Music Meets Fashion 90s Edition Ft. Bow Wow

beco ming

SHADMOSS

PG.35

2

War dr obe:Dar n ayle M izr ah i Celebrity Wardrobe Stylist UrbanSheek Styling Agency w w w.u r ban sh eek st ylin g.com Black Sh ir t by Rober t o Cavalli

music meet s fashio n ISSUE 16

46

90'S

26

20

35

30

8

5THINGS BLAC CHYNA

6

& ROB KARDASHIAN TAUGHT US NOT TO DO IN A RELATIONSHIP.

The Lev el 21Family Publisher & Chief Executive Officer

Writers

Tempestt Harris (CEO)

Writer

Chief Operating Officer/ Editor In Chief Desi Helm Contributing writer Maresa Scott (COO) Marage Blakeney Chief Financial Officer Contributing writer Anitra Scott (CFO) Davita ?Shante? Collins Chief Marketing Officer Co-Editor Intern Stephanie Majewski (CMO)

Shannon Rawley

President of Operations/ Level21TV

Writer Intern

Tasha McClarrin

Chris Lewis

Creative Director

Blogger/ Journalist Intern

Michael Lopez

Kaitlin Booe

Administrative Staff

Photography

Administrative Assistant

Antoinne Duan Jones

Jasmine Byrd

Laurence Logan-The T.Z Studio Todd Youngblood

Sales Executive Desiree Long Sales

Glen Byrd- Photo X Words

Victoria Calamusa

Videography Toussaint Studios-Emmanuel Toussaint

Graphic Design Layout Designer

Public Relations

Antoine Boderick www.tystatz.com Graphic Design(Intern)

Pac Public Relations

Vanessa Mccorkle

Digital Level21 Media LLC.

Fashion

Yumpu

Stylist

Wribits

Jerry Thompson Style and Wardrobe Contributor

Contributor

Jekia Benson

Shartiera Wilkerson

Makeup Artist

Contributor/ Correspondent

Alexis Washington

4

St ylist Jer r y Th om pson Pr epar in g f or t h e Ph ot o-sh oot locat ed in At lan t a (Weldon Bon d St u dios)

Behind t he Scenes The int er v iew -Beco ming Shad Mo ss bt s

Meeting up with Shad to do a face to face interview in Charlotte, NC. The very same day he was chased by screaming fans.

Videogr aph er : Tou ssain t St u dios

Ph ot ogr aph er : Glen Byr d

Filming for Level21TV. Correspondent Shartiera Wilkerson preparesfor her on camera interview.

5THINGS BLAC CHYNA

& ROB KARDASHIAN TAUGHT US NOT TO DO IN A RELATIONSHIP.

1.

N EVER LI E O R K EEP SECRETS...

We shouldn't have to mention this one, but it seems necessary,the secrets and lies continue to spew out into the public eye in Instagram rants by both Blac Chyna and Rob. The real issue is that once you tell one lie to your partner, things tend to snowball a little bit out of control. Right now, make a promise to yourself not to lie or keep secrets from your partner. It only causes large amounts of stress for yourself and can compromise any amount of trust that you currently have in your relationship.

2.

6

DAlthough O NRobs 'T weight THand I Ndepression K YOhasUbeenCAN FI X YO U R PARTN ER.. well documented through the years. Blac made every effort to change him to no avail. Your partner might be the messiest person in the world, but getting angry at them until they change is the wrong mindset to have. Talking calmly to them about the problems you have with this may help, but you cannot realistically believe that you will be able to change or fix them. If these quirks are not something that you feel you can learn to accept, maybe it?s a good idea to re-evaluate your relationship.

3.

4.

CH EATI N G I S A B I G N O N O! Chyna and Rob continue to accuse each other of cheating.

Cheating hurts everyone and no matter how open your relationship is, if you need to step outside of your relationship you should probably just end the relationship with your partner.

I K N O W YO U SAW M Y TEXT!- CO M M U N I CATI O N I S K EY...

