VOLUME 2

MONTHLY DOSE OF DOPE with TAURA STINSON

www.sofndopemagazine.com

VISIT US ONLINE

WWW.SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM

BE FLY. BE ORIGINAL.. BE SOFNDOPE...

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D. COLE

PHOTO BY: Kenny Groggins

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hat’s good! Thank you for your interest in So FN Dope Magazine. We are a brand new magazine based on the West Coast looking to make an impact in the entertainment industry by highlighting music, performance, and the entrepreneurial spirit of independent artists, all across the country. Our staff constantly spends countless hours scouring for dope content to feature including, but not limited to, new music, music videos, artwork, interviews, comedy, models, live performances, photographers and bloggers. In other words, we are always looking for new content for our digital magazine as well as our website. It is going to take dope independent artists like you to help build our brand, but it will also take magazines like us to give indie artists a platform to be heard. We would love to feature your music, videos, mix-tapes, photography, artwork, as well as set up interview arrangements for future issues of So FN Dope Magazine. Let’s work together and leave our mark on the industry to show the world why we are So FN Dope!

DISCLAIMER: Here at So FN Dope Magazine, we have done our best to provide content that is up to date and correct. However, changes may have occurred since the content was submitted that may affect the accuracy of this issue for which So FN Dope Magazine holds no responsibility. The views and opinions of our contributors are not necessarily shared with So Fn Dope Magazine or its staff nor are we liable for their views and opinions or how they may be interpreted.

PHOTO BY: Omar

FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES PLEASE VISIT WWW.SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM

“YXCVLI” Zapien

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FOUNDING EDITORS Walter M. Welch Jr. Corey Norwood Sr. Director or Art and Entertainment Ashton Francois Director of Marketing and Advertising Servon Moss CONTRIBUTORS Shadow Promotions Timeless Music Productions Logostix Graphic Design Hustle Daily Clothing Hype-Radio.com The Social Architects JB & Benny Blue Review Hardcore Beauty Radio Show Caravan Film Crews Wairhouze Entertainment On the Real Videos Motor Mouth Music Group MIC 2 U Mobile Studio Inkk Junkies Tattoos Curve Brows Unique Image Entertainment BLK KNGS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mercenary B Williams Taura Stinson ARTISTS Yung Damon Lil Ron IAM ACTION D. Cole PHOTOGRAPHY Cover Photographer Kenny Groggins Contributing Photographers Omar “YXCVLI” Zapien Jack Patterson Teddy Kareem BADD ONES MODELS Karrina Orbegoso MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -

CONTENTS FEATURES 14)

20)

PHOTO BY: Omar

YUNG DAMON Check out this quickly rising hip-hop artist from Savannah, GA. In this interview, Yung Damon explains to SFND Magazine how he got started in the rap game.

THE SOCIAL ARCHITECTS The Sacramento night life just got better. See how these young professionals are changing the game with their unique style of event planning in Northern Cali.

24)

IAM ACTION We are excited to present to you this Motor Mouth Music Group hip-hop artist from Carol City, Florida. Check out his interview and see how he plans to make moves tocatch his big break into the music industry.

30)

LIL RON Get an in depth look at how this rising star from Jackson, Mississippi is staying “Out The Way”, and see what he has coming up next.

52)

D. COLE Check out our exclusive interview with Huntsville, Alabama’s diamond in the rough, D. Cole as he gives us an up-close look at “The Cole Experience.”

“YXCVLI” Zapien

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MAR / APR 2017

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CONTENTS

REGULARS 12)

23)

35)

38 )

48)

50)

MAR / APR 2017

(cont.)

HIP-HOP FACTS: 30 YEARS BACKTake a trip back in time to look at some of Hip-Hop’s defining moments. Some of these interesting facts may leave you surprised.

60)

SFND LAUNCH PARTY

62)

BADD ONES

Get a behind the scenes look at the SFND Launch Party to celebrate our very first issue of So FN Dope Magazine.

Get to know some of the girls from ‘round the way’. Beauty and brains, class and style are just a few of the characteristics these #baddones have to offer.

WORTH THE W8 See why these hot new highly anticipated records are creating such a buzz in the streets, and see why we feel like they are worth the wait.

VANTAGE POINT: MERCENARY CHRONICLES Check aout the next installment to the “Mercenary Chronicles” with comedian Mercenary B Williams.

A THOUSAND WORDS Come with us as we take you deep into the inner city of Oakland, CA as we uncover some unbelievable graffiti and street art masterpieces from a variety of talented artists.

DOPE QUOTES Stay Positive! Dive into some inspirational quotes both the past and present from some very influential people in entertainment.

MONTHLY DOSE OF DOPE Taura Stinson as she shares her experiences in the music industry and gives back valuable information to today’s aspiring artists in the Monthly Dose of Dope.

PHOTO BY: Kenny Groggins

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S T C A F P -HO K

HIP

0 3

t’s cool to see how the Hiphop culture has evolved. From its humble beginnings in NYC in the 70’s to an international platform influencing a multitude of cultures in 2017, hip-hop is so much more than just music, it is a lifestyle. Often times we get caught up with what is happening in the moment, whether it is the accomplishments our favorite artists, their beefs, or their personal lives. However, we thought that it would be fun to reflect on the accomplishments, beefs, and lives of those who paved the way for all of us today who are a part of the hip-hop culture. Here are some Hip-Hop facts from a few of our favorite Hip-hop artists 30 years or so back. Enjoy!

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C A B S R YEA

Anonymous

LL COOL J & KOOL MOE DEE Did you know during the 80’s

that LL Cool J and Kool Moe D had beef. Sources say that Kool Moe Dee claims that LL stole his rap style which fueled a extended feud amongst the two rappers.

RUN DMC

Did you know that between 1984-1986 Run DMC were the first Hip-Hop artist ever to receive a Gold, a Platinum, and a MultiPlatinum certified record.

PUBLIC ENEMY

Did you know Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s real names are Carlton, Ridenhour and William Drayton.

TEDDY RILEY

Teddy Riley was only 17 years old when he produced “ Go See The Doctor” for Kool Mo Dee.

SALT -N-PEPA

RIAA Platinum certified single “Push It” by Salt-n- Papa was released 30 years ago. Sheesh!

MC HAMMER

The first hip-hop artist to ever go certified Diamond is none other than MC HAMMER.

FAB 5 FREDDY & QUEEN LATIFA Did you know that Fab 5 Freddy helped Queen Latifa get her record deal with Tommy Boy Records in 1989.

MAR/APR JAN/FEB 20172017-SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM--

YUNG DAMON What we love about this artist is the fact that he never stops putting out new material. If you scroll down his Instagram feed, you’re going to get a seemingly never ending list of music from a variety of mixtapes. This type of persistence and consistency is what we need more of in the game today. We were initially was captivated by a song of his we heard on Soundcloud called “Neva Change”. We immediately posted the song to our website and knew that we had to set up an interview with this artist. Check out this So FN Dope artist from Savannah, GA, Yung Damon.

