Bleu Magazine Issue #79 Eric Bellinger

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Adapt to Your Environment. www.tombogo.com Issue 79

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THE EVOLUTION OF CLASSIC: ERIC BELLINGER Photography by Nolwen Cifuentes

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TABLE OF

C O N TEN TS

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Fashion

Gadgets

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Soled Up

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Gentry Grab

Op-ed

Anthony Steele

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Cars

Books

2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5

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Feature

Fuel

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Fashion

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Ricky Day

Humans

Todd Patrick

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Creatives

Spotlight

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SK8

Travel

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Aspen

Travel France

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Fountain NYC

Icon

Virgil Abloh

MASTHEAD

On the Cover ERIC BELLINGER Photography By NOLWEN CIFUENTES

Publisher/Editorial Director

Contributing Photographers

AD Sales

DéVon Christopher Johnson

Nolwen Cifuentes, Ricky Day, Prescot Horn, Joshua Tree

Todd Evans, Rivendell Media 908.232.2021

Head of Content EIC Bombshell by Bleu

Contributing Editor

Muhammad Azeem

Interns

East Coast Partnerships & Ecommerce

Ebony Allison

Art Direction & Design Anahi Flores

Managing Editor

Chevy Wolf

Madison Allison, Ryan Kwon, Rayelle Lennard, Francoise Lino, Natalie Sheehan, Sekou Cherif, Spencer Southwell, Brianna Brand

Taylor Edwards

UK Fashion Editor Sean Azeez

Copy Editor

Trevoy Ross, William Flores

Contributing Writers

Justin Pride, Emmanuel Perilla, Jamie Rollo, Becca Blond, Dana Givens, Truth Hawkins, Kent Olden

Justin Wallace

West Coast Partnerships & Special Projects Antheny Raiy

West Coast Fashion Editor Apuje Kalu

Web Design

Licenses & Joint Ventures

THE BLEULIFE MEDIA GROUP Chairman, CEO & President DéVon Christopher Johnson

David DeGraff,Oaklins | DeSilva+Phillips

Brand Ambassadors

Rannon Harris (Chicago-Midwest) LeRoy Williams (New York- Northeast)

Newsstand Distribution

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Submissions

Bleu Magazine 26 Broadway 3rd Floor New York, NY 10004

Bleulife Media & Entertainment Inc. | 26 Broadway 3rd Floor New York, NY 10004 | 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

W

e are fucked! Like royaly fucked!

Yet, I’m optimistic about the future. We can’t stay in the suspended animation of total fuckery much longer.

It would be realistic to be more screwed up than we already are. Humanity has never been smarter, more awake and on the precipice of greatness than this moment in time.

We are literally at war in several regions of the planet, while multi-country collaboration to chart Mars and the rest of our solar system is happening simultaneously. We are basically a schizophrenic society. Taking on several personas to destroy and save, then rinse and repeat.

Let America be America again.

Let it be the dream it used to be.

Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.

(America never was America to me.)

Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above.

(It never was America to me.)

But, because we are fucked. There has never been a more exciting time to be great. We could, if we want, be the best society ever to exist. One that reconciles the past, preserves the present and makes a better future for generations to come. We can try at least to be what never was and what never could actually be.

Isn’t that the magic? Everything and nothing at the same time. Peace. Real, amazing, comfortable, everpresent peace.

Let’s unfuck ourselves. Stay Bleu.

O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the air we breathe.

(There’s never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.”)

Say, who are you that mumbles in the dark?

And who are you that draws your veil across the stars?

LANGSTON HUGHES LET AMERICA BE AMERICA AGAIN

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CONTRIBUTORS

Nolwen

CIFUENTES

Apuje

KALU

Justin PRIDE

Kent OLDEN

Cataanda

JAMES

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Nolwen is a self-taught portrait photographer based in Los Angeles.

She was born and raised in the desert of California to multi-racial immigrant parents, an upbringing that has greatly inspired her work. Nolwen is best known for capturing a mix of raw and dreamy portraiture.

Apuje Kalu’s talents are indefinable. He is an instinctive freelance fashion stylist and creative director from Washington, DC known for his eye for detail. Apuje injects forethought, creativity, and boundless energy into every project and brings an aptitude for organization and structure thanks to his engineering background.

Currently based in Atlanta, GA, Justin is passionate about amplifying black music, media, and culture as the most recognizable, desirable, and influential commodity in the world. From writing signature pieces to producing compelling content, to curating and executing memorable experiences, he represents a multifaceted communications professional well versed in organic storytelling & cultural insights.

Buffalo native Kent Olden is an Aquarian creative who gets excited to push people to see life through a different set of shades. Extremely involved in his community, he is a proud and active member of both Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Prince Hall Affiliated Free & Accepted Masons (Paramount Lodge #73), and instills that commitment to community in his daughters, Kendall and Khloe (no, they’re NOT named after the Kardashians -- he didn’t even know who they were when his daughters were born). Kent holds a B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA) and an M.S. in Public Relations Management from Buffalo State College (Buffalo, NY).

Cataanda James is a consummate hair and makeup influencer with a fervor for words and storytelling.

IT’S NOT JUST A MAGAZINE

BLEUMAG.COM @BLEUMAGAZINE

it’s a lifestyle.

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GADGETS

Words by: EMMANUEL PERILLA

Do You Often Lose Your Personal Belongings?

If you’re looking for reliable tracking devices to ensure your personal belongings never go missing, look no further. Whether it be your pet, phone, or wallet, these tracking devices are guaranteed to quickly locate your items to avoid unnecessary stress and worry.

GADGETS

Chipolo

Chipolo Card Spot Tracker, $35 https://chipolo.net/en-us/

The Chipolo Card Spot Tracker is just about 0.09 inches thick, basically the width of a credit card but it still maintains its reliable tracking technology along with a two-year battery life. You can easily pair the Chipolo tracker with Apple’s Find My app. The Card Spot is water resistant and Chipolo offers a return program along with the product that lets customers ship in their old tracker to be recycled in exchange for a 50% off discount code to purchase a new one.

Tile

Tile Pro, $35

https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/store/tiles/pro If you are looking for your phone or your keys, the Tile Pro may be the solution you have been looking for. The Tile Pro is a tracker that measures 1.3 by 0.3 inches. It’s available in black and white and the device is made from plastic and has a thin metal frame with a hole for your keyring. On the front of the Tile Pro there’s a large rubber button that you can use to locate the phone. The speaker grille and the replaceable battery cover are on the back. The metal frame of the device means you don’t have to worry about the keyring hole cracking over time and the Tile battery lasts about a year. Tile’s lineup is a great alternative for Android users and the setup is simple. Download the Tile app, create an account, and you will pair your phone with the Tile Pro in just a few moments after. Once Pro is added to the Tile app you can customize the icon, name, and ringtone. The Pro is also a two-way tracker - you can use the app on your phone to find your misplaced item or press the Tile button twice to find your phone.

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GADGETS

Amcrest

Amcrest GL 300W GPS Tracker, $35 https://amcrest.com/am-gl300w-4g-real-timegps-tracker.html

The Amcrest GPS Tracker provides you with fast and secure tracking. It offers five second updates and you can track the location of your belongings from any Android or iOS smartphone app. You can also track the location of your belongings from desktop browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. The Amcrest GPS Tracker also has a live tracking feature that will help you securely have a look at your users like family and friends. If you’re a parent, read Amcrest’s parental controls screen time app review to ensure your kids are safe and secure. The Amcrest GPS Tracker comes with different accessories such as a USB adapter, a built-in SIM card, a pouch, and a quick guide.The tracker is also water resistant and very durable so users don’t expect it to be damaged anytime soon after the purchase.

