members. Also Michaela Jae Rodriguez (Pose), who I met briefly in New York but I will never forget how kind, present, and caring she was.

Your hair is always laid, what is your secret? Is it just for the show or have you always had a flair for your hair? When I tell you Ryan Burrell (Hair Department Head) and Dontay Savoy (who did hair for my character) came to slay. Every day! They are the secret. They are just absolutely phenomenal at what they do, and do it under the time restraints of being in production. They told me before we started the season that we have to do this right for the community, and they did the thang! I definitely have a love for hair. It frames you, and expresses you at the same time. Dontay is someone I’m so honored to know, and continues in my personal life to always keep my hair on point. And I have EJ Hagen, who is an excellent colorist I’m so glad to work with, he also works with Beyonce.

What's next for Rhoyle? This year a Netflix project I worked on called ‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ by Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan is coming out. I got to work with the brilliant Evan Peters, Shaun Brown, and Ato Blankston-Wood. Currently we’re preparing for All American: Homecoming Season 2, which comes out on The CW this fall. Season 1 is free on The CW app now & lands on HBO Max June 22. You can also keep up with me on my instagram @rhoyleivyking

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WHATS

POPPIN

#13 2022

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Fashion

#13 2022

What's now skin deep Top Skin Care Must Haves Spring is here and Summer is near! Lets talk about some favorite skincare products that will have your skin glowing and glistening while maintaining a healthy toxic free canvas. Some of my favorite products to help keep you looking red carpet, vacation, and photoshoot ready! We love a no make up look but the real happiness is being able to wake up and look at your skin and be proud of the natural state of who you are. Its easier to imagine verses the reality so here are a list of my favorites to get you started: Favorite clensers Clinique Exfoliating Scrub: Water based scrub for oily skin, it removes dry layers, refines, and softens the look of any lines and wrinkles. You can also let sit and use it as a 2 minute facial mask! The Ordinary. Squalane Cleanser: This is a gentle moisturizing cleanser for normal, dry, combination, and oily. Its so

if you are big on texture this feels like cream and butter on the skin. Favorite serums This step you don’t want to miss! This is the holy grail for skincare. Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Serum: This serum is great for all skin types with ingredients of shea butter and jojoba oil to soothe and nourish dry skin. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% Serum: This Serum has amazing ingredients and benefits to it. It will reduce the appearance of unwanted dark spots and help with uneven skin tones. With the ingredient of hyaluronic acid it has the amazing benefits of hydrating the skin from within and helping with fine lines and wrinkles. Favorite moisturizers

Fenty Skin : Daily moisturizer That is light as air technology with sunscreen and

oil free for all skin types. This has the protection of SPF30 and works well under makeup or simply by its self. Benefits of minimizing the pours and reducing dark spots. This baby is a win win product for me. Its giving magic in a bottle! Chanel Hydra Beauty Gel crème : If you want to go luxury Chanel Beauty has a gel cream formula that is so perfect for the spring and summer weather. This cream has a light cooling gel texture. Packed with super antioxidants to help restore and maintain skins healthy balance of moisture. These spotlight products are definitely beneficial for your journey into the skincare world. Remember it takes patience but also consistency. Enjoy the journey and the process just like life “where you water, it will grow” and what you take care of will have longevity. Yours truely, beauty and skincare specialist, Dantia Rodriguez

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WHATS POPPIN

What’s new

My specialty is giving you that glow! That glow from within! I always like to make sure the skin is looking hydrated, not thirsty okay! When the skin is hydrated, it looks healthier so I’m always aiming for the skincare portion to be prepared properly and ready for makeup. I always have a glowy primer so that the base itself always starts off with a glow to then create that subtle glow from within. No matter how simple or dramatic the makeup is, I always have to pop a little highlighter in the tear ducts of the eyes because that automatically opens up your eyes and makes them appear bright and awake.

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Kimberly Slack?

WHO IS

How can make up empower women?

The interview Cali raised me! Born and raised in LA on Sept 26th, 1989(Libra gang!). I grew up as the only child living with my mom and grandma near the mid city area. When and where did your love for makeup come from? I think my love for makeup came from my grandma. She would always do her makeup, every morning! When she was a preschool teacher, I remember she would get up around 4am and she would be sitting at the edge of her bed doing her makeup and pretty

much be out the door by 6am. I could see it was a bit of a process but I always admired how she really made sure to put aside time every morning to make herself feel good and get herself ready for the day. She would also tell me stories of when I was a little girl, I apparently could hear my grandma in her room and knew she was up doing her makeup, so then she would hear my little feet heading to her room and poked my lips out ready for some of her lipstick she was putting on. Like I was ready to go somewhere and be outside! You could say I’ve always had an admiration for it since I was a toddler and loved to experiment on myself when I got older. What’s one of your specialties when it comes to make up?

I think makeup can empower women by enhancing the natural features they already have. Sometimes us women need that little extra push to feel good. Whether that means throwing on a little mascara, blush, lashes or some lip gloss. That little extra step can empower a woman to simply be able to walk out the door, feel confident, and ready to take on the day. I also believe makeup can empower women by starting with good skincare. Makeup looks its best when you’re taking care of your skin and have a good skin care routine. Having a good skin care routine is a form of self care. If you’re taking care of your skin, you’re automatically exuding a healthy glow which is very empowering to look at in the mirror and see without any makeup on yet. What does being an MUA mean to you? Being an MUA means being an artist and also an act of serving others. As an MUA, I find us to be strong individuals with a lot of patience and a keen eye for detail. To me, I see myself as an always evolving artist! Artists always try new techniques, new colors, new palettes, and love taking artistic risks. For me, I always aim to make sure my clients always feel comfortable when they’re in my chair and throughout the process. It’s a beautiful and rewarding moment when your client looks in the mirror when you’re all done and they’re shook!

Who is Eyga Mojus? Eyga Immigrated to the USA as a 12 year old who couldn’t read or write in any language. Former Model and Miss Grand South Sudan, Eyga is the founder and director of Miss Mojus Productions, former producer of pageant shows for Miss Grand USA & Miss Supranational USA in both California and Nevada. 1. You created San Diego Swim Week which created a big splash, what was the reason behind it and why was it needed? I created San Diego swim week as an opportunity to bring people together to celebrate fashion, style and local talent. I felt there was a need for a grand scale of resort and swimwear fashion platforms in San Diego to showcase our local designers and models in sunny San Diego. Our 3-Day event is an effervescent celebration of creativity that strengthens San Diego’s fashion community. We offer a 2-Day luxury swimsuit and resort wear runway, embracing an inclusive model lineup, along with one full day of panel discussions and pop-ups where attendees can shop the latest in styles. 2. You highlighted many women of color and sizes, why was that important for you? It was very close to my heart to create a space/ platform to celebrate our local talent and their beauty. I want to celebrate all colors and sizes because everyone deserves to be celebrated for who they are. The only thing I require from my models right now is to be confident and to take up space. I find women who are confident in their own skin beautiful, that is what the world needs more of and that’s what i want on my runway 3. How has your pageant background shaped the way you look at competitions and events where beauty standards are placed on women for them to be participants and ultimately win a title? The pageant world has allowed me to accept different points of view and backgrounds to come together for common cause. I believe every platform has their own vision and standards of beauty depending on their branding. I wanted mine to be more relatable, inclusive and appealing to wider audiences making them feel bold in their own skin while celebrating swimwear in our beautiful beach and cosmopolitan city. 4. How do you empower and motivate women with San Diego Swim Week? I believe that we can all learn from each other. I like to motivate and empower women by giving them a space to express themselves and elevate them to the next level. Sometimes fashion can be a propel for female and male models in many aspects of their lives. 5. You built and financed San Diego Swim Week alone. How was the process to gain sponsorships and partnerships? It was not easy but I am very proud of funding this project. It is one of the pivotal events in my life since it was something I have been wanting to do for a long time and it is very rewarding. The process of obtaining sponsorships remains one of the most challenging aspects of producing San Diego Swim Week, especially because I started during the pandemic and everything was shut down and many businesses went out of business. This made many potential sponsors hesitant but I am confident that this year or the upcoming years there would be much more support. 6. What advice would you give women looking to get into the pageant, modeling, or swim fashion industry? The first step is to believe in yourself, and if you do not believe in yourself yet, trust the people around you to encourage you to keep on going until you find it in yourself. Also, being goal oriented and having a clear vision makes the road a little bit easier. Invest in yourself, because if you do not then no one else will invest in you. And to remember to have fun in the midst of the process. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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#13 2022

What’s happening

How to Make Your Fragrance Last Longer: 1. Know what you’re buying ● An eau de parfum is usually around 15% - 20% concentration but an eau de toilette is around 5% - 15% concentration. 2. Use an unscented moisturizer to boost your fragrance. ● Put moisturizer in the palm of your hand ● Apply 2 - 4 fragrance pumps ● Gently mix them both ● Apply all over your body except for sensitive spots. 3. Apply Fragrance on your Hot Spots, for example. ● Neck ● Chest ● Inside your wrist Color Combinations You Need to Try: 1. Green and Blue: They represent nature and go really well together. 2. Purple and Black: Makes for a great combo if you want to dress chic. 3. Brown and Beige: Ideal if you have a warm skin undertone. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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#13 2022

wellness

health&

h& w

What’s now Career, Confidence & Clothing: Why It Matters By Dr. Velma

Trayham (Award winning business strategist and recent honoree of Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards Owning who you are is essential for any style conveyed as a business professional. Style isn’t about the apparel or designer you choose to wear; it’s also an infusion of what you say, how you say it, what you post, what you wear, your overall hygiene, and even the cleanliness of your teeth. People are watching constantly, and it’s very important that you recognize what your presentation speaks daily! What we wear, how we wear it, and when we wear it…. matters! People aren’t looking at you to see what designers you can afford, they are noticing your style, recognizing what type of person you may be based on your presentation, and they are sizing you up to see if the person behind the look is worth the risk ultimately! I am always pushing my own processing of matching my luxe style with the confidence that I have in myself. And as a multifaceted businessperson, I understand that I must lead by example and that I am the only book that some people will ever read. What will they read when they see you? How you carry yourself is important. People of morale and integrity only want to align with people who possess similar energy and with the same thought-processing. With that said, if you are saying you are a businesswoman but dressing like a stripper and posting nude pictures, the person who holds themselves to an elevated level of integrity will unlikely want to be aligned with that same “businesswoman” or “businessman.”

belts, necklaces, earrings... etc. A statement piece is your showstopper... yet, be aware of what piece is meant to be the statement, and don’t overdo it. You can dress very simple and add a statement piece to bring it together stylishly! Tip#3 Don’t be afraid to dress in layers: If you want to wear a short dress to work, then be sure to add that longline blazer, and make sure it’s long enough to cover your butt. Or if you want to wear some spandex leggings make sure to dress it up with a loose and classy flowing top. If you are showing cleavage then you want to wear more on the bottom, or if you are wearing tight pants keep the top nice and flowy... the key is to balance the style with confidence and limits fashionably.

Tip#4 Have internal confidence in your closet … as a woman in business, we tend to be extremely hard on ourselves and we think about things that other people may not be paying attention to... it’s that lack of selfconfidence. Remember, people can see confidence in your presentation, so even if you are not confident, put on that face and give them a confident show. Tip #5 Lastly, stay true to yourself. Learn your language and expand it as it will expand your overall style! That company hired you for a reason, and there’s a good chance they are waiting on you to spice things up by introducing that great energy, new mix into the work culture, and innovative ideas that are reflected in your style in the workforce.

Be Authentically You! Rather than a cheap imitation of someone else.

