JANUARY 2019
The “UP IN SMOKE” Issue
Volume 4
Our th
6
yr Anniversary!! featuring
chanel bracy the
Drumcussionist
SPONSORED BY
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january 5
S T O R I E S
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CHANEL BRACY has kicked down the door and broken all rules as she created her own genre as a drumcussionist and introduced ICE WATER PERCUSSION to the world
Tekashi is facing serious criminal charges... find out the full story and current status here.
22
74 Joyner Lucas and Tory Lanez go at it in one of the biggest
hip-hop battles of 2018!!
january 7
politickin’
cover
snaps
real talk “NO ONE HAS DIED FROM OVER DOSING ON WEED!!”
Cover & This Page: Chanel Bracy
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departments EDITORIAL Positive Influence For the Future [Editor’s Note]
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Politickin’ w/ Bliss Bindope
16
MODELING Snaps Model Life
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ENTERTAINMENT Real Talk w/ Taj “Real Talk” Thomas
Who’s That Chick? V.E.N.T. P.I.F.F. Review P.I.F.F. Poetry
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january 11
(volume Founding Editor
Xavier “CompleX” Prue
Assistant Editor
Ri Royal
Legal Consultant
Malissa Hurry
Public Relations & Operations Manager Brand Ambassador
Shawn Smith
Promotions Manager Associate Director, Content Development Graphic Designers Bloggers Writers Photographers
Ana “MzGotti” Montes
Brenda “Mzz BK” Lowery Taj “Real Talk” Thomas Xavier “CompleX” Prue; Martin Lab Ridgway Natalee Gilbert; Bliss Bindope
Malissa Hurry; Taj Thomas; Xavier Prue; Natalee Gilbert; Bliss Bindope; The Legend KC; ES Writer NeVaughn Brown; Edward “Trey Photo” Louis Smith; Emily X. Gore [EXG Photos]; Katie Grace; Whitney Collings
Copyright © 2018 P.I.F.F. Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
JANUARY 2019
four) Music Review Manager Contributors
Xavier “CompleX” Prue Chanel Bracy; Ice Water Percussion; East Coast Killa Beez; Legal Mobb Entertainment; Heather “Honeydip” Henry; Undadawg Entertainment; Dionne Baldwin; 92.9 FM; Starving Artists Creations; Trey Photo; Vett Adams; Miech NL
Contact us to get involved with P.I.F.F. E-mail: editor@piffmag.com Twitter: @piffmag Facebook: facebook.com/piffmagz Instagram: @piffmag www.piffmag.com
Positive Influence For the Future awaited pie that your Nana only makes on special occassions... you know that even through the wait, you’re going to get something REAL and something that was designed for you! As the year has finally ended and we move into a new era starting off 2019, P.I.F.F. has some interesting things coming to the table; including re-introducing our V.E.N.T. mixtape series as well as getting ready to do a P.I.F.F. tour, so if you want us to come roll through your hood and you know someone we should have our eye on, let us know.
S
ix years has been the era of P.I.F.F. Magazine so far. We’ve risen, we fell, but through it all, you all have remained by our sides and riding with us; even when we’re running late on submissions because it’s like that long-
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The first thing I asked when I met Chanel Bracy AKA Ice Water Percussion was... what in the world is a drumcussinist?? I’d never heard of it; but it was an interesting story and a smooth interview. The girl literally created not only her own term and when I say created it, I mean yes, she trademarked it, legalized it, all that; yet, she also created a new genre of drumcussionists. Her story is a must-read!
I usually will go on and on rambling in these little editor notes, but I think that you all have been waiting long enough for this issue to drop; so let’s talk about what it’s all about. In this Anniversary issue, we cover our “Up In Smoke” theme and discuss different perspectives on whether or not the government should move ahead with legalization of recreational marijuana. We also discuss that bulls**t... that K2 that y’all lovin’ out there so much. We’ve got the scoop on Tekashi 6ix9ine with Malissa Hurry and the homegirl Natalee Gilbert has the inside view on the Joyner Lucas vs. Tory Lanez situation. It’s definitely goin’ be lit this issue, so pull up with us...
