Issue76: Twin Cutz #BarberIssue

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5 Upcoming Industry Events 6 DRT Global Top 40 Publisher Ford Ent Magazine, LLC Editor in Chief Rachelle Ford Chief of Staff Stanley Jones Jr. Writer/Interviews by Rachelle Ford Copyright © 2023 Ford Ent Magazine, LLC All rights reserved Contact Us: 239-281-4033 Fordentmagazine@gmail.com

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8 The Ultimate Barber

10 1126 Elite Training Academy 12 TwinCutz

16 RawkNykz

18 Music Review: AntoneNow 20 Event Spotlight: Lolo Foundation

21 What Does Loving Yourself Look Like?

22 5 Iconic Hairstyles that

Shaped Hip Hop Culture

IN THIS ISSUE

The_Ultimate_Barber

TwinCutz_CEO

RAWKNYKZ View the full interviews on our website

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Check out our exclusive interviews with these Master Barbers inside this

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I’m here with the Ultimate Barber. What up?

How you’re doing? Introduce yourself to the people.

How you doing? My name’s John Hall.

Branded as The Ultimate Barber. I’ve been in this business for about 37 years now. Coming out of the DMV area. My barbershops are in the Alexandria, Virginia area, right on the side of Washington, DC. We opened our first location in 2017, 2016. We’ve had the brand since 2010. And things have been going well.

Now, tell me about that lane itself. Why Barbering? How did you step into that lane?

Oh man, I think it found me <laugh>. I didn’t find it. It’s in the family. A lot of people in my family are either cosmetologists or barbers. So you know, more of a gift. It came easy to me.

So, you know, just a blessing from up above just to be able to have those talents and skills where I was able to pick it up pretty quickly.

And just from there, I just started to have a passion for it, fell in love with it.

You mentioned managing multiple shops.

How do you balance that and still remain yourself, a creative?

To be honest with you, you know, not just opening a barbershop and just being able to operate it, but operating it from a bird’s eye view. So learning. I actually went back and took a course or two as far as being able to manage and run a beauty industry business properly. So I took a couple courses on numbers, how to follow numbers, how to track the numbers. So now with technology and being able to use some of the software that we have here, I’m able to, they say that numbers don’t lie. So I’m able to track the numbers and the numbers are actually able to tell me, what’s going on in the barbershops, what’s needed, what’s not needed, what we have to kind of remove, what we’ll have to implement. And from there’ve being able to operate a successful business from that.

Speaking of bird’s eye view, you’re giving people a perceptive into what you got going on. You’ve got the camera following you around, telling about your life as The Ultimate Barber. So tell us a little bit more about that series and what people can expect from watching the episodes.

What you’re gonna see from that is, you’ll see a little bit more than just the just the Barbering aspect. I think on there, I did a mobile cut. This was, you know, right around or right after that time with Covid, so people were a little still uneasy coming back into the barbershop per se. I had that on there. Had some salon suites, so I ventured out into that right before Covid. Just getting another aspect of just ownership, business ownership. I had a 37 suite concept called Ultimate Salon Suites, some promo. So just getting some recognition in some major publications, magazines there.

So we had took a trip to the bookstore, said we gotta find one of those magazines. Cause I think it had just came out.So we did that.

And you know, just the life too as well. Got to be able to meet my family. Went to visit my mother. She talked about a little bit of my history there. My uncle, he was a Barber in the Navy back in the fifties. We talked and then some of the Barbers here within this area of the DMV that influenced me, got to able to go and talk to some of those guys as well. The older guys there were amazing; those are the ones that really gave me a foundation of what to follow as far within the industry there. So got to talk to them too.

Now, being that you have so much time invested into this industry, into this game, really 37 years, what is the biggest lesson that you would say was a constant, that carried you throughout that journey that you always had to go back to?

So there’s two things that I teach to the younger Barbers when they’re coming into

the industry.

And these two things right here, I said, if you keep this in mind, if you implement this, you’ll have a great career. This industry will take care of you. I told ‘em to be consistent and be reliable. Those two things right there.