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FND MAG: Yung Damon!!! What’s good! Thank you for taking the time out your schedule to interview with us. We’ve been checking out your music online and I must say that we really like what we have been hearing man!

did you first become interested in becoming a rapper?

they were super creative and innovators.

YUNG DAMON: I was always just a fan of music; it was never a dream of mine it just happened. I always excelled in school at writing, especially writing poems. I just had a way with words. Me and my cousin use to get instrumentals and just freestyle as a hobby after school but I just stuck with it. I realized I had a gift with rapping because it came naturally. I didn’t start taking it serious until around 2009 though.

SFND MAG: As an independent artist in the South, what do you feel has set you apart from other artists trying to work their way into this industry?

YUNG DAMON: Thanks for reaching out to me. I really appreciate that

SFND MAG: Growing up in Savannah, Georgia who were some of your musical influences?

SFND MAG: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?

YUNG DAMON: Some of my musical influences were Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Camoflauge, Outkast. Jay-Z because he was business savvy and he had a smooth clever way with words. Lil Wayne because he was a beast and definitely made other rappers step it up plus, he showed you have to reinvent yourself in order to stay relevant. Ludacris because of his wit and crazy punch lines. Camoflauge because he was from Savannah and signed a deal before he got killed that gave me hope because it’s not a market for music down there and he made it. Outkast because they dared to be different and just didn’t give a fuck... LOL... plus

YUNG DAMON: I’m Yung Damon! I’m from Savannah, GA. Been grinding for a minute putting out quality music consistently. Worked with a few big names such as Ty Dollasign, Diggy Simmons, Alley Boy, and Gucci Mane. My rap style is versatile and unpredictable. I can get melodic on one track, I can get lyrical, I can story tell, I’m just in my own lane, and what really sets me apart is my voice. If I was to collaborate with another artist, I’d stand out more because of that SFND MAG: When and how

YUNG DAMON: Definitely my work ethic and my knowledge. I’m constantly releasing new material. Rather it’s a video of me on my phone freestyling to another artist’s beat or just a new record. I’m always networking with the DJs and blogs. I interact with the fans I respond to messages. I’m just always working and trying to find a way to expand my brand and fan base. SFND MAG: Let’s talk a little about your music. When we first heard the record, we immediately thought it was DOPE. Give us the story behind your song “Neva Change” and how it came

about. YUNG DAMON: I appreciate that. The story behind that single is I was out shopping with a friend and when we were in a store she picked up the old Aaliyah CD Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number and when we got back in the car she put in and went straight to the Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number record. When the song came out, I was young so I never really listened to it like that so when I heard it that night I immediately went in the studio and found the instrumental and laid the vocals to the original track. After that, I hit up one of my producers Arpegioflo and sent him the acapella, he sampled the beat and made it more up-tempo. Once I put it out the feedback has been nothing but good.

Yung Damon and Diggy Simmons

"I was always just a fan never a dream of mine it 16 - SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM - MAR/APR 2017

SFND MAG: Are you currently working on an album? If so what is it entitled? YUNG DAMON: Yes, currently working on the third installment of my “Signed 2 Da Plug” mixtape series. The first one was hosted by DJ Rell and the latest one was hosted by DJ Smallz. SFND MAG: What is the meaning behind the title of your album? YUNG DAMON: I’m under an independent label HellaFlow Records. My CEO Da Bigg Homie Screwww used to be signed to Jeezy. One of his mixtapes was

called Da Georgia Plug. He’s currently incarcerated so I named my mixtape Signed 2 Da Plug to pay homage to him. SFND MAG: Who are some of the producers you’ve worked with and name a few that you would like to work with in the future? YUNG DAMON: I’ve worked with Fatboi, I’ve worked with Nard and B, Polo Boy Shawty, Red Drum, DJ Flipp, Arpegioflo, K. Mills, PC Productions, Haneef Ali.I want to work with Zaytoven and London On the track in the near future. SFND MAG: When making a record

of music; it was just happened.”

what is your creative process like? Where do you get your inspiration? YUNG DAMON: When I’m recording, I just like to vibe to the beat. It doesn’t take me long at all. As long as the beat is hard, I can have the song done in probably 20 minutes. Once I get the melody in my head, I just get on the mic. I don’t ever write my hooks I just go in. I used to write my verses but I record so much now that I just come up with the bars in my head, lay a few down and keep punching in from there. I don’t have an engineer when I record either. I record myself at the house then send it off to my mixing engineer PC to get it mixed and mastered. SFND MAG: What is your favorite song off your project and why? YUNG DAMON: My favorite song off my latest project Signed 2 Da Plug II would have to be “No Dad.” It’s my favorite because it’s more melodic with a real message in it. It’s a song basically saying some females act the way they do because she never had a Dad or father figure so she might be clingy. MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -

SFND MAG: What song do you think resonates the most with your audience and why? YUNG DAMON: It’s hard to say because I have so many records people can relate to, but if I could narrow it down to one I would say this song I have called “Walk In” basically saying the part don’t start until I walk in and a majority of people feel that way. That record got a good response when I put it out. We even have an IG video of Bankroll PJ counting money to it...LOL. SFND MAG: What do you think of the recent shift in Hip-Hop music and the direction that it is headed in now? YUNG DAMON: I like some of it and some of it I don’t like but you have to either adapt to the changes or fall back. SFND MAG: If you could give advice to the next young aspiring artist, what would you say to them? YUNG DAMON: If I could give any advice I would tell them learn the business before you jump into it because if you don’t you’ll be running in circles SFND MAG: How can your fans find you online? YUNG DAMON: My fans can find me on Twitter @yungdamon Instagram @dalilhomie Facebook.com/yungdamon SFND MAG: Where can we locate your music online? YUNG DAMON: YouTube, Worldstarhiphop.com, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Reverbnation SFND MAG: Yung Damon, we really appreciate you for taking the time to interview with So FN Dope Magazine, before you go we want to ask you one more question. Could you name one other artist out there that you think is So FN Dope?

"I interact with the fans I respond to messages. I'm just always working and trying to find a way to expand my brand and fan base"

YUNG DAMON: I think Future is dope.

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SFND MAG: What’s happening gentlemen!!! We appreciate you all for interviewing with us. We extremely excited that we have an opportunity to get a little more insight in to all the things you all have going out here in Sacramento area. First and foremost could we just go around the room and have each of you introduce yourselves individually and tell what your role is in this organization. SA: My name is Derron Christmas. My role with the Social Architects is Director of Projects and Events. Basically I am the project manager for all events we plan and execute. I make sure we seamlessly put on excellent and quality events. My name is Tunji Akilo. Born in Southern California but raised here in the 916. I am Co-Founder and Creative Engagement Director for the Social Architects. Peace family my name is Chris Robinson aka DJ Play. I am the Co-Founder/Community and Production Director. My role is to set the ambiance and to create the appeal of the Social Architects events. I am Zeke Ivy and my official role for the Social Architects is the Business and Community Development Director of the Social Architects and C0-Founder. I have been living in Sacramento for around 13 years and have been active in the community with the Sacramento Urban League Young Professionals, so

the same time.

