In this issue: Features 03
dj samore top 5
interview rewind (past features) 07 jabari hayes 10 sonet 12 tokyo jetz cover
14 spark dawg check out our 2022 media kit on page 19-22
Peace to the people, you can just call me OC I’m here with Ford ent Magazine and I have a special guest, Mr. Jabari Hayes. We’re gonna get into this interview I’m gonna let him introduce himself and tell you a little bit about his story and then get into some of these questions. First, let me tell you why he’s here. He has a documentary that he stars in, produced by himself and Mr. Shawn Mathis. Just tell us a little bit about that. I’d rather you tell us what the documentary entails.
My name is Jabari Hayes, and my documentary is ‘Miles in the Life’ directed by the infamous, the vainglorious, Shawn Mathis. It’s a story of redemption, the story of inspiration from the crackhouse to Moorehouse, to prison house... All the houses. It’s a story! A lot of people when they think of BMF, (Black Mafia Family), they think about $270 Million cocaine conspiracy, 2,500 kilos every month. They think about the parties, the strippers, the clubs, the money, the cars, and the houses. But it was really about a brotherhood with the sole purpose of being the best at what we were doing at that time. So we wanted to give the audience and the world a different perspective, like fathers, men who took their talents and put them in the wrong direction like trafficking and selling cocaine. But we’re just a collection of men who tried to do something different. It was wrong, and now we’re rebuilding our lives and we wanna show the world that you can be a father, you can be on PTA, you can be a faithful husband, you can be a business owner, you can get everything back you were chasing and more, just legally.
The one question I’ve been waiting to ask since, you know I watched the documentary, me personally, I don’t know how you feel about it but when you came up with this concept, did it ever cross your mind, that “somebody might look at me as a snitch” or somebody be on my heels or something. How did you deal with that thought process? I love that question! Number 1; What I tell people all the time, number 1, in this life, for us, I would have been dead. Period. Someone else was on house incarceration like I was, as a condition of my bond. Unfortunately for those people, don’t know em, don’t know anything about them, but the girlfriend and him didn’t live. Number 2; Paperwork is paperwork. Number 3; I have family members who allegedly associated, and this isn’t just a light question, its a very heavy question because my own family would do me. And it sounds crazy to even say that but this is the reality. I sleep good every night, I slept good inside too, because I know what I did, and it’s just a blessing to be home, to be free, to live good. Never have to look over my shoulder, still in communication, at a distance, from a lot of people coz they’re still in prison or other places so the communication isn’t good, because things have a way of intertwining. When your circle is that way and you’ve got that skill set, people that may be listening, they put you together. But I’m glad you asked that question because that’s always something I like to
address upfront. I still speak to people, go to birthday parties together, I don’t go to no clubs... but that’s a big question, people don’t understand when you’re reckless and you don’t know anything, this is for real life. Because you see me in a suit, coz I’m a happy guy and all the rest of that stuff, but don’t try me, and I couldn’t try them or else I wouldn’t be sitting here today. And I’ve been free for 10 years, go anywhere I want, any city, anybody, any place. Don’t let the suit fool you... It’s not something I brag on, but unfortunately, I got caught with $586,000 and 100 plus kilos of cocaine. But that wasn’t the first time, or the second time. That wasn’t the third time or the 4th time. So when you have a certain position in an organization, you need to play your role. So you need to look like the average person because they don’t think you’re a drug dealer. When you said that in the documentary, I said “that man is smart.” So how was it dealing with when you were first brought into the organization and they saw you in the suits. Did any of the guys try you? They didn’t try me, but a lot of them didn’t trust me in the beginning. But they didn’t know coz if you look at me you would never think I started trafficking at 6. At 6 years old I started trafficking trading bags of weed for my mother
from next door to home. I was gun-running in my teens. So a lot of people didn’t understand it. Until you try, test it and true and you get pulled over, you got bricks in the car and your homeboy in the back and you cooler than a fan, and telling him to calm down. Lifetime ago. So yeah, it’s a time thing. People watch you. But after a while, you’re just there. Because what happens is, they never see all of us coming. BMF is comprised of Mexicans, Cubans, Blacks, Light skin, Dark skin, everything. We get to the same point, we get it done. It’s a business. That’s what people forgot. They thought it was just drugs, but it’s a business. Telling those stories of when you got pulled over, you seem pretty calm telling those stories. At that moment, were you as calm as you spoke about in the film? I felt it, but I didn’t feel it from me. I felt what the whole mob’s money on my back, I felt it for everybody else because I had been used to it. I had been doing it by that time, for 20something years so that shut-off valve wasn’t there. You know it’s wrong but this is part of life. It’s what we
“At 6 years old I started trafficking trading bags of weed for my mother from next door to home. I was gun-running in my teens.”