Consistent, as far as with the service that you’re giving to a client. Then reliability. Be on time, be punctual. I was taught by the older Barbers; one of the things that they instilled in me was, always be waiting on the client, don’t have the client waiting on you. So just those things there. Making sure you’re just being consistent and reliable. I guarantee you do that, you’ll have a very successful career as a Barber in this industry.

What else can we look forward to? Where they can find your shops, where they can visit you, where they can follow all of the endeavors that you have going on.

We’re in the Alexandria, Virginia area here.

You’ll find us here, just look up The Ultimate Barber. We were franchising as well. We kind of pulled back just a little bit on that. But we’re taking a little different course there.

Partnering up with some guys here within the industry and we’re gonna do something on a major level. Can’t disclose too much right now, but it’s gonna make some noise with y’all.

And just with that, you can find us, we’re on Instagram.

The_Ultimate_Barber

Eleven Twenty Six Elite Training Academy Go ahead and introduce yourself and let everybody know about the services that you provide.

Hi guys, my name is Nyema Thomas. I am the proud owner of Eleven Twenty Six Elite Training Academy, and I offer a wide variety of services.

Everything from concealed carry licenses; I offer pistol, rifle, shotgun shooting classes, hunter safety. You can get your hunting license through me as well. I’m an officer with Florida Fish and Wildlife, in addition to being a licensed firearms dealer holding a Federal firearm license.

Tell us about the pro side of owning firearms and knowing the proper way of using them and being completely licensed.

The benefit of owning firearms and exercising your right to bear arms, in general, is that you could be able to protect your family, your property, and your loved ones. Nobody plans to be in a situation where they have to use a firearm, but we definitely want to make sure that we are prepared in the event that we have to exercise these rights by equipping ourselves with the necessary tools to be able to defend ourselves and our family if need be.

fundamentals, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced student. I educate when it comes to the fundamentals of safe gun handling; I go over the different parts and components of a firearm, just because you have to understand the firearm itself in order to be able to use it safely. So I go over different techniques when it comes to holding and safe gun handling. I teach my students how to travel with a firearm; I promote safety and responsible gun ownership versus just, you know, going somewhere and getting a gun.

You have to be educated. In addition to that, I teach about the different types of ammo just because there are a lot of things that can happen when it comes to accidents if you don’t have the correct type of ammo in your pistol. I also teach my students how to actually perform firearm maintenance, meaning taking the gun apart, cleaning it, and all those things, because firearm maintenance plays a big part in eliminating or preventing accidents as well.

How did you get into that line of work?

It has always been a passion of mine. My dad, who’s no longer with us, was ex-military. He actually fought in Vietnam. So How do you take a newbie I’ve been shooting since I was or someone who’s unfamiliar probably five or six years old. I and get them to where they’re was a daddy’s girl, so he taught comfortable enough to be me the ropes when it comes around guns and actually get to shooting, hunting, fishing, licensed? you know, I was outdoors type.

I always start my classes with the So I’ve always wanted to start

my own business. But after my mom passed, I decided to do something that I have a passion for, and because my mom and I were supposed to start a catering business because my mom loved to cook, so I was gonna kind of be a silent partner.

But then, we never got around to doing it because she passed away. So in order to honor both my parents, I wanted to do something. I was able to use the knowledge that I gained from my dad, but I started my business in memory of my mom, which is how I came up with the name for the business ElevenTwentySix Elite Training Academy. November 26th was my mom’s birthday.

What is the number one rule you would suggest to your students in regard to owning firearms in the home where there are children?

Firearms safety is a very big deal. And so that’s one of the main things that I teach my students; not to carry a bullet in the chamber, just because that’s the number one cause of death when it comes to accidental shootings involving kids. What happens is, these kids find these guns, and there’s a bullet in the chamber, and they pull that trigger, you know, and that’s how that happens.

And it could be avoided by just being a responsible gun owner.

And that’s why I really promote responsible gun ownership.

What type of laws do you feel

are needed to maintain that balance between still being able to have the right to bear arms and also keeping our schools, our churches or our, or people safe?

