APRIL
2014
MAGA
ZINE
ARTIST: Pejac, Salamanca, Spain
Street Art UTOPIA
www.streetartutopia.com
WHAT THE FUNK’S INSIDE 5..................THE RUNDOWN 6.................. EDITOR’S NOTE 7................. OUTSPOKEN: Brooklyn 9................. WISE’S WISE ASS WORDS OF WISDOM by Almighty Wise
13................. JOSEP MONCADA JUANEDA: Painter 25................. LIFE HACKS: Tips on hitting the Makeup Counter by Felicia C. York
29................. STATE OF EMERGENCY by K. Nikki 33................ THE STREET ART OF JOE IURATO 47................. PEACOAT SEASON: The One Man Show 55................. DAVENCE’S COSPLAY ZONE: Maiden America 63................. BLOOM IN SPRING
by Anastasia Chase
65................. LOGAN’S CORNER
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E EDITOR-IN-CHIEF C.E. LAWTON SENIOR EDITOR GENESE NICOLE CREATIVE DIRECTORS C.E. LAWTON & GENESE NICOLE APRIL CONTRIBUTORS “Almighty” Wise, Anastasia Chase, Tanya Hagler, Davence Young, Logan Brooks, Kelley Franklin, Felicia C. York ADVERTISING info@funktheformulamag.com FUNKTHEFORMULAMAG.COM It’s the commentary of your life ... but better. Art. Culture. And Then some.
FOLLOW FUNKTHEFORMULA FACEBOOK.COM/FUNKTHEFORMULA TWITTER: @FUNKTHEFORMULA YOUTUBE.COM/FUNKTHEFORMULA INSTAGRAM: @FUNKTHEFORMULAMAG
COVER: Artist Unknown, provided by “A Different Type of Art” facebook.com/A.different.type.of.Art LEFT: Street art by “Sao,” Shared by Streetartutopia.com
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EDITOR’S NOTE Spring is in the Air ... FInally, Finally, Finally! A miserable Winter, though seemingly unwilling to let go, has been put behind us as 2014 enters into the second quarter. April is here, y’all! Holy crap, 3 months have passed by already??? Yup. And before you know it you’ll be making those New Years Resolutions that you will more than likely break again this time next year. So do yourself a favor ... Spring into action and just LIVE. As I’ve progressed through my adult years and understood the pains and heartaches of growing up, being in relationships, paying bills, realizing what friendships really mean, etcetera, etcetera, et-freakin’-cetera ... I’ve become a big proponent of just Living. Change and Living. And the two can go hand in hand ... Because change is a part of life; when you learn to understand, accept and acclomate yourself to Change, that is when you truly learn to Live. There’s no life in stagnancy. There’s no growth in riding that fine line of safety and mediocrity. I’m not saying if you go broke, rob a bank or steal a best friend’s mate because you think they’re hot or crash a celebrity’s back yard to take a selfie with them ... But what I’m saying is, Carpe Vitam. Seize the Life ... Seize the Life you’ve been given because as time passes it will not be given back to you. So take advantage of the opportunities presented to you when they are and really see the signs in front of you when they pop up. You were given your life for a reason. There is a purpose. You go through trials and tribulations to provide testaments of your true strength, mentally, emotionally and physically (but mainly the first two). Your purpose is not to wait ... It is not to wait for life to “happen,” because it will happen right around you unbeknownst to you because sometimes the best things in life aren’t always right under your nose ... You’ve got to spring into action and go get it. GO react with it. Go live it and do what you were meant to do in this world, even if you don’t know exactly what that is. As the flowers bloom, so do you. Be radiant. Be influential. Be change. LIVE. -C.E. Have questions, suggests, comments? Feel free to contact us: info@funktheformulamag.com
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OUTSPOKEN Your words. Your thoughts. Out loud.
“ONYX” by
BROOKLYN f I were a sculptor, I’d take the finest pieces of onyx and use it to create a bust of you carefully chiseling out your features until your beauty comes to life from stone. I would take care to sculpt the broadness of your nose and the fullness of your lips in hopes to mimic what God created in you. And I would pay special attention to your eyes take months to perfect each pupil, spend an eternity on an iris, in hopes of coming close to mirroring what I see in them. I would spend years smoothing out any imperfections until my recreation was indistinguishable from you. I would capture every finite detail from your brow to your chin until it seemed as if I had birthed a new you. If I were a sculptor, men and women would gasp at its awe-inspiring magnificence and even YOU would be amazed. 7
Both the Louvre and the Smithsonian would send curators to view my masterpiece and beg to display its beauty. And I would deny them the privilege. Because that which is made in love, must remain in love. And you must remain with me. But I am not a sculptor. I cannot take the materials of nature formed from God’s hands and placed on Earth and mold them with my own. I cannot breathe life into a gem or stone by power of will and talent alone. I cannot redesign, refashion or repurpose matter into 3-dimensional replications of that which I see. I am but a mere poet writing metaphors and similes to recreate your image. Shaping lines and stanzas into an ode to your figure. Molding consonants and vowels into the precise words that will make the world see what I see. These words have become my clay and you have been my muse.