“I got caught with $586,000 and 100 plus kilos of cocaine. But that wasn’t the first time, or the second time, that wasn’t the third time or the 4th time.
”
do for a living. And not only is it just the mob’s money, but it’s my family too. People loosely say things, but they don’t understand that the whole family gets killed if things aren’t right. If the paperwork ain’t right, if when they look on that sheet, what the police wrote down, if that’s not right, everybody dies. It’s not just “oh he done told on us.” No, it’s a whole lot different and it’s a weird feeling. You get so brazen that you want them to pull you over. You done got away so many times. Like, you want them to. I know how yall live. I know the question they’re gonna ask before they even ask them. I know what spots they’re going to in the car because I’ve read everyone else’s paperwork and discovery. It wasn’t a game. I remember the story you told about they wanted to look inside the limo. Me, I would have just said No. I wouldn’t have thought to take them through and actually run it like I’m a car salesman. Meanwhile, they’re turning up seats. For you to hold your composure like that, what was that like at that moment? At the moment, it’s your time to shine. Because your life depends on it. They can kill you, take the work, or you can go to prison for who knows how long, so at that time it’s a surreal time. You’re a different person because you want to make it home. You want to get away from them, but you gotta be
calm. It’s the craziest feeling you’ll ever have but you know you have to be calm. Because if you’re not calm, you’re gonna blow it, you gon be in the back of that car and it’s over.
had from track, I was All American in Track and Field at Moorehouse. So getting into trafficking, pushing myself, being part of a team, it was so And after they let you go intoxicating. That, to you just... this day, that is my *Exhales* I’ve never robbed drug of choice that I a bank, nor do I want to. fight against myself But I could imagine, the every day. adrenaline rush. See my drug of choice was adrena- Last question, the line. I don’t use drugs. I two businesses, the don’t taste drugs. I sample valet service and nothing. ‘92 was the last limousine service, time I had a drink, but traf- cover-ups, or true ficking drugs, that was my entrepreneurial everything, I lived for it. It love? was my everything in my Both. I started the life. It wasn’t my child, my valet company, no mother, my father, my wife. drugs involved, I It was BMF, them drugs, and started the limoufeeding my addiction. Those sine company, no were the biggest things. drugs involved. Then Number 1, number 2, and they transitioned number 3 in my life, then from there. But now me. the Body shop business, collision repair, Going back, all the way paint and auto body back to the beginning, insurance stuff, that what made you dig within business gives me to find that desire to everything I need. It pursue the BMF life. feeds my addiction I had a cousin. He didn’t to cars, to being a bring me into it. I actually part of a team, to wanted in. He wouldn’t let still giving people me in, because I was his something that cousin and at that time, they didn’t have when he was the king of St before or when they Louis. He was bigger than brought it in. Yeah, Meech and T, so I had an it feeds all of my instant pass into the life. addictions. And for somebody who liked to have a lot of money, I love to drive, still, and that Interviewed by OC was an adrenaline junkie IG: Oc_Vibez that was looking to replace that runner’s high that I
“I’m talking Global baby!”
