Bleu Magazine Issue 34- Bera

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BLEUmagazine

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Ó CUESTION TEQUILA CUESTIÓN. EVERYTHING.

ASK YOURSELF THIS

Ó CUESTION WHEN WILL I TRY IT? AGED IN JACK DANIEL’S AMERICAN OAK BARRELS MORE GOLD MEDALS THAN PATRÓN

$6&45*»/ 5&26*-" *4 ."%& 0' 5)& '*/&45 #-6& 8&#&3 "("7& "/% *.1035&% 5)306() /"4)7*--& 5/ $6&45*»/ &7&3:5)*/( :06 ,/08 "#065 5&26*-" -&"3/ .03& "5 $6&45*0/41*3*54 $0. bleumagazine.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

CONTENT 10 PUBLISHER’S LETTER

81 PROFILE: DESIGNERS

11 CONTRIBUTORS 12 EDITOR’S LETTER 13 IT’S ME, IT’S YOU, IT’S BLEU 15 THE 20: THE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE

19 GADGET: BASQUAT

85 FASHION: THE FASHION REVOLUTIONIST 91 SCORE: ALONG FOR THE RIDE 95 BLEU LIST 96 ICON: HAROLD “HYPE” WILLIAMS

21 CAR: ART & DESIGN

97 SHOP LIST

27 BODY: THE BACK-UP PLAN 29 GROOMING: THE ART OF THE BEARD 31 FUEL: SLIDERS AND MORE...

37 TRAVEL: HOME AWAY FROM HOME

crown EYE HUNEE X COLIN KING coat, necklace, boxer briefs & sneakers VERSACE jogger shorts DRIFTER

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BLEUMAGAZINE.COM @BLEUMAGAZINE

FASHION HEALTH CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS bleumagazine.com

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BERA

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COVER STORY

41 ARTFUL LIVING: DESIGNING A LEGACY

45 SPOTLIGHT: ALWAYS AARON & JESSIE T. USHER 47 TREND AVE: DOPE, L.A.T.H.C AND MORE...

51 FASHION: THE URBAN GENT 61 FEATURE: BEHIND THE BEATS 67 FASHION: THE OMINOUS OUTSIDER

CONTENT 7

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73 FEATURE: STILETTOS AND SPRAY CANS 77 FEATURE: 2ESAE AND SKI

necklace, boxer briefs & sneakers VERSACE jogger shorts DRIFTER

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TEAM BLEU EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DéVon Christopher Johnson EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Treye Green

ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Carlton J. Brown

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Erica Vain COPY EDITOR Andrew Horton SENIOR FASHION MARKETING EDITOR Chris Sandford CONTRIBUTING FASHION EDITOR Ronçois FASHION EDITORS-AT-LARGE Apuje Kalu, Alisha Crutchfield On the cover BERA photography SINEM YAZICI fashion stylist LAW ROACH fashion editor CHRIS SANDFORD make-up STEFAN KEHL hair TROY STYLEZ grooming GARY DICKSON

UK CONTRIBUTING FASHION EDITOR Sean Azeez

biker jacket DIESEL BLACK GOLD suit WALTER VAN BEIRENDONCK tank LARS ANDERSSON

GROOMING EDITOR Cataanda J

GRAPHIC DESIGN Dominc Bielak

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Adrian Jones Jackson SPORTS EDITOR Angel Quiles DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER Brian Camacho OFFICE COORDINATOR Gary Dickson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dorielle Jackson, Edric Robinson, Owen Duckett, Yisreal Richardson, Yvette Brown CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Larry Hester, Gary Dickson, Edric Robinson, Perrine DiShield, Kirsten Lewis, Angel Quiles, Yvette Brown, Ebony Allison CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Owen Duckett, Damian Bielak, Sinem Yazici, Hosea Johnson, Lordale Benosa, Julien Mitchell EDITORIAL INTERNS Alivia Royal, Taylor Stabler, Kishon Springer

THE BLEULIFE GROUP CHAIRMAN, CEO & PRESIDENT

DéVon Christopher Johnson ACCOUNT MANAGERS Todd Evans, Rivendell Media 908.232.2021

INTEGRATED BRAND PARTNERSHIPS Kim J. Ford, Brand Whisperer 973.580.4476 kford@brand-whisperer.com

BRAND COORDINATOR Carlotta Harrington

LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS Thomas J. Wilson, Esq.

NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION Mag Consulting Team

Loren Bates 347.564.8042 advertise@bleulife.com REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Rannon Harris (Chicago - Midwest) Christopher Thompson Walls (Atlanta - Southeast)

Golenbock Eisman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP SUBMISSIONS Bleu Magazine 500 Fashion Ave, 17a New York, NY 10018 info@bleulife.com

Bleulife Media & Entertainment Inc. | 262 West 38th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018 | E-Mail: info@bleulife.com | Online: bleulife.com Printed in Canada. Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, feature writers or other contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Bleu Magazine or its staff.

All advertisements, photographs, text or illustrations are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized to have secured proper consent for the use thereof. Bleu Magazine shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss, expense or liabilities on advertisements accepted after the deadline. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or advertisement in Bleu Magazine is not to be constructed as an indication of sexual orientation of such persons, advertiser or organization. Partial or complete reproduction of an advertisement, news article, feature or photograph from Bleu Magazine is strictly prohibited as Bleu Magazine is a registered trademark. A $25 or 1.5% (whichever is greater) fee will be charged for all NSF checks. All rights reserved.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

PHOTO BY ELIOT JONES / LOCATION: PAPER FACTORY HOTEL, L.I.C.

“WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE”

by John Mayer

My year started off pretty awesome; goals where being reached and the load of being an entrepreneur was getting tolerable. I made time to work on my master’s degree and spent free time with family and friends. There was something special about 2014 in the air. We all could feel it, but didn’t quite know what it was.

Me and all my friends We’re all misunderstood They say we stand for nothing and There’s no way we ever could

Then, it revealed itself. Mike Brown was shot and killed. Eric Garner was choked and killed.

Both killings were at the hands of police officers—those public officials that our tax dollars pay to serve and protect us.

Now we see everything that’s going wrong With the world and those who lead it We just feel like we don’t have the means To rise above and beat it

I’m not a lawyer, so I will not insult you by trying to dissect how the cases should have been handled. What I will say, is that no matter what side of the issue you are on, our society was affected as a whole. Young and old, black and white, and people from all backgrounds have come together to bring a spotlight on the many broken parts of our society.

So we keep waiting Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting Waiting on the world to change

We have to be the change we want to see. We have to stand up and exercise the rights we are endowed with in this, the greatest country in the world. Although, there may not be another Dr. King on the horizon anytime soon, we all have brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends and neighbors; we all have the power to make the world better.

Be greater than you ever imagined yourself to be. March for the lives lost and for the lives of the future. March for your own life. Let’s be the future now.

DéVon Johnson

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CONTRIBUTORS

KIRSTEN LEWIS WRITER

PERRINE DESHIELD WRITER Perrine DeShield is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies and Production/Broadcast Journalism.

She recently received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Luxury and Fashion Management at Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta) after completing a successful internship with the BCBG Max Azria Group’s public relations & marketing department. DeShield now works as a creative project manager with Belk, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kirsten Lewis is a graduate of Howard University’s John H. Johnson School of Communications. Since graduation, the witty entertainment and culture writer has had the opportunity to interview artists and celebs like Jahlil Beats, Amin Joseph, Mckinley Freeman and actor/comedian Katt Williams.

AGEN PERTILLAR WRITER

ALIVIA ROYAL WRITER Alivia is an LIM College, fashion-merchandising student with an intense passion for all things fashion. Alongside her love for fashion, Alivia’s interest in current celebrity news showcases a trendy style of writing.

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A tech enthusiast to the core, Agen Pertillar spends a great deal of time studying for his Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Combining his love of technology and a professional career, he is currently authoring a book that discusses technology and communication within the modern family.

Hailing from New England, he can’t say no to a lobster roll. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and contributing to tech blogs and giving his two cents on the latest and greatest gadgets.

Oh, and he can school you a little on fashion history too.

EDITOR’S LETTER

I’m convinced we are all creatives at heart. Think about it. You may not be able to paint a MET-worthy piece of art or engineer a Grammy-winning hit like DJ Swivel, but we all have passions that engage the artist housed within us. This issue of BLEU is dedicated to that drive for taking abstract ideas and inspirations and fabricating them into tangible representations of our individual expressions.

I, myself, seek creative comfort in both music and the art of personal style, and I’m excited to say that the pages of this issue embody an array of industry influencers--from designers to singers to architects, we sought to fill BLEU with creative forces. I truly hope you find a piece of yourself in the individuals we present to you, in the products we display and through the looks you encounter… And who knows? You may find enough encouragement to pursue our own creative endeavors in the process.

Treye Green Editor-In-Chief

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IT’S ME, IT’S YOU, IT’S BLEU

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9th Annual Lincoln Park Festival Lincoln Park Music Festival VIP Kickoff Event with Luke James

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Presented by Lincoln Park Cultural Coast District and Bleu Magazine In partnership with City National Bank with cocktails by D’Usse VSOP Cognac

At Newark NJ

July 25th-July 27th, 2014 (2) 10th Annual Newark Idol Competition Tamecka Dixon, former WNBA Player, LA Sparks; Newark Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins; Newark Idol Finalists; Mama Jones, VH1’s Chrissy & Mr. Jones and Susu Stewart, CEO of YOPAT and founder of Newark Idol.

(3) DJ Wallah, Hot 97, Heavy Hitters photographer: Tony Graves

(4) De’Von Christopher, CEO & Group Publisher, BleuLife Media & Entertainment and Mama Jones, VH1’s Chrissy & Mr. Jones.