about
BROOKLYN
From 9 to 5 she is a teacher fueled by a strong desire to help youth overcome any adversities and enter the world as better, smarter, productive citizens. However, afterhours her alterego, Brooklyn emerges. Brooklyn, (Ms.BrookS if you’re nasty) is a spoken word artist who delves into a wide range of subjects: from life to love, sex to sexism, and politics to passion. As a born and raised resident of the BedStuy neighborhood in the borough of Kings, Brooklyn credits all her life experiences there with influencing much of her writing. She began writing poetry at the young age of 9 at the encouragement of her teachers and hasn’t put the pen down since. Brooklyn majored in English Writing with a specialty in Poetry at the University of Pittsburgh and it is there she began her transformation into a Spoken Word Artist. She has now been performing for over 10 years and is currently a member of the poetry conglomerate Untamed Talent- a group whose mission is about more than just getting on stage and performing; but about giving back to the communities from which they came. Contact Info: Website: www.WeAreUntamedTalent.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/BKaBrookLyn Email: Bklyntanya@gmail.com
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by
the Almighty Wise
10 WAYS A MAN’S CARD CAN BE
D E K O V E R
his is a article written to and for the MASCULINE MEN. If you have forgotten what being a MASCULINE MAN is, I am saddened but I do understand. There are far too many males, walking our precious streets, just committing one MAN CODE violation after another. Some of these do not know any better ... But some DO, thinking that WE are not around. Who are WE? Well WE are the Man Code Violation Police, or MCVP for short. I know that our name sucks. The message and mission is what matters. Listed below are just ten of the many ways a man’s card can be revoked. There are a lot more, but I will spoonfeed you, cause I know that ADHD is gonna kick in soon.
1. SLEEPIN’ WITH YOUR BOY’S GIRLFRIEND/WIFE/SISTER Come on man ... This is Defcon 4 ... A major violation of the man code! You NEVER sleep with your friend’s woman! If she is loose ... You tell ya boy ... And if his sister’s actin’ loose with you, tell her to CUT THAT SH*T OUT before you tell her brother so he can put BOOT-TO-ASS! Now if ya boy gives you permission to get with his sister (cause he thinks you’ll be a good match) then fine. If he gives you permission to sleep with his wife/girlfriend ... Well, y’all some freaky muddaf*ckas and you all need (insert choice of deity here). Without proper permission, your card will be immediately revoked, and you are subject to being beaten and stripped like the landlord of The Carter in New Jack City.
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2. DRINKIN’ A CRANBEERITA @ A SUPER BOWL PARTY You’re at a super bowl party with the fellas ... And they’re about to crack the six pack of Budweiser ... But you ... You ... FUCKIN’ CREAMPIE ... You decide to pull a “Cranbeerita” out a bag ... Along with a STRAW. If the fellas decide to take you and cast you out of their house like Jazz from The Fresh Prince ... Then you deserve it! What were you thinking?? A CRANBEERITA?? You not only violated man code by bringing a watered down fruit flavored Bud to a Super Bowl Party ... But you PULLED OUT A STRAW?? As far as I’m concerned ... You can no longer be trusted with the man card. Which brings me to...
3. DRINKING A BEER WITH A STRAW Are you serious? You don’t crack a cold one open then insert a straw into the bottleneck. So you just gonna sit there, with the duck lips suckin’ on a straw from a Heineken bottle? If you really had to check to see if this was ok ... Then you should’ve never been issued a man card in the first place. Immediate revocation.
4. CUTE No man should EVER call another man “cute”... Or say something he has on is “cute.” Cute is reserved for your kids, and maybe describing a young “legal” woman that you might have seen in person / TV. No grown ass man tell another man what he has on is cute. Say it’s “smooth,” “slick,” or “dope”... But CUTE ... You’re facing at least a 5 point violation for this. Repeat offenders will be instructed to attend a masculinity training course along with the guys who say “GIRL, BYE!”, “HUNTY”, and “FIERCE”.
5. COLOR CONTACTS Are you trying to look “cute”? They have prescription contact lenses WITHOUT color. Why are you putting hazel contacts in your eyes on Monday, then blue contacts in your eyes on Tuesday? Seriously, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? I can almost imagine that a man who would actually wear color contacts in 2014 will have no problem seriously saying that he “WOKE UP LIKE DIS.” For this violation you will be socked in both of your eyes, and your man card will be suspended pending a spot check of your eye color in the future.
6. LOTIONING YOUR LEGS IN PUBLIC At no time is it ok for you to lotion your legs in public. There is nothing that screams the OPPOSITE of masculinity than you squeezing a bottle of Jergen’s lotion in your hand while it makes that squishy sound, then raising your hairy ass leg up on a bench, chair or even worse STRAIGHT OUT in front of you as you mosturize your skin. If you are caught doing this, you will be pushed off-balance onto the floor where your man card will be ripped from your pocket.
