Suavv hollywood influencer issue suavv magazine hollywood influencer issue keith powers cover

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SUAVV IN THIS ISSUE...

Bishop TD Jakes

142

The Bishop has some tricks up his sleeve. He is not only preaching the word of God, he is teaching life.

Keith Powers

148

Football, to modeling, to the big screen, Keith is the New Edition to Hollywood. Find out why

Omari Hardwick

116

One of Hollywoods most familiar faces talks Power, family, music, and why its important to have a voice.

David Ramsey 98

CW Action hero was surprised by the viewers response. Let’s just say John Diggle is definitely a fan favorite.

Demetrius Gross

90

You’re seeing his face everywhere, now get to know his name. Because Demetrius Gross isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

Matt Sarafa

122

As a teen designer, he new famed faux fur designer has made his staple on the industry by simpley being himself.

Benjamin Patterson112 Modeling, Acting, DJ’ing, and now leading a funk bank. What is there that this man cant do? Well...Fail.

Brandon Anthony 120 Everyone loves a good party, but who is the person that actually makes the party what it is? We found him.

Kinja Dixon

52

Your mindset controls your life. If you dont believe me, believe Kinja. His story will change your perception.

Tory Devon Smith 86

What you call an overnight success, he calls a lifetime of work. Tory keeps it 100%.

SUAVVstyle 18 Throw it in the Bag

21 Beltology

22

In Those Jeans

SUAVVfit

36 Suns out, Guns Out

40 We Got Your Back

32

FitBelt

SUAVVlife

80

Stroke of a Genius

68 Who’s Your Mentor?

66 Favorite Things

70 So Insecure

THE FAMILY Michael Letterlough, Jr. | Co-Founder *** Rashod Davenport | Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief *** Kym Oglesby | Executive Editor *** Richie Skye| Editor-at-Large *** “The Swag Master”| Fashion Editor *** Andre Jones | Movies Editor *** Syreta Oglesby | Executive Editor Assistant *** Michelle Stackfield | Book Club Advisor *** Photographers: Michael Letterlough Jr., Jamal Harrington *** Makeup and Male Grooming Rodney Jon

Editors Note

Rashod Davenport Editor-In-Chief

The Journey Continues

times, I am asked what the most challenging aspect of having a magazine is. The O ften answer, for me, is quite simple...having a magazine. My challenges are not day to day, they

are ongoing. Some days are more difficult than others. Some days are sunshine, birds, and beaches. Nonetheless, with every triumph, there is a journey. Every war has its casualties. Every birth has labor pains. This is no different. There are sleepless nights, there are frustrations, there are staff arguments, there are articles and photos that just don’t work. There are days when all you can do is throw up your hands and walk away for a few hours. That’s human nature. The truth in your passion is how many times you open that door and step back through it to take on your challenge.

I’m blessed. I have a circle of family and friends that have and will always have my back and my best interest at hand (even in moments when they piss me all the way off with the truth). They are my support system. Kristen takes me from tears to laughs. Tay will tell me all of the things I don’t want to hear but need to. Royale will pray through a Marco Polo video. Rodney will bend over backward to help in any way possible. My brother, Mike will remind me of how far I have come. Justin is my daily dose of encouragement. Donald is my come to Jesus meeting. And my mom is my most prominent visionary who has told me from childhood that there is nothing that I cannot accomplish. Mentors, coaches, relatives, friends, associates alike have created a circle of support, love, and understanding.

We live in a time where greatness is placed in shadows and mediocrity receives the light. Where drama, racism, violence, bigotry, sexual assault, slander, and disrespect are in our daily scope.

It’s stressful. It’s disheartening. It’s painful. However, it’s not the end. It’s not our final step. The journey must go on. I want every reader of this magazine to use your gifts, your talents, your passions to influence someone else to grow, to be better, and to aspire for their own greatness.

That’s what this issue is about. Being an influencer means that not only are you great at what you do, but you never gave up on your passion. You take the hardest challenge, and you put it on your back and keep climbing the mountain. Bishop TD Jakes will tell you that his early adult life was full of struggles, poverty, uncertainty, and stress. But his faith and listening to the voice of God kept him on his path. Omari Hardwick faced let down after let down and eventually lived in his car on a street where he would later be filming a television show. Keith Powers wasn’t sure that he was cut out to be an actor, but his coaches and family continued to encourage him to follow his dreams. There are examples in Benjamin Patterson, Kinja Dixon, Tory Devon Smith, David Ramsey, O’Neil Scott, Tye White, and the list goes on.

This issue is not just to entertain you, it’s to influence your greatness. Every now and then, we all need to hear a story of triumph. We need to see the underdog win. We need to know that we too can do this. I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN DO IT. Believe in yourself. Believe in your gifts.

Believe in God. Nobody is saying this will be easy. Strap your challenges to your back and get your ass up that mountain.

The journey shall continue…

Rashod

Message from the Editor-at-large

Richie Skye When I was first approached about taking on the Editor-At-Large role for this edition, I knew that we had to do something big. That’s always been my motto, bet the house. Risk it all. Go all in. And that’s what we did.

I remember having a specific vision for this – the Hollywood Influencer edition. I knew that I wanted to highlight individuals who were on the rise, and who were making things happen in unique ways. I have an absolute obsession with how Hollywood works. I am also fascinated by the concept of influence, and what indeed makes certain individuals stand out both stylistically and on a personal level.

When we spoke about this particular issue, I also knew that we had to do some things that made statements.

I knew that we couldn’t just go the traditional route – with a standard cover, with the great looking established actor. No, that just doesn’t reflect the influencer culture. It doesn’t reflect the state of the world in which we currently live. See, our society is on edge, and the culture reflects that – and as such, so should our covers.

Diversity and inclusion is something that I wanted to address in a non-traditional sense, and I think we accomplished that with four distinct covers. The goal wasn’t to cater to every audience but to showcase style, hustle, grit and shine at many different levels. These are the movers of culture, and they are anything but traditional – and I couldn’t be happier about that.

We also discussed simplicity for the covers. I knew that these issues needed to have a different feel to them, so we removed the traditional cover lines and verbiage altogether to focus on the images indeed. Simple.

Clean. Vibes. Moods. Sparse. Intense. A complete buck to the system, and an idea of how a cover should look and feel.

What a fantastic way to reintroduce Suavv in a new day and age where influencers rule and shift culture on a daily basis. What a time to be black. What a time to be different. What a time to exude style, presence, and individuality. And what a time to capture the pulse of what’s rising in Hollywood.

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a shift going on out there. The old guard is crumbling (bye bye to the Harvey Weinstein’s of the world), and a new, more diverse population of creators, tastemakers, and leaders are emerging. This edition is a reflection of the times, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to help Suavv lead the charge.

Richie Skye

‘Bone’ Appetit

Busy pet parents are often not able to spend as much time with their pets as desired, but dog walkers or pet daycare can be expensive. The Gosh easyFeed automatic food and water dispensers make caring for a pet from anywhere convenient and interactive.

Not only are pets fed the proper portion at each meal and provided with fresh water for all day hydration, the easyFeed also gives pet owners the ability to video chat with pets, ask them to perform tricks and reward them with a snack.

The 20-cup capacity food dispenser can be set to automatically release food at preset mealtimes. Using the free easyFeed app, pet owners can select how much food should be dispensed at certain times of day and view how much food is left in the storage bin.

New foods can now be gradually introduced into a pet’s diet without extra effort by regulating percentages of current food and new food using the easyFeed. The easyFeed can also provide owners with insight into their pet’s eating habits, be used to help manage weight and keep pets active during days when they are home alone for long periods.

A built in web camera and microphone on the easyFeed can be used to check in on pets during the day to make sure they are not getting into any mischief. If dogs or cats are spending too much time sleeping instead of being active during the day, easyFeed can help get them off the couch.

Pre-recorded messages can be triggered to encourage pets to play, go outside or find a toy. The app can also be used for live video and voice chat with pets. Owners can call their pet to the easyFeed ask for a trick to be performed, then tap the app to reward the pet with a snack.

Amazon customers can link their account with the easyFeed.

Whenever the food storage bin starts to run low, the easyFeed will communicate with Amazon to automatically order and deliver food right to their door.

Perfect for dogs or cats, the easyFeed dimensions are 40cm L x 47cm W x 44cm H and the unit weighs 14.5 pounds. It has a food storage capacity of 20 cups and can hold up to a liter of water.

The food tray will hold four cups and the water is auto replenished.

It operates by plugging into any 100V-240V outlet and also features a battery backup in case of power loss. The easyFeed app is compatible with iOS and Android operating systems. easyFeed is currently available through Kickstarter and will be delivered to backers starting in November. The MSRP for easyFeed is $290. For more information visit the easyFeed website at: http://www.whygosh. com/products/Pets

Doggie Dog World “first.” These creative and innovative prompts set PetDays apart; they send inspiring notifications directly to your mobile device so that you can capture fun and interesting aspects of your pets that you’ll want to remember forever. PetDays doesn’t just help you record moments; it also helps create new ones.

“Ask any pet parent about their pet, and you’ll see My dog, Myles Davis Davenport, has his own insta-

their face light up with pride or joy or amusement or

gram page and hashtag. When I realized how far I

love,” PetDays Marketing Director Elizabeth Paolini

took this, I stopped using the instagram page but

says. “There’s no question pets are like our furry kids.

kept up with the hashtag #MylesDavisDavenport.

Much like parents of infants keep baby books, we

While snapchat, instagram, and facebook have be-

wanted to provide tangible and digital ways to cap-

come the complete occupiers of every day life, our

ture the hilarious and amazing aspects of our pets.”

pets are either left to either share our feed, develop their own pages, or not be seen. Therefore, most of

All you have to do is take a quick snapshot with your

our pets are plastrered through out our timelines

mobile device, and with the integrated Pet Shop, you

with hashtags because we love them.

can make personalized books, gifts, magnets and more. With the included unique themes and designs,

PetDays was built around insights offered by real

you are limited only by your own creativity in ways to

pet parents who wanted more ways to make and

show off your pet. Not only that, you can share your

keep memories of their time with their pets. A pet’s

favorite pet moments with other pet parents right in

life moves fast, so the team created more than 300

the built-in PetDays social feed. You can also choose

prompts to make sure that you never miss a single

to share beautifully designed prompt images to your own social feeds like Facebook and Twitter.

PetDays is available for free on iPhone and iPod Touch, iOS 8 and higher.

I know you’ve seen it. The 30

it has sentimental value. Men, in

something’s year-old man in the

general, will not invest in a set

airport who’s traveling with a

of luggage.

nylon Nike gym bag. Is there something wrong with this? No. Not

As for myself, I’m the polar op-

if you are a member of a profes-

posite. I love a leather or canvas

sional tennis team, or you are

duffel bag. I’m not too big on a

headed to a same-day coaching

32-inch rolling suitcase, because

camp, and as soon as you step foot

I usually don’t travel with that

off the plane, you will be going

much clothing. I do, however, see

to a gym or a field to conduct

the purpose for those that are

the training. In most instances,

going on longer trips. To bring

this is not the case. I have seen

a little swag to that airport bag,

men in full business wear, travel-

I will share a few of my favorite

ing for a meeting, and the same

and price efficient bags. The next

gym bag that carried a sweaty gym

time you are ready to hit the tar-

outfit and a wet towel last night

mac, take a weekend drive, or even

now holds the contents of ex-

a quick overnight trip, grab all

ecutive meeting wear. Not because

of your stuff and just throw it in

it’s their lucky bag or even that

the bag.

Throw it in the Bag

Ben Minkoff Wythe Weekender $430

Ernest Alexander $395

Hammer Schlemmer $199

Tommy Bahama $189

Whipping Post $319

Knock Your Socks Off Football season is approaching. and with most of us college and pro football fans, this is the moment to start you trashtalking routines and pulling out the colors. It’s the time of year that we drape ourselves in jerseys, hats, sweatpants, flags, banners, car emblems, and the extreme and brave of us with painted bodies.

Well, fellas, step your sock game up this season. Kick the safe black and white socks to the curb in favor of bright colors and dashing prints. Let your office as well as your house guests know what territory they are in when they step in your den. Stylish enough to go with any dress code from blue jeans to a three piece suit, World Softest Sock will give that extra boost of team pride.

There’s no better feeling than a pair of new socks on your feet. These socks are like walking on clouds.

While the socks are incredibly soft, they do not lose form easily, and will remain your go to sock for months to come.

Manufactured in Niota, Tennessee, World’s Softest Socks are made by the 115-year old Crescent Sock Company. What better way to cheer on your team. while supporting American manufacturing. These socks are available in an array of colors and patterns and can be purchased at www.worldssoftest.com.

Beltology: Fashion with a Cause A belt is more than just a device to hold up your pants. It’s a fashion statement. It’s an accessory that separates your lower torso from the upper torso. That brief break in garments can become the tale-tale between a stylish man, and a… well….clothes-wearer.

This spring Beltology introduced the everpractical Italian-inspired woven stretch belt to the world and men are buzzing.The new brand recognized that belts have been left behind as an expressive accessory in the world of Men’s fashion and created a fun twist on the classic wardrobe staple.

Beltology values the history of the belt, appreciates traditional and timeless styles and grasps the potential for expression and possibility – Why stop at ties, colored socks, and pocket squares? Though, these items are also dead giveaways of a stylish man, a belt that stands out, is that last slice of the pie. Upholding the belief that high style does not have to come with a high price tag Beltology crafts their signature stretch woven belts with high-quality materials and they are available in over 35 different styles and offered at a very affordable price.

My favorite aspect of this company is that they are fighting for a cause. This summer, Beltology teamed up with Pin Down Bladder Cancer and Memorial Sloan Kettering to help take on the battle against bladder cancer. Bladder cancer (also known as the ‘cancer below the belt’), is one of the 4th most common cancer in men, 5th overall, and one of the most under-funded. To give their complete support, Beltology created the PDBC belt that will give 100% of proceeds directly to the funding of bladder cancer awareness campaigns and research.

Check Beltology out at www.beltology.com

Denim Blues A

fit, providing more shape and contour to your frame pair of jeans is a staple in a mans wardrobe.

They can be dressed up, dressed down, casual, comfortable, and/or classic. Though, jeans are such a constant struggle when it comes to shopping for them.

Therefore, after seeing enough trainwreck of jean selections, our friends at I.M Garments are going to help you understand what each cut means for you.

While this is jsut our opinion...we suggest you take it.

LOL.

ATHLETIC CUT: A denim hybrid, this contemporary cut blends the legroom of a relaxed fit, the flared hem of a boot cut, and the snug seat of a straight leg. It’s an emerging style that can be difficult to track down, but Lucky Brand, Kasil, and Chip & Pepper all cut pairs to these specs.

If your build is... ...Athletic, buy in bulk. This style is tailor-made for your physique. ...Stocky, this cut is a terrific alternative to a relaxed

while still offering sufficient leg room and comfort. ...Average, wear these as a comfy alternative to relaxed-fit jeans. ...Thin, look elsewhere. Lean legs are lost in the roomy cut beneath the knee, reinforcing a skinny shape rather than shadowing it.

RELAXED FIT: These laid-back slacks are cut fuller from the thigh to the hem, allowing ample legroom for maximum comfort. A word of warning, however: Some renditions of this style can be too roomy, creating a sloppy appearance.

If your build is... ...Stocky, breathe easy. Relaxed-fit jeans cut bigger guys some slack, creating interior real estate so legs can flex and move. Look for styles with larger back pockets, which will make you look like you have less junk in your trunk. ...Athletic, wear these for a more comfortable fit.

Muscular quads can have a hard time wiggling into

some jeans, but an especially forgiving trim in the thighs absorbs them with ease. ...Average or Thin, avoid this cut. The width in the legs can be difficult to fill for the typical guy, creating a style that’s almost too laid-back.

STRAIGHT LEG:

A simple, straightfor-

ward design means these classicjeans play a more reserved role in sculpting your appearance. They’re equally adaptable on the formality front, capable of being both dressed up and dressed down. The jeans are intended to be straight from hip to foot, which can be difficult to judge in a mirror, but if you leave a couple of inches of wiggle room from the thigh down, they’ll fall right into place.

If your build is... ...Athletic or Average, stock up. This everyman’s jean is just snug enough to show off your sculpted lower half, but not so much that you’ll look like a beanpole.

Taller guys should pick straight-leg cuts. ...Thin, go with a straight-leg, low-rise fit to ensure that the style sits comfortably on your hips and leaves a few extra inches of legroom. ...Stocky, proceed with caution. Straight cuts can sometimes deviate from brand to brand, and bulkier frames are more prone than other body types to be done in by the otherwise neutral cut.

BOOT CUT: The enlarged hem on this style accommodates and flatters sturdier footwear like work boots. From the knee to the waist, however, the cut is more traditional, creating a fitted silhouette that sits at or slightly below the waist and remains slightly loose in the leg.

If your build is... ...Athletic or Average, consider this your go-to style.

The cut is especially suited for taller men, because the enlarged hem balances out a stretched frame. ...Thin, rejoice: A leaner build benefits from a boosted emphasis in the seat. Need even more support in the rear? Look for rear flap pockets to round out your exterior. ...Stocky, steer clear, unless you carry your weight above the waist, in which case the roomier legs can create a straight line from hip to feet.

SKINNY JEANS: Calf-clinging denim was the domain of vintage Western icons Roy Rogers and Gene Autry long before Mick Jagger shimmied into a pair. In the past 3 years, this style has been reborn as an indie-rock staple. They come in slightly longer lengths than other cuts, because they’re meant to be worn bunched at the ankle. The extra fabric is kept above the shoe line, though, since the narrow bottoms keep the hem from falling underfoot.

If your build is... ...Thin, dive in. But don’t go overboard; a snug fit shouldn’t put your moving parts on display, so look for styles with a small amount of stretch, which will create the illusion of a slightly larger frame. ...Average, go with your gut. The fabric on these jeans can be forgiving, but they can be a tight squeeze for belly-heavy builds. ...Athletic or Stocky, skip these. The cut can make larger legs look like a pair of stuffed anacondas. If you favor the tight and narrow feel, go with a slimstraight fit instead, a rare but growing style.

While this may not solve all of your jean worries, its a starting point with some of our favorite cuts. For my gym goers, you may have to switch your jeans up every now and then as your legs continue to grow.

Remember, every designers jeans will still fit differently. What works for one designer, doesnt necessiarily work for another. That said, go shop, utilize he dressing rooms, and let us know if this was helpful to your closet.

ADDICTED Overcoming the grips of the drug epidemic.

F

or far too long, alcoholism and drug abuse have been primarily considered social and criminal problems. As a result, addiction was treated wholly separate and apart from general medical care. This practice continued throughout most of human history, even in the face of growing evidence that addiction is a brain disorder, with considerable crossover to other diseases. The US Surgeon General’s report “Facing Addiction in America” (the “Report”), makes a strong case for finally destroying the “Chinese Wall” of separation, in the interests of more effective addiction treatment AND better overall medical care.

Substance use disorder often doubles the odds that a person will develop another chronic and costly medical illness, in some very clear and specific ways. Cocaine use is associated with cardiovascular complications, marijuana with chronic bronchitis and asthma, and alcohol is known to cause

liver and pancreatic diseases. The list goes on and on. Numerous studies document high rates of substance use disorders among patients and have noted that mainstream healthcare often fails to recognize or address the substance use element of the problem. One such study discovered that onethird of the most common and costly medical conditions were more prevalent among patients with substance use disorders. Individuals with chronic medical conditions incur costs two to three times higher when substance use disorder is involved.

Moreover, substance abuse also complicates many other medical conditions. So basically, by keeping addiction treatment in its own little bubble, doctors have frequently been missing out on the big picture. How can we expect to achieve best outcomes with less than full information?

This issue also presents itself in Natal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), when babies are born to addict-

ed mothers. These babies typically have low birth weights and respiratory complications, as they themselves go through withdrawal during their precious early days of life. Newborns with NAS require hospital stays averaging 16.9 days; 8 times more than a usual stay, and cost hospitals upwards of $1.5 billion, per year.

Then there’s the adolescents. I’ve gone to great length in previous articles to explain the urgency of addiction as a disease most damaging to adolescents and young adults. In fact, the majority of people who meet the criteria for a substance use disorder in their lifetime, started using substances during adolescence and met the criteria by age 20 to 25. But that’s not all. Adolescent addicts experience higher rates of other physical and mental illnesses, as well as diminished overall well being and educational outcomes - for LIFE. We’re talking about long-lasting, permanent damage, because the brain, immune system and most key organs never get a chance to fully develop; the “Norm” is far from normal in these adolescents.

Finally, and this applies to all addicts, they are more likely to engage in risky behavior. HIV/ AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and a higher rate of accidents (not to mention crime and incarceration), are just some of the ways that substance abuse, again, directly correlates to general medical care.

That’s Why It’s Time To Take The Gloves Off!!!!

Well supported scientific evidence demonstrates that traditional separation of substance use disorder from mainstream health care has created obstacles to successful results. It further proves that closer integration will add value to both systems, increasing the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare.

Now, onto the heavy lifting. The reality is; most people with substance use disorders do not seek treatment on their own because they don’t think they need it or they’re not ready for it. In addition, doctors, nurses, psychologists and basically everyone in general medical care, are not well trained to tackle the issue of addiction head on. Therefore, too many patients fall through the cracks. We are

missing out on a powerful opportunity to attack addiction at its earliest stages when it’s cheapest and most easily counteracted. Early detection has been the keystone of modern medicine, adding years onto people’s lives. Mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate exams and even simple regular blood tests and blood pressure screenings help to identify problems before they get out of control.

Imagine ignoring a disease as it steadily grows before everyone’s eyes and then only treating it once it becomes serious and chronic. We wouldn’t accept that in any other aspect of medical care and we shouldn’t accept it when it comes to fighting addiction.