I am not saying nothing is wrong with being a stripper, if that’s what you want to be, but I’m talking about the person that has identified themselves as an esteemed businesswoman. Presentation is everything and it does matter on every level of your career! Check out a few easy tips-Tip #1 Don’t be afraid to be different. It’s very easy to dress like the rest of your co-workers. but we are all created differently. We have different body types and different skin tones... for instance. darker-skinned women look great in light colors, pink, light purple, white, yellow, etc it’s okay to add a pop of yellow with an all-black suit, or a hint of pink with an all-black pencil dress. Tip#2 Wear statement pieces. Try it. Whether you rock bright-colored earrings or a unique statement belt, there are many accessories that you can wear to add to your wardrobe as www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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#13 2022

yolonda ross Yolonda, please tell us about you! You are an accomplished writer, director, and actress, where did you get your start? I got my start in Omaha, NE. I’ve always been creative. I do everything but dance. I have played piano and organ since I was five. I sing, paint, make clothes, write, direct, act.. I create. Living in a place, and with a family that allowed me to dream, and didn’t squash my dreams, was key. They encouraged me. Moving to New York was all the opportunity I really needed, because there are so many more outlets for creativity, so many to learn that I never knew of. I went to school for fashion business. I did a lot of jobs in fashion, from windows, to management, to buying. I fell into acting by doing background work on SNL in the Mid 90’s. I got my union card and an agent, then auditioned for my first part, which was New York Undercover. I booked it. But in doing that audition it opened something up in me. Truthfully looking back on it all, I feel l was led to where I was supposed to be. I had been feeling stagnant in the fashion business. Becoming someone else through character, getting to use all of my gifts to create this person, who is not me, was very exciting. You learn things about yourself, and human behavior. Learning to break down a script for myself, which is musically, was very exciting as well, and new to me. It’s something I wanted to do again, and did four years later... Just to say, nothing really happens overnight. Within that time the company I was working for decided to close up in NY, so I left with a great severance package. I decided I was going to try and do this “acting thing”, which is kind of crazy, because there is no one way of getting into this business, and no one can ever really explain how they got to where they are. My next audition was for the HBO film “Stranger Inside” where I was a young girl who got herself imprisoned, where she thought the mother she never had while growing up, was being kept. That experience solidified what I was feeling and learning. Becoming others, and creating stories of people we see but don’t look at, or get to know, is what I feel my purpose is. We deserve to see every version of ourselves, just like our white counterparts. You famously shaved your long hair on camera as your character embarked on their breast cancer journey last season. In preparation for the role, you learned that Black women with breast cancer face major disparities in their healthcare. What were some of the shocking insights you learned? Sadly, I learned that it’s not just the emotions that come with the hair cutting, but the aftermath of the process. Black women do not have the same options as white women or those with straight European hair. If you are someone who wears your hair in a natural state, or wants to continue looking like you have the hair that previously grew from your head, the options are nil. After shaving my head, I asked our key hair person, Denise Baker, about wearing wigs for other jobs, as my own hair was gone. I’s not the same as just purchasing a wig and being able to pin it, or have a few grips to hold it. Many times insurance will pay for the wigs, and many times there are hair boutiques inside of hospitals. In these boutiques are people that are trained to help cancer patients or alopecia patients, deal with finding a wig that works for them, that makes them feel confident going out into the world. The hospital boutiques are a very different experience than going to the average wig shop that most women get their wigs from. Purchasing these wigs is not really a vanity mission. So, think of this, as a black woman, where so much attention, and your identity is many times your hair, you lose it to a medical condition. You may or may not have health insurance that will cover the purchase of a wig of your choice, so you can go back out into the world with confidence, but the simple fact that the hair boutique in your hospital, or any hospital in your city, doesn’t carry wigs that look like your texture of hair... now what? That is a healthcare disparity, one of many. It makes you feel like the fighting never stops. Something as simple as, carrying at least a couple options of textured wigs for black and brown women, should be at the very least what hospitals

around the country do. It’s as if we don’t exist. I know that the company “Coils to Locs”, is a great supplier, created by two black sisters, one of whom went through this scenario, which pushed her to start the company. http:// coilstolocs.com Doctors seeing our skin and not listening to us, when we tell them about our pains, or about irregularities happening with our bodies, needs to stop. Sending us home without doing that MRI on us, when they will do it for our white counterparts, needs to stop. Doctors who have the attitude that women of color are super human and don’t need the same care, or are trying to get drugs of some kind, needs to stop. A black woman shouldn’t have to go to three different doctors, to finally have one listen to her, thoroughly run tests on her, to find that she does have cancer, and could have been diagnosed months earlier. She may not have months. Time is always of the essence when you are talking about saving someone’s life. I was so glad to be introduced to CHET (Center for Health Equity Transformation), Equal Hope, and the Tatisa C Joiner Foundation, by Dr. Melissa Simon at Northwestern Medicine. These organizations are actively helping women of color to not just make it through the cancer journey, but to thrive and reach back to help others navigate it. Why is it important for you to advocate for equity in healthcare when it comes to breast cancer for Black women? It’s important for me to advocate for equality in healthcare when it comes to breast cancer, or any life threatening disease for Black women, because we deserve that. Black women are diagnosed the least and have the highest rate of death out of all the races when it comes to breast cancer. That needs to change. Our lives are important. You are involved in several organizations that advocate breast cancer awareness and celebrate breast cancer survivors, please tell us more about the different organizations and your involvement. Dr. Melissa Simon, who is the director and creator of CHET, schooled me on these organizations. I wanted to meet and work with grass root organizations that are on the ground, in the neighborhoods, really helping black women. CHET - bridges the gaps between research, community needs, and policy by exposing inequalities and transforming systems and structures so that people of color and any marginalized group have the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/chet/ EQUAL HOPE - Addresses women’s health holistically by helping women establish medical homes with the goal of eliminating inequities in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship for all women. https:// equalhope.org Tatisa C. Joiner. who is a black female trailblazer in the Southside of Chicago, whose non-profit; Tatisa C Joiner Foundation, is there for women who need that ear, who need that comradery of those that understand what they are going through, who need that navigator to help them through the healthcare system, through the journey of cancer, when you don’t know which way is up, or which way to go. Curing cancer is not a one-stop shop. Most times it takes many trips, to several specialists during a woman’s cancer journey, so having someone at the very least LISTENING to you, and being there along the way is a huge comfort. https://www.tatisacjoinerfoundation.com What are some ways other people can get involved in this important cause for breast cancer awareness for Black women? I feel like we all know of someone who has been touched by cancer. From what I’ve seen, the simplest gestures mean the most. Checking in. Saying, “Hello, just thinking about you”. Offering a ride to a doctor’s appt. Dropping off a meal. Making sure your loved ones are getting those mammograms done, no exceptions. Listen to your body.

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MUSIC #13 2022

MUSIC

JOSH X infuses Haitian and East Coast vibes Cox: Where did your love for music come from? Josh X: Funny thing is it came from my mom being obsessed with classical music. She wanted me to be the little boy on the piano in Carnegie Hall. It was her way of making sure I would stay out of trouble. She didn’t want me in the streets. Hip Hop wasn’t allowed in my house growing up. I realized I was falling in love with music even though I was being forced to play a genre that I didn’t know that I would grow to love. At seven years old I started to fall in love with the piano. It was when he got to college he realized that classical music wasn’t for him and that R&B is where his passion was. There he told his mom that he wasn’t going to pursue classical music and she told him as long as he gets his degree he can do what he wants. He graduated with a B. A in Music

degree he can do what he wants. He graduated with a B. A in Music Education and the rest was history as he went on to pursue his career in R&B music. Cox: Josh X where does your Haitian influence come from for your music? Josh X: It goes back to when I was a kid and we would have the family barbecues. The grownups would put all the bad kids in the backyard while they linked up inside and grooved to the music. They would grove to Kompa, which is a Haitian style of dance music. Everyone was lit. That’s why I incorporate it into my music because I want to make music that makes people feel good. It’s the rhythm in the music.

Cox: There is also a strong East Coast influence in your music! Josh X: My mom moved from Haiti to Brooklyn. I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens for the majority of my life. So I’m very New York influenced. It was a dream of his to get on the hottest hip hop station in New York Hot 97, which he achieved. He has worked with some of the biggest East Coast artists such as Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, Swizz Beatz, and the list goes on. “I try to keep it New York everywhere I go, Man,” said Josh X

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It’s refreshing to hear a new artist sound like herself. Mo is creating and staying in her own land. If you remember the movie Dancehall Queen then you will understand when I say Mo gives me life with her dancehall-inspired style. You will catch her performing in big purple hair and bright bold color clothes as she dutty whines the crowd. She is a vibe and mood!

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It’s her hustle that is intoxicating because if you follow her like I do you see she stays performing and producing new and quality music consistently. In an industry where fear can overtake you, Mo shows us that fear is never standing in her way because she is going to hustle and grind her way to the top. And did I mention she is writing and producing her own music? I didn’t but I have to reiterate that because this woman deserves her flowers.

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There is something about Mo! Mo Shakray is a singer, songwriter, and recording/mixing engineer who is making a name for herself in LA. I was first introduced to her via social media when one of her videos scrolled across my timeline. I was hooked! What hooked me was when I started looking through her IG TV clips of her singing her own original songs. It was an instant vibe from her smile to the way you could see she was vibing out as she shared her musical gifts. When was the last time you tuned into an IG Video of someone singing in the comfort of their own home and you just smiled? Like I really went down the rabbit hole to watch each clip and shared

it with tons of friends. Do you know what they all asked? Who is the pretty chocolate sister singing giving me Rihanna vibes? “Growth is my goal,” said Mo Shakray when I asked her what inspires her and what aspirations she has with her music. She doesn’t fit into one genre when it comes to music because you will get a mixture of 90s R&B, Reggae, and Caribbean vibes when you listen to her songs. There is an authentic rawness that comes from her lyrics because she will talk about her sensuality to dealing with relationships. Her music really takes you on a journey that even if she is singing about an ex you can still groove to it. Somehow Mo makes you just want to feel good.

Amira Unplugged, THE Popstar by Jojo Jones Amira is unique in its purest definition. As a source of uplifting content during The Pandemic, her Tik Tok videos of her singing connected and brought to thousands of consumers worldwide. As an Americanborn Muslim woman, who is partially deaf, her viral videos were her golden ticket to American Idol. Although she blew the judges away with her talent and tasteful charm, she was turned away at the last minute without airing her success on the show. Without an explanation nor accepting defeat, Amira returned to her social media audience— building her base and establishing her strong community on the TikTok platform. In turn, earning her another invitation to MTV, approaching her with the idea of ‘Becoming a Popstar’! Why Does Representation Matter? Growing up in Stone Mountain, GA, Amira was raised around a diverse mix of people but was isolated as a Muslim, being the only one amongst her classmates. Even at the masjid, with the mix of Africans or Middle-Easterns, she didn’t see anyone besides her family sharing her identity. Even though it was easy for her to make friends and feel safe in some white spaces growing up, she longed to bridge the gap between her different identities and create a pathway for others like her.

“And so at the end, I’m like ready or not, I can’t delay the relay race. So I will run, so now I’m instead of running from opportunity, I’m running to it.”

Finding Power in All That You Are Amira’s family is her most significant influence. Her father helped her find her voice and her mom helped her with every challenge she faced,

the biggest one being her partial deafness. As a young girl, she was excited to wear her hijab [the scarf that Muslim girls/women wear], but this cultural custom quickly showed her she was different from the people around her. To become who she was meant to be, she had to push past imposter syndrome, and she did it by facing her insecurities through her music. Going through ‘Becoming a Popstar’, she was challenged to write all original music, creating five original songs. In her song, “I Will Run,” she talked about imposter syndrome and how she overcame it. After putting herself out there on the show, Amira thought she would receive backlash and hate comments; she didn’t even think she’d make it past the first round. But she carried on and made it to the top 3! She recognized that she was given a voice and opportunity to represent the dreamers, just like herself. What’s Next for Amira Unplugged? After receiving so much love and positivity from the show, Amira is taking some time away to work on her first album. She’s excited to push herself and see what she can create. She will continue to be intentional with her music, creating uplifting spaces for her beloved community and become a pioneer for her fanbase through her music and example.

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THE FOUR SEASONS OF R&B America’s Premier R&B Historian TV One’s UNSUNG / Sheryl Underwood Podcast By: Tyrone DuBose reetings and Salutations! I’m honored to have an opportunity to write a column for one of the premier African American Magazines. So, I think the best way to introduce myself is to answer the question, what is an R&B Historian? Well, while there are many historians, and good ones I might add, I made up my mind to become an R&amp;B Historian who focused on the preservation and the legacy, charts, and history of R&amp;B music. The results of the many years of my research allow people to get a better understanding of the music they’re hearing, and allows music lovers to immerse themselves in the hidden details of the music, artist, and charts. There is a story behind every artist, the way in which they grew up, the times that they have spent in perfecting their craft, the importance of spending every waking minute, hour, and day in a studio to provide a sound of perfection, hoping that you will hear what they hear. And as a historian, it allows me to not just give a perspective, but the truth about an artist who is long overdue in their time of being given the accolades for their positions not just in music, but the world.