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7. LEAVING YOUR WIFE AND KIDS FOR A SIDECHICK Ok, it’s bad enough that you’re cheating on your lady, but only a FOOL leaves his wife and kids for a sidechick. Some of these “dudes” are so backwards these days they even forgot the basics of STREET CODE: “YOU CAN’T TURN A HOE INTO A HOUSEWIFE.” These SUCKA FOR LOVE dudes have violated this man code, and have tried to defend their position pointing at ‘Ye for inspiration. Nah, dun ... I’m pulling stripes off of your uniform, weak ass! 8. DEADBEAT DAD I wanna say something funny like “you’re a punk bitch” or “you’re a sack of dog shit” ... But this is not really funny to be this. But I will emphatically say this ...YOU ARE A PUNK BITCH AND A SACK OF DOG SHIT TO DO THIS. Your man card is revoked immediately, and you should also be made into a eunuch for this transgression. 9. TAKING OILED UP SELFIES Dude, it is not ok to oil yourself up like a piece of chicken then take a “selfie” in the bathroom. What the hell, you trying to be a model for Wesson? You think you’re Tyson Beckford now? You trying to set some mood lighting up in the can, bruh? Nobody wanna see you trying to make “doe eyes” in a pic with your hairy taco meat surrounded by shiny oil and a komode in the background. You’re suppose to have that shorty you’re trying to impress with that BS come over to your house and massage oil on ya body FOR YOU. For this transgression, your camera phone will be smacked from your hand into the toilet, and some flour will be thrown on your chest immediately. Give me your man card, son, and don’t do that bullshit anymore. 10 BITCHASSNESS Last but not least, and to tweak a Biggie line for this ... Number 10 shoulda been number one to me. There is nothing worse than a bitch ass. The first example in this article is an act of bitchassness. Deadbeat dad, a family deserter, yep ... Those fall in line with bitchassness. But the following also are examples: a. Putting down the next man to make yourself look good/better to a woman. b. Hurting innocent people who are not part of “the life” for a rep. c. Snitchin’ cause your friend is making more money than you in the trap. d. Talkin’ tough but when ya boy needs you to have his back ... You run. There are so many layers and examples to BITCHASSNESS, that I can make a whole column on that subject ALONE. Bitchassness gets you an automatic revocation of your man card, and you should immediately be taken out back and shot. Look at the flowers, homie, just look at the flowers ... POW! (Walking Dead reference) These 10 WAYS A MAN’S CARD CAN BE REVOKED are just merely scratchin’ the surface of the man codes that are in place. Now that you fellas are aware that we exist, do understand that when we check your chin, it’s for your own good. So don’t go and get your panties in a bunch, because the reason we are here is because you’re wearing panties in the FIRST PLACE. MAN CHECK! 11
ARTIST: Oakoak, Saint Etienne, France
Street Art UTOPIA
www.streetartutopia.com
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The way Spring has panned out thus far has made us want to jump right into Summer, and the hyper realistic paintings of Josep Moncada Juaneda gave us just the feeling we were looking for. Don’t worry ... a couple more months and we’ll be a cannonball away from some pool-side shenanigans. *Crosses FIngers* www.josepmoncada.com
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ARTIST: Shane Turner, “Divided by Night 3.0”
Street Art Save My Life Facebook.com/streetartsavemylife
by Felicia C. York aka DaLipstickBandit
’ve been a makeup artist in a retail setting for close to six years in many different stores. From the upscale boutique to your average department store, I’ve observed the same type of behavior. Ladies, I’m here to help clear up your common makeup counter misconceptions. These are the top 5 things to do/remember before you run out to get yourself some new war paint.
1. Come with a plan This can be explained in many ways. Let me break it down: a. Often times, women get excited and overestimate how much they can learn in a single makeup session. To sit down and say, “I want to learn everything” can be a bit overwhelming, both for the artist and consumer. Let’s focus on one thing at a time. Today, we’ll master foundation, next week, smoky eyes. The following week, the world! b. In addition, if you want to come in for a makeover, have an idea of what you want to look like at the end of it. Many times, women will 25
say to an artist, “Whatever you think looks good” or “a pop of color” or something completely vague. As an artist, I might think a red lip looks good but you may despise the color. If all else fails, bring a picture of what you like and we can customize the look to fit you, specifically. c. “I just want something new” does not make sense to a person who is just meeting you for the first time. Do you want a new lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, liner ... Tell us what you want, woman! d. If you’re coming to refill a product, bring the product with you or have it written down versus trying to hunt down what your perfect shade is again.
2. Trust the expert Every brand that I’ve worked for spent time and energy training me on their product line. This included being grilled on active ingredients, color theory, skin type and tone. In addition to the technicalities of the product, we touch, feel and use it everyday on a variety of people. So, we know what will work for you based on this experience. In this vein, many times, women will bring their friend/cousin/coworker and ask their opinion. I watched a woman try on 6 different lipsticks while on Face Time with her bestie. Trust your own eyes. Another woman, brought her boyfriend who only liked red lipstick on her. They both admitted this fact as she was trying on different shades. She fell in love with a deep purple and she asked him his opinion. She already knew what he thought and so did I. At the end of the day, your own eyes don’t fail you. With color, it’s usually love at first sight. You know when it’s right or not. As far as product recommendations go, keep in mind our expert advice. If your friend swears by an oil control product for her skin but you have dry skin; will it work for you? Probably not. We’re there for a reason.
3. Have a budget or better yet, be prepared to spend that budget I polled a bunch of my makeup artist friends and this was the main pet peeve. People expecting a free makeover or worse ... You spend an hour teaching someone something and they ask you to write it down for them to get it from another place cheaper, from Sephora (those damn points!) or at a another time. If you’re not sure how much something costs, every brand has a website. Do your own independent research. If you’re not sure of your color, a simple match is easy enough. If you’re not sure how these 6 eye shadows look on your eye and you want me to put each of them on, only for you to say, “Thank you, I’ll buy it from the drugstore for $2,” that’s wrong. We love to do your makeup, yes. We love it even more if you take it home with you.