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GADGETS

Angelsense

Angelsense GPS Tracker, $229 https://www.angelsense.com/

The Angelsense GPS Tracker is not your average tracking device. It watches over autistic and special needs children with 4G tracking and alerts. It has a 24-hour battery life and also is known to be one of the best trackers for people with dementia since its location tracking makes it very easy to locate anyone who is lost. It’s very common for kids with autism or sensory issues to have trouble with clothing and Angelsense has this covered. Angelsense has designed wearables for the GPS device- the first being magnetic pins that keep the device in place and the pins can only be unlocked with a magnetic key.

These pins keep your kids from removing the device from their backpack, pocket, or other types of clothing and accessories.

Next is the Angelsense belt that buckles like a typical belt and fastens with a pin to secure the device on your kid during the day. The Angelsense sends location updates every 10 seconds on Runner mode, every 15 seconds when your child is in someplace familiar and every 30 seconds when taking transit or in an unfamiliar location. However you put it the Angelsense GPS tracker has your child’s safety covered.

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SOLED UP

Words by: TAYLOR EDWARDS

A SNEAK -PEEK INTO ANTHONY STEELE’S FOOT LOCKER

Anthony “Munch” Steele is a well-known sneaker enthusiast with a life-sized collection. The owner of 1,432 shoes the Philadelphia native takes his love for sneakers to a new level – Steele’s collection kicks up the standard for the term “sneakerhead”.

The marketing director for the nation’s leading sneaker retailer, his favorite perks are not the discounts; it’s pouring his heart into community outreach activations and helping parents in tough times get the hottest sneakers in demand for their kids.

Munch Steele gives an exclusive on his top picks in kicks.

SOLED UP

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How many pairs of sneakers do you own?

1,432 pair Top five sneakers of all time (in no order): Nike Air Max 95 OG “Neon”, Nike Air Max 1 “Anniversary Red”, Air Jordan 1 “Bred”, Air Jordan 4 “Bred” & the Nike Air Max 2009 silhouette (the most comfortable Air Max of all time).

The one brand you can wear for life: Nike Favorite sneakerheads to follow: My top 3 excluding myself lol is my guy, T Mark (@tmarkgotkickss), my brother Jeff Clark (@jayclark216) and my sister, Ashley Hall (@imashleyhall)

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SOLED UP

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CARS

Words by: MADISON ALLISON

BMW IX FLOW, THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE DEBUTS COLOR-CHANGING CAR BMW breaks the mold with the car of the future; the world’s first color-changing vehicle.

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The luxury German automobile company, BMW, has unveiled a new model, the all new iX Flow. The new model introduces a game-changing feature that permits drivers to change the vehicle’s colors.

the diameter of a human hair strand.The electronic ink allows drivers to pick the car’s exterior colors and add patterns - which BMW refers to as Electronic Paper Display, also used in electronic reading devices.

Personalization is something that has become more important to consumers, especially in the automobile world, and BMW has made it their mission to deliver.

If you have ever been challenged with choosing a car color, your problems have been solved. The innovative color scheme can be accessed at the touch of a button. For now, the colors are a limited palette of white, black, and grey. But despite the limited color scheme, BMW is paving the way for more possibilities.

A demonstration at the CES show, displayed the model changing hues from white to gray. The changes can be made in each panel of the car. This feature creates multiple possibilities for different colors and patterns all around the car. Demonstrations also show the racing stripes wrapped around the BMW with the material that makes up the technology containing differently charged white, black and colored particles. When the electrical field is first activated, different colors surface on the automobile. Signals to activate the color changes can be sent by controls inside the car or by phone.The E Ink wrap allows for this adjustability and no energy is needed to keep the color the driver selects. Right now, the vehicle only displays white and gray though the technology will be made to include a wide choice of colors, shades, designs, and patterns.

The concept vehicle was shown recently in Las Vegas, Nevada at the most influential tech event in the world, the CES technology show. The vehicle is still in development which is why it is referred to as a concept vehicle. A concept vehicle is a vehicle that is produced and used for demonstration purposes, but is still in the process of being fully developed.

BMW’s color changing features are made possible with electronic ink technology.

The electronic ink [E Ink] technology on the BMW iX Flow contains millions of microcapsules, with thickness approximately

The BMW new model takes the pressure off of consumers when it comes to picking the perfect car. You don’t have to settle with the BMW iX Flow. As the model is currently just an advanced research project, specific information regarding additional features will be disclosed in the future.

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QUALITY FOOTWEAR. S PA N I S H A R T I S A N S .

I T A L I A N M AT E R I A L S .

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FUEL

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FUEL

Get the body of a Greek god with a Mediterranean diet.

In the New Year – and even throughout the year – millions diet and explore new trends to unlock their best selves.

Whether the goal is to shed a few pounds, tone up, gain muscle and maintain weight, or simply eat healthier, all resolutions point to wellness.

Health is wealth, and for the fifth time in a row the Mediterranean Diet banks the number one spot for best [overall] diet by U.S. News & World Report.

The Atkins, Keto, Dukan and Paleo diets fall short of fun and flavor when it comes to the Mediterranean Diet. Packed with a variety of nuts and seeds, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats like avocados and hummus, the Mediterranean Diet carries just enough acidity to cleanse the pallet and cut the fat.

Fresh limes, fruits, refreshing cucumbers, avocados, green and black olives are all Mediterranean-friendly foods.

Staples include grilled meats and fish, beans, yogurts, and mixed greens.

titans of weight gain. Red meats are hard to digest and processed foods welcome added sugars. While ridding the body of its favorite snacks is never an easy battle, the European regime allows a lush-ious treat…red wine. A perfect “cheat treat” to any diet, red wine is a heart-healthy beverage and given grace in Mediterranean meal plans.

Albanians, Italians, Grecians, Moroccans, Turkish, and Bosnians, among many, all endorse a glass a day.

All in all, the “king of diets” has only one flaw, bread. Pita breads and naans are popular and in-demand, but are not recommended for slimming down.

A well-balanced, filling, and fun food routine, the success of the Mediterranean Diet are the results of its affinity to salads, lean proteins, modest dairy and fried foods, and farm-to-table menu.

The Mediterranean Diet is easy to follow, great for heart health, full of flavor and helps fight and prevent diabetes. And no other diets check all the boxes for health and wellness.

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F E AT U R E

Words by: JAMIE ROLLO

Photography by: JIMMY FONTAINE

Meet & Greet wi th Oma ha 's Own, One of Taylor Gang’s hottest artists, SK8, gears up to release his first album under his own Atlantic Records imprint, Alignment.

On a sunny February afternoon in Los Angeles, Taylor Gang artist SK8 dials into Zoom to discuss his March 2022 release, Last Day on Earth, his first album since 2016’s Late 2 The Party. Poolside, he begins to talk more about his love for Omaha [Nebraska], the chilly city he calls home.

“I just want to show people that side of me and to see my city because it’s really a place that hasn’t had a lot of light shined on it,” says SK8, born Nathan Maloley, discussing his upcoming single “Heaven Sent,” dropping in mid-February ahead of the album release. “I think that’ll be very, very cool.”

SK8’s upcoming project - as he explains it - will seamlessly combine pop, punk and trap music, a unique sound that sets him apart from other rap artists. “It’s my favorite body of work as an artist,” he beams. “I got some really cool, old school pop-punk features that are really gonna have their own unique sound and bring in those old school elements with that new school trap element to it…

It’ll be a mixture of rock music mixed with trap mixed with pop.”

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Growing up, SK8 always had an interest in music, consuming every style under the sun from reggae to punk and rock to hip-hop, the latter of which he was most drawn to. “That’s what started my ‘career’ but not really my career. I would just write raps in my notebook to super poppin’ beats that were relevant at the time and that’s how I kind of started off,” he says. “As a kid, I was just listening to a bunch of different music and I think that really influenced me to be able to do whatever I really wanted to do on a track.”