There was a bit too much communication when Blac sent a video to Rob of her kissing on a new snack. Which sent Rob into rage! Communication in a relationship is extremely important because it acts as the judge, jury and executioner who has the final say on whether your relationship lives or dies.

UPDATE: Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna's relationship drama has escalated to new heights.

Chyna was granted a temporary restraining order on Monday, days after Kardashian posted explicit photos of her and accused her of cheating and stealing money from him. He claimed Chyna had their daughter, 7-month-old Dream, out of spite and her alleged drug addiction and alcoholism inhibited her from being a suitable mother. -VIA ABC NEWS

5.

DON?T BOTTLE UP EM OTIONS..

No doubt about bottled up emotions in this relationship..People tend to bottle up every single emotion that they are feeling and then have a huge exploding fight to get everything out.Isn't it easier to deal with the issues as they arise?

Photographer: Cecy Young

8

In st agr am / @leader of cu lt r ap / Dan ir o Far r ar on all social m edia. You Tu be: Dan ir o Far r ar .

10

DeniroFarrar By:Davita Collins

T

oday ?s societ y is boggled dow n by dist r act ion s. Social m edia, sm ar t ph on es, r ealit y t elevision an d br eak in g n ew s alm ost ever y m illisecon d of t h e day keeps u s eit h er f u lly en gaged or so capt ivat ed t h at eit h er w e ar e u n able t o, or r ef u se t o see w h at is r eally occu r r in g ar ou n d u s.

Th is is also t ellin g in m ost m u sic played on t h e air w ays as of lat e. Each son g sou n ds so h au n t in gly sim ilar t o t h e n ext t h at it t en ds t o pu t t h e list en er in a t r an ce. Ar e su ch dist r act ion s coin ciden ce? I r ecen t ly sat dow n w it h Den ir o Far r ar , an ar t ist w h ose eyes ar e w ide an d is br azen en ou gh t o t alk abou t societ y ?s ills in h is m u sic.

Where are you from and how did it influence your music?

I w as bor n an d r aised in Ch ar lot t e, NC. I w ou ld say it in f lu en ces m y m u sic in t h e w ay t h at I en u n ciat e an d t h e w ay I pr on ou n ce cer t ain w or ds, an d h ow I do cer t ain t h in gs. M y m u sic is essen t ially based on a lot of m y lif e exper ien ces, an d w it h ou t livin g in Ch ar lot t e, I w ou ld n ot h ave gon e t h r ou gh t h ose t h in gs. M y f r ien ds w ou ldn?t be t h e sam e, m y f am ily w ou ldn?t be m y f am ily, an d m y lif e w ou ld be t ot ally dif f er en t .

So, m y lif e h as h ad a m ajor in f lu en ce on t h e m u sic t h at I m ake.

When did you fall in love with music? How did you know this was your calling?

To be h on est , m u sic w as alw ays w it h m e. I w as at ease w it h it . I k n ew t h at I w asn't in t er est ed in sch ool becau se I w asn?t (at t en din g). Bu t , I w ou ld list en t o t h is Kr is Kr oss t ape all day. I w ou ld ju st sit t h er e an d list en t o t h is Kr is Kr oss t ape over an d over an d over . It w ou ld be on r epeat ! It w as a side B t ape, so I w ou ld t ake it ou t an d t u r n it over so I cou ld list en t o t h e ot h er side. M u sic h as alw ays been w it h m e. I alw ays h ad t h e love an d passion t o do m u sic. I w ou ld lear n all of t h e lyr ics t o ot h er people?s son gs an d r ap t h em u sin g m y ow n st yle. I w ou ld pu t m y passion beh in d t h eir lyr ics, you k n ow ? Becau se I didn't k n ow h ow t o expr ess m y voice, w h at ever w as goin g on in m y h ead an d m y lif e.

Are you inspired by any artists from the past, present or future?