The essence of it is honesty. As a retail makeup artist, we’re there to sell the makeup we’re trying on you. You already know this. If you’re not sure how much it will be, ask. Most places charge $50-$75 for a makeover. Trying one thing is free. If for whatever reason, you’re not ready to purchase, we can understand. We have more respect for someone who says, “I can’t buy right now, but I’d like to try it,” versus someone who pretends to be buying and then asks us to write down the products or says they’ve left their wallet with a friend who is on the other side of the building or will go walk around and then come back. 26
4. Take your time “I have to be at a wedding in 15 minutes which means you have 10 minutes to do my whole face,” a woman once told me on a busy Saturday afternoon. I’m good at what I do, however, I’m not a robot. Also, know that there will always be more customers than artists and we’re required (in our job description) to help multiple people at the same time. Plan ahead. It’s not fair to either of us if we’re both under the gun. It shouldn’t take hours to get your makeup done but it should be a pleasurable experience - a luxury. Don’t treat it like an errand. Also, don’t feel pressure to buy right now. (I know what I said in #3, but hear me out) When you return a makeup item, we send the item back to our company who throws it out. It becomes a loss to the person who sold it to you and to the company. I believe every artist would rather you be sure you like something, rather than you buy it and return it. Being uncertain is different from trying to scam someone into doing something for nothing. Also, imagine if someone bought the last limited edition lipstick you wanted only to bring it back and we throw it out. Wouldn’t you be upset? The best times to go shopping are before 1pm and after 7pm, generally speaking. The worst time to go shopping is right before you have a big event or a big meeting.
5. Remember, we’re people, too I’ve had people walk up to me and bark their order. A simple “Hello, I’m looking for x,y,z” goes a long way. How would you like to be addressed? Also, especially at the more popular brands, we’re always helping multiple people. We appreciate the patience. If we’re not moving fast enough or haven’t acknowledged you, it’s not a personal attack against you! We’re busy and doing the best we can. The highlight of my day once was during the holidays and I’d forgotten to get an item for someone. She waited for about ten minutes and then she kindly reminded me. She showed such grace when I expected a tongue-lashing. It was the kindest thing someone had done for me all day. Sometimes, we make mistakes. The golden rule always applies. So, there you have it. These are some simple things that will make your next trip to your favorite makeup counter much smoother. Felicia C. York also known as DaLipstickBandit is a freelance makeup artist living in NYC. You can follow her on Instagram @ dalipstickbandit; view her work at dalipstickbandit.webs.com or on Facebook.com/dalipstickbandit.
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ARTIST: HOPARE, Casablanca, Morocco
Street Art UTOPIA
www.streetartutopia.com
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by K. Nikki
O
n March 7th, while doing her routine search for underground music to post to her blog, UndergroundDiva.com, K. Nikki ran across a link on her Facebook timeline with the title “‘Thrift Shop’ Is The Best Rap Song Ever” published by Mass Appeal. Curious, and mostly confused, she went to find out if one of her favorite sources for music news had finally turned to the dark side. However, to her surprise and relief, the article summed up what was on her mind as of late: the current state of Hip Hop is in trouble. The article by Mass Appeal was in response to the Billboard’s list “Hot Rap Songs Chart” celebrating the 25th anniversary since the venerable music source recognized Hip Hop as a genre. A couple of things infuriated K. Nikki with this list: 1. Hip Hop is 40 years old, so 25 years meant what? 2. Hip Hop wasn’t born from numbers. 3. Macklemore’s song “Thrift Shop”, in the eyes of Billboard in the last quarter century, was the greatest song ever in Hip Hop. After an open discussion via Facebook with her peers on the current state of Hip Hop, K. Nikki finally addressed her stance in a status. “Here’s how I feel about the current state of Hip Hop: I will always be loyal to it. I will always be a fan of it. It will always be a part of my life. HOWEVER, I am disappointed in it. I was watching the Tanning of America series that premiered on VH1 (mind you, it was a “rocDoc” special and why BET doesn’t do programs like this, I will never understand) and during the series, there were two key quotes that stuck with me and added to my disappointment and confusion: Legendary lyricist Nas said ‘Hip Hop comes from people with nothing
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to lose, so why lie to you? It’s raw story telling’, and two, from a Hip Hop journalist describing the culture, ‘it’s not like other genres, like rock, which rally’s against the system. Hip Hop wants to BECOME the system.’ Once upon a time, yes. Hip Hop was a thriving movement born out of the civil rights movement to breed ambitious young people who would then continue to uplift others because of the stories they told. Many outlets, like Yo! MTV Raps, Rap City Da Basement, The Source Magazine, centered around exposing talent and most importantly, building an empire on its own. In a book I’m reading now, Hip Hop Inc. by Dr. Richard Oliver and Tim Leffel, it pretty much sums up what happened to Hip Hop once it became a business. It states the business of Hip Hop is not just about selling the black experience to the black community, it ‘is also about selling the black experience to white America and to audiences around the world.’ So with the necessity to “make it out of the hood” many artists sought out record deals, which in turn changed up the rap music (the introduction to gangsta rap) and glorification of less favorable themes: the exploitation of women, gun violence, gang affiliation, and of course drugs. Once the ratings for Hip Hop orientated shows dropped, the TV executives pulled the plug. The mission was no longer about the uplifting message. It was about how to produce the most money. Hip Hop began as a solid place for minorities to express themselves while being shown they, too, can own a piece of the American pie, by simple building their own bakery. But in recent years, the concept of ‘battle royal’ is all I see and hear in mainstream media today. Author Nelson George in his book Hip Hop America describes these segments of a boxing event as ‘a gang of colored youngsters gathered in a ring for a blindfolded, no holds barred brawl. There were no weapons except fists, but the physical damage that ensued in the frenzy was monumental. The last man standing won a nominal prize that hardly compensated for the broken teeth and fractured bones resulting from these gang bangs.’ And for what? The amusement of white people (greater America)…The beginning of the show…the appetizer. Hip Hop has gone from the message of unity and conscience thought to becoming about materialistic ideologies and how much more I have than you; at least, in the mainstream. But the underground is no better, continuously striving to ‘break into mainstream’ without realizing the influence it has on its own. I could go on, but my main point is that I’m heavily disappointed in the lack of support within Hip Hop and how the control was given to a higher power so willingly for the all mighty dollar. We as minorites are very quick to support those who don’t even WANT US SUPPORTING THEM. When the Timbaland boot craze was occurring and the black community was pretty much increasing their profits, do you know what the C.E.O. of Timbaland said? “We don’t sell our shoes to drug dealers.” Meanwhile, there are PLENTY of designers, some your next door neighbors, who are struggling with a part time job just to invest and create their clothes and their ‘friends’ ask them for a free shirt because ‘they cool’. Ticket sales for mainstream artists playing at huge arenas cost almost an arm and leg for just noise bleed seats. Yet the public continues to purchase tickets and merchandise at these shows, proudly supporting even more through social media with the all mighty selfie. They drop an album, which probably has 2 good songs on it. But what happens? Number one spots, gold and platinum records, Grammys, etc. An extremely talented underground artist who’s performing at a local lounge invites people out to support; admission is $10. What happens? No one shows. They premiere a song via their Soundcloud and have to ASK, as a favor, for a share. Where did this disconnect come from? 30
The genuine support and message of Hip Hop was lost once the mainstream business recognized it was able to make money, but make money the way they seemed fit. I mean, is the History of Hip Hop even discussed anymore? Doubt it. But how many albums has Drake sold? All over the news. The advancements in technology have opened up doors legends in Hip Hop wished they had when they started the culture. An artist no longer has to have a record deal to get their message heard across the world. So what is the issue? Talented underground stars like Yahiness, Leon Marin, and I.O.D. deserve just as much acclaim as Tyga, Big Sean, and J. Cole. Plenty within the underground are dedicated and focused on producing quality music infused with their essence and stories, yet because they aren’t Jay-Z, you will probably never know them. Unless of course, their hype is built tremendously fast, which means a gigantic amount of support, which means attending shows, buying albums, sharing music, etc. But where has that support gone? To the mainstream, which continues to pump out what the public likes and the public, in turn, supports it because it’s produced 24/7. It’s a very vicious cycle. But where does the revolution need to happen? Pioneering rapper LL Cool J said it best: ‘own the music.’ I think it’s time we own the business and take control. Don’t let the foundation of Hip Hop die. The quickest way to give up that power is to believe you don’t have any. And all I’m saying is...Lil Wayne can talk about wearing Polo bet money, the sales of Polo goes up. But what has Polo done for you? #Supportyourown” K. Nikki is a Hip Hop lover, music blogger for UndergroundDiva.com and various other music blogs, and a freelance publicist and management consultant for up and coming underground artists and brands.
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ARTIST: Hans Walor,
“Seeds of Light Shadows of Color”
Street Art Save My Life Facebook.com/streetartsavemylife
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We stumbled upon this artist’s work perusing the wonderous world of the internet for pretty cool, creative stuff (as we normally do) and come across it on HonestlyWTF.com (another pretty dope site we suggest you check out if you’re not familiar already). One of the things that’s really caught us as editors has been this growth in street art that gives way to havign the pieces interact with the public realm. With that, seeing Joe Iurato’s work (www.joeiurato. com) definitely caught our eye, so we decided to share just some of the imagery we found to be a great breakdown of reality and kind of redefinition of the conventional “street art.”
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PEACOAT SEASON Winter may be over ... But it’s still cold out here. However, Hip Hop Artist, Varyus Waise shows how exposing yourself can help keep you warm.
