DATING IN DALLAS
BAECATION MIAMI SUNRISE & YOGA
BEHIND THE LENS
WITH SAYBREA
"SCHOOL'S OUT & DRAYA IS IN"
MINT SWIM SUMMER 2015
RICO LOVE: TURN THE LIGHTS ON BUKU FESTIVAL'15
POST MALONE \\ FREEKO \\ BOBBY FISHA \\ DISTORTEDD
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COSIGN STAFF FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
KURTIS “KG” GRAHAM
MANAGING EDITOR
CHRIS PANAYIOTOU
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
BREANNA “SAYBREA” LOOSE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
MILANA ALCHEMISTA
ART DIRECTOR & LEAD DESIGNER VP OF OPERATIONS STAFF WRITERS
ISAIAH J. PERKINS RICKY WILLIS ASHLEY DIOR, SIERRA PAIGE, BRY JONES, JASMINE SOLEIL
branding + print for small businesses and start-up companies
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
KORI KANE & RODERICK J. PULLUM BLAKE LUMLEY, RODERICK J. PULLUM, STEPHEN "ESTEBAN" FRASER, DEMETRI SHEFFIELD, KICKBACK
EDITORS NOTES
OTHER SERVICES Brand Strategy, Visual Identity, Printed Collateral, Websites, Social Media Marketing & Business Plans
Summer 2K15 is upon us...COSIGN Magazine is thrilled about its ever-so-growing footprint on the game. We’ve added a few new members to the family to help bring you amazing visuals from across the country. From the Sasquatch! Music Festival in Salt Lake City to SXSW to BUKU Music + Art Project, we’re almost everywhere. Hell, we’ve even taken our talents to South Beach. Also in the issue are Rico Love, Hillary Clinton, and Draya. We’ve got a new #AskKori about maybe losing that significant other, but to offset that, we’ve also got Baecationing, just in time for the summer months. Issue XIII should be a fun and interesting time. Not to look too far ahead, keep an eye out for next issue; we’re going to L.A.! It’s our 4 year anniversary and we do our anniversaries HUGE! Stay tuned to our social media (@cosignmag) for details on #TheCosignExperience, coming in August. Now that the shameless plugging is out of the way, let’s get back to the #COSIGNLife. Enjoy!
MANAGING EDITOR
- CHRIS PANAYIOTOU
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Send subscription and advertisements e-mail info to Cosign Magazine/ Cosign Media Group, LLC Email: Info@CosignMag.com | Website: WWW.COSIGNMAG.COM
JUN | JUL | 15
ISSUE No. 13
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MIAMI SUNRISE & YOGA
RICO LOVE: TURN THE LIGHTS ON
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When you’re a photographer in Miami, you take advantage of just about any excuse to shoot a sunrise on the beach.
Rico Love speaks on his new album
BEHIND THE LENS WITH SAYBREA
DRAYA RISING
"I have never met someone so driven to consistently put out quality work and I believe this shows every time she posts"
With two fashion lines, a hit reality show and a feature length film under her belt, you might think Draya has peaked
BLAKE LUMLEY
MINT SWIM SUMMER 2015 ASK KORI HILLARY CLINTON AN OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL HISTORY IN THE MAKING DATING IN DALLAS BAECATION DISTORTEDD
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POST MALONE As you all know, Post Malone has made quite an impression in the music industry, securing his point guard position for Dallas, TX
[#COSIGN EXTRAS]
14 Freeko 15 Bobby Fysha 42 MGA-CZAR 8 School's Out 10 Erykah Badu 16 Kali Uchis 32 Buku Festival
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SCHOOL'S OUT PHOTOS BY: DAVID TAYLOR OF INPHINITE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY
Chanel and Mello just finished their Spring Semester and finally have a chance to start their summer vacation by hanging out by the pool and enjoying the #CosignLife.
