CBU October 2019 Emagazine

October 2019 E-Magazine Designer

ALAIN FAGNIDI

The Fall

Fashion

Issue

Unpacks His

ROYAL COURT Men’s Fall Collection

THE CATEGORY IS …

AWARD WINNERS! CONGRATULATIONS!

Billy Porter

Wins Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for ’Pose’

RuPaul

Wins Outstanding Host in a Reality or Competition Program and for Outstanding Competition Program for ’RuPaul’s Drag Race’

Jharrel Jerome Wins Lead Actor in a Limited Series for 'When They See Us’

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2019 BET Hip Hop Awards Performers

Check out the hottest performers spitting the dopest bars at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards, from Megan Thee Stallion and Rick Ross to Lil' Kim and Chance the Rapper.

Tues, Oct. 8, 2019 - 8:00 PM

The BET “HIP HOP AWARDS” has remained the most prominent hip hop showcase on television for over ten years with its powerful performances, iconic hip hop honorees and much-anticipated cyphers. Today BET Networks announces the first lady of Bad Boy Records, Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum rapper, singer, actress, and fashion icon, Lil Kim will receive the 2019 “I Am Hip Hop” Award.

Lil Kim’s debut studio album Hard Core was certified Double Platinum and spawned three consecutive No. 1 rap hits: "No Time," "Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)," and "Crush on You," making Kim the first female rapper with three consecutive number-one singles on Billboard’s Rap Songs chart. Her following albums, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) and La Bella Mafia (2003), were certified Platinum, making her one of the only female rappers to have at least three consecutive Platinum albums. She also scored a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with 2001's “Lady Marmalade,” featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink, & Mýa. As an actress, Lil’ Kim has appeared on numerous television shows including her own reality series. She has also appeared in numerous films including, She’s All That, Zoolander, Juwanna Man, Gang of Roses and You Got Served. Lil’ Kim has also danced her way into the hearts of millions on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

In 2016, she released her mixtape entitled #LILKIMSEASON which included the first single “#MINES,” featuring hip hop recording artist Kevin Gates. That record caught fire, earning Lil’ Kim a nomination for best female rap artist at the BET Awards that year. In May 2016, she performed at the Barclays Center in her hometown Brooklyn, NY for the Bad Boy Reunion Tour, and was credited by influential station HOT97 as one of the best performers. In June 2018 Lil Kim received a proclamation to New York City and was honored by the New York City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC) as part of the annual African-American Music Appreciation Month that begin June 2018 for her contribution to hip hop.

And the hottest night in hip hop is only getting started and returns to Atlanta with confirmed performances by Atlanta’s own Lil John; “Houston Hottie” and official leader of the Hot Girl Summer, Megan Thee Stallion; fresh off the release of his 10th studio album Port of Miami 2, Rick Ross; in his first TV performance from his new album, Kirk, DaBaby; Chicago’s own, Chance The Rapper; winner of the “Masked Singer,” T-pain; as well as Rapsody, Ybn Cordae Ft. Anderson .Paak., Saweetie, Kamillion, and Tom. G.

Presenters for the evening will include R&B superstar, Teyana Taylor, and Academy Award-nominated actor and star of “Queen & Slim,” Daniel Kaluuya.

For the first time ever, the BET “Hip Hop Awards” will also include a live battle rap hosted by Ultimate Rap League founder Smack featuring noted battle rappers DNA, Geechi Gotti, T-Top, and Shotgun Suge.

Hosted by comedian Lil Duval, the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards will premiere on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at 8:00 PM ET/ PT.

Inside Dapper Dan's Multi-Million Dollar Gucci Atelier in Harlem We visit the master at his legendary studio.

For the latest episode of HYPEBEAST Visits, we went inside the workspace of a man who hardly needs any introduction: Harlem’s own Dapper Dan. The OG DIY couturier, Dan entered an official partnership with Gucci in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since — the past two years have seen the 74 year-old designer developing his atelier into a palace of lavish Guccification, able to turn out any bespoke creation his clients desire.

“Each floor in this building is a million dollars,” Dan begins, explaining that everything from the chairs to the textiles that he stores in his studio are imported directly from Italy. He also shows off his favorite appliqué, a gem-studded lion, as he shows off lush textiles that he’s used to dress everyone from Regina Hall to Karlie Kloss.

Sure, the building was used as a set for American Gangster, and Dan rubs elbows with wealthy clientele on a near-constant basis, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots.

“We welcome the community,” he says, gesturing around the lower floor. “They can come here — bring their family here, lounge here — and then we take ‘em over here,” showcasing a wall packed with photographs from Dan’s history. Famous friends like JAY-Z to Floyd Mayweather along with images of a much younger Dan and original clientele like LL Cool J.

Take an inside look at Dan’s Harlem workspace above.

Most recently, Gucci took cues from vintage magazine ads for its Prêt-À-Porter FW19/20 Campaign.

By Jake Silbert for hypebeast.com

Exclusive: Watch Dapper Dan & A$AP Rocky Pay Homage to Harlem Fashion A new shor t film chronicles the designer’s rise, fall and re-emergence in the industr y.

The fashion world may now have grown to accept and embrace Harlem’s legendary couturier Dapper Dan, née Daniel Day, but the once-peddler of repurposed Gucci and other luxury wares started out as many people with a dream and a creative streak do — a self-taught entrepreneur navigating the hustle and bustle of New York City’s streets (the “212” region to be exact). Nearly six decades later, the designer has transcended his role as “the tailor of Harlem” into a global influencer and is sharing a glimpse into his journey through a new short film with fellow uptown native A$AP Rocky.

Influenced by AT&T’s round-table discussion at the brand’s first-ever 212 event earlier this year — a day to honor the 212 area code and especially Harlem Street Style — the five-minute clip chronicles Dapper Dan’s experience from the 1960’s up until today.

Narrating his own rise and fall throughout the video, the designer recalls selling goods from his trunk, to having the most coveted looks around the way and even having his studio raided by the police after major fashion labels accused him of copying.

As the story goes, he’s since become an official collaborator with Gucci (not without its fair share of controversy) and has released a book, a co-branded collection and recently galvanized the company to increase its efforts of giving back to the community. Watch Dapper Dan and A$AP Rocky give a rundown of it all in the video above, and to learn more about this initiative go to AT&T’s CodesofCulture.com.

Recently, the Metropolitan Museum of Art created a series of collectible merchandise with different artists for this year’s Met Gala, including colorful patches and pins to celebrate Dapper Dan.

By Nia Groce for hypebeast.com

IMAGE CREDIT JOHNNY NUNEZ/WIREIMAGE

In Memoriam

Jessye Norman

Jessye Norman American soprano Jessye Norman, who sang the The Marseillaise for the bicentenary of the French revolution in 1989, died Monday, her family said. She was 74 years old.

The Grammy winner died "surrounded by loved ones" at a New York hospital due to septic shock and multi-organ failure after complications from a 2015 spinal cord injury, a statement said.

Praising her "beautiful tone, extraordinary power, and musical sensitivity," New York's Metropolitan Opera, where she sang more than 80 performances, dedicated its Monday show of "Porgy and Bess" to Norman.

"Jessye Norman was one of the greatest artists to ever sing on our stage," said general manager Peter Gelb in a statement. "Her legacy shall forever live on."

Her notable performances include two US presidential inaugurations, the 60th birthday celebrations of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996, and at the bicentennial of the French Revolution in Paris in 1989.

Born September 15, 1945 in Augusta, Georgia, Norman grew up in the segregated American South, and discovered music at a young age.

As one of five children in a family of amateur artists, she made a foray into gospel at age four, and as a young girl began listening to radio broadcasts of performances at the Metropolitan Opera.

She studied music on a full-tuition scholarship at the historically black college Howard University in Washington before going on to the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Michigan. She established herself in Europe in the 1970s, making her operatic debut in Berlin in 1969 before dazzling audiences across on the continent including Italy. She eventually moved to London and spent years performing recital and solo work.

Arts Centre for disadvantaged kids

She earned a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor at age 52 in 1997, and former US president Barack Obama bestowed her with a National Medal of Arts. She was a Commander in France's Order of Arts and Letters, and also had an orchid named after her.

Jessye Norman won five Grammys, including one for her whole career in 2006.

She took on much of the cost of opening the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, which provides free after-school arts programming to disadvantaged children in Georgia. At a 2014 Metropolitan Opera Guild luncheon honoring Norman, the Nobel-prize winning novelist Toni Morrison, who died earlier this year, praised the soprano's voice as a unique wonder. "The beauty and power, the singularity of Jessye Norman's voice. I don't recall anything quite like it," Morrison said. "I have to say that sometimes when I hear your voice, it breaks my heart," she said. "But all of the time, when I hear your voice, it healed my soul."

In Memoriam

DiaHann carroll

DiaHann carroll Diahann Carroll, the Oscar-nominated actress and singer who won critical acclaim as the first black woman to star in a non-servant role in a TV series as “Julia,” has died. She was 84. Carroll’s daughter, Susan Kay, told The Associated Press her mother died Friday in Los Angeles of cancer.

