Preme Magazine Issue 18 : Amine + Kendrick Sampson + Montana Tucker + EBEN

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8. SUNNI COLON 16. LUTE 20. KID SUPER 34. KENDRICK SAMPSON 40. SKY BROWN 50. AMINE 58. BRYSON TILLER 64. EBEN 68. MAHALIA 72. ARIA 76. MONTANA TUCKER

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SUNNI

COLON PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SUPREME

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PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SUPREME

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LLU U TTEE LLU U TTEE LLU U TTEE LLU U TTEE Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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C CA AR R EEC CA A R R EE C CA AR R EE

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young a rtist + fa shion icon + everyw here you look you find

C o lm D illa n e "K ID S U P E R " photographer ALLEN JIANG LIGHTING LUCIEN PA JIMMY MAC q&a by Nikoleeno assistant Jace for Preme Magazine

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Q+ A Nikoleeno - KidSuper great to finally sit down with you! Tell me a little about the name and how it came about.

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KidSuper - Honestly I got the name as a kid in New York. Me and some friends use to hang in front of a local pizza shop. One day we were hanging out freestyling and coming up with names and I was thinking if I could be anything what would it be and I said Super Kid another friend said KidSuper and the name really stuck with me from then on. It represented everything I was at the time a Kid that thought he could do anything and everything.

Nikoleeno - Dope! So where are you originally from?

KidSuper - I was born in New York City. I moved a lot as a kid, first to Chicago then back to New York City then to Mexico then to Wisconsin, then finally moved back to New York City when I was 12.

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"I wouldn’t say anything is tougher than anything else, I think sticking with it in general was tough. "

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Nikoleeno - How was that transition as a kid?

KidSuper - Moving made me adaptable and good at first impressions. I never knew how long I was going to stay in one place so I made the most out of any moment. The final move from Wisconsin to New York was definitely the hardest. Everything was different, I remember going to highschool and everyone really cared what their shoes or clothes, I said fuck it I am not going spend my money on these brands I want to start my own.

N ik o le e n o - W h a t w o u ld y o u s a y th e to u g h e s t p a rt o f h a v in g a fa s h io n lin e in 2 0 19 is?

K id S u p e r - I w o u ld n ’t say a n y th in g is to u g h e r th a n a n y th in g e ls e , I th in k s tic k in g w ith it in g e n e ra l w a s to u g h .

I w as b a s ic a lly w a lk in g d o w n an unp ave d ro a d th a t I d id n ’t tru ly k n o w w h e re 23 it w a s g o in g a n d n o o n e w a s th e re to g u id e me.

S ta rtin g th e lin e a t such a yo ung ag e , a n d h a v in g to n s o f m o m e n ts w h e re y o u d id n ’t k n o w if it w a s g o in g to w o rk o u t, th e a rd e s t p a rt w a s Nikoleeno - What would h ju s t s ta y in g w ith it. you like the perception of the KidSuper brand to be?

KidSuper - That life is amazing and you shouldn’t be defined by names or brands and you can do anything. In a world where a lot of things seem “dark” I like to add color and light to that space. Money or having the latest clothes Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution shouldn’t make you cool!

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Nikoleeno - What would you say your defining moment was?

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KidSuper - I wouldn’t say there was one! I’m really still grinding, it’s really been a gradual success if you will.

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SUPER SUPER KID KID KID SUPER SUPER KID KID KID SUPERSUPER SUPER KID KID KID SUPERSUPER SUPER KID KID KID SUPER SUPER Nikoleeno - What are your plans for the rest of 2020 and beyond.

KidSuper - We’re currently planning a fashion show in Paris for fashion week. Also, we’re working on an art show (mostly paintings) in September along with shooting short films and creating T.V. series.

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Houston-born, activist/actor Kendrick Sampson is passionate. Sampson is best known for his role in Insecure HBO, How to Get Away With Murder, co-starring in the film Miss Juneteenth with Nicole Beharie, and his involvement in BLD PWR, an organization working in the intersection of grassroots and narrative activism. On a Thursday evening, Sampson calls in from his home in Los Angeles and he sounds excited but exhausted.

Tiffany: How are you taking care of yourself these days?

Kendrick Sampson: (laughs) I’m trying to figure out how to take care of myself. We’ve been in crisis mode- compounded crisis: COVID-19, economic crisis, health crisis, the ongoing crisis of police violence and murder, and trash leadership. All this stuff weighs down and it’s a very stressful time for everybody.

Amid a looming presence of an ongoing global pandemic, unemployment at the highest level since the Great Depression, and demonstrators across the country gathering to stand against racial injustice and demand change. Sampson can be seen in the midst of it all- on the frontlines of the Los Angeles protest demanding immediate action to stop racist 32 policing. After a video surfaced of him being shot by rubber bullets and attacked by LAPD at a peaceful protest the question bears, “How are you coping with all of this?”, “How are you maintaining your sanity?”