So What Can We Do About It?

First of all, get used to this acronym SBIRT screening, brief intervention, referral and treatment. We need to help foster an environment that encourages inclusion of prevention, treatment and recovery, as part of general medical care.

1.

Health professionals should regularly screen for substance misuse and abuse as part of a regular check-up, like checking blood pressure, temperature, weight and heart rate.

2. Health professionals must engage in conversations about addiction with patients.

3.

Health professionals should refer patients indicating signs of addiction to a specialist, just as they would for any other disease.

4. Health professionals must subsequently follow-up with patients, just as they would for any other disease.

5.

Health professionals with patients in recovery should continue to screen them during regular check-ups, but now with more targeted screenings (i.e. urine tests, etc.).

6. Health professionals should co-locate sub-

stance abuse care with or near general medical care facilities. Co-location motivates cooperation and leads to quicker treatment. The fastest growing segments of clients for the KIPU EMR is Detox facilities located in hospitals and managed by traditional treatment centers.

7.

Patients should take a copy of prior treatment with them when seeing their health care professional. That way healthcare providers are immediately made aware of the entire patient history, and will therefore be more careful in prescribing medication for pain management, among other things.

8.

The medical profession needs to better coordinate care across the entire health and social service systems, and have better access to a patient’s entire medical history.

This last point is vital. For years, lack of communication between doctors and pharmacists led to problems when prescribed medications proved lethal when inadvertently combined. One study mentioned in the Report found that doctors continued to prescribe opioids for 91 percent of patients who suffered a non-fatal overdose, with 64 percent of these patients continuing to receive high doses. 17 percent of these patients overdosed again within 2 years. This shocked me. This lack of communication between emergency rooms and doctors borders on criminal.

Finally, the medical profession needs to fully embrace technology in every aspect of medical care.

Acceptance is high when it comes to the latest technique or expensive new machine, however it seems

to lag when it comes to general medical care. For example, it took longer than most other industries to adopt electronic record keeping (commonly known as Electronic Medical Records or Electronic Health Records - EMR/EHR and it still has a long way to go. Doctors were also reluctant to switch to e-prescribing, all too comfortable in the security of the old-fashioned, often illegible, paper ‘scripts’.

However, there are some key signs of change, with some new clinics being re-imagined, centered around technology, looking like a cross between an iPhone and something straight out of Star Trek.

Better implementation of IT will play a major role toward successfully integrating addiction treatment into the full panoply of medical care.

So Where Does That Leave Us?

I do not suggest all of this is going to be easy. The medical community is entrenched in its ways; it will be like trying to move a large ocean liner, slowly and with great effort. HIPAA in particular poses some unique challenges. We need to change the mindset of both doctor and patient to arrive at a new normal in medical care, one in which the shame of addiction is cast aside so that addiction can be averted altogether, or at least treated in its earliest stages, when it can most effectively be stopped in its tracks. The good news is, we now also have reasons for optimism and hope. The medical and addiction treatment communities have responded almost universally, in a unified voice, to the Surgeon General’s call. The opioid epidemic in particular has provided a major impetus to reach common ground. As a result, I strongly believe that we will soon be transforming the state of both addiction treatment and medical care, for the benefit of all.

6 Reasons to Yoga Written by Steven Stiefel of BodyBuilding.com

D

on’t be afraid to be that guy in the yoga class. It just might be the best decision you ever made for your muscles and overall athletic development!

Years ago, just as Jay Cutler was ascending to the top of the bodybuilding world, he told me about a secret he’d recently begun to incorporate into his training. It was yoga! He credited his improved flexibility with his ability to train more efficiently and avoid injury. And then he won the Mr. Olympia title.

Today, there are more yoga studios and yoga classes than ever, but a lot of people—men in particular—remain confused about what happens inside those classes and how they should feel about it. Is it stretching, meditation, some combination thereof, or something else entirely? Could it be the secret to unlocking your tight hips and superhuman athletic potential, or will it just make you sprout a man bun and go all new-agey?

Wonder no more! Here’s why you have nothing to fear—and everything to gain—from adding a little yoga to your life.

What Do I Need To Begin?

• • • • • •

A mat (don’t rely on the studio mat) Shorts that don’t ride up too high A shirt that doesn’t move too much An open mind Willingness to be humbled and ask questions A good teacher

1. Yoga Increases Range Of Motion

You may think that range of motion is the same thing as flexibility, but it’s a little different. Many guys know they have a tight muscle group or two— most frequently the hamstrings, glutes, pecs, and shoulders. But they may not realize the limitations any of these place on their ability to train through a full range of motion. The more you train them through a limited range of motion, the more limited you become as a lifter—and a functional human being.

2. Yoga Improves Breathing

You might think that you breathe perfectly fine.

But you’d probably find yourself challenged by how much yoga asks you to focus on inhaling and exhaling, particularly while you’re attempting to hold tough poses in unfamiliar movement planes.

3. Yoga Strengthens Stabilizers

Every yogi out there has a story (or twenty) about that time they saw a strong, muscular guy walk into class and get totally owned by a routine the smaller, less muscular women were rocking. Why does this happen? Because that guy, who no doubt earned his physique in the classic two-feet-on-the-ground, twohands-on-the-bar power stance, got shown that he remains weak in his stabilizer muscles.

4. Yoga Provides Active Rest

One of the challenges of being a committed athlete is figuring out what to do with an active rest day. These are days where you can include activity, but you should refrain from typical workouts. You’re supposed to allow your body to heal and recover...but you don’t really want to.

5. Yoga Balances You

This could mean a lot of things, but I’m not talking chakras here. First, yoga literally includes poses that help you improve your balance. One-legged poses, headstands, handstands, arm balances, and plenty of other tough challenges are all fair game. And no mat-

ter how many pushups or bodyweight squats you can do, a good yoga teacher can find ways to make these expose your weaknesses.

6. Yoga Enhances Overall Health

Most athletes take as a given that their athletic activities are healthy, which, of course, they are. But training in the red all the time eventually causes wear and tear on the body, particularly without space for diverse movement and quality rest.

Don’t take any of this to mean that yoga is “easy.”

Sure, it can be sleepy and new-agey, but it can also give you a challenge that you totally didn’t see coming. But even when it’s intense, a well-run yoga class is somehow gentle on the body.

This is a great way for you to live a longer active life.

Don’t fear it. It’s not weird, exotic, or demonic. Start at an appropriate level—even if that’s at the bottom— and give it a serious try.

Thrill at the Grill How to guarantee that a to-go plate is all you take home from the barbecue.

The weather is warm and the outdoors are calling

for your presence. It’s time for those smoke filled cookouts and family reunions, gatherings, or anything else that will allow you to go in the yard

and spark up that lighter fluid drenched charcoal.

Regardless of the situation, we now you’ll enjoy cooking and eating outside all summer long. Here at SUAVV Magazine, we wanted to make sure that you do it in the healthiest of ways.

Wash your hands!!!!

Always, wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling food. Not only is it nasty to go to the bathroom and not wash your hands, touching food is even worse. TAKE YOUR NASTY ASS BACK IN THE BATHROOM AND WASH YOUR HANDS!

Marinate not Contaminate

That brown stuff that you see your chicken soaking in on the counter, That’s aunt Portia’s secret marinade. The secret is that it needs to go into the refrigerator. When marinating for long periods of time, it is important to keep foods refrigerated. just in case you think that marinade made your food extra good, doesn’t mean to go and drizzle it over your cooked food for more flavor. You’re never supposed to use sauce that was used to marinate raw meat or poultry on cooked food. It is still contaminated with salmonella. That causes a serious case of the bubble guts.

Boil used marinade before applying to cooked food if you want to be a little risky.

Grey coals, not fire.

Yeah, we’ve all had that experience when the wrong person is working the grill and your food comes back well done on the outside and raw on the inside. This is because the heat is too high. Charcoal should be lit for 20 to 30 minutes grey and lightly coated with ash before putting meats on the grill. Leave the ‘Flame Broiled Burgers’ to Burger King.

Temperature Gauge for Cooking Beef, Chicken, and Fish.

As far as the temperatures for certain foods, hamburgers should be cooked to 160º F, while large cuts of beef such as roasts and steaks may be cooked to 145º F for medium rare or to 160º F for medium.

Cook ground poultry to 165° F and poultry parts to 170° F. Fish should be opaque and flake easily. Find a meat thermometer at any grocery store. You may look a little extra, but you won’t look sick the next day.

Stay Away from that Same Old Plate

There should be two separate plates when cooking on the grill, the one that the raw food is on and the one that the cooked food is put onto. To be safe, try using the foil recyclable roaster pans They already come in packs of two or three so it makes it easy to separate.

Icebox A full cooler will maintain its cold temperatures longer than one that is partially filled so it is important to pack plenty of extra ice insure a constant cold temperature. Keep salads with mayonnaise in the cooler as well. Warm mayo is a disaster. Also, keep the drink cooler, ice cooler, and the food cooler separate. We all have someone that will put the dirty ice in their cup. The rule that “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt” really isn’t too sanitary. It may not hurt you but it will send you to the porcelain thinking pad.

All in all, have a wonderful grilling summer. Pull out the stereo, call up the family and enjoy the weather. Keep the red cups off of the ground because you know somebody’s child is going to come and knock it over.

Interested in learning more about food safety? Visit the “Fight BAC! website at www.fightbac.org

Blended Family

Step-Parent Survival Guide This is an issue that has become more common in today’s times than at any other time throughout history. It is very likely that whether you encounter older or younger couples you will find that within the household the total number of children present is not yoked with their biological mothers or fathers. This type of situation along with others such as finances and infidelity is one of the leading causes of divorces and breakups. The annoyed parent breaks the union or agreement with the other solely because he or she wants to rid themselves of the aggravation of having to be responsible for their significant other’s child or children.

This is something that couples should consider very seriously before getting the children involved. To introduce the children to your prospective mate and his/her kids is like walking a tightrope and it may be a gamble you might not want to make with your children. Also, you take the risk of exposing them to foreign problems and issues they may not be ready

for and consequently forcing them to face the reality of breaking up yet another time with a different family. This can cause psychological problems in their near future if consistently repeated.

If you choose to not involve your children altogether depending on their ages this may prove to be exhaustive, expensive and may very well be impossible considering the timeframe of the love affair.

So what do you do as a parent who may be deciding or already have taken that risk? Let’s focus on three things to ensure a happy, healthy relationship for you, your spouse and all the kids.

Do not show favoritism.

Unfair treatment has been known to cause major wars, for those who know their history, you know what I am referring to. When a child feels he has been or is being treated unfair, for whatever reason he or she will revolt and become defensive and

although justified it can look as if the child is the problem. If the seed of the problem is not given the proper attention and proper methods applied to fix it, then this will result in a dangerous environment for the other siblings as well as the parents. So treat every child equal and make sure they know and understand this.

Use patience along with communication.

Both parents must realize that before any other type of therapy can be given to their relationship they must divert their full attention to making sure the children have the feeling of oneness with all involved. Each parent should develop a certain friendship with each child; individually. Create memories that are pleasant that would make a child want to work hard at keeping not only a step parent but a friend that they can trust.

In order to do this, you must be patient and communicate regularly with each child. This will create an unrestricted setting for communication and participation.

Maintain respect by judging respectfully.

You will encounter problems that will place you in a predicament such as who’s right, who’s wrong, and who should I defend.

Make sure you always hear all sides out respectfully. Make sure no matter who is right or wrong, you pass judgment to discipline the guilty party. Very often some parents will not hold their own child responsible for his/her actions in order to show the child they are defending them. This causes a negative effect on the child who thinks she/he has escaped judgment also the spouse and or other children involved. If you judge respectfully at the end of the day everyone will have maintained respect for you. If everyone utilized this fair judgment concept everyone will be happier as a new family.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as to all that can be done to ensure a happy, healthy merging family. Make sure you start and don’t stop these few helpful thoughts. Once you have executed these correctly just think, you still have a relationship to work on.

Mentors: Do You Have One Yet? While your life’s goal at seven years old might have been to become a Power Ranger, you have now settled into adulthood and begun to seriously think about the trajectory you want your career to take. As children, we all looked for examples to model our behavior after. Whether they were older siblings, parents, celebrities, or even fictional characters, we would look up to people who were doing things that we aspired to do in the future. Also as we are now adults and embarking on our own career journeys, that natural tendency to find inspiration in others never leaves us. That is why, regardless of your field, having a career mentor is valuable.

Chances are there is someone in your organization or career field whose skills and abilities you admire.

And inversely many successful professionals would love the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with an ambitious and eager young person.

When the right two people come together, it could be a match made in heaven, mutually beneficial.

But precisely for you, the mentee, it is a chance to develop a relationship with someone who has been through what you are currently going through.

Now notice I said the relationship could be a match made in heaven, implying that it is possible for it to be a disaster as well. One likely cause of an unsuccessful mentor-mentee relationship is that one or both parties entered into the contract for the wrong reasons. In your case, as the mentee, you should never seek out a mentor because you think that person can get you promoted. The goal should be to leverage the experience of the mentor to aid your own professional development. Promotion and career advancement can sometimes be a natural byproduct, but it should not be your lone motive. You will benefit the most if your approach is less self-serving.

Below are a few other points to take into consideration as you search for a mentor.

Use your resources The company you work for or professional organizations you are a part of may have programs that match people like you with formal mentors. Explore these opportunities, you just might find who you are looking for.

Different can be good.

Obviously, if you are a first-year lawyer, your ideal mentor would not be a surgeon. But some degree of contrast can be helpful. For example, the personality type of your mentor does not necessarily need to match yours exactly. If your mentor thinks and acts just like you, they will be incapable of giving you the constructive feedback that only a person looking through a different lens can provide you. Also, be open to mentors of the opposite gender and of different ethnic backgrounds.

Be willing to invest the time.

All relationships require time to be invested. You want to find a mentor who you want to get to know as a person and who has the time and desire to get to know you as a person. The better you know each other, the more comfortable you will be talking to them about career issues.

So Insecure Digging into one of the most unspoken emotions of men.

Honestly, the male insecurity is an issue that may

not surface in relationships until it’s the wrong time.

The first thing that comes to mind when we discuss this issue is a man’s jealous rage. There’s probably nothing any natural man can do to keep from getting jealous when he sees (or even thinks of) the woman he loves, giving someone or something else more attention than him. So for all men & (women) the key to it is only to learn how to control your reactions.

Lol. No, but really let’s get into some insecurity issues that are not given as much attention and can escalate into major problems.

The number one male insecurity alongside jealousy is money. “A person’s status depends on salary” at least that’s what a rapper named AZ stated on the classic NAS album Illmatic. And in today’s fast-paced and money-driven society, men are judged on just that.

The pressure of providing more for your significant other is an insecurity that the majority of men have.

He may say he’s okay being an “average guy” until

some other man drives up alongside him sporting an S-Class Mercedes Benz. Then, that same guy looks over at you and your woman (with a quick piercing stare and a flirtatious grin) while your car putts and squeaks with an overworked four-cylinder engine.

The nail in the coffin is when his lady looks back a little too long.

It’s discouraging. And this is what really makes men cry in the dark. He may not say anything at that moment, but he will begin to beat himself up about all the missed opportunities, wasted time, and mistakes he may have made in his past. After which, his attitude changes, he no longer likes himself, and for a brief moment, he’s been hit with a healthy dose of reality. It starts to become too much to swallow.

He begins to question himself. He wonders if he is a failure. His anger then begins to bleed out into his relationship as he now vents his frustrations out on his lover. He accuses her of wanting someone like this guy who insulted his manhood with a V12 600

Benz. After not being able to take another minute of his self-pity and cynical thoughts of her sleeping with Mr. Fantasy he begins the interrogation.

Not being able to take another minute of his self-pity and cynical thoughts of her sleeping with Mr. Fantasy, he begins the interrogation. He wants to know if she would like a guy like that. Any answer at this point is the wrong answer. He enters this unnecessary argument about a guy no one knows and will probably never see again. A few of these moments will end in a breakup. This is how the insecure man relieves himself of all the pressure of not being able to satisfy his woman financially. It’s the quick and easy way out.

If you pride yourself on being a real man, you must admit if you were in Mr. Average shoes it would be embarrassing as well as insulting. The man who’s comfortable with himself (whether he has or not) has a personality that’s not defined by money or even by the woman he is with. This man will handle this situ-

ation entirely different. If you are that real man then this situation, a compliment on the car would have been a start. Celebrating another’s success is the best way to promote your own drive to succeed.

We can touch on a multitude of insecurities for every type of man. Most have learned how to deal with them when they fall into the category of physical appearance. Yet, money is (and has always been) what most men pride themselves on, and the average guy’s manhood is challenged when he feels he’s outdone. If you find yourself in that category, use it as a test. Tell yourself, who in your life is true to you, most importantly a test to see if you, support you one hundred percent. While you are on your road to riches, or whatever insecurity you may have to conquer in life, remember failure is only another step closer to success. Life is a learning process.

Reclaiming Your Essential Self A Guide To Having Happiness And Peace

H

arvard-trained psychiatrist, Dr. Shelley Uram shares her theory on how we find out what we really want in life. Our innermost desires have been lost along the way and Dr. Uram helps to break down the barrier in our minds to identify the genuine desires versus what most people think they want most, such as money, success, more free time, getting married. etc.

In order to achieve complete satisfaction in our lives, we must be happy with what we’re doing and continually move toward our happiness. Essential Living focuses on finding what that happiness is. Dr. Uram writes, “The Essential Self (our most real state of being) was around way before any thoughts or emotions were present.” However, society’s pressures and what our culture has made us believe is the correct way of living has hindered our natural ability to recognize what is right for our individual needs.

Dr. Uram guides readers in finding a sense of peace, happiness, love, and a sense of freedom. Some of the benefits to reaching our essential self are: • An increased sense of well-being • An inner stillness

• A greater sense of inner peace • A greater sense of connectedness with others and with life itself • More loving of self and others Most of us have taken an indirect path to what we want most; Dr. Uram explains how that happens and shows readers how to get on a direct path to their ultimate goal. Exercises are incorporated throughout Essential Living to help readers learn, retain and progress more quickly.

SUAVV: What is Essential Living about?

Dr. Uram: At birth, our identity is one and the same as our essence (Essential Self). As the thinking brain areas mature, at around 3 months old, we begin to discern that we exist. The survival brain areas react strongly to protect that newly found me. The “voice” of survival circuitry is far louder than the Essential Self voice. We soon forget who we are at our essence. Our personality and lives develop around and through the fear- based survival circuitry. I refer to this as the “false self.” By our teen and young adult years, most of us have long forgotten our true nature.

We suffer greatly from this. Finally, we look at possible ways to reclaim our Essential Self.

SUAVV: What in your professional and personal background led you to write this book?

Dr. Uram: Personally, I sustained a lot of trauma in my formative years. This made me acutely aware of my own suffering. Professionally, I have seen suffering in most human beings. When our identity becomes attached to the “false self,” it is impossible not to suffer. True freedom can only come from re-identifying with our Essential Self.

SUAVV: Does our culture even recognize that concept of an Essential Self?

Dr. Uram: Although some religions do, our culture does not. Most of us become convinced at a young age that if we succeed at certain accomplishments, e.g., having a family, work or financial success, etc, that sustained peace and happiness will follow. It does not. Peace and happiness are an inside job.

SUAVV: Are you saying we should not strive for success, money, etc?

Dr. Uram: No. By all means, seek whatever it is you want. But realize that if your underlying belief is that you will reconnect with your Essential Self through these successes, you will likely land up disappointed. There is an exercise towards the beginning of the book that helps the reader become clearer about what they truly most want. This is usually different than what they initially think.

SUAVV: You mention in your book that many people with terminal illnesses come to these same understandings on their own. Can you explain that?

Dr. Uram: Many of the people I have met or worked with who were terminally ill naturally began to ask themselves these same kinds of questions. For example: “Who am I?” “What do I really want the most?”

“Am I living my life in alignment with this?” etc. As they begin to dig and find the answers to these deepest of questions and motivations, many of them express regret that they had not asked themselves these same questions years earlier. So I say to the reader of this book: Why wait until you are dying?

SUAVV: Is the guidance to reclaiming the Essential Self the same for everyone?

Dr. Uram: No. The game plans that I outline in the book can be applied to each person in an individualized manner. The game plans would depend upon how each person’s brain functions at its baseline.

For example, as was the case with me, many people first need to calm the brain before they can shift the “spotlight” of attention from the outside world to the inside world of the Essential Self. Other people don’t need to first calm down and can proceed differently.

What do your shorts do?

When you decide to hit the beach for the next surf day, bonfire, or just a normal afternoon in the sand, you definitely want to have a pair of BBO shorts. BBO is short for Boardshort Bottle Opener as it is a brand of boardshorts for men with a bottle opener attached on the inside of the side pocket! When you have your beer and want to find a bottle opener, you get creative with keys, lighters, stones, the edge of something hard, all which can cause shards to break off of the bottle. These shorts were creative and are pretty damn stylish if you ask me.

I tried a pair during the holiday beach day and loved being able to open my bottle with ease and looking great at the same time. Not only are there several designs that make for fashionable swimwear, but the bottle opener on the side is a practical and often necessary feature! I definitely recommend them to anyone who likes a cold beer from the cooler while not wanting to search for a MacGyver technique of opening your brew. Guess who will be the coolest guy at the beach...THIS GUY!!!