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(5) Yoga In The Park on Hip Hop Day (6) Island Records’ artist Luke James

6 photographer: Tony Graves

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photographer: Tony Graves

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photographer: Tony Graves

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photographer: Tony Graves

photographer: Stephen Reid

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American MastersThe Boomers List NYC premier At The Pailey Center

September 18th 2014 (1) Director Timothy Greenfield Sanders (2) Model Alex Lundqvist (3) Carmen Dell’orefice

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(4) HIV/AIDS-LGBT rights activist Peter Staley and producer Chad Thompson (5) Filmmaker Liliana Greenfield-Sanders, model/ actress Carmen Dell’Orefice and Director/photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (6) Historian Julieanna Richardson, producer Chad Thompson and fashion activist Bethann Hardison (7) Producer Tommy Walker (L) and Executive Producer of American Masters Michael Kantor (R) (8) Former CEO of AARP A. Barry Rand and actress Kim Cattrall (C) (9) Actress Kim Cattrall

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photographer for event: Cindy Org for Getty Images

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THE 20

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR RUBBER RETAIL $65.00 www.converse.com

THE ULTIMATE GIFT GUIDE CADENCE PIXAÇÃO CREW $72.00 www.shop.cadencecollection.com

2012 ONEHOPE CALIFORNIA MERLOT $18.99 www.onehopewine.com

TED BAKER KINSON $48.00 www.tedbaker.com

THE MOTLEY X LIFE/AFTER/DENIM “WOODSMOKE” CANDLE $58.00 www.themotley.com

RITTE CYCLES CROSSBERG DISC $1399.00 www.ittecycles.com

ROCKWELL 6S RAZOR $75.00 www.rockwellrazors.com

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CHERRY CRANBERRY ALMOND PREMIUM SNACK BARS (12pk) $49.99 www.nothinbutfoodsstore.com

VIBE BOXER MODERN FIT / HIKER STRIPE $31.95 www.saxxunderwear.com

SWISS LEGEND 89.00 www.worldofwatches.com

ZOINX SUNGLASSES “WRAP” $119.00 www.zoinxsunglasses.com

H2O OUTDOOR GEAR KODIAK $995.00 www.h2ooutdoorgear.com

DOPE 2 FINGER RING $72.00 www.dope.com

MERLOT BLEND, SAUVIGNON BLANC, CABERNET RED BLEND, CHARDONNAY, PINOT NOIR $68.00-$78.00 plus $10 shipping www.andegavia.com

PEAR MOBILE TRAINING INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM FOR iPHONE & ANDROID $99.95 www.pearsports.com

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FAERY of TALES $510.00 www.faeryoftales.com

CHROME WARM WORK SHIRT $180.00 www.chromeindustries.com TM

BOREAS GEAR ERAWAN (FARALLON BLACK)

$149.99 www.boreasgear.com

SCREAMING HAND BLACK $10.00 stance.com

PRIVATEER SILVER RUM $27.00 PRIVATEER AMBER RUM $34.00 www.privateerrum.com

NIKE MDL. 252 R SUNGLASSES $156.00 www.store.nike.com

TED BAKER TAMSIN $460.00 www.tedbaker.com

NICK GRAHAM $99.00 www.nickgraham.com

ONEHOPE WORLD OF GOOD GIFT BOX $49.00 www.onehopewine.com

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TID No. 1 $230.00 www.tidwatches.tictail.com

TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN MANUAL, FIELD & STREAM $29.00 www.fieldandstream.com BLUE GINGHAM OXFORD TRADITIONAL FIT-LONG-SLEEVE $64.95 www.magnaready.com/shop

BLACK BURN DESIGNS SCORCH FRONT USB $69.99 www.blackburndesign.com

BIAS DUO-TONE W/ STRIPE $160.00 www.titleofwork.com

FEEDBACK SPORTS SPORT-MECHANIC BICYCLE REPAIR STAND $169.99 www.feedbacksports.com MARC $1199.00 www.moziebicycles.com

ALTEC LANSING iMW575 LIFE JACKET BLUETOOTH SPEAKER $149.99 www.amazon.com bleumagazine.com

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GADGETS

THE STEREO THAT COULD HANG WITH A

T A I U Q S A B ster y He r r a sL word

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Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound 3000 was a monster with a beautiful face.

In 2000, Danish luxury audio company Bang & Olufsen released the Beosound 3000--a stereo system that flipped the electronics market on its head. It wasn’t just the fact that it had amazing sound; the company was already known for that. The Beosound 3000’s design was something that hadn’t been seen before. Until then, stereos were only meant to be placed on shelves. They were shiny, black boxes that--other than the manufacturer’s logo--all looked the same.

Enormous speakers boasted the audio prowess of stereos, alluding to the idea that bigger is always better. But what separated the Beosound 3000 from its peers was its super-slim profile and revolutionary, motion-controlled sliding glass doors. In order to access the unit’s CD player and controls, all that was required was a wave of the hand and the glass doors would separate.

It wasn’t a necessary feature, but it looked pretty elegant in action.

Along with its sleek design, the Beosound 3000 was the first wall-mountable sound system that was able to connect to a PC to play electronic music files. These features set off a major leap in the advancement of consumer electronics. The slim design soon began to catch on with other companies.

The Sharper Image released stereo systems like the GT900 with a similar look as the Beosound, even though it--along with other Beosound 3000-inspired systems--lacked the motion-controlled glass doors.

Bang & Olufsen’s masterpiece represented everything an audiophile and tech nerd would want in a system. However, at nearly $4000, the price tag turned out to be too hefty for the average consumer. The Beosound 3000 was discontinued in 2006, but the unit still commands a staggering $1200 in eBay auctions--an ode to the continued appeal of the system’s mix of utilitarian features and streamlined beauty. Beosound marked a changing of the consumer technology guard blending high-end sound, design and clever features into a device that could be displayed like an art piece.

In 2011, Panasonic revived the flat stereo design in its HC55 System. Instead of being limited to CDs and PC connectivity, Panny’s contribution integrated Bluetooth connections with phones and tablets, internet radio streaming and the use of a power-saving technology. The HC55 was an engaging pickup from where the Beosound 3000 left off, but it failed to resurrect the slim stereo movement of the early 2000s.

Trendiness be damned, the Bang & Olfsen Beosound 3000 remains a formative notch in the timeline of influential audio gear. It beautifully combined art and functionality in a way that impacted consumers until it was upstaged by Apple’s introduction of the iPod in 2001. The Beosound may not have earned overwhelming kudos during its electronic heyday, but its legacy in the world of audio greatness is impossible to tune out.

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CAR

words Gary Dickson

Let’s not brag about how big your engine is. The power behind it should do the talking!

Below we have listed various types of engines that might be suitable for you, depending, of course, on what type of driver you are. Over the last couple of decades, a number of engineers have mastered the art and design of engines. Not only has the appearance of each engine grown but the operation of movement within the cylinders has increased. Whether maneuvering an auto with a V6 or a V12, individuals love feeling the power behind the wheel. VROOM VROOM!

2014 Aston Martin Vintage S ENGINE V12 t ". BMM BMMPZ RVBE PWFSIFBE DBNTIBÄ™ WBMWF DD 7 t 'SPOU NJE NPVOUFE FOHJOF SFBS XIFFM ESJWF t 'VMMZ DBUBMZTFE TUBJOMFTT TUFFM FYIBVTU TZTUFN XJUI BDUJWF CZQBTT valves t .BY QPXFS 14 CIQ ! SQN t .BY UPSRVF /N MC Ä™ ! SQN t "DDFMFSBUJPO NQI TFDT t "DDFMFSBUJPO LN I TFDT t .BY TQFFE FTUJNBUFE LN I NQI

http://www.astonmartin.com/cars/the-vantage-range/v12-vantage-s/v12-vantage-s-technical

2014 Audi R8 $115,900 ENGINE V10 t )PSTFQPXFS t 5PSRVF MC Ä™ ! SQN ! t &OHJOF #MPDL "MVNJOVN BMMPZ JODPSQPSBUJOH TJMJDPO DSZTUBMT t $ZMJOEFS IFBE "MVNJOVN BMMPZ t 7BMWFUSBJO $POUJOVPVT JOUBLF ! FYIBVTU DBNTIBÄ™ BEKVTUNFOU DOHC chain driven t *OEVDUJPO 'VFM JOKFDUJPO '4* t "DDFMFSBUJPO TFD t 5PQ USBDL TQFFE NQI http://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-r8?csref=92225155266327644

2014 F-Type R Coupe Jaguar $99,000 ENGINE V8 t IQ 7 4VQFSDIBSHFE t NQI UPQ TQFFE t .BYJNVN 1PXFS ! 31. IQ ! SQN t 5SBOTNJTTJPO TQFFE i2VJDL4IJęw ;'¥ BVUPNBUJD t *OUFMMJHFOU 4UPQ 4UBSU 4UBOEBSE http://www.jaguarusa.com/all-models/f-type/f-type-models/f-type-r-coupe.html

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LIFE IS BETTER WHEN YOU MOZIE

luxury bicycles delivered to your door moziebicycles.com @moziebicycles #MozieOn

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BODY

THE

BACK

PLAN

UP

words Edric Robinson

WIDE PULL-UPS TARGETED MUSCLES

lats, traps, rhomboids, teres major/minor, biceps, and deltoids (delts)

HOW TO DO IT

* * Grasp a sturdy bar with a firm overhand grip, hands separated by a distance roughly twice the width of your shoulders. * * Allowing your body to hang from the bar with your arms straightened, pull yourself upward so that your chest nearly touches the bar and your chin is over the bar. Focus on using your lats to pull your elbows downward toward your ribcage. * * Once your lats are completely contracted and your chin is over the bar, lower yourself to the initial position. As with regular pull-ups, you can either bend your knees and cross your feet, or keep your legs straightened

WHAT TO AVOID

Arching the back or swinging throughout the pull.

HOW MANY 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps

PERSONAL TIPS

If you’re looking to gain weight, you can add weights and do less reps. If you just want to tone or cut weight, you can increase the amount of reps to the standard workout.

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When we are at the gym, most of us are guilty of this abombinable deed: we ignore our back muscles or simply do not pay enough attention to them.

According to Joseph Bailey of Redemption Fitness, the back muscles are an essential group of muscles with huge benefits once trained properly.

In addition to supporting your spine and aiding with basic movements, a well-built back allows for a greater V transformation,which is sure to get attention.