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Freeko
FREEKO'S FIRST IMPRESSION INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY K.G. GRAHAM
Don Records has been making quite the name for their label in Dallas by throwing consistent concerts with major artists such as Lil Bibby, Lil Herb, ASAP Ferg, and now Lil Durk. It’s been rumored that Don Records will also host Lil Durk's Texas Tour, which places the independent label in a great position to showcase their roster. First up to bat for Don Records is the 6'6" Chicago native, Freeko, whose aggressive flow demands your attention with every bar. We caught up with Freeko on a scorching Saturday afternoon in our home studio in Arlington to talk music, Dallas, Chicago, and real life situations. At first glance you’d think Freeko was a basketball player due to his height and lean stature, but that's not the case. One thing he does have in common with most athletes is his competitiveness. "Pressure makes diamonds," said Freeko as he ensured us he's built for the rap game. He’s not worried about the flaws or gimmicks of other artists. He made it very clear throughout the interview that he has a solid team and he touts his loyalty to Don Records and his own imprint OUMG "Only Us Money Gang." After only residing in Dallas for little over a year, Freeko and Don Records attended SXSW this past March and it changed their mentality and careers forever. "As soon as we touched down in Austin and got out the car, we ran into Kevin Gates. We haven't even checked in our hotel yet," said Don, CEO of Don Records. This run in would not be as casual as most other artists experience when they run into celebrities during festivals. Their consistency and hunger led to a Kevin Gates feature on Freeko's debut project, and Gates dropped jewels on Don about the game and tools he could use to expand his artists’ reach. Don said, "It wasn't easy. We met with Kevin Gates early that day and I called and texted his manager all day trying to get a feature and it wasn't until 3:30 a.m. when we finally got that call that Kevin Gates was going to knock it out." Freeko's debut project, "Wasted Talent," is set to release late 2015 and from the few records I’ve heard, it’ll definitely make some noise in our region. He named his project "Wasted Talent," because his mother used to always say, “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” Of the three preview records I heard, my favorite is "Who Remembers" featuring Kevin Gates. Gates blessed the record with his 14 JUN | JUL
aggressive flow as he touched on situations he was currently facing with losing a family member. Freeko held his own on the record, which demonstrates his pure talent as an artist. Another stand out record from the project is "A'merie," which has quite a different vibe. The song’s a personal record that Freeko wrote for a girl from his past. With great verses and subject matter, Freeko’s already on the right track for success. Since it’s been said that that Dallas doesn’t have its own sound, we asked Freeko how he fits into the Dallas music scene, coming from Chicago. "I don't fit in. That's how I'm going to stand out." While many artists are following trends, Freeko’s doing his own thing and making relatable music. "I'm really just trying to make my first impression, my best impression. That's why we're taking our time with the project." As for Freeko’s musical tastes outside of his own music, he told us that he's really rocking with Post Malone right now and would love to work with him. He also mentioned that Lil B is his favorite artist, not for his talent, but for his originality and authenticity. One thing we can say here at COSIGN Magazine is that we #COSIGN Freeko, Don Records, and the OUMG movement. Search Freeko on YouTube and you'll see some of his recent performances, which will convince you that he's not only a rapper, he's a performing artist. #COSIGNLife
COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Bobby Fisha
BOBBY FISHA: TRANSITIONING DALLAS MUSIC INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS BY K.G. GRAHAM
Over the past few years, battle rap has become very popular in mainstream America. Rap battles that used to be an underground scene, now have major artists wanting to indulge into the culture. Artists such as Drake have been rumored to seek out battles against some of the most elite artists in the field. But, there’s one thing that majority of all battle rappers have in common; they all want a career in music outside of battling. “Why is it so difficult?” we asked. “How is it the most talented and creative writers can make you laugh, cry and angry, line after line, but have trouble writing songs?” We may not know the answers but we were lucky enough to sit down with Bobby Fisha, one of the best battle rappers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Fisha has been battling for the past 10 years and has been winning consistently for the past five. “I’ve won too many battles to count. I’ve won numerous cash prizes over and over but my favorite prize would have to be this WWE style championship belt I won that had my name put on it.” With his consistency in battle rapping and growing popularity, we were eager to find out why Fisha wanted to transition from battle rapper to music artist. “I’ve been making music for a while now but it’s hard to juggle battling and writing songs. I want to make music now. I took a step back from battling to solely focus on making music,” says Fisha. How does one get into battle rapping? Although the sport seems fun you have to have some type of confidence and passion for it. “The way I got into battle rapping was by freestyling. When I was young I used to make hilarious sex raps, when I was like 12 or 13, and it was ridiculous,” he said laughingly. “I started going to the Caribbean Grill battles back in early 2000 and I used to watch Headkrack battle. One day I finally grew a pair and I got on stage. I’ve been on stages ever since.”
As we all know, it’s not an easy process. It seems like you would have to find a new fan base and have them believe in your music, just as others believed in your battling. Bobby is confident he will make the transition very smoothly. “I’m a very diverse artist ... I can rap on anything. My style of rapping is aggressive but I can be laid back. I like showing my rhyming abilities.” While he has a few past projects available on iTunes, Bobby wants to make a strong viral push with this effort. “I’m releasing three new videos, singles, and they will each come with a shirt, so it’s going to be a package. I also want to release a visual for every record on my upcoming project. I want people to see and hear me consistently.” Fisha says that his first video will be titled “A Werewolf,” which he explained as a new age Michael Jackson “Thriller” that features Misty Romano (our covermodel for COSIGN issue 4). He also mentioned that he shot another video with a pack of wolves that will be released this year. With marketing tactics like that, you have to respect his grind. When it comes to Dallas music, there’s an abundance of talented artists who are all on the rise. Fisha says that he would like to work with Blue, The Misfit because he admires his music and production and that he’d also like to record with Slim Gravy of A.Dd+. When asked what he loves about Dallas, Fisha says, “The women, the weather, and our upcoming city, in every aspect.” I think it’s safe to say that Bobby Fisha has what it takes to make his change a positive one, not only for his career, but for Dallas as a whole. BOBBYFISHA.COM
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When you’re a photographer in Miami, you take advantage of just about any excuse to shoot a sunrise on the beach. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALYSSA GARCIA
SunriseShoot When Arienne told me that she was back from the Northeast and ready to start shooting again, I knew we really had to make sure to make it a great one. We were able to spend the morning on Bal Harbour Beach in North Miami.