That’s always a sensitive or touchy subject. And it’s a huge topic that needs to be discussed, and not a lot of people like to discuss that because it is a major problem. In my opinion, I think that the background checks and all that, all those things are there, but I think that a lot of times, we have individuals who will go and purchase a gun for someone that’s not supposed to have the gun. So the problem is there are too many illegal guns out in the streets because, and these are the things that are not being reported. Majority of these mass shootings and things like that, they’re not being committed by people who went and legally bought a gun the legal way. So with the shootings, they try to use those situations to push the narrative. But in actuality, it’s not the responsible gun owners; it’s not the licensed gun owners. It’s these people that are buying the guns off the streets or the hot guns and things like that. And they use those guns in order to commit these crimes. So it’s not fair to penalize the people who are doing things the right way.

As a teacher, have you ever come across someone where you refused them service?

I’ve had a situation where, a couple of young ladies came and they were attempting to

attend my class, and I had a conversation with them, and I spoke to them from the heart, just because, my heart and soul is into this business. So it’s not just me trying to make a couple of dollars or whatever.

This is my community. This is the community that I grew up in. So I want to actually make a difference in my community, so I’m not going to block my blessings for a couple of dollars.

get some practice in. It’s a way to de-stress, actually. And then eventually with the hopes of being able to compete in competitions against other shooting clubs at some point.

I also plan on bringing a youth program. I am an instructor with Florida Fish and Wildlife, and they have a lot of youth programs when it comes to the kids as far as firearm safety and education and things like that. So I was recently just Let everybody know where they approved to be able to teach the can take your classes or where curriculum that we teach with they can check you out.

Florida Fish and Wildlife at 1126.

We’re located at 4100 Evans So I’m excited about that.

Avenue, suite four.

That’s in Fort Myers, Florida, 33901. The concealed carry class is actually also available virtually, and you can access that class on my website. You can also find us on Facebook as well as Instagram.

We have a lot of amazing things that I’m hoping to kind of be able to launch and bring to you guys in the future. I am starting an all-women’s shooting club. It’s called Girls With Guns. The hope is to bring likeminded women together in order to, for us to be able to network and get some shooting,

www.ElevenTwentySix.org

1126 Academy

to see because he had so much drive and inspiration at the time. He was actually a true My name is Sean Casey, most people know innovator himself because he passed he was me in the city as Twin and I am the owner and the one already starting to scale his business. founder of Twin Cutz Barbershop. Which I Unfortunately if he didn’t pass, I would have established in 2010. loved to see his growth. And I wasn’t even on that at that time. I was just, moving here, I And I remember, you were on the scene a lot, want to open up a shop myself one day, mayyour networking grind was always on point. I be in New York, I gotta work at a place, build was reading an interview you did before and up the clientele and work, and get my shop. that was a key point of your growth, it was the What I needed to do to build up my clientele networking. Let’s dig into that a little more how while I was paying my bills and taking care of you went from that to now owning 7 shops. my son was, how can I make money behind I moved here from New York in 2006, I had a the chair, cover my cost and make a little bit relationship in Ft Myers because I went to high extra? While I lived in New York, I worked school here. I moved to Ft Myers, back in the mid 90s, to go to high school from New York and while I was in High School, my girlfriend at the time got pregnant. So I always had a relationship coming back and forth to Ft Myers, and my grandparents lived here as well. So I went back to New York at the time to get my Barber license, and just kind of get focused and get my head straight. And in 2006 I made a major move to come to Ft Myers, one being I wanted a bit of a closer relationship with my son, it was always going back and forth, long distance, I felt like I just needed to settle down and get a little bit focused, but it was such a change from living in such a populated urban community and growing up with millions of things to do and coming to a town like Ft Myers that’s a little bit slower paced, especially in 2006, compared to what we see today. So that being said, when I moved, I worked at a Barbershop called Platinum Creation, a buddy of mine who owned the shop, his name was Rodney Jackson, I went to high school with him at Cypress Lake High School. He had a shop open and was like “yeah, come work for me.”