I have leveraged some of my previous relationships to promote events for The Social Architects. Hello, my name is Wellington “PJ” Smith and I am Co-founder, and Marketing and Media Director. My role Intel’s over seeing all photography and Cinematography for all engagement events as well as marketing items that goes out to the general public. I also partner with my fellow Social Architect founders to keep our marketing climate stays consistent with our company’s vision and mission. SFND MAG: Could ya’ll give us a little bit of the back story of how ya’ll got started? SA: Derron Christmas: The 5 of us being friends, we would hang out in the Sacramento area and wonder why there wasn’t really a scene for young African American professionals to connect and network. We decided that we would host our first day party in June of 2014 and see where it goes from there. Almost three years later we have continued to grow and evolve as businessmen and pillars in the community. We give back at least ten percent of our profits to local nonprofits. We believe in having a great time while helping out kids and people of color at

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SFND: I’ve had an opportunity to attend 2 of your events so far. I remember going to one of your first events at the Liaison Lounge a couple years ago and, most recently, you all invited SoFNDope Magazine to come through your last event and check ya’ll out. I must say I was blown away! Everything was “crackin!” The event itself was extremely upscale and professional. How do you all manage to attract such a large group of young African American professionals to your events? SA: Tunji Akilo:

“We are very strategic on how we promote our events and who we market to. Specifically for young African American professionals” included ourselves) Sacramento lacks to cater entertainment for our crowd to socialize, network, simply enjoy a good time away from work and home. The Social Architects’ main objective is to

provide this void in a way that’s never been done in Sacramento. With each event we plan, we stay true to our vision and ourselves. We continue to improve our quality of events for our crowd. It’s scary to think what our events will look like in another 2 years. SFND MAG: What do you feel sets what you all do apart from other promotional companies that organize parties and events in this area. SA: Chris Robinson: The thing that sets the Social Architects apart is the control of the vibe. Our vibe as a group comes from characteristics of high expectations of being fly, free and fun. We want the city to come out, walk in the building and forget that they are in Sacramento.

SFND MAG: Are there any other services you provide? SA: PJ Smith: Yes we provide a number of services and specialties that engage the community around us. We partner will small and large businesses to provide brand management and strategic plans to further there reach in the Northern California area through social and digital media. We provide video, photography, and DJ services for small and large venues as well as marketing youth and community initiatives for non-profit and educational institutions. SFND MAG: How long did it take to build such a large and loyal network people attend your events faithfully? SA: PJ Smith: It took just over a year to build a space that large groups of local professionals come to and feel comfortable being in. Not only is our crowd loyal which we are grateful for, they are

you come to a Social Architects event, I promise you will feel like that young, fly, and fun person again.

high quality groups and individuals that love being a part of a movement that is changing the atmosphere in the greater Sacramento area.

SFND MAG: Honestly, from what I saw at your last event… the atmosphere, to the music, and just the “feel good vibe” that you all have created at your event, I can see you all cornering the market in Sacramento area very quickly. What do you feel is most important you to do in order to continue thrive in such a diverse market like Sacramento?

SFND MAG: What do each of you feel you contribute most to the group? SA: Derron Christmas: I would say my biggest contribution is overseeing our events from beginning to end and making sure everyone is staying on task to provide and execute quality events in the Sacramento area. Also I contribute a lot with coming up with different themes and ideas that will set us apart in the Sacramento region.

SA: Zeke Ivy: “I believe that our events are very positive and we have established ourselves as the main social group that caters to the Sacramento urban sophisticate.” But I still think we can grow our reach and host better and bigger events. We cannot become complacent and think that ‘we’ve made it.’ We have to keep pushing the envelope and continue to grow and expose more people to what The Social Architects is all about.

SA: Tunji Akilo: I primarily handle our promotional/marketing advertisement for each of our events and Social Ar-

chitects Brand. You might occasionally catch me DJing alongside DJ Play SA: Zeke Ivy: I contribute leadership that incorporates a level of community togetherness. With my background in working with the Urban League Young Professionals, I know that our community needs better and more avenues to connect, network and achieve in society. For many of our events, we purposely seek and choose a local non-profit to donate a portion of our proceeds to that assists young kids and people of color. So I am actively talking to centers of influence and suggesting groups to benefit.

SFND MAG: We are nearing the end of the interview, is there anything else you would like to inform our audience about? Any upcoming events? Gatherings? Etc… ? SA: PJ Smith: Well the next big item we coming up is a brunch at Mama Kim’s Eats. It will be a fun way to do brunch with mimosas, music, and laughs. We also have our Memorial Day installment of The Blue Print Suite, as well as our 3 year anniversary in which we will celebrate with a signature day party. SFND MAG: Man we sincerely appreciate this time spent interviewing with us. We can’t wait to be invited to another event soon. Before you go, I have one last question… How can those that may not know about the Social Architects just yet find ya’ll on social media? SA: Derron Christmas: You can find us on Instagram @thesocialarchitects and Facebook at The Social Architects. Our website will up and running summer 2017.

SA: Chris Robinson: My contribution is to bring back memories and smiles by taking everyone on a journey back in time. I do that by playing the music they forgot about, the music they haven’t heard and the songs that go all the way hard, bringing back those memories and feelings of that one time and night when you had the time of your life. Once MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -

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The Podcast taking you Behind The Curtain in the NFL, Sports, & Entertainment // No Hot Takes, Just Real Talk! . Hosted by former NFL offensive lineman and current coach Jeremy “JB” Bridges, and comedian and music/sports publicist Ben “Benny Blue” Rhinesmith Available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, & CastBox

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W A H T H WORT

n this column, we wanted to highlight a select few that we had not heard from in a while. Some have been gone for nearly a decade and are reentering the game, others have taken only a brief hiatus and some have been on deck for a while now to be the next big thing We’ve all been anticipating new music and they definitely delivered a product that was “worth the wait”.