During her long career, Carroll earned a Tony Award for the musical “No Strings” and an Academy Award nomination for best actress for “Claudine.”

But she was perhaps best known for her pioneering work on “Julia.” Carroll played Julia Baker, a nurse whose husband had been killed in Vietnam, in the groundbreaking situation comedy that aired from 1968 to 1971.

“Diahann Carroll walked this earth for 84 years and broke ground with every footstep. An icon. One of the all-time greats,” director Ava DuVernay wrote on Twitter. “She blazed trails through dense forests and elegantly left diamonds along the path for the rest of us to follow. Extraordinary life. Thank you, Ms. Carroll.”

Although she was not the first black woman to star in her own TV show (Ethel Waters played a maid in the 1950s series “Beulah”), she was the first to star as someone other than a servant.

NBC executives were wary about putting “Julia” on the network during the racial unrest of the 1960s, but it was an immediate hit.

It had its critics, though, including some who said Carroll’s character, who is the mother of a young son, was not a realistic portrayal of a black American woman in the 1960s.

“They said it was a fantasy,” Carroll recalled in 1998. “All of this was untrue. Much about the character of Julia I took from my own life, my family.”

Not shy when it came to confronting racial barriers, Carroll won her Tony portraying a high-fashion American model in Paris who has a love affair with a white American author in the 1959 Richard Rodgers musical “No Strings.” Critic Walter Kerr described her as “a girl with a sweet smile, brilliant dark eyes and a profile regal enough to belong on a coin.”

She appeared often in plays previously considered exclusive territory for white actresses: “Same Time, Next Year,” ″Agnes of God” and “Sunset Boulevard” (as faded star Norma Desmond, the role played by Gloria Swanson in the 1950 film.)

“I like to think that I opened doors for other women, although that wasn’t my original intention,” she said in 2002.

Her film career was sporadic. She began with a secondary role in “Carmen Jones” in 1954 and five years later appeared in “Porgy and Bess,” although her singing voice was dubbed because it wasn’t considered strong enough for the Gershwin opera. Her other films included “Goodbye Again,” ″Hurry Sundown,” ″Paris Blues,” and “The Split.”

The 1974 film “Claudine” provided her most memorable role. She played a hard-bitten single mother of six who finds romance in Harlem with a garbage man played by James Earl Jones.

In the 1980s, she joined in the long-running prime-time soap opera “Dynasty” as Dominique Deveraux, the glamorous half-sister of Blake Carrington; her physical battles with Alexis Carrington, played by Joan Collins, were among fan highlights. More recently, she had a number of guest shots and small roles in TV series, including playing the mother of Isaiah Washington’s character, Dr. Preston Burke, on “Grey’s Anatomy” and a stretch on the TV show “White Collar” as the widow June.

DiaHann carroll

She also returned to her roots in nightclubs. In 2006, she made her first club appearance in New York in four decades, singing at Feinstein’s at the Regency. Reviewing a return engagement in 2007, a New York Times critic wrote that she sang “Both Sides Now” with “the reflective tone of a woman who has survived many severe storms and remembers every lightning flash and thunderclap.”

Carol Diann Johnson was born in New York City and attended the High School for the Performing Arts. Her father was a subway conductor and her mother a homemaker.

She began her career as a model, but a prize from “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” TV show led to nightclub engagements.

In her 1998 memoir “Diahann,” Carroll traced her turbulent romantic life, which included liaisons with Harry Belafonte, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Sidney Poitier and David Frost. She even became engaged to Frost, but the engagement was canceled.

An early marriage to nightclub owner Monte Kay resulted in Carroll’s only child, Suzanne, as well as a divorce. She also divorced her second husband, retail executive Freddie Glusman, later marrying magazine editor Robert DeLeon, who died.

Her most celebrated marriage was in 1987, to singer Vic Damone, and the two appeared together in nightclubs. But they separated in 1991 and divorced several years later.

After she was treated for breast cancer in 1998, she spoke out for more money for research and for free screening for women who couldn’t afford mammograms.

“We all look forward to the day that mastectomies, chemotherapy and radiation are considered barbaric,” Carroll told a gathering in 2000.

Besides her daughter, she is survived by grandchildren August and Sydney.

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Character + craft.

Meet the people making their own Legacy in our most authentic jean yet. #BRLegacy

For the launch of our Legacy Denim, it only seemed fitting to team up with @dapper lou and friends at Brooklyn-based Dapper Studios.

@dapperlou Artist, Brooklyn native of Haitian heritage

“From childhood, creativity has always been deeply rooted in me. I want my work to focus on the stories that are often untold or misunderstood.�

THE LEGACY COLLECTION (★) Sturdy 14 oz. denim.

2 fits. 7 washes. $98 each.

@thecoffeetographer Documentarian, New Yorker by way of LA

“Who I get to be, and all of my curiosities stem from my parents. I’m always in search of answers about any and everything.”

@joekenneth_ Poet, Brooklyn native of Haitian heritage

“Life in the city gave me a panoramic view of the world And its diverse, cultural narratives. I want to live a life that will outlive me.”

On Joekenneth (L) and Dapper (R): Legacy Denim in Rinse Dark Wash, styled with their own accessories

4 REASONS TO PURSUE A SIDE HUSTLE WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG

No matter what your age, taking on a side hustle can be a smart move. Many retirees are turning to side hustles to make ends meet and fight the postwork world boredom. But a side hustle can be even more valuable for young people, and these extra jobs can provide a lasting impact on their lives. For the young, the value of a side hustle goes far beyond the extra cash, although a few additional dollars certainly does not hurt. Whether you are fresh out of college or still in high school, here are four significant benefits of a side hustle.

LEARN VALUABLE NEW SKILLS Their high school and college days may be over, but young people are still learning valuable skills. From how to communicate effectively in the workplace to how to project a professional image, young people are continually learning and growing. Younger workers are also busy learning new skills, abilities that could help them move up the corporate ladder and land the next promotion. A side hustle can help those young workers learn new skills—skills they can use to enhance their full-time careers.

Thinking Like A Boss!

PAY OFF STUDENT LOAN DEBT FASTER It is no secret that student loan debt is out of control, or that many college graduates are having trouble paying what they owe.

With the average student loan debt well into five figures, repayment can be a real problem, even for workers blessed with good-paying jobs. By taking on a side hustle while they are still young, those debt-ridden college graduates can get a head start on what they owe. Paying off that college loan debt can then free up cash for other essentials, like saving up for a first home or putting money aside for retirement.

BOOST SAVINGS A troubling percentage of younger workers have no savings at all, and even more, have very little put away.

Having an emergency fund is an absolute must, and something a side hustle can help with. Beyond the emergency fund, a side hustle can also help young people boost their retirement savings. The side hustle alone may not fully fund those goals, but it could be a big help.

MAKE LASTING CONNECTIONS

Networking has never been more critical, but making lasting and meaningful connections can be particularly tough for young people. Even if they are continually meeting new people online and off, forging valuable relationships and building a network are challenging tasks. By incorporating a side hustle (or two) into their lives, those younger workers can expand their networks more effectively. You never know when those connections will come in handy, and having them available could help you land your next job or start your own business.

If you think side hustles are for retirees and cash-strapped seniors, you need to think again. No matter what your age, taking on a side hustle can provide valuable benefits, some of them monetary, some of them social, and all of them essential.

Moving through the world, carrying along with me the shroud of Blackness, was always a curious blessing. It brought along with it the most dynamic insight, and the most iridescent beauty, but also the most complicated frustrations, and the most devastating voids. Being both full, and also compromised; gifted, and also denied; bionic, and also incapacitated. The challenge, then, became: how does one pay homage to the daring of our past, but also to the hopefulness of our future? That answer materialized in the form of my art. Even in its (often) dark majesty, and mysterious candor, there was something more that I wanted to share.

I wanted Blackness to be this wonderful, tangible, beautiful, sacred thing that you could pick up, and hold dear, and share, and share again, and pass down. I needed to create a varied catalogue of objects and trinkets that could, at the very touch, transport us to our most visceral place within Blackness—a honing device to the spaces, and the feelings, and the miracles that had been displaced, or stolen, or forgotten.

As a child of the Disapora, I had always felt homesick for a place that was no more. I traveled the world looking for the things that harkened the true luxury and sophistication of Blackness. This line of carefully-curated mementos, and lifestyle items, are my tribute to our experience. These pieces hail from the cotton-fields of Mississippi, to the finest crystal of Austria, to the ancestral splendor of Cape Hope in South Africa, to the Great Wall of China. In holding them dear, and sharing them with our families, we create, in turn, our own new legacies and traditions. We become the figures in our lives that remind one another that Black has always been, and will always be, at the very pinnacle of human expression.

Afro-Opulence is a journey that we share, over and over again. We stake our claim to the luxuries in life what we so seriously deserve. We make our quiet commitment to being surrounded by beauty. We bring opulence (back) into our day-to-day chronicles in this thing we call life.

I am so enormously grateful for your support, and I look forward to bringing more of the very best that this world has to offer. To you. To your homes. To your families. To your lives.

Gratefully & Reflectively Yours,

Raub Welch

Touch Here To Shop.

