This issue is a lil a reminder that showing up is half the battle, and the year isn’t over till you decide it is.
2 4 1 E3 5
JAY PAC
From his roots in Kigali to his journey as an artist today, Jay Pac reflects on resilience, growth, and carrying an unwavering vision DID YOU KNOW! did you know about these facts? hmm
THE
ART OF JUST SHOWING UP
Why presence beats polish, and how consistency builds more than perfection ever could.
GAMES & FACTS enjoy some games and take the chance to relax your mind.
Editor’s letter E MAGAZINE
Here we are Issue 7.
This one’s called Time to Lock In. Why? Because it’s that season. As we’re beginning the fourth quarter, the year is sprinting past us, and the finish line is already in sight. This is not the time to coast, it’s the time to show up.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll keep saying it because it’s the truth: showing up is half the battle. The art of just showing up whether you’re tired, unsure, not feeling it, or waiting for some perfect moment; matters more than waiting on the right vibe or the perfect timing. You don’t need perfect conditions; you just need presence.
Locking in doesn’t always mean grinding till you burn out. It’s about focus. About finishing what you started. About being present in your craft, your relationships, your community, and yourself.
This issue is your reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to keep showing up. In class, at work, in the studio, on the page, for your people, for yourself. Because momentum builds quietly. And when December comes, we’ll look back and realize that the little choices to stay consistent that decision to lock in made all the difference. So let’s end this year with a banger. Let’s push forward with intention, with energy, and with faith. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be here.
Show up. Lock in. Finish strong. With focus and gratitude,
Kevin Nishimwe Editor-in-Chief
THE CREATIVE GENIUS
JAY PAC
moves like a bridge between worlds; Kigali in his heart, Atlanta in his stride. His music blends hip-hop grit with Rwandan soul, his podcast Feed Your Focus turns dialogue into momentum. More than an artist, he’s a curator of resilience and drive, telling stories that stretch from home to diaspora. this is a glimpse into the rhythm of Jay Pac, a man building legacy one verse, one conversation, one fearless step at a time.
Let’s start here; from Kigali to Atlanta, music in your pocket and a story on your shoulders. If your younger self could see you now, would he say “I knew you had it in you” or “bro, you took the scenic route”?
My young self would look at me and smile like, yeah, I knew you had it in you. The route might have been long, but the vision was always clear. The dream didn’t change, I just grew into it. Because even when I was a kid in Kigali, I carried that dream with me. The grind, the setbacks, the miles, it was all part of the journey, but the fire was always there.
Your music and your Feed Your Focus podcast share this heartbeat of connection. When you sit across from someone, artist, entrepreneur, whoever; what’s your internal radar scanning
for before you know, “Yeah, this person’s got a story worth staying up late to tell”?
When I sit down with someone, my radar isn’t scanning for perfection, it’s tuned into authenticity. I’m listening for that heartbeat something real that connects their journey to the bigger human story. Whether it’s an artist talking about the grind, or an entrepreneur sharing the weight of risk, I’m looking for that spark of truth that makes you lean in. If I feel their story carries lessons, resilience, or a moment that could inspire someone else to keep going, then I know it’s worth staying up late to tell. At the end of the day, connection is currency, and I’m always searching for that exchange that leaves both of us changed.
"I REALIZED THE PEN ISN’T JUST MINE, IT’S A TORCH. AND EVERY TIME I WRITE."
You’ve got a lot on your plate, music, podcasting, community. How do you know when to say no to an opportunity, even if it looks good on paper?
Saying no is one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn, because every opportunity looks shiny at first. But I’ve realized if it doesn’t align with my purpose, it becomes a distraction, no matter how good it looks on paper. I check in with myself: does this feed my focus, or does it drain it? Will it bring me closer to the impact I’m trying to make, or just keep me busy? Time is the one resource we don’t get back, so I guard it like I guard my energy. For me, a yes has to feel like alignment something that speaks to my music, my voice, or my community. If it doesn’t check those boxes, then the answer is no, even if the crowd can’t understand it. Because saying no to the wrong thing is what keeps me open for the right one.
MY STORY ISN’T ABOUT ARRIVING IT'S ABOUT ASCENDING
JAy Pac
Let’s get into resilience; you’ve carried your art across continents, navigated cultures, and built a following in two worlds. What’s the hardest chapter that almost made you put the pen down, and what made you pick it up again?
The hardest chapter was the season of silence, those moments when life’s weight felt louder than the music. There were days I questioned if chasing this dream was worth the sacrifices, if my voice could really carry from Kigali to Atlanta and still be heard. The industry can be cold, the journey lonely, and there were nights when I almost put the pen down for good.