QUITE UNLIKE MOST OTHER MIAMI MORNINGS, it was actually quite chilly. Despite the cold wind on the beach and the low light from the sunrise, Arienne worked hard to make sure it was all worth it. We were able to do a more traditional bikini look, and she was even brave enough to endure the cold water for a second look in a dress. 18 JUN | JUL
To check out more from our shoot or to follow Arienne on her summer adventures you can check her out on Instagram: @arienneabelle
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Yoga Shoot When you live in South Florida, summer is year round. We get the advantage of being able to enjoy the beach for just about any reason - relaxation, a birthday, even exercise. There’s something special about doing yoga on the beach. Once you begin your routine, the sound of the waves truly relaxes your mind.
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LEGGINGS PROVIDED BY JUST LIVE, INC.
justlive.com |Â Instagram: @justlivebrand
I had the privilege of spending an afternoon on the beach with Desiree, a local avid yoga enthusiast. It was an ideal afternoon at the beach. She was so knowledgeable about yoga and about so many different positions and their benefits to your body. If you are ever in need of inspiration for new positions or just to get out there and try something new you can check ouT Desiree on Instagram: @yogini_desi.
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Rico Love
RICO LOVE: TURN THE LIGHTS ON Rico Love speaks on his new album, doing the work and the music you need now. BY MILANA ALCHEMISTA
We met up with Rico Love in a loud nightspot that was unusually packed for a Tuesday night. Love and his entourage were posted in the VIP with the expected set up abound with food and Ciroc. Once we entered the booth to sit down with him, we found Love to be surprisingly down to earth and unmoved by what may appear to be his newfound success with his hit single “They Don’t Know.” If Rico Love seemed to have all the confidence of a long-time industry veteran, it was because he really is one.
or those of us that didn’t know, Love started his career in 2003 when Usher signed him to his record label as a rapper. He never fully debuted as an artist then, but the opportunity jumpstarted his writing career. “I wrote a song for ‘Confessions’ called ‘Throwback’ and I co-wrote ‘Seduction’ and ‘Confessions Remix.’ That was really my first taste of writing music and after that, when the artist thing fell through, I just continued to do it. I got good at it, I worked really hard and became successful.” It may have been for the best that Love turned to full time song writing and producing because it brought us those infectious hits
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Cover of Rico Love's debut album "Turn The Lights Off"
like Beyoncé’s “Sweet Dreams” and Pleasure P’s “Boyfriend #2” among many others. Developing his undeniable talent for writing came easily. “I feel the music. My process is … basically I don’t write anything down. I just kind of feel the melody. When I heard a chord progression and it stood out to me, I could write a strong melody and a lyric would just come second nature. But that’s because I come from a hip-hop background and freestyling and rapping you can always come up with the words. A lot of people come up with melody but don’t have the words or they have words without melody.”
THE RELEASE OF “THEY DON’T KNOW” cemented Love’s arrival as a standout artist. The song reached the Billboard Hot 100 list last spring and got thousands of radio spins last year. The transition from behind the scenes to the forefront, although long awaited, was a natural progression for Love. “I don’t believe [transitioning from writer to artist] was difficult. The music speaks for itself and I didn’t announce it, I just did it. I think people have a hard time when they try and announce themselves. It’s like when you go to the club and you tell the DJ, ‘Play my song,’ and right before he plays it he says, ‘Hold on y’all, this that new Rico Love!’ Automatically people wanna hate on you by nature. So as soon as they say that everyone is like, ‘Aww.’ So I just did it, I didn’t talk about it, I just put out the music and a song like ‘They Don’t Know’ is so infectious you couldn’t hate on it.” If you haven’t already heard “Turn the Lights On,” you’re missing out. In Love’s own words, “It’s the album we’re missing right now,” and Love’s confident you’ll agree. “Real music is gonna take a little but longer. I don’t make fluff, I don’t make turn up music, so it’s gonna take longer to connect with people because it’s substance. Like good food; good food that’s good for you - a kid don’t want it. They want junk food; they want McDonald’s until they realize it’s not good for them and sometimes it’s too late, but at the end of the day certain people gotta grow and mature to appreciate your record and I don’t mean by age, I mean by taste.” Follow Rico Love @ iamricolove and keep updated on all of his shows, performances and projects at ricolove.com.
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Distortedd
BY BRY JONES
Philly-based visual artist, Anhia Santana, recently blessed me with the opportunity to speak with her about her art, her story and how she plans to take over the universe, one dark visual at a time.