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A Fool's Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump by Lonnie G. Bunch, III

Founding Director Lonnie Bunch's deeply personal tale of the triumphs and challenges of bringing the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to life. His story is by turns inspiring, funny, frustrating, quixotic, bittersweet, and above all, a compelling read.

In its first four months of operation, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture surpassed one million visits and quickly became a cherished, vital monument to the African American experience. And yet this accomplishment was never assured. In A Fool's Errand, founding director Lonnie Bunch tells his story of bringing his clear vision and leadership to bear to realize this shared dream of many generations of Americans.

Outlining the challenges of site choice, architect selection, building design, and the compilation of an unparalleled collection of African American artifacts, Bunch also delves into his personal struggles-especially the stress of a high-profile undertaking--and the triumph of establishing such an institution without mentors or guidebooks to light the way. His memoir underscores his determination to create a museum that treats the black experience as an essential component of every American's identity.

This inside account of how Bunch planned, managed, and executed the museum's mission informs and inspires not only readers working in museums, cultural institutions, and activist groups, but also those in the nonprofit and business worlds who wish to understand how to succeed--and do it spectacularly--in the face of major political, structural, and financial challenges.

These Two Alpha Men Star ted Their Own Fedora Hat Brand Called BRIMS

By Que Jackson @QuenteSential1 for theqgentleman-com

L

aunched in 2017, founders of BRIMS Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch are prime examples of what it’s like to allow your passion to fuel a dream. All great things come with sacrifice and these men have experienced the long frustrating nights, the rejections, and the mistakes. But through it all, they have maintained the perseverance needed to excel in this world of trial and error. In honor of World’s Entrepreneurs Day, we wanted to learn more about the business side of their journey.

Tajh and Archie have been friends for years, meeting while they were in college and both being members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. After graduating college in 2012, Archie began working in the Human Resources industry, working for reputable brands such as Marshalls and Target. After years of hard work and dedication, the universe had other plans for him and he was released from his job into what would soon become the greatest part of his journey which is entrepreneurship. This came with a lot of doubt, but he knew it was the right time. Tajh gained his experience in the Information Systems field. Tajh always loved fashion and when Archie approached him with the idea to start a fashion line and after some convincing he was on board.

Before bringing the idea to Tajh, Archie researched every aspect of the market in order to make sure this was the right venture for him. There were no new and innovative brands for fedora hats.

Their partnership started from their mutual love and respect for fashion and fedora hats. Having a history of sharing ideas and feedback with one another, they knew this would be the perfect entry into the fashion world.

They found a manufacturer that created the first sample and after receiving the sample they were both excited and overwhelmed. Now going full force, they started the process of legalizing their business, learning more about every process and living the #WearBRIMS lifestyle. “I love to research, research is very key. Tajh is the creative one of us. I wanted to make sure

our LLC was correct. I wanted to make sure we had a strategy, plan and our pricing was correct. In the beginning, it was all about what sort of brand did we want to be? We priced our product too low. We created 3 styles that weren’t the best and as we researched, we had to understand who we were. When our website was designed, we began to learn how to create websites as well as designing our product so we can know exactly what we needed in order to be more impactful to our consumers. We still have learning to do but we know more about the business and our consumer” says Archie.

After trial and errors, the guys took more of a hands-on approach with every aspect of their company. They learned the design of the product, the design of the visual media side but most importantly, they listened to the voice of their consumer.

They understood that although they had the passion and the vision, ultimately the customer is who could make or break the product. Throughout the years they have learned but they also aimed to teach and inspire others. No journey is hard, but if you truly believe in yourself and your brand, you can’t give up.

“Trusting your intuition and judgment, go over your product and don’t rush the process. Your customers want quality and exclusivity. Be intentional and have the ability to adapt,” said Tajh.

When asked what makes BRIMS the Quintessential brand, Tajh states “I feel like our brand is a lifestyle. When you have one of our hats on, you walk with your head held high, walk with confidence and know that you are walking with a crown on your head. BRIMS is an accessory that boosts your confidence. It’s a conversation starter”.

Now offering multiples designs, Tajh and Archie are set to cement their place in fashion history. Their journey has just begun and the story of BRIMS will continue to inspire and shape culture and the industry one head at a time. To learn more about Taj and Archie’s BRIMS brand visit www.wearbrims.com and visit them on Instagram @wearbrims

Incognito to release new album feat. Maysa, Phil Perry and more

British acid jazz band Incognito will release their new album ‘Tomorrow’s New Dream’ on November 8th 2019, and have announced a huge homecoming London show at Indigo at The O2 on December 4th 2019, marking an incredible 40 years since their formation.

An enduring relationship with music has seen Jean-Paul (Bluey) Maunick lead his band Incognito to their 40th Anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, Bluey has recorded a brand-new album of songs and instrumentals with the hallmark Incognito sounds both familiar and fresh, encompassing acid jazz, soul, funk, and neo-soul.

This album offers a rich sonic journey at every turn that features special guests Maysa, Phil Perry, Take 6, Mario Biondi and many others, collaborating with band members past and present, along with the talented new ’Cogs’. It’s a record of brand-new, original tracks that would feel right at home featuring on any of their most enduring, classic releases from the past.

The album opens with a selection of collaborations, including the fifth Incognito appearance of vocalist Joy Rose (Sting, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock) on afro beat-inspired ‘Haze Of Summer’, The Montclairs’ Phil Perry on ‘For The Love Of You’, and a-cappella gospel legends Take 6 on ‘The Weather Report’. Also featuring on the aforementioned ‘For The Love…’ is long-time collaborator Maysa, about whom Bluey says “Combining the uniqueness of her rich soulful tones with Phil’s raw, powerful, and limitless vocal range is the stuff of dreams.”

Closing out the first third of the record is the instrumental ‘Saturday Sirens’, which utilizes Incognito’s aptitude for creating soulful funk, and invokes what Bluey describes as living in a constant state of high alert in central London, as the feeling of rising crime can be magnified on a busy Saturday night.

The following trio of songs feature a young man whose band is a great example of Britain’s vibrant and ever-

expanding music scene — singer-songwriter-pianist-producer James Berkeley and his neo-soul band, Yakul.

‘Shine’ and ‘Wake Me’ are short interludes born of Bluey’s musings and James’s ability to sensitively tap into the old and the new, and explore the rich musical world they each come from. The funky-edged ‘After the Beat Is Gone’ is a song about love’s uncertainty “Songwriting is deeply personal and the chemistry of cowriting has to be perfectly balanced,” Bluey muses. And in James he has found a like-minded soul.

The next tracks on the record feature talented female vocalists that Bluey has sought out, including Lethal B/ Wiley collaborator Cherri V on ‘Only A Matter Of Time’, Italian singer Roberta Gentile on ‘Absent In Spring’ and Vanessa Haynes (dubbed the Caribbean Queen of Soul by Bluey) on ‘Still The One’, which also features Indonesian harmonica prodigy Rega Dauna.

The final two tracks on the album to feature vocals are ‘Now That I’ve Found You’, an uplifting song that celebrates life and love and features the vocal talents of long-time Incognito vocalist Imaani, and motivational number ‘No Show’, in which vocal duties are handled by Mario Biondi, who famously dueted with Chaka Khan on Incognito’s ‘Lowdown’ from the Transatlantic R.P.M album.

Closing the album is ‘Say What’s On Your Mind’, a spirited instrumental that features, in a metaphorical nod to the title, solos from all the core Incognito members.

Incognito will bring tracks from ‘Tomorrow’s New Dream’, plus a selection of their greatest and best -known hits to Indigo at The O2 on December 4th 2019, as a celebration to their 40-year career, and enduring legacy as one of the UKs most beloved bands. Tickets from axs.com

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CBU Emagazine was invited to a private dinner with

the creator of the 7 year old cognac brand D’usse @dussecognac. Michel Casavecchia @michel_casavecchia (on the left below) who has partnered with Jay Z, Roc Nation @rocnation and Bacardi Limited have created one of the best selling cognac brands in years. D’usse’s Global Brand Ambassador, Sullivan Doh (on the right) @sullivandoh co-hosted the dinner and presented a phenomenal event. Thank you, Michel & Sullivan for being great hosts. The venue, SX Sky Bar @sxskybar in Chicago was on point.

Special shout out to Kiwan Anderson @misteranderson and team Nike Communications @nikecommunications for the hookup.

Photo Credit: Gabor Mozsi

D'USSE’s charismatic new face, Sullivan is doing a spectacular job promoting its spirit around the world and Michel has created a unique cognac that is challenging the category dominated by heavyweights Hennessy, Remy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell.

IF YOU ARE VERY GOOD AT SOMETHING, NEVER DO IT FOR FREE!

By Gbenga Adebambo Africa's #1 Youth EmpowermentCoach||Leadership Guru||AtRiskYouthSpecialist||Entrepreneurship Coach||Relationship Expert

If you are good at something, and can afford to make a living from it, why do it for free?

You have a talent or a skill; there are people willing to pay you for that skill, so why let go the opportunity of making money from it. I am not saying that we should be money freak; I am simply saying that you deserve to get paid as long as you are adding value to others.

When you are so good at something, it becomes impossible for the world to ignore you.