All of that early stage passion led up to this current moment, and it’s safe to say, his latest album will be a full circle moment for him and the city that grew his career…Even if music wasn’t always in his cards.

“Basketball was actually my first love. I wanted to play in the NBA. That was my goal,” SK8 reflects.

“My dad was actually [a] hooper so I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”

While also dabbling in music and writing bars in notebooks, SK8 was excelling on the court. “I played all through elementary, middle and high school and

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got recruited to some really cool lower level D1 schools and some really nice D2 schools.”

He decided on Hastings College, a D2 private Nebraska university just three hours outside of Omaha. Not only could he get more playing time, but the school had a lot of course offerings in music that would allow him to simultaneously explore his second passion and in doing so, expand his notoriety outside of Omaha.

“At my college, I was known for making music so every time they had shows on campus, they would always have me open up for the bigger artists,” SK8 retells. “I already had a strong fanbase in Omaha so that’s when I really started to get more traction around the city.”

SK8 was just a year into his college basketball career when he began falling more in love with music, wanting to put his all into his art.

He moved back home and simultaneously, his notoriety began to grow through a collaboration with Omaha social media stars turned musical duo, Jack & Jack.

Jack Johnson and Jack Gilinsky are two former Vine stars; their joint accounts amassed over 4 million followers. The pair were a part of the infamous Magcon (Meet and Greet Convention) collective consisting of the late app’s teen heartthrobs such as Shawn Mendes, Matthew Espinosa, Cameron Dallas, and Nash Grier.

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was necessary as the app shut down in October of 2016. The collaboration resulted in the independently released, certified gold hit “Like That”. The corresponding music video currently sits at 51,696,072 views. The three released albums that year and went on a House of Blues tour where SK8’s following began to explode.

Around this same time, at the age of 19, he moved out to L.A. “I was just sleeping on couches - like the homies’ couches and shit,” SK8 retells of his early days in the Golden State. “More opportunities started to come through. I opened up for Lil’ Wayne for a couple of shows.

I opened up for Big Sean. I opened up for Rae Sremmurd, French Montana, Wiz, like a whole bunch of different artists.”

SK8 created his own imprint, Alignment, with James McMillan, notable lawyer, industry executive and founder of the Art@War imprint under Atlantic Records. Shortly after this joint venture, SK8’s fame really began to take off when he was introduced to notable Taylor Gang (TG) members through studio work with TG producer Ricky P, the genius behind Wiz Khalifa and Lil Uzi Vert’s 2016 smash hit “Pull Up.” “We were in the studio working on a bunch of songs and it was around 3 or 4 in the morning when Ricky said, ‘Wiz wants to come through, is that cool?’” Wiz ended up really liking SK8’s unique style and the two began working in the studio non-stop.

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At that time, SK8 was in need of management to handle his joint venture with Atlantic. A chance encounter with TG manager Will Dzombak resulted in Taylor Gang becoming SK8’s management team.

Since then, SK8 continued to release a myriad of EPs and singles. His most recent successes include “Girl Next Door” feat. Wiz Khalifa and DVBBS, “Famous” feat. Tyla Yaweh and “F*ck Society” feat. Sueco, which sits at 7.15 million, 1 million, and 375k streams on Spotify respectively.

Last Day on Earth marks the first full album released by his imprint, Alignment, and is shaping up to be yet another watershed moment in his lengthy career. “I’ve always wanted to have my own imprint so eventually down the road I could sign some of my own artists and producers,” SK8 says.

His hopes with Alignment are to give people opportunities who normally wouldn’t have them those talented artists in Small City, USA hoping to make a name for themselves and share their art with the world.

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T R AV E L

Words by: BECCA BLOND

How To Explore Colorado’s Most Chic Winter Playground

Celebrating its 75th anniversary as a ski resort this season, Colorado’s most famous winter playground, Aspen, has been a thriving mountain hamlet since the late 1800s. Founded in the 19th century as a rip-roaring silver mining town, Aspen’s original red brick architecture still forms the foundation of its walkable downtown today.

Located in a valley surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and groves of aspen trees in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley about 3.5 hours southwest of Denver, Aspen is a year-round outdoor adventure destination. But it is in winter that it really shines.

The stomping ground of the rich and famous (it’s often hard not to bump into a celebrity here), it is known for its steep ski slopes, ritzy resorts, chic restaurants, designer shopping and wild nightlife.

Follow our guide for how to play in Colorado’s most chic winter playground.

Where to Play In winter the main attraction is skiing. And with four mountains to choose from within a 30-minute radius of each other there is plenty of terrain to explore. In town there is Aspen Mountain, often referred to as Ajax, which is the most famous of the four resorts owned by Aspen Ski Co. and also home to the steepest terrain. This is where to ride if you want to see and be seen and the apres ski scene here is like no other.

Just note there are no green runs.

For more diverse terrain, including options for beginners, head to nearby Snowmass Mountain Resort (the same lift ticket works for all four Aspen area ski resorts), which also boasts Colorado’s longest run. The aptly named Long Shot covers 5.3-miles from top to bottom. Aspen Highlands and

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Buttermilk are the two other area resorts. Buttermilk is for true newbies and a good place to get into your flow, but not much fun once you know how to ride. Aspen Highlands is where everyone heads in the spring as its higher elevation keeps the snow fresher longer.

Where to Stay The Limelight Aspen is our favorite place to sleep in town. Walking distance from the slopes, it offers less expensive and less stuffy lodging than some of the other resorts. Plus the four-star property just finished a top-to-bottom remodel in 2021. The 126 rooms and suites have a vibrant chalet chic ambiance that feels super comfy and relaxing.

The hotel is known for its top notch, complimentary breakfast that features all sorts of hot and cold staples that will fill you up for a day on the slopes. Other perks at the Limelight Aspen include a restaurant with a great happy hour, a scenic rooftop terrace area with plenty of seating and a swimming pool and hot tub.

If you want the creme de la creme, book The Little Nell. Aspen’s only five-star, five-diamond property, it sits right at the base of the mountain and attracts a host of celebrity guests. Another top luxury choice is the Hotel Jerome. Aspen’s oldest property first opened during the silver rush in 1889 and was designed to look like a grand European hotel. Today it has elegant mountain decor and lots of Wild West memorabilia in the public spaces.

Where to Eat If you aren’t staying at the Limelight (where the breakfast is free) then fuel up at Poppycock’s first thing in the morning. A local staple, it serves Aspen’s best breakfast all day. The giant breakfast burritos with homemade green chili are the way to go.

If you are riding you’ll likely eat lunch on the mountain (see ‘Where To Drink’ below cause Ajax Tavern is tops) but off piste check out Hops Culture. It cooks up gourmet pub grub including super tasty Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches. White House Tavern is another good spot that many argue has the best burger in town.

Keep it simple at dinner and order the wood oven pizzas from The Lounge restaurant at the Hotel Limelight. They are affordable and delicious. Pair with a microbrew. The restaurant also serves a full menu of elevated pub grub come dinner — the Wagyu Bolognese is a filling favorite.

Other top dinner spots include an outpost of the famed Matsuhisa, which is one of just a few Nobu restaurants personally owned and run by Nobu Matsuhisa and his family. It does all its classic nikkei offerings including a mixed seafood ceviche and miso-glazed cod that is to die for. The French Alpine Bistro is a romantic favorite cooking up French fare in low-lit mountain chic environs.

Where to Drink Right at the base of the Silver Queen Gondola, and part of the Little Nell hotel, Ajax Tavern is Aspen’s definitive lunch and apres ski spot.

You’ll want to order a bottle of bubbly and a dozen oysters to start.