There are many different variations of exercises to target the back muscles which can be divided into three basic categories: Upper Back, also known as the Trapezius (Traps); Middle Back, also known as the Latissimus Dorsi (Lats) and Lower Back, which consists of many smaller muscles. With the help of our exercise physiology scholar, Joseph Bailey, here are three great back workouts and tips that you can incorporate into your next gym regimen.

LATERAL PULL DOWNS

(one foot on bench for stability)

TARGETED MUSCLES

lats, traps, rhomboids, teres major and minor, biceps, and delts

HOW TO DO IT

* * Grasp handles overhead with your palms facing forward. Your hands should be farther than shoulder-width apart with arms completely extended. * * Brace the core muscles of your torso and pull the handles downward, focusing on pulling your elbows to your ribs. Plant one foot on the seat and the other on the ground for balance. Allow the handles to return to the starting position by slowly extending your elbows until they are straight.

WHAT TO AVOID

Avoid arching your back or shrugging shoulders while performing this exercise. Keep the spine stable.

HOW MANY 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps

SQUAT ROWS TARGETED MUSCLES

quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, traps, rhomboids, lats and delts

HOW TO DO IT

* * Plant feet flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart, pointing slightly outward, not straight ahead. Bend at your knees as if you were going to sit back in a chair, keeping your heels on the floor and look straight ahead. Pull in your abs, and keep your lower back in a near neutral position. In a controlled manner slowly lower yourself down and back so that your upper legs are nearly parallel with the floor. * * Grab the lat machine bar handles with your arms extended. Pull back until your torso is at a 90-degree angle from the floor. Your back should be slightly arched, chest sticking out and shoulder blades together. Keeping the torso stationary, pull the handles back towards your torso while keeping the arms close to it until you touch the abdominals.Then go down into a squat position. Hold that contraction for a second and slowly go back to the original position while inhaling.

WHAT TO AVOID

Never let your knees extend beyond your toes HOW MANY 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps.

PERSONAL TIPS

Start on a lesser weight to better understand and perfect the technique prior to adding weight.

About our Exercise Physiology expert

JOSEPH BAILEY:

As the owner of Rebellion Fitness, he’s been actively into fitness for about a decade and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise physiology. When it comes to diet, he follows the Mediterranean diet which focuses on veggies and fruit, less meat. It promotes unsaturated fats and regular exercise. Other forms of supplements Bailey uses consists of men’s One-A-Day vitamin and protein shakes with almond milk. He still enjoys his favorite food, pizza, but makes sure to counter it with a 10 -15 mile run per week, in addition to regular weight training. bleumagazine.com

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GROOMING

D R BE A The Art of the words Perrine DeShield

For decades now, the #1 sanctuary for a guy to hear gossip about money, cars, shoes, clothes and women has been the barbershop. Whether it’s just the weekly buzz-and-clip routine or simply because a guy is looking to get an honest opinion on a new look from a trusted barber, a magical transformation takes place in that large, cranked-up grooming chair.

Within the past five years, cosmetic companies have shifted their focus from predominantly female products to products often used by alpha males.

Though there may not be a statistical analysis or a buzzfeed breakdown on IPX i/P 4IBWF /PWFNCFSw JNQBDUT UIF TUSFFUT PG #SPPLMZO UIF HSPPNJOH of male facial hair has morphed into an art form that can now be practiced by most men.

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Kiehl’s is a brand that literally has the face covered. With a product line DBMMFE 'BDJBM 'VFM UIFSF JT OP XBZ ZPV DPVME GFFM TUVDL PO iFNQUZw XIJMF PO the go. Featuring a smooth selection of shaving creams, both brushless and traditional, Kiehl’s products include key ingredients like aloe for sensitive skin. Kiehl’s also offers Post Shave Repair Gel and Ultimate Man Razor Bump Relief that will leave a man’s skin feeling very soft.

With its signature sleek and black packaging, Clinique for Men is a seasoned brand that’s been around the block a few times. Its affordable quality products range in price from $13-$20, and cover all men’s shaving needs. The topselling Cream Shave is a rich, lathering cream that leaves skin feeling sleek, smooth and comfortable. It works ideally with drier skins, making it even easier to bear the winter winds. A few other notable suitors: the Post Shave

Soother with a cool, tingling amount of aloe and the Face Wash, which is compatible with all skin types and preps the skin for an anticipated shave.

Our TKO brand for having any and everything a guy could possibly need or want in the world of shaving? None other than the one who crowns the very name: The Art of Shaving. Offering a giant product-line of replenishment products such as pre-shaves, shaving creams, soaps, after-shave, shaving kits and even shaving bowls, The Art of Shaving began serving men in 1996, and continues to help men everywhere preserve their sexy.

Refusing to be ignored in malls and brick and mortar stores all across the United States, The Art of Shaving brand line continues to push the envelope and expand on the fast-growing world of male grooming. It even has

dope shaving sets‌with names. The Chelsea Collection may be a stellar investment, but there are plenty of other feasible options that offer a variety of scented shaving creams and after-shave products ranging from balms to gels to lotions.

Of course, it’s nice to visit a local barber every now and then to have the steamed-towel treatment that takes a hefty load off of a stressful day.

Visiting the neighborhood barbershop offers a variety of benefits, but when a man wishes to go at the grooming process alone, lather in a few of our recommend products.

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FUEL

SALMON BLT SLIDERS

INGREDIENTS: 1 pound salmon fillets Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 2 slices bacon, cut into thirds 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons chipotle pepper, in adobo sauce 4 split slider buns, toasted, for serving Lettuce, for serving Sliced tomatoes, for serving DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven at broiler setting. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut the salmon into square pieces that fit the slider buns.

Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Place the salmon filets onto the prepared baking dish and broil until pink, about 5 minutes. Gently flip and broil until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and adobo.

Serve salmon on rolls with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and chipotle mayonnaise.

Source: Meghan for www.tastebook.com

MINT JULEP

INGREDIENTS: 4 fresh mint sprigs 2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey 1 tsp powdered sugar 2 tsp water DIRECTIONS: Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

Serve with a straw.

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SPIKED VANILLA & RUM LEMONADE INGREDIENTS: 1 cup dark rum 3 cups lemonade, store-bought and homemade 1/2 bunch mint leaves 2 tsp vanilla Ice

DIRECTIONS: In a large pitcher combine the rum, vanilla, lemonade and mint. Pour into glasses filled with ice.

Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay of Food Network

VOL AU VENT INGREDIENTS: 1 cup/250 ml chicken stock 1 bay leaf 3 tablespoons butter 1 onion or large shallot, minced 4 ounces/110 g mushrooms, trimmed and chopped (we used oyster mushrooms and ripped them)

1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour A splash of white wine (about 2 tablespoons) 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced 1/4 cup/60 ml creme fraiche 1 to 2 teaspoons mustard Salt and pepper A few handfuls of chopped fresh parsley 6 vol au vent shells DIRECTIONS: Put the stock and bay leaf in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and turn off the heat.

Melt the butter in a sautĂŠ pan and fry the onions for 2 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and cook until shrunken, dark and golden. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until it disappears. pour the stock over, add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes. Stir in the creme fraĂŽche and mustard. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir in the parsley.

Spoon the chicken mixture into the vol au vent shells and serve.

TOTAL TIME: 30 min / Prep: 15 min / Cook: 15 min Yield: 6 servings bleumagazine.com

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HOME A W AY F R O M HOME

EXPLORING LONDON MINUS THE ROYAL ‘TUDE words Edric Robinson

An extended weekend getaway for most is usually somewhere away from home for the duration of three to four days. It’s probably an easy day trip or a simple overnight drive to the intended destiny. Looking across the QPOE -POEPO HJWFT NF UIBU iFYUFOEFE HFUBXBZw USJQ GFFMJOH XIJDI JT why I sort of consider it my second home and a great travel destination.

Though so much about the city seems similar to New York City--its insatiable flare for fashion, diverse cultures, and saturation of the arts--I can’t help but notice a bit of a twist to it all which makes it quite unique.

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So let’s say you’ve bitten the bullet. You’ve found an airline ticket that works for you, the flight was relaxing and you now have figured out where you’ll be staying. It’s now time to explore. Standing near the Piccadilly Circus tube stop on London’s underground train service, you are well-positioned in the heart of London with nearby shopping and entertainment. As loads of people pass you by, you can take in glimpses of the iconic red telephone booths and doubledecker buses maneuvering the square. You hear sprinklings of that somewhat familiar, yet very proper British accent. There is also that nostalgic feeling of Times Square everywhere you turn as digital billboards line a few buildings located around the Shaftesbury Memorial. And of course, there are those familiar touristy spots like Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It’s advisable to avoid Piccadilly Circus as a New Yorker avoids Times Square, but you’re on vacation, so why not be that annoying tourist that stops abruptly on the side walk to take in the views of another country. This area is also within walking distance from quite a few hangout spots with some names that are again reminiscent of home in New York City--SOHO, Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.

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As you walk a few blocks eastward passing Leicester Square, you stumble across a music festival at the Covent Garden Piazza. London is one of the greatest multicultural and creative cities in the world, largely because of the international inspiration rampant throughout. Fittingly, this music festival is being hosted by the Africa Centre, featuring everything from African fashion to art installations to music. Just east of the Piazza there are market stalls filled with rich tapestries of African textiles, and patrons enjoying jollof rice--a West African dish made up of rice, salt, onion, tomato paste and spices. Optional ingredients-vegetables, meat and fish--can be added. West of the Piazza, is the center stage where African artists are performing for large, mixed crowds.

After a day well spent, it’s night and London nightlife is just as vibrant as in any major town. As the British-born show X Factor illustrates, there are dozens of musical talents here trying to be discovered. Many city goers frequently visit bars that offer open mic nights like the Archer Street Bar, which is just off South SOHO. The live entertainment takes place downstairs in a space that feels like a decked out party basement with booths carved into the walls complete with

ice buckets and mood lighting. It has everything required to be the idea spot for the scene of some messy late night affair. On this night, you get to witness an artist from NYC visiting London for the first time and performing some original music and a few Erykah Badu covers. The singer goes by the name of Laya La Roche, a short, slim lady hailing from Brooklyn, whose looks are reminiscent of Lady Gaga. Her set provides the perfect close to an already exciting night.