I want to introduce you all to what I call the four seasons of R&B which are the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. These are the four seasons of R&B because the evolution of R&B truly began in the 1960s. Groups such as The Temptations, The Supremes, or artists like Sam Cooke and Bobby Blue Bland gave us an identity as African-Americans Including music that was also a part of the civil rights movement. Let’s get into the first season as we go back to the 1960s. I spoke about the four seasons of R&B music, starting from the 1960s through the 1990s. Many people would say however, that true R&B music started in the1950s. And, they’d be correct. But did R&amp;B music belong just to African-Americans? According to the national R&B charts, by far and wide, based on the point system, Fats Domino was far and away the biggest artist in the 1950s. In fact, of his first 26 singles in the decade, 25 reached the top 10, including its Grammy and Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame song, Blueberry Hill, that spent 11 weeks at the number one position on the R&B chart. And while you may guess artist such as Nat King Cole, The Coasters, and even the drifters in the 50s should be at the top, they’re all great guesses, but you wouldn’t come close. The second biggest artist in the 1950s on the R&B charts was none other than Elvis Presley, meaning, African-Americans bought his music just as much as they brought Muddy Waters, and even Sam Cooke in that decade. So, I am of the belief that the 1960s became the evolution of R&B music, and what a decade it was. From one hit wonders such as the Capital’s “Cool Jerk”, “Just One Look” by Doris Troy, and let’s not forget the all-time favorite “Grazing In The Grass” by Hugh Maskela. The decade blew the door open for artists to who today are staples in African-American music, and culture. I found it hard to find anyone who I couldn’t agree with and some of the top 50 artists of the 1960’s. But this decade was also important because it truly was the symbol of the civil rights movement. Songs from Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Sam Cooke, and James Brown were some of many artists who sang anthems that were a part of Black history. However, here’s another trivia. While the “British invasion” was destroying the US pop charts, they had a nemesis on the R&B chart that knocked him out of the number one position in America 4 times. It took just four weeks for the Beatles to reach the top of the charts with “I feel fine”, in January 1965, but the Supremes took them right out of the position with the song “Come See About Me”. Two months later, on their song “Eight Days A Week”, the Supremes were there to knock them off again with the song “Stop! In The Name Of Love” in March 1965. Then, the Rolling Stones in 1965 had the number one song on the pop charts in just five weeks with “Get Off Of My Cloud”. However, once again, the Supremes snatched the number one position again with “I Hear A Symphony” in just four weeks. The song “Sunshine Superman” roared up the charts from British singer Donovan in September 1966, but, you guessed it, The Supremes knocked him off with the song “You Can’t Hurry Love”. Black History? Yes indeed. And the 1960s, were just the beginning of the evolution of R&B music. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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entertainment

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What’s now Action, Set, Go with actor Vincent Vermignon

“I came with the mentality that I was on a mission. I had a job to do. I was so focused and that helped me a lot.”

Vincent Vermignon is a native from the French Caribbean Island of Martinique. He has appeared in series like BBC’s Luther, CBC’s Random, he has an upcoming movie Beyond Existence and other films. His most current role is Staircase which is based on the Michael Peterson story who was convicted of murdering his wife in 2003. Vincent plays Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, a French director, writer and producer who filmed the documentary. Vincent is also fluent in English, Spanish, Creole and French. Vincent started acting at the age of 28 he always wanted to act but when he was younger his parents did not consider acting as a job. “The way I was raised my parents didn’t see it as a proper job. When I turned 28 years old my mother told me where some amateur acting jobs go just to have fun on the weekends,” said Vincent. So, Vincent took his mother’s advice

and went to the auditions not expecting it to turn into a full-time career for Vincent she didn’t realize she had awakened the sleeping monster of acting in him. Vincent’ first acting job was in theater “it was my first time on stage, and I knew I belonged there. I felt so much pleasure being there,” said Vincent. At this point he knew this was what he wanted to do for a living. Even though there can be a lot of pressure when it comes to acting, Vincent has come too far to go back and continues to press forward in doing what he loves to do. “Sometimes your nerves can help you, they cause you to work harder because you don’t want to fail,” said Vincent. Moving from the Caribbean Islands to the United States was a big transition for Vincent which he handled very well. said Vincent. He felt in his mind he was fulfilling a purpose and knew what he had to do. Moving to Atlanta made him feel at home due to the fact it’s predominantly black and filled with culture that reminded him of home. Vincent recalls a time when he first arrived in the United States, he was on set for the first time and very nervous he remembered the words of a guy on set “He looked at me in the eyes and said bro you got this,” said Vincent. Those simple words meant a lot to him and have stayed with him throughout the years giving him inspiration to succeed. Vincent would like to become a film producer one day to be able to share unknown stories of refugees he believes people need to be more educated on what thes people really go through. “Most of the refugees are young males crossing the sea and the fact they take this amount of risk to leave everything behind to arrive at a country where no one wants them but it’s so hard in their own country they are willing to risk everything to survive,” said Vincent. Vincent makes a valid point and I believe he will succeed in his endeavor to open the eyes of others to awaken the hearts of people to hear the cries of the ones less fortunate than ourselves. Be sure to watch him in “The Staircase” which is already premiering on HBO. Written by Gloria Peebles

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MIchael Russaw: making it in Hollywood as a Celebrity Barber 1. Who is Michael? Give us some background information on who you are such as where you are from, education, and background. I’m a master barber born and raised in Kansas City Missouri. Graduated high school and did 4 years in the US Navy. After my service I became a barber wanting to give back and support my community but also support my family’s needs. Graduated from Ea La Mars in Kansas City and started at my first and only shop Leenaj Beauty and Barber Design owned by Janee Dryden and Harold Mitchem putting Hollywood Cuttz on the map back home. 2. How did you get your start in being a celebrity barber? I was introduced to Morgan Cooper (creator of Bel-Air) by Khalid Abdulqaadir who was fascinated by my talent but also my personality. Because of this I was given the opportunity to work on Morgan’s short film 2019 fan based trailer Bel-Air. Several years later I’m brought on to Peacocks Bel-Air project by a promise given by Mr. Cooper to have his day one barber a part of this creation and the rest has been history. 3. What is life like for a barber? Take us through a typical day for Michael. Life of a barber is determined by that

individual of how successful he/she wants to be. I don’t mind getting up early or driving a nice distance to support my clients which are great attributes to have if you want to stay contracted in this industry. Being a personal does have its perks and having that one on one with my star clients is amazing because we’re loyal to each other and the task at hand. 4. When it comes to Male grooming what are some things men should know? Such as lineups, frequency for cuts, beard maintenance. Male grooming needs to be seen as an important part of life for men. It consists of first having a good diet and healthy lifestyle. Making sure to shampoo and condition your head and beard on a regular basis and not once or twice a month. Brushing, combing and applying products good for the skin and hair. Make sure to keep yourself looking trimmed and neat, your appearance will take you a long way in life rather than business or personal. 5. What are some of your products you advise your male clients to use at home for proper hair care? I like to work with Xotics products by Curtis Smith to give myself and my clients natural oils, butters and soaps to give our skin the vitamins needed to stay healthy. I love the fact they stay away from adding chemicals that could damage or cause irritation. 6. You advocate mental health especially for those who move and live in LA for work, why is that? What are some of the things you have done to help keep your mental health in check? Mental health is a deal I feel men run from and because of doing so we damage not just ourselves but relationships with others, financial problems and just going through life hurt and abandoned. When I got to Los Angeles being away from my family was rough and at times hard to cope with. I found that writing, exercising, communicating with family more than normal and giving my time to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ helped me relax and take control back. Finding things to explore in this new area and food... lol definitely eating at some amazing restaurants with Hot-N-Juicy being my favorite lol. I think when talking with men about mental health don’t laugh or talk about them encourage them to seek help and support them by any means necessary.

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who is dushaun thompson Dushaun Thompson, is an American actor, songwriter and pro-dancer from Richmond, Virginia. In 2017, he graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelors in mass communication and moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. Dushaun was also a finalist in the AAU national ESPN Olympics becoming first in the nation in the discus in track and field breaking multiple records. Soon after doing track and field he went to West Virginia Weslyan college to play football. Gaining so much discipline in sports Dushaun soon gained interest for entertainment. Now Dushaun is using his gifts to motivate, encourage and be a positive impact in the industry. Where did your love and drive for entertainment come from? Ever since I was young , I’ve always had that passion for creating and entertaining an audience. I would assemble my own dance groups and create plays of substance that would captivate those watching. How has your journey been navigating through the entertainment industry? The journey is much like a roller coaster. I’ve experienced my highs and lows , but no matter what obstacles come my way I will continue to strive for excellence. What are some of your greatest moments so far? One of greatest moments was being blessed with the opportunity to start up my own production company which will be housing my original features. What impact do you want to have in your career? My mission is to leave a light and positive impact behind me that shines so bright that it encourages the ones after me to never give up on their dreams. What’s your dream role? My upcoming feature, Where I will be playing A leading character who displays resilience while going to any extent to protect what he believes in.

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Chelsea Harris speaks candidly about life in the limelight Actress Chelsea Harris a native of Columbus, Georgia has spent most of her youthful life in front of the cameras. Some of the TV series she is known for are Hannah Montana, Greys’ Anatomy, Modern Family, The Neighborhood, Top Gun and many more. Chelsea is currently working on the series Snowpiercer on location in Canada. I had the pleasure of speaking with her about her career in the entertainment industry. “Around nine or ten years old my parents allowed me to enter a pageant for the first time and in that pageant, they had an acting competition where I won a scholarship to Barbizon is where the whole acting career started,” said Chelsea. Barbizon is a school of acting and modeling. From there Chelsea went to a theater camp where she fell in love with acting. Around fifteen years old Chelsea was able to convince her mother to let her do a talent search. “I came out to LA, got an agent and a manager and literally moved to California and got started,” said Chelsea. Her first acting gig was Hannah Montana with Miley Cyrus who is a popular American singer and television personality. She also signed a contract on that same day to do Just Jordan which is a sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon as a part of the network’s TEENick line up. Even though moving from the south to the west coast was a huge cultural shock for Chelsea she quickly adjusted to her new life and her career took off. Some of Chelsea’s goals for the future is to become a producer where she can tell more stories about the black community. “One of the things I have come to understand about putting our stories in front of the camera on bigger networks is that you have to have people who are in producing and executive positions to continue to get those green lights,” said Chelsea. She also wants to direct as well. “In the past six or seven years I have seen there have been more opportunities afforded to me by someone who is a multitude of things and platitudes. Yes, I can be sensual and sexy but I’m also intelligent, cultural and very well-traveled. I love science as much as I love beauty and fashion,” said Chelsea. With Chelsea being so busy with acting she has learned to master the art of balancing her career and personal life by separating the two so that she may focus on what is most important in her life. Her boyfriend who she calls Ben has just celebrated four years of dating. “He’s not in the industry, that’s one way you create balance. I’m in the industry and he’s not, so I get to bring a lot of excitement to his life, and he brings an incredible force of balance into mine. So really having a great support system is the way I have stayed grounded, focused and motivated,” said Chelsea. Chelsea has everything she needs within herself to become one of the most successful black women in the entertainment industry and to the world. Chelsea recalls a prayer that Cedric the entertainer prayed one day before going on the set that went “let us be a beacon of light, let us keep people laughing at home so we can spread the medicine of joy”. Chelsea states that prayer has continued to resonate in her spirit throughout the years and she will forever try to be a beacon of light to the world. Written by Gloria Peebles #13 2022

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Cedric Sanders and his success in Hollywood! Cox: What brought you to Hollywood? Sanders: Well, you know just like anyone else. I was a kid in the arts and I wanted to be in the performing arts. I wanted to be an actor and I knew that I wasn’t going to be a professional actor in Tv and film there. So I applied for all out of state schools and ended up at Howard University, and made my way to New York. After New York, I ended up in Hollywood. Cox:. Did you ever have a self doubting moment when you were going through any of these pivotal parts of your journey? Sanders:Yes, of course. Even going to college and majoring in theater, I knew I wanted to do that. And that was the only option because that’s just what I was interested in. That’s just what I wanted to learn more about. But I’ve always had the “well, what if.” thought. When I started #13 2022

thinking about statistics and the numbers of people sticking with acting or performing as a career. And you know moving to New York where it was so fast paced and expensive. So yes, I’ve had those thoughts but I do love what I did more than what I thought would outweigh the fear. So like you said, I just kind of dove right in and said hey, lets just see what it’s going to be. Cox: Nice. You know, I was reading something. And is it true, that when it came to the ABC series Mind Games, you didn’t get it at first. But you actually re-recorded your role for it and you sent it in again? Sanders:Yeah, that is crazy. I saw that I got this audition for this show. The character was right for me and I went in, gave what I thought the character was like and they were very nice and like okay, thank you. And they talked to me a little bit after but I just felt like I didn’t hit the mark. So I called my team and told them about it and they said well, we’ll call and check in and see how it went.They called them and said oh, he’s a great guy but he’s just not the guy. You know, we were thinking of Dule Hill in the West Wing. No one had ever said that before. So I said, oh I know what Dule Hill was giving in the West Wing. I actually replaced Hill

in a stage reading of a show a couple years before. So I said, I’m gonna tape it again. Cox: Did that moment do something for you? Like where you are now, you go into the moment telling yourself I am the guy. Especially since you didn’t know what they were looking for with Dule Hill from West Wing. And does that even change the way you approach scripts and approach directors and producers? Sanders: Absolutely. Absolutely. And I did that same thing a few more times. No It didn’t always end up that way. But I ended up getting further and I had no fear of doing it. If anything I was a little bit more aggressive. Cox: So what advice do you give people who are coming up? Sanders: That’s a good question. Because I have friends who go through that. And that brings the question: what is making it? What is success? And I really wait for the answers. Is it just looking the part you want or being seen on the show or movie or whatever it is. We have this measure of what making it truly is. But the fact that you’re truthfully going forward and doing all that you can, makes you already successful in just doing

that. And I think everyone’s journey is different. I thought my journey was supposed to begin at a certain age. I wanted to do all these things before I got married and had a child. But it didn’t. So I think for every person it’s designed when things will happen. Cox: Since we’re on the subject matter, what does success look like for Cedric? Sanders: I think success looks like leading with your heart and doing what you love. Fearlessly doing what you love. Keeping in mind what lies ahead. I think it’s just really living in your purpose and believing you can live your purpose. And that’s what I understand. Part of being here is being a husband and a father and an artist. So I’m successful right now. It doesn’t matter if I book another movie or tv show for two years. I am successful because I am always going to be an artist who loves what I do and actively pursuing that.