As far as inspiration goes, I just admired Kris Kross because they were young kids, and I was a little kid. I can?t really say they inspired me musically. But on a creative level they did.

They were young, black, cool, and innovative for wearing their clothes backwards. As far as music was concerned, I was heavily influenced by Tupac, Goodie Mobb, Outcast, Bob Marley, and Lauryn Hill. I would say the more socially aware, conscious people who reflected it in their music.

Your sound is unique, dark, with a rough gritty type of sound. But your single "Going Down? was fun and more light hearted. Did you have fun with that and what influenced that song?

Being signed to a major record label, and me trying to appease the major label machine. Don?t get me wrong; I created ?Going Down? from an organic place. But I felt the pressure of being on a major label to create a type of song that people would identify with, and gravitate toward, that is in the realm of a hit record. But that was never my aim.

And I like ?Going Down? but it is not a song, aside from the lyrics, that I am extremely passionate about. I am not really head over heels with it. But I created it to appease major record label executives, and create a hit record. I enjoyed making the video more so than the actual record.

People are more comfortable and accepting of mix-tapes now a days. Do you feel more comfortable with making mix-tapes, giving its ?underground?, more creative freedom, non-mainstream feel?

I think mix-tapes give you this freedom, but I think record labels represent something differently than they did initially. The purpose was for the label to give an artist an outlet, now it?s pressured, capitalistic, and is less about the artistry. It also ran by white Jewish people who are dictating what is good and what is not. But we created the culture. I feel pressure when someone tells me my music is not a masterpiece. I created it that way. We have people who don?t know anything about the culture ?green lighting? the music that?s put out, I don?t vibe with that. I can do whatever I want when I am not under the pressure of the

record label. I just want to create from my heart. It used to be where you just used their platform to reach a larger audience, but it isn?t like that anymore. I would prefer a major label because I could reach more people. But I have to go the independent route because I could have more freedom of expression then I would do that.

Does your music inspire your fashion? Do you have a favorite designer?

Not really. I am not into fashion like I used to be, everything had to be name brand. Now, I just like to feel and look comfortable, and present myself well. I get my clothing from the thrift store and I landed a sponsorship with Nike, so they give me free shoes. Other than that, fashion is no longer part of my value system. That sh* t does not mean anything to me anymore. Multi-billionaires don?t care about the things we care about. We black people are so materialistic because we never had sh* t. So the stuff we value is monetary, like clothes, jewelry, and shoes. So, when we get a little bit of money that is the stuff we run to get. I didn?t want to value those things, so I could invest my money in things that would yield a return on my investment, not suck my money dry.

What does being the leader of Cult rap mean?

The leader of organic and authentic movement, that is what being the leader of a cult means. That is why I decided to name my brand ?cult rap?. I researched Jim Jones, Charles Manson and other occultists. There is one thing that I understood about these cult leaders: they were genius, whether people liked them or not, that is subjective. But who they were and their mentality made them geniuses. And they never forced their ideology on anyone, they never forced anyone to join. People just wanted to follow their cause for whatever reason. That is the music I want to make. I am never going to force my music down people?s throats, like these major music labels, with radio, they just make you accept people?s music.

Whether people realize it or not, many things are forced upon us. I wanted my movement to be organic, for people to genuinely accept my music, and pass it along by word of mouth, or on the internet. I decided that I would be the

leader of this sh* t, of organic and grassroots following. So that is what cult music is.

Do you gravitate toward any particular subject matter when creating music?

Not really. People like to call it ?struggle rap? but sh* t, there is so much struggle in the world. I just think with me shedding light on how f* * ked up the world is, it can come off as a bit repetitive. But I guess with me liberating the mind of the people, it touches on the same subject matter that you need to beat in their f* * king heads, because some people don?t seem to understand. I am always touching on GMO?s, us being oppressed people, laws, the hood and the struggle. Life is a struggle whether you have money or not.

I just like to discuss reality and sometimes people cannot accept that. Too much bullsh* t distracting people anyway.