As the new day breaks, you venture on to the streets and lose time observing some of London’s enchanting architecture. Standouts include the House of Parliament, located at The Palace of Westminster with its distinguished clock tower. An array of complex towers, crenellations and steeples, makes it one of London’s ingenious architectural gems. Other standouts included the Shard, a more recent building made to resemble shards of glass, transforming not just the London Bridge, but almost every panoramic view across the city. Lastly, the St. Pancras Station with its Victorian glasswork and iron train shed stimulates the eye as well as the mind. The structure is the perfect setting as you jet off via the Eurostar for a three hour trip to Paris.

Back on the streets of London one thing is clear, the people here are trying to NBLF B TUBUFNFOU ćFSF BSF NFO XFBSJOH iNBO CBHTw BOE ZPVOH BEVMUT TQPSUJOH trendier items like jeans, leather and long tees. Many of these looks may come from one of the busiest streets in London--Oxford Street. The area stands true to its name with over 200 million visitors a year. More than 300 shops and five million square feet of retail space. After all of that, a relaxing day in Hyde Park is needed, which of course is the Central Park of London.

It’s probably best that London isn’t just a drive away for Americans because a weekend would not be enough to take it all in. There are so many layers to the city and they all overlap like the stripes on the British flag. These make the bustling city of London a place worth seeing.

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ARTFUL LIVING

The Transferring of the Crown words Andrew Horton

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i-JLF GBUIFS MJLF TPOyw " Ä•UUJOH DMJDIĂ? UP EFTDSJCF UIF EZOBNJD CFUXFFO architect Jonathan Moody and his father Curtis Moody, a pioneering architect and CEO of the Moody-Nolan firm, the leading architecture, engineering and design firm in the United States owned and operated by an African-American.

Jonathan, considered by his peers to be one of America’s promising young leading African-American architects, braces himself to manage a firm that is revered for staying on the cutting edge of technology and innovative design in the field of architecture.

Already on Moody-Nolan’s board of directors and a partner in the firm, mild-mannered Jonathan sat down with BLEU to describe the challenges of preparing to lead a firm with an international reach and the responsibility of keeping the competitive edge in a field where keen intuition and inventive flair become powerful factors in a firm’s ability to win key contracts. A firm iCVJMU PO EJWFSTJUZ w .PPEZ /PMBO FNQMPZT PWFS BSDIJUFDUT XJUI PG them being people of color. Donning such accomplishments as the Vanderbilt University Student Athletic Center, The Ohio State University Schottenstein Athletic Arena and the Nashville Music City Center, Moody-Nolan continues to be an innovative force in the realm of architecture providing its clients with a team of creative minds assembled together to design world-class structures.

Taking over an architectural firm of such caliber requires an individual with aptitude and foresight; because the world is changing, so must the norms of building. Jonathan plans to take the firm into an era of contemporary convention as he draws from his quiet intensity and superior preparation.

Along with the grooming he received by his father, Jonathan received his architectural training at Cornell University’s prestigious School of Architecture, Art and Planning, and the UCLA School of Architecture. After college Jonathan completed a three year IDP (Intern Development Program) at the Yazdani Studio of Cannon Designed. He did not waste anytime taking his talents back to his dad’s firm. Upon completion of the IDP, he began working at Moody-Nolan, delving right into the firm’s day-to-day affairs as a member of project teams where he provides the visionary expertise his projects warrant.

Jonathan understands that without a solid concept of architecture he will not CF FÄŒFDUJWF BT B QSPKFDU QMBZFS +POBUIBO FYQMBJOT i"SDIJUFDUVSF JT SFBM JU T CVJMU JU T DPOTUSVDUFE GSPN QPXFSGVM JEFBT w )F SFNFNCFST UIF XPSET PG POF PG IJT 6$-" QSPGFTTPST 4ZMWJB -BWJO i*EFBT NVTU CFDPNF TPNFUIJOH BOE UIFZ NVTU FOEVSF w +POBUIBO CFMJFWFT UIBU JEFBT NVTU CFDPNF TUSVDUVSFT UIBU XJMM eventually make an impact. He affirms that buildings make an impact. In less than 4 years with the firm, he has received his license to practice architecture and he has already been a leading designer of major architecture projects, including the Meharry Medical College Turner Conference Center, the Connor Group Complex Project, and the Vanderbilt University Student Center.

How does Jonathan approach a project? At the essence of architecture, he states, is a diverse project team with diverse opinions. Jonathan believes in the power of a well-rounded individual. He is firmly convinced that quality architects are knowledgeable in the differing genres of art, art history, and the history of structures. Of course mathematical and technical elements come

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ARTFUL LIVING

into play as well. According to Jonathan, architects tend to have a talent-slant in either the artistic side of architecture or the technical side. Jonathan claims that his talent is not to be a strong artist or technician but his strength lies in a balance of expertise in both; he respects the marriage of the two. On a typical project Jonathan designates himself the WJTJPOBSZ GPS B QSPKFDU BTTJHOFE UP IJN ićJT JT OPU FBTZ CFDBVTF BSDIJUFDUVSF JT NVMUJ dimensional. It is always the job of the architect to get a true sense of what the client wants.

The architect then has to have the expertise to offer new ideas or offer ideas that go beyond CPVOEBSJFT w 8IFO XPSLJOH PO UIF $POOPS (SPVQ QSPKFDU IJT QSPKFDU UFBN IBE CFFO granted an allowance by the client to come up with new ideas that would fit the client’s OFFET i.BOZ PG UIF XBMM TUSVDUVSFT BSF TMBOUFE BOE XBSQFE JO TIBQF ćF XJOEPXT DBO CF tinted to adjust to the sun’s rays. Walls are built in ways where they can be panels one hour BOE TFF UISPVHI TUSVDUVSFT UIF OFYU BMM XJUI UIF QSFTT PG B CVUUPO w Bringing innovative ideas into the mainstream has not always been met with grand SFDFQUJPO i4PNFUJNFT JU JT DIBMMFOHJOH XPSLJOH JO UIF DPNNVOJUZ XIFSF QFPQMF BSF QBTTJPOBUF BCPVU UIF TUSVDUVSFT UIFZ XBOU CVU OPU BMXBZT PQFO UP OFX TUSVDUVSBM JEFBT w Jonathan says many communities and clients are not so fast to try new methods. But he GFFMT UIF BSDIJUFDU TPNFUJNFT NVTU CF B DPVOTFMJOH TBMFTNBO i0VS KPC BT BSDIJUFDUT JT UP propose new ideas to companies and organizations so that they are ready to compete in the GVUVSF i What is the trend of architecture in the future? According to Jonathan, structures of the future need to be interactive. There is an immediacy factor that must accompany the flair of the quick-paced technical era. Young people set the tone for much of the culture of an FSB "SDIJUFDUVSF OFFET UP SFĘFDU UIJT EZOBNJD i)JHI DVTUPN ATNBSU CVJMEJOHT XIFSF UIF TUSVDUVSFT BOE ĕYUVSFT DBO CF DPOUSPMMFE CZ DFMM QIPOF JT UIF XBWF PG UIF GVUVSF w IF GPSUFMMT Jonathan is convinced that architects who realize technology and structure go hand in hand will have the advantage.

What advice does Jonathan give to young people seeking a career in the field of architecture BOE EFTJHO i%SBX BOE FYQMPSF BSU *U JT OFWFS UPP FBSMZ UP DSFBUF B QPSUGPMJP PG BMM ZPVS XPSL w )F BMTP BEWJTFT ZPVOH QFPQMF UP FYQMPSF BOE CSPBEFO UIFJS IPSJ[POT 4UVEFOUT NVTU respect the fact that architecture is not just planning and drawing. He advises students to be good at writing, the sciences, statistics and physics.

Jonathan realizes that some people are just not going to be recruited in the architecture ĕFME )F TUBUFT i0G UIF MJDFOTFE BSDIJUFDUT JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT POMZ BSF PG African-American heritage. The reality is that young people of color are not going to SFDFJWF B MPU PG IFMQ w )F SFJUFSBUFT UIF BEWJDF PG IJT GBUIFS‰i:PVOH QFPQMF PG DPMPS XIP aspire to be architects will need to work harder; they will have to work to achieve above BWFSBHF UP CF TFFO BT BWFSBHF ćBU T UIF SFBMJUZ w ćF SFBMJUJFT BSF VOGBJS CVU ZPVOH BTQJSJOH BSDIJUFDUT NVTU XPSL UISPVHI UIBU SFBMJUZ BOE TUSJWF UP MFU UIFJS WPJDF CF IFBSE i:PVS PQJOJPO NBUUFST BOE JT WBMVFE w

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SPOTLIGHT

ALWAYS AARON words Treye Green

Aaron Camper made the transition from preacher’s kid to soul-stirring crooner with incredible ease. Growing up in Salisbury, Maryland, the singer explored a bevy of musical genres, all of which he pulled from to create his identifying blend of R&B, funk and pop aesthetics.

After releasing a string of singles and his impressive mixtape Welcome To My World, the Grammy-nominated singer continues to chart his path through the industry as a writer and singer. Ahead of the release of his latest track i.Z )FBSU w $BNQFS TQPLF XJUI #-&6 BCPVU IJT VQDPNJOH projects, how he started his career and what it’s like sharing the stage with Justin Timberlake.

What made you want to pursue a career in music?

The fear of working in a plant forever.

What is one of your favorite music memories?

'JOBMMZ HFUUJOH .BSZ + T i3FBM -PWFw LJDL QBUUFSO PO UIF drums.

You’ve worked with some of the best-known artists in the industry, like Jill Scott, David Guetta and Fantasia.

What was your favorite song to work on and who was your favorite artist to collaborate with? i/P 0SEJOBSZ -PWFw CZ %JEEZ %JSUZ .POFZ * SFNFNCFS Puff especially just wanting me to go in the booth and put ićF 8JOBOTw PO JU

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How did you first link up with Justin Timberlake?

I linked with him through my partner Adam Blackstone.

Did your following grow while touring as part of the Tennessee Kids?