Other stellar menu items include the Wagyu double cheeseburger and the truffle fries. There is seating inside and on the large outdoor patio facing the ski hill. For apres the party moves to the surrounding concrete and there are often DJs and pop-up events.

Cache Cache is a scene-y restaurant that also does great cocktails at its marble bar. It’s a great people watching spot that isn’t too loud.

Eric’s Bar is another fun choice for a low-key night out. Here you can rent pool and shuffleboard tables by the quarter-hour.

Bad Harriet, a speakeasy bar at the Hotel Jerome, is another sexy apres spot. It has a secret pairing menu where you’ll get a tequila cocktail and a mini taco one day and whiskey and a bite-sized pastrami sandwich the next. Also at the hotel, J Bar heats up after dark. The 19th century bar is known for its vintage-inspired craft cocktails and Old West buzz.

Escobar is one of the hottest clubs in town. The sexy basement spot offers bottle service at private tables and the best DJs in town.

Weekends are packed. Another popular dancing spot is Belly Up Aspen, which might be the most iconic club in town. It’s been around for decades and serves up live music on its small stage. The venue can only hold 450 people but attracts major talent and seeing a show here is a very intimate experience.

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Words by: DANA GIVENS

Eight French Cities & Towns To Visit Outside of Paris To see the best of France, travel beyond the Paris city limits to these cities and towns to experience its diverse landscapes.

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Paris is a dream city for so many international travelers as one of the top destinations to visit in Europe and worldwide. But there is so much to explore in France beyond its Parisian chic – to truly immerse yourself into the depth of the country’s culture and landscapes means venturing outside of the city limits. From snowy mountain escapes to soaking up the sun along the beach, you can see a lot you won’t experience just staying in Paris.

While the city of love and lights has played the backdrop to numerous films and books, other towns are worth visiting if you plan a trip to France. Here are just a few to consider if you want to get a more immersive experience with French life outside of its capital city.

Photo by Antoine Petitteville on Unsplash

`Le Havre The UNESCO heritage site in Normandy has a special place in French history during World War II and was destroyed during a severe bomb raid.

Between 1945 and 1964, the city was built by a small team led by French architect Auguste Perret, who inspired blending more modern style with the early designs before the city’s destruction. You can see this especially in the city’s churches,St. Michel and St. Joseph, located near the city hall. It is also home to the Museum of Modern Art André Malraux (MuMa), which houses one of the country’s largest collections of Impressionist and inspired Claude Monet’s famous Impression Sunrise.

Photo by quentin on Unsplash

Nantes Home to medieval châteaus and a small university population of young college students, Nantes offers a nice balance of small restaurants - like the hundred-yearold baroque-style La Cigale brasserie and bars for local French fare - along narrow streets in addition to museums like the l’Musée d’arts to indulge in more of the artistic side of the small city.

T R AV E L

Photo by Dino Sabic on Unsplash

Photo by John Jason on Unsplash

Annecy

Nice

Located in the French Alps mountains, the town of Annecy is perfect for travelers coming to France during its winter season.

Visitors will be attracted to its enchanting ambiance and its 14thcentury style buildings. It is known as the Venice of the Savoie region that borders Switzerland for its network of small canals similar to the Italian city.

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Heading down to the southern coastal region is the city of Nice. For those looking to visit France in the summer, it’s worth flying directly into the city’s airport to take a journey along the south of France from the local transit hub. In addition to the nearby beaches, the city has a lot of restaurants and bars to browse throughout the day.

Photo by V2F on Unsplash

Mick on Unsplash

Rennes In the capital city (Paris), located more northwest, is Rennes. The city is a hub for young creatives, with visitors walking past Fresco sculptures and installations for the public.

The architecture is also an attraction as Rennes is known for its medieval-style, half-timbered houses that you can pass in the city square. From there, it’s worth visiting the Musée de Beaux-arts to see works by artists like Picasso and Botticelli inside and the Rennes Cathedral.

Photo by Gautier Salles on Unsplash

Giverny For art lovers, Giverny is a small town just west of Paris known for being the rural retreat of the famous French impressionist painter Claude Monet. Visitors can take a trip to the garden at the Monet House, where it is believed the artist got the inspiration for his watercolor-style paintings and learn about his life in the town (unfortunately, no Monet paintings are on location).

It’s an ideal day trip from Paris to see the more natural countryside with different hiking trails that offer gorgeous regional views.

Eze The small town of Eze in Provence is easily one of the country’s most picturesque locations for visitors to see while traveling, along with the French Riviera located near the small country of Monaco. It makes for a nice day trip outside of Nice to see the castle ruins and views of the coast.

Photo by Angelo Jesus on Unsplash

Menton While everyone has heard of St. Tropez’s glitzy alcove of elite travelers, Menton offers visitors the best of both worlds sitting along the border of France and Italy with a quieter ambiance, beautiful views, and sandy beaches to indulge in during your stay. You walk across the border to Italy while in town, so you expect to see influences in the local culture.

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FA S H I O N

Words by: JUSTIN WALLACE

It’s no secret that Black culture remains the blueprint for many trends popular today. For a long time, Black creators have created new and exciting products for everyone to consume, only not to be credited.

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Los Angeles-based luxury brand Gentry Garb is changing the narrative by making luxury meet streetwear.

Founded by Deshawn Evans and Antwain Hayden in 2012, the duo noticed a need for a luxury men’s brand that connects with the Black community. With Black creators being the lead influence, it was only right to have a brand that properly represents the culture.

Not your average brick and mortar on Melrose Avenue, Gentry Garb is a safe space for Black men to gather and be their authentic selves. Being the true trendsetters of the west coast, Gentry Garb has been seen on celebrities such as Chris Brown, Moneybagg Yo, Quavo, Offset, and more.

We had a chance to catch up with the founders of Gentry Garb, Deshawn and Antwain, to discuss representing the culture, opening a store on Melrose, and more.

Bleu: First and foremost, congratulations on your success! Let’s take it back a little; how did both of you guys meet each other?

Gentry Garb: We’re actually childhood friends! Antwain used to make t-shirts in his backyard and sell them to people around LA back in the day. They were painting shirts that would match someone’s shoes or outfit. It became prevalent throughout our friend group. I [Shawn] was one of his customers. That’s where our friendship started, through fashion.

How has being from Los Angeles sparked your interest in fashion?

Gentry: Being from Los Angeles, people would get on the bus and be fly. That’s where it all started.

Much of the credit goes to both of our parents. Our moms made sure to keep us looking fresh. So, you know, it carried over to our adulthood.

How did the brand start?

Gentry: I [Antwain] wore a cheetah leopard hoodie to party one time. Shawn saw me and said, “We should start a brand”. For months Shawn kept on bugging about the idea. Taking time to reflect, I ain finally gave in. We started going to American Apparel, buying blanks, and buying fabric from the fabric store. From there, we began to mass-produce the leopard hoodie.

Gentry Garb is known for its “Deeper than Clothing” phrase; how has that phrase connected with the brand line?

Gentry: We look at the bigger picture beyond clothes. People who came into the store have taken different walks in life, and we embrace that. Even if we don’t always connect on clothing, we can click on other things, whether investing, music, etc.

Coming up on ten years since you guys have founded Gentry Garb, any special announcements you might want to say?

Gentry: We will do a grand opening for the new store. With the Super Bowl coming up, we’re focusing on ensuring all the products are in store.

We have a lot of ideas in the works coming up in the next few months.

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this is for the kings

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.YOUNGKINGHAIRCARE.COM

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Less Cult. More Community.

Discover a healthier, happier YOU with LIVE and ON-DEMAND fitness classes and performance tracking that meet you wherever life takes you.