Her mind-bending imagery, paired with the gruesomeness of your favorite horror film, may scare some off, she admits, but it's catching the attention of those of us with a little monster living on the inside. n the art world, Santana goes by the name Distortedd and the word alone speaks for all of her work. Complex Magazine described it as "trippy meets trap" and to me she described it as "dark and extremely complex." She went on to say, "It [my art] represents my personality; scatter-brained. I'm just naturally all over the place." Now, I've been personally following Distortedd on social media for a little less than a year now, as it was "follow at first sight" when I first came across her work. Since our short 24 JUN | JUL
"internet-ship" has begun, I've watched her following grow and reach some major names. She gave credit and showed love to Action Bronson, saying that his making her work his avi last year is what really got her out there. But since that avi, the list of cosigns has continually grown for the Dominican native; from Erykah Badu to Metro Boomin to 40oz Van to OG Maco, Distortedd is getting love from all over. But even with all those big names, Santana claims her biggest recognition came from her hometown, when philly.com gave her a
full feature on their website. She claims this as her biggest accomplishment because all kinds of people now stop her at home, asking about her art and congratulating her on her craft. "There's nothing like that love at home," she says.  ALTHOUGH THE 20-SOMETHING (she doesn't reveal her age; she believes it ruins the mystery of her brand) Santana is where is she is today, she never forgets where it all started. When asked what got her started, she replied, “I feel my talent is
Twitter: distortedd_ IG: distortedd_ distortedd.com
God-given … I've been creating for years, for as long as I can remember.” Her mother being the interior decorator around the house and her father being the visionary, she knows that she gets her creativity from both sides of the family, but her father is her inspiration, she says. The two of them shared artwork with one another while he was incarcerated, sending drawings back and forth to each other through the mail. You better believe she still has them. The birth of Distortedd as a brand, however, happened 3-4 years ago when she got
her logo tatted on her. She says that that's when she knew it was real and she wouldn't look back from there. Distortedd pulls inspiration from her personal likes and interests, but she is a self-proclaimed "dark person." "There's a piece of me in each and every one of my pieces," she says. Her biggest projects to date are her "Chuckie" piece (available on her website, www.distortedd.com) and her Gucci Mane cartoon story video (in which she recently dropped a teaser video for on social media) that will be
featured in its entirety at an upcoming Gucci Mane art show. With 2015 already hitting that half-way point, Santana has big things planned and is preparing herself for whatever comes her way. She wants all the aspiring artists out there to know to “be yourself, whether it's creepy or not, don't conform to the audience. You can mold yourself without conforming, be smart and strategic.”
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Draya
With two fashion lines, a hit reality show and a feature length film under her belt, you might think Draya has peaked, but she wants you to know she’s just getting started. BY MILANA ALCHEMISTA PHOTOS BY CHRIS PAUL THOMAS & JARED THOMAS
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Most of us were first introduced to Ms. Draya Michele as the new girl on “Basketball Wives LA.” Saying her tenure on the show got off to a rocky start may be something of an understatement, given the level of gossip and outright slander that came her way. To the surprise of the many, Draya emerged from season one unscathed and returned for a second, third and now her fourth season on the show. She can easily be considered the show’s breakout star. Draya’s using her hard-earned celebrity to develop businesses, speak her mind and most of all prove the haters wrong. Draya started “BBWLA” type-casted as the naïve newbie prone to scandal; her introduction to the other ladies was rocky at best. With rumors swirling around her, Draya candidly addressed the mistakes she made and dismissed the outright lies. Not without her share of drama, she learned some important lessons along the way.
“BASKETBALL WIVES LA” PREMIERS JULY 12, 2015 ON VH1.
When you first started Basketball Wives, you were portrayed in a really negative light and it seemed like no one could do anything but bring up rumors from your past. How did you deal with that and transition into being one of the show’s central stars? I was pretty prepared for all of the negative things that were going to be thrown my way and I also knew there was a day where they were going to run out of things to say and I patiently waited until that day - today is that day. They don’t have anything else to say about me and I really just changed my lifestyle. I think if you keep that in mind when you’re going through life, then you don’t have to worry about what anybody says to you and I just deal with it like that. I just dealt with the stuff that I dealt with in the past as it came to me. How did you take back control of your image? I felt for a long time that I wasn’t in control [of my image]. I gave other people the right to tell my story or paint my picture for me and that was a big mistake. I allowed women to say horrible things about me. [Now] I’ve grown out of that phase; I grew out of not wanting to speak my mind because I didn’t want confrontation. I decided to start looking confrontation right in the eye and saying, “Look you’re not going to say just whatever you want about me. I’m going to tell the world about me.” And I just started, you know? Instagram and social media helped because I’m able to speak it and also show it. It’s like a log. You can go back into Instagram and see the changes [I’ve made] and you can see where I started. Do you feel you feel like you’re in control now? I’m in control. I don’t have anyone else to blame about things that are said about me because now I feel like I have a big enough voice to answer. If something is said about me that’s negative, then I have the choice to answer it and I can change it because I have a big enough voice, if not bigger than whoever it is talking about me. With all the success of the show and your visibility, you’ve become a real role model for a lot of young women, was that an intentional progression?
The role model word kind of scares me. I didn’t know that girls look up to me and it’s a tremendous responsibility. I wake up every day and after I read the news, I look at my social media and I see all the comments with girls saying, “We love you,” and I’m like OMG, I can’t mess up because if I do they’re going to think this is ok. They’ll think this behavior is okay, so me growing up and changing my lifestyle has a lot to do with my followers also. Like I don’t want to lead these girls off of a cliff, you know? What would be your life advice for those women that do look up to you? From a relationship standpoint, it’s ok not to look for love so young. I think that love is something that comes later in your life and you don’t have to be so pressed for it. These young girls are so infatuated with being in love and finding that someone that a lot of the time they’re finding the wrong someone early in their life, so it’s okay to be patient and so just have fun for now. What do you feel like people misunderstand about you? What do you want people to see? I am a designer and to respect me as a designer. There’s a misconception about clothing lines and reality stars. There are a lot of people out there that don’t know my brands well enough and they think that I just drop my name on something that’s already made and I think that if I had an opportunity to show my design process, it would turn a lot of naysayers into believers. That would make me happy because I would get a new amount of respect from a lot of people. And who would you consider to be your role model? Who do you COSIGN? I cosign La La Anthony. I think she has taken her radio and TV personality and she turned it into so many more things, so for someone who was on TV as themselves and can transform into this powerhouse that she has, I think I could cosign everything she does. She’s got books, movies; she’s got clothing lines, she’s doing it all.