Check out the full line at www.bboshorts.com

Plexus Wheel Your Back’s New Best Friend

In the age of fitness, everyone is in the gym doing some kind of exercise that puts a strain on your lower back. Whether it's deadlifts, squats, shrugs, cable twisting, some type of rowing, or even the exercise that took me out, back extensions, we perform these exercises at high velocity and with very little rest between workouts. Personally, adding a 45-lb plate to my back extension was amazing the day that I did it. The next morning, however, I woke up to minimal mobility and pain that shot through my lower back. In my head, my back was just tight and I could stretch and get through it. The moment I bent over, a sharp pain hit and I wasn't able to straighten my back out. I was scared for the first time in my fitness history.

I visited a chiropractor and was told that my vertebrae was off center and had a nerve ending being pinched. The best solution was to be adjusted in the office and slowly start to extend my back. Of complete happenstance, The Plexus Wheel was delivered to my office 2 days later. Plexus is the perfect way to relieve back tension as well as improve flexibility and balance. The Plexus Wheel is designed specifically to help with lower and upper back pain by helping align your spine and targeting the tight lateral muscles that run up and down your back. I called my chiropractor and told him what I received and asked if I was allowed to use it. I had clearance and relief all within a half hour. There are three different size wheels available that allow different levels of pressure. The larger the wheel the more surface area to support your back. The smaller the wheel the more you can target a specific muscle.

The very easy to use wheel is made of a rigid core that can support up to 400-lbs and a 6mm thick hand-wrapped compression mat for extreme comfort. The wheel measures 5 inches across so that it fits straight down your back in between the shoulder blades and targets that hard to reach lateral muscles.

The owners of The Plexus Wheel met with and talked to more than 30 chiropractors and physical therapists who say that stretching and exercising with the Plexus Wheel every day for only five minutes can help reduce lower back pain. The muscles around the lumbar (lower back region) spine start to form muscle memory with daily stretching helping pain already there and lessen the chances of further injury.

There are three different size wheels available that allow different levels of pressure. The larger the wheel the more surface area to support your back. The smaller the wheel the more you can target a specific muscle. While this wheel is amazing for extending your back, it's also perfect for the yoga enthusiast that needs a little assistance getting into challenging positions. Never fear working on your balance or on achieving the Cobra Pose as long as you have the Plexus Wheel. I guarantee you, it will make your life a little more limber.

To learn more about the Plexus Wheel and purchase, visit: https://plexusco.com/

I’m Not You Stop Comparing Yourself

Everyone gets caught up in the comparison game.

Chances are you do too. Haven’t you gazed with envy at a friend’s house, car, job, or wardrobe, or made a snap judgment that a coworker or acquaintance is beneath you in intelligence, social status, or some other criteria? Sure you have. Research from the 1950s shows that people have a natural drive to make “upward” or “downward” comparisons between themselves and others. And due to social media, we can now look at posts from friends and acquaintances and assess how we “measure up” on a daily (or even hourly) basis.

Can this be good for us? No, says Aaron Hill: In fact, spending too much time or energy studying the proverbial “Joneses” or ranking others is harmful to all involved.

“Comparing establishes your own worth by whether or not you feel better or worse than others,” says Hill, who along with Greg Miller and Jack Skeen wrote The Circle Blueprint: Decoding the Conscious and Unconscious Factors that Determine Your Success(Wiley, October 2017, ISBN: 978-1-119-43485-6, $26.00, www.thecircleblueprint.com). “It’s an un-

healthy waste of time that undermines your ability to reach your full potential. And it’s a widespread problem. But most people who engage in comparing themselves to others don’t realize how damaging it really can be.”

The authors explain that comparing yourself with others is detrimental to your happiness and success.

Here are a few of the problems that come along with constant comparison: Comparisons are rarely accurate. “When you compare yourself to others, you are often inaccurate in your conclusions,” says Hill. “Upon seeing a shabbily dressed person, you may make judgments about their job, ability, intelligence, or motivation. But you don’t have all the information. A brilliant day trader who works alone may choose to work in old sweatpants, for example, and has left the office for a quick walk to clear his head. The point is, you don’t know the whole story, so your comparison is ultimately wrong.

Then you allow those comparisons to detrimentally affect your performance and your life suffers...all based on false facts.”

Comparing upward makes you unhappy and erodes your confidence. There will always be someone who has more or has accomplished more than you. But when you spend most of your time fretting over others’ supposed superiority, you’re wasting valuable time and energy that you could be using to enhance your life. And before you assume someone else has it so much better than you, remind yourself again that you get to see only a slice of their life. On social media, for example, people post only what they want you to see. From glamorous selfies to gorgeous vacation photos, their online personas are an inaccurate portrayal of their real lives. Make sure you’re not giving them more credit than they deserve.

Comparing downward creates feelings of superiority that don’t serve you well in various ways. It might make you feel smarter, more successful, or just “better” than other people, but downward comparisons cause you to overlook others’ gifts. At work, you may not give those you’ve judged as “less than” enough credit for their knowledge and may not seek their advice even though they have plenty to offer.

Or, you may give yourself too much credit and slack off because you think you’re more capable.

“People who make a lot of comparisons and constantly assess the inferiority or superiority of others are low in autonomy,” says Hill. People with high autonomy, on the other hand, live free of comparison and are able to rely healthily on themselves and others. When you’re able to establish your own self-worth regardless of how you stack up to others, you go a long way toward establishing independence.”

The Circle Blueprint is part of a larger self-improvement program called The Circle Blueprint System, which also includes workbooks and a confidential scientifically validated psychometric self-assessment.

The self-assessment is free with purchase of the book.

In The Circle Blueprint, the authors explain that in-

dependence is one of the four critical developmental areas that allow a person to thrive. Independence is all about taking 100 percent responsibility for your life and the outcomes of your choices, living with freedom from insecurity and self-doubt, and being able to speak openly and candidly in all circumstances.

The good news is, there are easy steps you can take to quit comparing yourself to others and become more autonomous, and, thus, more independent:

1. Make a point to notice how often you make com-

parisons. If you want, take a notepad and make tally marks every time you catch yourself making a comparison. The number may astonish you, and that is okay; everyone makes comparisons. You have to start somewhere, and simply taking note is a start toward reducing your comparisons.

2. Now, take note of how such comparisons affect

your thoughts and actions. Are you holding something back because you think you are too good or not good enough? Do you act differently toward those who are “upward” or “downward” of you?

3. Practice reducing such comparisons. When you

catch yourself comparing, try to stop. Remind yourself that comparisons are not healthy for you.

4. Practice treating all people you come in contact

with at the same levels of courtesy and respect. Sure, it is unlikely you’ll meet a stranger with the same greeting as a good friend—it might be strange to all involved if you hugged a complete stranger as you would someone you know and love—but your greeting can be similarly pleasant and respectful.

5. Become aware of how free you feel. When you

stop comparing, or even reducing your comparisons drastically, you’ll feel a new level of autonomy and independence.

“It’s time to stop worrying about who has more Facebook friends, who’s got the bigger paycheck, or who has the greatest house,” concludes Hill. “In the end, knowing who has more or less than we do accomplishes nothing. Instead, we should all focus our attention on becoming better versions of ourselves— because that’s the true measure of success.”

Gamified Giving

2013 was a busy year.

We loss the iconic president and anti-apartheid leader, Nelson Mandela, gained a royal baby from Prince William and Kate, “twerk” and “selfie” were added to the dictionary, Candy Crush was the game of the year (and the cause of many invites to play on facebook timelines), and President Barack Obama was entering the start of his second term. For former NFL player Mike Brown, the tech startup world was discovered.

Mike Brown

Mike, with his college major being in public policy, had already taken the LSAT and gained experience, during his senior year, working the campaign of Beverly Purdue and her successful race to become the first female Governor of North Carolina. Needless to say, being a married man and father, the last thing he was looking to do was revert to his Ramen Noodle eating, college student days. The Houston Texas native and Duke University graduate found himself on the verge of applying to business graduate schools when a friend told him about Draper University and the program run in silicon valley for aspiring entrepreneurs. But that leap of faith to apply to the next level of education was followed with a phone call from Tim Draper himself welcoming Mile to the entering class as well as offering a full scholarship.

“I went through a 9-week program which rocked my world because it was all new,” Mike reflects as we speak on the phone from his office in the midst of a newly launched March Madness Tournament.

“I finished number 1 in my class, but I was a little upset because I couldn’t believe I didn’t know about this(tech world). I probably would have made some different decisions in college as far as my major was concerned (laughing). I taught myself how to (use binary) code and design (websites and platforms) then I moved to the bay area full time the following year with the sole intention of building my own tech startup. To be more effective, I felt like I needed to work at a startup. So, I worked for a pretty well-known company here in the area for a year and a half and developed my program and moved out on my own.”

If you want to be an actor, you go to Hollywood. If you’re going to be in finance, you go to New York.

Government... DC, energy... you go to Texas. With that theory in mind, if you want to be in the tech world, you go to Silicon Valley. However, the Silicon Valley wasn’t very welcoming to a young Black athlete. Being an athlete already comes with a stereotype. As of late, players like Richard Sherman, Myron Rolle, Craig Breslow, and now Mike Brown have been proving that the “meathead athletes” of the past are pretty hard to come by.

With a mother that drove the importance of academics over athletics, Mike maintained a 4.0 GPA, was inducted into the National Honor Society and held the seat of President of the Engineering Club. Needless to say, coaching or fitness wasn’t the long-term goal of the all-American and all-conference defensive back, who leads the nation in tackles his senior year.

“My best friend went to DUKE as well and was the number 2 defensive tackle in the country coming out of high school,” Mike explains. “We arrived at training camp, and he blew his knee out in the 3rd practice. I knew that at any time, playing at that high level, anything could happen. I didn’t want to go into coaching or fitness (the more common careers that athletes take). He went on to coach at Duke and Ohio State, won championships and is now the defensive line coach for the 49ers. That’s his passion. I, on the other hand, wanted to build and create. When I found out about the valley, I knew this was where I needed to be. Even when I got here, the assumption was “oh, you’re a former athlete…” I wouldn’t tell anyone what I did. Even though I wasn’t a big name, I kept that to myself. Now, it’s something that I talk about because WIN-WIN is a sport geared company.

Gambling has always been a part of sports. Whether you are betting your friends that your favorite team would triumph over their own, a “Pick-em” sheet that you get from work or that your parents brought home, or an “I bet you that I’m faster than you” foot race down a neighborhood block. With Mike’s platform, WIN-WIN, there is no monetary prize. It takes the gaming world and turns it into an experience-driven competition, and the secondary winner is the charity of choice of the host of the game. After watching commercials on gaming sites using players images and likeness without contributing to them or benefiting their platforms, the former athlete and businessman alike in Mike, said, something about this has to change. Let’s face it, these companies make millions on millions of dollars, and the only person that comes out on top is the winner of the game and the owner of the site. The need for change was there, and Mike was the operator that answered the call.

“WIN-WIN is a sports gaming platform that connects fans with the favorite athletes, entertainers, and influencers while raising money for charity,” Mike excitingly says. “The personality will “host” (put their name on) a game tournament and promote it out to their fan base and social media following who will then join by paying an entry fee. The money that they pay would then go to the charity of choice for the athletes. The games can be anything from a March Madness bracket, pick-em tickets, or an over-under-on game. Once you’re in the game, you are competing for an experience instead of money.

So you may get courtside seats with Steph Curry, or do a shootaround at a Los Angeles Lakers practice

for 20 minutes, or you could potentially end up in a recording session with Beyonce’ or Taylor Swift... anything that the host selects as the winning prize.

Ultimately, you are competing for the experiences that you would typically not be able to access while simultaneously contributing to charity. Charities are able to leverage a platform that gives a more sustainable stream of funding. Millennials are not really donating to charity as much as other age groups.

Millennials aren’t necessarily going to donate to the Red Cross, but will put money up for the opportunity to meet with Cam Newton.”

The ultimate goal in life is always to be able to put your family a step further than your family and give your kids that opportunities that you feel will help them be better than their parents. Mike wanted to give this to more than his kids, he wants to provide the inspiration of technology as a solution to prob-

lems for all kids and adults. The likeliness of seeing someone that looks like you in a world of technology isn’t as far-fetched as it is under promoted. With WIN-WIN, he hopes that others will not only join to play, but will see him, and say that they can “Be Like Mike.”

So, let’s play.

To check out Mike’s gaming platform, go to www. trywinwin.com There are a few free games that you can try out.

contact us at ads@suavv.com

Pockets, bras, arm sleeves, hands, shoe laces, socks, and hats all have one thing in common...at some point, there was someone working out that stuffed something in them because there was no where else to hold their belongings. What we look for when working out is a place that remains dry, safe, and convenient.

Considered one of the BEST running/workout accessories on the market (number 1 on Amazon), FlipBelt offers a hands free solution to carrying your phone and other belongings while working out, running or while on the go. The tubular band fits snuggly around your upper or lower hip and safely holds cell phones, car keys, money, credit cards, inhalers and more, with their 3 inch wide pocket fitting the even biggest of cell phones.

Not only an amazing fitness accessory, but FlipBelt is quickly rising in popularity for everyday use as well.

Whether you are out walking the dog, out on the golf course, at a busy airport, attending a concert, or spending the day at the amusement park with the kids, FlipBelt gives people the option to keep their belongings with them without having to lug around bags or purses. Unlike armbands and fanny packs, the FlipBelt sports a low profile design that lays flat against one’s skin. Items are dispersed around the waist for a slim appearance that also reduces bulkiness, bouncing, and chafing, while allowing easy access.

FlipBelt is now offering a convenient way to carry water during your workouts with you hands free! Their Water Bottles are specially sized to slip into the FlipBelt’s handy storage pocket for easy and convenient hydration on the run and in the sun.

It’s always a good idea to keep water on hand when working out, and with summer fast approaching it’s more important than ever. While other hydration packs are bulky, uncomfortable, and hard to clean, the FlipBelt Water Bottle differs on all fronts.

It has been designed with a flat rather than rounded build that fits tightly and unobtrusively against the body.

Wearers don’t feel any unnecessary bulk, and can quench their thirst at any time without interrupting their run.

When done for the day, it can be thrown into the top rack of the dishwasher—no muss, no fuss.

Even with this new addition, the FlipBelt remains just as user-friendly as it has always been. Its high quality Micropoly/Lycra fabric and reinforced stitching stretches easily to accommodate the bottles while continuing to keep keys, ID cards, and cell phones securely in place. It’s a flexible fit that dries quickly while wicking sweat away. Its wider design can now conveniently accommodate those larger phones including the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Note 8.

FlipBelt Water Bottles are made from safe BPA free materials and include a soft bite silicon mouthpiece. They are available in either 6oz. or 11oz. sizes and can be purchased individually or in two packs.

The Zipper Edition still features the same convenience and durability as the original, but now includes a dedicated zippered pouch for added protection.

The FlipBelt has always been a smart solution for running, dancing, practicing yoga, or working out, but now wearers can tackle more extreme activities. From hang gliding to mountain climbing, their necessities are right where they should be.

Groove Rings

A Band for the Active Couple

First, comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a damages wedding band because you decided to keep

on your ring while deadlifting. Now that I am looking at my future and wearing a ring on a daily basis, I think about how often I will have to take it off based on the active lifestyle that I lead. Between working out in the gym, running, hiking, yard work, rock climbing, and more. That thought in mind, I’ve been looking at downgrading the wedding band that I wanted for something that I wouldn’t mind being a little knicked if so.

Instead of having a less appealing ring for the rest of my life, I was presented with an alternative.

The Groove ring is a revolutionary new accessory for the active trend setter who wants to do it all without worrying about losing a finger in sticky situations. With the Groove ring, safety comes first. Regular metal rings have no wiggle room when they get caught on machines, rocks, and more, turning a fun situation into a medical emergency in minutes. It features a comfort fit band made from a low profile, flexible silicon that’s been imprinted with their patent-pending inner grooves. These grooves allow proper airflow, keeping moisture out and comfort front and center.

It’s stylish enough to be worn as an everyday wedding band or works as the perfect occasional alternative to a classic band. Even NFL Quarterback Philip Rivers wears one while at work and at play.

Each ring is backed by a lifetime warranty, offering free replacement if it breaks, stretches, tears, gets lost, or the dog eats it.

Sun’s Out...

Gun’s Out!

W

hile arms were voted the sexiest body part of a man in a 2016 poll with GQ, more men continue to focus on their chest more. Of course we want you to be properly proportioned, however, you may not want to have bigger boobs than she does. I will say that my arm routine is pretty ridiculous and it involves some serious soreness later in the evening. We will eventualy go into my personal workout but for the time being, lets go with 5 of my favorite bicep exercises.

My friends over at bodybuilding.com helped me with some diescriptions so that you can not only build some of the biggest biceps in your family, but make some heads turn when you put on your favorite t-shirt.

If you havent been actively in the gym, start off slow. This isn’t going to happen overnight. Pay attention to form and squeezing your muscles and take less concern to the amount of weight you are lifting. You will be surprised by the intensity that a 25-pound dumbell can provide when you are really honing in on your technique and not just lifting for power and pride.

Next issue we will focus on triceps. A well-developed tricep is where the mass in your arm will lay. As always, consult a physician and make sure you are able to work out at full extent. Let’s Go!!!

1.

Chin-Ups

Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing your torso and a grip closer than the shoulder width.

As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, keep your torso as straight as possible while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position. Tip: Keeping the torso as straight as possible maximizes biceps stimulation while minimizing back involvement.

As you breathe out, pull your torso up until your head is around the level of the pull-up bar. Concentrate on using the biceps muscles in order to perform the movement. Keep the elbows close to your body. Tip: The upper torso should remain stationary as it moves through space and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.

After a second of squeezing the biceps in the contracted position, slowly lower your torso back to the starting position; when your arms are fully extended. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement.

Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

2.

Barbell Curls: Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at a shoulder-width grip. The palm of your hands should

be facing forward and the elbows should be close to the torso.

This will be your starting position. While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the weights forward while contracting the biceps as you breathe out.

Tip: Only the forearms should move.

Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second and squeeze the biceps hard.

Slowly begin to bring the bar back to starting position as your breathe in.

Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

3.

Cable Hammer Curls - Rope Attachment

Attach a rope attachment to a low pulley and stand facing the machine about 12 inches away from it.

Grasp the rope with a neutral (palms-in) grip and stand straight up keeping the natural arch of the back and your torso stationary.

Put your elbows in by your side and keep them there stationary during the entire movement. Tip: Only the forearms should move; not your upper arms. This will be your starting position.

Using your biceps, pull your arms up as you exhale until your biceps touch your forearms. Tip: Remember to keep the elbows in and your upper arms stationary.

After a 1 second contraction where you squeeze your biceps, slowly start to bring the weight back to the original position.

Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

4.

Overhead Cable Curl

To begin, set a weight that is comfortable on each side of the pulley machine. Note: Make sure that the amount of weight selected is the same on each side.

Now adjust the height of the pulleys on each side and make sure that they are positioned at a height higher than that of your shoulders.

Stand in the middle of both sides and use an underhand grip (palms facing towards the ceiling) to grab each handle. Your arms should be fully extended and parallel to the floor with your feet positioned shoulder width apart from each other. Your body should be evenly aligned the handles. This is the starting position.

While exhaling, slowly squeeze the biceps on each side until your forearms and biceps touch.

While inhaling, move your forearms back to the starting position. Note: Your entire body is stationary during this exercise except for the forearms.

Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions prescribed in your program.

Variations: This exercise can also be performed using one handle at a time.

5.

Incline Dumbbell Curl

Sit back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand held at arms length. Keep your elbows close to your torso and rotate the palms of your hands until they are facing forward. This will be your starting position.

While holding the upper arm stationary, curl the weights forward while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Only the forearms should move. Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second.

Slowly begin to bring the dumbbells back to starting position as your breathe in.

Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

We Got Your Back Workout Tips from Curtis J. Williams

In the early days of my training, I struggled with pulling movements that primarily target back muscles. But rather than skip these exercises I decided to kickoff every workout with three sets of ten pull ups - assisted if necessary - performing my most challenging work first.

Fast forward to present day I now have well-sculpted lats, rhomboids, traps, and posterior deltoids.

My recommendation to you is to systematically target the back with a varied exercise selection.

Most of us are interested in the beach body, getting jacked as the priority. This means that I’d program these exercises for a hypertrophic response. Working across rep ranges is optimal but for simplicity let’s say 4-sets at 8-12 reps each. Increasing weight for each set and staying around 80% of their 1RM (1 Rep Max). 60-90 seconds between sets. Again, this is a general approach For strength trainers, we’d go as low as 4 or 6 reps with longer rest between sets.

Fat burners would want as little as 30-60 seconds rest between sets and maybe go as high as 12-15 reps.

If you’re like most of my high-performing clients you’re managing the demands of a busy travel schedule.

In this case, the solution is to toss a resistance band into your carry-on. Use it to perform in-room morning circuit training. It’ll get you pumped both physically and mentally for the day ahead.

Curtis J Williams Follow Curtis’ Instagram @curtis.j.williams Photography: @felipe_arenas._ Please check out Curtis at

www.optimusphysique.com

1

Bodyweight Pull-ups

2

Seated Cable Lat Pull-downs

Grab a pullup bar with your palms facing away from your body, and your hands shoulder-width apart. Allow your arms to hang in a fully extended position.

Keeping your shoulders down and away from your ears, pull yourself up until your chin clears the bar.

Pause, then slowly lower yourself to the starting position.

Sit at a lat pulldown station and grab the bar with an overhand grip that’s just beyond shoulder width. Your arms should be completely straight and your torso upright.

Pull your shoulder blades down and back, and bring the bar to your chest. Pause, then slowly return to the starting position.

3

Dumbbell Rows

4

Olympic Bar Rows

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Bend the knees slightly and bend over at the waist with your back straight. Let dumbbells hand in front of the body with arms fully extended.

Contract your back, bend the arms, and pull both dumbbells up to your ribcage. Hold for one second in the top position, then lower the dumbbells to the starting position.