-- Xavier
“CompleX” Prue
Editor-in-Chief
january 15
POLITICKIN’ 16 P.I.F.F. 2019
Artworx: Martin Lab Ridgway
with Bliss Bindope january 17
I will never forget that smell. It was my first time smelling the burning bush, and just remembered how good and unique I thought it smelled. I had no idea a the time what it was, I just knew it smelled different than anything I had smelled before. Ever since then, even through the years of not smoking, I have been and always will be an advocate for the legalization and responsible use of cannabis.
not say for most every other medicine and/or drug around today.
So what are we waiting for? The world needs more weed. Fentanyl overdoses are at a record high. Cancer is killing at alarming rates. I keep seeing articles that circulate social media saying that President Trump wants to nationally legalize weed. I hope he does. Weed has gotten too much of a bad reputation through out the years and I believe she is due for some posi Some of the biggest killers in recent years have been cancer, opitive recognition. Not only can weed oid overdose, and drunk driving. cure a lot of ailments, it opens up As I stated previously, most of the closed minds. I do believe it can shift anti-weed campaigns come from big this country into a much needed evotobacco, alcohol and pharma compa- lutionary upswing. nies. Do they want us dead? It may not be as nefarious as that, however The for-profit prison industry we do know that these are big money- complex is another proponent against making industries and they see the the legalization of weed. Countless legalization of weed as a threat to convictions over nonviolent “drug� oftheir profit margin. fenses account for the majority of our prison base. Lately, there have been I have literally seen videos of measures to exonerate past weed conTHC attacking cancer cells, weed is victions in California. California has an excellent, natural pain killer, and been at the forefront of the fight for from personal experience, when I legalization of marijuana. California smoke weed, I drink less alcohol. Oh was the first state to medically legalize yeah, and you cannot overdose on weed with Prop 215. Since the early weed, which is something you can2000’s, they have been paving the way
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for the other states, when it comes to legalization and decriminalization. Exoneration of weed convictions would be a huge win for our entire nation. If weed is to become legalized on a federal level, then hopefully, convictions can be overturned, prison terms cut short and felonies expunged. Is cannabis the next big business? Green gold rush? Does it cut in to the profits of these other industries? If it induces positive change through out the country, should we care about their profits? Colorado has used it’s profit from weed legalization on educational funding and assisting the homeless. We are human beings. First and foremost, we need to take care of our people. We need to do what is best for the population as a whole, and I think the legalization of a harmless and miraculous plant, such as THC will only further our evolution into a healthier, more peaceful society. Legalize it.
POLITICKIN’
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january 21
Snaps submit to: editor@piffmag.com
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SNAPS
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SNAPS
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SNAPS
SNAPS
MODEL LIFE PHOTO : Trey Photos
MODEL MAN by Xavier As a special dedication Magazine, I will include P.I.F.F. from my book ‘Model Life’. Stick with skills and learn the basics of industry.
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MODEL LIFE MODEL : Vett Adams
NAGEMENT 101 “CompleX” Prue to our relaunch of P.I.F.F. one chapter in every issue of on model management, titled, us each issue to pick up new managing people in the modeling
part 4 of 10
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CHANEL BRACY
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DRIPPIN’ ON THE DRUMS interview by Xavier “CompleX” Prue
aka
iCE wATER pERCUSSION january 47
the artists I’m covering. When I shoot my videos, I really don’t rehearse or anything. I just go with the flow and go off of improv. Most of my videos are pretty much just exactly how I performed it in that moment, that day. The only time I really rehearse is if I’m dancing standing up because I want to make sure I don’t fall down [at the show]. What gets you in the zone when you’re ready to perform for people? In the beginning, I’m always nervous. No one knows I’m nervous; I put on a front. I gotta just be like, ‘ok, I’m gonna be confident’ and after I get past the first part of the song, the anxiety starts going away as I start warming up and I let go and the rest just comes out naturally.
A lot of people compare you to Sheila E, right?
