12 | The SEXY Issue | IKONS
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ROCK -n-
36 Soul
04
ON-THE-SCENE
10
CONVO WITH KEVIN LILES
18
SUITCASE ESSENTIALS
20
MUSIC THERAPY
44 54
FASHION
23 22
BUSINESS & CAREERS
MUSIC FEATURES
28
LEDISI
25
KAMAR-KALI
26
BARON
34 30
SIYA
31
NENNA YAVONNE
32
LES NUBIAN
CLOUD MUSIC QUEERER THAN HIP-HOP
8 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
ROCKY RIVERA
ON THE COVER
CONTENTS
The Music
Photography: Reggie Bryant for www.regbryanphotography.com Stylist: Diasy Perez for www.tenenicole.com Dress: Devon Thomas for www.devonthomas.net Feather Earring by Angels & Divas Shoes: Chameleon Boutiques www.SHOPCHAMELEON. Ring: Hair: Porsha Star for www. tenenicole.com MakeUp: Tanisha Faye for www.fayselegrance.com Studio: New York Fashion Connect at www.nyfashionconnect.com
IKONS Volume II, Issue V
PUBLISHER Team IKONS Inc. EDITOR N CHIEF Tiq Milan BUSINESS AFFAIRS Chief Executive Officer Ardranae Byer Chief of Operations LaCarrie Byer Chief Officer Of Finance Alethea Jones EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR Glennisha Morgan GRAPHICS Kevin A. Peguero, Aisha Dior, Lauren Reisman, Ardranae Byer, Reggie Bryant, Johnathan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Glennisha Morgan, Erica Caldwell, Krystal Hardy, V. Bella, Tearanie Gibson ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS PUBLIC RELATIONS Tene Nicole PR Firm PHOTOGRAPHERS Donovan Nathan HD, Maximo Photography, Taj Washington, The IKON SPECIAL THANKS TO NIKKIA MCCLAIN, DAISY PEREZ, PORSHA STAR, TANISHA FAYE, NEW YORK FASHION CONNECT STUDIOS, MZ. TOY OF B’JAEZZAH GLAM SQUAD & KIMBERLY NICHOLE
www.ikonsmagazine.com Sales request shall be addressed to Sales c/o IKONS Magazine P.O. Box 521087 New York, NY 10452 ATTENTION RETAILERS: CALL (917) 826.3143 to sell IKONS Magazine in your store or newsstand. Email Us: info@ikonsmagazine.com IKONS Magazine is distributed Nationality & Canada DISCLAIMER: Contents of IKONS Magazine may not be reproduced in any manner either whole or in part without written consent from the publisher. Publication of the name or photograph of any persons or organizations appearing, advertising and listing in IKONS Magazine may not be taken as an indication of the sexual orientation of that individual or group, unless specified. The views and thoughts of the writer are not the views of IKONS Magazine. We believe in the art of expression and encourage readers and supporters to share their concerns and stories with our publication. The material/photos submitted will not be returned and become property of IKONS Magazine. Material may be edited for length and grammatical errors. Single copy price: $6.99, $7.99 Canada (US Funds Only), $9.99 International (US Funds Only) ALL MAGAZINES ARE SENT DISCREETLY. Please write to IKONS at IKONS Magazine P.O.BOX 521087 New York, NY 10452 Email:
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Behind the scenes IKONS Magazine shoots kimberly nichole for Music issue
HER FACE For Kimberly Nichole I wanted to take her out the box but still give her a suttle look. For the cover look I started off with a shimmer cream and coral to make her dark brown eyes pop. When it came to her second and third looks I went the way of her personality, very down to earth and relaxed. - TANISHA FAYE, MAKE-UP STYLIST
HER HAIR
Kimberly Nichole is a natural beauty and her hair reflects that. So I silkened it with the products that help the hair breath and pliable. I wanted to show how she has the best of both worlds and by enhancing her signature “fro-hawk”. She’s a smooth, sexy and sophisticated woman so I wanted to mimick those characters thru her look. - PORSHA STAR, HAIR STYLIST
THE LOOK I selected pieces that I felt represent Kimberly Nichole: fun, flirty, yet a simplistic style. I felt her signature tutus show a lot of her free spirit so I want to capture that with a fun yet grown up take. -daisy perez, stylist Photography: Reggie Bryant
14 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
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a
IKONS MUSIC FEATURE
Ledisi
By Tiq Milan