SONÉT Built to Win
As interviewed by @nine5fourmagazine What’s your name and where you from? I was born and raised in Pompano Beach Broward County Florida. How long have you been making music? I’ve been writing music since I was 14 years old. How would you describe your sound for those who have never heard your stuff? I would describe my sound as engaging. Who are some of your musical influences? Some of my musical influences are Whitney Houston & Michael Jackson. When did you realize you had enough talent to take music seriously? I was in high school, about 15 years old, when me and two other friends were sitting in my mother’s Jeep and one day we decided to play some instrumentals and do a couple of freestyles. From that, I found an instrumental, wrote to it and the rest was history. The next day I had a full song and we went to my friend’s cousin’s house to record
it. There was a mic stand in the middle of the room and I had to record in front of about 10 people. Once I got the finished product, I thought this was something I could do for a very long time. Especially since it came so easy to me. What are your writing prices like? Do you write to a beat or do the lyrics come first? Depending on the mood, I don’t always need a beat but some of my most inspirational songs come from a true story with a fire beat in the background. Tell us about the song “fake everything”? The song fake everything is based on true experiences. And what I took from those experiences is that not everyone you encounter, whether it be friends or even a family member, will always be capable of reciprocating what you invest into a relationship genuinely and transparently. What do you think you can add to the game right now? What I would bring to
@inprincewetrust the game is an original and refreshing sound. I don’t only make music just to have a whole lot of body of work. I create music to inspire. If you can choose any mentor to help you navigate the entertainment industry who would it be and why? I would have to say Master P or Jay Z. Reason being?... The names speak for themselves. What is your motivation to succeed as an artist? My Ol Girl! Most definitely. She taught me to always have a vision. Put passion behind it, build it, push it and above all else be CONSISTENT! Who would be your dream collaboration? My dream collaboration would be with Michael Jackson & Bruno Mars. What are some of the things you want to accomplish as an artist? Some of the things that I would like to accomplish as an artist are
to perform in London, China, Africa & Australia. I’m talking global baby! If people want to get a better feel for your sound what projects should they check out? They can definitely take a listen to the last project I put out in September 2019. Verbatim. I allow the listener to be able to choose from a variety of styles from pop to hip-hop and R&B. Do you have any projects coming up that we should be on the lookout for? I’m currently working on my 1st EP. Self-titled Sonét. I’m working on releasing it this summer in July. Tell our readers now where they can follow you on social media? You can look me up on all the major social media platforms. I’m on Instagram @iamsonet. Facebook SONÉT. Twitter @IamSonet_ And YouTube SONÉT.
I am on the phone with the one and only Tokyo Jetz. Our beauty of the month your pictures are amazing. Tell everyone how what you’ve been up to and what you’ve been working on. I’ve been recording my ass off. And basically been trying to get back to the swing of things after having my son and after corona. And I have a project that’s getting ready to release, and a video getting ready to release, and you know, I’m just ready to get back outside. I know with Corona, it slowed a lot of things down. Did it slow things down for you, or did you use that time to pick things up? I think for me it was a little bit different, I had just become a mom, and it kind of gave me time to actually be inside with my son. I had realized the time had gone by until it was time to throw my son another birthday party. So it’s a little bit different for me, I kind of got the chance to bond with my son whereas if Covid didn’t happen it would have been a whole different situation. Now being a mom and haven’t spent that much time with your son, has that changed your music as far as the vibe or theme of it? I think so but, just in a way I’m a little bit more open, I allow myself to be a little more vulnerable.
Take us through a little through the journey of your music, a little backstory for any unfamiliar. I started doing music maybe 3 or 4 years ago, I started doing videos in my car and they used to go viral. And I spoke to a lot of different people, and one of the people who actually stuck with me was T.I. we really clicked, he was one of the people that care more about what I had going on in my life outside of music, my livelihood and my wellbeing. We started to do business from there, I went on tour with Hustle Gang, after that, I actually wrote a book a little bit of last year, and I’m about to release my first album in 2021
Is that an avenue that you intend on exploring? the Writer portion of your career? Yeah, absolutely, I actually started on my second book and hopefully, it’ll be done by maybe around September, October. It just a whole lot that goes into writing a book more than I thought before I did it.