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Photography by: NOLWEN CIFUENTES Words by JUSTIN PRIDE Fashion by: APUJE KALU Grooming by: DION XU

The Evolution of Classic Let that marinate…

With over 2 billion career streams, R&B savant, Eric Bellinger, epitomizes the true metamorphosis of the new age R&B composer. His duality and diversity as a singer and songwriter has contributed to a sustainable amount of success over the years accumulating multiple gold-selling singles and writing other record-charting hits for the likes of Brandy, Usher, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Teyana Taylor, Tank and Wale. “I’ve been the ‘if-you-knowyou-know’ guy for the past decade,” Eric explained. “Accessibility changed the game for me.”

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JACKET: PAUL SMITH PANTS: KAPITAL JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

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Though Eric has achieved enormous success with over 150 placements as a songwriter, he has built an unassailable R&B brand as an artist himself. “I had been living in a space amongst my peers, but now that I have an album that is a strong R&B representation of what I can do (as an artist), this is only the beginning because I’ve tapped into a totally different frequency.”

JACKET + PANTS: FEAR OF GOD TURTLE NECK: CELINE JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

“Heavily influenced by L.A. culture as well as greats like Micheal Jackson, Brandy, Kim Burrell, and Fred Hammond, I will always have the classic, soulful vibe intertwined with the L.A. street-element,” said Eric. “As a PK [preacher’s kid] I was front row with it since I was a baby. Singing and actively participating in church really kept me away from the streets. I grew up and went to church in Lynwood but later moved to Compton. I’ve been super spiritual and super positive since the beginning.”

In 2005, Eric signed with Max Gousse and Epic Records straight out of high school as a member of a group called AKNU [A Kind Never Understand].

As opportunities with AKNU began to fizzle, Eric began to write more consistently as a way to pass time.

Subsequently, in 2013, Eric landed his first series of significant placements with Chris Brown, Usher, & Justin Beiber who all ironically released albums in the same month.

R&B Metamorphosis When asked to describe his career in totality, the Grammy-award winning

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“Accessibility changed the game for me. This is only the beginning because I’ve tapped into a totally different frequency.”

SHIRT: BALENCIAGA JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

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R&B giant explained his respect for the process. “When it comes to actually making an impact, you need different portals. When people are so accustomed to seeing me as a songwriter, oftentimes it’s really hard for them to associate that switch.

Whether that be new or old music, the music has grown legs of its own.”

In 2014, Eric released his debut studio album, The Rebirth. Over the next decade, he would go on to release countless albums, mixtapes, and extended plays, including the Cuffing Season & Eric B for President series to continue hone his passion as an artist.

In September 2021, Eric released his eighth studio album, New Light, receiving his first Grammy nomination

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as an artist for Best Progressive R&B Album. “Each song on the album illustrates my various moods and vulnerability as a true artist. Having time (through the pandemic) allowed me to be real with the concepts and tap into different looks, styles, and sounds that in turn allowed the world to see true growth coming out of isolation.”

The album features a range of producers, including Rodney Jerkins, OG Parker, Ayo & Keyz, and many others. Other appearances include Brandy, Dom Kennedy, The Game, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Sevyn Streeter. “I want to get the album out to the masses because I feel like there’s enough amo in these 15 I feel like there’s enough amo in these 15 songs and even the Deluxe that will

“When it comes to actually making an impact, you need different portals… New Light is the biggest ‘I told you so’ without having to say it.”

TOP: CASABLANCA PANTS: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN SHOES: NIKE JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

make people want to invest more in the Eric Bellinger brand overall.”

“From its conception, New Light was intended for the Grammys. With this album, the music is really taking the stage allowing me to be viewed in a different light as a superstar. It’s the biggest ‘I told you so’ without having to say it. To have the success as a songwriter and compare the songs that I’m writing for other artists and major labels with the songs I’m writing for myself, you’ll notice they are the same stories but with a different push. I didn’t have the mainstream push initially, but the music still somehow found its place in the R&B world.”

Outlining his vulnerable approach to his music, Eric elaborated, “Life as a husband and father definitely put me in another category separate from other R&B singers.

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“I’m just grateful they can finally see me how I intend to be seen…I’ve been grinding for a long time.”

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It lets people know I’m here to deliver this music, deliver this lifestyle, and to be an example of what we don’t have. I carved a whole vibe on how to treat your queen and make her feel special. Everything that I stand for is a brand that’s real,” he said. “My focus is always on my internal family and making sure my wife knows she is an incredible human every day. Not only am I an example (to my sons), but I feel good about it. That’s success. It’s rooted in happiness.”

COAT: GRAYSCALE SHIRT: OBJECTS

BY STEVEN OTHELLO PANTS: GUCCI JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

Through almost two decades of creating heartfelt, undeniable records and collaborating with renowned producers and musicians like Hitmaka and Rance Dopson (1500 or Nothing), Eric and his counterparts have been able to master “the evolution of classic”, which is a phrase he coined.

“The evolution of classic is to be able to feel something that’s soulful, but it’s still knocking. A lot of people write songs just to write songs. Being tapped into the hit formula and the way we think concept wise is just different.

Just being a fan of music and making music, I have so much content readily available.”

Natural Progression As it correlates to creating more content, Eric’s label, YFS (Your Favorite Song) Records and YFS’s Head of A&R, B Script, are currently working with various producers, artists, and creators on internal and external music projects as well as film and television opportunities.

“Acting and TV opportunities are vital and essential because it allows fans to see me. I’m looking forward to writing shows and sitcoms of my own.

The same way that I can tell a story musically is the same way I can tell a story in lifeform.”

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“We have to leave room for the work to marinate.

Attach faith to our feet, and watch God work.”

Eric, along with Neyo, Tay Diggs, and Tank were recently featured on The CW’s–The Black Pack: We Three Kings ,Variety Special’s Christmas installment. The second installment of The CW’s– The Black Pack Variety Special will focus on celebrating Black excellence and culture through musical and dance performances commemorating Juneteenth and will air at some point in Summer 2022.

In this career defining chapter, Eric classifies his style as vintage.

“You feel how you look. If you look good, you will go a little harder.

This translates to any occupation.

The way the suit was tailored on The Black Pack made me stand properly. Clothes are everything, and they have to drape properly.”

“I’m just grateful they (the

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industry) can finally see me how I intend to be seen as an incredible musician and artist, instead of how they’ve been seeing me only as a songwriter. I’ve been grinding for a long time,” Eric said. “Now that I’m in great company with the nominations, I’m excited for the people that aren’t familiar with my music from the past to get curious about what I’m working on going forward.”

“I’ve done a lot of work throughout my career. With so much in the pipeline, now we’re just in the process of letting everything marinate. We have to leave room for the work to marinate. Leave room for God. Now that we’ve done what we need to do, it’s Sunday morning, and he’s going to meet us halfway. Attach faith to our feet, and watch God work.”

SHIRT: FENDI PANTS: FEAR OF GOD JEWELRY: ARTIST’S OWN

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Op-Ed

Words by: EMMANUELJAMES CATAANDA PERILLA

An enigmatic genre of music conceptualized in the 1970’s era by African American, Latino American, and Caribbean American youth in the Bronx, New York as an art of expression and after-school entertainment, evolved into the world of Hip-Hop culture. Because of the macro influence Hip-Hop has on the youth and general public, its dominant reach perverts the correlation between entertainment and education. You can have Hip-Hop without formal education, but systemic instruction cannot give you the culture that makes up Hip-Hop.

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Op-Ed

“It ain’t nothin’ like hip-hop music. You like it ‘cause you choose it’’ is one of hip-hop’s notable anthems and most influential bars to date! This declaration of Hip Hop’ology hails from the 1986 track, “Go Stetsa”, an energetic yet jazzy, bebop, sound composed by Brooklyn rap act Stetsasonic, the pioneers of live instrumentation during recordings and hip-hop performances.