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On one of the warmer nights NYC has seen as of late, Brooklyn Hip Hop Artist, Varyus Waise decided it was time to redefine the traditional Hip Hop project release celebration. No, there was no band. There was no DJ. There wasn’t even a mic. The performance space at Stage Left Studios saw an intimate setting filled to the brim with attentive supporters of the emcee and of Hip Hop overall. The flyer had said “One Man Show”; and what we, as spectators in the crowd, were presented with was one man, of two parts, on a stage, in front of projected imagery that was to provide the framework behind the one night only presentation of Peacoat Season. When I say one man of two parts, what I exactly mean by that is within the approximate hour and change of showtime we were brought into the world of Nick Florest - son, brother, friend, gamer, youth educator and Varyus Waise, his Hip Hop moniker; 2 men of one heart, mind, soul and body, yet expressive of a greater mission through different means. By day, Florest dedicates his time to educating the NYC youth and engaging in community based activities to help support the growth, betterment and empowerment of NYC youth. But at night, whether he’s hitting up a local venue or creating his own spaces of creative, musical expression, Varyus Waise educates through rhyme-slinging, sharing his personal, yet relatable experiences and seeking to teach further through his lyrics once school is out. Peacoat Season has been a project long in the works for Waise, and though still not officially set on actual release date, he decided to 49
share the project with those willing to hear the story. This one man show saw Waise on a stage, alone, sharing his trials and tribulations throughout some of the hardest times of his life over the past couple of years through rhyme. Whether it was the expressed pain of dealing with job loss, friction in friendships and relationships, or addressing the education of the youth, or that feeling of seeing that special someone on the train every morning on your way to work, to being a formidable opponent with a game controller or exploring the “greener” side of higher living ... Waise left it all on the cutting room floor for display ... Discussion ... Perhaps even scrutiny. Every song ( aside from the track, “Everything” which kicked off the production) was prefaced by a relative clip which set the tone for the basis behind each track ( Waise expressed these clips were of many viewed during said times that led to the creation of this EP ). After a clip of a thought provoking speech on the education and building of black youth by the late Tupac Shakur, we were introduced to “The Jungle Book (Clowns)” which was a raw take on Waise’s viewpoints of Black America. As a raw start to the ensemble, Waise addressed the crowd lyric for lyric in an outfit probably as bare as a Hip Hop artist can get on a stage: boxers, handcuffs and a somewhat tribal ape mask. The imagery was a testiment of a man speaking as an animal on display, vulnerable prisoner amidst his culture and the themes defined around it, looking to break free; dropping to his knees, unlocking the cuffs and removing the mask, looking to the sky, only to arise and walk off stage steps closer to freedom at the track’s end. “How the fuck can I be grassroots when cash rules, Nigga?” A clip from Taxi Driver was the introduction to the next song, as Robert DeNiro’s character proceeded to swoon Cybill Shepherd for an afternoon court. An apt segway to “Morning Commute,” a track which gave way to that feeling of seeing that one person every morning that just captured your eye, and heart, on your train ride to work. You didn’t know their name, nor where they lived, what they liked or maybe even what they sounded like, but
they were certainly visually captivating enough for you to imagine all of the above in a favorable manner. I can honestly say, I’ve had those moments, even if they’re so fleeting, you’re only left to wonder and nothing more. Dreamers can dream. Now, while I’ve never actually seen a Fritz the Cat movie, I sure as hell knew the clip once it popped up on the screen, lending itself as an intro to the next song surrounding the good times of reaching a “higher” level of being on the “FDR.” No question that this was the feel good track, reminiscent of the times of hanging with friends in your youth, late at night, doing absolutely what you shouldn’t be doing (without harm to others, of course). The fun continued with a track full of gamer bravado, “Strider Waise,” but not before a clip of a Street Fighter bout of Ken vs. Chun-Li, a.k.a “EVO Moment #37” from EVO’s 2004 championship tournament. Before the next track blared through the speakers, we viewed a clip of a speech by Jada Williams comparing the current education system to the slavery system (Williams was expelled for said speech ... Go figure). From that, enter “Force Field Theory,” a reminder of what it is to push forward through all hardships and obstacles placed in one’s way, no matter the circumstance. Engage your force field and “just keep goin’.” Stemming from two parallels, one of which being the Marvel XMen character, Magneto - who’s manipulation of magnetic fields around him allows him to encapsulate himself in a force field, rendering him practically untouchable, thus pushing forward to his destination effortlessly - and Hip Hop pioneer, the late Guru’s “Robin Hood Theory” (Guru being one of Waise’s favorite artists and inspirations). Waise became Florest, and donned his educator hat, adorned in a three-piece suit of great distinction and character, defining an individual of influence. Finally, the night capped off with “The World,” which was introduced by a scene from the iconic anime series, Dragonball Z, which depicted a point where the main protagonist, Goku had reach a precipice of power not too long before reaching his next highest level of being in battle, with strength guided by the energy of the people in his life. It’s not enough to be one man in a world where it feels like your back’s against the wall. Sometimes you need more energy 50
to endure; an energy that can be found amidst the support of friends, family and community overall. Waise showed his endurance with hands held high for the whole performance, with what looked to be wrist weights applied on his arms, while having the entire crowd in unison with hands high, building the energy in the room, giving off the power of the great vibes that had filled the air. Out of many hip hop shows and release parties and listening parties that I have witnessed or attended, this truthfully was one for the books. It was a revolution of artistic expression from a fresh artist in the world of Hip Hop. A real redifinition of not only a Hip Hop show, but an experience. Peacoat Season proves to be a project of importance in the overall expansion of thought, introspection and insightfulness towards hopeful action to ensure a greater future for the youth and relatable adults, without being overly preachy or even cheesy. It’s Hip Hop consciousness with multifaceted dimensions, which is a reminder that we are human and go through similar trials that life brings forth ... But no matter what, we have the power to “keep goin.� Force Field Theory.