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Grab barbell with an underhand grip just wider than shoulder-width apart.

Let the bar hang straight down from your shoulders.

Keeping your lower back naturally arched and shoulders back, bend at your hips and knees, and lower your torso until it is almost parallel to the floor.

Without moving your torso, pull the bar to your upper abs. Keep elbows tight to sides and squeeze shoulder blades together. Pause, then slowly lower the bar back to the starting position.

5

Deadlifts

Bend at hips and knees, and grab a loaded barbell with an overhand grip about twice as wide as shoulder-width.

Without allowing your lower back to round, stand up and thrust your hips forward as you squeeze your glutes. Pause, then lower the bar back to the floor while keeping it as close to your body as possible. apart.

6

Seated Cable Rows

7

Kneeling Lat Prayers

Sit at a low-pulley cable station with a V-handle attachment. Place the feet securely on the platform and grab the handle with both hands using an overhand grip. Using your legs (not your back), sit back with arms fully extended supporting the weight.

Keeping your torso stationary, drive your elbows past your sides and pull the cable attachment towards the waist. Pause and squeeze shoulder blades together at the top of the row before returning to the starting position.

Stand at an adjustable cable machine and grab the lat pulldown bar with an overhand grip that’s about shoulder-width apart. Keep your knees slightly bent and feet shoulder-width apart.

Exhale and pull the bar down to your thighs.

Your arms should remain straight, elbows locked. Pause, then return to the starting position.

NO

Excuses Donovan Green

Working out is the new craze of our generation. Each month the $21.8 billion dollar industry opens more and more new gyms, gym contracts are signed, and new faces enter the weighted world of fitness. Trainers are hired, new “workout clothes” are purchased, and the best workout playlist is put together (thanks to SUAVV’s Muscle Musik updates). With goals of a “future self ” embedded in the heads of the new gym members, the change of lifestyle begins to take place.

Statistically, 80 percent of new gym members will not last beyond the first month of their memberships.

While the excuses of gym absence come as a wide, and sometimes ridiculous, variety, fitness trainer and author of “No Excuses Fitness”, Donovan Green is taking just that…NO EXCUSES.

power that every individual holds inside of them. His goal is to motivate every person, regardless of your fitness aspirations to tap into that power and begin making yourself a better person inside out. We had a chance to sit with Donovan and asked him a few of our pondering questions.

Donovan Green, personal trainer to Dr. Oz, is the founder of Project Slimdown, TV personality, celebrity fitness trainer, motivational speaker, and now author. While he may be tough on his clients, Donovan knows the power that fitness holds as well as the

Diet is probably one of the biggest promoted aspects of healthy living. What are 3 main things you would exclude from a typical food regimen to begin a successful journey?

Three main things to exclude from foods include

What inspired you to take on this journey?

Fitness seemed to be the natural thing to do. At an early age, I began to train with my uncle Duncan who took me under his wing and taught me the basics of weight training. I also started eating better foods and noticed a big change in the way I looked and felt. I decided to stick with it and years later I am still living that life.

sugar, salt, and artificial flavorings. These 3 things are responsible for a lot of illnesses and excess weight added to your body each year. The most effective foods to eat are fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also important to eat legumes, nuts, and drink plenty of water.

What do you find is the biggest challenge for a person to workout?

The biggest challenge for a person to workout is lack of time. People are so busy spending their days working, and taking care of their spouses, children, friends, and family. They do not make enough time to take care of themselves. That is why I created an easy to do 20 minute workout that will not only jump start you in no time, it will take away the excuse of not having enough time to exercise. I believe that exercise is essential so why not do it when you can, especially if it requires only 20 minutes out of your day.

What about the person that has already been going to the gym and feel like 20 minutes isn’t enough cardio?

Cardio should be done in short bursts of intense exercise. 30 minutes of cardio is plenty. Once you do it right, 30 minutes is all you will need, unless your playing for a pro sports team. Some of the best cardio moves include sprinting, jumping, jump rope, kickboxing, rowing, or speed walking. You should do cardio every other day rather than everyday. Your body will need time to recover in between days of training.

Do strength training for the other days.

It’s said that there is not a single fitness plan that fits everyone? Do you feel your plan does?

What separates me from many trainers is the fact that I do not have just one plan or one type of client in mind. I think about people before I think about exercise. If you are wheelchair bound, I have something for you. If you are a pro bodybuilder, I have something for you. If you are a beginner, I have something for you. So yes, my fitness approach definitely works in favor of the individual.

What workout plan do you look at and ask yourself “why”?

Every workout plan is good. It’s all based on the needs of the individual. Trainers who lack program

writing is what makes me say “why?” I have seen professional trainers write plans for clients who suffered with severe knee problems. The plan would include running, squats, stair climbs, and leg extension. I find that to be very bad on a trainer’s part and it also gives the good trainers a bad name. Every client should have something designed for his or her specific needs. There are no bad programs just bad choices.

Fitness and health is not just a seasonal venture that should be taken on just to look your best at the beach. It’s part of your lifestyle that will not only make you look better, but feel and live better as well.

We will continue to help guide you through your fitness and nutrition goals because the longer you are on earth, the more good you can serve to those around you. As always, STAY SUAVV. To find out more about Donovan Green’s No Excuses Fitness: The 30-Day Plan to Tone Your Body and Supercharge Your Health is available at retailers and online, visit http://noexcusesfitnessbook.com.

I GOT BARS

One of most dieting weaknesses fall in the catgory of snacks. That moment your sweet tooth kicks in, you think to yourself that “A few oreos never killed anyone.” or “ill just eat the ice cream to this line in the carton.” Well, we all know that doesnt work. As an alternative my friend, Robina, has shared a recipe for her amazing granola bars. As a very simple and family friendly recipe, not only are these no bake granola bars absolutely addictive, better yet, they’re vegan!

ROBINA’S CHOCOLATE-FRUIT AND NUT GRANOLA BARS Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of rolled oats 1 cup dates, pitted and pureed ¼ cup pure maple syrup/agave nectar 1 cup rice krispie cereal 1tsp vanilla extract/emulsion (optional) 1/3 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips 1/3 cup of roasted whole almonds 1/3 cup of Sultana raisins ¼ cup of dried cranberries or any dried fruit of your choice ½ tsp salt Instructions: 1.

(This step is optional) Gently toast oats on a baking sheet in oven at 320 degrees until they become

fragrant (about 5 minutes) 2.

Mix oats and rice cereal in a large bowl. Add fruit, nuts, chocolate and coconut.

3.

In a saucepan, heat up maple syrup, pureed dates and vanilla until bubbly (about 2 min). Add salt.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir well to coat mixture evenly.

4.

Pour mixture into a parchment paper lined/greased 9x9 square pan. Smooth out mixture and flatten

with a spatula to desired thickness.

5.

(Optional) Garnish with a sprinkle of shredded coconut flakes. Cover and let sit in fridge for at least

2 hours. (Will store in refrigerator for up to a week.)

6. Enjoy!

WW

Buy You A Drank Alacran Cristal, Oak Bottle, and The Levitating Cup

Alacran Cristal is an ultra premium anejo tequila that sets itself from the competition as their taste is pure, distinct and stands out. It is packaged in a beautiful, clear glass bottle that is sleek looking. The tequila uses agaves from 7-10 years old harvested in the highlands of Jalisco. It is matured for 14 months in American Oak barrels from bourbon generating a rich, woody flavor with a hint of vanilla.

As a result of their exclusive clarifying filtration process, a crystal product is produced with light gold reflections. Ensuring the quality of the product, each bottle is hand labeled and numbered.

Alacran Cristal has a sophisticated flavor and is deliciously smooth in taste without the sting. For more information, visit www.autenticoalacran. com.

Alacran Tequila is a true luxury spirit appreciated by tequila drinkers and agave connoisseurs alike who crave a fresh intriguing taste compared to other competitors in the marketplace. Alacran Tequila products continue to grow in popularity - it tastes as good as it looks. The products are featured in global media and at celebrity and charity events all over the world.

Oak Bottle is also giving drinkware an upgrade with the release of their Levitating Cup. The beverage cup of the future has arrived. The Levitating Cup is guaranteed to turn heads as it defies gravity and hovers gracefully in midair while showcasing one’s favorite wine, cocktail, or Oak Bottle aged vintage.

Fresh from the innovators behind the Oak Bottle comes the Oak Tumbler and Levitating Cup--a whole new way to experience one’s favorite drink.

From bartenders to home enthusiasts, the Oak Bottle is the first small scale barrel aging vessel to give them the ability to age their own whiskey, wine, beer or other spirits from the comfort of home and in the palm of their hand.

They are taking the innovation behind the Oak Bottle to the next level with the release of their Oak Tumbler.

Boasting a smaller size with big flavor in a fraction of the time, the Oak Tumbler allows users to infuse their favorite beer, whiskey, wine or any other spirits with extravagant oak flavors and aromas in just hours.

Users can enjoy instant aging in as little as thirty minutes to up to four hours, depending on their desired age preference.

Just like the original Oak Bottle, the the inside of the Oak Tumbler is toasted to medium level. However, the Tumbler’s small size and wide brim allows for the release of aromas and flavors as one sips.

What keeps the perfectly curved cup aloft? Feel free to either keep guests scratching their heads or divulge its scientific secrets.

Regardless, this elegant glassware is poised to be the center of attention whether it’s floating in the home kitchen or at the trendy whiskey bar downtown.

To use, simply align the cup over its signature base and watch as it levitates and rotates uninterrupted till that next sip.

The Levitating Cup can hold up to 10.5 fluid ounces of liquid and was artfully created for serving the latest creation from one’s Oak Bottle.

Ground Zero Zero Water ZeroWater, the leader in water filtration, offers fresh and pure tasting water with the sleek and modern Stainless Steel Pitcher. Freshen up your kitchen accessories with the 8-cup pitcher that prioritizes both form and function by being constructed from stainless steel and translucent black plastic. This BPA free pitcher comes with a laboratory-grade water testing meter that indicates precisely when it’s time to change the filter while demonstrating how ZeroWater leaves virtually zero dissolved solids in water.

The ZeroWater filtration system combines FIVE sophisticated technologies that work together to remove virtually all dissolved solids from tap water, so you taste nothing but the water.

What is more, with water quality being a VERY HOT TOPIC right now, ZeroWater is the only water filtration system to receive NSF endorsement for its reduction capabilities in chromium-3, chromium-6 and lead.

Are you covering water quality, new kitchen accessories or kitchen update stories where ZeroWater might fit in?

Available for $39.99 #ZWFiltersforFlint: ZeroWater is continuing efforts to provide clean water for the community of Flint, Michigan with “Filters for Flint,” a ONE for ONE matching program in conjunction with United Way. ZeroWater’s CEO, Doug Kellam, is available for interviews to speak more about their efforts to help with this crisis. More information is on website at www.zerowater.com. ZeroWater is committed to support the ongoing efforts as much as they can, as the community needs GOOD water NOW. For more information on ZeroWater visit www.zerowater. com

Kinja Dixon

Positive Vibes

Kinja Dixon

When one thinks of success, he typically would assume all things are aligned and intact. Career, wealth, social, and family. What happens when one of those elements are out of sync? Kinja Dixon, an only child, was relocated to Virginia for work with Wyndham Vacations while his family was split between New York and the Carolinas. His conversation and interactions with his family grew scarce. His personal development became his support system. His family was transformed into a library of books written by the list of authors that he read and listened to on a daily basis. He was depressed, He was alone, and he had no idea.

What some would say becomes compensation, I lean towards calling a vice. For Kinja, his vice was work.

His success with Wyndham Vacation Rentals placed him in the President’s Club for the 8th time. Upon sending a photo to his mother, from Puerto Rico, to share his accomplishment, she realized that his success was laden with depression, an eating disorder, and a lack of self-care. He was over 300-pounds, and the last time his mother saw him, he was around the 190 mark. Of course, she was concerned about her child.

“When we talked, she saw the picture and said, “what happened to you?” Kinja explains during our phone conversation. “It was a mixture of her voice and looking at the picture for myself that made me realize that I let my success, even monetary, take me away from the normal etiquette that I should apply to my normal life. The mixture of that hunger, stop drinking, and the inclusion of being literally addicted to personal development. I believe I set the reset button on my life. From 2009 until now, my life has completely done a 360-degree, times two and counting. There were moments before that was important, but that particular moment was monumental.”

Kinja was 24-years old and making a $180k year sal-

ary, and his hunger for money and success planted over $1million in his bank account. He was making it. Or at least he thought. Now, looking back, he realizes that mindset was the first problem. His demise began with a simple mindset. He took inventory of his life and those in his life, and he started to not only eliminate the negative attributes of others, but of himself.

“People don’t look at it as a demise, they say “Well, you were just 300-pounds and a millionaire.”, Kinja Explains. “Who are we making that judgment off of?

Personally, looking back at that time and knowing where my life was at that time, I can say that was the problem. I started realizing that there was no limit or such thing as “success.” If you get it, you become complacent, if you don’t have it, you don’t want to chase after it. It’s like wait a minute, why am I allowing a word to stop me from pursuing mastery in every day of my life. Eliminating that word and realizing that this is a life process is what changed me to doing things that have never been done in the world.”

Whether it was his values changing or not being interested in the things that he formerly was, there were several times over the last 8 years of his life in which the separations occurred. Kinja was becoming comfortable in his skin, and he realized being around certain people would have eliminated some of the time that has given the lightbulbs to change his life.

After breaking his mindset, Kinja began to get in the gym. And one specific day, a gym visit would take his life and his goals to new heights.

“January 2015, I was in the Gym and on my phone, and I saw “Do you want to train like a Shaolin Monk” come up on my facebook feed and I pressed it and read the qualifications and the costs,” Kinja explains as if he was replaying the moment in his head. “And I said in ‘August, I’m going to do it.’ I was already doing yoga and already intensely working out. I felt

that for me to get in-line with my goals, from a mental discipline standpoint, I knew it would assist in the direction that I was going. As of August 2015, I was in a Shaolin training camp getting 6 hours of training a day and my life has changed in so many ways helping me be the person that I am now.”

Life is full of lessons. Some are continuations of a lesson previously taught, and others are what we consider “New.” The challenge in life is being humble enough to know that you don’t know everything. Ego has taught us to feel that being knowledgeable is the last notch in a belt. One that knows all can do all. The problem with that is that you NEVER know it all. Life is forever changing. Medicine, technology, fashion, entertainment and more all evolve.

What was once popular is now a fad and what was seen as being ridiculous…all the cool kids are doing. Growing in life is about listening and learning. Taking life’s lessons and applying them to your common understanding. All of the whiles, knowing that at any turn, life may toss a new lesson in what you feel you have perfected. Kinja learned this first hand.

“There was 12 of us standing around looking at the master showing some things in regards of boxing,” Kinja begins to explain. “I’m the only person that that doesn’t have a belt.

The other guys have 1st, 2nd, 3rd-degree black belts. One of the gentlemen that were there with me was 21 years old and studying since he was like 4. He screamed out “oh I know that move!” and the master told everyone to be quiet in his Shaolin dialect and then he said “once you know something you stay ignorant, true masters always have a beginners mind” one of the most powerful minutes of my life. And it made me think about all of the people that say “I know” I know that already. But then you look at their results, and if you knew this, your results would be different. And the reason why they are in those shoes is that they didn’t stay in a beginners mind. And even though the 21-year old didn’t mean any harm, him saying “I know” wasn’t the right thing to say at that time because we are in a student class situation. But that’s what happens in life, financially and in health, even though we know what to do, we are not practicing it regularly, and that’s what leads us to stay ignorant.”

Imagine...one day you feel drained, and you’re not

sure why. Exhausted, lethargic, and want to have a lazy day. This isn’t normal for you because you are generally a very active and energetic person. This feeling goes into the next day and the next. You would probably say “okay, I’ve been pushing myself too hard. Maybe I need to rest.” You take a few days off of work and nothing changes. You decide to go to the doctors’ office. After a few days and some test results, you find out that you lack bone marrow. In fact, your body is no longer producing enough blood cells. You need a bone marrow transplant, and your life depends on it. What do you do?

This was the situation with Shaunise Robinson of Texas. This 3rd-grade teacher (and mother of a 4-year-old son) was completely blindsided when she found out that she has Aplastic Anemia. Of course, the healthy mom was shocked by the diagnosis.

“Your bone marrow typically would create white blood cells which keep you from getting sick. Red blood cells give you oxygen. Finally, platelets clots your blood,” Shaunise explains as she plans for her son’s 4th birthday. “Those are the three blood cells that your body makes and my body to stop making all of them. My diagnosis is extremely uncommon with less than 1000 people per year in the United States being diagnosed.”

As of November 2016, Shaunise visits her doctor 3 times a week and has temporary transfusions twice a week. While it’s not ideal, it is the only thing keeping her alive. Her lack of blood cells not only affects her ability to travel, and requires her house to be under a medical grade cleaning routine, it’s placed working with her 3rd-grade class at a full halt. As we all know, a room full of sneezing 8 year-olds is the last place anyone wants to be when your immune system is on strike. Nonetheless, Shaunise is taking it all in stride

and finding the silver lining in the clouds.

“I’m going to the doctor office so often, I would miss most of the (work) week,” She says with a hint of sadness. “So, I’m not able to teach, but I make videos for them, and they have an outstanding substitute teacher, and they are taking care of. I have my son, my brother, nieces and nephews, and the rest of my family. My health affects everyone’s lives. The potential of me getting sick worries them, and I always have that thought in the back of my head. We have to get someone to come to deep clean once a week to make sure everything is thoroughly sterilized. Washing your hands is mandatory, and sometimes, I wear a mask if I go into a crowded place. I have to be much more careful about simple decisions.”

Many people have the misconception that bone marrow is a part of your blood type and your blood type has to match up with the recipient. Your bone marrow is DNA based. This is one of the reasons that it is so difficult for African American patients to have donors from the national registry. Currently, the registry is only about 6% African-American making the black community the lowest represented demographic in the pool. Sadly, it’s not from a lack of wanting to help. Abby, of the Be the Match Foundation, thinks the issue is merely a lack of awareness.

“We believe it’s just a matter of educating people, letting them know how to get involved, and getting the awareness out,” Abby responds. “I feel that once people realize how life-saving this is, what it would require of the donor, and what a difference you can make in someone’s life, it tends to be much easier to get the people involved.”

Abby was a reporter about 20 years ago when one of her first community projects was a bone marrow drive for a former reporter for the station. The

involvement of the community encouraged her to register herself as a donor. 17 years later, she received a call stating that she was a match for a bone marrow transplant. She didn’t hesitate because she understood that a pint of her bone marrow would be the difference between life and death for her recipient.

“You would want someone to be your hero if Shaunise was your mother, sister, family member, or your friend,” Abby rationalizes. “To be on the registry, be found, and be willing to step up makes a HUGE difference. We want to have a pool of committed donors. We have such a great need in our community as African-Americans (because of our tissue typing and the diversity in our tissue typing) that we need more people and more diversity in the registry to meet all of the needs.”

The number of people who have joined the registry has grown considerably since Abby has joined the cause. With a process as simple as a mail-in kit, those numbers are starting to shoot up even further. A potential donor would go online www.BeTheMatch. com and fill out the initial paperwork. The foundation sends you a kit in the mail. You take a swab of your mouth, fill out a few more forms, and send it back. At that point, you’re in the registry, and they only reach out to you when they have a match to see if you’re a qualified donor. The registry is a significant player on many college campuses across the nation. Specifically, one that is tucked away in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb.

When arriving at Villanova University, the almost 3-decade long football coach, Andy Talley, tells all freshman players that he is very involved with the Be the Match foundation, bone marrow awareness, and bone marrow drives. Essentially, all freshman football players are encouraged to do the cheek swab, the bone marrow drives, as well as go out and recruit other student-athletes, sorority, and fraternity mem-

bers, as well as the general student body to do the cheek swab as a way of spreading the awareness.

“I did the drive in 2013as a freshman, and 2 years later (fall 2015) I got the call saying that I and three others were potentially a match for a person,” CJ, a Villanova football player explains his experience. The hospital wanted me to go in and draw extra blood so they could run a few more tests. It was kind of weird (when I got the phone call), and I was a little skeptical at first. I thought it was one of my teammates playing a prank. It’s very rare for anyone to get a call saying in your match. Being African-American, that chance is even slimmer. I went to Bryn Mawr Hospital to get blood drawn and got a phone call a couple of weeks later saying that I was the match.”

Once you are notified that you have matched with someone and you agree to donate your bone marrow, you have two options of how to move forward. Most people know about the surgical procedure where they take the bone marrow from the hip, and you stay in the hospital for a day. However, the more negligent area (used about 77% of the time) is a blood stem cell donation which is a nonsurgical outpatient treatment which many do not know is an option. According to Abby, it’s the same as donating blood or plasma. CJ opted for the surgery.

“I went in around five o’clock the morning to speak with the surgeon, then it was about a two-hour surgery, and I stayed in bed for the day,” CJ explains.

“There’s the option in which you can leave the same day, but I was soaking it in and didn’t want to move (laughing). Afterward, I felt blessed to be able to give someone a chance at life…to make a difference. I think, ultimately, there is more of a moral obligation.

I didn’t choose to be involved with the bone marrow community and Be the Match; it somewhat chose me. In my opinion, if you have the chance to save

someone, anyone should do that. That 33-year-old international woman (his donation recipient) could have been my mom or my sister, and if there were someone that was in the position to make a difference, I would hope they would.”

Getting a bone marrow transplant is like putting a new immune system in your body. If you have a sibling, your chances increase by about 25% of being able to be matched to them for a donation. Unfortunately for Shaunise, her brother wasn’t a match. Now that she is a part of the registry, and a part of the bone marrow drive as a whole, she sees the bigger picture. She has been hosting her events and drives as well as working on and attending those of others. In her view, it’s not just about her; it’s about the community as a whole.