Stetsasonic paved the way for current Hip-Hop acts like Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, and The Roots - just to name a few - who all incorporate full, live bands into their music. In just those two rhymes, which totally should have been a hook because of the authoritative riff, Stetsasonic affirmed the unparalleled character of early hip-hop, what is now emphatically known to be more than just a genre of music.

It ain’t nothin’ like the Hip-Hop music, and cultural appropriation is at an all-time high especially when it comes to style and image, which is a conglomerate of Black culture that has always been deemed “ghetto until proven fashionable” by others. Hip-hop is authentic and arguably it should be considered higher education for those not born into its prominence because it simply cannot be cultivated! It is a lifestyle rather; not just the act of waiting in line for the latest Yeezy drop. You can’t try it on to see if the shoe fits, nor is it made by trolling Instagram and following the #WhereIsDonda hashtag when it is trending, just to be in the midst of camaraderie and the “lit AF” feeling hip-hop evokes!

Although hip-hop is fashion, inherently it is philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, literature, social studies, science, geography, and every core life curriculum known to those who actually major in the fundamentals of the lifestyle. Knowing that where you are from and what socio-economic class you are grouped into has a lot to do with your characteristics and how you express yourself.

Academics distinguish social class, and these subjects are hands-on, practical learnings that have one pre-requisite, that being of the culture, which is not an elective in the college of Hip Hop’ology! It is the combination of core courses and required courses that take up precedence on your syllabus.

Those that try to attain these qualities by studying the form are easily distinguished by those who have it by nature! Like Erik B. & Rakim said, “don’t sweat the technique” because you will never possess the originality known as steez in Hip Hop’ology! “You

like it ‘cause you choose it” lyric is reminiscent of the reality of it all. You elect it because it’s not required, and you have a special interest in that life. Those who don’t choose it but inherit it just live it, without recourse!

In 1997, Berkeley University offered its very first Hip-Hop class. Tupac Shakur was the subject of the student-led course focusing on, get this...his life and his lyrics. A then 20-year-old student named Arvand Elihu recognized him for more than his lyrical talent. He believed that Shakur was an ideal study for students of poetry and history, as relevant as other great writers, social commentators, and those in entertainment. “Tupac was literally blessed,” said the student instructor of the pass/fail course entitled “History 98, the Poetry and History of Tupac Shakur.

“Not only did his poems flow nicely, but he also painted perfect pictures for readers and listeners.”

Tupac painted perfect pictures every time he wrote a piece. Like the song ‘Picture Me Rollin’, released in 1996 off of the All Eyez On Me album!

Can you see me now? (Oh picture me rollin’) Move to the side a little bit so you can get a clear picture Can you see it?

Picture me rollin’ (picture me rollin’) The ongoing chatter surrounding Hip-Hop culture and education have created controversial conversations and situations on many occasions.

The two have always collided and continued to in a multitude of ways.

Incessantly, famed Hip-Hop artists are put on a pedestal by society and media thereby becoming role models, involuntarily. Because of the impact Hip-Hop has had on fashion and society for nearly a halfcentury, many seem to think that Hip-Hop should educate the youth and those who lack the village it takes to raise them. Those that are privileged, tend to use cultural appropriation, while others are just merely passionate about learning the craft.

It ain’t nothing like Hip-Hop music, which is why on August 11, 1973, an 18 year old DJ Kool Herc and a friend hosted a back-to-school party in the Bronx, New York. If you know the history, this celebration is known to be the first time education and Hip-Hop collided! The birth of Hip-Hop culture!

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BOOKS

Words by: EMMANUEL PERILLA

WELLNESS BOOKS FOR MEN If you’re interested in men’s wellness, check out these titles focused on mental health, self-care, self-actualization, and transformation.

The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health

Man Down: A Guide for Men on Mental Health

RHEEDA WALKER

CHARLIE HOARE

African-American mental health expert Rheeda Walkers offers essential information on the mental health crisis in the Black community, how to confront popular stigmas, and spot potential mental illness. The book also helps the reader build the necessary tools for emotional wellness and navigating an unequal system while also waking people up to the care they really deserved all along. This book is essentially a guide to self-transformation that’s rooted in African-American culture. If you have doubts about navigating your own mental health or need guidance in understanding your wellness, this is the book for you.

If you’re looking for a raw and authentic guide to dealing with the challenges of the everyday man, this book may be for you.

Man Down: A Guide for Men on Mental Health discusses the coping mechanisms men come up with to avoid their real anxieties and stresses. This book touches on how to reach out to others, great advice on navigating mental health issues and dealing with traditional expectations of manhood.

Men are often told that to be man is to bury their emotions and deal with it in their own way, but this book is about men confronting their vulnerabilities and becoming a better person on the other side.

Filled with first hand experiences and insights on manhood, this book is a great gift to men who wish to go on a journey to find themselves and overcome the stigma of being a man and being vulnerable.

Self-Care for Men: How to Look Good and Feel Great GARRETT MUNCE Grooming Editor for Esquire and Men’s Health, Garrett Munce, teaches you how to improve your physical and mental well-being in this book. This helpful and concise guide shows you how to relax despite being in consistent work environments, hair care, healthy supplements, fasting, and it shows you how to improve your energy levels. Self-Care for Men is about more than just the surface level factors that people wish to regulate and improve on; it focuses on the modern man living their best life and the steps they can take to make this a reality. From grooming to meditation, to even the benefits of CBD, this book offers many ways for men to truly get in touch with a self-care routine of their own and helps them feel confident in their daily interactions with other people in general.

Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: A Young Adult Guide to Fulfillment MYLES “THE MILLENNIAL” HARRIS Change your Mind, Change your Life to put it simply is a book about taking the time to change your thoughts and attitudes and therefore change your life trajectory. This book tackles the naïve belief that your thoughts and habits have nothing to do with the place you find yourself in life. Change Your Mind, Change Your Life is open to anybody who has a real desire and capacity to change the thoughts in their minds and even change some stagnation they may see in their own lives. This book is really a call to action that fundamentally asks the questions “Where are you going? and “Where do you want to go?”. If you’ve been a victim to your own thoughts and attitudes at times and wish to chart a new path and build a new pattern, this may be the book for you.

Cry Like a Man: Fighting for Freedom from Emotional Incarceration JASON WILSON Cry Like a Man may be the book you need. Written by Jason Wilson, a man who works as a mentor to young boys in Detroit, Michigan, this life changing memoir comes with the facts of the pitfalls of men trying to measure up to the culture’s definition of masculinity.

This book leaves readers with the message that healing is possible if men can find the strength and the courage to explore something different in themselves than what they have been taught by society. Wilson is an author that longs to see men free from the emotional scars from their personal past and society and gives readers the tools and the invitation to grow into their better selves. He offers an ear to those who are courageous enough to be honest about their brokenness. Through transparency and the willingness to overcome old traumas, many readers will find this book to be a real gem.

You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience TARANA BURKE You Are Your Best Thing is a book that reflects on the Black experience in America and is a concise collection of essays on Black shame and healing. It’s essentially a book about the trauma of white supremacy for Black people and the need to create a space to process that trauma correctly and properly heal. This book is an invitation to accept the fullness of Black life in a country where many can see that fullness isn’t always appreciated. It’s a space where Black people can feel free to embrace their vulnerabilities and not feel ashamed for what that may look like. You Are Your Best Thing is a call to unwind, express openly what readers are feeling and confront traumas head on.

If you’re up for an authentic recounting of what you’ve been through and a honest look of who you are and can be, this may be the book for you.

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F E AT U R E

Words by: JONATHAN P-WRIGHT Photography by: KENDAHL NELSON

Ricky Day Unveils His Inner Peace and Journey to Heal the World

Ricky Day is the narrator of finding yourself and recognizing the power one possesses. Finding the answers to life’s biggest questions is a remarkable journey and requires a unique championship DNA to succeed.