There’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time for dirty wine, audacious rap and 808’s. There’s a time for slow jams and low lights. Then there’s the time when you want a woman to just sing to you and sang her ass off. Ledisi is that woman. With four Grammy nominations and her critically acclaimed 3rd album, Pieces of Me, climbing the charts, she is solidifying herself as one of the best voices in music right now. What’s going on? Man! Running around, doing these interviews. I know you’ve been really busy with your new album getting ready to drop? Yes, I’m just happy that people want to talk to me. (laughs) You’ve really craved out your lane on the musical landscape. Your style is refreshing yet you have a familiar, old soul sound. It’s like a throwback to powerful singers and really full sounding R&B. That’s great. I’m glad you feel that way. I’m just trying to have fun and do what I love. I love R&B music and I want every generation to feel it. When you first came on the scene you more jazz and blues. How did you make the move to just straight R&B? I do albums based on how I am at the moment. But this one was a little more calculating as far as what I wanted to say. I didn’t think about adding a jazz sound here or there or whatever. At the time of Lost and Found I was more jazzier, at the time of Turn Me Loose I was more rocky. Now, it’s more R&B. I just go with how I’m feeling. The only thing that is calculated is what I say on this album. You had two Grammy nominations each for your last two albums, do you feel any pressure? Not at all because I’m not thinking like that. If it gets [some nominations] I’m honored. I’m just focused on making a great album. That’s all that matters. After that it’s whatever. I can’t control what the universe does but I can make sure that I create quality music. And that you do. Now, when you, Marsha Ambrosius, Kelly Price, and Jill Scott, sang Nina Simone’s Four Women on Black Girls Rock, you showed off. (laughs) I was so happy to be on TV. And I was so happy to sing a Nina Simone song and be Peaches. Come on now. You couldn’t play Peaches being goofy like myself. I had to play her like Peaches. Nina Simone didn’t play when it came to part. She sure didn’t. And you really brought it home. It felt like you embodied that character at that moment. That’s what Nina Simone would have wanted because I studied what she did with that part and what she did before that. All the women had did all of this building up to that, you better do something. So you did the Nina song, you’ve been on stage with Patti Labelle,
you were a part of the Chaka Khan tribute at 2009 Soul Train Awards. You’re a celebrity, but are you still a fan? Do you ever get super excited to meet these legends or just play it cool and go with it? It’s who I am all the time. Everyone tells me that I can’t do this or I can’t do that. And I’m like, ‘Oh yes I can.’ I go shopping by myself and I get mobbed and it’s like I didn’t know it was like this. I go to meetings and it’s just me. People are like, ‘No entourage?’ (laughs). Just good old regular folks huh? Yes, Just regular. And then I meet people that I love and I’m still geeked that I can talk to Patti or Chaka or Prince or whomever. It’s just like wow, they know who I am. That means so much to me. You’re definitely headed in the direction of becoming legendary. You’re a part of that small group of power singers that define really good music. Well, I hope to leave a legacy like that. I really do. I’m hoping to not go unnoticed. I’ve told my team, that I don’t want to leave this Earth without knowing that I have contributed to our industry. You’re a very humble woman but I heard that you weren’t like that in the beginning. I was a hot mess honey! When you’re young you think, ‘Oh I’ve done one little thing now I should be famous.’ No. It doesn’t work that way. You can’t just one-time it. And a lot of people can relate when I speak for the United Negro College Fund and go to different schools and take about my success. This is the “Now” generation and I was like that too, but you can’t have it right now. You have to grow and learn and work for everything you get. You got to work your butt off. I thought I knew everything when I first started. But I’m so glad that I came up the way I did. My voice has gotten stronger and better. I sounded a mess too. Acting a mess and sounding a mess. (laughs) Yup. People loved it but as I look back on it, I could have done better. So now that you’re in this space do you feel that you’ve really arrived as an artist in your career? Oh no, not at all. There’s so much more to learn. There’s so much more stuff I want to do. I want to do more collaborations. I’d like to do more shows outside of the states. Do you have collaborations on the new album? I have one and John Legend wrote a song for me. You and Jaheim have duet right? Yeah, it’s called “Stay Together”. I wrote the song with Rex Rideout (?) And I specifically wanted Jaheim to sing on it. He has a beautiful voice. He reminds me of Luther Vandross. He’s incredible if you ask me. He’s a mixture of the young and the new. Is there a divide in R&B music similar to the divide between radio friendly and underground hip-hip? There may be a difference but the radio has embraced me. They em-
Continued on page 59 28 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
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d
A MUSIC STORY
abcdefghijk
ROCK -n-
Soul
With Kimberly Nichole By Tiq Milan