Kendrick Sampson: The best I can do is eat properly and nourish myself. I try to get some sun to help my melanin out (laughs). Fresh air, if I can get it in Los Angeles. I go to therapy once a week- I should be going twice but my schedule is intense and all over the place. The good thing is that we get to organize in community. The way that Black Lives MatterLos Angeles does it, they start out with libations and letting the family of the ones that have been murdered by at the hands of police speak and talk about the solutions. We then close out with Assata Shakur for healing. There is some catharsis around that- the fight ain’t over and it’s intense. I also have the privilege and honor to work on beautiful Black projects like Insecure and Miss Juneteenth and that has provided some healing to folks, which have been encouraging as well. It’s complicated, I’m not going to lie, I haven’t gotten any sleep. I’m doing the best I can to be conscious of how I operate and take it day-by-day.

Tiffany: Your character, Nathan, on HBO Insecure Season 4 is vocal about his mental health and is vulnerable with Issa about how he suffers from being bipolar. Why is it important for characters like Nathan to exist?

Kendrick Sampson: Hollywood has had a very damaging effect on Black folks. There have been a lot of anti-Black narratives. For the most part, the people that control our stories in Hollywood are allwhite. The more that we control our narratives the better. In addition to the glorified police violence and anti-blackness that is often seen in Hollywood, they also portray mental health as violent and sensationalized or the big ominous, foreboding moment when someone reveals that they suffer from some type of mental illness.

Usually, it’s paired with a crime. [Hollywood] criminalizes mental health and our trauma. Coupled with the history of this country, never having any mental health infrastructure. Prisons have been our biggest mental health institutions especially for Black folks which in reality just makes us worse. It’s necessary to have a regular-degular, Black man from Texas with a regular-ass bi-polar disorder live and be human. It’s so important! So often we don’t get to play those characters. I was honored to play him and be a part of that especially because he is from my hometown, H-town.

Tiffany: What do you want people to take away from Issa and Nathan's relationship with regards to mental health?

Kendrick Sampson: It’s so layered. I have mental health issues and have pretty severe anxiety. My brother was diagnosed with bipolar disorder which at a time was often misdiagnosed. Many of my family members have varying mental health disorders. To talk to them about their mental illnesses depending on the person you are talking to, can be a completely different type of experience. You saw Nathan try to communicate what was going on last season (HBO’s Insecure Season 3) but was rejected by Issa due to Issa being hurt and dealing with her own mental health struggle. Although she wasn’t dealing with a bipolar disorder, she is dealing with the trauma of friendships, relationships, career, and many other things. She only has so much capacity!

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Kendrick Sampson interviewed by tiffany bullock

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Kendrick Sampson: There is so much you can break down from that last conversation they had last season and how both of them have grown to a place now where they are open to having the conversation while holding each other accountable. They don’t go about it in a perfect way. The conversation is not a roadmap or a perfect example of how to have a mental health conversation but it is a beautiful nuance example. It shows how the conversation can be presented and how to hold space for people to have those discussions. I think Issa was properly addressing her hurt in an imperfect way- which all of us will do and Nathan was addressing his exploration and the hurt that he’s 35 caused. I loved that scene and Kerry Washington who directed that episode was super sensitive to it and gave the space and the direction needed to find what both characters would do in that situation.

Tiffany: You co-founded BLD PWR, what makes a movement work?

Kendrick Sampson: I’m not a professor. I take my cues from liberators all over the country like Patrice Cullors, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Mary Hooks, and Tia Oso. The people that mostly taught me were Black women, queer Black women, and transwomen, in addition, friends like Phillip Agnew. They can all explain it better than me. What I think makes a movement work is people, community-based solutions, and paying attention to what the community needs. Together with, prioritizing people over profit and making sure you seek out the most vulnerable- the people closest to the pain. Abolition and reparations as a focus and a framework for a movement is absolutely necessary.

The way I see it and I say this a lot, a bad seed produces a bad tree which produces bad fruit. A good seed produces a good tree, which produces good fruit. So all the systems that were formed were bad seeds, which have to be uprooted. Policing was born in slave catching, a direct linkage that has been rebranded to what we see today. Prisons were born under continued slavery under the guise of the 13th amendment. Capitalism born out of greed, anti-blackness, anti-indigenous, and making people a commodity. All of these systems have to be uprooted so then new seeds can be planted, and new trees/systems can be grown that are founded in wellness in care for our communities and they will bear good fruit because of those seeds. I think that framework is necessary for an effective movement. Coalition building to not only find out who your allies are but your accomplices and knowing you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. People have been working on this for a long time.

What makes the movements work is us. We have to take responsibility to do the work every day even when nobody's looking.

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Sampson on protesting.