What made me pick it back up was remembering why I started. Music has always been more than rhythm to me, it’s been therapy, survival, prayer. When I thought about my daughter, my family, and the people back home who see themselves in my story, I realized the pen isn’t just mine, it’s a torch. And every time I write, I’m not just lifting myself, I’m lifting them too. That truth gave me resilience. That’s what keeps me writing, no matter how heavy the chapter gets.
Your drive feels intentional; like it’s not just “make music, make money” but “make an impact.” When did that switch flip for you, and how does it show up in the way you plan your moves today?
The switch flipped the moment I realized music could outlive me. At first, it was about expression getting my story off my chest, proving to myself I could do it. But when I saw how a lyric could heal someone else, or how my Feed Your Focus podcast could inspire somebody to chase their own vision, I knew this wasn’t just about me anymore.
Impact became the mission. That’s why every move I make; from the songs I write, to the stages I step on, to the conversations I host is rooted in purpose. I ask myself: will this add value, will it spark thought, will it feed focus for somebody else? Money comes and goes, but legacy is built in the lives you touch. For me, that’s the blueprint.
Your music blends Rwandan roots with global sounds. Was there ever a moment in the studio when you realized, “I just created something that sounds like me not Rwanda-me or Atlanta-me, just me”?
Yes, there was a night in the studio when everything aligned the drums carried that Atlanta bounce, the melody traced back to Kigali, and the lyrics felt like my own heartbeat on the mic. I remember listening back and realizing, this isn’t Rwanda-me or Atlanta-me, this is just me.
That moment came with my song 2 AM in KGL. It was born from the city lights of Kigali but carried the late-night soul of Atlanta. It felt like both worlds shaking hands inside the same track. That’s when I knew I had found my sound authentic, unboxed, and undeniable. It wasn’t about choosing one identity over the other; it was about fusing them until they became one voice. My voice.
FEEDFOCUS your
FEED YOUR FOCUS ISN’T JUST ABOUT AMPLIFYING VOICES IT’S ABOUT SHOWING THAT EVERY VOICE, INCLUDING MINE, CARRIES BOTH WEIGHT AND LIGHT. AND SOMETIMES, SHARING THAT PIECE OF MY JOURNEY MAKES THE CONNECTION EVEN DEEPER.
My wild spark came from a night I almost gave up. I was in Atlanta, staring at my notebook, wondering if all this grinding was worth it. Out of nowhere, a beat dropped in the room simple, raw, unpolished and it lit something in me. I started writing without thinking, just pouring out my truth. That moment turned into a song, but more than that, it reminded me why I can’t stop.
Sometimes the spark doesn’t come from joy it comes from the edge, when you’re close to quitting. That’s when the unexpected magic happens. For me, that spark became a pivot: instead of folding, I doubled down. I realized the music, the podcast, the whole journey it’s bigger than me. And ever since, I’ve carried that fire into everything I create.
Every artist has that one wild spark, the unexpected moment that became a song, an episode, or a life pivot. What’s yours?
I’m not just telling my story I’m building the world I come from. Jay Pac
Safe Place
“ never underestimate the power of your own story.
you’ve mentioned wanting to build something fearless for Rwandans and the diaspora. When it’s all said and done, what’s the one headline you hope your career writes for you?
When it’s all said and done, I want the headline to read: ‘From Kigali to Atlanta, he turned his story into a bridge.’ Because for me, it’s never just been about making music or hosting conversations it’s been about building fearless spaces where Rwandans and the diaspora can see themselves reflected, respected, and connected. Legacy, to me, is not a trophy on the shelf, it’s a torch in someone else’s hand. If my journey can inspire a kid in Kigali to dream bigger, or remind someone in the diaspora that their roots are still alive in them, then the mission is complete. The impact I want to leave behind is simple: art that outlived me, community that outgrew me, and a blueprint that showed what’s possible when you create with courage.
Quick one, if your drive was a dance move, what would it look like? And yes, you might have to demo it one day.
If my drive was a dance move, it would look like a relentless two-step one foot in Kigali, one foot in Atlanta, never stopping, always pushing forward. It’s not the cleanest or flashiest move, but it’s steady, it’s grounded, and it carries a rhythm that can outlast the beat. And yeah, one day I might just have to demo it, because sometimes the grind really does feel like dancing through the struggle.
if music, podcasting, and storytelling are chapters in your book, what’s the next one titled, and what’s on the first page?
The next chapter of my book would be titled Victory Season. The first page would open with a simple line: ‘He turned every scar into a map, and every map led him higher.’
Because for me, the story isn’t about arriving it’s about ascending. Music, podcasting, storytelling, they’ve all been foundations, but the next chapter is about scaling it bigger: building platforms, creating fearless spaces for Rwandans and the diaspora, and carrying the torch from Kigali to Atlanta and beyond. It’s the season where purpose meets power, and the work starts to outlive me. That’s the chapter I’m writing now. Being able to do what I want the most in life and getting paid for it,independently.