“It helps a lot with not just my diagnoses, but leukemia and sickle cell,” Shaunise says. “Sickle cell is very dominant in the African-American community.

Many people can be helped, but just that lack of awareness and lack of information makes it difficult.

It’s as simple as going to the registry. It doesn’t mean that you start having blood marrow drawn the next day. It just places your basic DNA information into the database. At that point, you’re in the registry, and they only reach out to you when they have a match to see if you’re a qualified donor.”

Abby reminded me that it’s not someone else’s problem, it’s our problem. When the question was presented to me as “What if it was your mom that needed a transplant and the person that could save her life worked with you, but they had no idea?” the answer was simple, I would have wished that person was aware. Moreover, that’s what this registry is all about. You have no idea whose life you may be able to save. It could be Shaunise. It could be the 33-yearold woman that CJ donated to or the person that Abby donated. It could be a child with Leukemia or a mother struggling to handle her sickle cell symptoms. Coach Talley left his players with a quote that I love. “It’s nice to feel important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

I entirely agree, Coach.

Editor’s Picks Father’s Day never really receives the same outpour of Mother’s Day. However, this is a MEN’S magazine and we are going to make sure that we give you enough time and resources to show your pops a little love on his celebrated day. Even though Father’s Day has come and gone, we want to give you a chance to fix the same tie gift you gave last year. It’s never too late to give your dad a gift to show that you think about him. Here are a few ideas that we love in our office. While there are a few others that we will drop weekly, this is your first round. Let’s make it happen.

Restless Dad The 1 Voice Sleep Headphone Eye Mask

This is the ultimate tech accessory to help relax your mind with soothing tunes and cut out any unwanted ambient sounds. Whether you’re flying out to see family, In your bedroom trying to block out some ambient city noise and light, or just trying not to look at the person in bed with you...this is my deep sleep way to go. The builtin, over-the-ear headphones are guaranteed to block out any external light or noise and feature ultra-soft memory foam and a luxe velvet cover. The headphone jack allows you to connect your eye mask to your cell phone, tablet, or mp3 player and listen to the smoothest jazz, classical, or sleep soundtrack of your choice. I have a concoction of sounds that is perfect for me. I will give you those on my next post.

Nonetheless, the 1 Voice Sleep Headphone Eye Mask is the perfect way to unwind from the hustle and bustle.

Music Loving Dad Wraps Headphones While listening to music can let anyone decompress, dealing with tangled headphones just adds more unnecessary stress. With Wraps Headphones, the typical headphone look has been transformed and altered to be more convenient for any wearer! Apart from being quality headphones, Wraps can easily transform into a stylish bracelet. Carry your headphones everywhere you go nicely wrapped on your wrist, avoiding the risk of them tangling! These anti-tangle headphones come in three styles: wood, classic and leather.

The Zen Dad Jaded Candle Your space deserves its own glorious scent that embodies the deliciously welcoming feeling only your home can have. Whether you want to fill the room with soothing notes of lavender or amber, enrich your home with the inviting aromas from Jaded Candle. This luxurious, yet affordable line of candles are warm, cozy, clean, refreshing and bring a soothing smell to any abode! Most importantly, Jaded Candle products contain no additives, chemicals or colors and are made from pure soy wax to ensure a rich, healthy, and beautiful scent in your home.

Hairy Dad: baKblade 2.0 Men’s Groomer

www.bakblade.com

The baKblade 2.0 with retractable handle is the easiest do-it-yourself back shaver on the planet, removing unwanted hair from hard-to-reach areas like the back, shoulders, neck, and arms. The key is the DryGlide blade, a patented safety blade designed specifically to cut body hair and reduce the risk of cuts and nicks. The baKblade can be used wet or dry; no shaving cream, soap, lotion or gel is required. It feels similar to a back-scratching tool. $35;

Gadget Dad: Keyport Pivot

The Keyport Pivot consolidates keys, pocket tools, and smart tech into one everyday carry gadget. It holds up to 8 keys (or more with an extension kit) and offers a low-profile lanyard attachment. It’s easy to assemble and designed to keep everything set to the ideal tightness. Keyport developed three new add-on modules that integrate with the Pivot: a low energy Bluetooth locator, a pocket knife module designed by Klecker Knives and a 12-lumen flashlight. The Pivot is also compatible with many other tools already on the market including the Griffin Pocket Mini and Klecker Knives’ new line of Stowaway Tools. $19.99+; www.mykeyport.com

Green Dad: Hydaway Bottle – This collapsible, pocket-size and eco-friendly hydration

bottle is the perfect fit for any travel excursion or outdoor adventure. Made from foodgrade silicone, the Hydaway Bottle is portable, easy-to-use, and travels anywhere. The innovative, hinged design allows it to pack down flat (1.25 inches thick) to fit in a pocket, purse, carry-on or backpack. Expand the bottle full size for a drink of ice cold water. When you’re finished, collapse it flat and stash it away. All Hydaway bottles feature an easy to use, flipup straw for quick sips, carabiner-friendly carry handle, and watertight guarantee. It is BPA-free, taste-free, odor-free and dishwasher safe. It’s available in 12 colors. $20; www.hydawaybottle.com

Outdoorsy Dad Genius Pack Commuter Backpack – Lightweight backpack

features a TSA-approved, 16-inch padded compartment with a butterfly design that allows you to keep a laptop inside the backpack while you pass through security. The Commuter Backpack is designed with two quick access exterior pockets, three main compartments for spacious storage and padded, adjustable shoulder straps to enhance comfort. It is constructed of durable fabric that is water-, abrasion- and UV-resistant. The backpack measures 16.5” x 3” x 12” and weighs only 1.7 pounds. $79;www.geniuspack.com

Stroke of a Genius O’Niel Scott

Today’s culture of millennials has become more art aware. Museums have taken over the post-brunch “Sunday Funday” routine. Knowing a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting can give you some bragging points. Purchasing artwork has become a hobby of some while creating pieces of art has become a profession of their peers.

Recently after attending a museum and talking about my musical history, a close friend asked what does music look like in my head. I explained that there are colors, plumes, pillars, and orbs floating and dancing.

We agreed that I should attempt to paint what was in my head. I turned on my favorite music playlist, closed my eyes, and put paint to canvas. I recorded moments of creating and shared my colorful canvas with my inner circle. While I know painting isn’t my destiny, I decided at that moment that I would pick up my brush and palate to relax and just to allow my creative side to breathe.

With social media being a promotional platform for many artists, I began searching hashtags associated with painting. One day, I came across O’Neil Scott, a Philadelphia based artist who posted a painting that he was finishing of Colin Kaepernick. Being Pennsylvania proud, I sent the photo in a Direct Message to a group of my friends, and one told me that it looked so real that she felt she could reach into her phone and play with his hair. True artistry is in the detail. O’Neil Scott is a man of detail. Intrigued by his precision, tones, and emotion in his work, I began to research him and eventually reached out.

SUAVV: How long have you been an artist and how did you get started with painting?

O’NEIL: I have been drawing all my life but just started seriously painting two and a half years ago.

My passion is art, and I always felt like something was missing in my life if I was not being creative. As a result, I created a goal to get a body of work together and then start to approach galleries. To my surprise, I was about two paintings in and I began to get contacted by galleries. This fueled me to work harder and get better fast. I started to work with a gallery and had my first solo exhibition last September, which was within a year and a half of getting started.

SUAVV: That’s pretty amazing. You hit the galleries quickly. While you are still becoming a full-time artist, you also have a masters degree in IT. Did you ever have a regular 9-5 in the IT field?

O’NEIL: Yes, I worked in analytics for a long time and still do to supplement my income. Even though I took foundation art classes at Syracuse University, I am indeed a self-taught artist. Hopefully, one day I will be only doing art, but I currently have a few different means of income.

SUAVV: Understood. The starving artist look isn’t the best way to go, LOL. Speaking of Syracuse, you were great at football to have a scholarship with Syracuse University. When did you know that this was what you wanted to do for a living instead of football?

O’NEIL: I would have loved to play football in the NFL, and I was very driven to get there. I even tried out for a few teams. I think everyone has to pursue what motivates them and for me, I decided early on that I wanted to establish my career and develop some valuable life skills and not fall into the trap of trying out for the NFL each year. I feel like I may have quit a little early, but I don’t regret my decision. It gave me a head start on another passionate career path. I always felt like I was good at many things but great at nothing.

When it comes to art, I am extremely motivated to become great.

SUAVV: That’s was great planning at a young age. When I look at your art, I see greatness, but I’m not an art critic. What would you consider your style of artistry?

O’NEIL: I don’t like to categorize the work because I am always experimenting, but I think it can be considered a form of contemporary realism. I am very drawn to people and try to capture how the current state of the environment is impacting their world.

SUAVV: Okay, so, what were your inspirations for your different pieces? Do you find yourself treading on controversy?

O’NEIL: Well, I do think some of the pieces can be controversial and do spark feelings that many would like to suppress. One of my primary goals in my art is to try and give a voice to communities that don’t typically have one. Some people think the paintings have a political lean, but I think of it more as addressing issues that affect marginalized communities. I have had some backlash around some of the pieces; however, I think it is coming from a lack of understanding the work in general. Provoking commentary on the topic of the painting is already a significant win in my book.

SUAVV: Do you ever look at your “finished” pieces and wish you’d done something differently? When do you know a painting is complete?

O’NEIL: Yes, especially with some of my earlier paintings. I don’t think I laid out the composition or made preliminary sketches beforehand. I find that the paintings that turn out the best are the ones with more work done upfront before the painting is started. I think my more recent paintings have better color harmony and I work with a more limited palate. I feel like DaVinci when he says, “A painting is never finished, only abandoned.” Most of my paintings take more than a hundred hours and can easily be worked on longer if I want, but I feel like I have so many ideas in my mind that I get extremely excited about the next painting. One day I want to work on a painting for a year and see how it turns out.

SUAVV: Okay nice, I don’t know if I have seen any of your early pieces. However, a year on one painting is a long time, which means your putting a lot of hours in at the studio. So, when you are not painting, what do you like to do?

O’NEIL: If I’m not checking out a gallery or a museum I am usually watching a moving or hanging out with family. Being an artist is such a solitary occupation, you are alone in the studio for hours and the time you have away from the studio needs to be cherished and spent with the ones you love.

SUAVV: Nice, and I see that you wear headphones while you paint. Are you a big music fan? What do you listen to?

O’NEIL: I listen to a variety of things; it could be a podcast usually an artist interview or talk. I do like a lot of audiobooks, anything that involves a mystery or artistic growth. I think it goes without saying that I am listing to music, it’s mainly Hip Hop or R&B. Jay-Z, Nas, The Weeknd, and Drake are some of my favorite artists.

SUAVV: I’m from the northeast, so I keep a little Biggie, Jay-Z, Common, Talib, Mos Def, and the Roots on repeat. LOL. Last but not least, I know most of my circle love your work. Are your pieces for purchase? If so, how does one purchase one of your paintings?

O’NEIL: Yes, the paintings are for purchase. Most of them sell through Jo Hay Open Studio gallery in Provincetown MA. If anyone is interested, they are welcome to contact me. All the info is on the website oneilscottstudio.com

P

ulling up to a seemingly small house in Venice, California, I was greeted by the new TV and Netflix actor Tory Devon Smith. It wasn’t a typical wave and “hello”. No, that wouldn’t be the demeanor of this guy. Tory, was standing on the front porch with a robust laugh and this delicious spritzer cocktail… which I still have no idea of the ingredients.

He knows what car I am driving, with my brother/ celebrity photographer Michael Letterlough, Jr., because I am describing it while we are on the phone.

As I slowly pass his location, he yells out, “NOW, DON’T JUST DRIVE BY WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.” We both fall out laughing. I park, we greet with a hug and huge smiles, and our day in Venice is off to a fun start.

Tory Devon Smith

Photos by Michael Letterlough, Jr. Grooming by Rodney Jon Accessories from Thomas Cuvor Styling by Tory Devon Smith (assisted by Thomas Cuvor)

Tory is a trained versatile actor and has no problem jumping in and out of characters of Netflix original series ‘The Get Down’ and Vicente from BET series ‘Zoe Ever After’, starring Brandy Norwood. With his big laugh and all around jovial presence, it easy to understand how a laugh track could be a part of his everyday life.

comparable. We wanted to hang out with each other.

We liked each other. We still call each other as a cast.

That was wonderful and the crew was so sweet and so happy with us.”

For Tory, coming full circle was the silver lining of his own trials and tribulations. Once he got serious about being in the film and television industry, he knew he would have to have a tunnel vision about “People are being introduced to the comedic side of it. His whole life was to become an actor. He undermy capabilities, which is really fantastic,” Tory says stood that in order to REALLY make it as an actor, about his character on Zoe Ever After, as he is being he not only had to learn to act the part, he had to groomed for the photo shoot. “I think comedy allive the part. He had to eat, sleep, and drink acting. If lures people tohis actions weren’t wards you. People “Juggling characters is pretty interesting. I helping him be an love to laugh. And think, as a trained actor, you want this. You actor, they were if you can make hindering his progare trained to bring two very different them laugh, you ress. He reevaluated characters to life.” are closer to their friendships, jobs, heart. With ‘The locations, and evGet Down’, they will eryday life. The end result was a life with little to no see the direct contrast to my performance. Juggling distractions and landing a role that he loves. characters is pretty interesting. I think, as a trained actor, you want this. You are trained to bring two “I didn’t have anything that was going to distract me. very different characters to life.”

There were various options that were in front of me.

Going to school and getting my graduate degree, goAnd that’s exactly what he does. While on the BET ing to Chicago and doing some off-Broadway proset, Tory was given the opportunity to improve moductions or going to New York, Europe, Australia. I ments of his character while on set and then see the knew that going to television, if you get something, changes in the script the next day. He understands the notoriety would allow you go have other projects. the power of taking what is seen in the script and So I am incredibly happy that I was able to book a seinterpreting it the best way possible. That doesn’t alries regular on a comedy before I’m 30 on a network ways mean that you stay word for word on the script. that I grew up watching. I grew up with Comic View However, he understands that it is his job, as the and Teen Summit. This was my first job so I was just actor to make what is on the page work. Which was happy that I was on the set and getting to say shit.” perfect with the way the show was written.

“I remember reading the scripts (Zoe Ever After) because we got all 8 at one time, and thinking about how charming the show was,” Tory reflects. “I was auditioning for several pilots in the beginning of the year, and a lot of shows are catered for only one episode and you notice it. But, when I got the scripts for Zoe, I said to myself ‘they left a lot of room in here and they filled it with her life and different trials and tribulations’. And it made it really easy for our characters to click because the chemistry on set was very

LAST ACTION HERO DEMETRIUS GROSSE

“I had a voice before I was an actor,” Demetrius Grosse tells me during a break in filming his movie. “I’m just blessed to have an outlet that allows me to make some informed decisions about the path that I charter and how that can affect my audience. It just happens that others such as Jean-Michel Basquiat was able to affect his audience through a visual.

Nas, Jay Z, and those guys have done it through their music. To be early in my career, I’ve been fortunate to be in projects that have social relevance. You never want to do something with futility.”

Demetrius, a Washington D.C. native, began acting early in his life. Training with some of the great theater professors at Howard University would be the nurturing platform that he needed. During his short stint at one of the most well-known members of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities umbrella, he found himself training and studying under the likes of Henriette Edmonds, Al Freeman Jr, Mike Malone, and more. He was not only gaining priceless knowledge and awareness, but he was also learning a valuable lesson; it allowed him to have the audacity and the confidence to be the proud Black leading man in the Cinemascope.

You have to really own yourself in all of the colors and nuances and elements of being black in America to be a true artist. Therefore, for Demetrius to have that experience in a collegiate atmosphere before he began working professionally was tremendously valuable. That environment really embeds a different sense of awareness and responsibility of the community.

“Sometimes we have to find people out in the deep sea; in shark-infested waters,” Demetrius says about his understanding of what his public status means for helping others. “I think it’s important for us to stay connected and informed, know our right and know what people have done before us and know the shoulder that we are standing on. If were aren’t a community of duplicity, we can never be respected as a community on the outside. In every form, whether its journalism, acting, music, photography. We have to look to stay connected and support each other and create content.”

Content has definitely not been a problem for the 36-year-old actor. Over an approximate 13 year career, Demetrius has risen from the unnamed US Marshall to “Preach” in the hit series The Brave. It would be his role of Dave Ubben in the Benghazi chronicled action thriller 13 Hours that would hit close to home for the large-statured actor. With family members and friends that serve in the military and law enforcement fields, playing the role of a “real” person who was critically injured during a mortar attack on the North African based US Embassy.

“I started very early on playing David and having a chance to play a character like that in a story that’s very provocative and current was important with me,” Demetrius explains with a passionate tone. “It wasn’t a lot of African Americans in the film. That

too was inspiring to be able to represent on a different level for an entire demographic of our enforcement who are of color. I was excited for people to see the film because it’s about courage, valor, and people stepping up in a really dangerous situation and taking the high road of saving lives. You really care about the characters who are real people. It’s something really good to be a part of. The other element of the timing on MLK Day. For it to open on that weekend was great for the conversation.”

The misconception of many actors is that once they make it they turn their back to the communities from which they come to keep the checks flowing and their reputation untarnished. Well, not this one.

He maintains a balance by staying family oriented and staying up with the current events. Knowing that we’re in a very volatile time in America, he had the opportunity to film a part in Straight Outta Compton.

This particular movie was indeed one that comes with conversations and provocations that were to be had. While doing interviews to promote the film and/or having conversations about it, Demetrius was also getting the opportunity to speak out on police brutality, mass incarceration, the judicial system, or just being an ambassador of hip-hop. Because at the end of the day, we all have to remember whose shoulders we stand on to be where we are.

“I was really blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to work on films that while they were recounting the past, the themes were still very current today,” Demetrius pleas. “None as strong as Straight Outta Compton and the Black Lives Matter Movement. It’s cool to be a part of work that is relevant and socially provocative. That keeps you grounded because you’re never able to get on the high horse and say “oh but I’m working and making a little bit of money,.” You’re held to a certain level of responsibility because the people who are watching your films, the country, and the world as a whole are looking at you because you are a part of something that is making a statement.

You can speak to the minds that are being changed and helping evolve people’s ideas.”

Photos by Michael Letterlough, Jr.

Piano Girl Melissa Gigges

Melissa Gigges was four-years old when she started

day, she found a scholarship for college so it was a

piano lessons. Her piano teacher asked her sing-

big music day for her... it was a big day to celebrate

along and when the lesson was done, the teacher

Melissa started training in classical music and got a

went to her mom and said: “Ashley, Melissa can sing.”

presidential scholarship from City University of New

Her mom put her into singing lessons and at the age

York. She would quickly get into jazz and would take

of 10, voice lessons included jazz and musical theater.

advantage of any performance opportunity. It was at

The White Plains, New York native was well on her

that moment that she realized ‘I think this is what I

way to a career that revolved around a passion. The

want to do with my life.’ moment. She always knew

journey would have her on a stage from this point

that she wanted to do something with music, but she

forward.

didn’t know where it was going to fit in her life.

“I started

With the encourage-

doing plays

ment of a college

and it was great. I was just singing and every time the show is finished,

“I really think about the stories that I want to tell, what song I wanted to talk about, what I want to tell people about as far as what’s going on in my life, and end in the present.”

they would

friend, Melissa began to write her music as well as play and sing. She dug into her journals that she has had since 3rd grade and the songs began to flow. With her

come to me and say ‘your voice is so beautiful’ but,

school girl crushes changing from the start of school

they never said anything about my acting.” Melissa

to recess, her Hello Kitty notebooks were full of ma-

laughs as we sit on the sidewalk of a cafe in the Chel-

terial that would lead to some of her best composi-

sea neighborhood of New York City. “Playing piano

tions. While she has never been a fan of karaoke and

and singing at the same time is really it’s normal for

doing covers, her ability to write her own content

me. I don’t think about it. Now, dancing is a com-

makes the start of her stage performance a little more

pletely different issue. When I was doing the Wizard

unique and genuine.

of Oz, moving my feet and trying to sing was an issue for me. I have to say I’m not going to cross over into

“I like to let them have a good time and enjoy them-

the acting world. Music is definitely on top. I wanted

selves, and they always try to push me to do it but, no

to take advantage of every opportunity, regardless

thanks,” Melissa laughs. “I go to the stage and realize

what kind of music it was.

that it’s not only important for me to play good and to perform songs well, but to really connect with the

While in high school, Melissa would do the tal-

audience.

ent shows and never thought she was going to win

I really think about the stories that I want to tell,

because there were a lot of other acts doing dance

what song I wanted to talk about, what I want to tell

numbers and she wasn’t. To her own surprise, she

people about as far as what’s going on in my life, and

won and don’t know how it happened. That same

end in the present. I think people really really relate

to the music but they also listened to the person.”

Personally, I love the city altogether. I was in Brooklyn and knew all of the fun spots to hit for a good

Growing up in White Plains, New York, and still

night on the town. Melissa lives in the Lower East

having her mother and sisters there, gives Melissa

Side of Manhattan. To be very honest, New York

the much needed mental breaks that New York

City is one of the best places to be. You can walk

City living will require. She moved into the city

out of the door there are tons of restaurants, tons of

for college and has been in the city for quite some

bars, lots of music venues… I was in love. The city

time now. While she loves visiting her parents and

is just an eclectic group of people and I love diversi-

hanging out in the backyard, getting some fresh air

ty. when Melissa is home and going to check out the

and sitting in the grass, and doing some work on

music scene, she can go two blocks to listen to some

her laptop, she can’t imagine living anywhere else

great music and hear all kinds of styles. There is

besides New York City.

always that one downfall. Any musician will tell you that digital instruments are nothing like the actual

thing. For her, it was the fact that her instrument of

it’s not going to happen. It means something to me

choice is a piano.

that it’s my parents piano. It was given to my parents and then I got married and they let me have it. so it

“I have an upright piano that was given to my parents when they were married that has travel with me to two different apartments. My first was on the 5th floor in the East Village. I did not have an elevator and then I moved to Lower East Side on the second floor and I do not have elevator again. I have had to get movers help me move my piano I love my friends I trust my friends I just don’t trust them carrying my piano. I’d be more than happy to have a grand piano in my apartment. But, I live in Manhattan, so

means a lot more to me.”