So I started working at his location and unfortunately he passed away a year later, he always had a heart condition, so it was unfortunate Let everyone know who you are and what do you do?

for a record company called “lyricist lounge” as an intern. I used to stand on the corners, in Time Square, pass out flyers, all around the city, I was always networking and club promotion. This allowed me to really learn and understand Guerrilla Marketing, handing out flyers and business cards and most importantly building relationships. So I took that same type of structure and brought it to Ft Myers and had the ambition of opening up my shop the same way you would run a record label. One of my first early clientele, he as a DJ in the city, his name was DJ Spiff. We would know him as DJ Ditto back at that time, and he was from New York as well so we shared that common interest, and we said “you know what’s missing in this area? Stage for performances. I learned from working with Lyricist Lounge which was a show on MTV and before that, was always a platform for a lot of artist that made huge names for themselves, as far as Biggie, Mobb Deep, and whatever, Bid Daddy Kane and everything.

So being in the city, I was like man there’s a lot of talent and I started doing these open mics that featured graffiti, Hip Hop, Battles, Spoken Word, Comedy and I started with my clientele and was like alright, I can make money behind my chair as well as charge like a $5 cover at the time to make a little bit of extra, so now I’m making money through club promotions as well as making money at the barbershop, and that transitioned into me

turning it into a nice big stage event which led me to start doing night clubs in downtown Ft Myers, such as club Level, and everything else. So there was a time in my life where I was “Twin the Promoter”. But at the same time, while I was making that money as a promoter, I never stopped working behind my Barber chair.

So I was still cutting hair and keeping that relationship and as soon as I made enough money coz I couldn’t get a loan, I didn’t have the credit at the time, but I knew I had a dream of opening up my own Barbershop. As soon as I started saving enough money by combining 2 incomes, I was able to invest into my first barbershop.

I love that you brought that creativity, the graffiti, the Hip hop to the your shop. Was that strategic?

Yea, it was definitely strategic, there’s was a couple of things, I used name brand recognition, all my events had always (shows arm) this was my logo on my arm. I had those on flyers, and in the clubs I would put business cards into the bathrooms, when you walked into the club, everybody saw Twin Cutz and there was a time, downtown where we were booking the city at capacity, week after week after week so the recognition made sense. So when I was able to create enough income to start my own Barbershop, I took the same name, people say where do the name come from, well people call me Twin

and I cut hair, or Twin the promoter because I cut records, so it was like Twin Cutz, so I grabbed that name and I put it on the shop. I never thought I was gonna scale and get more shops. My goal at that time was just to have one shop. So strategically, using brand recognition, putting it on the barbershop, people drive by and say “oh that’s the same guy with the promotion,” people recognize it and gears traffic. As far as the asthetics of the shop at the time, I was always a lover of art.

Being from New York, I love pop art, everywhere you go in the city, there’s grafitti and all types, from the trash can to the poles and there’s always some type of stencil art, paper art, I was a big fan of Basciat, he’s one of my favorite all time artists, Andy Warhal, Keith Hearing, these were all big artists from the 80s, 90s, that had big statement pieces that I always was a fan of.

So opening up my shop, I’m always incorporating touches of pop art and creating a cleaning atmosphere to invite all people, it’s very important for me.

How do you carry brand recognition throughout your shops, and still allowing them their individuality?

It’s kind of like the structure of still maintaining a small, local mom and pop feel but incorporating that franchise Sportsclips type of structure.

So they had that organization there’s an atmosphere, there’s a system that’s very important for those

businesses to keep moving forward but I also like the individualism and I also like the art. So I want my shops to carry that system, and that’s the only way that I’m able to kind of copy and paste each shop. But as you go to each shop, each shop has its own identity as well. They may have all the apoxie style floors, but each shop might be little bit different color, there might be pop art on the wall, but each shop has a little bit of different variation of pop art as well. You’ll see things that kind of connect everything, but at the same time, it creates a difference and it’s kind of how I hire for the businesses as well. Geographically, where shops are located, I look for Barbers that are going to fit best, that is going to make them the most successful, as well as create the right atmosphere for each location.

How do you go about choosing who to put in your shops?