In the superhero film, ‘The Dark Knight’, there is a line that is worth mentioning that I will like to refer to: "If you are good at something, never do it for free." I have always told people that your desire to do something for free should be out of conviction and not borne out of ignorance. Many people are doing things for free because they don’t really know the value of the service they are rendering. Some people are getting paid for services that they are not rendering well – I call this fraud! Many are being paid handsomely for services that are far inferior to yours. If you can offer this service well and get legitimately paid, why not?

“Be so good they can't ignore you” Steve Martin In the superhero film, ‘The Dark Knight’, there is a line that is worth mentioning that I will like to refer to: "If you are good at something, never do it for free." I have always told people that your desire to do something for free should be out of conviction and not borne out of ignorance. Many people are doing things for free because they don’t really know the value of the service they are rendering. Some people are getting paid for services that they are not rendering well – I call this fraud! Many are being paid handsomely for services that are far inferior to yours. If you can offer this service well and get legitimately paid, why not?

On February 20, 2019, a Kaduna based young hyperrealism pencil artist, Eli Waduba, took to Twitter to share his latest art piece, a hyper-realistic painting of his favourite comedian, Kevin Hart. The young Nigerian artist who has gone unnoticed till then took it a step further to mention Kevin Hart in a tweet on February 22 hoping that it might be his breakthrough one way or the other. It did not take long for the popular comedian, actor and producer to take notice of the several mentions his name was getting for the amazing talent of the Nigerian man. With genuine interest and excitement, Kevin Hart took time to reply several tweets including that of Eli Waduba praising him for his great work.

However, it did not end in praise, the impressed comedian took it a step further. He offered to purchase the piece and make a payment for 3 similar works of his friends. The tweet from Kevin Hart goes thus: “I see it and I want to purchase it...I also want to support you and your amazing talent by giving you a fee to do a pencil drawing of 3 of my celebrity friends that I can gift it to. DM your info and let’s get to work!”

The pertinent question I want to ask youths out there is this: Do you have anything that you are so good at that you can do for a fee? If you have, then that is your goldmine! Just like Eli Waduba, you must have something that you are so good at to open doors for you.

Prepare for your breakthrough because when opportunity comes, it might be too late to prepare. Most of us have a hobby, a passion, or something that we love to do outside of our regular job. Very few of us ever thought we could turn this passion into a source of income. You may not want to give up your job, but the idea of sharing your passion can make for an extremely rewarding spare time activity, as well as give you some extra money on the side.

Your ability to exchange and leverage on what you love doing for money is the core essence of entrepreneurship. When you are constantly adding value to others without financial returns, then you are defrauding yourself! Many are simply poor because they are ignorant of how most of the things they do for free is linked to their wealth and financial freedom.

Many people are living in a manner that is unsustainable. When you give too much of yourself away for free, you deplete your ability to earn a sustainable income. The principle of wealth is simply exchanging ‘values’ for money. We are being paid simply because of the values we are adding to others. You deserve to be paid as long as you are adding values to others. Stop offering yourself for free, and except you are doing a volunteer work or humanitarian service, make sure you get paid whenever you add value to others! Stop letting your emotions or ‘excessive’ generosity gets in the way of living a sustainable and decent living.

The truth is that when too much of what you offer is for free, you make your service unsustainable. Transiting from the “Free Zone” to the “Fee Zone” is one of the core of sustainable entrepreneurship. Don’t stay in the “Free Zone” forever; monetize your service. It is not selfishness. One of the major reasons why people are so poor is simply because they give too much of themselves away for free! There is tremendous joy in earning income from doing something that you might happily do for free. Blogging was a hobby for Linda Ikeji, but today, she earns a fortune from it. Hobbies like photography, writing, cooking, baking, home or office organizing, interior decoration and event planning, graphic and web design, drawing and painting can be metamorphosed into money-spinning ventures. Walt Disney’s love for sketching and drawing created one of the most vast entertainment company now known as the Walt Disney Company. KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) was born out of someone’s hobby of cooking!

Whether as a full-fledged passion or a retirement plan, monetizing your hobby is the most sustainable way of living. Look inward and repackage what you love doing to make money. Making money from your hobby is not just only sustainable, it brings you deep satisfaction and excitation. Stop giving too much of yourself away for free; monetize the services you are very good at offering to others.

“If you do what you love,

you’ll never work a day in your life” Marc Anthony

A Game Of Russian Roulette "Before 'I Do’�

Full Free Maverick Movie!

Click below to watch the movie. (1hr. 1min. runtime)

THE FALL DENIM MEMO We partnered with GQ and always-on-point New Yorker, creative entrepreneur Joshua Kissi, to showcase the newest—and coolest—arrivals on the jean scene.

Rappers, rock stars and this multitalented menswear influencer are all fans of torn-up, broken-in, extra- distressed denim that adds outlaw attitude to your look.

Diesel

“My style hasn’t really changed over time, it’s just become more refined. I’ve gotten things that I love and found silhouettes that just work for me.” -- JOSHUA

FRAME, Collegium

Photographer, creative director and start-up founder Joshua Kissi does it all, so he relies on styles that do too, like this timeless dark wash that he can easily dress up or down.

Alpha Industries, J Brand, Nike

Utilitarian trousers got their start in the military, but now edgy, modern fits and streamlined details make them ready for a new tour of duty in the streets.

Slimmer and sleeker than their ‘90s counterparts, cargo pants are back in a big way this season and perfect for breaking up your jeans routine.

Pacific & Park, PAIGE, Nike

“Clothing has always been an outward expression of my feelings, my interests and my inspirations.” —JOSHUA

Sade Member Says New Album Is Coming Stuart Matthewman says Sade have “a bunch of songs” in the works

From: pitchfork.com

Sade’s Stuart Matthewman has revealed in a new interview with Rated R&B that the band have begun working towards a new album. According to Matthewman, Sade Adu and company have already written “a bunch of songs” for the follow-up to Soldier of Love, which was released in 2010. “[Sade’s] not interested in the fame or any of that [other] stuff.

She likes to put out art,” Matthewman said. “So when it’s ready, it will come out.”

Sade recently released her first new song in 7 years, “Flower of the Universe.” It was featured on the soundtrack for Ava DuVernay’s reboot of A Wrinkle in Time.

Sade’s Son Pens Open Letter To His Mom After She Supported His Journey As A Trangsender Man Written by Paul Meara Izaak Theo Adu, the son of singer Sade, recently completed a six-month recovery period after going through surgery.

On Thursday (September 26), the 23-year-old shared an open letter to his mother, thanking her for her support during the process.

"It’s been a long hard road but We did it," he captioned under a picture of the two of them together. "We are coming home!!!! Thank you for staying by my side these past 6 months Mumma.

Thank you for fighting with me to complete the man I am. Thank you for your encouragement when things are hard, for the love you give me. The purest heart. I love you so much. Queen of queens."

In May, Adu thanked his family for their support and detailed the hardships he’s gone through up until that point. "Being transgender is hard. Every day is a struggle. You are constantly fighting for the world to accept you and sometimes you even fight yourself... I am lucky because I have a family and friends that accept and love me just as I am, who see it isn't about WHAT I look like on the outside like but WHO I am inside."

Congrats Izaak and shoutout to everyone who supports people for being who they are.

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The only way to make one of the best

Upper-Body Exercises better, is to do more of them

Anthony Joshua

by Mariano Vivanco for British GQ

Pull-ups are hands down one of the best exercises for developing your back and increasing your overall fitness level. They’re oldschool, basic, and a natural movement pattern of human beings.

Instead of hitting the gym week after week trying to see “how much you bench,” why not try and see how many pull-ups you can crank out?

1 . Do n e g ati ve s

Negative training is the focus on lowering portion of the movement versus the actual lift. Focusing on negatives will target and develop muscle fibers differently, resulting in a boost in endurance. “Grab hold of the chin-up bar and jump up so that your chest is close to the bar,” Duffy says. “Then, lower yourself for 4-6 seconds and repeat.” Perform a few sets of negatives each week on back day and you’ll begin to notice improvements in your overall ability to get more reps.

2. Us e As s ist a n c e Ba n ds Pull-ups aren’t necessarily easy; some novice gym-goers have trouble even getting one or two. PT Mike Duffy recommends grabbing assistance bands, which you wrap around the bar and place under your feet. “These elastic bands will counterbalance your bodyweight and help assist you with getting more pull-ups,” says Duffy. Even advanced athletes can benefit from assistance bands—they might help get you one, two, or three more reps than you normally would without assistance. Novice trainees can train with assistance bands each week, and more advanced athletes could sprinkle the use of the bands every other week.

3. Pe r fo r m Fo rc e d Reps Similar to using assistance bands, forced reps are about using a training partner to help you get a few more additional reps that you couldn’t get on your own. Have a training partner give you a boost to crank out 2-3 more reps. Watch how your strength and endurance soar week over week.

4. Do H e av y Bi c ep C u r ls Your biceps are the secondary muscle groups to the back when performing pull-ups. Duffy recommends mixing in heavy biceps curls every other week or so.

Shoot for 4-6 reps, whereas the other weeks, shoot for 8-12 reps.