Rock and Roll Provocateur. Soul Siren in a Tutu. Kimberly Nichole is the lovechild of two musical genres that though are segregated by radio stations and video countdown shows, are from the same cloth. The cloth that Jimi Hendrix took a swath of when he crooned about his baby on “Red House” over a whining electric guitar. Or when he distorted and mangled the “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock because we all know that during the civil rights turmoil of 1969 the idea of being “the land of the free” was a flat out lie. Like the aforementioned legend, she too was raised born and raised in Seattle, Washington the northwest city more known for its fish markets than music. However, don’t be fooled, Seattle is the birthplace of Grunge which completely changed the direction of rock music and the musical landscape as we know it. It was edgy, emotional, gimmick proof and unapologetic. The perfect influence on a young black girl who had a set of soulful pipes befitting the lead in a Baptist church choir. The “Rock Ballerina” took her hybrid sound on the road and never looked back. She has developed a huge following all over the country, and upon arriving in New York City impressed some very influential people like Andre Talley of Vogue magazine and the iconic due, Ashford and Simpson. Her debut album The Yellow Brick Journey is fun, energetic, and all grown up. It’s something fresh and new amid a sea of the same and recycled. We caught up with Kimberly to discuss Rock n’ Roll, BET, and how it ain’t about what you know, it’s who. 36 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
Styled by Diasy Perez for www.tenenicole.com Photography by: Reggie Bryant for www.regbryanphotography.com Dress: Devon Thomas for www.devonthomas.net Feather Earring: Angels & Divas Shoes & Ring: Shop Chameleon Boutiques www. shopchameleon.com Hair: Porsha Star for www.tenenicole.com MakeUp: Tanisha Faye for www.fayeselegance. com Studio: New York Fashion Connect Studios
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FIKONS FASHION
Rhyme &Reason
With fashion dancing with color and daring mixtures of texture. They compel and demand our attention and takes us to another place, another time and dare we say, to chanel an alter being. Photography: Nathan HD & Max Stylist: Daisy Perez Hair: Porsha Star Make-Up: Tanisha Faye Studio: NY Connect Studios
44 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
Fallon as
MC LYTE Sweater and T Shirt By: Carpe Diem Deformo www.carpediemdeformo. com. Shorts By: Akoo www.akooclothingbrand.com Chain and Watch: Model’s Own
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FIKONIK STYLE
SINCER-AMOR
What would you consider your personal style? “Anything that you feel that goes. Create your own style and trust that others will follow.” Who is your favorite fashion IKON? “Grace Jones” Where do you like to shop? “Mom and pop stores. I love these type of shops [because] I know the world is not wearing the same things.”
52 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
KATE
ALISHA
What inspired your outfit? “Life & Country Gentlewomen”
What inspired your outfit? “The weather”
Who is your favorite fashion designer? “Tom Browne”
Who is your favorite fashion IKON? “Rihanna”
Is your look your signature look? “Yes! Bow Tie Fly!”
Who is your favorite fashion designer? “BCBG”
What would you consider your personal style? “Vinturistic = Vintage + Future”
ISAIAH
What inspired your outfit? “My parents give me all inspiration.” What would you consider your personal style? “Essentric, yet dapper.” Who is your favorite fashion designer? “YSL”
EVELYN
Where do you like to shop? “I love to shop at Zara. They have everything for such great prices.” What would you consider your personal style? “My personal style is a little more sophisticated. Edgy and fashionable.” Who is your favorite fashion IKON? “Kourtney Kardashian”
CARLETTA
What inspired your outfit? “My YEEZY’S” What is your current favorite trend? “I don’t follow trends. I hate looking like everyone else. I take my sneakers and build off that.” Who is your favorite fashion IKON? “Jay-Z, Kanye West & Ryan Gosling” Where do you like to shop? Brooklyn Circus”
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K
IKONS LEGENDS
one on the Billboard charts. On April 16, 2003, Luther suffered a stroke limiting his appearances until his death on July 1, 2005. He died of a heart attack at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center at the age of 54. In 2008, he was listed as #54 on the Rolling Stones Magazine’s list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Posthumously, the song, Shine reached #31 on the R&B charts and the four-box set Love, Luther was released featuring his greatest hits over his vast career. He is not only remembered as mega-talented producer, song writer and singer; Luther Vandross lives on as an IKON..