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior -David Ramsey

Detroit born actor, David Ramsey stars as former United States Army Special Forces soldier, John Diggle, on the CW’s People’s Choice Award winning show Arrow.

However, being a DC Comics action hero was never in the scope of the once NFL hopeful.

Anyone who tells you that they have a black belt and over 20 years of Jeet Kune Do (the martial art created

by Bruce Lee) training and experience is probably in a great position to whoop your ass at the drop of a dime. Who in their right mind would step up and say, let me fight Bruce Lee? Of course, someone’s reading this and saying to themselves, “I’m not afraid of Bruce Lee!” Yeah…Okay. So when CW needed someone to look and maneuver like former military special forces for their new series Arrow, David Ramsey was their man. He is not only one of the latest superheroes to the DC Comic family with his portrayal of Sargent John Diggle, but he’s also that guy with the double decade or experience in kicking ass.

When the show was pitched to David, he had no idea that he would become the character that he has. It was a simple premise. He was going to be Oliver McQueen’s bodyguard/babysitter and would be the first person to find out that he had a secret life of fighting crime as the Green Arrow and would become his second in command. Evolving into Spartan was not in his wildest dreams.

“It was a superhero show,” David says as if he is still in awe of his character. “I love Green Arrow, and I love DC Comics. No one had any idea that the response to Diggle would be what it was. The response was so good that he became a legitimate DC character and that was because of the fans. The fans took to him, and he ended up winning their hearts. I don’t think the writers or producers anticipated that. It was really just a great gift. He’s a great character to play and because he doesn’t have a past in the comic book.

We are honestly just making it up as we go along. So it’s great.”

David has had a long road to superhero stardom.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, his teen and preteen years consisted of Police Athletic League sports and dreaming about being in the NFL. Until a church play entered his life and he saw his older brother acting. Like most kids, he admired his brother and the pure thought of “I can do that” was the spark that ignited his fire for the theater. He did everything possible from drama clubs to debate teams, to get in front of people and speak. Upon graduation, he attended Wayne State University and earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts with a theater concentration.

Immediately following the flip of a tassel the eager actor was on his way to the City of Angels. The plan was simple…become an actor. Or at least that’s what

he thought. After spending a couple of years working in a video store, he finally started landing roles.

Work became consistent, characters grew, and then it happened. Of course, there were low moments in his pursuit, but that’s typical. He’s the first to tell you “we all have them” however, he always reminds himself of how blessed and fortunate he is to continue working.

His first big project and Leading man role, Ali: An American Hero. That’s right, He was about to portray the greatest boxer in history.

“When you think about it, Terrence Howard filmed King of the World (a Muhammed Ali made for TV movie), and of course Will Smith did Ali,” David says as he chuckles at the memory. “So, all 3 of us played Ali at the same time and obviously Terrance, and I were both overshadowed by the enormous movie and job by Will Smith and Michael Mann. But, it was amazing. Anytime you get to sink your teeth into such an amazing character, that’s just a great thing. I would love to do that again but outside of the shadow of a big movie so that people would get to see it more.”

The Diggle character closely mimics his life. He regularly trains to accommodate the number of action scenes he films, and he is literally spending 75% of his year in Vancouver filming the series. It’s demanding and strenuous. He, the crew, and the cast have no choice but to become like a family. Then comes Friday, and like clockwork, David is on an airplane to get to the most important person in his life…his son.

“The distance between Vancouver and LA is a 2.5hour trip,” David says very nonchalantly. “Every weekend, I go back to see my little boy, or he comes up to see me. Every minute that I’m not working or working out, I’m trying to spend time with my son. I wish I could say something fascinating about having downtime but the truth of it is that all of my downtime is with my boy.”

The future may hold many things for David and what he will be able to do. After our interview was wrapped, I encouraged him to follow his interest in directing. We talked about how the CW and the DC family have so many spinoff shows, and sister shows that it could be a great idea to get behind the lenses as well. His voice lit up, he agreed, and the excitement was evident. The fantastic take away from that area of conversation was the respect that he has for the production, writing, and direction team of the show. He values everyone’s opinion, and they appre-

“Anytime you get to sink your teeth into such an amazing character, that’s just a great thing.”

ciate his feedback as well as his cast members. SO who knows, maybe one day John Diggle and Spartan will have its own series. There’s a ton of backstory that hasn’t been developed and will work over time.

But that’s the future. As of right now, David Ramsey is playing his part and playing it well.

“We have an evident open door policy with our writers and producers,” David proudly boasts. “As actors, we have to be careful with the characters because we feel so close to them because we work with them every day opposed to the writers who are working with ALL of the characters. Diggle is such a rich character that he could live off on his own. It’s an incredibly complicated and layered character. I would love to explore that more because we are barely scratching the surface. There are issues with him and his brother, as well as how far he is willing to go to protect his friends. There’s just a great drama that

can be done with this character. You can bring great tragedy to him because he can afford to be knocked down a peg or so. That’s the kind of character who you want to see be human and fall. The writers have their words, and we have our actions. They have a story arc and a place where they are going, and we are subject to that as actors. We can’t write the story that’s their job. We all want the same thing, and that’s the best story being told.”

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Breakout

King Tye White

Breaking into Hollywood isn’t an easy accomplishment. There are thousands of people, yearly, that come here with a dream of fame and celebrity with a half empty bank account. They saved up enough money to move here and sleep on a friend’s couch until they “get on their feet”. Sadly, most will move back home before they sign a lease of their own.

When you hear a story of a leap of faith that was successful, it’s always interesting...well, at least to me.

Tye is a newer face to the motion picture world while being a seasoned face to the Hollywood location. It’s mid-morning and I found out about a strip of cafes, restaurants, bars, theaters, and lounges 5 minutes from my apartment in North Hollywood. Ironically enough, Tye lives 5 minutes away as well. We decided to meet at one of the smaller coffee shops in the area. Happy to have a little bit of privacy left in his career, we chose some very non-private outdoor seating to chop it up a little bit.

Tye is the first to admit landing here wasn’t easy.

Coming from a blue-collar family in the mid-west, the objective is to get an education, get a great job, and provide for your family. His dad was in the Investments, real estate, and insurance fields. He was a businessman. So when his son Graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in economics, further education in business school was the hopes. Tye had a different dream and the theater classes on his college transcript was the first sign.

Even the first years of me being here he was very frustrated with me. After he cooled down, he was just like, ‘I don’t know what you are doing, but I support you in doing it.’ And to keep in 100, there were times that I did have to hit him up and ask for some help. He would float me, but it was always with love.”

Tye’s journey of Los Angeles started as many actors in this city, classes, student films, smaller projects, and more classes. You do what you have to do to get your feet wet, get used to the mechanisms of the industry, and developing an understanding of how this city works, (Trust me, it’s not ALL talent).

To others, it man seem like it happened quickly, but it was 4 years from when Tye arrived in Los Angeles until his first role. That was about 3 years ago. After hitting the scene in the 2014 Drumline Sequel, Drumline: A New Beat, the opportunities began rolling in.

“The first four years, I did everything I could do to stay above water,” He laughs. “EVERYTHING there was to do in Hollywood to not have to go back home. Bartend, uber, borrow money, everything you can think of to pay your bills... everything except walking the Santa Monica boulevard strip, selling it.”

“Those semester grades came in, my pops saw way too much theater on there and killed that quickly,” Tye says laughing. “He wanted me to stop the acting classes because he wanted to make sure that I could get a job. So, I put it on the back burner, Graduated and began a career as a business banker for Chase Bank. One day, I was talking to a friend of mine and we were discussing me going to New York City to interview with JP Morgan on Wall Street. We somehow got on retirement. And he said ‘yeah man, only 40 more years until retirement.’ I said, to myself, ‘wow, that’s really the mentality.’ Not me. I quit my day job and moved from Detroit and said I couldn’t do it anymore.”

While some may recognize him as Aiden Hanna, the son of LL Cool J’s NCIS Los Angeles character, Sam Hanna. Others will briefly remember him as Jason Simpson, son of O.J. Simpson, in the award dominating series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Sitting at the table with the Titans that this show has cast, Tye was solidified in the sense of belonging. “I’m not saying I belong on their level at all,” Tye exclaims humbly.

“Don’t get that twisted. But, it let me know that I belong here. That I was able to be at the same table.

I’m not carving the turkey, but I’m at the table and in the conversation.” Regardless of what you do as an artist, be it a painter, musician, actor, whatever, you always want to know that you don’t suck. For many, the first time REALLY seeing Tye was in his role as Kevin Satterlee on the Oprah Winfrey Network’s hit show Greenleaf. Which Tye has no problem admitting, may actually be the toughest role that he has played to date.

“When I quit my job, he(dad) was HOT... he was real hot”, Tye says, shaking his head as if he recalled a conversation. “He wasn’t feeling me.

“It’s different from me because he is dissimilar to me,” Tye says. “I mean I’m not Kevin at all, but there is so much truth to him and his

“To those that want to get their career started, it may appear that I made it. To those of us that are in it, we know that we are constantly chasing our dreams and our goals.” character that it excited me to tell that story. In today’s world, we all know somebody that we all suspect (to be gay) and we want them to be happy and not have to hide. We want them to know that we are going to love them anyway. I know it may be difficult, from the outside looking in, it has to be hard to come out and be in that capacity. So I’m just excited to tackle it. Normally, on tv you just get the straight forward, ‘the guy is gay’. His story is complex, because he is married, loves his wife, and is more than just a guy in the closet. I can’t give the full story away but you’re going to see it unfold into a more complex storyline.”

During the process of Greenleaf, Tye was back and forth between Los Angeles, Atlanta more than a FedEx cargo plane at Christmas. He would film an episode of NCIS and then shoot to a chemistry read, table read, and fitting for Greenleaf, and then shoot back for a taping for NCIS, then back in Atlanta filming Greenleaf, and back to Los Angeles to finish Crime Story. At one point, his agent and manager worked some magic in to get him back to LA for a few NCIS episodes that were practically impossible to create. Needless to say, our conversation went on to how horrible our sleeping patterns are. Tye tells me a story that he heard about Brad Pitt not sleeping at nights because he is worried about his movies opening properly, fan reactions, making the investors money back, or if the paparazzi will follow him and his family the next day.

While we agree about these being 1 percent problems, we also agree on something else. To whom much is given, much is expected.

“We all lose some sleep because we are trying to grow,” Tye reflects. “To those that want to get their career started, it may appear that I made it. To those of us that are in it, we know that we are constantly chasing our dreams and our goals. I don’t feel it(celebrity status) at all. Nothing has changed in my life. I don’t get harassed and don’t want that.

I’m in the company of some greats, but I want to one day be one of the great. I’m hoping I am just at the tip of the iceberg. LA is funny. People know who you are and won’t say anything to you. Unless you’re like Will Smith, nobody really cares. (It’s funny, as he says this, a director friend of his walks up and calls him “The Superstar” and then jokingly tells me to stay as far away from this contagious guy as possible.They chat about getting out and running on the track nearby and working on a project that Tye caught wind of the friend working on. As Tye sits back down, he continues) I’m not recognized by name but they look at me and say “he looks like someone” they figure out about me later.” Clearly, we both fall out laughing. “I don’t want to be at the point that I can’t live my life. I have my long term goals. I don’t like to say many of them aloud because I feel that when you have a goal and you speak it there are always some naysayers out there that are quick to shoot you down.

If I say I wasn’t 10 Oscars, they’ll say, ten...Denzel only has 3 and you ain’t no Denzel. My goals and dreams are between me and God. He knows and sometimes he gives me new ones. And sometimes goals are removed because they aren’t relevant anymore. It’s just a part of that maturation process.”

Star of Starling City Echo Kellum

Let’s just put this out there...I love a good TV series!

Some of my favorites have been True Blood, 24, Law & Order (Criminal Intent and SVU), Vikings, The 100, and one of my most recently binged shows Arrow. It’s easy to say once I’m invested in a show, I’m HOOKED. Therefore, it was no surprise when the Green hooded underdog was trying to rid his city of all wrongdoers.To my excitement, his team began to grow, and this tall, nerdy, curly fro rocking dude made his way into the lair. Enter Echo Kellum.

his face, Echo delved immediately into the comedy scene.

Echo is a Chicago native who has been in Los Angeles going on 10 years now. He spends his everyday life the same as any other regular dad. His daughter is his first priority. He gets her ready for school before starting his daily tasks, makes sure to be done with his professional life before homework is started and tries to make sure that he spends as much time with her as possible. His time home is cherished because 9 months out of the year, he is in Vancouver filming the CW hit series.

If he weren’t acting right now, he’d be playing basketball and creating music. Well, basketball first because he feels they have the best union benefits. Nonetheless, the artistic side of Echo is definitely a prominent characteristic trait. Finding music to be very therapeutic in his life, the actor is following in his brother’s footsteps as a rapper.

After filming a pilot for another show with Warner Brothers that wasn’t given the green light, Echo was called in by the production team for the 4th season of Arrow. And the rest is history. To be able to be a part of the DC family and work on this project has been a dream come true for Echo. He happily admits that the number of action scenes has been the best part of his new life as a “Superhero.”

“Early on I didn’t really know it was going to be such an action-packed role,” Echo says laughing from his LA Home. It’s an Early afternoon, and he is home on a day that he describes as a much-needed break.

“I knew my character was a tech guy who was really smart. So, it was really cool to get involved and really mix it up. We had to do different types of martial arts. We have great trainers in Vancouver. We train 3-4 times a week which is great. Last year I was injured and tore my rotator cuff and had to sit down for a little while.”

Echo has wanted to be an actor since he was a child.

He was a part of a Children’s acting agency and would go all over the Midwest doing different theater productions. Therefore, when the opportunity to make the jump to Los Angeles was presented in 2009, he decided to take it. Many find it difficult to adjust to the Los Angeles lifestyle. To keep a smile on

“It was tough early on,” Echo reflects. “I moved to a city where I didn’t know a lot of people. But LA is a place where I found my improv community very early on and built this family and friendship that will probably last for the rest of my life. I was very fortunate that I was able to come out to the city and join a wonderful community of nerdy and artistic people.”

He’s used to changing characters and personalities.

He finds it hilarious that he gets caught up in the jargon of Curtis Hol or when he is doing voiceovers Vfor multiple characters on Rick and Marty. Though his CW character as an underworld hero as well as his normal voice is cheerful and full of fun, he found that his rap voice is a little of a personal surprise.

“I’m working on a hip-hop album,”Echo says with a completely different tone from the rest of our interview. It’s almost like he is trying to figure it out as he is explaining. “I’ve always had a great appreciation and love for music. I’m still trying to find my sound.

It’s a little darker than I anticipated. There are artists that I look up to and love like Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar, Future, Drake, but I don’t think I know what my style actually is. Once I started writing it was interesting to see where my music went. It was a pleasant surprise like “Whoa…okay” it’s very different, and I can’t wait to see what happens with it.”

In the Groove Benjamin Patterson As an actor, the ultimate goal is having a really good character within an amazing storyline. Sometimes, the character is so far fetched from actual life that it is even more challenging for the actor to understand that person. Benjamin Patterson has placed himself in one of the best storylines on television today. As Noah, on the hit OWN Tv series Greenleaf, he was able to show a little range from his everyday life as a husband, father, and music artist.

It’s early afternoon and Benjamin is full of life during our phone interview. He’s riding home from the airport to see his husband and son after a long work week on the east coast. He’s telling me how fortunate he is about his shooting schedule with the show and how Oprah and the team at OWN have really taken his family into consideration. Being married for over 16 years is a wonderful thing, but, being a first time father of a new baby boy, has been the highlight of this chapter of his life.

“It’s really wonderful,” Benjamin says with a smile that you can hear through the line. “I’m seeing all of these learning milestones and physical milestones that makes my time at home very precious. It also means that everything has to be on a schedule according to HIM (laughing). It’s not like I’m going to get up at 8 and go work out. He gets up at 7 and is eating at 730. It makes me want to do more so that I can have the best for him while having the best for myself. So having a wonderful work team like OWN, is just amazing. Everything around his birth was great. I worked up until he was going to be born, then flew home for a couple of days, went back to work that next week, and was back home 2 days later.”

Filming away from your family is always hard. Add in the type of role that Benjamin is filming, one would think the stark contrast of life would be a little hard to portray. Well, only to an amature actor.

“I’m attracted to really good and creative characters,” Benjamin explains. “And as long as I am attracted to the character that I have to embody, and I stay true to that, there’s nothing that can pigeonhole me. It’s more

of ‘Am I available to play that character’.

“I look at Johnny Depp and Don Cheadle as two of the actors that are soo not the same from film to film or tv show,” Benjamin explains. “So the challenge is to wipe the board clean. So you say, okay who is this person? What do they like to do? Where do they eat?

How do they walk? And once you start to go off into that character and find those basics, you are able to come up with these other results and you become more comfortable with their choices. If I’m a cop, I will be the best cop I can be. If I am a hard nosed military guy or a gangster, I have to be the best at that and just leave myself at the door. So that whoever that character is, if you have to fall in love with him, you will. But if you are to hate him, I need to make sure that every part of my being is hated by you.”

And that held very true with his character of Noah Kendall on Greenleaf. To think that the morality of the church was put under the microscope would be the wrong way to view this series.

“There wasn’t a criticism about the church, but basically highlighting common events of people’s lives,” Benjamin explains. “These were power struggles that would be in the entertainment world, corporate america, or the real estate world. It’s common. It just happens to be in the backdrop of a megachurch in the south, so there is a lot of caution that people are having. However, I feel that the show is very specific in telling a really good story and also relating to many audiences through the eyes of the black church.

It’s like eyes behind the curtain that you wonder what’s going on and this show says “okay let’s suppose this is going on and address it.” What makes it great is the work we are putting into the art of this.”

Acting was never the focus for Benjamin. While all of his friends were running track, he figured he would do something different. He actually thought he would continue his high school swimming championships at the olympics as a sprint and relay swimmer throughout high school. “I swam all 4 years,” he says with pride. “I was super excited to see the

“The first time I swam the 500, there was someone that finished in 10 minutes which isn’t a great time,” He says as he begins to laugh. “I finished in 35 minutes. People were dried off, changed, and in their cars, and I was still swimming.” olympics. I mean when i swam there was no one that looked like me. My team there was me and this guy josh and donald that were the three african-americans on the team. Then, I lifeguarded in Oakland for 4 years. Talk about a diverse group there are a lot of guys that wouldn’t be seen as swimmers or lifeguards.

“Black people don’t swim” yeah… well, we do in Oakland.”

Swimming the 50m Butterfly, 50m freestyle, 200m medley, 4x100m relay, he was grooming himself to be Michael Phelps before there was a Michael Phelps.

But his coach had a trick up his sleeve. Once a year, he would make Benjamin swim the longest race in the meet. “The first time I swam the 500, there was someone that finished in 10 minutes which isn’t a great time,” He says as he begins to laugh. “I finished in 35 minutes. People were dried off, changed, and in their cars, and I was still swimming. My coach used to make me swim it at least once a year and i HATED it. The sprints…. i was good, i was excited and cheering for my teammates. In the 500, I’m trying to figure out what i am going to eat once I am done. You have a lot of time to think in that race.”

The conditioning of swimming is probably the main contributor to the physique that Benjamin holds to date. While he knows where his limits lay, his concern is making sure that he an be an active father when his son is ready to get out and play. An avid skier and recent snowboarder, Benjamin looks to people like OWN president Eric Logan who is surfing at 5am just about every morning before going to work. While having such a high demand job, he admires the time that Eric gives himself every day.

Benjamin devotes a good amount of his free-time to a different beat of the drum….literally.

Being a drummer for as far back as he can remember, it wasn’t a surprise when Benjamins love for music drifted into his father’s record collection. And eventually turned him into the house party DJ from 7th grade through college. If it was on vinyl, Benjamin owned it. He veers away from the 1’s and 2’s these

days and sticks to his instruments (piano, bass, and electric guitar to be exact) and the love of his band, Sapphire Sky. While he still gets the urge to DJ from time to time, unstead of being that old guy coming down talking about “back in my day we used to carry crates” he knows to let the “young cats” with 5000 songs on a zip drive and a laptop handle that...even if their skills are limited. Nonetheless, the memory that stands true and firm involves him, a basement, and a sacred Herbie Hancock album.

“My dad had a murance turntable with Chic wood on it that he got from vietnam,” Benjamin describes.

“And it was a belt drive. So it’s a magnet and there are no moving parts. I get his copy of Chameleon by Herbie Hancock. So, i’m gonna do what this DJ did at this party. so i start scratching. And i hear him scream BEN!!!! And i got busted and a good talking to. But if i would have done that on his Parliament albums with Flashlight or Knee Deep.. you wouldn’t have a person to interview today.”

The Power of One Omari Hardwick Interview by Justin Q. Williams Written by Rashod Davenport If you walk into any barbershop in a black community, you can guarantee yourself three arguments.