Kendrick Sampson: Protesting is the external strategy, it’s the strategy in the streets where we show our power and our numbers with direct action. The real movement of the work happens every single day and when everyone knows their part. There are people that babysit kids, those who organize phone numbers, knock on doors, email, those who do text support, do programming as well as people that keep their eye on politics. They have their ear to who’s voting in which direction and who might vote in another direction, and who is holding up the process. All of that- making sure we know those leaders and who has their community and know where the pain is and how to address it.

Making sure you have healers and medics. People who know the legality, who can warn you of the legality and can efficiently work around legal systems- give you all of the strategies you need. It’s a very complex thing. I would advise anybody to make sure you connect with organizations and organizers who are doing great work already.

Learn from them- don’t try to reinvent the wheel.

Tiffany: Being on the frontlines can be traumatic and mentally/ physically taxing. How do you recharge?

Kendrick Sampson: I like to eat- I love, love good food. I love playing the piano, it brings me peace. Exercising and being out in the sun. Going to the beach is nice as well- I love warm water. The beaches in LA have cold ass water- I’m not talking about those. I can recharge myself really well- I can go about the whole day by myself.

But, I love being in community as well, being around the people I love. Oh, and watermelon. I love watermelon- I will put in my mouth and that is all I need.

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Tiffany: Being that Miss Junteenth isn’t the expected period piece about oppression and the white gaze- it’s nuanced- with the story being told of Black people just being. Talk to me about the significance of nuance Black stories?

Kendrick Sampson: Juneteenth is my favorite holiday! There’s an invisible villain in Miss Juneteenth, which are all of the systems that are up against Black people. Systems that target us. Ronnie ( Kendrick Sampson) has a run-in with the American legal system and Turquoise (Nicole Beharie) has to deal with the desire to appeal to this pageantry and competition. She has problematic reasons as well as good reasonsthere are layers of what they are dealing with but it’s just Black folks being human. Black people going through life and seeking liberation internally and their personal relationships. Turquoise figuring out what is best for her daughter and trying to understand what her daughter wants. As well as navigating her relationship with her husband who doesn’t live with them. It’s the complex lives that we all have. Being Texan and country and being a former Miss Junteenth- that is complex. We are complex.

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Sampson on Black portrayal in Hollywood and storytelling.

Kendrick Sampson: In [Hollywood] we are often demonized and criminalized, the hidden figures- the first Black person to do everything - where we have to be perfect and flawless. Hidden figure stories are great stories, and we need to know those stories but we also need to know they weren’t extraordinary people by design. They were people, regular everyday folk that decided to do the work, get involved, and make excellent choices. A lot of the time they do not connect these stories to the community. People cannot achieve that success without community and everybody playing their part. Dr. Melina Abdullah often references Ella Baker who says, “ We don’t need a leader of the group, we need group leadership where everybody plays a part.” Another portrayal is the slave that is strong, who grinds through and forgives her master. We need the stories that say fuck master - because slaves did often. They fought and they won! That is what Junteenth shows us. I think the stories like Miss Junteenth are stories about our humanity that we aren’t allowed. You see stories about mediocre white people all the 37 time. I believe the most mediocre Black people are more excellent than the greatest white folks because of everything we experienced and had to fight through. That is what I look at this story is us just being able to be nuanced, making mistakes, missing the mark, and hitting the mark and what that looks like.

Tiffany: As we are reframing how our stories are being told, what our reality looks like, how we think about ourselves. What should people keep in mind in storytelling?

Kendrick Sampson: To move past the idea around diversity and inclusion and into liberation. Diversity is just representation.

Inclusion is just being included- finding what pieces of culture need to be considered when having a person that is normally excluded finally included in the process. It’s being allowed into spaces which is not true liberation. True liberation is not having to be allowed and not having to fight to get into spaces where you are necessary, where you deserve to be. Liberation looks like Insecure. Looks like Nathan being bipolar and that not being sensationalized. It’s people seeing themselves represented not only by face but my experience, humanity, and humanizing stories. Those are liberatory frameworks for storytelling. Also know those who are greenlighting our stories, if you ever think you are producing too many Black stories and giving us too much of a share of the pie, or that there are too many indigenous stories-you are wrong. They can’t make enough! They can’t produce and distribute enough Black stories to make up for the anti Blackness that came before this.

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"one of the youngest pro skaters in the world"

S K Y BROW N S T O R Y B Y G R E G O T Y G A G L IA R D I P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K A M R I N O E L M C K N IG H T L E W IS R O Y D E N Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Q+ A 1. How you balance excelling skateboarding, surfing, and dancing? What amazes me how you excel at skateboarding, surfing, and dancing? That's incredible how do you not just balance all 3 but excel at 3 different sports.

I try to skate and surf everyday! Depending on where I am I can’t always surf! The dancing side is new for me. I’ve always loved to dance but I never had any professional training until Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. Winning the show was an amazing experience and it makes me want to pursue dancing as well!

2. What is it like being your age in the skateboarding community are people accepting? Is the community excited to have someone so young partake or are they jealous of you?