Not really. My following has grown pretty steadily over the last few years organically in some kind of way.

Did you expect such a positive response when you released Welcome To My World in 2011? What projects are you currently working on?

I absolutely did not. But I was extremely grateful because it gave me confidence. And I’m currently dropping my next TJOHMF i.Z )FBSUw PO 0DUPCFS UI What’s the greatest challenge that comes with being a background vocalist? And when did you decide you wanted to pursue a solo career?

The greatest challenge is juggling an intense schedule while still continuing to grow my audience.

How do you balance the two?

I do it with a very great team.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your music?

Yes, it’s about time for more of it!

JESSIE T. USHER words Adrian Jones-Jackson

Jessie T. Usher embarked on the path of stardom years ago as a young extra in an Oscar Meyer commercial singing about his favorite bologna. With his love for acting ignited, he spent the next several years devoting himself to refining his acting skills doing everything from TV commercials and voice-overs, to making live stage and theatrical appearances.

These days, the 22-year-old Maryland native is a well-groomed actor with a growing resume, whose strong ambition for performing has landed him in Hollywood. Through a persistent grind and dedication to the craft, ironically, the kid who started in the background is now front-and-center starring in the LeBron James executive produced TV series, Survivor’s Remorse. Get familiar with this name and face because Usher plans on scoring big with the assist from Basketball’s King.

You have a leading role on the new TV series Survivor’s Remorse. Tell us what made you want to pursue the role and how that opportunity came about for you?

Among the scripts I receive on a daily basis, Survivor’s Remorse definitely stood out the most. When I was reading the script I just had this feeling that the character Cam was going to be powerful. I already heard about the people involved behind-the-scenes beforehand, so I knew making this show would be a great opportunity for me. From there it was just a matter of me auditioning and convincing the people I was the right person for the job.

Survivor’s Remorse is centered on basketball and produced by LeBron James. Following in his footsteps can be a lot of pressure. How did you prepare for the role?

When people initially hear about the show and LeBron’s association to the project they automatically assume I’m playing him in his life story, which is not the case at all. I am playing Cam Calloway, a fictional character who has lived a similar life. So, there was not pressure in the case of following in LeBron’s hype.

How did you prepare for the role?

I mainly focused on my knowledge about the game of basketball, and familiarized myself with my character and with the guys who were behind the project. Of course, there was a lot of physical preparation involved too, but for the most part it was me doing the groundwork.

Since its premiere, the show has received a lot of positive feedback. Do you think it’s premature to say this is your breakout role?

This is certainly what I would consider a breakout role. I have done some great work in the past which has led to me being at the place where I am now, but nothing of this magnitude. I believe this show can make a lot of noise. Hopefully, people will keep checking it out and respond positively.

In the movie Level Up, you played the jock, and in When the Game Stands Tall you were a high school football player. On Survivor’s Remorse you’re playing a professional basketball star. Give us some insight into your athletic background?

Growing up I was extremely active and into sports.

I think I played every sport there is, [laughs] from basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and swimming.

But Martial Arts has always been my thing. I’ve been studying various martial art forms for 18 years now.

There is a discouraging stigma for black actors in Hollywood. How do you overcome the challenges?

Over the past two or three years I’ve really noticed just how few the opportunities are for black actors is and how fewer the opportunities are. A lot of the times I see the same faces auditioning for the same roles, or the same people at premieres and on set. I think experiencing this and understanding what I’m up against is half the battle. I look at it like a personal game of chess; you don’t want to make any crucial mistakes but at the same time everybody has to make their own adjustments in order to last.

Who would you credit as having the biggest influence on your career thus far?

Will Smith is someone who has been a long-time idol of mine. I’ve always admired what he has been capable of doing with his career. I studied screenplay and scene study with an acting coach named Richard Brander. He has also been a huge influence on my career as well. I believe his guidance along with my natural instincts have shaped me into the actor I am today.

How do you see your career shaping from here?

Expect nothing but success. [Laughs] You know a lot PG ZPVOH BDUPST UIBU * UBML UP TBZ i* POMZ XBOU UP CF B NPWJF TUBS PS UFMFWJTJPO TUBS w ćBU T ĕOF GPS UIFN but it’s not where my head is at all. I am more so just riding along with the waves. Really, I just want to broaden my horizons and take on challenging roles that interest me. I’m hoping for longevity and many different experiences. That is where I’m at right now.

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COVER STORY

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“I live with my music,” says pop newcomer, Bera, who at age 1 couldn’t walk or talk, but knew how to turn on the radio. “I was attracted to music when I was born.” Gifted with perfect pitch, he was handed a violin at age 5 and started piano two years later. He’s classically trained, but it’s his love for jazz that has him motivated to create. “I’m able to play any song I like on the radio,” says the Paris native who also calls the Republic of Georgia home. Given his history, it’s no surprise that at age 16 this musical phenom had two of the music world’s most power producers, Rob Fusari (Lady Gaga) and Rodney Jerkins (Michael Jackson), backing his debut album.

Determined to define his own destiny, Bera launched Georgian Dream record label in 2010 and quickly began work on his first album. “Dreams are something that are very close to me,” he says explaining his name choice. “I wrote my first lyric in a dream.”

He also wrote all of the songs on his latest album which he says can be divided musically and lyrically into two parts: “A more fun, club, up-tempo side, and the laid-back, loverboy, romantic side.” The first single, “Favorite Things,” produced

by Fusari is a mid-tempo love song where Bera shares an intimate glimpse into his world. “I really love ‘Favorite Things’ because it shows who I am. In three minutes it shows my universe. Everything I say in my songs comes from something real.”

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“When I write a song I picture a girl and I’m writing that song for her, even if she doesn’t exist...”

On the flip side, the Jerkins-produced club bangers “Hands on the Wall” and “Light it Up” are destined dance hits that capture Bera’s self-assured swagger and embody his sensual sound. Make no mistake, he is not your average young man. Charismatic beyond his years, he exudes confidence with an irresistible charm. Recognizing the musical magic that was made on this record, Bera says it was fantastic working with Fusari and Jerkins. “We built a relationship. The vibe was really good and I really grew up with them. Artistically they gave me a lot.”

Other influences that helped shape Bera’s sound include his passion for several genres of music. “I love jazz, soul and I’m definitely ol’ school.” He cites Tupac and Michael Jackson as his favorites and says he listens to an eclectic array of artists including Notorious B.I.G., Barry White, Lionel Richie and Lenny Kravitz.”

Love is also a big inspiration, which comes across clearly in his work. “My songs are very seductive. When I write a song, I picture a girl and I’m writing that song for her--even if she doesn’t exist. Even when I write with pain, I write it cause of the love.”

While Bera says he would love to win a coveted Grammy Award, his biggest wish is that someone smiles when they think about him or his music. “I don’t need to be a superstar. I don’t want to be that untouchable guy. I want to be like you and I want you to feel my music and enjoy it with me. I just want to share my feelings.” By the sound of things, he’ll be sharing for a long time.

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“When someone thinks about me or my music, I want them to smile. I don’t need to be a superstar...”

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What is one of your earliest music memories?

I don’t have any memories without music! I was born music.

What rap and hip hop albums did you love growing up?

Fugees -The Score Tupac - All Eyes On Me Snoop Dogg - Doggiestyle How did you access this music?

I began rhyming in school to look cool for classmates, then eventually got noticed by people and began writing for artists for free studio time. That’s how I fell in love with the studio life.

How did your father react to your rapper aspirations?

My parents would always tell me that art was a symbol of freedom, and to truly be free you have to do what you love the most. I wasn’t just an aspiring rapper. I’m a classically-trained musician. I play 4 instruments. Rap was just a genre that expressed my feelings the best at that time.

How did your friends react to your first project?

Me and my friends always moved as a team, so when my first deal was done it was like a win for all of us. I only surround myself around people that I trust. Even on stage performing, I share these moments with them and allow them to come on stage with me as an encore.

How did your father’s supporters respond to your music being used on the campaign trail?

I was involved in the political campaign at a time where there was no freedom of speech in my country. As a young man with music as a platform, it was my role/duty to awaken my generation so that outside supporters could see what was happening. For the last nine years, my generation was oppressed and frozen and our opponents thought that would never change but we proved them wrong.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career so far?

For over a year (while campaigning against the ex-government) I was considered Public Enemy #1 by the government of my country. It was considered dangerous to even play or listen to my music. They tried everything in their will to sabotage me and my message, but that only made me and my people more motivated.

How would you describe your sound?

I would best describe my music as a fusion of world international and pop music with a message!

What are you looking forward to in the New Year?

I just feel 2015 will be a great year not just for me and my team but for everybody. I’m just anxious to see what blessings will come about.

What artists do you currently listen to?

Actually right now I am currently listening to Eric Clapton’s version of “Autumn Leaves.”

How have audiences outside of your home fan base reacted to your music. What ways have you grown your international fan base?

As far as growing my international fan-base outside my, I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface. I try to speak to every person that knows the language of music. Sooner or later we will hear each other. It’s just a matter of time.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your music?

Music is love. That’s my mindset in every song that I write. Not always love in a romantic way. Even in war I fight with love.

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BB BEHIND THE BEATS

words ADRIAN JACKSON creative RONI FRANCOIS photography JULIEN MITCHELL fashion RAVEN HENDERSON FOR RONCOIS grooming MOSHOODAT assistants PIERRE BAPTISTE & BARRIE LAPIDO

“Chris Brown reached out to me to work on his Fan of a Fan mixtape with Tyga. I think that was the first major artist to reach out to me after ‘Imma Boss’ dropped.”

How often do you find yourself bobbing your head to one of your favorite songs and then realize that you know none of the words? We get so caught up in the hard-hitting beats, that our knowledge of the masterminds behind the tracks often remain overshadowed. Orlando Tucker, better known as Jahlil Beats, is one of those masterminds.

Beats is the musical genius behind some of the most popular hits from artist like Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Tyga and Chris Brown.