Who is the greatest basketball player ever (even though it’s always a Lebron, Michael, and Kobe conversation)? Who is the best rapper dead or alive, and whether POWER or EMPIRE is the best show on television? These debates are never based on facts, but a complete perspective of the arguing parties.

That said, the scale of the barbershop is typically always favoring POWER due to the personification of one man...Omari Hardwick.

Omari’s character James St.Patrick aka “Ghost,” on the hit STARZ show POWER, embodies the dream of many men that watch the show. He’s the successful businessman with the money, cars, and clothes, has three beautiful children and a wife, and his best friend is like his brother. The twist is that he’s a drug dealer, the love of his life is his mistress, and one of his closest friends from the past is trying to kill him.

Ghost is trying to get out of the game but continuously pulled back into the grip of the underworld by the same people whom he is trying to give an honest life. Now it’s a hell of a storyline that will keep you entertained for many nights.

Seated on a plush wall sofa in the lounge of the W Hotel in Atlanta, is Omari. He has a bottle of Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey cracked open with a few ounces drowning the square ice-cubes in his cup. He’s relaxed and dressed relaxed because he has a long night of talking his way.

He’s in town for The Real to Reel short film contest and local film screening tour, presented by Gentleman Jack. You can’t help but see “Ghost” seated beside you. Not being able to separate the character from the person is the sign of a fantastic actor.

Nonetheless, the person that we spoke to is soo far from Ghost and soo much closer to James St. Patrick.

“It’s me,” Omari laughs as he takes a sip from his cup. James Saint Patrick crossing into Omari is okay,” Omari laughs as he sips his drink and sits up in his chair. “I got a deal with Real to Reel and Gentleman Jack because of a “James Saint Patrick” within Omari, the business savvy, and the ability to carry and present myself in a way that grandpop and pop and several other people that an important in my life have aided me in presenting myself. ‘GHOST’ intermingling with Omari is a problem, and it’s also impossible for him not to. I’m shooting the show (POWER) for seven months, and there’s a four-yearold and a two-year-old at home. It’s hard. I deal with it (coming out of character) with the punching bag down in the gymnasium. That helps. The gymnasium and the punching bag in the gymnasium. This year it’s music. Pouring my THAT into the music.”

Growing up in Decatur, Georgia, sports were a huge part of Omari Latif Hardwick’s world, but early on he knew he had a passion for the arts.

When arriving in his teenage years, Hardwick was writing poetry on a regular basis, a love he would carry with him into adulthood. The Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network is a multi-faceted, after-school spoken word poetry program available free to students actively attending Broward County public high schools, middle schools, and select elementary schools.

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As ad quiae niendiani tenimod itatiatur litis et porestiae ipsam dolorrovid esticulture to get stuff out verbally you’re just promoted audit, omnis sita sit odis maiorepero bus dendem inulluptaero si im- Islands and was at to get stuff out physically.”

“We were en route to omnis the Cayman cus unt optatem oluptam ustore quis agni volorem ene ius, oditam quos a layover in Houston when sheaut said, “did you go to quasperiosse verecte molorecerum, ium sequis aperum ipsanis sitatus nim Omari had a moment when he needed that outlet. the meeting for that one show?” Omari reflects with quost with re por eatur, utem. Aximoeatectur? ipiti aut she et quis On vacation hisalibus wife to The Cayman Islands, voluptiate a laugh.

“I didn’tQui even know remembered I had a lu piciis none andellora sus cum hiciusmoditis quisita tibuscipsa deri rerunte she casually asked him if he went to the meeting meeting for it... I thought about it for two maybe dam, quuntec ullutminutes. molore And la deni intibusam about the new project.atiunt To hisquasper surpriseundebitishe remem- laborithree I said ‘I can’t believe you thought um rehenis quo voluptur apellit unt. vendenis dent, quistrum voluptaturis bered while he completely forgot about it) and after a that.’ In a route back, I learned from my manager Git vid of quam, blandia sequethat dis the volore sinctatur as estias few moments shockvenihit that hisrepro Public Relations wife show wasn’t taking ‘no’asfor an answer. So, I quam, his quam et que he etur audanda net, nobit acearit volectem arum fac- she said: “...you remembered meetings, told her thatntinhe hadn’t. always give her credit for it because venis voluptatum qui dolendunt, simin caes mo di doluptate la quibus.

His mindset when leaving for vacation wasn’t on any really have to start embracing your power.” It wasn’t comnim aspid quam ma int.

Rum until reptaanonseque volore, encounter with anyone aboutrene a show.

Omari had his year later that thesumenda word that she asked me to Tem nim as auditatem nimaio.

Turem eperumqui omnis es sum focus on another controversial role that was being embrace in prayer forquostrum 45 days is qui the name of the eratem et adita arita plic to ipici nus arias qui doluptatus reperchilla as deplayed out in the face of America. It was on his show and I haven’t gone back after that. I’ve emliquos maio tem accusam cuslese quianie ntisto corestem ne dolum “Little eosam Black Boy Wonder.” braced fully after that. Curtis (50 Cent) got on me dam re, idest asperuptae post asi bere, fugitat as ipsunt audita conem about it and said ‘from herequi out don’t go backward’ dolupitae saperum idebitatur? blamso et I’m offictrying.” to et occus pra is aceptae “Maybeutitlawas a tough siti day,” Omari thinks to himself.

Item dolor re simus, consequod modi peruntibus “I’m very much an activist in my spirit. And the remo voloreh enitin ea alis id qui odi Trayvon verdict allowing (George) Zimmerman to Going backward is entirely not an option. While in ascrime aliquam aut was get off dent for the wasque the explatum same day that pursuit of his acting career, Omari was doing odd initially meet for POWER. I was doing the PSA jobs as a security guard and a substitute teacher. He called ‘Little Black Boy Wonder’ because I just had to was able to get into acting classes but wasn’t able to get it out. I used these actors... David Oyelowo, Eric make ends meet on a consistent basis. He saw a

significant break with a project with Spike Lee, and he turned down a paramedic opportunity and chased his dreams. Unfortunately, that path in the maze of success was a turnaround. He ended up homeless and living in his car. He showered at the gym that he attended. He parked his car on the same lot that he ended up filming a project on later down the line. At the time, he was coaching and mentoring Denzel Washington’s son, John David Washington as a football player at Campbell Hall in Beverly Hills, California. When the Washingtons found out his circumstances, they offered him exactly what he needed, a roof. Sure, while Denzel could have called any producer in the industry and asked them to give Omari a shot, he kept business and personal very separate. He would go on to provide Omari with advice, and Paulette made sure that Omari’s car was paid off. When he landed his first major gig, he repaid them all that they had invested in him. It was a moment of triumph for

Omari. How does one stay focused when it feels like everything is being turned upside down?

“I’m competitive,” Omari says confidently. “Not competitive enough to grab my moxie and say I want to be number one on the call sheet but such a competitor. I’m a Capricorn, and I don’t know how to come down from the mountain once I start I’m on it. It’s always hard for athletes to give up.

Which is counterintuitive to be that diligent but look over to the right and see a platinum character and say “Nah I’m cool on that” but keep going up the mountain. But going up the mountain is embracing the character. I’ve got issues and so does ‘Ghost.’ I definitely wasn’t awesome at embracing my power, (pun intended). I hid from that for very long time. I was okay with embracing how well I saw life and how clear I saw it. I think, all in all, even the characters that now encompass that are on shows, and embracing that word, my power in

“...I mean hell, 16-year-olds shouldn’t be watching ghost, but they’re watching him.” the industry, my platforms, the big microphones that are being thrust into my face and asking a poignant question. I think they’re imbued in characters that everyone is into because the mix of a poet meets an athlete, meets a kid who grew up in Decatur but went to high school in northwest Atlanta, (that being Peachtree), but went back to snap finger in Decatur. I got such a weird sort of dichotomous life that into a character, I don’t know if an acting class can teach that. that.”

Omari grew up in a very loving and nurturing environment. Being the middle child of 3, he was probably one of the coolest kids in the house. Or at least in his mind. His background and the family he grew up in, negative and positive, he was this 11-yearold who would say he was going on 35 years of age on a Wednesday and would tend to be 4-years-old the following week, and 55 years old the next week.

Being very much a kid at heart, but really being an old person in mind and prophetically seeing a lot of life, Omari was nicknamed ‘Chilly’ by his maternal grandfather. He paid homage to his grandfathers in a song called “Chilly Boots” on his album Later in Decatur.

“I wrote a song recently that’s on the album called chilly boots is definitely useful in the sense that the hook,” Omari explains “For example, the refrain is one grandpop called me chilly, and the other gave me boots. What it speaks to is the fact that I wanted cowboy boots growing up (said with a reflective squint) and my mother and father weren’t necessarily broke, I think they’re probably could get them.

However, they didn’t get them that year. But my grandfather got them and from that moment on, to ask if each other have what each other need, we symbolically made “boots” having what you need. So the song speaks to never figuring out why he (my mom’s pops) called me “Chili” and why pops pop gave me boots. I say the conclusion is, I was born cool enough to walk some truth.”

Knowing the intelligent and impressionable kid he was, Omari wants to make sure that he also provides some entertainment for his children that is considered age appropriate. Character after character, he has taken a role and created someone who we either love to love or love to hate him. He gives us hope just as much as resentment. We sometimes forget that actors have private and personal lives. If you ask my brother, while binge-watching POWER, he’ll joke that he’s seen Omari’s ass in an hour more than his own over a week. As with most women who have seen Omari in a film or on a show, they consider him to be the sex symbol. Nonetheless, his little girl may be his biggest fan. Even though she isn’t watching him on a hit STARZ series when daddy comes through the door, he is not “Ghost”...or is he?

“Before (our daughter)Nova had a memory, which I guess it pre-3 years old, we had not sold the LA house and called New York “the steady home” so there were definitely moments where I was hearing she was screaming out ‘ghost’,” Omari laughs. “I think Jay (his wife) was allowing her to watch the intro. But, who doesn’t want to watch the intro? It might be one of Curtis’s greatest songs of all time. So she knows Big Rich Town and Uncle 50 left to right and recites it verbatim. But at this point, No. But, I think that thankfully POWER is allowing me to sort of now have opportunities to do things that they can watch. I can’t wait to get into animation and voiceovers. Those things will be great. But I’ve done independent films such as the Christmas Blessing with Russ Parr, who is now director. Journalist turned director who was at the top of the game as a journalist and is now doing an incredible job as a director. But when he did Christmas Blessing, I was able to have the whole family go and watch it, and it was a great movie that kids can gather around to watch at every Christmas. Now they can’t really watch Ghost, I mean hell, 16-year-olds shouldn’t be watching ghost, but they’re watching him.”

Photos by Jamal Harrington Makeup by Rodney Jon

HAPPILY ‘FAKE’ Matt Sarafa

The only thing fake about matt is his collection of furs

I can remember the first time I inter-

viewed Matt Sarafa, for an exclusive interview at Afterbuzz TV. His PR team had arrived first, and I remember wondering what he would be like in person. I’d initially seen him on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. His godmother, Kyle Richards, one of the show’s stars, featured Matt’s line of faux furs at a trunk show in her New York store Kyle

by Alene Too in the episode. Even in the short scenes, he filmed, you could quickly tell Matt had an over-the-top persona that easily matched the glamour and drama of the wives on the show.

In hearing that we’d be interviewing him at the network, I quickly did a scan of his social media and thought, wow, he really lives this persona! I say persona at this point because, in Hollywood, you can never really tell what’s authentic and what’s a little put on for the cameras or theatrics of it all. But, when Matt breezed in wearing one of his signature furs from his collection, I knew right then and there – this was no put on persona. He was the real deal, and I was here for it. While he has a flashy style all his own, he still maintains a down-to-earth and fun personality that really shines through. You don’t always encounter that in this industry! And that stuck with me…

Matt’s popularity is on the rise, and he’s on the lips of Hollywood’s elite, thanks to his line of luxe faux furs. As a young designer, who has grown to success through hard work, tenacity, and drive, he truly epitomizes a brand that is bold, visionary, and completely style and fashion-forward.

And let’s face it, there’s nothing more pimped out than a fur coat.

So, by the time we met up again for our cover photo shoot, it felt like connecting with an old friend. Without pretense, Matt entered the building in a flurry of multi-colored furs, heels, and studded hats, completely ready to embrace the day. He was open to suggestions of color combinations and looks, but always remained MATT! Though he’s flattered, Matt does feel that being labeled a “rising fashion icon” has been earned, he feels that he is just someone who genuinely loves fashion, and likes sharing his style with the world!

How important is style to you? How would you describe your personal style?

Style and fashion are EVERYTHING to me!

I love expressing myself through the way I dress and the fashion I create. I fell in love with the individuality of the fashion industry, so I try always to embrace that.

I would say my personal style is definitely very edgy, a little androgynous, and super unique. I love pushing boundaries and taking risks with fashion. Looking back, I’ve definitely made some questionable style choices, but that’s all part of the growing process, right?

So many people may know you from reality television! Tell us about how you got onto Project Runway Jr? I found out about a casting call for Project Runway Junior from a friend, and I jumped on that SOO quick!! Watching Project Runway as a little kid was what actually got me into fashion in the first place, so I was not about to let the op-

...while I’d still DIE if I got Gaga in a coat, I wanna “ see some of the baddest in the game rocking my de-

signs. Rihanna is such a style icon & is someone who I totally look up to fashion-wise. I also love me some Cardi B ...

”

portunity of getting to be a part of the PR family slip through my fingers!

How was your overall experience on the show? Were there any challenges that maybe we didn’t see on the show?

Project Runway Junior was both the most rewarding and most stressful experience of my life. Watching the competition on TV is entirely different than actually being there and competing. The time crunches are no joke, and you really start to get mentally, physically, and creatively exhausted after a while. But with all that said, it was such an incredible experience for my career, and I definitely feel like I came off the show as a better designer.

Was there any pressure to bring the drama or was it more focused on you as a designer?

For the most part, there surprisingly wasn’t much drama! I think a lot of that had to do with our amazing producers and execs. They made it clear from the beginning that they wanted us to focus on our skills as young designers instead of being shady to each other. As a reality tv fanatic, I LIVE for all the drama, drink-throwing, and catfights, but I honestly think I would’ve had a complete mental breakdown if I had to deal with beef on top of focusing on all the challenges.

How did your life change after appearing on that show? What was the biggest lesson you learned from that show?

My life did a complete 180 after being on PRJ. A million doors opened up for me, and I feel like I did a good job of hustling and taking advantage of the platform that the show gave me. I got the incredible opportunity of launching my own clothing line and having shows at both New York and Paris Fashion Week at just 19 years old!

So, we’ve also seen you on RHOBH. You were featured at Kyle Richards’ Kyle by Alene Too NYC store location during fashion week at a trunk show for your line of furs! Tell us about that experience!

Yes! RHOBH was another absolutely life-changing experience! My godmother Kyle has been so incredibly supportive of my fashion career ever since I was little.

I promised her that once I got to a point where I was ready to launch my clothes in retail stores, her boutiques would be the first ones to get them! She told me she wanted to film that for Housewives, and the rest is history! It was so much fun getting to meet the all the ladies, and seeing how much they loved my faux furs!

How did the exposure from the show affect your business?

Being on RHOBH literally made my business blow up overnight. Within 24 hours of the episode airing, 90% of my website was completely sold out and I had sold enough coats to put me through college for all 4 years. Never in a million years would I have expected such an incredi-

“You have to have a super thick skin to

work in this industry. It’s very cutthroat and not even close to as glamorous as it seems. ” ble response, and I feel so lucky and so grateful :’) I’ve been busting my ass for years, and to finally see all my hard work pay off and watch people enjoy my designs feels soooooooooooooo good!

I am in love with this collection! Tell us how this line came to fruition.

Thank you!! These faux furs originated from my FAKE collection which I debuted at my NYFW show in 2017. The entire line got an amazing response, but people were especially drawn to the luxurious faux fur coats, so I decided to release them! A fur coat can make you look like a million bucks and feel like such a bad b**th, but it’s SO hard to find faux furs that don’t look super tacky and can be clocked from across the room. I literally went through hundreds of faux fur samples from all over the world looking for the perfect ones to include in my line.

Are there any celebrities (including Housewives) you would love to see rocking your collection and why?

If you asked me this question like 3 years ago, I would’ve given you the stereotypical gay answer and said Lady Gaga.

Now, while I’d still DIE if I got Gaga in a coat, I wanna see some of the baddest in the game rocking my designs. Rihanna is such a style icon & is someone who I totally look up to fashion-wise. I also love me some Cardi B, but honestly, at this point in my career I can’t be picky & am open to absolutely ANY celeb who wants a coat so if you’re reading this, hit me up at the email in my Instagram bio ;) Your style is pretty over-the-top and what I would call fabulous! How do

you go about choosing the elements of your personal style aesthetic?

Awe thank you! I would say I’m a go big or go home type. I love fashion because there aren’t really any rules you need to follow, and I just happen to be a great rulebreaker. I like standing out in a crowd, and I live for pieces that I know nobody else will have. I feel like if you’re trying to look like everybody else, then why even bother?

Who are some of the designers that you think are killing it currently?

OMG, there are so many designers and brands I look up to. When I first started designing over a decade ago, Alexander McQueen was literally my idol. I tend to look up to designers who aren’t afraid to step outside of the box and push boundaries. Jeremy Scott is a tremendous role model for me. Moschino is one of my favorite brands both to wear personally and to watch as a designer. At this very moment, I’m absolutely obsessed with The Blonds. Their stuff is very elaborate and over the top, and every single one of their collections to date has given me LIFE As an influencer and a designer, how do you navigate fame and notoriety here in Hollywood?

In this industry especially, it’s super important to surround yourself with trustworthy and loyal people. I keep my circle super small with friends who I know have my best intentions in mind. There are so many snakes out here, and it’s tough to figure out who to trust. I try to stay out of the drama as much as I can and focus on being a boss!

What are some of the most significant challenges you face as a young designer?

Being so young in the fashion industry has made me have to work twice as hard.

I cannot tell you how many people haven’t taken me seriously because of my age and have slammed the door right in my face. Funny enough, some of those exact same people are now coming back around trying to work with me.

So I want to shift gears a bit just to give our readers a bit more insight into who you are personally! My next few questions will be a bit more personal and fun! What are the three things every stylish individual need this summer?

A good pair of sunglasses is a MUST. I like nice big oversized ones cuz I can run out of the house with no makeup on looking busted, and nobody will be able to tell.

Two-piece matching sets are going to be really big this season, especially in fun vibrant prints. And of course, you need a go-to hat. I like looking for ones with something unique about them. I have this one that I wear all the time that has a white snakeskin strap on it, and that makes it so much cooler than a boring everyday basic snapback.

What’s the perfect weekend look like for you when you aren’t working?

Between work and being a full-time college student I really don’t have much free time. When I do get a chance to take a break from being busy, I love seeing my friends. We all love reality TV (like the really really trashy ones), so we like to get together and catch up on our favorite shows.

What motivates you to stay fearless and fierce with your personal style?

I’ve always been authentically and un-

apologetically myself. I love experimenting with my style and trying out new things. The feeling of putting on an outfit that you KNOW you look bomb in is precisely why I love fashion so much.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Ever since the beginning, I’ve said I wanted to build a fashion empire! I want to make a name for myself in the industry and be able to branch off into different ventures like cosmetics. My short term goal for right now is to keep this momentum going and continue growing my brand and cashing these checks!

What advice would you give to up and coming designers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

You have to have a super thick skin to work in this industry. It’s very cutthroat and not even close to as glamorous as it seems. But with that said, if you have a genuine appreciation for fashion and design, it’ll all be more than worth it and SO rewarding!

Tell us what’s next for you!

Right now, I’m at a super exciting point in my career where I get to decide what my next path is. I have a couple offers on the table that I’m trying to sort through, but I’m definitely expanding my faux fur collection to new styles and colors and working on getting them in more retail stores across the world! I’m also busy designing a brand new couture collection for next season’s fashion week, that is going to be MAJOR!

BEYOND THE VELVET ROPE

A GLIMPSE INTO THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BRANDON ANTHONY

I can still remember the first time I saw Brandon Anthony…I was a hungry DJ who’d just moved to Los Angeles from Washington, DC. I was at one of his lavish Hollywood events, sipping on my tequila and lime juice (don’t judge my drink choice, I was heavy on Patron at the time), and I remember asking my boy, who’d already adjusted to the Hollywood life who this guy running around the party, clearly in command. “Oh that’s Brandon,” my friend answered. “He’s a good dude.”

“A good dude,” I thought. At the time, I thought to myself, well that sounds promising. See, that evening, at this particular Hollywood hotspot, Brandon was clearly THE MAN in charge –quickly maneuvering from the DJ booth to the stage, on the mic, hyping the crowd, while also greeting VIPs and club goers clamoring for his attention.

Immediately, I knew that we were going to work together. I didn’t know how.

I didn’t know when, but I knew that we would indeed work together. See, just a quick fact about me, I’m drawn to certain energies, particularly the energy of other hustlers. I’m drawn to people who not only think about doing amazing things… they actually DO amazing things. Brandon Anthony is one of those people.

As a DJ I’ve been privileged to work with Brandon, spinning for some of the hottest parties inLos Angeles – from private events, to large festivals with thousands of people. And trust me, I have to give this back story so that its completely understood exactly what type of person Brandon actually is – a man of his word, a loyal friend, a businessman, a style King… but at heart, a southern gentleman.

One of LA’s premiere tastemakers, Brandon’s events are well-known across the country, and he’s more than just an

in-demand event host, event curator and influencer….but he’s also a rising actor, currently starring in more than a few up-coming productions. Given where he’s going and everything he’s done thus far, he’s clearly taking Hollywood by storm… and now he’s opening up and giving us a glimpse into his private life.