Remy Ma definitely has not skipped a beat. She made a seamless transition from doing a 6-year prison sentence to being back on the charts with her 2016 hit single All The Way Up featuring Fat Joe. We knew it would not be long before she went for the crown and that is exactly what she did with this diss record targeting Nicki Minaj, “Shether.” She wasted no time going for the jugular on this one. Bar for bar she hit Minaj with everything she had. This record definitely took the Internet by storm and was thoroughly entertaining. Definitely worth the wait! R&B is finally back! Adrian Marcel did not let us down with this project. After teasing us with his hit single 2am featuring Sage the Gemini back in 2015 and a string of mixtapes, he has finally released his album entitled GMFU back in early April 2017. We listened to the entire project and all we can say is that it is definitely worth the wait. Rarely can I put on a record and listen to it in its entirety from end to end without skipping at least one or two. This album, I must say, is the best Rick Ross album to date. That is our personal opinion. “Rather You Than Me” is a certified classic in our books. Thank you Rick Ross for this masterpiece! Without a doubt worth the wait! Mark our words… Kevin Ross is the next big thing!!! We’ve followed this artist through his humble beginnings as a 106&Park Wild Out Wednesday contestant all the way up to Holiday TV commercial with Glade. When we found out that, he signed to Motown Records we knew that it was only a matter of time before he hit the ground running. This album “The Awakening” is all that we thought it would be and even more! Be on the lookout for this phenomenal artist! Definitely worth the wait! MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -

IAM ACTION

CAROL CITY, FL

It is always refreshing when we come across an artist that has more to offer than just sheer talent. From the first time we watched this next artist’s video we could already tell he had a BIG PERSONALITY, which is definitely a good characteristic to have especially in today’s industry of carbon copied rappers. This guy has set himself apart has created his own lane. I must admit that I was personally taken back to my college days for a minute when I listened to his single “REAL LOVE”. I couldn’t help but laugh because I could feel his pain! LOL! Check out this exclusive interview from this extremely dope, Motor Mouth Music Group artist from Carol City, FL. I…..AM…….. ACTION!!!!

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FND MAG: What’s happening Action!!! We appreciate you for interviewing with us. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the”Real Love” video you submitted.

IAM ACTION: YOOOOOO!!!!!!… I appreciate ya’ll taking the time to understand my Dopeness. SFND MAG: Give us a little background info about yourself. Where are you from? IAM ACTION: I’m from South Florida – Born & Raised in Carol City, FL (The Hood) but attended high school in Cooper City, FL (The Suburbs). So I was in the Hood at night and the weekends and an all White Collar area by day my teenage days where quite odd. I was too Nerdy for the Hood & to Hood for the Nerds, and now I reside in Hollywood, FL. SFND MAG: Miami is one of our favorite cities to visit. The weather, the women, the nightlife, and just the energy alone from southern Florida is just amazing.

I’m sure you get plenty of inspiration to write and create music huh? IAM ACTION: LOL! You basically named everything that can inspire me down here!!! But, my real inspiration comes from my daily real life. My ups my downs all the wild shit that I encounter every day being a Haitian-American Man in this New Nation. SFND MAG: Being that Miami has had so many famous hip-hop artists (Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, and Pitbull just to name a few) dominate the industry over the years, what is it like being an independent artist in this part of Florida? IAM ACTION: It is hard as hell, with all these hometown legends who created their own sound & lane so we always need to be on your “A Plus, Plus, Plus” game & no grading w/ a curve. Since there are so many successful and household names who made a statement coming out of South Florida you always have that much more expectations to meet & competition to compete with. But, It’s Hip Hop… Even when you don’t think you have competition you are in competition, and I’ll have it no other way. SFND MAG: What do you feel has set you apart from other independent artists out there?

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IAM ACTION: I’M KLASLES NIGGA! I like experiment like a motherfucker w/ my music. I’m never scared to go left field w/ it fuck being in a box. I won’t be classified. IAM music period end of story. SFND MAG: When we first saw the “Real Love” video, I must admit that it was so refreshing to hear an artist that was both lyrical and comical. The video was funny because every guy has an encounter with that “one crazy chick” where they have to try to explain themselves. How did this track come about? IAM ACTION: I just wanted to make something we can all relate to. Nobody’s perfect and we’ve all been caught slippin’ on social media at one time. We too exposed these days these devices are straight snitching LOL. I just wanted people to see that I am a normal guy that just happens to be a dope ass rapper & storyteller. So live vicariously thru my music & enjoy. SFND MAG: Who produced the track? IAM ACTION: The track was produced by Kelly Portis out of Los Angeles, CA.

SFND MAG: Who are some of the other producers you’ve worked with in the past? IAM ACTION: Ahhhhhhh…I am going to keep it 100. Shout out to all them YouTube producers…they got some dope shit. If you are on YouTube 9 out of 10 times, I probably worked w/ you. So, if you put it up we find it and fuck w/ it then we probably going to create something dope and new. Now when I find that one Main producer that can help me bring this sound I have in my head then “Bwooooooyyyyyy look out cause, it’s going to be a fucking PROBLEM. SFND MAG: When can we expect an album from you? IAM ACTION: An album would be Dope but, right now. Right now IAM working on crafting my sound & still finding myself. – Shit, an album might be in there somewhere…but for now, you can check out my mixtape: THURSDAY: EPISODE 49 You can find it on soundcloud.com/action3mg (my business partner made sure that I mentioned this…LOL) PROMO - MotorMouthMusicGroup PROMO - MotorMouthMusicGrouo PROMO - MotorMouthMusicGroup PROMO – MotorMouthMusicGroup That’s him in the background. SFND MAG: Your style is what we like to call classic hip-hop, which consists of, impeccable delivery, dope rhymes and, lyrical content. How do you feel about the emerging new trend of “Mumble Rap” which arguably lacks all of those core elements? IAM ACTION: There are a lot of people that obviously relate to that sound & culture; I am not going to knock it I fuck w/ it. I see it like this if you can’t understand it then it wasn’t meant for you anyways so why hate. It’s part of the youth culture it’s lit for that reason. Look… Not everyone is going to relate to me, but that is just life. Hip Hop will never die…shit… we survived jerry curls, east coast west coast beefs this is just another moment in Hip Hop history.….And I embrace whatever it takes for you to get out of

your situation & to live out your dream…I support it 100%. Why are we the only culture who does not celebrate each other’s successes? Why categorize it as East coast rap, trap music, mumble rap, west coast rap, down south music? WTF!!! It’s Hip Hop damn it. The rock gods don’t do that shit. We are not just a genre of music we are a culture.

SFND MAG: Action, thank you brother for taking the time to interview with us. It’s been a pleasure, but before you go we want to ask you one more question. Could you name one other artist out th ere that you think is So FN Dope?

SFND MAG: If you could give one piece of advice to the next young artist coming up in Southern Florida, what would you say to them?

“Do music for you not for opinions. If they like it cool if not then guess what that shit wasn’t for you anyways.”

IAM ACTION: Even your day ones can be scammers. Do music for you not for opinions. If they like it cool if not then guess what that shit wasn’t for you anyways. Can’t please everybody, and at the end of the day good music will promote itself. SFND MAG: Where can we locate your music online? guess what that shit wasn’t for you anyways. Can’t please everybody, and at the end of the day good music will promote itself. SFND MAG: How can your fans find you online? IAM ACTION: Motormouthmusicgroup.com & follow me across the board on all social media at: @action3MG IAM ACTION: Soundcloud.com/ACTION3MG or on YouTube my name IAM Action

IAM ACTION: Aaron Carter, Willow & Jaden Smith... One day I’ll break down why I say them.