At the beginning stages when I just had one shop, it was a little bit different with the relationships that I had with Barbers, to now where the brand has grown so much that I get people that reach out to me, that I’ve never seen before, or students that know of me, or even me as a teacher, I’m able to build relationships and provide that opportunity as well. What I’ve learned within my business structure is to try to give everyone the opportunity to have a little skin in the game. You can come in as a Barber, and you

can develop into a manager, which you can also become an operating business partner. I do have a small team of people that are constantly growing as I expand my business, so it’s not just me at this stage. There’s a Barber who’s got a percentage in 3-4 of my locations and when he came, he came from a shop in Cape Coral, said “hey Twin, I work at a shop, I don’t see a lot of growth, I’ve heard a lot about your business.” He started working as a Barber, turned into a manager at my McGregor location, now he’s a part owner of that location and he’s also an investment partner in a few of my other locations. So I try to create that opportunity because, in reality freedom and time is very important for me. So if I do 5 shops by myself, I don’t have time to do all the other things that inspire me and I’m too business and I still like to be an artist. So I look at is as, can I one day have 50 locations and even have a smaller percentage of the business but make a small percentage of 50, or try to have complete control of 100 % of 5-7 locations and have no time for anything else.

In following your purpose, how do you handle it when life still comes at you with the challenges?

I try to tell myself daily, because I’m human and I’d lie to say emotions didn’t bother me at times. But as I’ve grown, the concept of being better not bitter and also telling myself that, do not get

angry over things you have no control over. And if it’s not health challenges at times, if it’s not relationships with people, within the business that sometimes doesn’t work out in the way that you want and there’s seperation amongts people. There’s always something to even mechanical issues to even pandemic issues, to hurricane issues, there’s always things being thrown at me so I have to tell myself there’s always a solution. And by me telling myself there’s always a solution and bringing myself to the now. And not avoiding those things, and not forgetting about those things but taking a second to digest those things and accept it. And look at it all angles, and even how I can maneuver differently and giving it time then I’m able to say ok what is next. And I think that’s what’s helped me time and time again, through this constant journey of growth.

Let’s talk briefly about your teaching and what took you to that lane.

Yeah it’s funny, never thought I would get in the teaching lane, especially the type of student I was in school. I was never inspired by school, I always was creative, I always liked art. And I think back in 2010, 2011 I started seeing things on social media, was starting to get a little bit more growth and more movement and more visual and I was seeing they were doing Barber battles in other cities and there was more opportuni-

ties and I started investing myself and started going to these places and realizing that there’s a whole circle of people that are very excited to be doing the same thing that you do. And I always looked at that as when you’re around the same circle in life, around the same people everyday, sometimes you get stagnant because people are comfortable with what they’re doing. So, visually seeing this and being around it, sparked some interest. And I did it for about a year, on my own dime, spent money to go to different cities, different hair shows, and again to me going back to the importance of relationships and meeting people and speaking to people and supporting people. I wasn’t just going up and asking what can I get, it was going up to people that I recognized and respected and liked their art. And I would buy their hair combs, or I’d buy their Barber capes, and start building those type of relationships and just by doing that, you run into the right people and the right people gave me the right opportunity and one of those people who gave that opportunity was a clipper company called Andis that’s been around for about 100 years. Like anything else, there was a lot of tests that I had to do, in order to actually get that position. And when I got that position, it changed a lot in my life. It started sending me out to different states, which also brought

it back home by having that type of training, getting the opportunity to work with local Barber colleges in the area.

And I started finding a second passion that I kind of never thought I’d really have, is to develop a mentorship with new and future professionals and out of every I do, that ahHa! moment with students when you just give them a clipper, and turn it on, and their hand touches some hair and they’re like wow, I can do this. I can achieve it. That’s the best feeling for me. I like that over all the stages I work on and all the places that I visit, I will always love that aspect of teaching.

Are you still learning? Do you still invest in yourself?

I’m a strong believer that once you feel that way, that’s your start of your decline. You should always learn. No matter what I know, no matter how many classes I’ve taught. I’ve taught over 10,000 students. I’ve been in 37 states, between trade shows, Barber

schools, Barber college, salons, individual training, and I still almost yearly, find

TwinCutz_CEO

somebody who inspires me pay out of my own pocket, sit with that person. And I come as a student, and I don’t talk about any of the accolades that I do, or anything that I do.

And I absorb everything I can learn from that person. And I’m constantly being a student and I always take those investments that I do on myself and bring it back into what I’m building. Because things always change, and things always grow and there’s always going to be able to teach the basics. But there’s always new techniques that if I’m not doing them behind the chair, at least I have the knowledge to speak about them in relate those type of concepts when I’m speaking to people to help them get where they need to get in life.