So why would I fall down that path to keep people distracted from what is really going on? I want people to understand what is going on, and if I have to talk about it in every song, then so be it.

On your Instagram you show a lot of positive images of you and your children. Why it is uncommon to see a rapper show his children as the main focus on social media instead of money, women, and cars?

Some artists want to keep their children from the public, I understand that. I see Instagram as a means to showcase what you value. For others, children may not be a part of their value system. If I see a woman on Instagram with pictures of mostly her showing her body. You are branding yourself on Instagram. You see pictures of people smoking weed and drinking lean, and they may have about ten children. But we may not see them because that is not what they value the most. I am not against it, I can?t dictate what a person?s values should be, and you can?t say that means because someone?s kids are not displayed on social media they do not take care of them. For me, I want to encourage people who are not taking care of their kids like they should. I want to show people that they can follow their dreams and still go all out for their kids.

What do you have coming up music wise? Any upcoming projects?

I just released Mind of A Gemini, Part II. which is on the one-year anniversary of Part I on June 18th which is my birthday. I also dropped Guilty Until Proven Innocent on May 21st which is my little brother ?s birthday. So make sure you all go download them, they're available right now. I am also working on another project, as well as a huge deal that is still under negotiations.

If you could perform with any other artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would like to perform with Tupac and DMX, back when his ?Flesh of My Flesh? album came out. I would like to perform with Busta Rhymes in his earlier years. I feel we shared an energy that I channel when I perform.

m ag azine

How does it feel to be one of the leaders in the Hip Hop scene for Charlotte and where do you see the City musically in the future?

I don't know where I see Charlotte musically in the future.

Charlotte does not have an identity. We would have to establish an identity first and foremost. We then have to come up with a distinct sound. We have to develop something so tangible that when someone hears it, they say ?yo, this is dope?. North Carolina is still on the rise. I don't give a damn how Southern some of these rappers from other regions try to sound, they will never be from the South. It was never my intention to be one of the leaders of Charlotte Hip Hop. I want the whole world. I don't want just the hometown association because that is how far some artists go is their hometown. I am also building with people whether they are major artists or not. At one point, no one knew me. So I respect people on the rise, people who have solid positions in Charlotte. But as for me, I don?t carry myself as if people have to kiss my a* * . I am not really on the scene like that, and I plan to keep it that way.

What has been the biggest Challenge in your music career? How did you overcome?

Maintaining work-life balance with my children. Being on the road has been my challenge. I still haven't figured it out yet. That is the only challenge I face.

What advice would you give to artists striving to be as

successful as you have been musically?

Just be who you are. Because this is the world I live in, I tend to hear what is on the airways ? 99% of the music is bullsh* t. That is why I don?t follow anyone on Instagram. I don't want to see this sh* t. Nobody is doing anything to make me want to follow them. There is some cool sh* t going on here and there, but I stay in my own world. Even the ads and marketing try to entice you to follow them. But I just want to do my own thing and find my own inspiration organically. Find your inspiration, whether it is music, or some elements in your life. Read more, people don?t read.

It shows in some rhymes, too. People are running out of things to talk about. And then they have said every damn thing about a trap that they could ever say. Read more, expand the mind and your music will expand. Be healthy, drink lots of water.

Daniro?s sobering music can be both shocking yet enlightening. With most music promoting dissociation from reality, even with the aid of drugs and alcohol, it is important that we have conscious artists like him to give the public a much needed wake up call. While we all are exposed to the same news feeds, latest gossip and trends nearly force-fed to us from a digital spoon, we still have a responsibility to face life?s challenges head on. Thankfully, artists like Daniro are dedicated to encourage us to wake up and be the change we envision.

Col or B l ock A ll Su m m er

I nt o F al l 14

L ev el 21's 'P i nt er est 90's P i ck !!