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â€œI just wa somethin rela

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anted to make ng we can all ate to.” -IAM ACTION

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LIL

RON

There’s nothing like seeing an artist invest back into themselves. Half of the artist and musicians out here don’t “really” understand the value of putting in the time, effort, and money into perfecting their craft. In this industry, success doesn’t happen overnight and only those that pay their dues truly rise to the top. This next artist’s hustle is unmatched. We’ve seen the grind he puts in and there are very few that can hold a candle to what he does. His fan base is steadily growing throughout Mississippi, and the South East Region. His aggressive marketing tactics and entrepreneur mindset compliments his artistry. Check out this interview from Jackson, Mississippi rapper Lil Ron.

JACKSON, MS

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FND MAG: What’s good MrBankrollseason !!! LOL! Definitely appreciate you for taking time out your busy schedule to interview with us. We follow you on IG and we see how hard you always grinding.

Lil Ron: No doubt man, I’m honored to be here. I’ve been following you guys progression as well and I’m glad to be a part of history. SFND MAG: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? Lil Ron: I’m from a small place called Jackson Ms.

the streets right now. How did that joint come about? Lil Ron: I was in the studio vibing, just going through tracks. I had the track probably about 2 weeks before I actually recorded it. To be honest I really didn’t like it but all my folks, suggested I write and record to it, because it was different and it had a up tempo club feel, and I didn’t have a lot of that type of music. As far as the lyrics, I just stuck to the recipe, and wrote about how I felt, and what was going on in my environment. SFND MAG: Who produced that track man?

Lil Ron: I was always interested in music every since I was about 5, or 6. I started writing as soon as I could write and comprehend, but I was real shy so I never really expressed my talent until I was in my teens. People told me I was good so I eventually took it serious.

Lil Ron: I think what sets me apart is my realness, and my ability to deliver the message to the people. It’s an implement of me. My music is like the word of encouragement you need to keep pushing. I’m the symbol of motivation, and inspiration. SFND MAG: We just heard your new single “Out The Way” on iTunes. It’s going hard in

Lil Ron: No we don’t have a release date but we leaning towards late March. SFND MAG: There’s been talk of you inking a record deal here soon. Is that a true statement? Lil Ron: No comment, just stay tuned

Lil Ron: Hard work pays off and perfect his craft. Believe in yourself , keep motivation around you, structure your goals and always remember hard work beats talent any day. SFND MAG: How can your fans find you online?

SFND MAG: What is the music scene like in Jackson?

SFND MAG: Over the years, you’ve created quite the catalog of music. What do you think has set you apart from other artists out there?

SFND MAG: Is there a release date for the project?

SFND MAG: Give some sound advice to the next young artist coming up in Jackson, MS. What would you say to the youngster that has his sights on the music industry?

SFND MAG: So give us a little bit of the back-story in a nutshell, of how you got in the rap game?

Lil Ron: The music scene in Jackson is live. It’s a lot of talented artist there working real hard. I honestly believe our sound will be the next big wave.

feeling like a king. The self made part defines me not having any handouts. A lot of people were born into royalty and never really knew what it meant to come from nothing. I’m self-made , I’m a king . King defines my train of thought.

Lil Ron: IG Reverend_Bankroll Twitter _MRBRS SC- THEREALMRBANKROLLSEASON Lil Ron: It was produced by SuperJay, he’s a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma. We hooked up through his manager, who had been strongly suggesting we work together.

SFND MAG: Where can we locate your music online?

SFND MAG: So we know you working in the studio all the time cooking up HEAT in the lab. What is the name of the latest project, and what is the meaning behind the name?

SFND MAG: Lil Ron, We thank you once again for taking the time to interview with us. It’s been our pleasure, but before you go we want to ask you one more question. Could you name one other artist out there that you think is So FN Dope?

Lil Ron: Right now I’m leaning to the title “SELFMADE KING”. It’s not written in stone as that being the name of the project, but as of right now that’s what it is . I chose that because lately I been

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Lil Ron: I’m on all digital outlets , ITunes, Googleplay, Spotify ,Spinrilla ,Livemixtapes etc.

Lil Ron: TurnUp Teezy, just remember I told you first.

e k i l s i c i s u m y M f o d r o w u o e y h t t n e m e g a . r g u n o i h s enc u p p e e k o t d nee MAR/APR JAN/FEB 20172017-SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM--

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s e l c i n o r h C y r a n e c r Me VANTAGE POINT: Written by: Mercenary B. Williams

WITH

o I just had a “Last Dragon” moment. If you’ve never seen the movie, Bruce Leroy, the main character is on the search for “the master”. He goes all over the city to find this “master”, and in a particular scene when he talks to his sensei, he gives Leroy a fortune cookie and tells him he’ll find the answers to his questions pertaining to the “master” in this cookie. As he proceeds to open the cookie he finds that there is no fortune inside and he’s dumbfounded at this point and I’ll pause right there... Now fast forward to today. I’m eating my Asian cuisine,(I won’t say Japanese or Chinese because I don’t want to offend anybody. Lol.) Once I finish I’m always anticipating the fortune cookie. Besides the fact that I actually love them and the way they taste,(I buy them by the box as a snack in real life!), I’m always looking forward to what the fortune says. So I open my cookie and this time there was no fortune inside. I looked inside the paper and on the floor and it wasn’t there. I also made sure I didn’t eat the damn thing either because I was extremely hungry but there was no fortune and I like Leroy was dumbfounded at this point....

Merc B

Back to the movie... After Leroy finds there’s no fortune, the sensei basically tells him that he’s always had the answer to his question of, “Who’s The Master?!”(somebody shouted SHO NUFF! when they read that I know it! LOL!) He tells him and I quote, “If you look inside of you, it is there you will find the one and only true master!” So I immediately think of this movie and if every single time I’m looking for a sign in these fortune cookies. I’ve always had a message in every fortune cookie I’ve ever eaten but this cookie was the first and only cookie that finally gave me what I was “looking” for. Finally a real sign. I said all of that to say that so many times we’re always “looking” for something from somewhere whether it be family, friends, associates, social media(All Likes Matter. ROTFLOL!), etc. but we never look in the one place where all of the answers always are and have always been; and that’s inside of us. Everything that you will ever need to be the maximum YOU that YOU were created to be is already inside of you. It’s completely and solely up to you to find it. You owe yourself to go out there and be all that you were created to be. To be the MASTER of your domain and

of your life. I looked at that broken cookie and was almost brought to tears. Thirty-five years of searching and all this time all I had to do was stand up straight, hold my head high, look in the mirror and see that the “master” had been staring at me my entire life. I just had to open my eyes to see it. Y’all share that... Stay Up. Stay Blessed. Stay Free. MBW