5. Do H e av y P u l l Do w n s “Heavy pull-downs build up your lats, biceps, and forearms, which are the exact muscles and range of motion needed to do a pullup,� Duffy says. We recommend working the following: Weeks 1, 2, and 4 perform 3-5 sets of 4-6 reps with heavy weight, for Weeks 3, 5, and 6 perform 3-5 sets of 10-15 reps with lighter weight.

6. Pe r fo r m T R X M o di f ie d P u l l- ups Performing several different variations or modifications of the pullup with the TRX “changes the angle of your pull-up,� says Duffy.

These slight changes in the movement pattern will develop different areas of the muscles in your back, forearms, and biceps to build up more muscular strength and endurance. Work with the TRX on modified pull-ups once per week for a total of 3-5 sets to muscular failure.

7. Pe r fo r m S q u at P u l l- ups The purpose of the squat pull-up is to utilize both your legs and your arms to complete a full pull-up. “As your arms tire out, you can use more of your legs,” Duffy says. “This will slowly help you build more strength in your lats.”

Set yourself up in the Smith machine and adjust the bar as needed. Start in a deep squat position and hold on to the bar with your arms fully extended. Use your lats until failure, and, as you tire, start using more of your legs in the movement.

From: www.shadowandact.com

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Black people are still largely underrepresented in the realm of animation, both in front of and behind the camera.

While many still believe it is strictly a playground for children's storytelling, the world of animation can be an excellent platform for adult narrative, as exemplified by films like Grave of the Fireflies, Anomalisa, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Jamaal Bradley's stellar short film, Substance.

Clocking in at five minutes and 19 seconds, Substance is a fine example of how you can tell a story without dialogue, with the use of visuals and music. Based on true events, Substance tells the story of two brothers whose relationship is at risk when one of them is revealed to be a drug dealer. At the center of this dilemma is a young girl who is revealed to be the daughter of the brother who is dealing drugs.

The story chronicles the heated conflict between the two brothers, which is eventually dissipated by the little girl, who is watching the verbal exchange from the staircase.

It’s officially Fall. The season of beards, layers, warm colors, and drinks that keep you warmer.

6 Destinations You Should Add To Your Bucket List This Fall

With lower temperatures and moderate prices, Fall is the perfect time to plan a trip. If you are looking for some travel inspiration, here are a few top spots to consider.

You will see the most vibrant Fall colors in Québec between mid-September and early November when the season is at its peak. Head to Mount Royal Park and the Montreal Botanical Gardens to witness nature’s spectacular show.

Québec, Canada

While driving through Big Sur, you can expect to see stunning views of redwood forests and pristine coastline that come alive during the fall months. The drive alone is a destination in itself, but be sure to venture onto a hiking trail or even down to one of the beaches that you will have all to yourself.

Big Sur, California

Nine miles off the coast of Maui sits Lanai, the smallest of the inhabited islands of Hawaii. October temperatures average in the 70s with very little rainfall allowing you ample time to explore the many beaches, forests, and rugged terrain.

Lanai, Hawaii

October is a great time to visit Egypt. You can look forward to fewer crowds, lower prices, and more comfortable temperatures. Shorter lines will make sight-seeing much more enjoyable at otherwise highly trafficked areas like the pyramids at Giza, ancient mosques, and local markets.

Cairo, Egypt

Fall is your chance to experience the quiet Bali. With fewer crowds, the low season may bring rain, but it also brings lower prices and a much more tranquil experience. You can expect around 12-15 rainy days in October and temperatures maxing out around 80 degrees.

Bali, Indonesia

A fall getaway to Sardinia means ideal weather and much less crowded white sand beaches along the Mediterranean. The fall festival season is also full of Italian traditions and the opportunity to mix with locals without the bustle of tourist season.

Sardinia, Italy

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What You Need to Know About Michael Jordan’s Pricey Cincoro Tequila

by G. Clay Whittaker for mensjournal.com

Courtesy Image

Following in the footsteps of George Clooney, Sammy HagarOpens a New Window., Adam Levine, The Backstreet Boys, and the RockOpens a New Window., Michael Jordan is now in on the celebrity tequila game With Cincoro Tequila, and the best bottle will set you back $1,600.

Cincoro Tequila was announced this morning as a super-premium new tequila brand, created by five basketball power brokers, including Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Wes Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks, Emilia Fazzalari and her husband Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics, and Michael Jordan, who owns the Hornets.

The five bonded over a mutual love of tequila at a 2016 dinner, which they credit as the founding day of their partnership. Since then, they’ve worked to create a delicate, complex, and refined tequila, using hand-selected agave from highland and lowland regions.

The partners later brought in Patrón’s former director of brand education to help with trade, according to Shanken News DailyOpens a New Window., and Mark Smith, vice president of Innovation Special Projects at Nike, to design the bottle.

It’s a hell of an all-star team and a hell of a story. And Cincoro is definitely a “super-premium” tequila. The unaged Blanco will set you back $70 (keep in mind Patrón Silver is priced around $60), Reposado (aged 8 to 10 months) will be around $90, Añejo (aged 24 to 28 months) will be $130, and the Extra Añejo (aged over 3 years) will be a staggering $1,600 per bottle.

The tequila is produced by a contract distiller named Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, which produces nearly 100 brands in total, according to Tequilamatchmaker.comOpens a New Window..

Contract distillation doesn’t negate quality, but it should perhaps make you wonder why you’d pay high prices for tequila from the same distillery that once produced Kirkland Signature Tequila.

One simple answer: Michael Jordan helped to pick this tequila. And picked is an important distinction from “created,” because it would appear that, at least for now, Cincoro is buying existing stock rather than creating something original from the ground up. As Forbes pointed out this opens a new window., the oldest release is “a combination of tequilas between 40 to 44 months. (If you do the math, that [founding] dinner at Pasquale Jones was just 38 months ago).”

Small early releases of Cincoro suggest they’re planning to keep things somewhat scarce. Launch for Cincoro Tequila is this month, and initially the bottles will only be available in 12 markets, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

Courtesy Image: Cincoro tequila

HOW I LANDED MY FIRST TEDX TALK AND HOW YOU CAN TOO

by Jeff Shuford

Jeff Shuford's TEDx Talk

I often get asked this question by other entrepreneurs; “How did you get to do a TEDx talk?” My answer is simple, I pitched my idea, and after submitting my speech to the TEDx committee, I was selected as a speaker. Here are strategies you can use to share your idea and how to avoid the mistakes that I made that almost prevented me from reaching the TEDx stage.

HOW TO LAND A TEDX TALK SHOOT YOUR SHOT My goal in 2018 was to give a TEDx talk. I thought I had my talk figured out. My first talk was going to cover utilizing the power of innovation to help prevent military veteran suicides.

Although I considered myself a subject matter expert, having recently developed an award-winning mobile application that helps veterans access life-saving resources, my talk wasn’t well thought out. I pitched a local TEDx event and made it to the top seventh pick. However, I was not selected to speak and was encouraged to pitch the following year again. I was devastated, to make it that far and not have an opportunity to share my ideas.

Rather than soaking in despair, I kept the TEDx goal on my whiteboard hoping to have the opportunity to pitch my idea for another TEDx conference. In speaking with a colleague in the industry, I randomly shared an idea that I wanted to talk about. To my surprise, my colleague said my idea was a great topic to speak about and advised me to send in a speaker proposal for a TEDx event —”Shoot my shot” were her exact words. To my amazement, I was finally selected as a TEDx speaker.

DEVELOP YOUR IDEA The TEDx organizers develop a theme for every TEDx event. Your speaking topic should reflect the theme of the event. Alter your TEDx pitch around the theme and you stand a better chance of securing your spot on the TEDx stage. TEDx themes are readily accessible on their event website.

If TEDx has been your goal, continue to stay encouraged. You never know who you will meet and present an idea to that might end with you speaking on the TEDx stage.

Courtesy of Netflix Director Ava DuVernay with stylist Jason Bolden in 'Styling Hollywood'

Stylist Jason Bolden, Interior Designer Adair Curtis Talk Starring in Netflix's 'Styling Hollywood' The married duo open up about facing the cameras themselves, while Bolden explains how he creates "black girl magic" on clients such as Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Storm Reid and Ava DuVernay, who make cameos on the series.

Netflix's newest star couple, Hollywood stylist Jason Bolden and his interior designer husband, Adair Curtis, caught up with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about their new series, Styling Hollywood, out today. The show offers a backstage view of their work during last year’s awards season under the banner of their lifestyle company JSN Studio, meeting the demands of what seems like an endless treadmill of red carpets while also masterminding a major home renovation for actor Dulé Hill and his wife Jazmyn Simon.

Bolden has carved out a highly influential space in Tinseltown by spreading what he calls “black girl magic” — raising the fashion profile of stars of color with his always on-point and empowering styling. His client list includes Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union (who gave him his start), Eve, Storm Reid and industry figures such as Ava DuVernay and director-transgender activist Janet Mock.