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Storytelling runs in his family! ox: I want to go back to the beginning, did you know acting is where you would end

up? Bolden: I had no clue that this is where I was going to be. I thought if I had anything to do with entertainment I would be an agent. I just always saw myself as someone who was about business rather than entertainment. You know Richard Pryor is from my hometown Peoria, Illinois, and left at the age of 14 and became a huge success in Hollywood. Peoria is a sports town so we don’t have examples of black people being successful in entertainment. I went to school for business and entrepreneurship but deep down inside I knew I had this knack for storytelling.

Cox: But where did the acting bug come from? Bolden: It starts with my grandmother because she was always great at storytelling. My mom is a great storyteller as well. We are griots by nature being of African descent. It was being around so many storytellers from my family to even my best friends in school. We just sat around and told stories most of our lives. We would just make up stuff too. After a while, it became that thing where you know you say I should do this professionally. Cox: So when did you get your first taste? Bolden: It happened when I got cut from the basketball team in High School. A friend of mine insisted that we joined the speech team. I had never heard of it but soon fell in love with the competition of it all with prose, poetry, and dramatic duet acting. I became good at it and was one of the state finalists. So I took this with me to college though I didn’t major in it. I exercised there. Kamal further explained that he did go off into corporate America with a full-time job, but still had to get his feet wet in acting. He would drive thirty to forty-five mins to do community theater for three hours at a time. Those three hours were the best hours of his life compared to his work schedule. After a while, he knew he had to step out on faith and take that gamble to pursue it full time.

He is a lifelong student and continues to take classes today. It is his way of what he calls keeping the imagination awakened in you. Kamal said if you don’t take the classes and explore your experiences as they accumulate then they will dissipate in the end. Classes are the best way he says because they help you shape and manage your day-to-day experiences through the character. Cox: How have you been able to sustain a steady acting career since 2013? (It’s not always easy for everyone) Bolden: I’m a blessed man! I have to give all the credit to God. I believe in my higher power. But I also think underneath that it is the commitment I have to all of me. When I’m committed to something I breathe life into everything about it. If someone is going to trust me with their words and that character opportunity I see that as a privilege so I have to give it my all. Cox: Speaking of faith and commitment, have you had to say no to certain roles or opportunities? Bolden: Yes, I’ve had to say no a few times. There is so much power in it. You have to recognize that there is more power in saying no than sometimes in just saying yes to everything. It’s a freeing feeling when you realize that you can say no. Midway through my career once I recognized I could say I didn’t worry anymore about recourse or whatever someone else had to say or would feel. People like it when you say no because it redirects them. They will release that that’s something you’re not into and find something else that will suit you. The problem is we think something negative is going to

is going to happen to us as actors and I don’t know where we all get that from. Cox: Lastly, what is your process to get into character? Bolden: First I read the script out loud like ten to fifteen times. I’m talking about the whole script and not just my character. Now sometimes at auditions they only give you the sides of your character but if I can get the full script I want to read it in its entirety. I prefer to have time to go deeper into the script so for example if we are shooting a pilot I request more time to read the entire script. This goes back to understanding your power of saying no I can’t do this within 24 to 48 hours, I need 72. And if that doesn’t work for them then I can’t work for them. I can’t force a role. I need to have some time to digest it so that I can audition to my fullest when I arrive. Cox: Any words of advice for aspiring entertainers? Bolden: Be patient. You have to learn the terms by which you would define success. I used to define my success by winning an Oscar one day. Now I look at it as I am getting and taking roles that speak to me or other people. Since I am doing that in my mind I’m already successful because I’m not worrying about living up to someone else’s status. I’m doing what I love to do so I advise anybody to just stick with it because you will win as long as you never give up!

Cox: So stepped out on faith and took it full time, how were you able to achieve early success without being classically trained? Bolden: I learned from the school of Hard Knocks. I moved to Nashville back then to be with my girlfriend and joined two different acting companies. I was with Dream Seven and Kenny Playhouse Theater. I took these opportunities to get around people and these ensembles to get a feeling of what acting truly was. I would go to Barnes and Noble to read the classic books from Stella Adler to the Meisner method. After reading these books I realized I needed to take www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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What’s now Watts Homie Quan keeps it authentic! It’s about the culture, place, and people for him! You can’t be on social media without seeing something from Watts Homie Quan! That’s a fact because his content, music, and work are everywhere. He is a new age Renaissance Man because he is showing us what it means to not reimage the hood but embrace it and show all the cultural aspects. In a day and age where a lot of black cultures become popularized when non-African Americans participate in cultural activities from hairstyles to dance moves, he is keeping it authentic. The fact that he is so straightforward and bold with where he comes from by not watering it down gives me all the life I need when it comes to his skits. Before I go any further you need to make sure you watch Growing Up in LA season 1 on YouTube! This series that averages six figures in views takes you on a hilarious journey through the streets of Los Angeles. The skits may be comical but the lived experience by himself and those he knows are real. “It’s because I need people to see how where I’m from is beautiful from the people to the cultural trends we set,” said Watts Homie Quan when I asked him why he keeps his skits so raw and true to where he is from. He explained to me that most people get success and leave the neighborhoods. For him it’s about continuing to keep the traditions and cultures alive and not abandoning them. It’s because he wants people to realize that they can grow financially and bring it back to the hood. You don’t have to leave it when you can stay and purchase because developers and other people are seeing the opportunities. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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You can look at him as being someone who genuinely cares about his community and with each click, view, and comment he creates awareness. A person like Watts Homie Quan demonstrates how you can strategically use social media and creativity to create a positive and powerful narrative of community while bringing joy and entertainment. If you are from the part of Los Angeles he is then you know there is a colloquialism that only you can understand. This is where you see the genius in him but also his way of staying true to where he is from. Many times when you want to make it in entertainment you feel you have to commercialize yourself for a larger audience. That’s not what you get from Watts Homie Quan. If you want to understand his skits you either have to be from where he is from, have family members from there, or ask someone. I admire that he is showing the next generation of content creators that you can be and do exactly what you want without feeling the need to confirm. Entertainers and content creators can take a page from his book!

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Michael Nzungize TELLS US WHO HE IS My name is Michael Nzungize. I am a Rwandan born and raised photographer and student at St. Cloud State University. I lived in Rwanda from birth till I was 13 then moved to Mali till I was 18. I started photography in 2016 and at first I took it as a hobby and more of something to help me get away from the daily day by day life but later as I kept doing it, I developed more than a passion to the art of taking pictures but also saw it as a career possibility. I started photography with a Samsung Galaxy s4 that my dad had offered me as a gift while in Mali and it started as trying out a new camera from a new phone to wanting to take pictures of everything and when I say everything. I enjoyed it more than anything and the more I did it the more I loved it. So, then I started using YouTube to learn how to edit my pictures and how to improve the ones I was already taking. From editing I learned better techniques and still using my phone till one of my teachers asked me if I wanted to use my picture for a photography competition (EYS Youth Scholarship 2018 award) that I ended the competition 1st place and won $3000 as a reward which I used a bit of that money to buy my first camera “Canon T6” and from there I used till I moved to Minnesota for University and worked to afford a better camera and from then I began taking photography more and more serious. I wouldn’t classify myself as a specific type of photographer. Most of what I capture, I capture it to showcase how I perceive the world we live in and showcase some of the things I love in this world which include music which is the main reason that pushed towards the path of “Concert photography” #13 2022

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#13 2022

amin joseph How the Arts Gave Him Discipline!

Amin Joseph is an actor that is making a name for himself in Hollywood. With the strong presence he brings on the screen and his charismatic charm, he is someone to watch out for. It doesn’t matter the role because he is going to transform and deliver every beat, note, and body gesture to make you feel the character’s story. It is his love of the craft and his dedication to excellence that he is our cover star for this issue.

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#13 2022

A Q&A between michael cox and amin joseph, sharing insights and professional wisdom

Cox: You are classically trained! Tell me more about your training! Joseph: So I went to Howard University. I came up in the Neighborhood Playhouse and the HB Studios in New York. My first jobs coming up were at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Cox: When it comes to your roles and craft you take them both seriously, why is that? Joseph: I’ve always been a theater junkie since I was a young boy and I love the craft. It’s really important for me to play a character with a lot of conviction and authenticity, especially when it comes from our culture. Part of the circle of truth around my head of getting it right is to be training and continuing my education that helps me to create characters and memorable performances. Cox: How do you learn continuously so that you are your best self when the role arises? Joseph: I was always told that if you’re not working, then you’re learning. Amin elaborated in a way where he described that how he learns continuously is through life as he reflects on the changing man he becomes and how that can and will be reflected in his craft and roles. Learning goes beyond taking more acting classes and working with coaches which he does, but rather it’s more important to explore the possibilities that are out there. The best part of continuing to learn for Amin is to see the beauty in the growth and seeing that he isn’t the same man he was yesterday and won’t be the same tomorrow. Cox: You said you always had a love for acting as a child, where did it come from to be exact? Joseph: Well growing up in New York I often would get in trouble. I was a bit precious and perhaps sometimes delinquent. I had behavioral issues with school and authority. I didn’t recognize it then but do now that the arts were an escape very similar to sports. It became a way for me to learn discipline and to find accountability within myself. I found discipline in the arts because I signed up for roles so I had to show up for rehearsal. These were things that no one else put on me but me. That was it for me. He spoke of the arts having both a transformative power on him as a child but also one that was aspirational. Amin said, “You can come in one way or you can see the world a certain way. Then you find new ways to express yourself and new ways to see the world that challenges some of the old beliefs you may have had.”

Cox: Are there things from your childhood that you are to tap into for each role? Joseph: I’ve always been blessed with heart empathy. This helps me do my best to use my craft to relate to the audience and even the audience that might not speak my language or have come up like me. We have that same empathy of emotionality so we have things in common such as pain and joy. I’m borrowing so much from just observing people. In Harlem I would sit on a stoop all day and just watch people. I would notice the way they walked to the way they would throw trash to even how someone else may pick it up. I felt like a recorder picking up these moments. I felt something from all these things and I am able to be a mirror of society back to society. Cox: How do you empathize with roles that you might not consider relatable? Joseph: It’s the work that I signed up for. I go straight into the minutia of it all, the grind, and discover the things about the role. I don’t run from the initial conflict, I run towards it. Amin got the conversation to be very Freudian and Carl Jung like during this part because it reminded me of the Will Smith monologue in Six Degrees of Separation. He said we hide by shying away from so many things and put on layers of masks to protect ourselves from being vulnerable. He said it’s those characters we play that we initially have difficulty expressing but we know what’s underneath. “So the highest compliment I can receive is when someone says they feel my character,” said Joseph. Cox: Amin you aren’t just serious about your craft, but about your business. Explain that for those who don’t understand how to mix their business and craft. Joseph: I really believe it starts with having goals. These goals don’t have to make sense to anyone. For example, I have a vision next to me right now illustrating all the things that I want to do and some of the things that I’m doing. You have to have the vision and incremental goals to be able to check off. This will bring results to you. Sometimes this manifests itself faster for others and then there are those whose manifest comes slower for longevity’s sake. I’m on the ladder because I’m on the journey of longevity. Cox: Lastly, what advice would you give an aspiring actor or actress? Joseph: I would say know yourself. Give yourself room to grow and make mistakes. Be able to give yourself an out because you might not be prepared for a certain opportunity right now. You might rather do something that’s a bit closer in your wheelhouse and that’s okay. Learn to discern between the opportunities you will take and the others you don’t have to at this present moment.