Beats grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the small, but dangerous area of Chester. As the middle child of seven boys in a single-parent home, Beats found that his family was the best refuge from the trouble that waited outside his doorstep everyday. “It was rough growing up in Chester, but I had a big family that was really

supportive of one another.” Though Jahlil didn’t live with either of his parents, his father still played an instrumental role in his childhood.

It was his dad who ultimately helped spark his interest in music at the young age of 12. “My father is a certified engineer and he had a home studio. That is where I learned a lot about audio engineering concepts,” Beats says. “He also bought me my first FL Studio.”

Although the circumstances could have created an unfavorable path, Jahlil went on to attend college at American InterContinental University in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia. Beats left the school after a few semesters due to the loss of his financial aid. But that setback ultimately led to the beginning of his music career. “I moved back to Pennsylvania and started posting beats on Myspace, I

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FEATURE

“Emory, Jay-Z’s right hand man, reached out to me over Twitter and I wasn’t sure if it was legit but I followed up anyway and the next thing I know...”

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think I had like three beats up on my page. I found Meek on Myspace and reached out to him around the time that he released his mixtape Flamerz 1,” Beats says about his first correspondence with rapper Meek Mill. “We linked up and started working together and he ended up using three of my beats on his Flamerz 2 mixtape.” His work on Flamerz 2 would birth an ongoing work relationship with Meek Mill.

Beats began working overtime to produce beats for Mill and soon the two ended up with over 10 songs on local radio stations between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Their collaborations soon landed both of them on the Billboard charts with the 2011 hit single “Imma Boss” featuring Rick Ross. “I was in Los Angles when I heard ‘Imma Boss’ on the radio and that is when I knew the record was a success,” Beats recalls. And from there, the calls from notable names in the music industry started to roll in. “Chris Brown reached out to me to work on his Fan of a Fan mixtape with Tyga. I think that was the first major artist to reach out to me after ‘Imma Boss’ dropped,” Beats adds.

Artists began reaching out to Jahlil left and right. But it was a tweet that he received from Jay-Z that helped solidify his name as a producer in the industry and granted him the highly sought after stamp of approval.

“Emory, Jay-Z’s right hand man, reached out to me over Twitter and I wasn’t sure if it was legit but I followed up anyway and the next thing I know I’m in the RocNation studio playing my beats for TyTy, my manager Dave and another A&R at the label named Dominique. And that day I was signed to RocNation,” Beats says.

Under the label’s leadership, Jahlil has had the opportunity to work around and pull inspiration from producers and artist from other genres of music, broadening his career perspective. “I definitely would like to do some music outside of hip-hop and rap,” says Beats. “The pre-Grammy camp that all the producers and artists from the label attend gives us all a chance to be motivated by one another.”

Beats wants to venture into other genres of music. Still, he says his main objective in music is “to bring the streets back to hip-hop music and reinvent that late ‘90s/early 2000s hardcore sound.”

Even with all his success in the last decade and the upcoming releases of projects he’s been working on with Meek Mill, Currency, Cash Out and G-Unit, Beats remains eager to keep striving for more. “I’m grateful for my success and because of it I always give back to my hometown and to the people there but I’m sure that I never want to go back to that lifestyle,” Beats says. His dream collaboration with Eminem and a shelf full of Grammys are two goals he is still striving towards. Jahlil Beats remains determined to keep pushing to the top of the industry.

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neoprene trench coat GENERAL IDEA chelsea boots BOOHOOMAN jeans LEVIS

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STILETTOS AND S!"#Y $#%S photography DAMIAN BIELAK

words EDRIC ROBINSON

In a field dominated by men, Lexi Bella and Danielle Mastrion are two dynamic friends conquering the unofficial “Boys Club” of street art on their own terms, while still rocking stilettos. Friends since 2008, both are college-educated artists with knowledge of art history and an intrinsic understanding of everything from graffiti to mural street works. Lexi was born in Massachusetts but was raised in the suburbs of South Jersey. She is the taller of the two. Her blonde, slightly messy bob frames her face and there’s a New York City boisterous grit in her voice which exudes nothing but confidence.

Danielle, a native of Brooklyn, tackles murals that are more than double her height. There’s an edge to her that matches the tough, sexiness in her demeanor. Both ladies have a penchant for using the word “like” and they finish each other’s sentences on a regular basis.

“We met through art battles in New York,” Lexi said while enjoying a glass of wine at a local Italian restaurant just off the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade. “I lived in Philly, and was doing live art in bars. So when I moved to New York, I wanted to do something similar,” Lexi added. The two met at the event’s all-female competition Femme Fatale, which also featured local respected street artists and friends of the two--Miranda and Marthalicia.

Art battles are live art competitions which allows artists a public platform to perform and showcase their work. The finished products are then judged by the audience. For Danielle, art battles were also the medium which introduced her to mural work. “In doing art battles, I started painting quicker and larger. I had won a couple com

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petitions and eventually everyone I knew was like, Why don’t you put your stuff on a wall ’ Danielle said.

“So one day I did it. My first piece was a tribute to MCA of the Beastie Boys on Point , which is the graffiti mecca.”

The outdoor art exhibit space Point is where aerosol artists from around the globe painted on the walls of a 200,000 square-foot factory building in Long Island City. Sadly, the demolition of Point for luxury condos has already begun.

Lexi also completed murals at Point , but said her first attempt came after the duo visited urope for art competitions. “In Paris, we met all these great artists like l Nino, the Prince of renada, Spain, who can paint anything off the top of his head. After I saw that, I was like, I can do this.’ I came back to the .S. and, with Danielle, went to my rooftop to paint one.” After Danielle showed Lexi the difference in creating art from aerosol caps, Lexi picked up the craft with ease, proving to be a natural.

Their friendship burgeoned and it still remains clear that they enjoy painting with each other and trust the other’s opinions. “It’s fun because we learn from each other all the time. Like if I get frustrated I ask Danielle her thoughts on a particular matter . I remember we were in ngland and I was like freaking out over lips, and she was like, Do the top lip a dark color and the bottom another color.’ And I was like yes simplify,’ ” Lexi said. The two

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break into laughter, Lexi leaning as Danielle repeats, “Yea, I said to paint the bottom one color and the top another.”

They have entirely different styles to their artwork. Danielle’s a classically trained oil painter who used to be a little kid sketching next to art students in galleries of the M T. Lexi’s interest in art started after her grandmother placed water paints in her three year-old hands to keep her occupied. “You’re more auguin, I’m more an ogh,” Lexi referencing ug ne Henri Paul auguin, a French Impressionist artist and incent an ogh who is the famed Dutch avant-garde painter famously known for losing his ear. “My art is very heavy color block.

If I was to do a shadow of a face, I’d just block it. Lexi would use like five different blues and violets, and develop gradation of her light and dark for this one lil’ area,” Danielle said.

This sister-like bond between the two seems to be the common thread amongst their relationships with other female street artists as well. “I feel like I’m always painting around a lot of girls just because that’s how I like to roll. Like if I have any new projects or if Lexi has a project, we always do it together or get other female painters or friends to do it,” Danielle noted. “Yeah, we got to stick together. We make friends across cities and boarders. Like we were just doing the 2 th Precinct show and we were hanging with lle in her room and ueen Andrea came through. And then we have friends like Didi ock in Miami and Deity in LA,” Lexi

said as she rattled off female street artists locally and across the nation.

There is an ease to their personalities which may be the reason peers cling to their friendship. Across New York City and New Jersey, the two have acquired paid mural projects and have left an indelible stamp for the public to view. Between the two, they have created murals personifying greats like Biggie Smalls, Frida halo, Mandela and countless others. They have recently created a tribute to the abducted girls in Nigeria.

In talking about some of the most rewarding parts of their work, the ladies had this to say “It feels like we’re giving back. It’s rewarding to make an ama ing portrait using my skill, let it ower on the wall, and then have people share their opinions,” Lexi said. Danielle adds,

“ ur work is accessible. It’s not exclusive. I’ve had people tell me they travelled to Jersey to see murals I’ve done--that’s success to me.”

In this “man’s world” of street art, Lexi and Danielle represent a small portion of female talent who can hold their own amongst their male counterparts. Their mission seems simple enough expressing themselves as they see fit and having a future goal of promoting and exposing the works of female artists across the globe. “ very single time I paint a wall-- whether it’s a lil girl, a teenager or grown woman--I hear them say, I didn’t know girls can do this.’ Hearing that, I got to keep going with this I gotta keep doing it,” said Danielle as Lexi nodded her head in agreement.

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2ESAE SKI 77

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PRODUCTS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT photography DAMIAN BIELAK words ADRIAN JONES-JACKSON

At an urban row home in the progressive East Bushwick neighborhood of New York City, Fernando “Ski” Romero and Mike “2Esae” Baca--better known as the art collective (You Are) UR New York--have set up shop. Tucked in the garage of their modern, brick-layered, one-story bachelor pad, is the UR New York headquarters--a custom, full- edged professional art studio. Its a workplace containing all essential needs to fuel their creative juices, while boasting the aesthetics that appropriately fit the duo’s personality--humbling and unique with an authentic sense of originality.

In the middle of the room, Ski plops down at a wooden table covered in small used paint containers. He’s sporting fitted denim jeans, a worn down graphic shirt, a five o’clock shadow and a traditional blue Yankee’s hat covering the stubs on his slightly grown-in bald head. With a skinny black paint brush in hand, Ski paints the outlines of a new piece that is a few phases from complete. This new painting has the signature New York style “graffiti to the core”-bold outlines, bubble letters, animated New York City landmarks, all blended with vibrant colors and precise handcraftsmanship. The work is street chic combined with the perfect dose of traditional art.

Sitting a few feet away is Ski’s partner in creativity, 2 sae, hovering over another unfinished portrait in a plain black -neck t-shirt with a pair of camou age cargo shorts, and his dreadlocks rubber-banded into a tail. Taking a brief intermission from the painting, but never actually breaking his focus, he reaches out his tattooed and paint-speckled hand for a quick, yet firm introductory shake then he gets right back to painting. The night’s agenda is pretty routine for the artistic combo--painting, smoking a cigarette or a spliff, back to painting, break again for food and more painting.