The Nothing To Lose But Yourself podcast is a transformative broadcast platform that empowers, educates, and inspires people to dream beyond normality.

Ricky Day is a curator of truth and his podcast profoundly impacts all cultures.

Bleu: What is the driving motivation behind your podcast ‘Nothing to Lose but Yourself ’?

Ricky Day: For me, the driving motivation behind the podcast is a desire to help us all embrace our own humanity in an attempt to get us to see, embrace and respect the humanity of others and understand that we are all worthy of love and respect as well. I believe that most of what is dividing us politically, socially, and personally is an inability to see and respect each other’s humanity. It seems to me that we have stopped seeing each other as human beings and simply as the proverbial “us or them” and to frame our issues as “me versus you” as opposed to “we’re in this together.” Our political discourse and even our response to the pandemic is a pathetic display of this division and demonstrates our fundamental blindness to our own and each other’s humanity.

I believe that so many of us are not aware of nor embrace and love our authentic selves as human beings and a creation of God. This lack of love for the true self leaves us with these feelings of emptiness, leading us to believe that we aren’t enough. For many, this leads to a desire to fill the void with material things, notoriety in the form of likes and follows, or the most heinous manifestations of these thoughts, a desire to feel better about self by diminishing others.

Explain your deep-seated passion for helping people find their truth in life.

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My passion for helping people is ultimately rooted in my calling as a lover of God and as a Christian.

In the truest sense being a Christian means following the ways of Jesus, which on the most basic and important level means knowing that we are here to love, be loved, and to literally be the embodiment of love in all that we do. I think so many of us are lost because we have no idea who we truly are or the gifts that each of us possesses.

I believe that if more of us awaken to the reality of who we really are and embrace that, we will no longer feel the need to try and fill the void inside of us with material things, drugs, or social media attention and we certainly won’t be tempted to try to make ourselves feel better about who we are by diminishing others.

life’s journey so far. I then sit with the information I’ve collected and the anecdotes I’ve discovered, and all make space for the natural person to emerge in my presence. This way, becoming an observer helps me create a safe and loving space where each guest recognizes they are welcome and encourages them to lean into their authentic selves and share their stories from their own point of view.

Explain how your childhood impacts your current life and podcast.

For the most part, my childhood was a good one and filled with love and a sense of safety and protection, which allowed me to grow and thrive. As a result, I understand in an experiential way the power of love and community to shape the person we all become and its power to nurture us on our journey to becoming and loving our authentic selves. It’s tough to do these things if you are constantly worried about your safety or you are cursed with a longing for love because you never experienced it when you needed it most. My current life is filled with my trying to be mindful of how I show up in other people’s lives and how I see and reflect upon and love myself. The podcast is about sharing my experiences and the experiences of others with a larger community of humanity longing for understanding, love, and peace.

When people listen to your podcast, what message do you feel they receive?

It’s hard to ever know what people receive when they listen because we all process things differently. However, my goal is to remind people that all you ever need is inside you on the day you are born.

Explain the planning and preparation process for the “Nothing to Lose but Yourself” podcast?

Each podcast’s planning and preparation process includes researching each guest’s life, career, passions, and the arc of their

Where do you find inspiration to be Ricky Day? The inspiration to be Ricky Day comes from the awareness of how joyful life is when I commit to embracing, being, and loving myself and then taking the joy that comes from that and sharing it with others. The act of doing this actually intensifies the feeling of joy in me and gives life purpose and meaning. Doesn’t the very idea of this being possible inspire you to be your true self?

Are you living in accordance with the plan for Ricky Day? I am absolutely living in accordance with God’s plan for me. I know this through the joy I feel just being who I am doing what I was called to do. I also know it via very direct communication with God. ‘What’s one thing about yourself you want to improve going into 2022 in order to be a better person?’

The one thing about yourself you want to improve going into 2022 to be a better person is to build a bigger team and become more comfortable with delegating responsibility to others and empowering people to use their skills and be themselves in service of our collective goals.

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HUMANS

Words by: TAYLOR EDWARDS

Local Legends – New School, the Class of Community Outreach

The recognition of Martin Luther King Day, Black History Month, and Juneteenth yield a day of service nationally for people of color. Historically, civil activists and organization officers have led the charge for change, placing public figures like John Lewis, Ralph David Abernathy, Angela Davis, among many to the top of the Black social pyramid.

Free food banks and medical clinics, after-school programs, protests, and voting rights initiatives were essential to the advancement of AfricanAmericans in the United States.

At the intersection of charity, culture and community change lie the nonprofit leaders of the new school.

Fresh faces of philanthropy have heightened what it means to give back, uplift, and enrich under-served communities. Millennials are the group of doers paving the way to equal playing fields one step at a time. Pop-up grocery stores, shopping experiences for the homeless, transitional housing programs for non-violent offenders are a few of many selfless, extended acts of service society sees today.

A new class of leaders redefining charity, new trailblazers make giving look good, transforming overlooked neighborhoods and its constituents’ lives with never-before-seen relief efforts.

Take a look at these local legends leaving their footprints in the sands of social change and equity.

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Milan Kunin

HUMANS

Changing the Narrative – Los Angeles, California Former pageant queen, television producer, and wellness entrepreneur, Milan Kunin is the founder of Changing The Narrative – a nonprofit organization that encourages and empowers people to disrupt the status quo promoting inclusion and social responsibility in art, media and entertainment. Changing The Narrative hosts intimate book club series, has sponsored Cinnabon for innercity youth, and has partnered with Ebony Magazine in efforts to pivot the point of view and the perspective of minorities.

Support Milan and Changing the Narrative socially via @_changingthenarrative

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Love Beyond Walls – Atlanta, Georgia TED Speaker, activist, and nonprofit leader, Terence Lester is the founder of Love Beyond Walls. Lester is a leading light in his organization and his community. A handson frontrunner for the homeless, Terence Lester fights to preserve and restore the dignity and negative stigmas of displaced individuals. Taking pride on the frontline, Lester has lived shelter-less for a month, built a mobile museum, a mobile barbershop, built recyclable showers and sinks, and walked from Atlanta, Georgia to Memphis, Tennessee all in the name of homelessness.

Support Terence and Love Beyond Walls socially via @lovebeyondwalls

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Terence Lester

Jasmine Crowe

HUMANS

Goodr – Atlanta, Georgia Jasmine Crowe is Atlanta’s “go-to” girl for charity and community giving. Celebrities, public figures, and major corporations seek Jasmine to make their charitable dreams come true with Crowe’s Goodr and Black Celebrity Giving imprints. Through both organizations Jasmine Crowe has partnered with Gunna, Kandi Burruss, Dell, NBA, Quality Control, and is listed as a 2021 Ernst & Young Winning Woman.

Support Jasmine and Goodr online at goodr.co

Anthony Williams

HUMANS

Nike – Washington, D.C. Known to friends as “CoolAnt”, Anthony Williams is a philanthropist and fitness advocate.

An EKIN rep for Nike in the nation’s capital, he builds bodies and bonds with his signature running series atop of keeping Nike’s name on the ground. Williams doubles down on his giving efforts through his direct imprint, Neighborhood Hero Inc. The Neighborhood Hero empowers children and families in Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding areas.

Support or apply to be an EKIN online at nike. com

DTLR, Inc. – Nationwide via Baltimore, Maryland DTLR is one of the nation’s largest shoe and streetwear retailers. Pushing the needle further than its 200+ flagship stores, DTLR pours into the community through their community outreach branch- Dare To Live Right- by partnering and funding local organizations to strengthen their missions of impact. Through Dare To Live Right, DTLR has partnered with T.I., awarded single fathers, and gifted $100,000 to families in need for Christmas.

