GUAP Issue 5 - The Friendly Issue

- THE WORLD’S FIRST VIDEO MAGAZINE -

\\ CONTENTS PAGE // 9 DC

The calmest MC ever.

10 R.M Moses

Young award winning filmmaker.

11 #BLACKLIVESMATTER A take by Shannie Mears.

14 KENNY ALLSTAR The UK’S DJ Khaled.

15 ASHLEY EVERETT

Being Beyonce’s Lead dancer ain’t easy.

17 VINTAGE DOLL RISA

“started in the hood, but you don’t want to end there.

Cover Star: J Hus, Page 24

Stylist & a brand in herself.

18 SNEAKBO

You know him - but not like this.

20 THEA GAJIC

The actress whos friends with your favourite rappers.

22 SEROTONIN

Upcoming creative collective - killing the underground.

GUAP is published four times a year.

Subscriptions: 1 year (4 Issues) £10/ Europe £20/ International £40

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At the end of the period (Sept 2016) this magazine will be inactive. To view articles please visit GUAP TV (GUAP on Youtube.)

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CONTENTS

TACO QUEEN FIND US IN RYE WAX TUESDAY-SUNDAY 12.00-8.00PM @TACOQUEENLDN

FOUNDING PUBLISHERS Ibrahim Kamara & Jide Adetunji EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Davina Merchant SENIOR WRITERS Jide Adetunji & Davina Merchant CONTRIBUTORS Shannie Mears VIDEO SENIOR VIDEO PRODUCER Ibrahim Kamara VIDEO EDITOR Ibrahim Kamara

EDITOR’S NOTE Summer 16 is finally here and what a historic year it’s been so far. The Culture is thriving; young creatives throughout the scene are growing in confidence and stature day by day. Together, we are establishing our own scene that can cultivate and develop our own stars in every field whilst the world is watching.

What a time to be alive.

ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ibrahim Kamara PHOTOGRAPHERS Karis Beaumont, Nwaka Okpareke Zekaria Albostani, Dean Martindale, Catherine Mills VIDEO EDITOR Ibrahim Kamara

IBRAHIM KAMARA

ONLINE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Davina Merchant MANAGING EDITOR Jide Adetunji SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Karis Beaumont FASHION PR Rachel Benson

GUAP International contact@guap.co.uk

Now for the 5th edition, we are proud to have one of East London’s finest rappers J Hus on the cover. Familiar to most, Hus has been a musical sensation and a blessing for the UK scene since his introduction to the game in 2014. After a short stint away, Hus is back with a vengeance; ready and willing to turn his past experiences into a sound that defines UK rap.

The ‘Friendly Edition’ reflects how we can use the truth in our past experiences to create and progress. In this issue we share with you the stories of a wide variety of UK based and international stars. From the trend setting DJ Kenny Allstar to Beyoncé’s dance captain Ashley Everett. Despite the variety, one thing remains constant, the ability to overcome and channel our past DAVINA MERCHANT experiences into progressive positive energy.

Jide Adetunji Co-Founder

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JIDE ADETUNJI

MASTHEAD & EDITOR’S NOTE

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DC

very very local.

DC

Raised in Greenwich South London, this local rapper has ambitions of making it world wide. At the tender age of 22, DC has built up a strong and passionate fan base after the overwhelming response to his Gleaming Freestyles. Since then he has gone from strength to strength with many people attesting to the argument that this ‘very local’ artist is next up.

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R.M MOSES

east london to hollywood.

This self taught British born filmmaker best known for his work on Sapiens, Baddies & Signs of Silence is definitely one to watch. Raised in East London, this young and talented creative takes pride in his unique love infused relationship with his craft. He writes, directs and edits his own projects and has developed a work ethic and portfolio which is admired by many worldwide.

R.M MOSES

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Why I’m proud to be black, but wish that I wasn’t.

Story by: Shanice Mears Photography: Catherine Mills

No one is free until we are all free.- Dr Martin Luther King Jr. But it seems being free is a bit too much too ask for.

In fact lets take it back, back to that word ‘free’, because to me the real understanding of freedom, is being able to speak on your own accord, work within your own understanding and I mean its not really an ideal world of freedom when you’re the only race hash tagging and trending on the internet that your life matters.

So yup, I’ve already taken it there- so let’s really go there.

I remember being 9 years old and a neighbour of mine saying “we didn’t come here on the banana boat like your parents so mind how your playing with my son young girl, we belong here”.

So young, this made me a very confused black child. If I’m honest I grew up so oblivious to how offensive that comment was I even forgot it happened throughout some of my teen years.

I must admit its only now at 22 that I’m a lot more aware of my surrounding and slight change of environment. Only now that I understand what it means to really say black lives matter! I never thought I would ever feel like I’d have to defend or explain the skin I’m in, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that being born black isn’t easy.