Don’t let the storm convince you that the sky was never blue
RONNA REINA
{ { DID
you know ?
* Did you know “Q” is the only letter that doesn’t appear in any U.S. state name?
* Did you know the Hawaiian alphabet has 13 letters
* Did you know when lightning strikes it can reach up to 30,000 degrees celsius (54,000 degrees fahrenheit) (avoid one at any cost lol)
* Did you know on your birthday you share it with 9 million others
* Did you know that you can spell the word ‘level’ the same backwards
(Let’s level up)
* Did you know the first English dictionary was written in 1755
* Did you know the most sung song is happy birthday
Well, now you know!
Reina and Ronna Ruzigana
mind over Matter.
SAFE PLACE MAGAZINE
S.
END OF THEYEAR
USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE OUT THINGS WE GOTTA DO TO END THIS YEAR OR EVEN LATER ON BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT CHANGING WE'RE KINDA CHOOSING.
DON’T FORGET TO BE GRATEFUL FOR TODAY
SAFE PLACE
Don’t leave anything for LATER .
LATER , the coffee gets cold.
LATER , you lose interest.
LATER , the day turns into night.
LATER , people grow up.
LATER , people grow old.
MAGAZINE
SAFE
LATER , life goes by.
LATER you regret not doing something when you had the chance.
Just do it!
“ SFPLC ”
Safe : Place
EMBRACE YOUR STRENGTH, CELEBRATE YOUR UNIQUENESS
THEARTOF just showin up
We are officially in the season of The Great Lock-In. Of course, as I said before, you do not need to wait for the seasons to direct your success. But, make no mistake, the next few months is not a regular time period. This is the final lap of the year. Which means it doesn’t matter if you fumbled or won the first three quarters of 2025. Quarter four can change the whole game. I call The Great Lock-In a double XP event, because this is where most people fall off. Which also makes it an opportunity for you to double down. The sun doesn’t rise early anymore and neither do they, but you do. As the days get cold and the running tracks get empty, every mile ran counts as two.
The time is now.
Sacrifice your September. Stay obsessed through October. no days off November, and December? That’s domination.
Perfection is seductive. It whispers in your ear: wait until you’re ready, polish it a little more, fix that one thing before you share it, when the time is right. And before you know it, weeks slip by, months disappear, and that dream you had? Still sitting in your saved post or your notes app.
Here’s the thing: perfect is a moving target. Every time you get close, the definition shifts, situations changes. What felt “ready” yesterday suddenly feels not good enough today. That’s because perfection isn’t real; it’s a mirage. And chasing it will leave you thirsty, stranded in the desert of “almost there.”
Stick with me y’all. You know better you want to do better but you can’t seem to make it happen. I know that feeling. Let’s start with some Charles Miller - Jump in cold water doesn’t get warmer if you nervously wait outside. Big goals don’t get easier to reach if you procrastinate and plan for a bit longer. In both cases, the solution is to just jump in. It’ll be uncomfortable, but after you thrash around for a bit, you’ll get used to it, and the fear will be gone. So just go for it. The water won’t get warmer, you’ll get braver.
Lockin in means choosing to be present when it’s easier to pull away. It means finishing when perfection tells you to wait. It means bringing your whole self even when your whole self feels like 60%. Because that’s still more powerful than sitting it out.
Some Eddie Kwan. Urgency, urgency, more urgency. You’re not lazy. You just haven’t set a deadline for your goal. Most people don’t lack ambition or talent. They lack urgency. They tell themselves they want to be a writer, but they say they’ll do it tomorrow. They tell themselves they want to build a business but never try to get a client. When you set a deadline, you turn your dreams into outcomes. You go from thinking about doing something to doing it. Start setting deadlines and watch how urgency fuels your progress.
last one. Let’s do some atomic habits, James Clear. Finish something, anything. Stop researching, planning, and preparing to do the work and just do the work. It doesn’t matter how good or how bad it is. You don’t need to set the world on fire with your first try. You just need to prove to yourself that you have what it takes to produce something. There are no artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, or scientists who became great by half-finishing their work. Stop debating what you should make and just make something.
SAFE PLACE MAGAZINE
Content Be
GOD SAID
“LOVE THY ENEMY” AND I OBEYED HIM, AND LOVED MYSELF
dreams DESIGNER OF
DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT
Cause perfect is never done
Done is better than perfect, because perfect never arrives. But done? Done opens the door. Done leads to growth. Done is freedom. So finish the thing, share it messy. Let it be rough around the edges. You can always refine later but you’ll never get to later if you don’t finish now. Because done will take you places perfect never could.
Done moves you forward. Showing up keeps you grounded. Together, they’ll make you unstoppable.