Rest In Peace Jennifer Banks Evisu
LV UTHER
By: Renair Amin
ANDROSS
H
is songs served as wedding day soundtracks. His albums sold over twenty-five million copies. He could silence a room with only a note. People waited just to hear him riff the “ooohs” that made you stand to your feet or faint to the floor. He was Luther Vandross. Born on April 20, 1951, Luther began his musical journey at a very early age. With a sibling in the industry, it would seem that music just ran through his veins. In high school, he would join various musical groups as well as appear on a very well-known children’s show, Sesame Street. His collegiate experience was interrupted when Luther discovered that his musical desires were stronger than his educational ones. His big came when he began to sing with Change, a pop group with chart topping hits like A Lover’s Holiday and Searching. Vandross would go on to sign with Epic Records after some monetary disputes with Change’s founder. His 1981 debut album, Never Too Much, garnered him two Grammy nominations and made him the new face of R&B with hits like A House Is Not a Home and the title track. Over the years, song after song would continue to climb up the R & B charts. There’s Nothing Better Than Love (duet with Gregory Hines,) Stop to Love, and Here and Now for which he would win his first Grammy (1991) would be played on radio stations across the nation. Luther’s musical career continued to explode. He released the Power of Love album which won more awards. His collaborations with other musicians like Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Frank Sinatra exposed us to the most amazing duos to ever appear on a track together. In 2003, Vandross released, what would be his final album, Dance with My Father. The title track was dedicated his father who died when Vandross was just eight years old from diabetes. Written with Richard Marx, this song led to another Grammy and although he had been in the music industry for years, this would be the first album to make it to number
58 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
September 30 - June 18, 2011 Legendary Beauty Queen and Ballroom personality, Jennifer Banks Evisu left behind a legacy for us all.
You will be missed
BROOKLYN’S FINEST
PILLOW CAFE
FUN FALL EATS INGREDIENTS 2 pkgs (8 oz each) Portabella Sliders 3/4 cup Lemon Vinaigrette 1 pkg (12 ct) Slider Rolls Salt and pepper to taste 6 tsp. Savory Finishing Sauce
PREPARATION Rinse caps, gently wipe. Score caps with cross-hatch pattern. Toss with 1/2 cup vinaigrette in bowl; marinate 1 hour. Preheat grill on HIGH 10 min. Clean grill with wire brush. Using soft cloth, coat grill grate lightly with vegetable oil. Place caps on grill, gill side up. Grill 3-4 min per side; turning and basting with remaining vinaigrette. Nestled in the Clinton-Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, Pillow Café is as inviting as a family reunion. The French doors open up to a quaint but spacious café with the work of local artists on the wall and Nina Simone playing over head. One of the top must go to eateries in Brooklyn, life and business partners, Robin Richardson and Biola Odunewu, have been overwhelmed with support, particularly from the LGBT community. “We’ve received an amazing amount of support. It made me really proud,” said Odunewu. With a large variety of gourmet sandwiches, salads, coffee and cocktails, Pillow Café is the perfect spot to catch up with old friends and make new ones. The brunch is not to be missed and the outdoor patio with a frozen kiwi margarita in hand on a warm summer afternoon is the best way to start your weekend. Ideal Meal: Bacon & Cheddar waffles, homemade waffles mixed with bacon and cheddar cheese topped with fresh fruit. Served with 2 eggs $11; frozen granny smith apple margarita $5.
By: Tiq Milan
Place caps on roll; season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with Savory Finishing Sauce.
Grilled Portobella Sliders with
SAVORY FINISHING SAUCE www.ikonsmagazine.com
82 | The MUSIC Issue | IKONS
“Oh God, performing is the highlight of being an art-
ist: dressing up and performing. I go in I have fun. To me performing is like a spiritual experience. I feel like I’m outside of me. It’s when I’m closest to God. I love the energy of it. My gift is something given to me by God so I know when I’m expressing myself on stage I’m living my purpose. So onstage I go in honey! I might roll around on the ground my tutu all up, showing my drawers. I’m doing it. (laughs) I love performing.”
-Kimberly Nichole
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