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PRESERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH CLOTHING, PICTURES, AND THE PEOPLE! Channon and Kelly are determined to preserve what’s left of the several neighborhoods in Los Angeles. They see the fast changes happening, some that are good and others that aren’t due to gentrification. It’s great to see the places develop, but not at the cost of people being pushed out or landmarks being long forgotten. For them the history, the culture, and the people from the following neighborhoods and cities are precious to them:

Long Beach Compton Watts

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Inglewood South Central Mid City

Can you tell from the pictures which neighborhood or city they are? It’s about creating awareness, educating, and showing a deep love and appreciation for these places. There are so many rich traditions and memories they and others have.

Through these pictures, they want to capture the essence of the different places that are part of their larger goal to create a visual documentary that can stand the test of time. “Change is coming and that’s true of these places, but I don’t want to look one day and not be able to recognize them,” said Channon. He and Kelly want to make sure they do their part that comes to preserve what’s left.

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Q& &A WITH KAYLA BRIANNA Who is Kayla Brianna, tell our readers where you got your start and passion for entertainment (music & acting)? “Kayla Brianna” is a singer-songwriter, actress and entertainer. My love for performing began at a young age. My mom enrolled me in several plays and musicals as a child. My family also comes from a music background. My grandfather, Gerry Goffin, is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and my grandmother used to sing background for Ray Charles.

As a singer and actress, how are you able to balance both auditioning and landing the role to producing EPs and staying consistent with your fans? Staying consistent with fans and managing both music and acting is a daily battle. I feel like I’m constantly not giving one or the other enough attention. I try not to get myself too down about it but try to do one thing a day, big or small that can cater to all avenues.

You've starred in many different types of television shows from Black Lighting, STAR to All American and so many other television series and films, what are your favorite types of acting roles? My favorite type of acting roles are the ones that I can sing on or that I’ve already been a fan of. STAR and All American are my favorite shows I’ve been a part of to date. I probably auditioned for STAR close to 8 times through various roles before I landed the role of Olivia!

Both careers in music and acting are taking off, what do you attribute to your success? “Thank you! I would say all the hard-work and hours I put in as a child and prayer has got me to where I am today. My dad always would say, “You can’t cheat the grind” and that saying has always stuck with me.

As a singer, how would you describe yourself? As a singer I would say I take a lot of influence from Brandy, Aaliyah and JoJo.

Please let us know what a day in the life of Kayla looks like? Give us a 24 hour normal example. 24 hours in my life would be... Waking up around 9:30, eating breakfast and doing some form of a workout. If I’m in LA I’ll go to Runyon Canyon. Then, I’ll come home shower and will usually have a self-tape audition due or one to study for. I’ll film that, and usually meet up with a friend for lunch or visit my family. I’ll end the night either at the studio working on my upcoming album or catching up on reality tv, (my guilty pleasure).

Lastly, what advice would you give to other entertainers who are coming up in the industry? If you want to be in the entertainment industry, I would say the most important part is to be consistent. Do one thing every day that you feel is going to further your career, whether it be networking, recording music, writing songs, or studying one of the greats and applying what you learn.

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art art

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What’s now

Eric jordan Cox: Who is Eric Jordan? Tell us about you, your background, and where did your love and passion for photography come from? Jordan: Ah! Who is Eric Jordan? Something I have been focusing on more and more. I’ve been on a journey learning to separate myself from my craft and to learn exactly who I am without any attachments. I love to express my creativity through different mediums. Music, photography, fashion, and fitness. Here’s a fun fact, I’m a DJ as well but we’ll get into more of that later. So honestly, I never had a passion for photography until I started working for an African American male initiative in Grad school. A buddy of mine was selling a camera and he let me borrow it to take on our annual summer trip to New York . It was my first time in the city, so I was definitely hyped. I was taking photos of everyone on the trip and the photos came out good. I can’t even lie. Fast forward a couple weeks later, a classmate that was on the trip asked me to take her graduation photos and a few days later it was on our school website. That’s how it all started! www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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Cox: You have this special touch with Vintage shots, where did that come from? Jordan: I’m big on vintage things. I like thrift. I love old school music and cars. My dream car is a 74 Monte Carlo. My eyes were always drawn to the classic feels even as a kid. I don’t know how to explain it. But it just does something to my spirit. Cox: How would you describe yourself as a photograph? Jordan: Whew, you got me on this one. As I sit down and really think about it, my art reflects who I am in real life. An old soul, a creative, candid and a healthy balance of masculine and feminine energy . Cox: Where do you draw inspiration from for your photography? Jordan:I draw my inspiration from music. Since I was a kid, I’ve always had a love for different melodies and tunes and how it influences one’s mood. Depending on the vibe, music is nostalgic. I can remember the time, place and what I was doing when I heard “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan (my favorite song as a kid). It didn’t matter what was going on, it instantly uplifted my spirit. I know I’m kind of going off tangent but that’s the same effect I go for in my art. Create art that can relate to a specific genre of people and also create some sort of nostalgia and evoke an emotion. From the colors, tones, background, subject, and the vibes. I want people to have the same feeling as if they are listening to their favorite album or song .

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Will Hawkins is an Editorial and Commercial Photographer based out of the Virginia Beach area in Virginia. Will has been a Photographer for eleven years, he set out to become a professional photographer at the age of nineteen and has since traveled the continental US and Internationally to photograph a myriad of clients and projects. IG | @officialwillhawk Behind The Image | Slow Burn It took 11 years of photography experience and 18 of life experiences to finally get this image out of my head. #13 2022

What’s happening “Deep down you know it’s best for yourself, but you hate the thought of her being with someone else.” From the time I heard those lyrics at the age of 12 I was obsessed with the production. I’d listen to it on repeat and visualize what the video would look like, and I saw burning photos falling everywhere. So, when MTV premiered it in the Spring and Jake Nava (one of the best music video directors ever) used fire in post-production it was dope, because that’s what I envisioned too. As I got older and went through my own breakups the lyrics became clearer and so did the image I had in my head. “But you know that it’s over, we knew it was through.” Who can’t relate to lying in bed next to someone knowing it’s over with? But you’re holding on to whatever’s left and thinking of the better times you may have shared, even though they’re gone. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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TRENDSETTER

cortez g. west behind the lens Despite living the ultimate high life in luxury, you would be surprised how many of your favorite celebrities find tranquility in the simplest things. With Cortez G West being one of the most loved producers and creative directors in LA, it requires him to be on call for the majority of his time. But on a normal day when he’s not working or bringing life to the stories of others, he’s kicked back with his feet up. “On a normal day I wake up to music, it’s like my personal therapy. Selecting a song that matches my mood. I make my bed and I get my fitness going. I don’t eat breakfast because it’s not that important to me and then I like to catch up on my favorite movies and shows that I admire and inspire me.” With an upbringing of not celebrating birthdays, family reunions or holiday’s, Cortez grew up missing out on the experience of having a loving family to hold him up. With his mom passing away at the age fourteen and not having a tight knit relationship with her family, Cortez ran away and sought love elsewhere. Forming deep, connected friendships with those in his life who therefore turned to his family. “The love that I receive from them is profound. My friends are my family.” 2021 was a tough year for those who felt heavily confined in their homes due to the covid quarantine. 2021 was also a breakthrough year for some of us because we could only be in the comfort of our own home and the company of our own minds. Cortez is described by his friends and peers as the person to bring out the best in you while around him. Those same friends and peers took the time to wish him a happy 35th birthday through video text and Instagram videos in the quarantine year. “That was the best birthday I’ve had. Because emotions were so high at the time. I felt so much gratitude and it revealed to me what God and the universe had done and is still doing in my life.” “As a black man it’s important for me to be emotionally mature” The stereotypes for black men are at the tip of everyone’s tongue. How black men should act, how black men should care for others and how black men should work. But no one talks about black men and their mental state, especially with the world on their shoulders. “I’m so inclined into my own spirit and my own emotions. And if you don’t have that discernment about yourself, I feel you have to ask the Universe for it or yearn for it.” Cortez believes the best way to thrive in your true essence is to have emotional maturity about yourself. Because it’s a helpful guide through life. “When I decided to do something that I loved, it opened up something in me that I didn’t know I could have.” That awakening came for Cortez the day he decided to take control of his life. Saying no to the old used and abused identity and stepping into his new identity. Cortez’s newfound reassurance in himself led him to becoming a multi purposeful creator. His start in producing alongside actress and journalist Maria Menounos and producer Keven Undergaro, introduced him to the multiple avenues of entertainment of producing and directing. From there he’s tapped into commercials, music videos, movies, television shows and more. But he knows there’s more work to be done to acquire himself as a household name. And he’s determined. I was in my bed for four to five months. Depression can be your worst enemy if you don’t handle it carefully with spiritual discernment. Cortez fought through his depression for six months. Due to lack of call backs early on in his career, he went through this phase selfishly. Not allowing those he called family to help him out of it. “When I came out of that, I realized that the people who were there trying to help, they mattered to me.” Cortez also found a deeper gratitude in that moment. Having the people around him to pull him out of his trial of depression. People like Warren and Erica Campbell. Since then, Cortez takes that lesson with him through his walk of life. #13 2022

The function of a man is to live, not exist.

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jason Kalambay kalambay a look into the world of a professional fighter and content creator!

Kalambay: That’s a good question. So basically, two years ago, I moved from Switzerland to Canada to join my girlfriend. Now we are married. Cox: So having nearly a million followers, how did you grow your following to such heights? Kalambay: Honestly it really happened within the last two years. I just started posting during the pandemic. I had zero followers at first and I just started giving exercise tips on social media. Then it just took off from 10k to 20k and it’s just like wow.

Cox: For everyone to know, give us a little bit more background of you. You know where you’re from, how you got started in fitness and why fitness? Kalambay: Yeah, so my background, I was a professional fighter. So I was training for over ten years. At the same time I was a personal trainer. So for six years I was just training people, one on one. I got a pretty successful personal training business back home. I’m from Switzerland. Born and raised. Mother tongue is french. That’s why you can hear the french accent. Cox: What’s your secret to staying current and creating content? Kalambay: I’m always trying to evolve. I’m always trying to do something different. I don’t ever want to keep doing something for too long. So my audience, people that follow me, they will always have something new, you know. I feel that’s really important. I’ve seen a lot of, let’s say, big fitness influencers or any type of creators that blew up a few years ago and they keep on doing the same thing. Yeah, and everything is going down. Why? Because they keep on doing the same thing. You need to bring something new, it’s like a company. And I just love it. I’m enjoying my time. #13 2022

Cox: How’d you get started fighting in switzerland? Where did fighting come in there? Kalambay: Okay so you want to know the real story? Cox: Yes! The real story. The exclusive story. Kalambay: Before that I was actually playing tennis. My brother was a professional tennis player. We played I would say at a high level in Switzerland for juniors. And then I stopped at sixteen. For a year I didn’t do anything because I was already like, for many years, I was training a lot so I stopped doing any sport. And then one day at school, I got a friend of mine. He came up to me and he was like “Hey bro what’s going on? You lost a lot of weight. You look skinny.” Just jab coming and jab coming. I went back home, I was seventeen. And I told my dad, I was like yo dad, what can I do to look bigger. You know? Like that’s all I wanted. Like, I just want to look bigger. And my father has a martial arts background. So he was like doing some boxing, kickboxing or something like that .And the next thing you know two days later I was in the Muay Thai MMA Gym Cox: Where did the move from Switzerland to North America come from?

Cox: People see you in great shape and the amazing videos you make, what don’t they see behind the scenes? Kalambay: That’s a good question. People don’t see the amount of work behind it. For example a 10 second video I have to think about so many things from what am I going to shoot, who will I shoot with, where am I going to shoot it, and what are some things I need. Then comes the lighting because obviously lighting is key and the editing comes to play. Editing takes a while and I do it myself because I like to learn how to be better at things. I’m on YouTube doing research all the time. I have to think of the frames and music etc. I enjoy the process of it all. Cox: A lot of what you do with your clients is focused on the mindset. Please explain that further. Kalambay: My clients don’t train on the first day with me. We go through a mindset module. They go through certain videos where I’m giving them the tools and secrets to use to change their mindset. Changing the mindset is the most important endeavor for anyone for whatever goal you want to achieve. You need to have the right mindset. You can have the right game plan but if you don’t have the right mindset, it’s useless. Cox: What’s next for Jason? Kalambay: I’m going to show a lot more of my life. I want to take it to the next level and start a YouTube channel. I want to show the process I go through with content creation and collaborations because people want to see that also. It’s been a year that I have been wanting to do that but YouTube is just different so I have to make sure I have everything in place for it.