The Gif t That Opens A Way By:Marage Blakeney

Br ennan Vil l ines There is a passage in Proverbs 18:16 of the Bible that states, ?A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.? Brennan Villines is a testament of this sacred text. His musical gifts have truly paved his path from seemingly humble beginnings to collaboration with many great accomplished artists. Brennan is determined to share his musical gifts with the world and letting others know that 'Where man puts a period, God will always add a comma? because the story is not finished.

Brennan Villines is a prolific singer, song-writer, and classically trained pianist. Villines grew up in the small rural town of Dixon, Kentucky with a city population of 700 residents. At the age of three, Brennan found a love for the piano. As a child prodigy and musical genius, his talent did not go unnoticed in his small town. In 2006, Villines moved to Tennessee to attend the University of Memphis on a full

16

scholarship afforded to him on his musical laurels. While in college, Brennan received a double major.

He became heavily involved within the Memphis community. He plays for many local theatrical events, musical ensembles, and worship services, just to name a few of the

doors that have been opened for Brennan.

Although he has a technical background in classical musical, Brennan?s sound is a refreshing fusion of jazz, soul, and pop.

Brennan?s music is an unique mixture of blending elements of both old and new melodies to create beautiful masterpieces.

His crisp, crony voice tonality is reminiscent of great jazz legends such as Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. However, he did not develop his infectious vocal chops until he went to college. ?Back where I grew up, there was no jazz jam thing,? Brennan says. ?There was no place I could just go and play ? there was nobody to teach me, except for classical or maybe pop piano. It was all musical theater or church music.

You try to find some soul out of that, at a Baptist church. So in college, this opportunity comes up at the Mollie Fontaine Lounge and I just loved it. That?s when I really started coming into my voice.

I?ve always loved jazz and soul, and that was where I started developing the tonality and chops I have today.?

Unfortunately, life has not been a crystal stair for Brennan. He almost lost the love of himself and his beautiful musical talents as a result of a ?toxic relationship?. The pain of the relationship left Brennan struggling with a drug addiction and discovering that he was HIV positive.

Thankfully, God carried him during those dark days. He became clean from the inside and out. ?It?s really just a relief to be out of that relationship and to know my status and to know myself on the other side of it. It made me grow up in every sense of the word. I know what I want now.? He channeled that of all of those emotions back into music, as a form of therapy.

Brennan?s last album featured entire tracks recorded in a ?live? studio setting with rhythm sections taped all in one take. However, for Brennan?s upcoming musical project, he will present two new albums simultaneously for his fans. One album will be an Extended Play (EP) and another musical project of single collection with the collaboration of various producers.

This next project will unveil a sound transformation that includes more electronic/digital

18

"Wher e man puts a per iod, God will always add a comma? production with a ?1980?s? pop/indie vibe. These albums are a testament of Brennan?s commitment to creatively evolve and innovate.

Brennan?s biggest inspiration is Jamie Cullum, award-winning British vocalist and pianist. Although Cullum is a jazz is a singer, he has found a perfect combination to afford him the opportunity to become a ?crossover ? artist within the pop world. Cullum has worked and performed with Burt Bacharach, Pharrell Williams, and Kylie Minogue. Brennan desires to have a similar effect on the music industry as Cullum. He wants to be known as a ?crossover ? artist with mass appeal and a loyal fan base similar to Cullum. Brennan said that he wants to ?continue to do what I do now, but on a larger scale.? He desires to ?collaborate, produce, tour, and do all things music? related.

Brennan gifts have opened the way for him. He plans to move to New York in the spring of 2018. Also, he desires to model his career after Corinne Bailey Rae, who is internationally known with a devoted fan base. Brennan is on the right the path and the surely his gifts will usher him into the presence of greatness!

For more information about Brennan and his music visit his website at www.brennanvillines.com

Ser et ha

Lichez w By:Davita Collins

hen fulfilling ones dreams, there will be many obstacles in the way.