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Mint Swim This past April, local heavyweight boutiques BDonnas and Jacque M teamed up with “Basketball Wives” star Draya Michele’s Mint Swim to host a fashion show as the culminating event for the inaugural “Pink Pumps & Paparazzi” Girlfriends Getaway event.
mint swim
SUMMER 2015 DRAYA’S NEW MINT SWIM SUMMER 2015 COLLECTION
Judging from her recent fashion show in Dallas, the new line promises
will feature a largely expanded plus size and children’s line. “I wanted
to mix in your old favorites (read: the flattering Fiona suit seen on
to cater to everyone. I listen to the feedback my customers give me
Instagram pages everywhere) with some new pieces that you will
and there were a lot of customers who wanted bigger sizes and there
absolutely need to add to your collection.
were a lot customers who wanted things for their daughters. There was a big request for ‘mommy and me’ suits. I just thought, why stop
Here are a few highlights of what’s available now:
at just regular sized bathing suits, why not every size bathing suit?”
Try The Nessa if you’re totally fine with it all hanging out Photo credit Mint-Swim.com
The Fiona is the hands down favorite and all time standout; extra points for original design and universally flattering fit Photo credit Mint-Swim.com JUN | JUL
Draya says that you can also expect something completely new from her other fashion line, Fine Ass Girls. “There is a whole new Fine Ass Girls line; there will be dresses and swimsuits. I’ve added some more affordable pieces and some swimsuits, which is a totally new thing. I just wanted to see if I could try it out and see how the swimsuits are selling. They [Fine Ass Girls and Mint Swim] are definitely a different target audience. Fine Ass Girls is definitely a younger brand for your everyday girl. I just design with that in mind.”
MARIAH $43.99 On Sale Ruffled triangle top bikini with full coverage tie-side bottom. shop.mint-swim.com/product/mariah
Needless to say, we #COSIGN the Mint Swim summer 2015 line. You’re sure to see these little bikinis on beaches everywhere this summer.
The Victoria will create a nice snatched waist effect Photo credit Mint-Swim.com
The KoKo will give you just a little bit of demure and a lotta bit of sexy Photo credit MintSwim.com COSIGNMAG.COM
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BUKU FESTIVAL 2015 New Orleans is known for a number of great things. Food, Mardi Gras, and umm…more food. Oh! And Cafe Du Monde, which is actually world famous for those tasty beignets and their signature cafe au lait. There’s also this really long bridge that just so happens to be the longest bridge over a body of water out of all the bridges in the entire world. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge…how about that? But one thing that New Orleans is also very well known for is their annual Buku Festival consisting of all sorts of music and all sorts of art. This year, Buku’s line-up featured artists from Passion Pit and Empire of the Sun to iLoveMakonnen and Lil’ B. We had the pleasure of covering this festival for the second time around this year, and we had a blast! Check out some shots from the festival captured by our head photographer SayBrea and interning photographer Blake Lumley. PHOTOS BY SAYBREA & BLAKE LUMLEY
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Relationships
Dating in Dallas
:
THE BAECATION The truest test of any relationship is spending time alone, free of diversions and outside interruptions. The vacation with bae is more than just a cute idea, baecation is essential to the well being of your relationship. It’s the perfect time (and often the only time) to see what happens when you pull back the distractions and if what you’ve got is real. WRITTEN BY MILANA ALCHEMISTA
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Ask yourself: “Can I ride this relationship until the wheels fall off? Will I have to smother bae in his/her sleep? Can I handle looking at bae's face for the rest of forever?” The baecation helps us begin to answer these pressing questions. Now I can't promise your vacation will be perfect, but follow my advice with fidelity and I promise your vacation won't end up a fucked up version of the “Hunger Games.”
1. Don’t break the bank on the planning side. Although balling out on your vacation is obviously tempting, do not go broke just on the planning side. No matter what, even if you stay at an all-inclusive resort, you WILL spend some money when you get there. I don’t care what your homeboy said about his trip to Punta Cana, you and bae don’t want to be on the struggle bus because you can’t afford to leave the resort. Don’t put yourself into the poorhouse before your arrival or your vacation will hurt your pockets so much more than necessary. To avoid super expensive prices, plan well in advance (we’re talking 3 months at least), compare prices, and look into packages offered through hotels and different travel agencies. A little bit of work on the planning side can save you hundreds of dollars. Feel free to ignore this one rule if “money ain’t a thang.”
2. Do your research! One cannot stress this enough. Nothing would ruin the mood more than you showing up with bae, only to find out your hotel caters primarily to families. Think about all the pissy
pools and screaming children you would have to endure. On the flip side, if you’re looking to have a more chill time, you probably don’t want to be at the “Springbreak-Inn” with a hot tub full of drunk super-seniors. Check out Yelp and Trip Advisor for reviews. Your spot might have four stars, but take the time to actually read the comments! One man's five-star is another man's hotel from hell. Don't take your accommodations lightly.