They are accepting, but I feel I have to prove myself even more because of my age and that okay, it’s about changing people’s perspective. I’ve had trouble with a few contests in the past who wouldn’t let me compete due to my age, which is very frustrating.

3. Where is your favorite place to skateboard?

Venice beach!

4. Describe this: you're a 10-year-old girl about to drop in at a major competition in front of thousands of people...what does that feel like?

It’s a feeling I can’t explain! I have so many nerves but I always just try to get out there and do my best! If I’m not nervous then I’m probably not pushing myself hard enough!

5. I understand you are British and Japanese and predominantly live in the United States.

Do you ever visit Britain and Japan? What is your relationship like with those two nations?

I also understand you will be competing for Britain's Olympic skateboarding team.

I was born and raised in Japan and spend most of my time there! I have been given so much opportunity to travel and I love it. My parents have always wanted for our family to be able 41 to travel to awesome places, recently I’ve had the opportunity with Nike to travel more to places like Prague and Paris.

6. Who are your role models and why?

Leticia Bufoni - she's strong and skates like a man, but she’s also very girly and loves to dress up and wear make up. She’s super cool.

I also admite a lot of surfer girls like Cocoho, Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson. They are pushing the boundaries in surfing for girls.

I also love Pink, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B. They are just powerful, tough and beautiful ladies.

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7. How did you become involved with skateboarding, surfing, and dance?

I have watched my dad skate and surf since I was really young and I begged him to try! Eventually he let me start skating and surfing and I’ve been doing it ever since! I was about 2 or 3 years old when I started both sports! Dancing was definitely just for fun until ABC reached out for Dancing with the Stars: Juniors!

8. you've accomplished so much at a young age. You are a 10-year-old professional skateboarder, endorsed by Nike. What is your life like?

Take me through a day in your life?

I wake up and go surf at dawn while it’s still dark outside before Japanese school. Then I come home skate, surf, do my homework and play with my friends. Everything is very laid back at home. I think I dream big and have a lot of different dreams that I fight for. This has given me alot of opportunities. Most of all, I hope I can inspire kids to get out there and live a rad life 9. Do you attend school? And how involved are your parents in career?

Yes, I am in school in Japan. My parents support me in everything I do and I couldn’t do it without them.

10. I understand your brother is also a skateboarder and you guys have a close and competitive relationship. Could you talk about your bond with him?

I love Ocean. He is my best friend. We have a lot of fun together and love being silly, but we also push each other to be better. He’s gnarly.

We do everything together - even sleep in the same bed!A lot of people say they argue with their brother or sister but we don’t, we are too busy having fun.

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Ami

interviewed by tiffany bullock

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"It's another day of quarantine, so I'm going crazy still," Aminé says on a zoom call, on Thursday afternoon. I laugh in resonance and agreement, as that is the sentiment that the majority of the world is feeling. I haven't asked any questions yet as formalities aren't approached the same since quarantine began. The Oregan, rapper, sits in a quiet room with natural lighting, artwork, and skateboard decks on the back wall. Aminé feels like a friend, you know, personally.

Someone whom you went to college or grew up with and shared life experiences. This is how Aminé has built his devout fan base- raw

Where are you finding joy these days?

Definitely, my dog! Stepping outside to go walk my dog is by far the most action I get in a day. I am taking quarantine pretty seriously. I traveled to see my parents during the quarantine on a flight, but it was pretty quick.

I had to see my family because I haven't seen them in five months. Other than that, I've just been at home actually quarantining. I think my dog is the highlight of my day and most days.

Your first single release in 2020, you drop 'Shimmy'.

The first line is 'It's been on a whole year my nigga, let's not front; it's my year my nigga’. Are you pacing yourself? Are you strategically making a choice to drop at a specific time to ensure longevity?

talent, honesty, and relatability.

Following the success of Good for You and ONEPOINTFIVE, 50

fantastically

ambitious

projects solidifying Aminé into rap stardom and as one of Portland's greatest, he continues to stay hungry. The release of his sophomore album LIMBO is timely, not only because fans have been eager to hear new music from the 26 years old. But, because it perfectly captures where Aminé is in his life but in a distinct way where we all are. "I am completely in limbo with where I'm at in life as an adult. I'm still figuring it out."

The timing, I don't know what you can expect nowadays tons of people are getting killed, then it's the virus.

Timing is by far out of the window. You can't plan for anything! I released 'Shimmy' at a time when quarantine wasn't a thing. We had a rollout and planned for the album to come out sooner. You guys should've had the album by spring. We had to try and get creative with the way we did things because of quarantine. For me, it really wasn't the timing that mattered. When releasing this album, I wanted to make sure I was in the right place and ready for it. Honestly, I've been working on this album for two years, and I pushed it back about 3 times. It was supposed to come out the fall of last year.

I put out ONEPOINTFIVE to give me more time to work on this album. That's why I called it ONEPOINTFIVE because it wasn't the second album.