Along the way, like any juicy reality show, there’s a good heap of drama with the supporting cast — Adair’s longtime, headstrong friend Kafia (“I’ve been hired multiple times by Adair and I’ve been fired multiple times by Adair”), new styling assistant John (as Bolden says, “Give the kid a chance, it worked on The Devil Wears Prada) and single mom/sometimes fit model former Miss Norway Melinda, who is Adair’s right hand for interiors and home staging. Cruz, the couple’s adorable shaggy dog, gets a fair share of screen time as well, as the couple wrestles with the decision of whether the time is right to enlarge their little family.

Courtesy of Netflix

Curtis and Bolden Hey guys, where are you calling from?

Bolden: I'm in New York sitting in traffic in an Uber and headed to the airport.

Curtis: And I just left a new $40 million house being built in the Bird Streets that we’re about to start work on.

Adair, there’s an episode in the series where you are kind of resistant to the idea of just doing a photo shoot, so how did it feel to have cameras follow you around all the time?

Jason, were there any funny things that happened during filming that we aren’t seeing?

Bolden: Well, as you saw in one episode, we are always literally next to each other. And I’m always being attacked by mosquitoes and they jump right over him. We had a huge one in our house and I had a complete meltdown. And it happened on camera and that was so crazy. I laugh really hard now even thinking about it.

Courtesy of Netflix Bolden with Storm Reid

Jason, you talk a lot about about creating “black girl magic.” Why does that term resonate so much with you?

Bolden: First, the reason that it resonates so closely and dearly to me is because that’s what I come from.

That’s where my security and my passion and power come from. It’s really important to me, because there are a lot of things that have not been fair to amazing brown women. I adore that I have these women in my life who allow me to go to the front line and fight for them to get what they deserve, to get the respect and inclusion.

It’s also really impressive that you don't mess around with, like, 3,000 things and that you have a very clear vision.

Bolden: I learned very early because I didn’t really have any relationships and had to scale it down that way. So I had to edit and, unbeknownst to me, I was creating a blueprint. Just the other day, I was doing Janet Mock’s fitting for the Emmys and I came to her with two dresses, but we already knew that one dress was going to be the thing. She was pacing in her house and I sat in a chair and she said, “Dude, why are you not nervous?” And we put it on, and it was gorgeous. And it’s also the trust with those brilliant amazing women.

Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

Courtesy of Netflix

Adair, you as well have a very singular vision even though it's a little different, with people's homes rather than something that is worn for one night.

Curtis: I have to be confident in myself before I present anything to a client because they can sniff it out if you’re not. I mean, if you don't think it's going to work, why should they think it's going to work? We try a lot of things you didn’t get to see and maybe next time you will, really shopping for things and a thousand decisions that have to be made before installing a home.

In both the styling and interiors, it looks like one deadline after another. How do you deal with it in your personal life that you are constantly facing deadlines?

Bolden: Well, as you see in the show, our house is still in boxes. All of a sudden, it was the middle of awards season and all we had time to unpack was clothes. You’ll notice there’s no artwork on the walls yet.

Curtis: When we do have time, we make time for each other. Everything can’t be about work.

Bolden: We used to have date night but now we don’t. We go to sleep now.

Curtis: Just gives us a space for ourselves that’s clean and the sheets are crisp.

Bolden: I’m going to lose you guys; I’m at the airport and going through security now.

Curtis: Bye, babe.

Raphael Saadiq Drops First Album in Nine Years, "Jimmy Lee"

The R&B legend returns.

In the nine years since his last album, Raphael Saadiq was by no means out of commission. The former Tony! Toni! TonĂŠ! member has collaborated with artists across different genres (Solange's "Cranes In The Sky", Rick Ross' "Apple of My Eye"), ensuring his marks of innovation continue to sculpt music's future. He's been a staple in R&B and Soul for decades, and on his new project, Jimmy Lee, he proves that he's not done evolving.

Jimmy Lee is dark exploration of addiction, based on Saadiq's experience losing his brother to a heroin overdose in the 90s. The album's storytelling and insight evidences that the fragmented pieces of this loss has been bubbling in Saadiq's gut for years, reaching the point where they come flowing back out as something fully formed - something

beautiful, but still painful and disturbing.

Saadiq experiments more than ever before to achieve a gritty and frantic sound that captures the fear of both suffering from addiction firsthand and watching a loved one go through it. But these darker moments are balanced out by the levity of tracks like the lead single, "Something Keeps Calling", and the comforting gospel of Reverend E. Baker on "Belongs to God". The album drags you through trying trails to reach a point that is still burdensome, yet bearable and admirable. It closes with a surprise guest feature from Kendrick Lamar, still forcing us to contemplate heavy questions in the chorus: "How can I change the world but not change myself?"

By Noah C for hotnewhiphop.com

Click Here To See The Trailer

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Ciara and Russell Wilson Are Now Co-Owners of a Pro Sports Franchise Celebrity couple Ciara and Russell Wilson are now both making boss moves in the sports industry. They have just purchased ownership stakes to become co-owners of the Seattle Sounders FC, a professional Major League Soccer team!

After recently signing a $140 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, 30-year old Wilson decided to venture in the business side of the sport. He also plans to make more investments in other properties and initiatives within Seattle, where he has resided for almost a decade.

Meanwhile, his 33-year old wife, Ciara, known for performing the song "Level Up," wanted to make investments particularly to increase female ownership stakes in business, entertainment, as well as sports. She began doing it 2 years ago when she launched her own record and entertainment company called Beauty Marks Entertainment.

Ciara hopes that with her initiatives, she could inspire women and girls, especially their 2-year old daughter Sienna Princess Wilson, to make waves in the industry where they are underrepresented.

"This is not only a special moment for Russ and I, but for our kids as well. When we walked into the building and our kids were running around with their names on their little jerseys, it meant a lot for so many reasons," Ciara said in a statement.

"It's an honor to join the Sounders team and have the unique opportunity to represent female ownership within major league sports. The team has already done some amazing things, but I believe the best is ahead and we're excited to be part of that."

Aside from Ciara and Wilson, rapper Macklemore and other executives from Microsoft, Amazon, Fox Sports, and Pandora reportedly also have stakes in the MLS team.

Learn more about the Seattle Sounders at https://www.soundersfc.com

THE ROYAL COURT COLLECTION by international lifestyle designer ALAIN FAGNIDI @alainf8ith is an exclusive custom made collection.

So private, made to own. Delicacy at all touch is required. It’s create for men with etiquette who know about etiquette... for all inquiries feel free to reach the showroom. Maisonfagnidi@fagnidi.com

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Kappa Alpha Psi Brother Opens Wellness Studio in Brooklyn That Helps Black Men Deal With Anxiety and Depression From: www.watchtheyard.com/kappas

Did you know that a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi has opened a holistic healing studio in the middle of Brooklyn that focuses on helping people of color?

arian Hall, a Fall 2001 initiate of the Gamma Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, teamed up with Elisa Shankle to create HealHaus, a space for people of color to practice self-care while living in New York. Their 1,100square-foot wellness center includes studios for group workshops and classes, private rooms for individual sessions and a large tranquil outdoor deck where people can practice yoga and meditation. The wellness center also includes a cafÊ that serves medicinal teas, smoothies and gives people a place to meet and enjoy each other’s company.

Since opening last year, HealHaus has been very successful and received a lot of press from publications including The New York Times, Essence, Black Enterprise and Elle to name a few.

We at Watch The Yard visited HealHaus and talked to Darian about his commitment to build a community that is dedicated to changing the stigma attached to healing, especially among black men and members of Black fraternities.

What is the best way to explain HealHaus to someone who has never been to it before?

HealHaus is a new wellness studio and cafe in the heart of Brooklyn. We conduct daily yoga and meditation classes, host various workshops that address such topics as; anxiety and substance abuse. We also facilitate private practitioner services like psychotherapy, acupuncture, massages, cbd infused facials and reiki energy healing. In the wellness cafe, visitors can choose from an assortment of smoothies, teas and elixirs that were curated with a chef and our in-house doctor. It’s a onestop shop for all things self-care.

How did you come up with the idea for HealHaus?

After meeting my father for the first time last summer, I posted about the journey of meeting him on social media. That post sparked numerous conversations with my fraternity brothers and long-time friends. Many of the guys in my life wanted the space to be able to talk about various situations they were dealing with. Some of my frat brothers also shared similar stories about their fathers, while other guys expressed problems in their marriage, workplace issues or various forms of stress. It made me question why we didn’t have inviting spaces that were not only accessible for women, but also for men. I reached out to a good friend of mine, Elisa Shankle, who I knew had incorporated therapy, yoga and meditation into her own life. After discussing the need for black-owned spaces that focused on all forms of self-care, we decided to partner and started building what would eventually become HealHaus.

What made you decide to attend Arizona State University for undergrad?

I’m originally from Long Island, NY, but my family moved to Las Vegas when I was 11.

Choosing Arizona State University had a lot to do with proximity to Las Vegas and my family. I also received some academic scholarships to ASU, which also helped form my decision to go there. Lastly, the Nupes were on the yard so that also factored into the decision.

You’re a Kappa. As you’ve matured in your career and become successful, looking back, how do you think joining a Black fraternity has contributed to where you are now?