3. Don’t share funds on your first trip! Depending on where you are in your relationship, you probably don’t want to pay for the whole vacay on your own, at least not if you’re expecting to get paid back. Obviously if you’re to the point where you share money in your relationship, this is a non-issue, but if you haven’t had that talk yet, go ahead and pay separately. I’ve seen too many Judge Judy episodes featuring some girl crying because she maxed out her credit card because she thought her boo was good for it. False. But as the saying goes, “It ain't trickin’ if you got it.” Most of you won't listen to this, so I'll see you on Maury.
4. Don’t invite the homies. Just don’t do it. A true baecation is all about you and your boo. As soon as you start introducing your boys into the mix, it throws everything off. Now you're doing the same thing you were doing at home, except now you're being charged hundreds of dollars a night to do it. Don't misunderstand this rule, you can go on a friends trip and bring bae, but be clear about your expectations. You don't want your significant other to expect cuddle time and end up playing beer pong. If you are feeling anxious about time alone and feel the need to bring a bail out buddy, this is a sign you're not ready for the baecation.
5. Do plan an itinerary! Or decide upon a lack of an itinerary. You might be looking forward to zip lining in Puerto Rico, bae might want to sleep on the beach until 3 p.m. Be clear about what types of activities are appealing to you and have some kind of game plan ready. Make sure you both are on the same page about your plans. Everyone does not vacation the same!
If you are starting to feel overwhelmed - don’t! Baecationing is a breeze. As long as you focus on getting to know your partner and deepening your connection, your time will have been well spent. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, may the odds be ever in your favor! COSIGNMAG.COM
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BEHIND THE LENS WITH SAYBREA Although she is known by most as SayBrea, Breanna Loose is a Dallas-based concert photographer, magazine editor, college student, mentor and most importantly a friend. In the year that I have worked as her intern, I have been lucky to see the person behind the camera in a way that many others don't. PHOTOS & INTERVIEW BY BLAKE LUMLEY
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hat makes Brea such a compelling and talented photographer isn't her camera or even her natural talent, but rather the fact that she genuinely cares about the work that she publishes whether it be online, print, or even just a preview photo on Instagram. I have never met someone so driven to consistently put out quality work and I believe this shows every time she posts another feature online, or there is another photograph credited to her in an issue of this very magazine. While most are sound asleep after leaving a show, Brea will drive back home and stay up until every photo is perfect. It is this drive and determination to always do her best that has inspired me so much, and I feel fortunate to be learning from someone who isn't just "one of the best photographers in town", but actually is the best photographer out of Dallas.
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How did you get your start as a concert photographer? One of my good friends actually got me set up with my first show through Coffeemusic Hub in 2012. We saw that Schoolboy Q was coming to Dallas, my friend wanted to help promote/sell tickets or whatever, and I wanted to take pictures. So, she basically just e-mailed the people of Coffeemusic Hub and they were totally down with her helping with tickets and me shooting. They had never even seen my work before and gave me a shot. I had never shot a show or anything either, so the entire thing was quite the experience. How many concerts, festivals, and artists do you think you have photographed since you started? Oh, man. I have no idea. Hundreds. Too many to even think about. If you could be any artists personal/ official photographer who would it be and why? Hmm...that's a good question. I've done the whole "personal/official" photographer thing and I don't think I actually liked it as much as it sounds cool to do. You know what I mean? When you commit to a specific artist like that, it's hard to go and shoot other artists without someone feeling some type of way about it. I like to work with a lot of people. What is your favorite thing about working with COSIGN Magazine? My favorite thing about working with Cosign is honestly just being able to have a platform to share my creativity on, as well as supplying a platform for others that I can share their creativity on. What do you think you add to the COSIGN brand? I think I bring a nice photo gallery to
the table! I think that my standards for a publication such as Cosign are pretty high, so bringing that "I know we can do better" vibe to the whole brand is good for everyone's energy and motivation... even if it makes KG mad. What would you like to venture into? What is your main goal with photography? I really want to venture into more street style work. More studio shoots and conceptual work. But ultimately, I'll always want to continue taking photos of my favorite artists/musicians. That's probably the main thing...just to do more outside of the concert; more behind the scenes photography. And, of course, to live outside of Texas living my life as a photographer getting paid enough to do what I want and provide for myself and whoever I love. There are many event photographers in Dallas/Texas but many people respect your style of shooting. What is it about your photos that you think draw so many people to your art? From a random person's perspective, I think maybe it's the quality of the moment I capture that draws them in. As for artists and artist's management, I think it's the professionalism and respect that I give just for allowing me to shoot whatever it is. I'm really serious about editing all of my shots when I get home after a night of shooting that way everything is ready for a post the next day, and people just like the quickness I guess. We're sure you get asked this a lot. But, how do you catch the iciest photos at concerts when artists are jumping and moving around so much. Give us your SayBrea guide to shooting concerts. When I'm shooting, I'm really in my
own zone not really paying attention to anyone else. Most of the time I'm asking myself the same question, "How the hell did I get that?" But as far as a guide to shooting concerts, first and foremost, I'd suggest using a camera that can shoot really well in low lighting. For the longest time, I used my flash because the venues are so dark, but flash is seriously obnoxious all of the time. Most professional shooting environments, such as festivals and bigger shows with photo pits, you're not even allowed to use flash...at all. Mikel Galicia came up to me at a show we both were shooting and said, "Get rid of your flash!" At first I was like, "Nah, I like my flash you big bully." BUT, considering Mikel was, and still is, one of the best photographers I know, I took that advice and told myself I had to learn to shoot using my settings to get the same type of shot I was wanting. I just started forcing myself to mess with any and every setting. You also kind of have to know how to operate your camera by heart without looking. Everyone learns differently and every camera is different, so I can't say there is a "specific way" to shoot or something, but just make yourself shoot in Manual mode and learn your settings. Get in your own zone. Who does SayBrea COSIGN? I cosign all of the other photographers and all of the people that support me. I cosign anyone that pays for art. I cosign anyone that appreciates paying for art. I cosign anyone that understands being an artist is a job, not just a hobby. And I cosign anyone that creates freely without caring about what others will think.