PHOTO BY: Jack Patterson of Jack Patterson Photography

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THOUSAND

Photography by Teddy Kareem of Caravan Film Crews1

WORDS

few weeks ago So FN Dope Magazine had an opportunity to stroll through the city of Oakland, CA to take a few snap shots of graffiti in the area but what we discovered was truly amazing. The city was literally covered with colorfully painted walls in every nook and cranny. Where we thought we would find randomly tagged walls and buildings we found just the opposite. We actually found elaborate artistic murals painted by dozens of talented graffiti and street artists in the area. My photographer and I were deeply moved by the amount of work it must have taken to create such works of art. Honestly, this article was

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initially going to talk about the history of graffiti as it relates to hip-hop culture but after this experience we decided to let the leave this section free from any other words other than what has been said in this paragraph. We feel that it was important that these incredible works of art speak for themselves. People often say that a picture is worth 1,000 words. Well in this case that phrase couldn’t be truer. With that being said, So FN Dope presents to you “A Thousand Words” shot by Caravan Film Crews. Enjoy!

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DOPEQUOTES See... to live is to suffer, but to survive... well,that’s to find meaning in the suffering. –DMX

“I don’t need anybody to market or promote me. If people don’t want to hear this music, then it’s not for them. You cannot please everybody.” – Lauryn Hill

For every dark night. There's a brighter day -Tupac Shakur

“Its Cool To Love To Win, But It’s Better To Hate To Lose” -Nas

“Rap is something you do. HipHop is something you live” -KRS 48 - SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM - MAR/APR 2017

DOPEQUOTES “ You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too.” -Denzel Washington “I’ve never wanted to be put in a box, not musically.” -Queen Latifa “Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives. – Michelle Obama

“Not one drop of my self worth depends on your acceptance of me” -Quincy Jones.

“I never use the word retire” \ - BB King “Life is too short to worry about what others have to say about you. Have fun and give them something to talk about. –Kevin Hart MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM -

MONTHLY DOSE O F

D O P E

BY TAURA STINSON

Taura Stinson is a veteran songwriter who has written for recording artists including, but not limited to Raphael Saadiq, Destiny’s Child, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Steven Tyler and Mary J. Blige, to name a few. To learn more about Taura, please visit www.EatWriteHear.com

hen I first got started in the music industry, successful independent artists were like an aurora borealis. We knew that they existed, and saw pictures even, but we never actually saw one ourselves. Being from Oakland, I remember cutting through Eastmont mall to get home from school and on countless occasions, I saw Too Short there. He was usually in a store on the bottom level on the end parallel to 68th Avenue, called Mr. Z’s. I was in awe, because early on, I understood the concept of cutting out the middleman and going directly to the source. So, I had hella respect for Short and those that followed in his foot steps, because lets be honest, $10 per sale is always better than a fraction of a single dollar. I learned that to be true when I signed my first record deal, or correction, PRODUCTION deal. If you saw the New Edition movie, then you have a solid reference point. Remember when Mike Bivins confronted the label head about their money and he’s told that he isn’t signed directly to the label? Yeah, well

that was our situation. We were signed to One Love records and executed an inducement letter to Mercury. Had our album been a success, we would have had to pay the label and our producers before ever seeing a dollar ourselves. Oh, and we would have had to split the pennies that were due to us, three ways. That was the reality that I faced when I sat a few thousand miles away from East Oakland in New York City. We had an amazing four- bedroom penthouse apartment on Bleeker Street, but I wondered, “When do we have to pay this back”. I asked the executive from One Love, but she wasn’t as forthcoming as I would have hoped, so that’s when I first purchased the books “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” and “This Business of Music”. I was both motivated and mortified after reading them because I realized that the career that chose me wasn’t the walk in the park that I had imagined. Time would solidify that prediction because my group didn’t become successful but I started to gain more notoriety as a writer and in my onion, writers need a clear vision of how this business work more than anyone else, because this is essentially all that we have. Recording artists tour and the successful ones even get lucrative endorsements. Producers get huge advances, but writers are usually paid on the backend. I have come to a place where that’s unacceptable to me, given that the lions share of producers are men and they are paid for their time, I decided that I deserve the same respect and compensation, but, I digress, because that’s truly a whole other article, but what I want to put emphasis on is the importance of educating yourself, even as a creative. If you can go to college, great. That’s the move, but if you can’t or haven’t, picking up a book or downloading an audio book or informative pod cast is essential to your success as an aspiring entertainment professional. Read gum wrappers if they are going to bring your closer to understanding this very intricate and

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misleading business. That’s why I LOVE SO FN DOPE MAGAZINE! It’s SO FN DOPE that this magazine is offering indie artists an international platform filled with amazing artists and columns like this that will help to enlighten you on your journey. My goal in this segment is to highlight indie talent and be a resource to aspiring music industry professionals.

Like I said, growing up, I was enamored with Too $hort because his story was like local neighborhood folklore. We saw him driving around in a custom drop top Bertiz, cocaine white to be exact. He was sparkling example of success, gliding through our poverty stricken streets and he set the bar for other artists that would follow in his footsteps.

Master P had a record store in Richmond, a neighboring city of Oakland and he too became uber successful by cutting out the middleman and going directly to the source. Now, being an independent artist is the bar. Long gone are the days where artists don’t feel validated unless they are signed to a major label. We now get a sense that there is boundless freedom in being free to choose your own producers, create your own marketing plan and reach your audience in your own way. With that in mind, I am partnering with So FN Dope Magazine in an effort to

to cover expenses. This is a word of mouth business and we need your voice. If you love any of the artists that you see in this magazine, please let us know. Let your network of people and social media village know too. We often support the supported but it’s about time that we shine a little light on those currently climbing the mountain and focus less on those that have already reached the mountain-top. We can’t keep complaining about the poor quality

of mainstream music when we don’t support the high quality music bubbling underground. There are so many dope artists out there. I encourage you to go on a major label artist fast for one week. In that week, listen to indie artists only and let us know what you find. Please email your submissions to: submissions@sofndopemagazine.com to be considered. Feel free to submit an artist that you’ve heard, represent or submit your own project. Submission

guidelines are below. I’m looking forward to listening to all genres of music from artists all around the world. In the mean time, learn this business…if you want it to be your future! This is going to be SO FN DOPE!