Go ahead and introduce yourself and let everybody know who we have on the line right now.

Hey guys, this is Nick, Mr Nick, RawkNykz all of the above. I’m very glad to be here, Master Barber, I’ve been cutting hair for a long time.

Tell us a bit more about your history and more about “Mr Nick” I’ve been cutting hair 21 years, I have a barbershop down in San Diego, the barbershop is a military shop, I’m a Marine, I was out there for 15 years in San Diego, and the moment I got out the Marines, I opened up a barbershop. We’ve get 7 military bases in San Diego, so we have nothing but Marines and Navy personal all throughout the city. So all these kids would come to the shop when their parents were coming in, it’s all respect.

They just started calling me Mr Nick, so online, my Instagram handle is RawkNykz, that’s my artist name, but I put Mr Nick on there because, you know, the kids. It’s all about the kids, really.

Let’s talk about the art of barbering itself. What classifies it as an art?

That machine is my brush, and instead of adding paint unto a canvas, I’m taking the hair off of the canvas. So I’m doing art backwards, haircutting is painting backwards.

And my canvas is the head, and all heads have different shapes, different contours, and the only way to be a good Barber is if you understand head shapes, contours, dents, and all that because that hair is my paint. I love describing it that way, especially when I’m teaching and stuff. Because when I explain it that way, I help them see every single one of you is an artist. Believe it or not, you are an artist.

Being that you’ve been a Barber for so long, do you feel like “hey I know it all now?”

Always, always room for growth.

I’ve been cutting 21 years, I be-

came the head Barber instructor at Paul Mitchell for 2 1/2 years, I recently left mid January. And I’ve told my students this, that I’m learning from them. The moment anybody, in no matter what industry you’re in, the moment that you’ve closed your mind from learning, and building and being able to learn from other people, you’ve stopped everything. You’ve stopped yourself from growing, you’ve stopped yourself from building, you can never become the best version of yourself, you never will.

In movies, barbershops have always been portrayed as a staple in the community that affects change in the community, do you think they still play that role?

I think the small business barbershops have not.

But there’s a lot of barbershops now, because of the age, the change, social media, what people deem as important and priorities they have in their lives, some of them don’t have that family-eske type of environment that you do need to be that neighborhood community center, which is what I like to call it. But the small business you’ll definitely find more community center barbershops, than with franchises or these big brands that are all out there. One of the biggest tools and the keys you can have when owning a business is definitely working with the community. And understand customer service and all that stuff, these are the things that will help a business thrive for years and years and years to come.

Back to you as a professor, what are the top key components that you teach your students?

When I’m talking with the Barbers, I tell em, I can help anybody become a Barber. I can teach anybody how to fade. Give me a couple of heads, give me some hours with you, I can definitely help you do a straight line, I can help you fade, I can help you. But what is hard to create is good character, what’s hard to create is taking away bad habits from people. Because while we at the school, I’ll get people from all walks of life. They come from different areas where they’re raised differently, they don’t have good morals maybe or something is going on with them, but they choose to be a Barber so something in them is still great. So what I like to teach them is, one of the biggest components like I said earlier is customer service. If you understand that you had just joined a service

industry or we are here to make people feel good.

When that moment they walking into that shop, when they sit in that chair, when you offered them a drink, make them feel good and pamper them, you talk about their day, you talk about their business, you make that person feel like they’re the only thing that’s going on in that shop. If it’s a shop that’s lively and building, and we’re watching a basketball game and we’re all together, that’s that community that everybody feels like they’re a part of. And that’s really what matters. So when it comes to these students, teaching them customer service is important, teaching them how to market themselves and become a community partner by themselves, those are some of the things I let the know. You will not build up your clientele if you do not have that customer service; you will not be successful in this game if you don’t know how to give. I’lll teach you how to cut hair, that’s easy.

But everything else, if you don’t have it, you could be a great Barber with bad manners, bad attitude, and nobody’s gonna sit in your chair. I’ve seen Barbers that can’t cut, but they have incredible customer service, and their haircuts are all messed up, lines on the side, but clients are still coming to them. And I was like wow, there’s something there. That was the beginning of my career when I figured that out.