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OG Maco: This is one of my favorites shots because of how candid it is. I love catching artists candidly, and this shot seemed to work out so perfectly. There were so many people walking up and down where he was sitting, getting in the way, walking in front of me, but I managed to snap this shot in the few seconds nobody was passing by as he looks at the stage and crowd of people he was about to perform in front of. Offset of Migos: OffSet is my favorite Migo, next to Quavo, then TakeOff, but I love them all so, so much. Free OffSet!! He just looks really good in this photo, from his hair to his glasses to the YRN clothing and gold chains. I wish I could have got his shoes! Erykah Badu: This image may not be a favorite of others, but it's definitely a favorite of mine. I love Erykah Badu, and I had the pleasure of shooting her performance for the grand opening of The Bomb Factory, the largest venue in Deep Ellum. That was my first time to actually shoot Erykah up close. I'll never forget that night! Travis Scott: This is one of my favorite shots, and probably my most favorite out of all of them. Travis does this weird thing with his eyeballs during his performance. He rolls them in the back of his head, and I always try to catch it, but never have been close enough until I shot him in Austin for his Rodeo Tour. DejLoaf: I love this shot because of two things. One, obviously because DejLoaf (she's gorgeous!), and two, because of the color. I just LOVE that purple lighting in the background. Post Malone: This photo is extremely recent, but I've received so much great feedback on it. This dude even told me it should be worth one million dollars. LOL. This is a favorite because Post Malone is from our home base city of Dallas, and this was taken at his first sold out show in Dallas. Such an epic night!
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COSIGN ISSUE XIII
Post Malone
POST MALONE’S FIRST SOLD OUT SHOW IN DALLAS *SWISH* As you all know, Post Malone has made quite an impression in the music industry, securing his point guard position for Dallas, TX. With only 5 songs out, Post has surprisingly been getting booked for shows all around the nation. Working closely with producer, FKi, the two are an unbeatable team.
“White Iverson”, as he is commonly referred to by, was welcomed ever so warmly to the stage in his home base city of Dallas last Saturday night for his welcome home show, presented by Cashaveli & 24kBric. The show sold out days before and had one hell of a line-up. Accompanying Post Malone that night, was FKi, Lil’ Uzi Vert, Reese LaFlair, Carti, Devy $tonez, G.U.N, MSE Gang, and of course, Dallas’ favorite DJ, bemyfriend. Need we say more?! THE WHOLE NIGHT WAS LIKE A MOVIE. Considering Post has only 5 songs out, his set took up all of about 20 or 30 minutes, but that 20 or 30 minutes was everything the crowd had been waiting for. He performed White Iverson and the crowd knew every single word. Even for his other songs that have just recently been released, the crowd knew everything. Post also blessed us with a new track, Forty Funk, that had the crowd absolutely ecstatic! Hearing new music from Post Malone can make any day a great one. We were so excited to cover this show because we knew it would be one for the books. And it was! Tears were shed and crowds were surfed, as the entire
crowd sang in perfect a cappella unity, “Saucin’ saucin’ saucin’ on youuuu, I'm swaggin’ I'm swaggin’ I'm swaggin’ on youuuu, I’m ballin’ I’m ballin’ Iverson on youuuu.” The happiness you could see in Post Malone's face during this moment was honestly tear-jerking as he smiled with the biggest smile showing his gold teeth and dancing around the stage in his own zone. 'Twas truly beautiful. CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THIS MEMORABLE NIGHT IN OUR HOME BASE CITY TAKEN BY SAYBREA & BLAKE LUMLEY.
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39
HILARY CLINTON: AN OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL HISTORY IN THE MAKING BY CHRIS PANAYIOTOU
This election cycle, Hilary Clinton makes her historical run for the White House, 2.0. She has become a polarizing figure in American politics, yet stands the best chance to date to become the United States first female president.