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They compare us because she also plays the timbales, but I’m the only one that plays them like a drum set. We play the same instrument, but we have two different styles. She plays
it the traditional way, but I play it a whole different way. I turn an instrument into another instrument; it’s basically like I’m fusing two instruments into one.
with T-Pain
You’re basically a legend down in Houston, right? I’m actually in Dallas, but I play everywhere in Texas. I have two sponsors – one who sponsors my drumsticks and one who sponsors my drumsticks holder. Did you ever dream you’d be right here? No, I really didn’t because in the beginning, I had ideas of being in a band, but for me, the band thing didn’t work out too well. Then, I started playing with DJs and I love to play with DJs to this day. After that, I started playing with rappers and singers too and I told them they don’t need a band, they just need me because I can cover both the drums and the percussion while they rap. And then I woke up one day and decided I don’t need to open up for other people; I can do my own shows. And then, I started doing that and I would have a track playing in the background as I cov-
ered the beat. I just combined all my services into one and you can also book me for studio sessions if you want me to record on your track. I do that too. You’ve opened up for Texas acts from J Dawg to Zro and mainstream artists like T.I. and Usher and T-Pain... what’s been your most memorable experience? It was Usher’s OMG 2010 tour and
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“ I woke up
one
day and decided i don’t need to open up for other people; i can do my
”
own shows! 60 P.I.F.F. 2019
-- chanel bracy aka ice water percussion january 61
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GET LIT
with
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!!
ADVISORY
REAL
with Taj
NO TOPIC
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WARNING!!!
TALK
“Real Talk” Thomas
IS SAFE
january 65
known plant that has been growing since the beginning of time has scared people who knew nothing about it. But with more and more people doing proper research, we are beginning to see a day where this is becoming accepted, let alone understood. The market for marijuana is growing rapidly, just as rapidly as when you plant your first seed of that OG Kush. A growing market means more access to more natural remedies, rather than having to be subjected to chemicals prescribed by your doctor, that sometimes may or may not have been approved by the FDA (whatever it is they do anyway.) And if you are against marijuana, remember: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY IT! And that’s Real Talk. P.S. Free my n***a Johnny serving 20 years for getting caught with an 8th of haze. He probably has better ideas for this growing economy than the dudes in Washington DC. and..... P.P.S. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE has died from overdosing on weed. You can quote me on it too!
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with
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nOVEMBER 69
P.I.F.F. REVIEW
the Joint Cheefs
by Natalee Gilbert
Wafting their chantable ad libs through heavy marijuana smoke, this group’s sound floats smoothly to your
ear canals. The Joint Cheefs allows you to let your conscious be free through their use of moderate boom bap and sharp witted lyrics‌ but to be more
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clear, I can say that this trio changes the high experience by implicating an old feel of New York rap through their wrap of rhymes *that solely support the 420 movement* and calm aesthetic. To begin, Geo The Rico,
Sonny Blue Note and Loud Pack Ralph formulated as a triad one day while working in their studio in the Bronx. “We are producers and engineers so the idea itself just grew organically” says Geo the Rican. They have been making music for some time but to get to where they are now they pretty much just smoked a lot (no pun intended) and became more personal with their music, putting their trials and tribulations through their rhymes and as a result they have been gaining a peak of listeners on a daily basis. To separate theirselves from the rest of flourishing emcees, the Joint Cheefs actually live through what they rap about. “We’re in a lane that we want to be in. It’s not too crowded, some people might say it’s our own and we’re going to hot box all the way to the top” Aside from their recent re-
P.I.F.F. REVIEW When it comes to favorite strands, Sonny Blue Note enjoys Indica because it helps him sleep, Geo the Rican chooses Sativa because it helps him stay focused and Loud Pack Ralph enjoys hybrid because he just wants to get high.
Fun fact: Their favorite slang is between “BroGod” and “Deadass” because they love to pay homage to their hometown.
lease of “Never Canoe” on April 20th 2018, the Joint Cheefs also released their second album
“Charge” which is currently
available on all platforms.
january 77
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