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ARTIST: BANKSY, “Pissing Dog”
Street Art Save My Life Facebook.com/streetartsavemylife
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Hello my fellow cosplay engineers! In this article I was able to snag the sassy and fun loving Maiden America from her hectic schedule of cosplay and doing art commissions. Hello, Maiden America, and welcome to the cosplay zone! Maiden America: Thanks for having me and my amazing self! That you are my dear that you are (smiles). So I have to ask, what inspired you to get into this genre, this hobby for most folks? Maiden America: Well, since I was a little geekling I had always been into running around dressing up as my favorite characters with costumes you would see at party city. and just having a good time doing it, though as I got older I watched from a distance at everyone in the cosplay world, as of course I thought I have no flipping talent to do what they did... so one day I said to hell with it, and low and behold... I got the magic! Yes you definitely have the magic touch. I have seen a bunch of your photos and your cosplays are very much on point. MA: I try my best, and of course doing a bit of apprenticing under a few Jedi masters like yourself helps. Aww, I am still learning myself, but thank you for your kind words. How do you feel about “Sexy in cosplay�? 56
MA: Honestly, this sentence will be the glistening to everyone’s question, and that question... *SEX SELLS*. You want to make it far in the cosplay world, you have got to bring all of it to the table, and sexy is in! It’s the big thing that has people swarming to you as it does in any other profession. I definitely agree sex does sell, but where does that leave men in your opinion that are trying to be known in the cosplay world that do not look “pretty” as how many are portrayed in anime films? MA: Well, that’s where it gets tricky... Cosplay has turned more into a pull towards women than men, and sadly they don’t have a stick to hold in the war... Though I can definitely say, men who go all out say for instance full armor, lights, etc. gather their end of attention and popularity. But sadly a lot can’t do what professionals can do so it really does make it tough. Yes it does. It definitely makes the men have to work doubly as hard as women do to be noticed; kind of a reverse sexism when you think about it. Kind of crazy how a man has to work 2times as hard as a woman to only ga rner half t he attention a woman does in this genre. I have to give you props though. In a lot of your cosplays, you rely more on your actual level of skill f i r s t, t h e n b o o b i e s s e c o n d i n your cosplays. MA: They do for sure, and it’s not fair because I know plenty of male cosplayer’s and they get so underappreciated, it’s not even funny. Yes, boobs only come into play when the character calls for it in my opinion. 57 39
I don’t think sexing up every character is necessary; to me it’s kind of like trying too hard for attention. Skills and love for the character should be the primary goal. Very true, I could have not said it any better … For my readers, can u tell them what are s o m e o f t he c ha ra c t e r s yo u h a ve cosplayed? MA: Well let’s see: Poison ivy, Hawkgirl, Warrior Hawkgirl, Galactus, Ms. Marvel, Aquaman, Power girl, Black Cat, Castiel and Uriel. Nice. Which one is your favorite out of that impressive bunch? MA: Hmmm, right now I definitely have to say Uriel. Just because this is the most work and effort I have put into a costume so far, and I’m very proud of it. You should be, she is looking great! MA: Thanks. Do you u think the surge of cosplay acceptance in the mainstream world is affecting Hollywood movies?
MA: Oh yes, I definitely think so. Look at SDCC... that right there is and made around fandom, with cosplay growing even bigger every year not only for geeks but for everyone else it’s impacting how storylines play out, and now what movies will be put out at all depending on the fan base. Yes I have seen a huge surge of superhero based movies that are not campy any longer, thank goodness. The Iron Man films
alone, then the Avenger flick I think definitely set the precedence of what fans want to see in a superhero flick. MA: Exactly. I think if those would have gone south (not saying what they did with the Mandarin wasn’t a disaster) they wouldn’t be doing so hot. What would you like to see more of in a superhero movie? MA: They need to make a god damn Doctor Strange movie already! I feel the same about Black Panther. There really is no excuse why they have not come out with it already. Wesley Snipes had been advocating for it even before he did Blade. MA: There are a lot of movies they need to make in the next decade via DC/Marvel. Like cough cough, Wonder Woman, cough cough. True, but they did cast a woman to play her in the upcoming Superman vs Batman movie so she will be doing a cameo in that. MA: Yea, cameo is no bueno. Not good enough!! Which brings me to an interesting question: CASTING!!!! MA: Errmmerghd!! I personally am for finding an actor that actually acts as well as fits the role /part of the superhero. What are your thoughts on it? MA: Like how Chris Evans should have been Cap before he was Johnny type thing? Yup, also the physicality of the actors appearance. For example Angelina Jolie is to this day an amazing Laura croft she personifies that role so much and is a dead on looker for her. MA: I think, finding someone who resembles the character more so is an ideal situation, not “oh, hey I’m going to give April O’Neil to crazy Megan Fox... Haha, personal opinion.
