Aisha Hall bonus issue

Very few people come into your life and instantly have a positive impact on you. Most people you come into contact with are there to take from you. Many people tell you things and never follow through with their promises. Aisha Hall is not most people, she is a force of nature and a totally different animal all together. She is one of the most intelligent human beings l know. In the fall of 2017, l started my Instagram page and came across her profile. She intrigued me due to her intelligence, charisma, and hardworking. She has the unique skill to make you feel like you been around her your whole life.

Our friendship developed from mutual support of one another. I made her a custom hat for her first video, we worked on some artwork for her first music project, but Yandy of Love and Hip Hop had a better concept that she went with. The very first time we spoke on the phone was when she needed help with making an account on Coinbase. We did a video call only to find out she had an account. We talked for an hour plus, an realized we had a lot in common. Aisha has survived some bad situations to include federal prison. Every obstacle that has been placed in her way she has made it work in her favor. I told her she inspired me because her work ethic is crazy. She barely gets any rest. Whether she’s fixing credit, shooting tv shows, writing books, creating music, or anything she puts her mind to, it is of elite quality.

AISHA HALL

A HuStLer’S HuStLer

Aisha is super busy and generous with her time. That is one thing that l struggle with that she seems to have mastered. She gave me an invitation to her BET’s American Gangster Trap Queens premiere at the 40/40 Club in NYC. She put me on the VIP list, the night was amazing. People flew in from other countries to attend the event. The surprise of the night for me was the seeing the hat we created for her first music video in the episode. I was stunned and rendered speechless. I am so proud to see where she came from knowing what she’s been through.

Aisha will be a household name because her work ethic and hustle won’t allow anything less. I have listened to plenty people talk about their grandiose ideas that go nowhere. Whenever Aisha tells me about something l know two things immediately, first she is going to work hard to make it happen, and it will happen. I am astounded by her constant growth. She is a model of excellence and someone that I learn from. She is goal oriented with a plan to execute for every situation. If l had a daughter l would be honored if she was mentored by Aisha. I remember when she was on the bracelet hustling to turn her situation around. In a relatively short time period she went from having very little and no freedom, to having major networks like BET telling her story. Just so you know her episode was the highest rated American Gangster Trap Queens of the season. Aisha is the personification of words like redemption, persistence, and overcoming. She’s a true queen and champion in life. She has written books like Larry the Lending Lion to help children with financial literacy and shown support for many social issues that plague our communities. Be sure to follow her @therealaishahall on IG. She is an amazing person who has become like family to me. She is the ultimate hustler that can turn any situation into a better one.

Aisha

Artwork by LaDonna Oby

Table of Contents

Aisha Hall

Everything is

of a Hustler

Furr

Krumpetz Boutique’s Holly Marbury

Kilo the Art of Fact

Racquel Coco Mills Viva La Coco

Foot Fetish show

2MB too much swag

Travel destinations

Gia Harris Dime of the Quarter

Lucy Lue The Concrete Rose

Luc Stephen the

Rosedale

DJ Gold of the SUC

Sha'Nette

Where do I begin? There’s almost forty year of history with this guy. We started in fifth grade at Community Prep in Providence Rhode Island. Shawn Lee and I have been riding together from the beginning. As a kid he was the life of the party and still is. He always had the ability to make people like him. A little known fact about him was he was a child theater actor, his co-star was the legendary actress Viola Davis. He actually brought Viola Davis to the hood where his mother Angela made her famous fried chicken for her. We lived in a notorious area on the west end of the city called Wiggins Village or the Vill for short. The crack era went bananas and many of us went that route, either selling or using. Shawn first crept into the game at an early age, but not long after was fully in the game.