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#13 2022

ho is Lauren? I was blessed to be born into a loving and supporting entrepreneurial family in sunny San Diego, CA. My father was a lawyer (first Black partner in San Diego) and my mother, a serial entrepreneur, was the founder of one of the first ever black women's conferences in the world called African American Women on Tour (which I hope to revive someday). I am also proud to be part of a family lineage with other legendary figures like my aunt Jewel Thais Williams who was the founder of the one and only Black lesbian owned gay club Catch One. Throughout my life, I have always moonlighted as a creative entrepreneur even at an early age, college friends and I ran a pretty reputable fashion show production company.

What made you start All Worthy People? All Worthy People is the embodiment of my desire to intersect experiences with impactful and intentional purpose while collaborating with other creative talent of color. This entity that I created came from something I always wanted to exist for myself over the years.. All Worthy People was born in 2018 to put a name behind the work of realizing our worth and producing high value projects and making sure everything we touched had a purpose and creating things that could change future generations. Also creating a more sustainable and green way to execute concepts is important, so we align ourselves with brands and people that have the same ethos as us. How has the journey been growing a company from the ground up and being a woman of color? In all honesty, because I often followed my heart and my gut the journey has been full of divine by design experiences, truly blessed. Although there have obviously been many no’s, there have been so many yes’ that lead to further growth and development as a Black women business owner. I probably don’t give myself nearly enough credit, because I am just a head down and get it done kind of person. What are some things you wish you had known before going into business for yourself? The importance of a fucking team, you can’t do it by yourself! Well you technically can, and for a while you will. But in all honesty, there is not much you truly can arm yourself with. I continue to shape and develop who and what this all is everyday. I do what feels right and make sure to keep yourself open to learning. Keep learning forever.

What does a typical day look like for Lauren? There is no typical day hahaha. Although it is important to set up some type of structure as a business owner, especially working in production, each day has its own energy levels, wins and obstacles. Aside from a never ending list of calls and emails, on-site/set days can look like working alongside a diverse crew to bring different stories to life or taking a women-owned brand and introducing it to a community that needs this type of representation front and center. The part I look forward to the most in my day is when I am able to click out of email tabs, and go on ‘do not disturb’ to build concepts and strategies that is where I really like to be.: building and designing worlds beyond anyone’s imagination, Giving a voice to people that may be voiceless, telling the stories of those who may be silenced, and add color to a community that may have been dimmed. All Worthy People’s goal is to always be extremely intentional about the elements we put out into the world to touch hearts, provoke minds, and create lasting memories. What advice would you give someone looking to get into the event production and creative industry? The real key for the younger generation is to learn how to google, literally the world is at our fingertips. Anything you think you don’t know how to do, you can learn in a 15 min tops on YouTube. My advice is to say yes to everything and don’t be afraid to fail because the best leaders are the best followers. I say this with a grain of salt because obviously work life balance is important… but that comes after the age of 40…it’s forever grind time kiddos. What are some of your notable moments? Honestly, I know I said it before but everyday is notable. I get to work with those most dynamic and talented people. And I’m a people person, so everything feels noteworthy to me. What’s next for Lauren? Myself and All Worthy People continue diversifying spaces in industries that have a lack of representation. I am creating programs that provide resources for Black creative entrepreneurs which we are set to launch at the end of Summer 2022 so be on the lookout at allworthypeople.com. For that. We are writing scripts and developing original content! All new ventures to see where that goes. My ultimate goal is to literally shape the way we educate x heal x create under one roof.

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EXCLUSIVE

#13 2022

enry Simmons is husband and father first and actor second. As someone who has been in the industry for over two decades, he is devoted to making sure the roles he takes mean something. It is about the love of the craft and the message behind the script that moves him the most when taking a job. The focus is on the impact he can make in his career and how that can affect change in others rather than simply worrying about stardom.

henry simmons

Cox: Henry you have stood the test of time with over two decades of roles that showcase your versatility as an actor. How have you been able to accomplish this as a Black man with your stature? Simmons: First I have to say it’s by the grace of God that I’m here. I don’t know how people can go through the industry without some kind of faith. First for me it’s important to not take opportunities based on my size alone or things of that nature. This means that I set goals for myself and this requires me to not take certain roles just because I’m black, 6’4 and 220 pounds. As a result, that means there are times when I’m sitting out and have to wait until opportunities arise so that I can seize them. This is where my faith comes in. I’m going through that right now. I say no a lot because there are certain avenues that I want to go down and there are certain challenges that I want. Henry explained how his faith not only keeps him during those periods of not working but allows for him to pour back into his family. As a father and husband any period he isn’t working it’s the time he can devote more to the. “ I have two daughters whom I’m able to pour into right now that need me so my off time is dedicated to them, “ said Simmons. Cox: Henry it seems like when you don’t get something you see it as a blessing rather than you actually missing your blessing! Simmons: Mike, listen man there have been times that I have gone out and didn’t get the role only to find out had I gotten that role, I wouldn’t have gotten a greater role down the line. So this is why I always trust in that. Cox: What is your moral compass that tells you that this role is either right or wrong for Henry? Simmons: Oh my goodness what’s funny is that right before the pandemic and the lockdown I had tested for a lead in something where the money was great. I was drawn to that because of what it meant I could do for my family and be a blessing to other people. But I prayed on it because I felt like something was not right. I prayed to god to close the door if the role isn’t meant for me. That’s exactly what he did, he closed the door.

Henry said something that we have all experienced at least once in our lives. There is a relief we get when we are completely honest with ourselves that comes from accepting certain outcomes in life. Cox: How does Henry accept downtime between acting jobs? Simmons: First of all for me, I can’t have an ego. If you go out for 20 jobs you’re going to get rejected by 19 or even 20. But see what I do is I don’t read too much into getting or losing a job. I look at each job I land as an assignment and the opportunity that comes with it. When I was younger I did look at it like how I could benefit from it, but now I look at it like how I can be a blessing to other people, not just me. Right now I’m not working on any projects and the beauty is that it gives me the time to pour into my two beautiful daughters who need me right now. Cox: You stated that if you don’t get yourself spiritually together each day you don’t feel right? Simmons: Yeah I don’t feel grounded. I feel like I’m always trying to catch up. You know that feeling where it seems like everything is always a step ahead? But when I take the time to get myself spiritually right and that doesn’t have to be half an hour or an hour, it could be 15 mins or 10 mins. I just need to take the time to acknowledge God and let him know that I’m here. It’s me letting him know that whatever he wants to do through me is fine. It seems like when I always do that the tone is set and everything slows down. There is more clarity! Cox: While we are talking about clarity, when did the love for acting hit you? Simmons: It’s always been a seed in me and as a kid my dad would always call me to watch movies with him. I saw the love he had for film, not necessarily acting. When I got to college I studied it a bit but never pursued it in terms of a major or career. This is because my family is from the south so I graduated with a degree in Accounting because it was one of those accepted majors where I could make money. But to be honest with you I started working for this big corporation and on the first day sitting at my desk I knew it wasn’t for me. I was like oh no I can’t do this. The crazy thing was when I was on my lunch break I would take the train to Manhattan to audition. This type of auditioning is called a cattle call because you don’t have an agent and you would just show up with fifty plus other people. After several auditions I landed my first job in New York. I put in my week’s notice and moved to New York where I struggled and studied and the rest is history.

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There is a relief we get when we are completely honest with ourselves that comes from accepting certain outcomes in life.

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Cox: DJ Damage let’s get straight to it, where did you get the name from? Damage: I started djing when I was twelve. I went to boarding school and there my teacher gave me a keyboard that could record. I was searching for a DJ name but nothing worked. Once when I came home from boarding school I would play and record for the homies in the hood. They came up with the name one day because they said you should be DJ Damage because you do damage. Honestly, I didn’t like it either but I had nothing else so I just rolled with it. Cox: Being from North Philly how has that shaped you and prepared you for this Hollywood/Entertainment industry? Damage: Being from North Philly which is the roughest part of the city makes me appreciative of the small things in life. When I show people videos of where I’m like you guys don’t get it. I feel like I made it out so I don’t take things for granted. North Philly has made me where not a lot of things can intimidate me. Cox: So you have a story and journey that many people don’t know about. Elaborate on it! From Philly to New York - Revolt TV Damage: I was working at a Radio station in Philly and wanted to know what the next step for me could be because I was doing this at nineteen which I thought would at least take me to do around twenty-eight. People told me I could be a host, which I didn’t want to do because I was shy. That’s why I became a DJ because at first they just spun records but then they became personalities. My manager told me to write my goals down and I told him that when I do that things tend to happen for me. One of the things I wrote down was to host 106 & Park and believe you not we got an email a month later from BET expressing their interest in me hosting a new show. The show never happened but I was able to guest host 106 & Park a few times. Fast forward some of the executive producers went from 106 & Park to Revolt and they reached out to me because they remembered during their search for new hires. #13 2022

dj damage

DJ Damage is someone who deserves his flowers. From North Philly to New York to Los Angeles he has put in the time, effort, sweat, and tears in this industry. He is raw and candid with his journey that has many ups and downs, but through it all he still smiles and stands tall. Just wait because he has something more for this industry.

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Damage talked about a full-circle moment that took place when he created and hosted his show in Philly. He was djing at a store called Sneaker Village that had programmable televisions. He sold the concept to the owners and had sponsors lined up. He was good to go and filmed 10 episodes ready to show. The problem was his videographer left him high and dry so the show never happened. But the silver lining was when the Revolt opportunity lined up the past videographer wanted to make amends and create a reel for him to send to Revolt. The rest is history from there. From New York to Los Angeles Damage: It’s a long story because at first, I was back and forth between New York and Philly working at Revolt TV. Then I had the opportunity to work in LA for a flagship show that required me and a few others to test for it and interview artists. I had the upper hand because I already had experience doing radio in Philly. The day came and they asked me if I could move to LA on Monday, which they asked me the week prior on Thursday. Things were moving quickly and that was the scary part. Cox: With all that you have accomplished, what do you consider to be your definition of success? Damage: For me, I look at success like this. If I’m able to do what I love and make a living, then I’m successful. It’s because I’m in the creative world and you know it’s difficult at times because you won’t always book that job. You have to consistently hustle. So If I can sustain a living doing what I love to do and having peace of mind at the same time. I’m not worried about accolades and I’m not focused on that “Big Job.” I say this because when I was at my highest and doing the most I was also the most depressed I’ve ever been in life. So I now strive for the balance of doing what I love and being able to take care of my family. I don’t need a huge income because at the end of the day again as long as I can take care of myself, and my family, love what I do, and have a flexible schedule then I’m happy. The damage went on to talk about why balance is so important because he was and felt overworked. He recalled being in this work wheel mindset where that’s all he did and didn’t have a personal life. The worst was he barely had time to spend with his son. From breakups to missing events in the lives of the ones he loves, it was a lot that he didn’t realize he was dealing with internally. He said he had to strip a lot of things away so that he could start living. Cox: Last question, what advice would you give anyone trying to make it in the industry? Damage:First know who you are and what you stand for. Also, know what you don’t stand for and set boundaries early. You don’t want to try to figure yourself out in this industry. This industry will pull you in all types of ways. And remember to network and make genuine connections. It’s not about collecting hundreds of business cards or sending out hundreds of emails. www.theofficialblackmagazine.com

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Mo on niiq qu ue e M co ol le em ma an n c

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You are a woman that does it all in Hollywood from acting, producing, writing, martial arts, and dance. Monique Coleman, tell us about yourself?

I am as much of an artist as I am an advocate! I’m passionate about using my gifts and talents to make a positive impact, and while I’m most known for the High School Musical movies, in recent years I have expanded to hopefully show more sides of myself through independent films, speaking engagements, writing, producing, and advocating for young people! Did you know you were always going to be a powerhouse in entertainment?

At a young age, my mom really affirmed and encouraged me. She always made me believe anything was possible. For as long as I can remember I always had a desire to move people the way art moved me. I never let any adversity or obstacles stand in my way. I appreciate the title of powerhouse, but I feel like I still have so much more to do! I’m excited for this next season of my life to step into sharing more of who I am. You are a woman who has stood the test of time in Hollywood with over 40 credits that include tv series, movies, shorts, and voice work, what’s your secret?