The thing is I’m quite happy with the skin I’m in, the melanin I was born with, the hips that I (kind of) have and the hair that curls up so naturally on my head. But to the rest of the world I wish I wasn’t so misunderstood. When I walk into the room I wish I was more embraced rather than questioned and valued rather than judged. It’s important for me to make this very clear, that I’m not attacking you for being any other colour but the skin your in, whether that be white, black, mixed or Asian- I’m down for you.

However it’s also very important to me, to make others understand that I did not choose the colour I was born with, neither did any other black person or white person or whatever! So for that very reason alone we should stand together rather than a part- but my people are still being misjudged because of the shade of their skin and I don’t see too many of them around that are often being praised.

Black or not at some point you have to understand that we’re still fighting for equal rights whether you see it or not, its happening! As a young black female I wish it wasn’t. There are glass ceilings and glass doors, but in fact lets not go that far we have BAME programmes because ethnic minority people are not getting hired! I think that says it all.

Anything in place to make something better is great, but lets not forget why they started in the first place. Also to those that think because we’re in the year 2016 these things aren’t happening, I understand what you’re saying but it is happening! So lets find a solution shall we.

I could be asking for too much, and it might all just be blown out of proportion, or I could just be a young black female who is proud of being a young black female but wants to be valued for more than just being a young BLACK female.

P.s For the people.

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#BLACKLIVESMATTER

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#BLACKLIVESMATTER

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for the love of music.

KENNY ALLSTAR One of the most underrated DJs, entrepreneurs and personalities of our generation sits down with us for his first interview. He talks us through his journey, which saw him travelling from hood to hood filming videos to putting on sell out shows across Kent and spinning decks on BBC Radio 1 Xtra. The journey of course was a rough one but it has seasoned Kenny to become one of the most flavoursome creatives in the scene.

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KENNY ALLSTAR

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ASHLEY EVERETT

Being Beyoncé’s dance captain is no small job but here’s a young and beautiful queen that fits the bill. As she prepared for the London leg of the Formation tour, we caught up with Ashley and discussed everything from her journey as a dancer to how she met Queen B and what their relationship is like. Even though Ashley is used to jetting around the world it’s amazing to see how grounded she is as she establishes her place as one the most adorned and inspirational dancers of our generation.

queen of the “bey”hive

ASHLEY EVERETT

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do.it.yourself.

VINTAGE DOLL RISA

Beauty, elegance, charm, ambition, a whole heap of skills and a great fashion sense to match. With so much under her belt it’s no surprise that this young creative from London has been able to grow and establish a brand all just from being herself. Find out how this rising star and member of the all female collective ‘InBloom’ has managed to start and maintain her own blog in true DIY fashion, becoming an ASOS rep along the way, all whist still at university.

VINTAGE DOLL RISA

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SNEAKBO

Photo by: Dean Martindale Brixton star Skeakbo has been doing his thing for a while now. However, 2016 marked a huge turning point for him as he signed his first major record deal with Virgin EMI. Despite his continuous success he still remains so humble, remembering where he came from and channelling that energy into good times and positivity.

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SNEAKBO

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rippy.bon.skeng.

SNEAKBO

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express yourself.

THEA GAJIC 20

This young creative really does have the eye of the tiger and the heart of a lion. As if being an actress isn’t enough this special lady has been making a name for herself behind the camera too, directing and creating her own motion pictures. She opens up about dealing with and overcoming the unfortunate loss of her father as she continues to make a breakthrough and establish herself in the scene.

THEA GAJaIC

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power in

This London based creative group is ful just look cool they are cool. A bunch o singers, they tick every box. Their style are in the early phases of the bloomin

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SEROTONIN

SEROT

numbers.

ll of talent and full of energy. They don’t of friends, from producers to rappers to e and sound is unique and though they ng career, the future is definitely bright.

TONIN

NAOMI SEROTONIN KAJI

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Photo by: Zekaria Albostani

J H U S

back & better.

East London born and bred rapper J Hus has been killing the game since he burst on to the scene a few years ago. His catchy bars and confident delivery has since then allowed him to rapidly excel in the UK rap scene. Unfortunately, no climb to success goes unobstructed. After a recent setback, where Hus had to take some time away from not the industry but also his family and loved ones, Hus is back with a vengeance For the first time since his return, we interviewed Hus and got a very rare and personal insight into his life, his music career as a whole as well as his current mind frame. After sitting down with him 1 on 1 for 20 mins in the back of a cab, I learnt how much J Hus loves his family and his music and how important it is for him to continue to go hard so he can give back to the people who have been his support system over the past years.

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J HUS

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J HUS

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“i want my sound, my sound to represent what UK music is”

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THEA GAIC

J HUS

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BROKEN BRITAIN Designer: Adam Jones Styling, Creative Direction, & Photography by: Nwaka Okpareke

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‘Making the most of our tag of “Broken Britain” - I celebrate the mundance nnuances of everyday life on the street, picking up on textures from the decay and disorder for my textile manipulation and fabric choices” - Adam Jones

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YO GOTTI

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