ARTIST OF THE MONTH SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Email one mp3 of your dopest song. Include a sound cloud or website link for other songs or full projects Include a high-resolution photo of yourself in the body of the email. Include your name, telephone number and SFND ARTIST SUBMISSION in the SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL. We will not share your personal information. •Include your social media handles in the body of the email. •Lastly, in 500 words or less. Tell why you are SO FN DOPE. •By submitting your photo and music, you hereby give So FN Dope Magazine and successors permission to share the attached MP3/Photo with its subscribers and audience. •You will be notified via email if you are one of five artists to be chosen per month.

submissions@sofndopemagazine.com

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D. COLE

HUNTSVILLE, AL

3....2....1... liftoff Huntsville Alabama nicknamed “The Rocket City” is yet again involved in the birth of something else that is destined for the stars. This humble charismatic southern gentleman with a Hollywood glow is crooning his way into the hearts of women around the globe. poised and methodical in the way he approaches all facets of the music business leaves me with no other impression then to feel like I’ve experienced the new face of R&B. I guess you can call it “The Cole Experience” PHOTO BY: Kenny Groggins MAR/APR 2017- SOFNDOPEMAGAZINE.COM

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FND MAG: Yo… what’s going on, I’m Francois from So FN Dope Magazine. I got my man D. Cole in the building with us. He’s been so gracious enough to give us a little bit of his time before he heads back out and continues to be a superstar putting records together. What’s going on man? D. Cole: What’s up man! Thank you for having me. It’s a blessing and honor just to be here. I really appreciate it. SFND MAG: No no… Thank you! [laughter] So let’s jump right in to it man. Where are you from? D. COLE: I’m from Huntsville, Alabama. I was born and raise there. I went to school at East Limestone High school, which is way out there in the country, but that’s where I was born and raised man; I love it. SFND MAG: OK! Dope… Dope… Dope… I know about Alabama. I spent a couple years out there. Yea, yea. That’s what’s up. So let me know, as far as your family goes, how did you get into music? Did you come from a musical family? D. COLE: I do… I do… Both sides actually have music running all the way through their blood. My grandfather is actually a pastor at a church in Huntsville, Alabama, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, so I started off in the church. I started off singing when I was two or three years old and you know then you get in choir and then young adult choir and you know you flourish on so… I’ve been singing literally “all” my life; Mom, Dad, Grandfather, Grandma, everybody! That’s all you do in my house-

PHOTO BY: Kenny Groggins hold is sing. SFND MAG: Well yea, I guess the best thing is always coming out of church man. That’s a good look. D. COLE: Yes sir… Yes sir. SFND MAG: So tell me, for someone who is just seeing you for the first time what type of vibe can they expect. What is this” Cole Experience”? D. COLE: The “Cole Experience is… Well personally, for me I just like to have fun. I’m a fun person; I get goofy sometimes. I act like a child; my manager likes to call me a kid all the time because I act like a child sometimes, but I just like to have fun. I don’t want to lose the essence of, you know, that this is my dream … and this is a fun dream. You know… I like to have fun doing what I’m doing, because once you lose the fun in it you

It’s a dream. I’ve caught myself onstage really just stopping and staring into the crowd like “I can’t believe I’m here” It’s crazy man!

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no longer need to be doing it because it just takes away everything that is good inside of you so… I just like to have fun. The “Cole Experience“ is just that. You know that you’re going to be entertained. I like to entertain people. That’s what I was born to do, so that’s “The Cole Experience.” SFND MAG: Most definitely. So who would you say some are your musical influences? D. COLE: First and foremost, Michael Jackson. I think any artist that has ever come out has been influenced in some way by Michael Jackson. Then, you have the guy who influenced him, James Brown. I loved James Brown. I think it’s everything about the soul he had and the R&B feel with the Rock & Roll; I think that’s what gave Michael what he really wanted to be. Then of course, one of my favorites today is Usher. I love Usher. Man, just the longevity he’s had in his career, to still be going in my generation today, which the music had kind of changes a little bit, but for him to still be able to continue on this long is just incredible. SFND MAG: Dope… So yea… I’m looking at the list man. It says you’ve already opened up for Chris Brown, Omarion, TGT, Sisqo, and SoMo just to name a few; for you to not have been around that long you’ve already have two tours under your belt. You’ve done the First Flight tour with Taylor Simone and you’re on

[Continued on pg 56]

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“Never stop, because at the end of the day that is what makes people like you. People want to gravitate towards a story .”

another one with SoMo. How does this happen? D. COLE: Man, you know… It’s just been a blessing! Actually, my manager created the First Flight Tour. It was a high school tour at the time. I had just started performing, and really trying to get my name out there. She was like, “ I really want to get in the school system to get your name a little bit further out there” so she met with a couple principals and they decided to let me in a couple middle school and high schools and it started there. We were able to go to about 15 high schools and middle schools. It was great. It really started the “Cole Experience”and then this last tour with SoMo… man… it was just crazy. I was able to meet his tour manager, Chad, on the road, actually, I was out in L.A. recording with a couple people, I got to meet him in a studio session, and it went from there. Next thing I know I’m on stage in front of a thousand people, every night. It’s just a crazy environment. Man! It’s been a great experience.

COOL J anymore, its “D. Loves the Ladies” Nah but It’s been great man, just to be in from of so many beautiful women every night. I really haven’t had a chance to be out there all that long and have all my songs out there to touch the masses but to be on that stage to really show them what I can do and to really just give them my all on that stage is just a blessing. It’s a dream come true, you know what I’m saying. It’s just amazing to me. It’s a dream. I’ve caught myself onstage really just stopping and staring into the crowd like “I can’t believe I’m here” It’s crazy man!

SFND MAG: OK, so… with that being said… crazy nights and all. You know what the next question is [LOUD LAUGHTER]. How were the ladies treating you on the tour? What’s one of the craziest things that’s happened to you while out there on the road? D. COLE: D. COLE loves the ladies. “You know what I’m saying” It ain’t L.L.

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SFND MAG: No Doubt. Well now, you’ve got to give a shout out. What was the best city that you’ve performed at so far? D. COLE: Ahh Man! Well… they all we re amazing I don’t think there is just one “best city” I think all of them are amazing and there is a whole bunch of them. Like Boston, Houston, Dallas, Everywhere, Ya’ll were just incredible the whole tour. Shout out to everybody that came to the SoMo Tour. SFND MAG: Ok. That was a good answer! D. Cole for President [LAUGHTER] How was it on tour with SoMo? Did you feel the pressure to maybe outperform him due to the similarities of styles or what not? D. COLE: Nah, man actually the way I was raised was that you just do what you do best. You don’t really worry about the other people because they are going to do what they do. You stay in your lane and do what you do. I love to entertain and so I’m going to get on stage and give 110% every night so I was not so much worried about his show. I was actually trying to learn from him than being worried about competing and all that other stuff. That for those other artist I’m not in to that I just really love doing what I do on that stage. The pressure really came from my manager. She is the pressure keeper. She always tells me “pressure bursts pipes”