I used to want to be like the artists I looked up to, but I think the secret to surviving in Hollywood is to find out who you are, hone your unique voice, and be yourself completely. It’s ok to be inspired, but never to copy. There’s no one with your story, background, passion, or talent. The more I started to embrace the multifaceted parts of my personality (including the ones that are seemingly contradictory), the more I carved out a lane for myself. I learned how to transmute my pain and adversity into power. When one door closes, I create my own. What has your experience been like as a Black woman navigating Hollywood?

I feel blessed to have portrayed a character that showed black girls we could be more than the stereotypical images seen up to that point. I’m so grateful for the ways that the industry has evolved to embrace diversity within black culture. When I started, we didn’t have the Obamas or Wakanda, so I’m more hopeful than ever that I can take up space in this industry in ways that I never thought possible. Early in my career, it felt like there was only room for one of us at the table. That was really challenging because it created a false sense of competition with people that I now see as my sisters. What is it about entertainment that drives you?

The power of art and storytelling to impact people on multiple levels. The fact that you can provide both an escape, and a deeper look into your own experience is what makes entertainment so special to me. I’m allowed to pursue my passion and make an impact. You have been in the industry for a while, what has changed in your opinion?

There used to be gatekeepers, but now with the prevalence of streaming platforms and social media you can write your own narrative and create your own brand. You’re no longer waiting for your phone to ring when you can just shoot a movie on your iPhone. We have more control now than we ever did because of technology. You don’t have to wait for permission, or for someone to give you an opportunity—there are plenty of ways to create opportunities for yourself! For instance, I have intentionally used my social media to curate my brand and demonstrate my range, enabling me to showcase parts of myself that previously would’ve only come out in auditions. What advice would you give up and coming entertainers who just aren’t getting their big break?

Don’t get discouraged, or rely on the opinions of others to determine your belief in your destiny! Continue to hone your craft, and remember your why. As someone who has been in this industry for 30 years, relying on a big break will not change everything. It’s a series of moments that build the resilience to bounce back, and the courage to evolve as the industry does. You can’t miss out on something that’s for you! Be willing to take risks and experience momentary discomfort. If you stay the course and never give up, I believe that your dreams are possible. Lastly, tell us something about you that our readers and your fans might not know about you!

I am passionate about all things physical, from dancing to roller skating, aerial to martial arts, and I have aspirations to be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

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allen lazard He is serious about his brand! When did you decide that this was something that you wanted to do long-term? Around the age of five is probably when I started playing organized football. My dad, a huge influence on me. He played at Iowa State and played football, there was a team captain back in 1994. And has always just shown an immense amount of love for the game. It changed his life, from his growing up into where he is and everything and it’s helped change my life as well. And probably around, I always knew that I wanted to play professional athletics. I always knew basketball, football, baseball, whatever. It wasn’t until probably around freshman, or sophomore year of high school when I realized that I was significantly better at football than the other sports and we were starting to get a lot more traction and get offers. And that’s kind of just when I started to realize that the NFL was something I wanted to pursue. I know the black population of Iowa is not dense, was football kind of an outlet? Give us a little insight on that and how that was? I was obviously in a very predominantly white community. I’m 50/50 So my mom’s white, my dad’s black grew up around white people my whole life, and black people as well. You know, my dad’s from Louisiana. So I really got the full spectrum of, you know, the Midwest farmers, and then, you know, down in the south, but you know, I think I think being a mixed kid grew up in Iowa, it, it truly has given me a lot of perspectives, I think a lot more perspective and a lot of kids that maybe they grew up in inner cities, or just grew up in one region, particularly. I was able to travel the country a lot playing AAU basketball, playing football camps, getting exposed to different cultures, different people, different religions, and personalities. So for me, you know, I think growing up in Iowa has taught me a lot of gratitude and taught me how to be very humble, which taught me the farmer’s mentality of always looking out for your neighbors and those in your community. And something I’m truly grateful for. And now you moved on, obviously, from high school, then you went to Iowa State, what was what I always say, like, give us the insight on that. And then obviously, you had a great college career, and to put you in the NFL where you are now. I mean, talk about what I was thinking for you. I always do everything, like I said my dad had previously gone there. My brother was on the team that joined as well. So that was a big reason why I went there, just to be able to say that playing collegiate football with my brother was something I was super dope and proud of. But Iowa Ames, #13 2022

there’s not much to do there. You know, it’s a college town, a very small town, maybe a population of 60,000, and probably half of that student body. So a little bit of a different environment and everything. But, you know, once I got to that I fell and was able to come to explore the cities and get around the world a little bit more. I realized that not too many places are like games. What was that experience, like when you finally got into the league? Like you said, like, I’ll tell you to think about growing up in high school, college, you know, leading up to the draft and everything you think about just getting there. And then you know, once you finally get there, you realize that’s when the work starts because it’s not about just getting there, it’s about staying there. And so for me, when I first got to Green Bay, I was able to look around and reach out to a lot of veterans, a lot of successful players, and just be able to pull small things from them, you know, what their habits were? What type of foods they were eating, you know, how do they practice? What were they doing in the weight room and stuff like that? You’re an NFL player, you’re a league guy, and a lot of people look up to you. But for you personally, what do you want your brand to be? Yeah, I just always try to leave, a positive impact, whether it would, whether it’s on the field or off the field, or meeting someone, or if I’m just holding the door open for someone today, to walk into Pita Pit to get some food, I’m, you know, always just putting good energy out there. And then, you know, just going from there, you know, I’m not, I’m not too big on accolades, and, you know, get into so many trophies or all pros or receiving titles, this or that, I think, you know, here and 50 or 60 years from now, when I am far away from the game that I want my name to still be brought up consistently. And with that, you know, I hope there’s, there’s a good aura behind it as well. And that way, my children, my grandchildren, and anyone that’s associated with me, and my family, you know, have something that they can fall back on. That’s very positive, it can help them. I’m a football player, but one day, I want to be an entrepreneur. And I just want to be able to affect the world as much as I can so I can put myself in different facets and the different outlets that are going on to be able to expand my horizon as far as my resume and everything. It’s something I look forward to and hopefully do a few more photoshoots in the future as well.

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cook house la Where music and community intersect By: Katherine M. Fernandez

Close your eyes and picture a recording studio. Did you imagine a family-style Sunday dinner? Then you might be thinking of Cook House LA, a North Hollywood recording studio unlike any of its predecessors. The creative minds behind the business are Steven Grier and Daniel Manteca, friends who came together through their love of music and realized that the bond they cultivated was just what their communities were missing. “It’s a safe space for people to come create,” said Grier. “There’s no judgment. You can bring a song that you started and haven’t finished and we’re going to listen to it and come together and cook up and make something beautiful.” Grier, who already owned several recording studios prior to establishing Cook House LA, recognized that their clients needed more than just a space to record; they needed fellowship. Grier and Manteca, who have worked with the likes of Kanye West and Raphael Saadiq, co-founded Cook House LA with an emphasis on community and collaboration in all aspects of their business and created their Youth for Peace program with those values in mind. “Youth for Peace is a program where we work with kids from the age of 12 to 19. They come in, and we build a song from the ground up. Everybody records a little bit, everybody writes, everybody does every part of the music production.” The program - which Grier and Manteca hope to revitalize and relaunch - found so much success that the young artists involved were formally invited to President Obama’s Inauguration in 2009. “When we did it in the past, we did five songs and created music videos for them,” explained Grier. “They got the whole experience of what it felt like to be an artist. We released the music and it was such a success and we got to see how it impacted these kids’ lives. We really killed it when we did that program and now we’re in North Hollywood and it’s time to bring it back because we see more of a need than ever before. The school system is pretty messed up and there’s not a lot of after-school programs and some schools cut music entirely. A lot of kids are just out there and you know, sometimes when people are just out there, they make bad decisions. Youth for Peace is a place where young people can come and understand the different skills and the different job positions in music. We expose youth to the different roles in the industry and then show them how it all comes together.” #13 2022

With so much innovation in the current music industry, Grier and Manteca knew they wanted to find new ways to reach their audience. They came up with the perfect plan to marry technology and community at a time when everyone in the world felt isolated and estranged: live streaming. “The studio is called Cook House LA, so we were trying to come up with something that would make people gravitate towards the studio and feel welcome,&quot; said Manteca. “We developed the idea of a backyard barbecue-style cookout and have local artists that we work with just come in on Sundays and jam with us. You can have a musician that’s just starting their journey and a professional musician side by side learning and communicating and just creating a vibe. ‘ If you aren’t exactly musically inclined, Grier and Manteca still got you covered. Cook House LA also offers podcasting and live streaming spaces complete with 4K video and professional lighting set-ups, a dance room, and a rehearsal lounge. Tune into Cook House LA’s Sunday Cook Out at https://www.twitch.tv/cookhousela or visit their official website cookhousela.com for more information.

’m a firm believer that to be successful in business and in life you must be passionate about whatever it is that you do big or small. A wise woman once prayed, “Lord help me to do small things in a great way”. Markus Crewe is not doing small things but he certainly is doing things in a great way. Markus, who resides in Virginia is the first black person who has ever served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. He started out as a part-time pick-up driver while working on his master’s degree at George Mason University.

“Around 2019 when I heard about the work Habitat for Humanities was doing, I got more interested in the work concerning affordable housing” stated Markus. He is on a mission to make sure every family in Prince William County in Manassas, Virginia will be able to achieve the American Dream and live in a house that’s comfortable and affordable for each family who qualifies for housing assistance.

markus crewe Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity is passionate and driven to get the job done.

While Markus was working on his master’s degree, he was offered a position as a Community Outreach Coordinator for the company which Markus accepted, and his career began to take off. “Once I accepted the position, I started a neighborhood revitalization initiative in a trailer home park in Manassas in the process I helped vitalize the community, probably around 75 homes” Stated Markus. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit Markus was laid off, but he was able to complete his master’s degree in the year of 2021. Markus was asked to return to the company as an Operation Director which he has been doing since January. In this position Markus oversees affordable housing, critical housing needs and beautification projects throughout the community in Prince William County. “Habitat for Humanity is about putting God’s love into action helping families come together to bring homes, communities and hope” stated Markus. Markus also does tactical urbanization where they put pop up parks in parking lots creating a sense of safety for the community. This is also part of the beautification process where they take an entire community and restore the homes. Habitat for Humanity is constantly looking for people who need better housing even if you’re not a current homeowner. Markus is walking in some very big shoes these days and realizes he still has some barriers to cross. He’s prepared for the challenges that are set before and looks forward to taking Habitat for Humanity to the next level. Markus has found his passion and he’s not stopping here one of his future goals is to serve as a City Council Member for the city of Manassas. With Markus’s passion and ambition I wouldn’t be surprised if he became the President one day. Written by Gloria Peebles

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shawn antonio Shawn, let us know about you! Your background, education, and how you got your start in life coaching? My background is Dutch & Spanish. My family is spread out worldwide and we are a rainbow of colors. My focus growing up was to become a heart surgeon but decided it wasn’t for me and became a professional dancer and choreographer. I then shifted into nightlife events for 17 years and fell in love with people and how they operate. That’s when life coaching spoke to me. I started learning about life coaching in 2003, I began taking on a few clients in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2017 when I finally left nightlife to focus on coaching full time. When it comes to Life coaching and mindset shifting what is it exactly that you do?vWhat’s the difference between the two? I disrupt the fuck out of the bullshit stories that people tell themselves and redesign their lives. Period. I light them on fire and they are never the same. When should someone get a life coach and what qualifications should they look for? Now! Everyone can use a coach - it’s always a great idea to get someone to help you achieve your dreams and goals. I consider myself an accountability partner for all my clients. You should look for someone whose life is truly working on all fronts. Not just some veneer. Great life coaches have a broad range of life experiences and tools to draw from. Unlike therapists, Life Coaches don’t have to be certified or licensed. Do your research and find a coach who has undertaken some kind of appropriate further education. Make sure they suit your needs and that you have a great connection with them. I coach a lot of coaches, and you can find someone for almost any niche market you can think of. What are some steps a person can take to make a mindset shift? Let go of your past. Stop self-sabotaging. See things through a different lens. Start there and see where life takes you. If someone can’t afford life coaching services what can they do on their own? Read books that grow you. One of my favorites that I recommend to all my clients is “You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters” by Kate Murphy. Take personal development courses that you can afford. Get on YouTube and search out life coach videos and watch and take notes and apply them to your life. I offer a free introductory course online called RESET YOUR WORLD to help people get started no matter where they are in life. https:// shawn-antonio-life-coaching.teachable.com/p/declutter-your-life-withshawn-antonio You are constantly helping change the lives of others, how do you find balance in your life and make sure you pour back into you? I personally set boundaries and have specific times I’m plugged in and available and times I’m unplugged. All of my clients, friends and family are aware of them because I tell them. It works. You speak of balance a lot, how can people start to achieve balance in their life? Start by looking at where balance isn’t and insert it there. Watch your happiness level take off. Oh, and make sure there is a bunch of self-care and YOU time in there too. #13 2022

Saaphyri REBRANDING WITH HER THRIVING BUSINESS ADVENTURES

aaphyri Windsor, former reality star of the Flavor of Love has branched out and is doing her own thing these days. She appeared in Charm School which was also a reality show featured on VH1 a spinoff of Flavor of Love where Saaphyri was the grand prize winner. There is no slowing down for this power girl. She has her hands in a lot of endeavors. She has a Non-Profit organization called Developmental Foundation for children and young adults. She was inspired to start this business due to her daughter who has developmental disabilities. She has a unisex lip balm called Saaphyri’s Lip Chap, she’s Executive Director for Fire House where they do music videos, and she has written a book titled Don’t Interrupt My Prayers Before God Directs Me To Whoop Yo Ass! Well, I guess you heard that.