EvErything is PrEsidEntial

In the summer of 1992 my mother kicked me out of the house and out of the state to live with my father in Minnesota. Rhode Island got very active, 1993 to 1998 was hectic. Shawn got caught up in an assault case with the police. He was on the run, but we caught back up after I joined the Marines and came home from California to visit. That visit was crazy one of our childhood friends beat a murder case and we celebrated his freedom. Shawn had many legal situations but he always figured out a way forward. Case in point, one day he hits me up to visit on a four day weekend, I buy my ticket and tried to call him to let him know I’m coming. I couldn’t reach him, so I called the next day and his lady said he got locked up. We later connected when I got back from South Korea. We went to the last Tyson fight, NBA playoff games, and to the Don Diva magazine’s 20 celebration gala. I am super proud of him for being a fighter. He always has a unique way of looking at situations. In the summer of 2016 I found myself in Maryland losing money while waiting to go to Afghanistan. Shawn let me stay with him for a few weeks. During that time he show me some merch he created. He always had that personality, but now he had the product to go with with his charm. He was very inspirational in my brand as well. He always gives me great feedback that I use often. Sometimes our talks are brutally honest, but it is always from a good place. He is a cheatcode to the culture because he immerses himself in it. He has come a long way from selling drugs. I remember coming home from California one summer and we were on Dodge St. It was El, myself, and Shawn on the corner and I had my chains tucked. He laughed saying, “bro you home what you doing”. As usual he was looking out for me and jabbing me with jokes. Shawn reinvented himself from Big Tyme, Everything Presidential, Benjamin Furr, to Presidential Kutz.

Coming soon to the Baltimore area of Maryland is Presidential Kutz barbershop. You will be able to buy merchandise and get a fresh cut. You will be able to purchase Everything Presidential, Benjamin Furr, and Presidential Kutz merch. Shawn has been quietly cooking and getting things in order for this next phase of his life. Don’t be surprised if you see a billboard or two in the near future.

B e n j a m i n F u r r

Furry and Fashionable

Krumpetz Boutique’s creator Holly Marbury is someone I’ve known since 2014. Her business mind is impeccable. She is equally creative and business minded driven. Her first business was a one of a kind inflatable bounce house company called Super Top Bouncers that was very successful. Once she launched her first business and enjoyed the financial freedom it offered it sparked another fire to continue building more businesses.

What is Krumpetz Boutique’s?

The name Krumpetz Boutique’s came from my chow chow l used to have. To honor my fur baby l decided to name my luxury pet boutique after him. This boutique caters to the fur parents that desire to dress up their babies in fashionable accessories. I mean who doesn’t want their fur babies to look as good as them when they step out onto the streets.

What does it have to offer?

Krumpetz boutique offers many beautiful luxury items from vegan leather bow collars, fashionably designed harnesses and the most adorable faux fur sweates. The feel of the leather screams both luxury and quality! I choose my vendors carefully. My boutique houses pet designers from all over the world.

Why did you choose to open a luxury pet boutique?

I decided to launch a luxury pet boutique because the global pet industry as of today is a $261 billion dollar industry and the pet accessory market is expected to expand by another $9.20 billion by 2025. This is a big money making market that many African Americans aren’t tapped into. Sure, many people can sell basic pet food, supplies, and toy but to really tap into the industry you must be unique.

Why do you think it’s important to have your own business?

I believe it’s important to have another stream of income to ensure your quality of life. There’s this saying,”You’re only one paycheck away from being homeless”. That saying pushes me to sure I can provide for myself and my family. With that being said l’ve opened up my own government contracting company that goes after bids for the government and an options trading business with my husband, who is set to launch his courses for 313trading.

What is next for Krumpetz Boutique?

I’m looking into expanding my accessories to pet jewelry that can accessorize your fur baby, from items like brooch pins to diamond necklaces. There’s nothing that makes a fur parent happy to see their fur baby looking as fabulous as them. If you are a business owner that sells your own line of pet accessories I would love to showcase your line in my boutique. Contact info@krumpetzboutique.com website www.krumpetzboutique.com