I grew up around Kappa men and was a member of Kappa League when I was a teenager. My grandfather was a Kappa, two of my uncles are Kappas and two of my younger cousins recently became members of our noble clan. Kappa has always been very important to me and has helped train me for leadership.

Many of the men I look up to that are achieving in various industries are members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I think the experience within black fraternities and sororities is so unique and there’s a bond among those of us that choose to become members of these organizations. Joining a black fraternity not only gave me a great college experience, but also provided me with lifelong bonds that I will cherish forever.

Since you opened HealHaus last year, you’ve been featured in The New York Times, Essence, Black Enterprise and Elle just to name a few. Obviously this is because what you have created is filling a need that is not being met, what is that need exactly?

Everyone is talking about mental health and wellness now. What was missing from the current spaces that exist was diversity and spaces that felt welcoming to men. Many of the spaces did not feel inclusive. I would walk into a mediation or yoga studio and not see any people of color or men. These spaces also didn’t have a vibe where I could see myself wanting to hangout at. With HealHaus, we

decided to create what was missing in the market. Most of our practitioners are people of color and when you come to the space many people say it feels like “home.� Music is also very important to me, so I make sure that the playlists that play in the space are

representative of our culture.

One of the things that stands out about HealHaus is that you have created spaces for men of color to work on their mental health.

Why do you think this is so important?

For far too long men of color were not afforded the space to show vulnerability. We tend to keep our stresses and things that we wrestle with to ourselves for fear of showing weakness.

This mentality has not benefited us and its time we change that narrative. I want it to be cool for men of color to take therapy, to jump in a meditation class and to just check-in on themselves. So many people are dealing with anxiety, stress and sometimes depression, but feel like they have to keep it to themselves. I want them to know HealHaus is a safe space where they can be real and just breathe.

As a member of a black fraternity and someone who works in the health space. What do you think men in Black fraternities should do to address mental health at the undergraduate and alumni level?

I think its important that we continue the dialogue that has started. Both undergraduate

and alumni chapters can host forums and panels that deal with mental health and wellness. Bring in experts to not only speak on the subject, but give tips and resources on how to improve ones mental health. It’s also very important that we do everything we can to remove the stigma attached to mental health.

How has mentorship had an impact on your career over time? Who are some mentors who have helped you get where you are at today and what did they teach you that stood out?

I’ve always admired Jay-Z, not just as an artist, but as a businessman. His 4:44 album was very influential on me and was one of catalysts to me choosing to meet my father for the first time. He was very personal on that album and it showed his growth as a man. The vulnerability he showed on that album was healing for not only him, but the thousands of men that were listening to the album. One of my favorite lines on the album was, “you can’t heal, what you don’t reveal.”

Another person that I’ve admired is Oprah. She has dedicated her life to serving others and also sharing peoples stories. By sharing these stories, it reminds of us of our common thread among each other. I realized how much I had in common with other men after sharing my personal story. I also realized so many people are in search of the same thing, healing.

What does HealHaus have coming up?

We are very excited about 2019. We plan to launch our corporate wellness program in the coming weeks.

Through the program we will be able to take the HealHaus experience and bring it to peoples offices. Not everyone will be able to get to the studio, so we’ll go to them. We’re also looking at partnering with mainstream brands this year that understand how important mental health is. The plan is to eventually open up additional locations. Our sights are set on locations in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Atlanta and DC just to name a few. HealHaus is committed to shifting the culture around wellness and showing that it can be done in a dope, but intentional way.

If you are interested in checking out HealHaus for yourself, it is located at 1082 Fulton St. Brooklyn, NY 11238.

Do something uncomfortable today.

By stepping out of your comfort zone, you don’t have to settle for what you are – you get to create who you want to become.

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Bare it all. Be real in ways that scare you.

Discover stripped-back essentials that let you come through.

Hold Onto Your Butts: The Shelby GR-1 Concept Is Headed to Production Only 200 aluminum-bodied beauts will be available

By Alex Lauer for www.insidehook.com

Shelby GR-1

Concept cars are like Elon Musk sound bites: while they tend to whip people into a frenzy about what the future holds, they rarely — if ever — come to fruition. But once in a blue moon, they do. And this is one of those times.

Shelby GR-1

Ford recently announced that their stunning Shelby GR-1 concept will head into production. The supercar was first unveiled at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance as a platform model (that is, sans engine, drivetrain and interior), then debuted in full-bodied glory at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show.

The design is based on the Ford GT platform, but pays homage in style to the 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe. Still not ringing a bell? Try these desert shots: Shelby GR-1

The production model won’t come from Ford itself, but according to Car and Driver the company will officially license models produced by Superformance. Apparently the Californian replica experts — responsible for such vehicles as the continuation Shelby Cobra — have been trying to get Ford’s blessing to build this car for six years.

Shelby GR-1

Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait another two years or so until the GR-1 hits the market. But when it does, only 200 special-edition aluminum cars will be available, with the rest coming in carbon fiber. But what about the V10 engine, 605 HP and 3.9-second 0-60 MPH time from the concept? During the Petersen Automotive Museum event where this announcement was made, Superformance CEO Lance Stander and Shelby American Vice President Vince Laviolette floated many titillating claims, including that they’re “shooting for a two-second Shelby” and looking into offering electric GR-1s.

But the Drive contacted a more prudent Shelby American spokesperson who said, “Everyone is very excited to move forward with it, but must wait for the 2015 Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act to be finalized.” Until that happens, the GR-1 is on ice.

Now there’s something we can all call our reps abo

Shelby GR-1

Shelby GR-1

Shelby GR-1

Big Money, No Debt: The Blunt New Pitch for Blue-Collar Workers

By Michael Sasso for bloomberg.com

Like other college prep schools, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School north of Tampa, Florida, touts its 100 percent college acceptance rate to burnish its image and recruit students.

This year it could fall short of that mark for the first time in a while. Instead of shooting for the University of Florida or another four-year college, graduating senior Cassian O’Neill is leaning toward installing water heaters and fixing leaky toilets as a plumber.

“I don’t want to sit at a desk all day and work on a computer,” said Cassian, 19. "I want to do more hands-on work, so I thought the best way to do that was being a plumber or an electrician or a welder. The amount of money plumbers are making is definitely decent and it can always go up because so few people know how to do that work.”

Indeed, the 40 plumbers at Superior Plumbing in Atlanta earn around $90,000 in wages and commissions -- about 70 percent higher than the region’s average income. Owner Jay Cunningham figures he could immediately fill 20 more plumbing jobs if he could find people with the right set of skills and a presentable appearance and demeanor. He blames the talent shortage on parental bias for college over the trades.

"We probably need to do a better job hammering in how much debt you’re going to have going to college," said Niel Dawson, who runs apprentice and training programs for Independent Electrical Contractors in Georgia.

"From day one you’re earning money in an apprenticeship program.”

Six-Figure Mechanics

The 3.8 percent U.S. unemployment rate has

exacerbated a skilled labor shortage that had been building for years. To turn the tide, American’s blue-collar industries are adopting a blunter recruiting approach by touting how new entrants can earn more than some college graduates, without incurring tens of thousands of debt. Specialized jobs including aircraft mechanics and heavy- equipment technicians can surpass $100,000, and industry groups and states including Michigan and Georgia are incorporating that into their advertising campaigns.

College, Shmollege

Certain skilled trade jobs pay more than jobs requiring a bachelor's degree.

Georgia recently spent $3 million on a campaign to push its technical colleges and is touting its tuition-free grant program for 17 high-demand jobs, including commercial truck driving, electrical linemen and diesel equipment technology, said Matt Arthur, commissioner of Georgia’s Technical College System.

In Michigan, the state Department of Talent and Economic Development is behind a campaign called Going Pro that tries to create a buzz around the professional trades. Front and center on the campaign’s web page, www.goingpro.com, is a list of career fields and how much they pay -- mentioned even before a description of what each job does.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers earn $77,000, the site says. Plumbers and pipefitters earn $65,000.

“The biggest question that we get is, ‘How much money can we make?’,” said Sammie Lukaskiewicz, the agency’s deputy director of marketing and strategy.

Like other college prep schools, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School north of Tampa, Florida, touts its 100 percent college acceptance rate to burnish its image and recruit students.

This year it could fall short of that mark for the first time in a while.

Instead of shooting for the University of Florida or another four-year college, graduating senior Cassian O’Neill is leaning toward installing water heaters and fixing leaky toilets as a plumber.

Signing Bonuses

Trash hauler Waste Management Inc. offers $7,000 signing bonuses for certain mechanic jobs, and some competitors are offering up to $15,000, said Chief Human Resources Officer Tamla Oates-Forney. The company’s drivers meanwhile will earn $50,000 to $75,000 a year, she said.

Waste Management is also trying more creative ways to plug hard-to-fill jobs, including testing a new program to let workers steer landfill bulldozers remotely.

“You don’t have to be out at a sweaty, stinky landfill. You can be in a very pristine, pleasant environment,” Oates-Forney said. “It’s going to be more appealing, and we will be able to recruit veterans and also women who might never have thought about being in this type of industry.”

Major automotive players including Nissan North America, Manheim and Interstate Batteries are pushing young people to become auto technicians through an advocacy group called the TechForce Foundation. It’s urging repair shops to talk up their potential wages as much as possible and go way beyond traditional high school career fairs.