Saaphyri really has beautiful soul and I had the pleasure of chatting with her she filled me in on what she’s doing now and her plans for the future this is what Saaphyri had to say “since Flavor of Love I did Charm School and a lot of reality shows that were over-seas like the Netherlands and Holland but, recently I just released my book called Don’t Interrupt My Prayers Before God Directs Me To Whoop Yo Ass!. It’s my spiritual journey”. It has always been said that God has a great sense of humor. In the book Saaphyri is transparent about her life and she opens-up about her life revealing some things people have never heard before from her birth to her near-death experiences. It’s a book you will not be able to put down. Acting was something Saaphyri always wanted to do. Saaphyri was a rapper before she started acting on reality shows. Her first deal was with Motown but it never got off the ground she was dropped from the label. “Then a person approached me about doing a play called Food Stamps” Saaphyri said with a smile. The producer wanted a female rapper which at that time she was working with Dr. Dre so they gave her the part

because she was a female rapper. “When we got in rehearsals, they asked me if I could act? I told them yeah I could act but, I really didn’t know” stated Saaphyri. She was given a script to take home to practice long story short she nailed it and the rest is history her career takes off. Everyone knows that success brings challenges. What Saaphyri finds most challenging in the entertainment industry is consistency. “I have to say there are a lot of wolves and a lot of people who are not genuine and I always pick that up. I have learned to train my tongue from not speaking and I had to learn that really quick” said Saaphyri. She does believe there is a lot of opportunity for black people in the industry “but there is so much colorism until it’s divisive” said Saaphyri. Sometimes in the black community we can be our own worst enemy together we stand but divided we will fall. “If we come together and put our resources together, we would have the opportunity we need. I don’t like us sitting on sidelines begging people to open up doors. I don’t think it’s even necessary at this point” said Saaphyri. Saaphyri wants the world to know that even though she can make you laugh she is a businesswoman at the end of the day. “I crew business by smiling, we’re going to laugh all the way to the bank” Said Saaphyri. Saaphyri wears a lot of different hats and is doing big things. She did share that she’s getting ready to do some bigger things. She gave me a nugget about one project she’s working on called Dunbar Heist. “It’s the largest arm car robbery in the history of the United States which is being made into a film in which someone with the last name Pinkett is involved” stated Saaphyri. You fill in the blank. If you want to keep up with what’s going on in her life you can follow her on her Instagram page for more excitement and inspiration. @saaphyri Written by Gloria Peebles

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Executive Chef & Pitmaster, Mermaids & Cowboys La Jolla, California Celebrated pitmaster and barbeque world champion, Chef Erik Freshley has led an inspiring culinary journey across the U.S.

chef ERIK FRES HLEY #13 2022

His childhood was marked by hunting trips, fishing, and farming on his grandparent’s homestead outside of Chicago, Illinois. Living off the land, they grew and canned much of what they ate, butchered their own game, and barbecued whole hog on the weekends. At 19 years old, Chef Erik landed his first restaurant job at a familyfriend’s soul food kitchen. Over the next two decades, the self-taught chef cooked for dignitaries on-base at Fort Eustis in Virginia, sharpened his high-volume skills in the luxury cruise industry, and spent time in the corporate kitchens of Marriott hotels in Miami, Tampa Bay, and Richmond. Erik went on to make a name for himself within the competitive barbeque circuit, conquering prestigious cook-offs such as Kansas City’s American Royal World Series, where he won 1st place, and Houston’s World’s Championship, where he placed 2nd. Erik developed a cult-like

Houston’s World’s Championship, where he placed 2nd. Erik developed a cult-like following in Southeast Virginia for his community barbeque pop-ups focusing on live fire cooking and education. Once he arrived in San Diego, he quickly worked his way into the culinary teams for lauded hotels and restaurants including The Grand Del Mar, a AAA Five Diamond hotel, La Valencia Hotel, Dolce, and Grand Ole BBQ. Today, Erik helms the kitchen as Executive Chef of Mermaids and Cowboys, a surf and turf-inspired restaurant in the heart of La Jolla, California. In both his personal and professional life, Chef Erik is a committed advocate for underserved communities and passionate about paying his success forward. Alongside his position at Mermaids &amp; Cowboys, he owns a boutique catering company focused on advancing culinary opportunities for people of color. He also regularly contributes to organizations such as Father Joe’s Villages and Rachel’s Women’s Shelter in San Diego, and proudly leads an annual community-oriented Juneteenth celebration where he donates barbeque to hundreds of locals in need.

omar word

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Omar, let us know about you! Your background, education, how you got your start in modeling and your agency! I’m 100% Latino born in Panama City, Panama. I was a professional swimmer representing my country till I was 19yrs of age. I got my modeling career started while attending the famous nightclub Studio 54 where I got scouted by Italian designer Claudio La Viola and moved to Milan from 1978 to 1981. I worked for many of the leading brands between Milan and Paris; moved back to NYC where I got my 1st job as a model agent @L’image Model Mngt). I launched their Runway Div & 2yrs later moved in to print. What prompted you to start your own agency? I moved to Los Angeles to work for EASTWEST MODEL MNGT to open their Mens Dept and after 2yrs I left to open my own along with my old booking partner and we created It Models/Omar’s Men. It was a decision made by my models who pushed me and inspired me to create my own brand of Male Models. You have worked with major beauty and fashion publications, what is something you have learned the industry continues to look for in beauty and fashion? For me it’s always Personality & Swag.

When it comes to models, especially models of color, what advice would you give them? Ignore color, I made it a point during my career to not focus on color and to focus on the craft of creating beautiful imagery. How has digital media and social media changed the fashion industry in terms of finding models and what brands look for? UNFORTUNATELY in my eyes Digital and Social Media crea ed a platform for everyone to express themselves in their own way.There’s a PLUS and a MINUS to that concept. The PLUS you No longer need an agent and can book yourself. The MINUS is you can book yourself not knowing the INS and OUT of media usage and protecting your likeness. You have been in the business for years, what are some fashion trends that have stood the test of time and what are some you have seen fade out for good? A classic look will always prevail, a classic look in my book means a beauty that’s globally acceptable opposite an editorial beauty which is the one trick pony. They have a specific look that stands out but it’s not globally accepted.

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co ra LaCora, tell us about yourself? (Where you are from, your background, education etc) The name’s LaCora Stephens, aka Coco. I know, I know...there’s always a Coco somewhere in the mix when it comes to black folk. But I’m special, though lol! The difference with me, is that my daddy nicknamed me that because the Florida sun kissed my melanin like God Himself told him to do so. Okayyy! I followed my aunts’ footsteps and attended one of the HBCU Florida A & M University as a theater major. It was there that I grew strong and confident in my blackness (shout to all of my professors), my body (shout to Images Modeling Troupe) and my awareness and options (shoutout to all the unique Rattlers that shifted my ideologies). Where did your passion for on-air hosting and producing come from? It all started with a speeding ticket. Let me explain. During my short-lived acting journey, I shared the stage with Margaret Avery under the direction of Patricia Cuffie-Jones, booked a national commercial, and actually auditioned as Patsy in “12 Years a Slave”, yes...Lupita’s role! All great experiences, but it didn’t hit the way I expected it to. So, God stepped in and made me get a speeding ticket! Yep, God, not me. The Lord made me put the pedal to the medal. I got a ticket, served community hours and stumbled upon a flyer to produce shows. That was the beginning of my producing days. How has your journey been navigating both? The journey of navigating hosting and producing has been pretty good, but it could be better with management. Since I’m a freelancer, the struggle is real. But in the struggle, I’ve learned a lot. The biggest thing I gathered from this juggling act is to have some good people by your side as team members. #13 2022

What are some things you wish you had known before embarking on this journey in entertainment? The one thing I wish I had known before embarking on this journey would have to be: CREATE YOUR OWN! A lot of us are conditioned to believe that we need to work for others. Friends give advice on how to get work here. Parents ask if you got a job yet. Agents tell you to work on your craft by spending money and joining an acting group. But if one person had shared the importance of “creating your own” at the very beginning, I would have created my award-nominated talk show, “The YES! Show” and short film “Dating & Waiting” a lot sooner! What does it take to make it in the industry from your experience? (It’s competitive) There are more than one ways to enter a castle. To make it in the industry you have to know when to say “no’. Sometimes you can sell a show too early to a smaller network with a smaller vision that has no concerns of you keeping on the show and if you had done so, you would have missed out making history and being a culture icon...ask Issa. Sometimes making it is all about your team. What advice would you give someone considering being an on-air host and or producer? If you want to be an on-air host, don’t be afraid to find one of your favorite hosts on social media and ask for guidance. Some are very generous with information. Even if you start with complimenting them and asking for a training program to hone your craft. Classes help with networking and getting management. Or, grab your phone and just start on YouTube. That world has opened up hugely and we’re in a time where you can create your own show to host and produce. As I created my own, I also learned to edit along the way.

Who is Novaakan3?

my first project this summer. I recently collaborated with Bino Rideaux, who is an upcoming LA artist, and the song has been my best streaming song I’ve done so far. This new project I am releasing has a lot of significant features from artists who are established in the music industry. As TikTok continues to grow, a lot of artists influencers like myself have been gaining more opportunities to collaborate with solidified artists because of having a large fan base on social media.

Novaakan3 is a multi talented influencer who is famous for his charming personality on TikTok. He has grown to 5.3 million followers since 2020 & has also made an imprint in the music industry by charting #30 on TikTok’s Top 100 list. Novaakan3 has done great things for the community of San Diego such as Christmas shopping for the youth and activism in the BLM movement. Tell us more about your past career as a professional athlete? I started my professional basketball career playing in Bosnia. It was a beautiful country and the locals were very welcoming. I stayed there for eight months and then received a contract to play in Australia. Adelaide was a gorgeous city and Australia was one of my favorite places I have visited. The basketball experience in Australia was one of a kind and our fans treated us with great hospitality. As your new level of social media influence grows with your followers, do you feel that you have any social or ethical responsibility in your content? Yes, as my platform grows I definitely believe it is one of my duties to speak out on social issues people face in America. Having a big platform always enables me to spread awareness and educate my followers on social injustices. enables me to spread awareness and educate my followers on social injustices.

What are the pros and cons when it comes to your social media growth (comments, dms, etc?

Do you consider yourself an influencer, entertainer, or something else? I consider myself an entertainer because my content is focused on giving people an experience whether that’s through comedy, advice, or inspiration. My aspirations are to be able to show my personality on television one day and grow as an entertainer. You have released several features on Tik Tok, can you tell us more about yourself as a musician? My music has been taking off on TikTok. I have a song called Best friend which went viral and currently has over 44 million plays. A lot of my followers have been gravitating towards my music and embracing it. I haven’t fully made a true introduction to my fans about my music, so I am interested to see how they will react once I release

I think the pros are being able to have a voice and to be a leader that many can look up to. For example, some of my friends’ children have told their parents that I am their favorite creator on TikTok. I think it’s awesome that I can put a smile on someone’s face and make them happy. The cons would be on the business side of TikTok. I think brands often overlook, or devalue influencers by not paying them what their worth. That is one of the biggest obstacles I face as a creator thus far. What’s the ultimate goal for Novaakan3? My ultimate goal is to continue to inspire others and to stay true to myself. I am taking this experience one day at a time and enjoying every part of it along the way. Social media has changed my life and I want to share with everyone the ability to have a platform that can help uplift others and can help change the world.

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#13 2022