Support DTLR online at dtlrcommunity.com or socially via @daretoliveright

Michael Smoak

Jeff Bowden

Tremayne Lipscomb

SPOTLIGHT

Words by: KENT OLDEN

Fountain House Stops the Stigma of Mental Illness New York City..the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Every dream is different and every path to it can be filled with panic and potholes, but you persevere. For some of us, that perseverance means a little bit more because the potholes were a little bit deeper, the panic was a little bit stronger, and the path was so long that we didn’t believe it was ever going to end. Some of us endure these obstacles with invisible burdens that we try to keep quiet, and the more we try to hush them, the louder they get. With the help of those who can listen beyond that sound, there is hope, and that hope helps you find the “fountain of you”. That hope is Fountain House.

“We Are Not Alone” In the 1940s, six patients at the Rockland State Hospital (Orangeburg, New York) formed something of a support group where they could comfortably and safely share their stories of hope while sparking creativity fueled by the fire of fellowship. They met in what was referred to as “the club room”. Building such a great bond among themselves, they continued to support one another after leaving Rockland, this time meeting in front of the New York Public Library.

They knew that they each had a future and that their pasts should not keep them from it. This support of each other pushed them to prove that their successful recovery would open the eyes of the world and provide a better understanding of mental illness while breaking the stigma that comes with it.

Coast to Coast From the “club room” to the clubhouse, Fountain House has found itself growing nationally to form Fountain House America, setting up shop in places like Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, and Washington.

As its reach expands, so does its mission of creating the community, innovation, and social change needed for the people most impacted by mental illness to lead connected and healthy lives.

You Can Do It With millions of Americans living with some form of mental illness being denied the basic support that others are freely provided, Fountain House has stepped in to fill the void that was left. Ensuring that the individual is the center of their own breakthrough and recovery, Fountain House has built a therapeutic community of support that makes its members just proud to be. Providing both community and homebased services, as well as care management, Fountain House also oversees the Sun River Health Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Center – the first integrated health home model in the United States for people living with mental illness – where members are encouraged to take change of their future and define success as they see fit.

Established in 2018, the Silver Center focuses on continued engagement and support of older adults to avoid circumstances like social isolation and physical illness during trying times. In keep with the times, the Virtual Clubhouse provides the opportunity to stay connected no matter where you are in the world. Fountain House College Re-Entry bridges the gap for 18-30-year-old students who may have pressed pause on their academic goals due to their mental illness and encourages them to finish what they started.

All in all, Fountain House helps you find you.

“We Are Not Alone” If the last two years have taught us nothing, we’ve certainly come to see that sometimes life is just hard. How we take on and take in our obstacles can sometimes be completely up to us, but sometimes it’s completely out of our hands.

Those are the times that we must remember that we are not our situation or circumstance, and that we can ride out the storm and get to the light at the end of the tunnel. It may take some of a little longer to get to the light, but that’s okay.

With Fountain House, none of us are ever in this alone.

S P OT L I G H T

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BLEULIST

SIDNEY POITIER: 1st Black male to win an Academy Award for Best Actor (1963) HALLE BERRY: 1st Black female to win an Academy Award for Best Actress (2001) HATTIE MCDANIELS: 1st African American to win an Academy Award (1940)

OPRAH WINFREY: 1st Black female Billionaire (2003) VANESSA WILLIAMS: 1st Black Miss America (1984) DONYALE LUNA: 1st Black SuperModel (1966) BEVERLY JOHNSON: 1st Black Cover Model for Vogue (1974)

COLIN POWELL: 1st Black male U.S Secretary of State (2001)

WHOOPI GOLDBERG: 1st Black E.G.O.T Winner (2002)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE: 1st Black female U.S Secretary of State (2004)

MICHELLE OBAMA: 1st Black First Lady (2008)

BARACK OBAMA: 1st Black President of the U.S (2008)

GUION S. BULFORD: 1st African American in Space (1983)

KAMALA HARRIS: 1st Black female Vice President of the U.S (2020)

MAYA ANGELOU: 1st Black Woman to be Featured on U.S Quarter (2022)

TONI MORRISON: 1st Black Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (1993) ELLA FITZGERALD: 1st Black female to win a Grammy (1958) COUNT BASIE: 1st Black male to win a Grammy (1958) OPRAH WINFREY: 1st Black Female TV Host (1986)

JUDITH BATTY: 1st Black CEO In Girl Scouts of the United States history (2022) TONY DUNGY: 1st Black Head Coach to win a Super Bowl (2006) FRITZ POLLARD: 1st Black Head Coach in NFL

TIGER WOODS: 1st Black Golf Champion (1997)

ALICIA BOLER DAVIS: 1st Black Female GM Manufacturing Plant Manager

MADAME CJ WALKER: 1st Black Millionaire

MAIA CHAKA: 1st Black Woman to Officiate an NFL Game (2021)

ROBERT JOHNSON: 1st Black Billionaire (2001) Issue 79

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ICON

Words by: EMMANUEL PERILLA

THE VISIONARY MIND OF VIRGIL ABLOH With Love, To The King of Off-White That Remained On Target

Rockford, Illinois native Virgil Abloh left a legacy of unmatched style and innovation to the world of fashion and design. To say Virgil was a trendsetter is an understatement, he truly redefined what fashion meant in the modern era and climbed the heights of the fashion industry with his creative vision and determination to break the established mold.

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The visionary Black designer died on a Sunday in Chicago at just 41 years old after a two-year battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma.

Virgil certainly had humble beginnings, being the son of Ghanaian immigrants and his mother being a seamstress.

She taught him the tricks of her trade and definitely said to be one of Abloh’s major early influences in the world of fashion and design. Although Virgil never formally studied

ICON

fashion in school, he received a Master’s degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Virgil met Kanye West at 22 years old. The relationship signified his ascent into the fashion world when Kanye signed a sneaker collaboration deal with Louis Vuitton with Virgil as a key member of his creative team. Around that same time Virgil began a six month internship at Fendi and began learning the secrets of the business.

Eventually, Virgil teamed up with creatives he met through Kanye West’s creative project Donda and created Been Trill, a DJ and creative collective. This collective later became a brand called Pyrex Vision and this soon morphed into the Off- White collection that would earn the awe and admiration of the fashion world. Virgil made it clear from the beginning that his Off- White collection transcended the limitations of the fashion world at the time. He told GQ Magazine, “I was adamant. This isn’t a streetwear brand. This isn’t a contemporary brand. This is designer, just the same way that X,Y,Z are designer, where you say their name and it carries this whole esteem and emotion to it”.

Virgil’s designs were met with praise and criticism but the fashion world could not deny his emerging influence and ability to build on older designs and create new ones with his own original twists to it. His creativity and insistence on staying true to his vision despite what the established fashion industry thought earned him creative control of the menswear collection at Louis Vuitton. His first show reinvented the typical image of what Louis Vuitton is supposed to be, with a rainbow runway wearing a collection inspired by the classic, Wizard of Oz.

Virgil Abloh wore many hats and one of them was definitely an advocate for more Black faces in the world of fashion. He established the Post Modern Scholarship Fund, which raised $1 million dollars to encourage Black students interested in fashion. He also launched the I Support Black Women campaign with Black feminist scholars and activists to make Black feminist ideas and politics more accessible to the public. Virgil told the New York Times at his first Louis Vuitton show, “There are people around this room who look like me. You never saw that before in fashion”.

It’s undoubtable that Virgil Abloh left a legacy of social advocacy, creativity and a drive to create unconventionally yet inventively.

He will be remembered for his advocacy, his innovation, and his undying will and ability to continuously break glass ceilings in fashion and society.

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