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Since this is your second album, what was the energy like in the months leading up to LIMBO?

At 21, 22, 23 years old, when I was making Good For You, I was in a state where I was happy to be achieving my dreams. I was just a really naive and bright kid, wanting to make a good first album. Perfectionist and all that shit!

Now

the

second

"album"

came,

ONEPOINTFIVE, and I started to realize I haven't been considered hard. I needed to show niggas I could rap. I had a lot to prove on ONEPOINTFIVE, and it really took me somewhere I did not think it would take me. I made that music in two months in Hawaiireally quickly.

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I just wanted to make a bunch of fun ratchet shit, and just rap. We put it out, and it took me on a world tour. I didn't even expect that, it was great! Really gave me enough time to put

What inspired the title, LIMBO, and why makes you feel like the title captures the essence of the album?

At a certain point, we pushed back the album. The first time we pushed back the album, we were a little frustrated because we wanted to put out the album. But we realized the album musically wasn’t where it is now. I didn’t have ‘Burden’, 'Compensating’, or 'Woodlawn'- any of those songs. I was making that album and while I was doing it, we had to push it back. Me and the co-executive producer Pasqué, we worked every day on this thing. I just completely felt in limbo by the way we were going about this. A part of me wanted to put it out, then a part of me didn't. Pasqué said, 'It's like we are in limbo.'

When he said that, it was like an Aha moment. I told him, "Wait, that’s a really good title, LIMBO, I love the way it looks." I’m a big visual guy! Before I had the title ‘Heebiejeebies’ for a song, I wrote it down and made sure I made a song called ‘Heebeijeebies’ just because I liked the title. Words and titles are really important to me. That's the way I saw LIMBO. The way it looked on paper and it’s meaning, I said, "Oh, this is so me."

The word looks good. I am completely in limbo with where I’m at in life as an adult. I’m still figuring it out. Many people want celebrities or artists to speak up about certain things as well as speak up for them. But I’m learning too! I’m in the same boat as you. That’s what I want people to understand when they listen to this album.

this album together. With LIMBO, I'm 26 now, and I've been around the world. Life has changed crazy for me compared to where I was at when I made Good for You. I feel like such an adult now. I don't get excited about going to the club or anything like that. I sit down with my dad and talk for hours now, I would never do that when I was 21.

Nowadays, I just feel like a better human being. I feel like I'm growing into a real adult now. I'm starting to understand life, family, and

You start off the album with ‘Burden’. The intro is comical but also tragic.

I choose ‘Burden” right after I made it. I was like, " Oh, yeah, this is the intro." Just the lines! At the end of the first verse, I talk about my own death and talk about making sure the choir wears yellow robes. I end the verses like that because the inro felt like you walking into my funeral and me letting you know this is tragic, but I also want you to celebrate me and appreciate what I’ve done instead of being sad about it. ‘Burden’ is all over the place, but it lets you know where my life has been in the past couple of years. You start to hear about family and friends in that song, that’s why I like it.

the things that really matter.

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Let’s talk about ‘Kobe’ interlude. In two ways, death is spoken about the literal death of Kobe Bryant and the death of your childhood.

Jak Knight, who is a comedian from Seattle, he writes for Big Mouth on Netflix, he’s a big deal. He’s one of my best friends. I wanted him to do the skits on this album. So that’s him speaking on the Kobe interlude. All the skits on this album are all conversations that Jak and I had, so we spent 2 hours on the phone just talking about the album's topics. We talked about life, I have a whole 2-hour podcast. I cut up the parts that meant a lot to me like the Kobe skit. When he was explaining Kobe, my reaction was just, “Woah!” It was a blow to my chest because it was the perfect explanation for what Kobe’s death meant. It wasn’t like seeing a basketball player or someone famous die.

That was everyone’s second dad, especially for young black men. That skit I was so proud to put on the album because it really embodied how I felt. Every time I play it for my niggas. My niggas go, "Woah," and that’s why I like it. That skit ain’t for nobody but Black people, who really understand what he meant to us, he was such a great guy too. That shit broke my heart.

That same day, when I found out he died, my best friend and I went to get “8” tatted on us.

Kobe was a superstar, and he meant a lot to so many people.

53 Your second single of the year is 'Riri' which touches on superficial and noncommittal relationships. You say, “ You love Rihanna, but you ain’t a savage.” What do you mean by that?

Everybody in the studio smiled when they heard that line. One thing about me when I write a song, of course, the song has to be good, but I make sure that the first line always reels you in.

Something about the way you start a song and the way you introduce it. I can listen to a song and skip it because I hate the intro. Your first words are your first impressions. I always want to make sure that I catch the person listening ear. I knew with this song being about relationships and past women in my life that a lot of women would gravitate to this song. Guys would too, but a lot of women. I knew exactly what to do to turn a girl’s head by saying that. It’s not too rude, it’s just a little jab. Make them ask, "What are you talking about?” I love that line off of the album. It's definitely one of my faves. It’s the bitter me speaking like I miss someone, but I know you type of thing.