SUAVV: Brandon, you’re quite the busy man these days. From hosting some of the nation’s biggest parties, to essentially planning and running LA Pride and Summer Bash, to acting you’re doing it all! How are you feeling these days?

Brandon: Lol. I feel amazing. I am at a great place in my life where I feel as though I am exactly where I am suppose to be. Everything I worked so hard for has finally come together. And I am so excited to see where this new level of success takes me.

SUAVV: You’re born and raised in Louisiana right?

Brandon: All day, 504 baby!!!!

SUAVV: What did you initially envision yourself doing when you grew up?

Brandon: Kind of what I am doing now.

Working in the entertainment business.

I have always had a passion for acting.

So now I am at a place in my life where I can focus on acting and still enjoy running a business.

SUAVV: How did you end up here in Los Angeles?

Brandon: When I graduated from Columbia College Chicago, I moved here to start my masters. But I later decided to just focus on producing events in the

LGBT community. And I havent looked back since.

SUAVV: You’re known as one of Hollywood’s premier event curators and lifestyle specialists! How did you first start? Was it something you’d always wanted to do?

Brandon: Well, first of all, thank you for that accolade. But I started producing events to make money and not have to wait tables or bartend. So me & my bestfriend at the time started this party in North Hollywood, on Thursday nights.

And after that, everything just took off.

SUAVV: Everyone knows you here in Hollywood. And there’s always something going on here. But you get a lot of love from the people. What do you think sets you and your events apart from the pack?

Brandon: I think me always having that southern hospitality sets me apart from everyone because I am consistently making sure I provide great customer service, along with providing us a safe place to have a good time and to forget our worries.

SUAVV: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in this business?

Brandon: Honestly, I have been so fortunate with how things been planning out in this business. I’ve never forced anything, so I have never had to convince many people. They knew who I was, they know my brand and how consistent I am.

But one of the challenges was convincing mainstream that not all urban people are ghetto or ratchet.

SUAVV: As an influencer with a large following, what’s your take on fame and notoriety? How have you been able to navigate having everyone know who you are?

Brandon: Man, I will ALWAYS be Brandon Anthony, the little southern boy from New Orleans. I do not let any of this get to my head, like at all, because I know to whom much is given​, of him shall be m ​ uch​required. And it can be snatched from you in an instant.

SUAVV: Do you ever find it difficult maintaining authentic relationships/ friendships with other people in the industry? How do you sort of gauge who’s really FOR you or who’s just around for the ride?

Brandon: Oh absolutely! And you see the thing with me is, lol, I am a scorpio.

And loyalty is the biggest thing for me. So if we do not hang outside of work, then I know where we stand. I place people in my life based on how they treat me.

SUAVV: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from working in this business over these past few years?

Brandon: To not give a flying fuck what anyone has to say about you. And to always go with your gut.

SUAVV: How important is branding to your business? I’ve noticed over time that you have a very consistent brand - which I love. How do you conceptualize your brand strategy and imagery?

Brandon: Branding is essential in this business. Your brand is your introduction without evenhaving to open your mouth.

I am all about lifestyle. So I am always asking myself what is most important today and where are we headed in the future.

SUAVV: I want to shift gears a bit, and I want to talk about acting, because I know you’re actively working in the field. How did you get into it? And what projects have you been working on?

Brandon: I have been acting since 3rd grade. When I was growing up, i used to watch my pastor every Sunday. I’ll go home and try to reenact everything he was doing. Then I was casted as a preacher in elementary school. So you know I killed it. And that’s when I realized I like to act like other people for a moment. It gives me the opportunity to live some else’s story and leave my problems alone for a minute. I just finish shooting a Chris Stokes film with Tasha Smith. And I have a few projects on Amazon Prime.

SUAVV: What was it like working with Tami Roman?

Brandon: Man, working with Tami was so surreal because her journey is sort of like mines. We both started working at the LA LGBT Center. And we both did some kind of reality tv. And she was really one of the first celebrities I actually worked with one on one in front of the camera. She was mother in one project and then she asked me to play her love interest in one of her Bonnet Chronicle episodes. So that was hella cool.

SUAVV:What would be your ideal role?

Brandon: Playing Barack Obama. Or Will Smith son. We have the same ears. Lol! SUAVV: Ok, so just a few fun questions to help our readers further get to know you! You’re a pretty stylish guy - it feels like effortless cool. How would you describe your personal style?

Brandon: You hit it right on the head, effortless cool. Lol. Ever since I started getting the body I want, I have been so comfortable with just throwing what I like on, and hitting it out the door. It pays off to be cute. *smiles* Whenever I am going somewhere a little more polished, I tend to go the clean and chic route.

SUAVV: Tell us three things every man needs to convey his personal style.

Brandon: They need a classic watch, a nice shoe collection, and luxury wallet.

SUAVV: How do you prepare yourself right before a big event? Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Brandon: Now this might sound extremely lame, but I am in love with Neosoul, mainly Jill Scott & Erykah Badu. So I bump that while I am getting ready, while having a couple shots since I tend to not drink so often at my events.

SUAVV: When was the last time you cried?

Brandon: Thugs don’t cry. Lol... Naw at my last surprise birthday party. It was a real good one. I was surprised with my baby sister whom I have not seen in almost 15 years. Talk about a touchy subject.

Roses are Red Latarsha Rose

It’s good to know I’m not alone when it comes to rummaging through YouTube from timeto-time looking up its elaborate catalogue of “How To” videos for a quick lesson or two.

For me—learning to make Checker’s french fries (yeah, I said Checkers!) and others… playing the flute? Joining me on my “how-to” quest is actor Latarsha Rose. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and get caught up on the first season of BET’s hit series, Being Mary Jane. Yes, it’s on Netflix.

Made clear after speaking with her—Latarsha is NOT to be put in a box. And I agree. Having always had an interest for the arts as well as an evolving relationship with social media, the BMJ co-star takes pride in living in the “real world” as opposed to those who can’t seem to find their way back from cyberspace.

If you asked her, there’s nothing like taking the train and chopping it up with the passenger sitting next to you or even seeing young children playing outside doing what most of society has forgotten today—living life!

So, what’s her deal? Find out for yourself as she dishes on her character Dr. Lisa Hudson, her take on social media and more!

Being Mary Jane – your character, Dr. Lisa Hudson, how do you resonate with her? Does she remind you of yourself in anyway?

She is a woman who’s quite complicated and I think we’re all quite complicated individuals, however she specifically is struggling with prescription drug issues and she seems a little off balance with how she manages things in her life. How do I relate to her – I’m a professional woman who works really hard to have my career and she is quite fierce in her friendships. I would say I do my best to be my best at friendship and family. I think she has good intentions but I don’t know if it always plays out how she would like.

Since portraying Dr. Hudson, have you learned anything new about yourself that maybe you hadn’t quite realized before?

Well I think it’s interesting, whenever I work on a character, I feel as if a part of the character leaves an impression on me, you know since you have to bring the character to life.

Sometimes it’s just in the writing, I think things are quite interesting how I may see that I have a different perspective or may have more empathy. I have to be curious about why Lisa does the things that she does, so I think I’m learning to be more empathetic or curious about a person’s circumstance because you never really know what’s going on inside of someone else, whether it be their head or their heart, you only really see people from what they offer you and how that resonates to the outside world.

Your story is somewhat refreshing yet similar to that of a fairy tale. Could you share how you were chosen for your role and what was it like preparing for it?

I auditioned; I went through a series of auditions, about four or five. How I prepare, I ask questions of myself and of the character. I look at the script and really try to pick it apart and look for clues, its constantly looking for clues in the research. Whenever there’s specific material, whether technical or something I haven’t experienced, I do some research and ask questions of people who may be dealing with something of that nature. I often times go to other literature for clues, especially right now I’m looking at Shakespeare or Chekhov or August Wilson. I think we’re all connected in terms of stories and storytelling; there are archetypes that are told. Mara (Mara Brok Akil, creator of Being Mary Jane), has really introduced us to different books and writers, she marries different artists. Storytelling is through the music and it’s also through the references that she makes to different

“I’m learning to be more empathetic or curious about a person’s circumstance because you never really know what’s going on inside of someone else, whether it be their head or their heart, you only really see people from what they offer you and how that resonates to the outside world.”

books, especially for Lisa’s character. She’s always reading something to help herself; she’s always self-reflecting and learning in order to help deal with where she is and what she’s going through.

You attended Georgetown during your undergrad; what lessons would you say have transcended into your acting career?

I’d say practice and studying because you need to learn. Acting wasn’t a part of my plan, it wasn’t what my parents really saw for me. I had always been involved in the arts as hobbies. My parents felt there was a place for the arts but education was the foundation. I believe they’re all connected and a very diverse education is important.

Let’s talk more about your character’s style on the show as well as your own. How’d you describe it?

Lisa is at work and wears a uniform, that’s her vibe and her look outside, she has more of a Bohemian-casual elegance. You’ll see throughout the season it starts to change.

As far as my style, I like to say you can’t put Latarsha in a box. I don’t fit into one category of style; I would say I’m eclectic and I have the style of that moment of the day, it depends how I feel that morning.

Season 1 finale brought in over 5 million viewers – how has your social media presence evolved since being on the show? Do you find yourself more interactive with your fans?

My relationship with social media is evolving. It’s so interesting, just like my style, it’s different each day. When we’re in season, I’m definitely more active and very much focused on the show. I feel like there’s “work season” for my social media and there’s “off work season,” it changes. Day-to-day, personally,

I feel like I can get lost in social media and I just want to be in the world... in real time. I’m still journeying through and trying to find my way with what my presence is on social media. I think it’s a lot; just constantly seeing other people’s lives in images, but just seeing images and not naturally knowing them.

Like getting the full story and knowing what’s actually going on would you say?

But just like also being on the subway in New York and actually bumping into someone and finding out what it’s like to sit next to someone on the train and the conversation that we might have or just the chemistry that you might get just being on the street and seeing kids play and things like that, it’s different. It’s real time in the world, real life it’s different than social media. It’s about finding a balance. I take time off from [social media] to see what it’s like in the real world. On the other side of it, I would say I love it because I get to see other people’s work. I found this illustrator, Nikia Phoenix, and have been following her on Instagram and she’s based in Paris; I love her work and I ordered a piece from her! So in a way, it really does connect us. Social media is like a box of chocolates So before I let you go, can you share what’s next for you in your career? Have you thought about starring in another series, featuring in some films or producing your own work?

That’s between me and God, He’s the one that has the foresight. I’m just working in the now and seeing what plays out.

“I feel like I can get lost in social media and I just want to be in the world... in real time.�

Preaching to the Chior Bishop T.D. Jakes

“I would love to have Beyonce and her family on my show,” Bishop Jakes laughs. “Because she is an amazing stellar performer and fantastic at what she does. But I want to go beyond what she does to who she is.”

For many generations, the church was the keystone of the Black community. Whether good, bad or indifferent, your pastor was more than a preacher on Sunday, he was a family friend, could pop up at Granny’s house for dinner, and held the respect of the community above pretty much anyone else.

For my generation and those after me, that personality rarely exists. At a time when the church has shunned anyone that does not fit the cookie cutter mold of Christianity, and the church as a system is under the most scrutiny, there are a few lone messengers that are reaching beyond the pulpits and the walls of the church to impact the lives of the global congregation.

Thomas Dexter “T.D.” Jakes, Sr. is possibly one of the most popular and powerful clergymen of our time. Growing his congregation from 10 to over 14,000 throughout his career, his charismatic and “keep it real” approach, matched with his knowledge of scripture and delivery that will makes an entire congregation think “he is talking to me.” Imagine the excitement that came to my heart when I heard was informed that Bishop Jakes was moving to television. Maybe some of you are thinking, “Why, move to television?”

“For me, this is not a new experience,” Bishop Jakes explains during a conversation from his Los Angeles set. “It’s a continuation of a life long endeavor to be uplifting to encourage people to help them explore the best parts of their lives. It’s what I’ve given my life to. It’s just a new audience to which I can be myself. The show is an hour long show and it’s going to be very provocative, entertaining and interactive show. I am going to have you engaged and I want you to be a part of it. A part of social media and a part of my physical audience. I call you my village because I respect your opinion. And I think what is really different about this show is that I come from a different space. Im not from Hollywood, I’m not an actor, I’m not an entertainer. I’m the son of a janitor and the son of a school teacher. I know those people who are watching me.

I lived with them, I grew up with them, I played with them, I learned with them I grew with them.

Therefore, I am one from among you and when I talk to you, I talk to you, not from a condescending perspective, but like we’re having a cup of coffee at your kitchen table. ” Daytime television is hard and demanding, especially for a male. Nonetheless, Bishop Jakes decided that he wanted to not on explore relationships but the show how unique they are. Whether it’s family, interpersonal, or work relationships, his goal is to show how we navigate through life dealing with people and the unique nuances that we deal with every day. He wants to talk about societies ills and how we have conflicts and cultures and politics and life with all of its nuances. From conflict resolution to weight loss, to health and exercise, and energy and fun. He wants to have fun and do it all.

“I would love to have Beyonce and her family on my show,” Bishop Jakes laughs. “Because she is an amazing stellar performer and fantastic at what she does. But I want to go beyond what she does to who she is. Who are you when the lights go out?

How do you navigate fame with hot sauce? She had a bottle of hot sauce in her pocketbook and says because she’s “a real girl” (laughing) I want to meet that girl. I want to talk to the kids who grew up in a big house and the kids who grew up in the hood.

I want to talk to the brother with the sagging pants and I want to talk to the young man who has gone to Harvard. And most of all I want to bring men to the set and let women hear us talk. Because there are so many women who don’t get to hear what men think. I want you to hear what your husband would say if he could talk, or would talk, or should talk.”

Of course, Bishop Jakes is expected to have celebrities on the show. Those that he knows and those that he doesn’t know. He plans to knock on the doors of his friends. Hello Oprah, and Tyler, and

“Maybe America will realize that we don’t all have to look the same, dress the same, vote the same for us all to live together and enjoy life and hang out, to breathe the same air.�

Steve Harvey, and LL Cool J, and President Obama, President Bush, and President Clinton. Because in the eyes of Bishop Jakes, we are all interesting. Both the famous and the anonymous. Those who are rich and those who are poor. We are all interesting because poor people are rich in a way that rich people are not.

At a time when race, prejudices, and racism are not only being shown to us but displayed like artwork in the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bishop Jakes has been a guest on town halls and different formats to discuss police brutality, racism, and injustices in poor communities. While he does his best to not take a side, he is very vocal and stands up for the community.

“I think we need to have a conversation,” Bishop Jakes pleads. “I think America is trying to talk about something that we have not talked about as it relates to race in America. I think that we need a platform that we feel comfortable to say what we think, whether it’s right or wrong and perhaps tweek what we think with on other people’s perspectives. I think that this is a very important time for America to come together to find common ground. I honestly think we can find common ground in the midst of the tapestry of diversity that exists in this country. Our country is a quilt, it’s not a blanket. It’s a mixture of wool, and linen, and cotton, and polyester. Somehow, it becomes beautiful because it’s so distinctively different. And that’s what we are going to get from the show. Distinctively different people knitted together living together crying together, figuring it out together.

Maybe America will realize that we don’t all have to look the same, dress the same, vote the same for us all to live together and enjoy life and hang out, to breathe the same air. ” The biggest gap in today’s culture is generational.

Our generations do not only misunderstand the actions of each other, we rarely speak, we rarely want to learn from each other, and we rarely show mutual respect. Sadly, that is mainly a United States mentality. I love that Bishop Jakes is ready to tear down that wall. During our conversation, he referenced new Hip Hop artist and “millennial

lingo”. Hitting me with phrases like “that part” and “how bout dat” we were able to laugh about social topics and random things that we both find funny.

It’s easy for me to say that he is not only up on the game, he stands with his social media presence.

Bishop Jakes sends out his own tweets, Instagram photos, and reads the comments on his Facebook page. It’s not at all because he doesn’t have other things that he could be doing. While pastoring The Potters House with over 15,000 congregants, TD Jakes Ministries, being an author, movie producer, movie director, hosting a daily talk show, and more, he is an extremely busy man. Nonetheless, Bishop Jakes is never too busy to learn from the congregants and audiences that he teaches.

“First of all, I’m into social media and that’s not new to me. I’m a baby boomer but, I’m in there with the millennials. I’m hanging out and yes I actually do tweet and I have Instagram and millions of people know that and millions more need to find out. I think it’s a wonderful time in the world to be able to integrate with people all over the world and to have a discussion on a global level and do it from your couch in your living room. I want to have the kinds of conversations that take advantage of both the big and little screen. When you see something shocking and you say “OH NO SHE DIDN’T!” TWEET IT. I want to know what you think, I may not agree with what you think but I want to learn. You may just teach me something and if you do, I have my pad and my pencil and I might write it down.”

A Powerful Edition Keith Powers

Two years ago, a tall skinny kid popped up on the

an inflection of gratitude in his voice. “He’s not only

movie screen. It was a small role, and many may not

my coach, but he’s my mentor. Dustin tells me all of

have noticed that he was there. Playing the role of

the time that he’s not surprised that I book things.

Dr. Dre’s younger brother in the highly acclaimed

He always tells me that he’s proud of me. Dustin

movie Straight Outta Compton, Keith Powers was

reminds me to be patient and that I’m doing good.

on the launch pad of his career. With new projects

When I was first trying to book jobs, I didn’t do well

on the table, one of the new faces of the Young Black

I was having a hard time, and he talked me out of

Hollywood movement and is making sure that his

wanting to quit. That’s huge.”

face nor his name will ever be looked over in the future. Though his newfound success and celebrity

Young actors lose a lot of their childhood and typi-

has not hit him, the Sacramento, California native is

cal childhood experiences because of work. As far

acutely aware that he hasn’t enjoyed the moment. But

as Keith believes, he was fortunate because he was

it wasn’t a smooth start for the new actor. In fact, he

able to be a kid and ride bikes, have crushes, play

thought he would be a football player.

sports…all of those things that are good about childhood. Keith can look back at those experiences and

“I played football from 7-17,” Keith explains dur-

use them in his roles. He attended different schools

ing our early morning phone interview. He is in his

that were predominately black as well as culturally

movie trailer and sounds like he is just as half asleep

diverse. Therefore, when the Yahoo series Sin City,

as I am. “Straight out of high school, I was in talks of

a show about a tech billionaire who decides to buy a

going to go to UNLV. I missed out on my clearing-

basketball team, Keith fell right into place.

house because I was soo sneaky during my senior year of high school. I hated math so I would try to

“The owner is not the most responsible guy at all,”

find ways to get out of the math class. Ultimately,

Keith says laughing. “He hires strippers as the cheer-

they wanted me to red-shirt for a year. I said, “there’s

leaders and puts death hits on the referees. I play

no way I’m going to sit out my freshman year in

the all-star rookie point guard. This kid is a brat, a

Sacramento.” I was offered a contract to model in

know it all, and spoiled, but he’s very naïve. All he

LA, and I had to make a choice. So, I picked model-

knows to do is play basketball. Fast-forward and he

ing, and I’m glad I did. At first, I was only modeling

gets injured and now has to make a life outside of

and didn’t know what I was going to do. I knew that

basketball. I love the story because I feel like a lot of

I wasn’t going to be able to model forever and was

kids only look at the sport they want to play and they

tired of asking myself what next. 2 years after model-

don’t shape their lives outside of the sport. So now

ing, I started acting and fell in love with it. I thank

you put millions of dollars in these kids hand and

God for the gift (of acting) because I haven’t felt pas-

wonder why they make dumb (financial) decisions.

sionate about something like this since I played foot-

All of the things that they couldn’t do when they

ball. It was a leap of faith, and I was ready to jump.”

were younger, they now can.”

Keith was a fresh face in a city of new faces, and

When Dustin said there was never a doubt that

everyone wants the same things for different reasons.

Keith would secure work, it was on the heels of the

Some are “actors” because they want celebrity. Some

NWA biopic that Keith landed. The new actor was

love the craft, some like the pay, and some think it

nervous because of the magnitude of the movie and

may be a fun thing to do. With that much congestion

wasn’t sure how the public would view his perfor-

in an industry, it can be challenging to stay focused

mance. Little did he know, he and his coach would

and to stay driven. Luckily for Keith, he was a stu-

share a screen for the highly regarded BET hit, The

dent at one of the more sought after acting programs

New Edition Story. Keith has grown from a kid in

in the city, Dustin Felder’s Acting School.

an acting class doubting himself, to a face that is all over television and the internet. It’s easy to say that

“My acting coach, Dustin, is great,” Keith says with

we are proud of him. But once you met him, you will

see that he is just as proud of himself. Playing the

Then you have other people who are social media

role of Ronnie DeVoe pushed Keith’s celebrity status

famous, but there’s no depth to who they are. It’s so

through the roof. With his Instagram and Twitter fol-

much better to have the work to back up your social

lowing expanding drastically, he did all that he could

media than to have a social media following with no

to remain true to himself and to make sure that his

work to show for it. But to win on a bigger scale, you

fans continue always to come first.

need your supporters to watch the shows and buy the movie tickets. I’m weird I don’t like calling people

“The one thing that I don’t like about social media is

fans, I call them supporters. I use my social media to

that I wouldn’t want to have fame from social media,”

communicate with my supporters. I feel that if you

Keith says after a long pause. “Social media is a gift

are in this industry and you have social media, why

and a curse. It allows you to tap into a large audience

not communicate with your supporters. I believe that

at one time, but it can destroy your image if you don’t

our supporters are the reason that we are where we

use it properly. You can lose jobs just based on your

are. They support and we entertain.”

social media actions. You have bloggers that are great and have a following because they have the content.

www.madebyrjon.com

www.madebyrjon.com

Prepared by MagCloud for Rashod Davenport. Get more at suavv.magcloud.com.