Going back to your current project that you’re working on, tell us a little bit more about it. The title of the new project is “Cancel Culture.” I decided to name it Cancel Culture because basically in 2020 and in the current culture we’re living in right now when people make a mistake the world is just so eager to jump on you and take everything away from Tell us a little bit about your book you no matter how hard you work My book is titled Mind over Matfor it and it’s just kinda backward ter, it’s basically focusing on mental to me because in the same breath health, and I decided to actually we’re all about “uplift Black Womwrite it because I used to have en, and focus on your mental really bad issues with anxiety. And health”, and those people don’t I spoke to people I trusted about care, they don’t care what you’re it, my family, and of course in the going through, they don’t care Black community people don’t take about anything outside of that as if mental health seriously so, I didn’t they don’t make mistakes. So that’s get the response I was looking for, why I decided to name it that and so I actually decided to talk to a you can expect to hear how I felt therapist and I decided to write the in those times, you can expect me book from there because I realize a to talk my shit because I’ve been lot of people are going through the quiet for a really long time. And I same thing and they don’t have an just got some to say, and the world outlet, in the same way I didn’t. gon hear it.
It’s your girl Ladychelle, Ford Ent Magazine and I’m here with Spark Dawg. From the moment that I met you through a Fleet Djs Conference call, I was like “Who is this kid!!?” Who are you, where do you come from and how come we’re just now meeting? Spark: I’m just a kid that was born in Central America, in Panama, and due to the military I ended up being raised in Killeen, Texas. Which is connected to Fort Hood, Texas which is the largest military base in America. LC: So you’re a military kid? Are all the stories about military kids true?? Tell us! Spark: I don’t know, I can’t really speak on it too much because I was only a military kid only for probably my toddler years, my dad got out of the military when I was young, so I didn’t experience too much of the military life, but I definitely was raised in a military town. LC: Coming from a foreign country, being raised in America, your dad in the military, tell me how all of that shaped your creativity growing up. Spark: My dad he’s from North Carolina, he’s from the south. My mother, she’s from Central America, she’s Panamanian, so I feel like my range in music is pretty broad, I wasn’t even born in this country, so I have an ear for all types of music and I just mix it all together. With me being in the military, in a military town as big as Fort Hood, we get people from all over the world that’s stationed out there. So it’s really a melting pot of a lot of different cultures, where I’m from, it just
seems to work out for me when it comes to this music. LC: Tell us about how long your journey has been so far in regards to music and where you’re at right now. Spark: The journey started probably fresh out of High School, it’s probably when I took it seriously, I’m on my second record deal right now. I used to be in a rap group a long time ago with a lot of friends I grew up with in high school, and we were actually signed and discovered by a Texas legend by the name of Scarface. We put an album out with him, as a collective, as a group. The name of the group was Green City. Put an album out with them, and it was titled “Scarface presents: Green City, Brand New Money.” It was a one-album deal for the group and it was a great experience, a great way to actu-
ally introduce me to the game. Because being from Texas and having a cosign by somebody like Scarface, it really doesn’t get any bigger than that. And I feel like that first situation for my solo record deal that I’m now with Drumma Boy and Drum Squad Records, that’s the focus. LC: Tell us about being part of a group then deciding to go solo, a lot of times people kind of box themselves and stay for the group, tell us about that switch and how you came about that decision. Spark: It wasn’t really a hard decision because the group situation, was always in my mind a stepping stone for what I wanted to do with my career anyway. I mean those are my friends, I grew up with them, but we’re all individuals, we all have our