It’s weeks prior to their highly anticipated “Product of nvironment” themed showing, the first in over a year. ven though the duo has been all around the world from Asia to London showcasing their work, there is no place like home base. This go-around there’s a little more at stake and the expectations are higher. In fact, it can be argued that their upcoming gallery showing is a measuring stick for career growth and a

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testament to how their career has evolved full circle. Just years ago, Ski and 2 sae were posted on the blocks of Manhattan’s prestigious SoHo neighborhood selling their art hand-to-hand, connecting with the people. “We would be out there chilling, smoking weed, and painting. We were able to make money because we committed ourselves. Together we decided that this is our grind and we’re going to be out here every single day,” Ski explains. That same discipline, along with their knack for producing art with no boundries, would spur the duo’s professional growth, providing the two with the confidence and the awareness to understand that they had laid the foundation for a lucrative business. ventually, the gifted graffiti artists conformed their self-constructed SoHo store into a hot spot for art connoisseurs, artists, graffiti lovers, and tourists. “We knew we were onto something,” 2Esae claims. “Our spot became like the raffiti Writer’s Bench in the Bronx. People traveled from everywhere--different states and countries--just to be a part of what we were doing. We knew what to put out and what would sell. More importantly, we knew that people primarily wanted an experience. So we brought them into our realm.”

That realm the Brooklyn-bred artist speaks so passionately about is a world where their paths never crossed prior to working together and forming a brotherhood-partnership in 2006.

Introduced to each other through mutual friends, their bond formed through the love of graffiti art and organically grew into a conglomerate of two different struggled-filled journeys steered in the same direction with objectives of creative freedom, a strong desire to impact the culture and aspirations of showcasing their talent. Ski, a native of Queens, took a liking to art and graffiti as a youngster painting buildings, trains, walls, wherever he could find space to release his creativity.

Years later he earned his degree in Marketing and Advertising at Parson’s New School in Manhattan. He moved on to work what he refers to as survival jobs’ before deciding to throw in the towel to pursue his passion. “I had a really good job when I met Mike The turning point for me was not being listened

S I

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to. I’m a smart-ass dude, but none of those people was taking advantage of it. I just said, Fuck it ’ I don’t want to work for nobody anymore.” This resulted in him moving around New York City, dibbing and dabbling in the hustle game. This was followed by an indictment on felony graffiti charges for which he spent a stint locked up, before eventually earning his degree in isual Communications and Photography Art History from Kathrine Gibbs College. He worked jobs in fashion as well as the entertainment industry, but settled on nothing less for himself than to be an artist. “I always wanted to be an artist. I never knew my niche, but I just knew I wanted to do art. I never said I wanted to be a graffiti artist or graphic designer which I ended up becoming and going to school for. But then again, that’s a testament to being a product of your environment.”

Firmly grasping the concept “team work makes a dream work,” the duo has thrived underneath the in uence of one another

“WE’RE LIVING IN THE FUTURE BABY, BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.“

2ESAE

building their brand originating from New York City streets.

They have given hundreds of showings worldwide, including multiple appearances at the Miami Art Basel, along with showcases in The Museum of Modern Art and the heralded Sundance Film Festival. The pair has since become popular, in-demand street artists, and a driving creative force to a new generation by slowly modernizing and changing the conceptual boundaries traditionalist have placed on the graffiti art form. Through a partnership with Davidoff Cigars, the duo continues to expand their work into designing and branding and has begun to infiltrate the corporate realm, like collaborating with major corporate entities such as the atorade brand of PepsiCo Corporation.

One of the most enriching experiences for the duo came after a self-inspired whimsical idea landed them a gig working with rap icon Jay-Z, designing limited edition lyric booklets for his Magna Carta Holy Grail album. The opportunity led to what Ski recants as one of their “illest” career experiences. “It was cra y to introduce yourself to Jay- and he knows exactly who you are. It was dope to hear him say, Yo, that shit y’all did was hot bro ’ and tell us details of what he liked about the work…He genuinely appreciated it.”

Despite their rich experiences and wealthy endeavors, there’ve been no changes to their personal convictions. The goal remains intact for the forward-thinking visionaries who strive to bring to fruition the vision of any young kid who ever dreamed passionately: continue to push a hard line for their culture and creative brand in the streets, as the result will inherently provide a blueprint for the youth. “We’re following in the footsteps that were left ahead of us but we’re just expanding and taking it further. We’re making our footprints bigger for those behind us because there’s nothing worse than wasted talent,” S I explains. 2 sae follows-up, “We never had a shot. We fought for everything we got and we made shit happen Now we have the opportunity to make something happen for someone else and that’s what we want to do.”

2 SA S I A T ST DI

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BLAKE KUWAHARA EYEWEAR Blake Kuwahara

What made you want to start your label/brand?

There was a void in the marketplace for frames that matched my personal aesthetic and the aesthetic of many of my friends who straddle both the creative and business worlds. Frames tend to be either very classic and vintage-inspired, or too directional in shape or color. I wanted to create a brand that speaks to an elevated sense of design for the customer who can appreciate the artisanal way a frame is made.

How do you plan to stand out in the fashion industry?

The engineering and technology that was applied to this collection was astonishing! It takes two weeks just for the lamination process to cure. Since we are using acetates of different properties for each frame, careful calculations had to be made to ensure that the fusion of the materials was seamless. Marrying technology and fashion has always been part of my design signature. That, and also making sure that the frames are simultaneously artful but wearable.

What is one of your earliest fashion memories?

When I graduated grammar school, leisure suits were all the rage. Even then I had an aversion to polyester! I remember driving my mom crazy looking for a graduation suit that wasn’t synthetic. I finally found one that I loved made out of corduroy What is the toughest part of being a designer?

People are always asking for something different yet familiar and recurrent. That’s a tall order to fill. Perhaps even impossible. I think that designers need to follow their vision.

What do you hope for the future of your label/brand?

Since we’re just launching, my immediate goals are shipping our current collection and putting to bed our next one. But longer term, I hope to expand to other categories like apparel that would have my same design sensibilities. And to venture into interior design, which is another one of my passions.

Who would you like to see don your eyewear that hasn’t already?

Someone like Justin Theroux who can look great in t-shirts and beaten up jeans one moment, and can then put on a tux and look just as smashing.

What was the most challenging part of starting your business?

Learning the basics of running a business. Practical things like accounting, contracts, setting up an IT platform can be overwhelming if you haven’t done it before. Designing the collection was the easiest part because it was the most familiar.

Would you like to mention anything else about your brand?

The logo of my brand has a lot of meaning to me since it is based on my family crest. I’m a fourth generation Japanese American, and I have a “kamon” (family crest that has been passed down for many generations on my father’s side. We modified it by using the shape of the “ ” in the typeface logo to create the surrounding lines of the design. It’s a modern and stylized version of something very ancient with lots of history. I think it’s a nice representation of the design foundation of my collection too.

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DANIEL WON COLLECTION Daniel Won

What made you want to start your label/brand?

I have always been passionate about fashion since I was young and knew that I would work in the fashion industry as a designer.

I wanted to be able to wear and design what I wanted, but wasn’t able to find those pieces with other designers. It was also very important for me to have my own line and brand because I want to be able to bring my design and creative aesthetic to the industry. I have many innovative ideas on design that I want other people to love as much as I do. I think it is amazing to see my clients supporting my collection and making Daniel Won a part of their lifestyle and fashion.

What is one of your earliest fashion memories?

My mother used to buy my older brother designer jeans which were very hot at the time. I would look at my brother’s jeans with envy and my mom would tell him, “Don’t worry. You can share them with your brother.” I can tell you that never happened This is my first memory of fashion and where I believe my passion for fashion was born. I started sketching the clothes and sneakers that I wanted to wear and began to develop my “own look.”

What is the toughest part about being a designer?

I think the balancing of creativity and commercial viability of the product. The need for creativity is paramount to success as a designer, but too often compromises acceptability and the ability to hit specific targeted price ranges. I am happy to say that we have not had to compromise with Daniel Won and I believe that is what is responsible for the success we have been experiencing since our inception.

What do you hope for the future of your label/brand?

I see my brand as a truly international fashion collection recognized for its modern techniques and fabrics and most importantly, its quality. I see Daniel Won in the best luxury department stores and boutiques all over the world. I would also love to be in the position over the next five years to open agship Daniel Won stores in key cities around the world.

Who would you like to see in your clothes that hasn’t already worn them?

Adam Levine, Pharrell Williams, G-Dragon, David Beckham and Justin Timberlake.

What was the most challenging part of starting your business?

The hardest thing in creating the collection was having limited resources, in terms of both, people and dollars. This made us wear many hats and work long hours, but I am glad we did it this way.

Would you like to mention anything else about your brand?

When I look back at when and where we started, we have come so far, so quickly. Twenty-four months from creating the idea to getting our first order is something I am very proud of and very thankful for. I want to especially thank Mr. uss Patrick of Neiman Marcus as he was the first one to see the line and subsequently his team gave us our first order. I will always be very grateful for his support. We are achieving a great response both in the nited States and internationally, and we will be adding several additional categories—jewelry, small leather goods and bags, sportswear--over the next two collections.

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ASBURY PARK CLOTHING CO. James Hankins

What made you want to start your label/brand?

I’ve been hanging out in Asbury Park all my life. First with my parents back when the Palace Amusements and the casino had rides, a fun house, etc... Then as a teenager I saw my favorite bands at the Fast Lane, Stone Pony and at Convention Hall. The inspiration behind Asbury Park Denim hit me like a freight train one afternoon in the summer of 2011. Asbury Park puts no boundaries on what you are, who you are or what you want to be. Its tough and timeless and most important, it can take a beating and get back up. Asbury Park is America and there is nothing more American than a pair of blue jeans.

How do you plan to stand out in the fashion industry?

I plan on keeping it as simple as possible. I make a classic, five pocket, American-made dungaree sprinkled with tough New Jersey rock ‘n’ roll….I make a product that I’m proud of, using the finest quality materials I can find. We are adding some shirts and jackets to the collection and will evolve organically.

What is one of your earliest fashion memories?