While some may view adversity as a hindrance, others see them as an opportunity to show up and become the people they are meant to be. While it can be unnerving to step into the unknown, but with faith and perseverance, all mysteries will be revealed crystal clear. Seretha Lichez knew at a very young age that she was destined to sing, and has broken down many barriers to achieve personal and career success. I was able to have a heart to heart with the American Idol Alum to discuss glimpses of her past, present and future.

Tell u s a bit abou t you r back gr ou n d an d h ow you got in t o t h e m u sic bu sin ess. Wh o or w h at in spir ed you ?

I grew up singing and I have been singing as long as I can remember, probably ever since I started talking. I wrote my first song when I was five. I probably spelled all of the words wrong, but it was in my head so I knew early on that I had an ability to write and create, not only sing. I led my own song when I was in my head so I knew early on that I had an ability to write and create, not only sing. I led my own song when I was six. It was then that I realized that I enjoyed being in front of people, and it seemed as if they received me well. With the applause and the cheering, from there I developed an interest and I knew that is what I wanted to do. I wanted to sing, and I was meant to be a singer.

After that, my parents started to put me in talent shows among other showcases just to develop my singing abilities. Also, I was in the youth choir at church so I definitely grew up in the church. That is where my foundation is. In school, I joined choruses while continuing to develop. I really started taking my career seriously in high school. I had a few groups I had formed, with other girls who were interested in music I like and they started doing talent shows with me as well.

Eventually I decided to pursue my solo career in about the eleventh grade. From there I started to record professionally. At twenty and twenty one years old I started to really get heavily involved with making mixed tapes. Back then, mixed tapes weren?t really that popular amongst R&B singers. It was considered a Hip Hop ?thing?, and no one in the R&B world really had caught onto building their career from the ground up using mix tapes yet. I was one of the first people to put out an R&B mixtape and it was posted up by a DJ. We developed it and it did really well, especially overseas.

And then, I got pregnant! From there, I took a break from music for awhile to focus on being the best mother I could be to my daughter, and I sung gospel. I did a lot of background singing for a lot of gospel

20

Stylist : Ebone Johnson @eyebreathefashion Photographer:Garrett Kerr @onegshot

Photographer:Raphael Simien @thecamkilla

artists, I got a lot of success from that. But, I still wanted to branch out and pursue my solo career again. I was a bit hesitant and afraid.

Wh at w as it like doin g Am er ican Idol? Do you f eel like it h elped you r car eer get t o w h er e it is n ow ?

I tried out for American Idol, and I made it! I had a really successful bout with the American Idol franchise. I received international recognition with that show, and that has launched my career as a solo artist. I had people who knew my story a bit, who got to know me and my daughter. So, from there, about three years later, I took another break after the (American Idol) show to focus on motherhood. And now I am just focusing on my professional solo career again.

I do feel like American Idol gave me the recognition, boosted my confidence with my singing career and has played a big role in my visibility. The bulk of my success actually came from the gospel group I sang with for awhile. We had great recognition, sang for former President Obama, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey. I had amazing opportunities with the singing group.

Wh at abou t Lif e af t er Am er ican Idol?

Since Idol, I have opened up for Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Lyfe Jennings, and Anthony David. I also took a leap of faith and relocated to Atlanta, GA to pursue my career, performing and gaining more recognition for my single, as well as my remix of Bruno Mars?hit ?What I like?.

We ar e aw ar e t h at you r ch ild?s f at h er alm ost passed aw ay. Tell u s a bit abou t t h at an d w h at lif e is like f or you n ow ?

He was in a terrible accident. And, I shared this story on American Idol. He was in a terrible motorcycle accident and he almost lost his life. We lived in the hospital with him for months while he was recovering. I had to stop working to take care of him, because he was totally dependent. He could not use any of his limbs; all of them were broken. So, I was his caretaker for awhile. That was a really rough time for all of us. It was a big role change. He could not work, I couldn't work while tending to him. So, that was a big hurtle that we had to jump over.

22 Thankfully, he survived. He is doing well now. We are

no longer together, but I am happy to see that he is back on his feet and working again. To God be the glory for that!