Let’s talk about the significance of self-care and mental health.

Since we were kids, if you wanna go to the mall, you go get a haircut first. You wanted to get a haircut for the weekend, you wanted to get a haircut to go to school on Monday, you always got a haircut. Because when you look good, you feel good. 100% and if that Barber behind that chair can make you feel better, it’s beyond words.

Because the feeling that you get when you get a haircut, when you get your hair done, when your nails just finished getting done, when you’re finished getting your skin all cleaned up, you glow.

You will glow with just a simple haircut, you will glow with a Barber behind that chair explaining to you how to take care of our hair, how to style, how to make yourself look good. Because when you walk out that shop, everyone’s going to look at you different.

RAWKNYKZ

Catch our Music Reviews on FordentMag.com LoFi Hip Hop at Its Finest: @AntoneNow’s ‘The Family Tree’ EP AntoneNow’s latest EP “The Family Tree” is a beautiful showcase of LoFi Hip Hop at its finest. The EP is an introspective journey that explores themes of self-reflection, elevation, and growth through conscious hip hop.

The EP is a testament to the quality of production with a vast array of instruments that give the tracks a unique texture and depth. Each track is a masterclass in its own right, but “Regards” is a standout track where AntoneNow dedicates the song to his parents, reflecting on his upbringing and the sacrifices his parents made to shape him into the person he is today.

Another track that stands out is “Buck” where AntoneNow and Eli The Guy keep it 100, making it clear who they are and what they stand for. The track is a perfect representation of the EP’s central themes, which encourage listeners to stay true to themselves and their values in the face of challenges.

Overall, “The Family Tree” is an EP that is sure to leave a lasting impression. We recommend that you check it out on your next ride home when you’re on that good vibe, good energy flow. The EP is a beautiful tribute to the power of music to inspire and uplift, and a reminder of the importance of self-reflection, elevation, and growth.

Send Music to be reviewed at FordentMagazine@gmail.com

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Sparkling Dreams: Empowering Jada Ford’s Handmade Delights We are thrilled to introduce you to Jada Ford, a remarkable 15-year-old prodigy with an insatiable passion for creativity and unicorns. Jada is not your average teenager. She is an award-winning author, a talented beginner pianist, and an avid DIY enthusiast. Now, Jada is ready to embark on a new journey, and she needs your help to bring her dreams to life. We invite you to join us in supporting Jada’s Kickstarter campaign to raise $5,000 for her very own business venture: handcrafted bean bags, aromatherapy-scented pillows, and adorable crochet teddies and eggs.

The Business Idea: Jada’s business will revolve around three magical elements: bean bags, aromatherapy-scented pillows, and crochet teddies and eggs. Each item will be infused with her love for unicorns, vibrant colors, and a touch of whimsy. Jada believes that handmade products have a unique charm, and she wants to bring joy and comfort to people’s lives with her creations. By supporting Jada’s Kickstarter campaign, you’ll be helping her acquire the necessary tools, materials, and resources to turn her vision into reality.

Why Support Jada’s Kickstarter Campaign: Nurturing Young Entrepreneurs: By supporting Jada, you’ll be investing in the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. Your contribution will not only help Jada achieve her dreams but also inspire other young minds to pursue their passions fearlessly.

Unique Handcrafted Delights: Jada’s bean bags, aromatherapy-scented pillows, and crochet teddies and eggs will be unlike anything you’ve seen before. These one-of-a-kind creations will bring warmth, comfort, and a touch of whimsy to any space or person lucky enough to own them.

Unleashing Imagination: Jada’s journey embodies the power of imagination and the beauty of DIY culture. By supporting her, you’ll be encouraging others to embrace their own creativity and pursue their wildest dreams.

How Your Contributions Will Make a Difference: Materials and Tools: Your support will enable Jada to acquire high-quality materials and tools necessary for her craft. From premium fabrics and filling for bean bags to aromatic oils for scented pillows, your contribution will ensure that her products are crafted with excellence.

Production and Packaging: Jada’s products require time, dedication, and attention to detail. Your contributions will help cover production costs and ensure that each item is meticulously crafted and packaged with love.