own creative lanes and things of that nature, so it was never a hard decision. It really was just the evolution of Spark aka Spark Dawg. LC: You said you’re on your second deal, so tell me about meeting Drumma Boy and how he became involved in your situation. Spark: I met Drumma Boy actually in Tennessee, at the Southern Entertainment Awards a long time ago. I don’t even remember what year it was, but it was a brief introduction. But we really got familiar with each other in Texas during SXSW, I just happen to be in one of the clubs he was hosting a showcase at. He remembered me from when we met in Tennessee a while ago and asked if I wanted to perform on the stage, and I took advantage of the opportunity, and I guess I blew him away because we developed a real strong relationship communication-wise after that. We kept in contact with each other, and I ended up hitting him up when I went to Atlanta for A3C. When I hit him up and told him I was in town, he invited me to the studio, and him being someone of his stature, who’s won Grammies and has produced records for
the biggest people as big as Kanye West and Yung Jeezy, I knew then, for him to invite me into the studio, that he saw something in me and that was the opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I took full advantage of that, went to the studio, and blew him away. Blew him away so much that a few months later, he just started sending me beats at no charge. And this is a man who gets $20, $30, $50 thousand dollars a beat. For him to give me beats because he wants to hear me on those records, I knew I was on to something. LC: With your journey what I’m hearing is an artist who, on purpose, was on the grind and said this is what I’m gonna do. No part of LUCK even falls into that. You named some of the biggest music conferences, you’re literally the timeline, the blueprint, a lot of artists are trying to accomplish. So what is the advice you would give to an artist in regards to working and really getting themselves out there? Spark: I think you just can’t stay comfortable and complacent, you have to get out of your comfort zone and go get it. If I just sat around in a small city named
Killeen, Texas expecting to blow up, just by being the biggest or hottest rapper from Killeen, TX, that’s nothing but bragging rights. That’s not gonna do anything for me, it was a conscious decision, I knew I had to get big outside of my city for everything to come full circle and for everything to make sense. Don’t nothing come to a sleeper but a dream. LC: A lot of artists merge different parts of their lives and creativity, I know you’ve already gotten a craft that you are pushing along with the music, which is jewelry, the golds. Tell me about that craft and how it works in conjunction with you being an artist. Spark: It’s the perfect
marriage for what I got going on. I’m gonna be honest, I’m from the streets like a lot of people, I’ve hustled like a lot of people, and in my younger and immature days, I used to think that if wanted to be a rapper, the perfect dream job would be somebody who sold weed or something. I thought that was cool at the time. But I realized, for me to have a legal hustle like selling golds, there’s nothing cooler than that to me right now. It’s legal, and I don’t have to look over my shoulders. And this also ties into my whole brand, my name is Spark, I’m known to shine, and truth be told, I’ve actually been in the gold grill business since I was in High School. This has just gradually gotten bigger every year
for me, it’s really a match made in heaven.
Spark: It’s cause I came from nothing.
LC: Will there come a time, when you do music full time and forget the gold? Spark: Nah I can’t. I’m from Texas, you gotta understand. Gold grills are something that’s instilled in us. The whole grill culture itself just makes sense. This is the way I was able to fund my dreams before meeting Drumma Boy or Scarface. So I’ll never stop doing that, it’s a part of the brand. And people who don’t know me as Spark Dawg the rapper, they know me as Spark The Hood Dentist, so it works out.
LC: Tell us more about the upcoming album, any singles we need to look forward to? Spark: As far as singles, I feel like I have an album full of singles that’s what’s crazy. I don’t particularly like any record more than the other, and my opinion might be biased but they’re all hit records. I can just name a few records y’all, Trill Ass Nigga, we just shot a music video for that.