"You gotta get out there and start talking with them in middle school,” said TechForce director of national initiatives Greg Settle.

To be sure, a bachelor’s degree generally is more lucrative in the long run than a middle-skill job that requires some post-secondary education short of a four-year degree. Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce has studied the growth of what it calls “good jobs” -- those paying at least $35,000

or $45,000 depending on someone’s age -- over time and among people with different education levels.

Good jobs requiring bachelor’s degrees doubled between 1991 and 2016, while middle-skills jobs including many trades grew a more modest 29 percent, the center found. Good jobs requiring only a high school degree fell by 12 percent.

Tuition-Free

Soaring college debt, though, could tip the scales in favor of trade schools for at least some students. Student debt loads reached almost $29,000 on average nationally in 2017, with Connecticut students carrying more than $38,000 in debt, according to to the Institute for College Access and Success. While some trade certificate programs can cost as much as $45,000, many are covered in part by employers and others, like Georgia’s programs, are tuitionfree.

Eight years ago, Hayden Bramlett was suffering through business courses at Valdosta State University in south Georgia. “It was like watching paint dry,” he says.

Today, the 28-year-old is finishing up a four-year electrician training program at an Independent Electrical Contractors campus in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, he’s working for one of the Atlanta area’s bigger electrical, plumbing and air conditioning companies, earning more than $100,000 some years, he says.

If one is willing to work, the demand for electricians “way outweighs the people we have in this trade," Bramlett said. "I never knew this was an option. I was steered toward college. It feels good to know I could walk out the door and get a job.”

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OPINION: How Hip Hop Fuels Atlanta Tech Takeover

By Dev T. Smith for ajc.com

Photo: Ryan Horne

Hip-Hop has evolved to become the biggest genre in America, further expanding to become the most influential culture in the world. Beyond establishing a global footprint by ascending atop mainstream music, Hip Hop is the lifeblood of modern Black America — capturing the trials and triumphs of a community fueled by aspirations to overcome struggle in pursuit of prosperity.

Hip-Hop transcends a heightened entertainment value, further representing a cornerstone of black economic abundance and industrialization; birthed from decades of labor that has collectively engineered a thriving global industry.

Nobody goes pop anymore. Instead, they go Hip-Hop when searching for relevance.

This is because it is no secret that Hip-Hop is pop culture, and with that status comes the ability to set the barometer to which the world measures its cool. However, that cool comes with a price-tag projected to exceed $131 billion by 2030.

As the number-one genre in music increased streaming by 72%, Goldman Sachs predicted that music industry revenue will more than double in the next 10 years, with Hip Hop to thank for a majority of the cash flow.

For context, in the 1800s, our labor generated the equivalent of $6.5 billion, as black people fueled America’s control of 60% of the world’s cotton industry.

Meanwhile, only 2% of us were granted ownership of land upon which to grow our chances of economic freedom. Ironically, the U.S. holds the largest market share of

the global music industry. Just last year, the top Hip Hop acts responsible for powering an industry approaching a $131 billion valuation saw just 12% of the recent $43 billion generated from its popularity.

We are decades from the plantation, but the industries we influence still interact with us like we’re sharecropping. The difference is that this isn’t the 1800s; we know our power and influence. Instead of waiting for opportunities at ownership within one space, we’re simply harnessing that power and influence to spread across other industries. The tech industry is a great example, with that takeover happening in the same city that has crafted the sound of Hip Hop for the last decade — Welcome to Atlanta.

In the ATL, the black population has risen by 17% since 2010 to about 1.7 million.

About 20% of the city’s black working population is self-employed, the highest proportion in the nation as of 2018.

Decorated with historically black colleges and a strong black middle-class, Atlanta is what it looks like when the spirit of entrepreneurship and collaborative community intertwine as fundamental elements, resulting in an ecosystem in which education, opportunity, and reciprocity interact with one another to create a bountiful environment. There’s something in that Atlanta water, it’s called possibility. Media and entertainment played an instrumental role in preparing Atlanta to absorb and dominate a new industry. Technology is that new industry and as history proves it - if Atlanta builds it, the world will come.

Silicon Valley has been less than inviting to the idea of diversity. Just 6% of employees are black. Word? Cool, we don’t need a seat at that table. We’re building a compound with plenty of room to incubate the best and brightest. Instead of trying to force tech giants to embrace inclusion, Black tech founders like Tristan Walker are relocating to Atlanta, where there is an exciting excess of black talent to mirror a charged political landscape spearheaded by a black mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, openly supported by Atlanta’s Hip Hop community.

According to Fast Company, the list includes, but isn’t limited to: Russell Stokes, President and CEO of General Electric’s energy-generation business. Ryan Glover, who sold his African American– focused digital broadcast network, BounceTV, to Scripps in 2017. Kasim Reed, Atlanta’s mayor until 2018. Jewel Burks Solomon, co-founder and CEO of Partpic, a computer-vision startup that Amazon bought in 2016, and George Azih, founder and CEO of LeaseQuery, an accounting app with more than $100 million in revenue. As well as Paul Judge, co-founder and chairman of Pindrop Security, which develops voice-based anti-fraud technology, and one of the city’s most prominent venture investors. His firm TechSquare Labs, has invested millions into about 30 seed-stage companies specializing in everything from blockchain and finance to marketing technologies.

Let that sink in. There are millions of dollars being invested in black talent throughout the tech space, in a city where black leadership is in place to ensure a

promising socioeconomic infrastructure, as 21 Savage and Gucci play in the background. Hip Hop is the connective tissue between Atlanta’s pop cultural appeal and multi-industry access, making it prime real estate for networking between cross-generational innovators. Atlanta is the fertile ground where Hip Hop has evolved into an inclusive world of its own, embracing hybrid artists just as likely to go platinum as they are to launch lucrative business ventures. It’s a microcosm of the industrial convergence we’re witnessing globally. It’s only right that Atlanta is becoming the launch pad for our collective push into the tech industry.

According to Nielsen, black America streams videos more frequently on all devices than the total population. A whopping 90% of African Americans live in a household that owns a smartphone and have a higher weekly reach for social networking. Twitter would literally capsize without Black Twitter, we make up nearly 30% of the platform’s total users. African Americans 18+ have also shown a 70% growth in podcast engagement.

Meanwhile, 73% of African Americans 13 and older identify as gamers compared to 66% of the total population. All of this money being generated by black consumers, while 83% of tech executives are white. Google, Twitter, and Facebook alone only average black employment of 3.2%.As a marginalized people, we leveraged music to create economic access for ourselves. Now, as tech and Big Data have become America’s modern metaphor for the cotton industry, we are creating access and opportunity for ourselves again in the very place where we built our

Leverage in the first place. Just as the music industry had to embrace Atlanta to survive, Silicon Valley will do the same. After all, Black culture creates the trends that big tech uses to generate billions. Watch what happens when we make the trends and the technology to match it.

Dev T. Smith is a writer and contributor for REVOLT TV. Founder Sean “Diddy” Combs’ REVOLT summit will be in Atlanta Sept. 12-14.

It’s fall and the warm weather is leaving us for now. You are starting to dig out your hoodies, vests, thermals and sweaters to start the annual ritual of layering up. But before you layer one piece, designer Andrew Nowell wants to know one thing? WHO ARE YOU WEARING? And he is not asking about your top layers but what are you wearing

UNDERNEATH IT ALL

Well he hopes you consider his moisture wicking, fitness inspired, form fitting, high quality DASOUL Underwear brand. The DASOUL Underwear Crew consisting of Kal (l), Nana-Kofi (c) and Adham (r) will model the best of brand on the following pages. Photos: Alex Botic

Nana-Kofi Adams @nanakofi_adams

Kyle Lamont Boggan @the_speciman

Adham Gains Adham Gains @adhamgains @adhamgains

DASOUL designer Andrew M.Nowell @dasoul_underwear

Photos shot in Barking, United Kingdom

By Alex Botic @alexboticphotography

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FALL 2019 MENSWEAR

A M I R I

A M I R I

Missy Elliott Shares First Project In 14 Years With

"Iconology" EP

Missy Misdemeanor is back...even though she never left.

Fourteen years after Missy Elliott released her platinum record The Cookbook, the music veteran surprised fans with an EP titled Iconology. The album is aptly named as Missy is certainly an icon in the industry, and her five-track project comes just in time for Missy to be honored at the MTV Video Music Awards with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on Monday.

Iconology may be a brief project coming in at approximately 14 minutes, but Missy is still able to show off her adroitness as an artist. The EP opens

Atlantic Records/Derek Blanks

with "Throw It Back" and "Cool Off," two songs that offered up as club tracks meant to get listeners on their feet.

"DripDemeanor," featuring Sum1, is an R&B jam where Missy sings of love, sex, and all things intimate. The last two tracks, "Why I Love You," are one and the same, except Missy gives fans an additional acapella version. On that song, she sings her way through her emotions as Missy contemplates why she continues on in her relationship with a partner who isn't worth the love she's giving. Let us know what you think.

By Erika Marie for hotnewhiphop.com

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