Kilo the Art of Fact

Imagine growing up in Santiago Chile, and moving from your home country in order to survive. Chile is an economically ravaged country, with high inflation. Kilo the Art of Fact was born there and his experience shaped him giving him a unique voice and world view. Being a natural born citizen of the United States tends to create complacency and entitlement. Sometimes we take what we’re afforded as a matter of fact, and look down on others coming to this country. There’s a sense of desperation when you come from a situation like Kilo did. He arrived in the US in the 90’s. He gravitated to hip hop culture as an escape. Heavily influenced by the likes of Nas and KRS-ONE and other socially responsible artist that had the ability to capture the essence of their environment and paint a picture with words. Recently I had the chance to speak with the emcee and he told me his story. Kilo truly embodies hip hop, his struggles to become a legal citizen while promoting his talents. His passion is fueled by his experience in Chile. Kilo knew what awaited him if he didn’t put forth the effort. Imagine having to fit in, and learn a new culture and deal with all of the legal obstacles of a new country while trying to be a successful rap artist. It is safe to say he has figured it out, performing in different parts of the United States. For a while he had to be very careful because of his illegal status. This only speaks to his passion, most people in that situation would have bowed out. He feels his story and brand are spiritual. Kilo also has a catering business where he makes empanadas among other tasty items. His latest single “Grass” gives you an intimate look into his journey. The song details his story of becoming a citizen and is a metaphor for territories and plays on the grass isn’t always greener on the other side saying. Kilo is providing food for thought and for our bellies, we just have to be ready to ingest it.

Viva La Coco

When we talk about fashion, Racquel “Coco” Mills should not be in the conversation, she is the whole conversation with the punctuation mark. The native New Yorker from Queens has some major accomplishments in her resume. She has designs clothing for many celebrities over the years, from Swizz Beatz ex wife Mashonda, to the late Pop Smoke, to Lil Kim to name a few. Coco is a multithreat entity in the industry. She not only designs upscale clothes for celebrities, she’s an actress, and a model. Whenever I hear people talk about the lack of quality from Black fashion brands, I tell them about her. To me she is our Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes all wrapped up in one exquisite package. I have followed her journey for years. Her growth has been astounding. She has taught young women a life skill with her sewing classes and giving them a chance to chase their dreams. Racquel, as visually captivating as she is, has the ability to transition into gritty characters showing her versatility. Her lead role in the short film Circles shows you a glimpse into a beautiful woman’s life turned upside down after hearing life altering news. The movie that introduced me to her was Prey Before You Eat. Her character is tougher than trying to eat a Popeye’s biscuit without a drink. It is the contrast for me that makes Coco special, whether she’s playing a thug or doing comedy, you can’t take your eyes off of her. Besides being gorgeous her talent keeps your attention. A few years ago I found out she was doing hilarious skits on YouTube. She has a character named Teardrop that’s too funny she plays with Mr Commodore. I was supposed to do an interview with her, but her schedule didn’t permit it. I am excited to give this future mogul and legend her flowers now. I predict that in the future her stock will rise. She is an awesome person and a loyal friend, one example of this was with the death of her close friend. She became the guardian of her friend’s daughter. She is a phenomenal mother, a title she unfortunately inherited by dire circumstances. She runs two brands Torch London and Viva La Coco. Both brands are incredible. I am super proud of her, she inspires my brand and probably doesn’t know it.

Racquel Coco Mills

Foot Fetish

Foot fetish is a segment dedicated to shoe heads on future releases. A little background on my love for shoes, when I was around 13 yrs old I drew a few designs and sent them to Nike. I never received them back, but got a letter from Nike thanking me for my enthusiasm for their products and stating they had a team of doctors and scientists to assist on creating their products. I was hurt and learned a valuable lesson. Just know a version of my design hit the market and still are being sold 30 plus years later. The idea of this segment was to give consumers a glimpse of the new street heat for their feet. The shoe we chose to highlight was the Nike Air Max Scorpion. The shoe is constructed of a lightweight knit and a double stacked full air sole unit. The air unit is pronounced, aggressive, and exaggerated. The design is risky but I believe the gamble will pay off. The progression from the first air unit in the iconic Nike Air Revolution in the 1980’s is mind blowing. The colorways are slick and sophisticated. The first color is a light margarine with gold tone accents, and the second is black with violet and purple accents. I can’t wait for these shoes to drop.