LC: Let’s go back to Spark Dawg the rapper and tell us about your next project. Spark: The project is titled “Kill EEN” which is an acronym that’s a spin-off of my city of Killeen. The Kill is obviously self-explanatory, the EEN stands for Everything and Everybody Now. And that’s just the mind-frame that I put myself in when it comes to music, like, I’m killing it. I’m killing everything, when I say I’m killing everything, I’m killing all the beats. When I say I’m killing everybody, metaphorically speaking, I’m killing all the rappers. I just feel like that’s how I’m coming. It’s really a lifestyle and not just the title because if you see right now, this ain’t even no fluke, I wear Black every day like it’s a funeral, that’s the mind frame I’m in, I’m really gon kill shit. LC: I just need an ounce of that drive and energy, what’s the key secret to that juice that keeps you going?
LC: What else can we look forward to on the album? I have a record called “Quarantine Vibes,” which is crazy, especially with the times we’re living in. That’s probably one of Drumma Boy’s favorite tracks on the album. Even at the music video today we were still going back and forth not knowing which song we were going to shoot for. The whole album is crazy, I can’t wait for y’all to hear it. LC: You seem to have a clear path in front of you in regards to what you’re trying to do, at what point will you feel like, “Yes, success, I’ve made it.” Spark: I need a plaque. It’s just inspiring and motivating to be where we’re at, in Drum’s crib, and to see the countless plaques on the wall, he has so many plaques, some of them are on the floor. When I get to that point, yeah, I’ll probably feel accomplished. I’m just trusting the process and enjoying the journey.
“Trill Ass N*gga” Behind The Scenes, Music VIdeo
Behind the scene coverage by: Tia Evette Films Instagram @TiaTheeCreator Twitter @TiaTheeCreator FaceBook: Facebook.com/TiaEvetteFilms
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The Iron Circle
4 ways to improve sleep in the face of daily stresses and work-life demands Do you get enough sleep each night? Do your loved ones? Or are you a “short sleeper,” someone who routinely sleeps less than seven hours per 24-hour period something known as short sleep duration. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society both recommend that adults aged 18 to 60 sleep at least seven hours each night to promote optimal health and well-being. Increasingly, researchers are finding that poor sleep quality and duration is associated with a slew of negative health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, stroke and Alzheimer’s. Most U.S. adults (88%) understand quality sleep is critically important to overall health, but a third of Americans (33%) regularly sleep less than the recommended minimum seven hours per night, and 44% do not have a serious sleep routine, according to a consumer survey by Tranquility weighted blanket brand. In the same survey, general stress and anxiety was the top barrier to getting good sleep. So, how can you improve sleep in the face of daily stresses and work-life demands?
1) Establish a sleep routine
including wind-down rituals and a consistent bedtime, even on weekends. Wind-down rituals could include bathing at night, turning down lights, setting your devices to nighttime mode or Do Not Disturb, relaxing with a weighted blanket, and cutting off eating and drinking several hours before your established bedtime.
2) Incorporate small, realis-
tic changes, like adjusting your immediate environment with cooler nighttime temperatures, new bedding or limiting evening screen time, versus more drastic changes that may be hard to maintain, like making a career change or cutting out coffee cold turkey. Giving up caffeine drinks can improve sleep, but less than two in 10 (19%) adults said they would be willing to try this tactic, whereas about a third would be willing to change bedding or adjust screen time habits.
3) Tie your new routine to exist-
ing habits. Behavioral scientists say we are more successful adopting new healthy habits when they are tethered to existing ones. If you watch TV or read to unwind before bed, adding a weighted blanket that elicits a calming sensation through the application of deep touch pressure can compound the relaxing effect. If you work out in the evenings, adding a few minutes of gentle yoga, breathwork or meditation to the end of your session can help prep your mind and body for sleep.
4) Give yourself time to settle
into your new routine. There will be days where family, social or work obligations disrupt your new pattern, and cutting off screen time or eating and drinking well in advance of bedtime is an impossibility. This is where a meditation routine or weighted blanket can come in handy, helping to quickly quiet a busy mind or body close to bedtime. Eventually, you’ll be reaping the health benefits of consistent, quality sleep.