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How do you view Rihanna?

She’s queen, she’s the goddess of them all. We all know that!

She’s great, so unproblematic, she speaks up when needing to, she’s gorgeous, a business mogul I mean the list goes on.

She’s the female Micheal Jackson, she's a superstar. I entitled “Riri” because “Riri” just looks so good on paper. Again titles for me. I had other titles for the song. Calling it “1,2,3” because of the hook it didn’t really resonate with me. Even the title “Broke my Heart” didn’t look right. “ Riri” as a title is quick and looks good.

You showed terrific chemistry with Young Thug on ‘Compensating.’ Can you describe your creative process with him?

I had 'Compensating' made. I had the hook and everything in Toronto. I made it with T-minus, the producer, he's dope. He’s done Cole's stuff and, well, everybody. He’s the quarterback of producers. When we were making it, I would do a rap verse quickly, but I knew I wanted to have a feature on it to really rap.

It was actually a T-minus’ idea, he pulled up the beat for 54 'Compensating,' and he was like you wouldn’t believe this. He shows me that Thug a couple of months ago had a verse that he did on that beat that he wasn’t using. The verse went perfectly with what I was talking about in the song. The chances of that happening are insane. When we listened to it matched perfectly, and Thug's team loved it.

‘Pressure in my Palms’ is intense and hungry. It stands out from the rest of the album. Where does that energy come from?

It comes from wanting to prove yourself. I’m kind of happy I’m not the biggest artist in the world right now because it creates a crazy hunger from me as an artist. It makes me want more!

Having tunnel vision to reach the end and not having gotten there yet, feels good. It motivates me to make better music, to put together an album like LIMBO. If I was comfortable, I would probably make a bad album.

You reference Hov on more than one track. How has Jay-Z influenced your career?

My whole life, I didn’t make music or think I would be an artist. I played ball. I was trying to become a ballplayer. It wasn’t until the end of high school that I started freestyling and taking rap more seriously. My whole childhood, though, I was heavily influenced by music. A lot of it had to do with my mom playing a lot of Michael Jackson and Bob Marley in the house and Tupac.

My mom played edited versions of Tupac for no reason. My older cousin was the biggest Jay-Z head. As a kid, I only knew Jay-Z from his hits. When I got to college, my cousin and I took a road trip together from Portland to San Francisco to the Bay. We were in the car together, and he played nothing but Jay-Z album cuts that whole ride. Being a kid and hearing those raps, it was like god-level type raps. The cockiness, arrogance, confidence in his voice, and the way he spits those lines. That’s where I personally got my confidence from the way he spits, and how he is so flawless with his words, and you know he meant them. That is the same place Kanye gets it, he is someone I look up to as well. Jay is the Godfather of this shit.

There’s a saying that goes ‘work hard, so your idols become your rivals’ is that goal for you?

Look, I don’t want any beef with Jay-Z. But with being on the charts and winning awards and being taken seriously as an artist, the bigger you get, the more your idols become your rivals. I’ve seen things in the industry that make you look at an artist differently, everybody is human. It isn’t the worst thing in the world. In the early 2000s, when we grew up, celebrities were put on a huge pedestal, as a kid, I wondered what it would be like to live 50 cent’s life. They’re the presidents of this shit. Now with Instagram and Twitter, fans can feel more connected to the artist. I think it’s more important to let people know that you are human too.

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'Mama' is a celebratory song for your mother, while 'Becky' is about the standards and expectations placed on you by your family. Do you feel as if you still need to live up to your parent’s standards?

I’m an African child, I’m a first-generation, so I always feel like I have to live up to my parent’s standard. As a first-generation kid in this country, it’s funny, because we hold the same values as our parents but also American at the same time. We do the thing our parents tell us not to do.

My whole point with Becky was never to glorify a white woman or the relationship, but if you read the lyrics, it is really sad. The first verse is about the Black side, and the second verse is about what it is like for a Black man on the white side. This is something that I have personally experienced being from Oregon. I didn’t get to grow up in LA or New York, where I could see niggas everywhere. I grew up in Portland, Oregon, where once I stepped out of my hood, it was only white people.

When my parents sent me to middle school where I was the third black person, I moved to a Black school for high school because I couldn’t take it. When I started dating white girls, those were the only girls around. That experience, I never really heard someone tell that story in a song. I’m really proud of ‘Becky’. That was one of the first songs that really started LIMBO because it was a song that people can relate to.

Black women date white guys, and Black men date white women, it’s something that needs to be talked about

“Mama” was my fourth try at a ‘Mama’ song. On Good for You and

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ONEPOINTFIVE, I always try to put a mama song on there. I always wanted to make a song about my mom. I knew how important that was.

I made those other versions, and I thought they were weak. I didn’t think they were good enough. You only get one shot at a mama song.