2MB JUst tOO MUCh sWag

Last summer l was invited to a video shoot for a friend of mines artist. From that chance meeting l met a young group of talented guys. While at Saavy Princess’ video shoot they played me Bust A Move. I was instantly hooked. The song was super catchy, and the charisma was dripping out of the speakers. Staylow and Diego have that energy and the “IT” factor. What impressed me was their work ethic and the level of investment in their craft. For further confirmation l sent their video to a childhood friend who manages major artists like Araab Muzik and Raiche. To my surprise within five minutes of sending it he called me back. He told me they definitely have something. The group is from Ft Worth Texas started rapping in 2017. They would freestyle in the car, but eventually decided to take their talent to the recording booth. Their first song did 50k on SoundCloud and they’ve been putting in work ever since. That work ethic I spoke about earlier helped to produce right music videos and their new mixtape project Rookie Season, which is available on Apple Music and Spotify. 2MB has a style and swagger that goes beyond regions and an energy that’s contagious. They really don’t sound like anyone else, but they sound current. They are the new wave. Usually I don’t go crazy over new artists but 2MB is different. You can check them out later in the magazine when we get into the last Rosedale cypher, also be sure to check them out on YouTube.

Travel destination ideas

The continent of Africa really doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves, today that all changes. I have always wanted to visit Africa and some years ago l got the opportunity to go. I was so excited I didn’t know what to expect, l just knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime. All l have ever heard was negative stories about Africa. One thing about me is I judge off of my own experiences. I searched the internet for where to go and discovered an incredible place called Morocco. The first thing I noticed was person from all over the world was in the line at the airport going through customs when I landed. They had a train station at the airport, I boarded the train which brought me a couple miles from my apartment. The people were very friendly so much that a taxi driver drove me around for 45 minutes and I had to beg to pay him. The location was walking distance to the ocean. The magnificent Hassan Mosque II was a sight to wake up to daily. I decided to go to the mall in Morocco, it was so stunning. The mall was right by the ocean. I was shocked how modern the mall was. They had a huge movie theater, an ice skating rink, and an aquarium in it. The second floor was full of expensive high fashion stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and many others. It made me realize how much the American people been lied to about Africa as a whole. The people spoke French, Spanish, and English for the most part. The women were very attractive. They had a Latin look, which made more sense when I realized Spain was a two hour flight away. The food was great and best of all the exchange rate makes your money stretch. I would suggest if you plan to visit bring pristine bills or do everything from a credit or debit card. I brought crisp bills directly from my bank, but the ends had some discoloration. Almost every bank would not let me exchange the bills for their currency. That was the only negative I had for the entire trip. My experience there made me want to not only visit again but go to other countries within Africa.

From Morocco with love

Dime of the Quarter

Gia The Housegoddess is the Dime of the Quarter this issue. Gia is not only beautiful, but she is next level brilliant. Not only has she made a fortune in real estate, she has a mine in Africa. Her accomplishments match her beauty. Be sure to follow her @giathehousegoddess on IG and check out her story in Pride and Egoos presents coming soon

The Concrete Rose

Before Quinta officially started the podcast, she used Facebook Live for entertainment and to live stream conversations. As her views increased so did the recommendations for her to start a podcast. So she decided to try it out. Quinta literally booked studio time and filmed her first 2 shows. The Podcast was born and my supporters have backed her since. Quinta covers a wide array of topics with socialites and influencers. I always say life is about connecting and Quinta does just that. Whether she is talking to musicians, fashion designers, community leaders or other influencers, she asks the questions that get her guests to peel their protective layers off and reveal their human side. She is persistent and fearless, but super respectful which is a talent in itself. Getting people to disrobe that protective exterior is not easy, it takes a special person to make people feel comfortable enough to bare their souls. She is ambitious but humble, that means she is goal driven but knows how to maneuver through the politics to reach her goals. Within 5 years she built a platform from just live streaming conversations to really connecting with her viewers getting thousands of views every show. Quinta has a great supportive team which consists of Mr. Shontory Johnson and Mrs Do It All Brittany. Teamwork indeed makes the dream work. Having a loyal, smart, and dedicated team is everything. Whether Shontory is doing managerial duties or Brittany is making women look sexy with her lingerie line, Lecours Fashion, the team always looks out for each other and supports each other’s endeavors. We will cover Shontory and Brittany in an upcoming issue.