Tell u s abou t you r n ew sin gle?

My new single is called ?Real One?. I wrote that along with another songwriter named Charnel, Allen who is from Charlotte. Krazy Figz, who is a major producer out of Charlotte, produced the track. I needed to vent for a bit, so I went to the studio and told (Krazy Figz) him that I wanted to get some things off my chest. We came up with this song, and when I left, so much was lifted off of me. I felt like I said what I needed to say.

The song is about me getting out of an unhealthy relationship, while going through a hard time with this individual where I did not feel appreciated or loved.

Then I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I found real love and a real man who gave me everything I deserved. So, it was a happy ending. My single ?Real One? is currently on sale through all major online retailers such as Spotify, Deezer, Google Play, AmazonMusic and iTunes.

Descr ibe you r m u sic. Does it f all in t o an y par t icu lar gen r e?

I am a true R&B artist. However, I like to infuse other genres because I am very open-minded, and I like to express myself musically. But I am strictly R&B, and if people heard my music I would be categorized as an R&B artist. Maybe some of my music has a pop flair to

it, as well as gospel. I cant seem to get away from it, because that is where I was rooted. You may hear a little bit of Kim Burrell, some gospel in my voice. But R&B is my true genre.

Ar e you in f lu en ced by an y m u sic icon s? If so, w h o ar e t h ey an d w h y?

I would say, growing up, even when you listened to my music you could hear all of my influences in my music.

Anita Baker is my all-time favorite. There is something about her delivery, her range, the way she forces her soul out into her music. For a long time, as a child, I could not listen to her because she tugs at your soul when she sings, and this euphoric feeling came over me, that I was not familiar with. I just recently gotten to the point where I could listen to an entire Anita Baker song.

You would hear her musical influences (in my music), as far as her ascending and descending her voice. I use a lot of her vocal techniques. I am also influenced by Brandy and her riffs, her vibrato; Whitney Houston, her vibrato, delivery and her (vocal) power. I am influenced by Beyonce, because she can switch it up. While growing up and listening to her music, I would try to imitate her sound, because no one sounded like her; how she could really sing quickly, and her staccato. Kim Burrell, and other gospel artists are also influences.

Do you f eel lik e you r m u sic is in f lu en ced by lif e exper ien ces?

Most definitely! A lot of my music is very personal. I write everything, and it allows me to escape. I am not really good with expressing myself through words. I am much better with expressing myself musically. That is a kind of therapy for me. I even take other people?s situations-if I give advice to friends and loved ones while they are going through something that might provoke me to write a song. It does not necessarily have to be my personal experience, but the inspiration from whatever others are going through, I may be able to talk about it in a song as well.

Is you r per son al st yle in f lu en ced by m u sic? Do you h ave a f avor it e design er / clot h in g br an d?

I would say that my style is very old school. I am very true to the 1990?s as far as music. I am heavily influenced by that decade. As far as my personal style is concerned, I am very conservative, almost Hollywood Glamour, 1960?s even.

I love bedazzled garments, and a red lip. It is just something about Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe.

Their styles will never get old. I am like their baby. I am not sure how I infuse the 1990s with the 1960s style but I do. I don?t have a favorite brand. I am not into brand or labels.

Honestly, I like vintage styles, shopping in thrift shops and places where I can find exclusive, vintage pieces. I don?t like to look and be like everyone else. I could see a one of a kind piece and it is all mine!

Wh at ar e you r t h ou gh t s abou t t h e in t er n et ?s in f lu en ce over t h e m u sic bu sin ess?

especially with social media. As far as the music industry goes, the internet has helped and hurt it. Internet has helped because people can follow their favorite artists; they can stay in tuned with your life and get to know you personally, especially if you are sharing a lot of moments with people. It is also easier to share a song, download it and send it to the masses. There is easier access. But, I feel it also hurts music because it can water down some influences. Right now we are in a ?microwave? era.

Everything is really fast, and people?s attention spans are not what they used to be like back in the day.