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Where would you like to see the future of cosplay go? MA: Towards more of a mainstream thing, but still to be respected and kept with honor towards others as if they are family, and sadly it seems to be dying away in that factor. What are some of the things you think can/should be done to keep it the way it used to be, when all types of cosplay were accepted and there really was no putting down of someone else’s cosplay because they did not meet one’s standards? MA: Well, first and foremost... Respect towards one another as human beings needs to come back, which it won’t; and plan “b” would be to shut the hell up, suck it up and let the other person have fun and enjoy their time! That is what I find to be the only bad thing about cosplay being more and more mainstream; folks that do not understand the love for this once geek-only club do not have a true reverence for the character or understand the amount of skill and man hours that go into a cosplay creation. MA: Exactly, and me being a full figured woman, I get flack for how I roll with my costumes, but that used to be the point of cosplaying: embrace your love for the character, have fun and show people, “hey look I made this! Isn’t it awesome?!” EXACTLY! Ok, that being said we have to discuss this next Genre a bit …VIDEO GAMES!!! How do you think they have influenced cosplay? Yeah, I can think of a few other actresses that really could easily embody the role and look more like her. I will say this much for Marvel, they also nailed Chris Hemsworth for Thor; that was as perfect a casting as Robert Downey, Jr. was for Iron Man. MA: Indeed! The man was built for Thor, and yes my husband, “RDJ” is Iron Man, he is the real life Iron Man. Yes, he was literally born for that role! MA: Yes! 59
MA: I don’t think they influence cosplay too much outside, of course, the people who dress as them or the characters in them. They kind of take their own turn. I had the pleasure of hearing a few d eve l o p e r s a t a c o n ven t i o n o n c e chatting about it, and they are actually more challenged now to create amazing armors just to see what the cosplay community does with it. I think that is pretty damn cool. MA: Well companies like THQ and BLIZZARD have no problems in those categories, HA!
Cosplay seems to be infectious to all that are within earshot or briefly see it. MA: Lately it does seem to pan out in everything no matter what it is. Very true. I know you are still working on your Uriel, but after that what will be your next cosplay challenge? MA: Building an a army worthy of Mordor... I’ll be doing full detailed to scale Sauron costume. Wow…to get it to scale you better get some practice walking on stilts. Cause Sauron is 7’ tall. MA: Meh I’m not too far off... I’m 5 11’. But yea, I do plan on getting stilts for both that and well my Chaos Space Marine build as well from Warhammer 40K. So what words of wisdom would you give cosplayers, both male and female, out there? MA: No matter what it is you want to do in life, go for it. Same goes for the costumes… Never hold back know that deep down you have the potential to do anything you can put your mind to and that you are always surrounded by someone who will give you a boost every step of the way, just never be afraid to go for it. Very profound words. Well Ms. Maiden America, I am so happy you put aside some time from your hectic schedule to chat with me; I reserve the right to interview you again in the near future. MA: Awesome, I’m all yours whenever you need me and you are very welcome, it’s always a pleasure!
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ARTIST: Amjad Rasmi, “Reason vs. Emotion”
Street Art Save My Life Facebook.com/streetartsavemylife
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As we look toward toward warmer weather and the blooming of flowers, it would be amiss to not take time out for ourselves. It is important to take a step back and analyze your path and the people you choose to surround yourself with every once in a while. It is essential to measure your growth and to ensure your continued growth as an individual and within the relationships you maintain. Tackling yourself head on can be difficult, it’s hard to be object as we tend to be our own worst critic. It’s important to not only know your strengths but your weaknesses. If you don’t know where you have room to improve, you’re doing yourself a disservice. The objective in every situation should be to learn something from it that will improve your life or the life of others. Also, it’s paramount that you never forget to take time to do something that brings you, and you alone happiness or at least contentment. Find time to re-read your favorite book or catch up with your favorite author’s latest publication or catch that Broadway show you’ve been putting off or take a moment to enjoy a good song and grab a partner for a quick dance. Smile. Not because someone told you to, but because you took the time to. Be inspired. Create art. Be living art. Be you. Whatever that entails and don’t let anyone dissuade you against it. Life truly is too short and love is a balm for the soul. Become someone worthy to live in the world that you’re fighting to change with your very existence. Express love and laughter without shame and be passionate and angry. Be human.
by Anastasia Chase
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LOGAN’S CORNER
So it’s finally spring…out with the old and in with new! There have been a few new music releases, So I’m here to deliver them to you(with a little tea on the side).
Keyshia Cole who has been laying low, recently released two brand new songs. The songs are obviously stemming from allegations of cheating from her basketball star husband, Daniel “Boobie” Gibson. “Rick James” featuring Juicy J has had a lukewarm reception, but gives me a scorned chick that’s not taking anymore crap and ready to RICK JAMES a chick. On the track “Next Time” ( which I love! ) she sings about the heartache and pain in which caused the alleged breakup of her marriage. I can’t wait to hear the final full production of the album.
JoJo also released two new songs recently off of her upcoming mixtape #LoveJo. Free from her contract with Blackground Records, which had her tied down for the past 5 years in a legal contract, she finally broke through and is back with the new mixtape featuring a revamped classic “Caught up in the Rapture” by Anita Bakers. She also covers the gospel song, “Glory” which gave me goosebumps. I’m glad she will finally get her deserved shine.
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Tank is coming back solo on the scene with his new single “You’re my star” from his forthcoming album “Stronger.” Taking R&B back to a happy place where it was about love and not hard hip hop beats, “You’re my Star” samples The Jackson 5 “This Place Hotel”. Loving the new jam! It can be purchased on Itunes now!
**HOT SHOT OF THE MONTH** Besides the music…. There has been an uproar about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West being put on the cover of the March isssue of Vogue magazine ( mostly because of Kim ). Kanye was very open about how he felt, that Kim should be on the cover, and I agree totally. She turned her negatives into postives and made millions off of it. Loyal subscribers of the magazine have reportedly cancelled their subscriptions due to the KimYe cover. Is it really that bad, What y’all think? 66
FunktheFormula, Inc. 2014