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WHILE STILL ONLY THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE,
as she was in 2008, she still has to win her party’s nomination. One thing working in her favor is that the 2008 Barack Obama isn’t running, but even still, there is a significant portion of her own party that isn’t thrilled about the prospect of President Hillary Clinton. She’s viewed as too friendly with Wall Street, not liberal enough (at least in the eyes of the progressive wing of the party) and she has been inconsistent and/or ambiguous on some issues (NSA surveillance, gay marriage, immigration, etc.). Her connecting with voters is also a concern. In 2008, an emotional moment and tears shed lead many voters to see her as relatable and down to earth, but there have been questions raised about how relatable an internationally known, wealthy career political wife and politician can be to the average American. Progressives have been calling for long time consumer advocate Senator Elizabeth Warren to run, but she’s consistently said that she’s not interested. The two other candidates, Senator Bernie Sanders and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (the only declared Democrats at the time of this article), would be running to the left of Clinton. Sanders is a favorite of the left and has started strong, but some question his electability. O’Malley is a relatively unknown commodity outside of his home state. On the other end of the political spectrum, there are cries of conspiracy and cover up. From the Benghazi issue that the right has clung to but didn’t prevent President Obama from being reelected, to the email server scandal that has yet to prove itself sinister, to her husband’s past scandals, to questions about donations to the Clinton Foundation and what domestic and foreign donors’ generosity buys them, her election is being characterized as potentially the worst thing that could happen to the country (which is basically what we’ve been hearing about the current administration, and the one previous). Her tenure in the Obama administration could also be a factor for some voters, as at the time of writing this, Mr. Obama’s approval rating is at 46%. This isn’t particularly telling right now, but depending on the political climate in November 2016, his approval rating could help or hurt a Clinton candidacy.
Another asset is her political resume. She is a former First Lady, a former U.S. Senator and a former Secretary of State. And while she held no office at the time, her time in the White House likely allowed her access to much of her husband’s dealings as president. Hillary Clinton is also very popular. A Gallup poll in 2014 named her the “Most Admired Woman in the World” (although the entire world doesn’t vote for president) for the 17th time in 18 years, and a May 2015 Quinnipiac University poll found her to be the most popular politician in the country, outperforming all Republican candidates. But again, we are still about 18 months away from the election. While my political leanings are irrelevant to this story, I’ll be closely following this election (as I do many of them, #PoliSciMajor) for the drama and the sport of it, not to mention the long term implications it would have on the country. It’s still too early to predict many variables, including who the actually candidates will be. Hillary’s run has no precedent, other than her own. The “18 million cracks in the glass ceiling” she took credit for last time may have set her up for finally smashing through it. Will it mean anything for women in society? Perhaps it will, perhaps it will serve as inspiration to the next generation of women, similar to what the Obama presidency has been said to have done for people of color. Perhaps her run and/or win will just be more of the same. Many things remain to be seen.
WE DO NOT COSIGN HILLARY CLINTON (OR ANY OTHER CANDIDATE) FOR PRESIDENT, BUT SHE IS FLIRTING WITH HISTORY AND HER FEAT WILL BE OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE, IF ACHIEVED, THEREFORE WE DO COSIGN HER EFFORT AND HER TRAILBLAZING FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS.
Clinton does have some advantages though. The fact that she is a woman could be beneficial in that her opponents may need to be more “gentle” in criticizing her. In the 2008 election, Joe Biden was careful to not appear to bully his female counterpart, Sarah Palin, in the vice presidential debate. Is this a sexist perspective? Maybe, but politics are often played to the prejudices of the voters. With that being said, could a Republican candidate be viewed as insensitive if they take a hardline approach to Clinton in a debate? Very possibly, but Clinton is also a weathered political figure, so perhaps that would be of minimal concern to her opponents. COSIGNMAG.COM
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41
LONESTARR PRESENTS MGA-CZAR:
RIGHT HAND OF GOD
pon first listen, this one looks like a winner, and it continues to win upon 10th and 20th listens. Czar’s found the sweet spot between great production (all courtesy of his in-house producer Lonestarr) and lyrical, content driven bars that offer knowledge and enlightenment, while incorporating current events, protest and themes of the Nation of Gods and Earths. The album begins with Rodney Blu’s theatrical, motion picture-esque intro and flows into a somewhat dark but mello place before it transitions midway through to more up-tempo and lighter cuts, yet the subject matter doesn’t necessarily lighten at the same pace. At times I got the same feel I did from Scarface’s “The Fix,” particularly on “Holy Big Brother, Divine OG” which features an captivating hook from Freddy Sans (whose singing voice is beautiful, I must add). Czar’s ode to his street affiliation, “Lullaby For The 415,” is so contagious that even street dudes from the other side will find themselves singing along with it. “Don’t Need” featuring Paris Pershun of A.Dd+, perhaps my favorite song on the album, is an intelligent and defiant ‘Fuck you!” to the status quo and institutional racism.
While most of today’s rappers cower in fear of “hurting their brand,” or offending others or not being politically correct, “Larry Davis” is filled with angst and ire toward law enforcement and the abuse of authority. Hell, the song is named after a New York man that was involved in a shootout with NYPD, in which 6 cops were shot (he was later acquitted of attempted murder and aggravated assault charges related to this situation). Tunk provides a gritty sixteen and the cops lose in the end. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the content, it IS an important point of view missing from
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most hip-hop today, and its fearlessness is refreshing while morbid. Lord Bryon donates a verse on “Torch Ceremony” and Jaeson Green and Febefly’s vocals shine on “U Ni Verse”. This is a grown man’s hip-hop album with serious subject matter. It’s a pretty damn good album, top to bottom, yet some bars may fly (or even soar) over some people’s heads. Based on this one here, expect to see MgaCzar start getting a lot more attention and a lot more COSIGNs in coming months.
COSIGN MAGAZINE
Relationships
Email your questions for Kori Kane’s COSIGN Advice Column to: info@cosignmag.com and check back next issue.
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