The concrete rose is a fitting name for Quinta, surviving the harsh realities of being a teenager mother with two children that have disabilities. Her story is one we can relate to. We all have a story to tell but we don’t always feel comfortable or even feel worthy of sharing them. Her own life experiences that she’s overcome is a huge motivating factor for the podcast. The show purposeful and intentional, and goes out of their way to ensure that every guest on the show are comfortable and have the opportunity to tell their full story with no judgment or bias.

Please connect with Quinta on the couch with Talking With Lucy Lue Podcast. They broadcast on Facebook: Quinta Wilson. Also Search for her on Instagram. She’s not hard to find. As the podcast continues to grow and expand our episodes will be featured on different social platforms. Make sure you like and share Talking with Lucy Lue Podcast!!

Talking With Lucy Lue

QuIntA WILSon

Visionary is someone who sees something that other people do not see, Luc embodies that. His work with legendary figures in the culture like Damon Dash speaks to his growth. Dame has been associated with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Kevin Hart. With names like that Luc is heading in the right direction. I cannot wait to see where he takes this to. At the top of the year he was pretty much booked for the whole year.

Rosedale cypher 3 was the last installment of the brand’s video ad. The Rosedale Clothing International brand has been growing with supporters of the brand wearing articles of clothing in foreign countries. The video ads were a creative way to connect with the consumer while tapping into the local talent, merging fashion and music. The DFW metroplex is big and has been ignored for far too long, Rosedale Clothing saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Rex Fisher, the mastermind behind everything the Rosedale brand does, set out to make an impact on the culture. He showcased talent like Juise Leroy, an amazing lyricist with a message. Listening to Juise during the cypher, made me realize hip hop may still have a few real artists that can go, plus give you something to think about. Rosedale is in the transition phase, the cypher opened the door, the next video project will walk you through the door and give you a tour of the house. This last cypher video was filmed at the flagship VCTRY CRCLE store. This shop is owned by Nice Major, a black business owner doing major things in the community. The video was shot by Michael Rashad, an up and coming videographer who has worked with artist like 2MB, Lupe Fiasco, to Benny the Butcher. Rosedale has been in the center of all this talent and as they transition to other visual projects, they will continue to connect us to the latest and greatest the DFW has to offer. Be on the look out for Rosedale Clothing projects like the comedy shows, speaking engagements, clothing and more music. Salute to Rosedale Clothing for being a beacon of light in a city that deserves it’s shine.

Rosedale

Cypher

DJ Gold of the legendary Screwed Up Click

Atiba Caddell better known as DJ Gold of the legendary Screwed Up Click is originally from Los Angeles but migrated to La Marque Galveston Texas area at a young age. You can say he is a unique talent, being he started Djing at the age of 12. Due to DJing some of the hottest clubs at the time, Gold eventually came across the iconic DJ Screw. DJ Screw invented a sound that a whole southern culture was built off and still stands on today. He slowed the music down and simultaneously solidifying Houston as a hip hop staple in the culture. The S.U.C. is the Wu Tang Clan of the southern region of the United States, the click is a collective of some of the most skilled DJs and emcees in hip hop.

As DJ Gold puts it, his music prowess and swagger with the ladies left an impression on DJ Screw leaving him no choice but to add him to the click. Their mutual respect for the craft forged a bond and cameraderie that even in Screw’s death still remains today. The reverance the Screwed Up Click gets to this day is a testiment to the talent and the work that laid the foundation for a whole culture and transported a region into a global presence. Gold feels humble and proud to be a key part of that history. He is still producing music, and has some major projects on deck. Gold not only mentors young DJs, he also is still keeping DJ Screw’s legacy alive by opening up the Screw Luv Academy, a safe haven for our youth to learn about the culture and cultivate their talents. The goal is to open an academy in troubled areas throughout the country. When I asked DJ Gold about his upcoming projects and where we can connect with him he told me about a movie and documentary project with D-1 and Al D, as well as the clothing line collaboration a real familiar brand, Pride and Egoos. He also has some new musical endeavors with artist like Assata Storm, Jae Wae, TT & Pap, NaNa, That lady Tish, Starburst, Crisco Ice, Jhiame Sinatra, and King Edwards. The SUC musical OG can be reached at Djgoldsucog@gmail.com. You can be sure Pride and Egoos presents will promote whatever DJ Gold has going on.