'Mama' what you hear on LIMBO is the first time I felt like this was it.

Charlie Wilson being on it, is just a cherry on top. I’m really proud of both of those songs.

You have some special features on this one.

What is so cohesive about the features is one, that they all fit really well on the songs and two I’m a huge fan of all these artists. I play non stop Vince, Summer, everyone. These are people I am fans of. This is the proudest I’ve been of all the features I put on an album because it’s the people I listen to. These guys have been my friends for a couple years now, but this is the first time I made songs with them. Roots was the first time I got JID to rap. He actually wanted me to send the song 7 months ago, but we were on tour, and I didn’t want to send through text.

I told him that whenever we are free together, I waited 7 months, linked up, and wrote the verse in person. That was the first time I ever heard JID rap slow. He was hard- it’s one of my favorite verses of his period.

I'm not biased because it’s my song.

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6 months from now, what would make you feel as if the album had the impact you wanted?

Awards are something that in this industry solidifies you, that doesn’t make me happy, but it would be nice. I’m not going to sit here and front like I don't want an award for something I worked really hard on. You also want the music to speak for itself that all I want 6 months from now. I just want everyone to feel like, “Damn Aminé dropped an even better project." That all I want- I just want everyone to know that with every project I do, it just gets better and better. That’s what I proved myself to this point, and LIMBO is another test. Every album is a test to see if they are going to keep him or get him out of here.

How do you want to be remembered?

I kind of explain it- a little bit in that verse on 'Burden'. I just want to be remembered for inspiring kids around the world to really be their best selves. I grew up with my parents listening to music that they’ve carried with them their whole life. Bob Marley means the world to my father, and that long-lasting effect on someone is all I want in this industry. I want to make sure I really give people memories and moments in their life that define it or make it easier.

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BRYSO TILLER PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SUPREME

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Where are you from?

I’m from the Midwest!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Cincinnati, about 30 min outside the city.

When did you fall in love with music ?

I fell in love with music at a young age. I started off singing in my church children’s choir and from there I got the music bug!

What was your favorite song when you were growing up?

I remember growing up my mom would play Crocodile Rock by Elton John but in high school my favorite band was The 1975.

What made you start singing?

Music runs in my family so my dad was a huge influence on me when it came to starting my musical journey.

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How have you been doing since COVID-19?

I’ve been keeping myself busy, working on a lot of new music and staying safe!

Have you been able to create differently given so much isolation?

I’ve definitely been a lot more experimental with my music. Been spreading my wings a lot more in that sense.

How do you feel the world is handling it all?

I think it’s a beautiful thing that the world as a whole has come together so quickly in a time of such fear and uncertainty.

Describe your sound?

My sound is a collective of all of my inspirations throughout my life. A mix of pop and hip hop with sprinkles of indie in there.

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Tell us about your music video and what it means to you?

“The Kids Are Alright” is a rally cry for the younger generations. We are the ones who will have to inherit what our leaders leave behind. We must stick together for a better tomorrow.

How much of the creative directing do you do with your visuals?

I’m very much involved with all of visuals and the creative direction. It’s very important to me to be very hands on with my project.

Are you releasing an album if so tell us about it?

My Honeydew EP is the start of a new chapter in my life. I took a lot of time to work 67

on my music and take time to really create what I wanted to create. This is the start of something new.

How do you feel about it’s sound compared to your previously released stuff?

I love seeing and hearing the growth of this music compared to my past projects. I’m proud of everything I’ve released but I do love that this new music is a bit more mature.

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MAHALIA MAHALIA

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PHOTOGRAPHER MARIAH WINTER

INTERVEIWED BY GREGORY GAGLIARDI STYLED BY RAENA ANAIS

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Aria How has your quarantine experience been?

A - To be honest, i’ve enjoyed quarantine. I look forward to the days I can be in complete solitude. I’m a social butterfly and love a good time and being in the company of people but there’s been a lot of deep rooted issues going on in the world and this quarantine time has allowed me to work on myself, and press the reset button.

What are some ways you’ve found to cope?

A- I’ve been writing a lot. Some songs, but a lot of poetry and short stories. I’ve always written poetry but I fell in love with it over again. I’ve also been cooking almost everyday since quarantine started. It’s escapism for me, especially because i’m really good at it.

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And then came unrest due to the murder of unarmed black people, how has that affected you?

A - I’ve been heavily affected. I’ve cried daily because I truly feel all of these black women and men are my cousins or distant relatives. It could of been my brothers or sisters, or friends, god forbid. It’s so realistic and hits so close to home, i think for ALL of us black people. These last few months really opened my eyes in a different way. I always knew racism existed, this isn’t new, but we can all agree these past few months have been exceptionally tragic because it’s in our face more now than ever. I’ve also done some soul searching and giving myself so much self love and taking responsibility for what i’ve lacked as well. I’ve been Teaching others, and just being there for my black friends and family. I also had real moments with myself regarding what i’ve been tolerating for years and years.