Marketing and Promotion: Establishing a successful business requires effective marketing and promotion. Your support will aid Jada in spreading the word about her unique creations through various channels, including social media campaigns and attending local craft fairs.

Tinyurl.com/JadaMadeIt

the Lolo Foundation: Memory in the park

Camelia “GiGI’ Schley is a mother of three who has been fighting for racial justice for Black men for over a decade. Her battle against gun violence began in 2006 when her 18-year-old son, Angelo Gary, was tragically killed in a shooting at the Michigan Link apartments in Fort Myers, Florida. Angelo and his cousin, Marcus Battles, were celebrating Gary’s birthday when they were shot and killed near the porch of their grandmother’s apartment. Since her son’s death, Schley has been committed to helping her community heal from the trauma of gun violence and violent crime. To that end, she started a non-profit organization called “Loving on Loved Ones,” or Lolo for short. In April, in memory of her son, Schley and the Lolo Foundation organized an event to celebrate his life and raise awareness about gun violence.

The event was a success, with attendees sharing their love and support for Schley and the Lolo Foundation. Pictures from the event show community members coming together to honor Angelo Gary’s memory and to promote peace and healing in their community. The event was a testament to the power of love and community in the face of tragedy and loss. Through her work with the Lolo Foundation, Camelia Schley is making a difference in her community and helping to create a better future for her children and generations to come. Her dedication to racial justice and healing is an inspiration to us all.

event banner by fordmagpublishing.com

What does LOVING yourself look like?

Self-love is an essential aspect of our well-being, yet it can be a difficult thing to cultivate. Loving yourself is not about being self-absorbed or selfish, but rather it is about taking care of yourself, treating yourself with kindness and respect, and embracing who you are as a unique individual.

How you can cultivate a deeper sense of self-love in your life?

Loving yourself means taking care of your physical health. This includes getting enough rest, eating nutritious foods, and engaging in regular exercise. When you prioritize your physical health, you are sending a message to yourself that you are worth taking care of. This also means taking care of your mental health.

Engaging in activities that help you relax, such as meditation or yoga, can be incredibly beneficial for your mental health and overall sense of well-being.

Loving yourself means setting boundaries. It’s important to know your limits and communicate

them to others.

Saying “no” when you need to and standing up for yourself can be incredibly empowering.

By setting boundaries, you are showing yourself and others that you value yourself and your time.

Loving yourself means embracing your unique qualities. No one is perfect, and that’s okay.

Embrace your flaws and imperfections, and recognize that they make you who you are.

Celebrate your strengths and talents, and don’t be afraid to let them shine.

Loving yourself means practicing self-compassion. When you make mistakes or face challenges, be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend.

Remember that you are

human, and it’s okay to make mistakes.

Loving yourself means pursuing your passions and interests. Take the time to explore what brings you joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s a hobby, a career, or a personal goal, pursuing your passions can help you feel more fulfilled and satisfied with your life.

Loving yourself is about treating yourself with the care and respect that you deserve. It’s about setting boundaries, embracing your unique qualities, and practicing self-compassion. By cultivating self-love in your life, you can create a stronger sense of well-being and live a more fulfilling life. So take the time to prioritize yourself and your needs, and remember that you are worthy of love and respect, just as you are.

5 Iconic Hairstyles That Shaped Hip Hop Culture 1. Afros:

The Afro was a popular hairstyle during the early days of hip hop in the 1970s. It represented a sense of black pride and identity.

3. high top fade:

2. cornrows:

Cornrows, which are braids that are close to the scalp, became popular in the 1990s and were often worn by rappers and other hip hop artists. This style was popularized by artists like Snoop Dogg and Allen Iverson.

The high top fade was a popular hairstyle in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

It featured short sides and a longer, squaredoff top. This style was popularized by rappers like Kid ‘n Play and Big Daddy Kane.

5. bald:

The bald head, or shaved head, has been a popular hairstyle in hip hop since the 1990s. It represents a sense of toughness and rebellion. Rappers like Tupac Shakur and Common have been known to rock the bald head look.

4. Locs:

locs have been a popular hairstyle in hip hop for decades.

They represent a sense of spirituality and rebellion. Artists like Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill have been instrumental in popularizing the style.