PHOTO BY: Kenny Groggins

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but you want to be still. You want to maintain and last for a long time so if you can handle pressure from that lady, you can handle pressure from anybody. She just makes sure that I’m on my game at 100% and that what I call pressure. I’m actually more comfortable going on stage than I am sitting here talking to you. You know I love to be on stage and just show case what God has given me and so it’s so much love being on that stage and there is no pressure man. SFND MAG: Dope. Shout out to the managers D. COLE: Yea Man… Veronica Young. Don’t let her fool you man. She’s cold-blooded. [LAUGHTER] SFND MAG: So you know we had to do a little research man! Tell us about this “Twisted Minds” Is this something you want to pursue in the future? D. COLE: You know what? To answer that question straight out; yes. I do think I would love to do some acting in the future but this gig was my first try. I’m a singer first, I’m an entertainer first but you’ know I think I did pretty well on it. What you think? SFND MAG: [awkward silence] D. COLE: You didn’t watch it did you? [LAUGHTER] Now see. They research you and make you talk about it and they don’t even watch it. “See how they do ya.” Nah, I’m just playing, but yea I think I did pretty well on it. You know like I said, Once again I bring this back to my manager. Its more pressure having to act in

front of her practicing it than it is actually having to act in front of a camera. It was a pretty cool experience for me Shout out to everybody in “ Twisted Minds” I really enjoyed the process It was wonderful… Dope. “ Kenny” [salute] you know you my man bro. I appreciate you. SFND MAG: So tell your fans where they can reach you on social media. D. COLE: Oh yeah, social media for sure. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Twitter and Instagram make sure you follow me @d_cole10 and on Facebook it’s Demarious Cole. Yea, come learn about Demarious Cole not just D. Cole. Come learn about Demarious Cole first. SFND MAG: So in your opinion, what is one of the most challenging parts about being an independent artist? With that being said how do you feel your social media plays a role in that? D. COLE: Well, first and foremost. I think that social media is my generation today and my generation is social media. It plays a major role. Anybody can pick up their phone today, post something and go viral, and be famous tomorrow, but as independent artist you have to constantly put content out to your fans; constantly show people who you really are and do things to make them like what you are doing your process. Let them see your process. Don’t be so worried about being a superstar. Just be who you are. If people are going to like you they are going to like you if they’re not going to like it they’re not going to like it but put your music, out our your content. Never stop, because at the end of the

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day that is what makes people like you. People want to gravitate towards a story. They love your story. You don’t have to be a superstar when you first post. Just be who you are and once you become that then you can do what you want to do but at this moment, give them your story, be humble and just keep putting out that content and it will eventually work for you. SFND MAG: “Message”! [LAUGHTER] So, what’s coming up next for D. Cole? D. COLE: Man, we have a lot of things coming up next. We’re getting to get on the second Tour with SoMo. That’s going to be extremely crazy. More details about that on my instagram very soon. This will be my second one so I’m so ready man. Also, I’m about to drop a single soon too. Be on the lookout for that. You know I can’t say too much about it but… SFND MAG: I was hoping you were about to come with an exclusive man! [LAUGHTER] D. COLE: [LAUGHTER] ya’ll are definitely getting the exclusive. [Laughs] I’m also working with a lot of major producers in L.A. right now. Just be on the lookout. Like I said, I can’t say too much right now but I’m telling you the latter parts of 2017 are going to be crazy SFND MAG: We’re looking forward to it man for sure. So before we get out of here, man. I’d like to know what kind of other dope artists you listen to. Who would you say is another nice artist and PHOTO Groggins who would youBY: sayKenny is So FN Dope and why?

D. COLE: Well, you know that there is a lot of Dope artist in the game right now. People coming out everywhere are dope, but right now who I think is holding down the game is Drake. Drake right now is holding down the game!You know a lot of people thought he was going to be a one and done, come and go, but that man is doing damage right now. Shout out to Drake, I definitely want to work with you one day. You are cold; as far as melodies, his lyrical content being able to put out pop songs, being able to reach this demographic and that demographic. That dude So FN Dope bro. You are the man. Shout out to Drake. [LAUGHTER]

SFND MAG: Ladies… Make sure ya’ll follow him. [LAUGHTER]

“Let them see your process. Don’t be so worried about being a superstar. Just be who you are. D. Cole

SFND MAG: D. Cole! We appreciate you for taking out time for this D. COLE: Thank you for having me. Ladies!!! Make sure ya’ll follow me!

SHADOWPROMO.COM

LAUNCH PARTY

Launching this magazine has truly been such a rewarding experience. To see how this project has developed from conception to being in the hands of so many people has been inexplicable. Surprisingly, our first digital publication was able to reach readers in all corners of the globe from France and Germany, to Australia, Japan, Mexico, and even Brazil just to name a few. We wanted to take some time to thank all those who have contributed, or have supported us in some form or fashion. You are truly appreciated and we love you for that. The So FN Dope Magazine launch party was a complete success. We had quite a few people come out to celebrate with us and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Here are just a few of the pictures from that memorable night.

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SOFNDOPE

BADD O A BADD ONE! What does it mean? What does it stand for? What does it represent? A BADD ONE is a synonym of sorts. It means a woman with beauty and brains. It stands for sexiness and intelligence. It represents the jazzy and ambitious woman. A BADD ONE is definitely more than just a big butt and a smile. She is way past Poison; she’s deadly! It stems from way back, the very first time I heard Maya Angelou speak about a phenomenal woman. I realized then that anyone’s interpretation of perfection should be just that… their interpretation. According to So FN Dope Magazine, the perfect cohesive mesh between beauty and brains, entrepreneurship, ambition, and grace not only make you a phenomenal woman but in our eyes, it makes you a BADD ONE.

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ONES PHOTO BY: Omar

“YXCVLI” Zapien

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Karrina Name Age: Height:

Karrina Orbegoso 21 5’5

Occupation: Public Health Survey Research Program Interviewer Top 5 Songs: By my side –iamsu It’s a Vibe – 2 Chain ft (Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, Jhene Aiko) Promises – Jhene Aiko Alive -Kehlani What’s Luv? Fat Joe (ft Ashanti) Top 4 Movies: Selena Cadillac Records Get Out Loving Top 3 Things You Look For In A Man!: Loyalty Humor Ambition Top 2 Things That Irritate You: Lies Arrogance #1 goal for 2017 Self growth and self happiness Social media info: Instagram: karrina17 PHOTO BY: Omar

“YXCVLI” Zapien

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SFND MAG: In the eyes on most men, Beauty and Brilliance are characteristics that are not easy to find “collectively” in a woman. Clearly you have both. Do you feel that men are generally intimidated by you or attracted to you more. KARRINA: “Intimidated.” SFND MAG: What advice would you give to other young women out there who have set their goals and are on track to be successful young women??? KARRINA: To be successful know your worth, challenge yourself and be honest with yourself

PHOTO BY: Omar

“YXCVLI” Zapien

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