Marlon Brando in the movie The Wild Ones. The Ramones on stage at CBGB. Every kid I hung out with was wearing worn out jeans and a beat up t-shirt with a black leather jacket. We drove our parents and girlfriends’ fathers CRAZY!!! That’s fashion…That’s timeless.

What is the toughest part about being a designer?

Keeping it simple and not over thinking your objective.

What do you hope for the future of your brand/label?

A music exec friend of mine figured out that there is a pair of Asburys on a stage somewhere in the world every night of the week. So far so good….

Who would you like to see in your clothes that has not already worn them?

My dad.

What is the most challenging part of starting your own business?

Having to pivot from creative mode into execution mode on a dime and not running out of money.

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MATIERE Scott Shandalove & Jake Zeitlin

What made you want to start Matiere?

Scot Shandolove: I wanted to conceptualize a lifestyle brand that was truly focused on the “materials” selling the brand, as opposed to the marketing. I had spent most of my career developing brands and products that were focused on mid-tier, mass market distribution. I wanted to utilize my textile experience and was passionate about creating something meaningful from my background. I had collaborated with Jake on past projects and was always amazed with his creative direction. A cheeseburger and a beer later, we were on the move!

Jake Zeitlin: I was excited to work creatively with Scot again and create something that we could stand behind, something that would last. Plus a blank creative canvas with premium textiles as a foundation is about as exciting as you can get as a creative.

What is one of your earliest fashion memories?

SS: I owned a clothing boutique in the midwest while attending college. We were carrying a lot of the streetwear/clubwear brands of the early ‘90s. I remember customers walking in the front door, looking around, and immediately exiting the store with the most amazingly absurd expressions. At that moment I understood how impactful, unique fashion could be.

J When I was really little I remember my grandmother--who is an ama ing fine artist--taking all my grandfather’s neck ties and braiding them together, then running wires through them to create this huge wall sculpture. She never sees things as they are, but only sees what they could become. It was her fine art take on fashion that shaped me as a creative.

What was the most challenging part of starting Matiere?

SS: Starting it was easy! The challenges come daily now.

JZ: What Scot said.

Would you like to mention anything else about Matiere?

SS: Enough about us. We want to thank BLEU for the interview and sharing our brand and story.

JZ: Ditto again.

What is the toughest part of being a designer?

SS: Balancing uniqueness with being commercially viable.

JZ: I think for me its knowing when to move on to the next design. I could keep tweaking the same design forever.

What do you hope for the future of Matiere?

SS: For Matiere to continue to create things we love and are passionate about.

JZ: I want to see us continually evolve as a brand and continue to make items that people can be proud to wear.

Who would you like to see in your clothes that hasn’t already worn them?

SS: Johnny Depp, Jay-Z. JZ: Alex Ebert, The lead singer of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

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F ASHION REVOL U TIONIST photography LORDALE BENOSA fashion CHRIS SANDFORD make-up & grooming BRITTNEY GARRISON

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raincoat STUTTERHEIM RAINCOATS distressed short-sleeved sweatshirt DRIFTER tunic-length short-sleeved supima cotton round neck tee DRIFTER apron front drop crotch joggers MATIERE sneakers PONY

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hooded pullover sweater MATIERE trench coat COCKPIT USA cotton stretch denim EFM BY DONRAD DUNCAN brogue boots RAINMAN FOOTWEAR

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twill blazer & waxed long sleeve button up G-STAR RAW lightweight french terry leggings DRIFTER cropped pant with functional fly DRIFTER combat boot CONVERSE bicycle MOZIE BICYCLES

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knitted beanie & boots DR. MARTENS double breasted coat MASSIMO ALBA flight suit COCKPIT USA

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button off hooded crew neck sweater EFM BY DONRAD DUNCAN bomber jacket COCKPIT USA ruche pants 3-W-Y sneakers NEW BALANCE

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hoodie & sneakers NIKE coated wax twill joggers AKOO

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words Angel L. Quiles Jr. photography OWEN DUCKETT fashion CHRIS SANDFORD make-up & grooming DOMINIQUE JENELLE

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Imagine New York City’s Houston Street in the summer time. You are hanging out with your friends at a coffee shop. The cool summer breeze sifting through your hair while you sip on a cold beverage. You gaze out at the street and see 300 bicyclists making their way toward you. You are confused, but you stare in awe at the plethora of mountain bikes, tour bikes and BMX bikes all riding in unison. Only in New York can you witness such a spectacle.

But emerging from the crowd is a showman that has the nation in awe—BMX king Nigel Sylvester. Nigel has been shocking people since he first learned how to ride a bike at the age of five. The awe doesn’t usually come from the Queens-born biker riding with 300 people. It comes from all of his YouTube videos, where he can be seen pulling off amazing bike tricks that are as dangerous as they are incredible. But Nigel says he isn’t typically concerned about the risks of his career. “There is just as much danger dribbling a basketball full speed on a fast break to go dunk, or a being a wide receiver going down the field to catch a pass with a safety trying to take you out,” Nigel says. He is adamant about relaying the fact that he is not an action junkie but rather an artist and an athlete. “All of it is calculated. We just don’t show up to a spot and throw ourselves down a handrail; four out of five times you know what you’re going to do.

t-shirt & jacket NIKE hat, necklace & ring (TALENT’S OWN)

You’ve visualized it and you’re mentally and physically prepared; you’ve practiced it.

“We’re not just some daredevils,” Nigel relays.

And his well-practice skills have led Nigel to a host of creative endeavors, including a collaboration with the professional bike frame maker, Brooklyn Machine Works. Nigel has already developed one customized frame and is looking forward to completing more projects with the company. His first frame model was recently launched in Japan.

The release in Japan was so successful that it sparked the launch of his unique frame in the United States in late 2014.

Biking is not Nigel’s only skill. Nigel also has a clothing brand called Paradyce that he holds close to his heart. “Paradyce is a clothing brand, but it’s also a lifestyle that’s about forgetting about being good--it’s about being great,” Nigel tells. It is this sentiment that has pushed Nigel into the forefront as a premier rider in BMX. And it’s even more impressive that he has reached this plateau of success without ever performing in the X Games, the featured event for most BMX riders.

Creating his own lane and pushing his sport to new heights is Nigel’s quest. But arriving at his current state was not something that Nigel initially planned. “I kind of fell into everything. I expressed myself how I saw fit.…then I embraced my creative side and followed the voice in my head.”

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jacket NIKE pants ROCAWEAR sneakers NIKE X RICCARDO TISCI rings (TALENT’S OWN)

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BLEU LIST

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Kenwerks

Sports

Nike

The Barbarian Agency

Fashion Week

Nest

Omen PR

Dali

Samsung

Nouveau PR

The Segrada Family Church

Gensler

Team Epiphany

Bar Marsella

AECOM (Architecture)

BPCM

The Standard

HDK

Azione PR

Burj Khalifa

Jacobs (Architecture)

Zoi Agency

Solow building

Perkins & Will

The Modern Assembly

Shepard Fairy

Cannon Design

Magic Vegas

Jeff Koons

The Louvre Museum

Black Frame

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Antoni Gaudi (Barcelona)

World Trade Center

Richard Prince

Egyptian Pyramids

Chrysler Building

Cher

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur

70 Pine Street

Jack Jones

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Trump Building

Diana Ross

The Shard, London

Rockefeller Center

Golden Gate Bridge

St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow

MetLife Building

New York Public Library

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Daley

Taj Mahal, India

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Hotel del Coronado

Lincoln Center

Statue of Liberty

Kaytranada

MLK Center

Tyra

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Glamore

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Flawless

Chrisette Michelle

Edible Flower

Beyonce

Bootsy Collins

Project New York

JoJo

Airbnb

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HAROLD “HYPE” WILLIAMS words Yvette Brown

H

arold “Hype” Williams was an aspiring painter who displayed his love for the visual arts on the streets of New York City. A native of the borough of Queens, the graffiti artist tagged under the name “Hype” until the late ‘80s, when he uncovered a great passion for film while studying at Adelphi University. At Adelphi, Williams worked closely with Classic Concept Productions, sweeping floors on the sets of several hit rap video shoots.

Using what he witnessed on those video sets as his inspiration, he launched his own production company called Big Dog Films.

Within the next year, Williams landed a major video production gig directing Wu Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple.” The notoriety of his work took off and requests for him to direct other videos soon increased.

Williams took on as many projects as possible and in just a few years he became an award-winning director. In 1996, he won the Billboard Music Video Award for Best Director of the Year. By the late ‘90s,

Williams had worked with the majority of the major rap artists of the time. He earned director credits for his work on 2Pac’s “California Love,” Notorious B.I.G.’s “One More Chance,” LL Cool J‘s “Doin’ It,” Nas’ “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That),” and Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” During that era, his videos were characterized by his use of fish-eye lenses and the incorporation of flashy wardrobes.

Williams has gone on to produce more recent hit videos like Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida,” Nicki Minaj’s “Massive Attack” and Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love.” He also branched out into directing projects for the big screen, such as the 1998 hit film Belly. Williams has also gone on to direct commercials for Nike, Fubu and the Gap. With his groundbreaking approach to music video direction, Williams has birthed a new wave of production techniques and storytelling through the visual outlet. Since the ‘90s, he has left his mark on video media production with the ability to put his unique spin on what he has witnessed through his lens.

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A PERFORMANCE COUPE THAT DEMANDS NOT TO BE DRIVEN. BUT FLEXED.

THE FIRST-EVER 467 HORSEPOWER RC F Engineered from the asphalt up specifically for the true performance enthusiast, its 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated V8 engine produces 467 horsepower,1 while lightweight titanium valves paired with high-strength, forged connecting rods deliver maximum efficiency. An available Performance Package2 featuring Torque Vectoring Differential,a carbon fiber roof and a speed-activated rear wing help enhance unprecedented performance and handling. Inside the cockpit, a dynamic gauge cluster features customizable displays while low-set, race-inspired front sport seats instill confidence through every curve. The RC F from Lexus. Once driven, there’s no going back. luxuryawaits.com/RCF | #LexusRCF

Options shown. 1 Ratings achieved using the required premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or higher. If premium fuel is not used, performance will decrease. 2 Available Winter 2015. ©2014 Lexus.

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