That was a hard one. The realization that i’ve let certain words, gestures, and the type of racism that’s wrapped in a bow slide so many times without even realizing it.

What would be your message to our sisters and brothers out there...and the human race at large?

A- Give yourself days of rest. We have the trauma of our ancestors running through our veins right now and forever will. Even Subconsciously we’re always hurt..that permanent pain never leaves, it heals, but never leaves. So those days, when we’re tired...those days we don’t feel like defending ourselves, putting our bodies on the line, showing up at protests...it’s okay. Rest is OKAY. and 73 important. We’re always going to fight the fight, as long as our hearts are IN IT...then a rest day or two is okay. Our mental state is important, and to have clarity AND a clear mind and consistent positive energy, we need off days. To Non black people...we have a long long way to go.. No off days for ya’ll.

Photographer: Tatiana Katkova Creative Director / Interview Paco Lampecinado

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What kind of ‘social Impact’ would you like your music/art to have?

A- Words are the most powerful weapon. Words are what start a war...words are what end a divorce, words are what helps the world heal. It’s the foundation to everything. What we speak is SO powerful, so it’s important to think before opening our mouths. I’m so fortunate to be blessed with the talent of music, of art. I want people to be able to escape with me. To feel a form of therapy. Whether it’s about love, growth, or social issues. We go to therapists for all of those things, to be able to decode our lives, and move forward and reset the old ways so we can be the best versions of ourselves. I want to be that. I want my music and voice to attract you, then make you feel safe. then help you, then heal you.

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“65 Rocks” by Aria Dedicated and Inspired by the tragic loss of Emmett Till, This poem ‘65 Rocks’ is a direct conversation with his spirit. It’s been 65 years since his passing and now more then ever we need to be reminded that history only repeats itself when our children are not taught the importance of equality.

Aria’s upcoming single titled ‘Sleep Alone’ releases the end of August

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Where are you from ?

South Florida - Boca Raton, Florida

Where did you grow up?

Boca Raton

When did you fall in love with music ?

I literally think I came into this world singing!!! I learned to dance while singing (babbling) before I learned to walk!!

What was your favorite song when you were growing up?

Barney’s “I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family”.... Then as I got older, I was obsessed 76 with Britney‘s “Baby One More Time.”

What made you start singing?

I was a backup dancer for Ashanti when I was 13 yrs. old and we had a live NBC TV show for the Olympic Figure Skaters and everyone was shouting out “Ashanti, we love you” and after the show I said to my mom, “I want to be a pop artist and I want to be on stage and everyone shout, “Montana, we love you.”

The next day, my mom contacted worldrenowned vocal coach and Grammy Awardwinning artist Betty Wright. I started taking vocal lessons from her and well, from then on started booking shows.

How have you been doing sense the COVID-19?

Believe it or not, I’ve been really busy.

Also, since I haven’t been able to hike, I started working out online with weights and core training. Also, I’ve been taking virtual ZUMBA classes, which I love!!

Have you been able to create differently given so much isolation?

Oh yes!! I was with my mom 3 months during quarantine in Florida and normally I’m in California doing Tik Toks, Instagram videos and pictures, while collaborating with others on Tik Tok and Instagram doing 10 videos a day. While quarantined with my Mom, she became my only Instagram and Tik Tok partner.

She did really great!! Also, my first song, HOLA, since I got signed to Pitbull’s label, Mr. 305, came out just before the pandemic. We were already rehearsing for the official music video for HOLA when everything started to shut down.

We ended up not being able to do the official music video and ended up just doing a lyric video. We are now just starting to make plans for the filming of the official music video for HOLA.

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Montana Tucker

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How do you feel the world is handling it?

I feel terrible for those who have lost loved ones because of the pandemic.

I just hope and pray that we all get through this safely and that no one else dies from this horrible pandemic.

Describe your sound?

Pop for sure!

Tell us about your music video and what it means to you?

My last music video was to my song “I’m Not Alone”. That song is my anthem. I have been told by 78 thousands of my fans that my song “I’m Not Alone” has helped them manage their days thru tough times. I really co-wrote ”I’m Not Alone” for that purpose ...to help people realize, they aren’t alone!! We are all in this together!!

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How much of the creative directing do you do with your visuals ?

I do it all!!!

Are you releasing an album if so tell us about it ?

Yes, working on new music as we speak!! Surprise collabs, which I’m super excited about!!

How do you feel about its sound compared to your previous released stuff?

I have so much freedom with Pitbull’s team. I really feel like they understand me and who I am as an artist. They let 79 me be ME and my new music reflects that!

What do you want your fans to know that they don’t know ?

My life has challenges too, just like theirs does, no one is perfect. No one has a perfect life. Life is a roller coaster and when the roller coaster is down, then there is only one way for it to go...and that’s to go back UP!!

DON’T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!!

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