Wh at n ew pr oject s do you h ave com in g u p?

I just completed my EP, so I am really excited about that. I am also completing a mix tape right now. This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time, only because I dropped a mixtape in 2007, but then I disappeared after having my child a year later. So, I am really excited about that because a lot of people are anticipating mix tapes nowadays. I don't want to sound cocky, but I feel like I can outdo a lot of artists who are putting out mix tapes, lyrically and creatively. Also, I am currently under negotiations for some acting roles and I will keep my readers and fans posted once I am able to disclose more information! h ear d t h at Am er ican Idol w ill be h ost in g au dit ion s at Disn ey Wor ld. An y advice f or t h ose aspir in g ar t ist s w h o w an t t o au dit ion f or Am er ican Idol t h is year or in t h e f u t u r e?

I would say, not to give up. It is a tedious process, and not what you see on television. There is so much more to it.

You have to go through about four rounds, an interview, plus a psychology test. There is a lot to go through in order to be featured on the television show. My suggestion is to be original. Be whatever it is to stand out, but still be yourself. They will give you a list of songs, that you are allowed sing (during the taping) of the show. This happens after you pass the second phase of auditions. I went through the list-mind you it is about thirty-three pages! I saw Will Smith's ?Fresh Prince of Belair ? listed on the very last page. And I thought to myself, this has got to be a joke!

So, I thought about it, and I decided to sing the "Fresh Prince of Belair ", and I am going to make it my own. I have never seen it done, or heard of it before. You just hear (The Fresh Prince of Belair theme song) and you know where the song came from, so I wanted people to be able to relate to me.

Walt Disney once said, ?All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them?. Seretha?s life and career are shining examples of this. Although detours and obstacles stood in her way, she never lost sight of her goals. Actually, those sufferings drove her to success. She literally stepped out of the darkness of her hardship and into the spotlight of her favor. Seretha?s dreams are realized, to demonstrate to others that whatever they conceive, they can achieve.

IG/Twitter: @slichez Facebook:/serethalichez Music : Reverbnation: Reverbnation/serethalichez.

I think it is healthy in a way. I think we have evolved a lot,

16

Why We The 90s

By Chris L ewis

H

ave you, yes, you, ever wondered if our universe got warped into some alternate 90s-inspired continuum? No? Well, maybe not to that extreme, but everywhere you look, there appears to be more and more 90s influences popping up in the latest fashion trends. For those of you who fondly look back on the 90s, this might be great news for you.

Iggy Azalea's Grunge 90's inspired Look

As we?re aware, the fashion industry has always been known for pushing the envelope, which is certainly

<Nost algia/Edgy/Differ ent > true for 90s fashion. Denim, overalls, neon windbreakers, mood rings, and a whole plethora of other styles associated with the 90s all were immensely popular around this time. Graphic tees were huge during this period as well. In the 90s, the innovation of shirt printing technology evolved with the promotion of identity advertising. This meant that instead of people wearing shirts with graphics just for fashion-sake, graphic tees also became another way for people to make a statement or promote different ideologies. That idea has carried on into the contemporary world. Shirts are made for many different events and organizations nowadays, such as fund raisers or sporting events.

Part of the reason why 90s fashion and culture seems to be 26

#TBT M ar iah Car ey an d LL Cool J

resurfacing is due to nostalgia. Many of us who grew up in the 90s are now reaching a point in adulthood where we are influencing global culture and politics. Combining that with the longing for the good ol?days, and you?ll likely get a lot of people wearing denim, overalls, baggy jeans or whatever tickled your fancy back then.

It makes sense now when they say that fashion tends to be cyclical.

Maybe the nostalgia factor has a lot to do with it or maybe that?s just the way the world works. While some 90s styles are considered fashion faux pas nowadays, one could say that we can certainly take one thing away from the 90s trends, if nothing else; it?s the fact that people weren?t afraid to take risks with the way they dressed. That ideal has definitely spilled over into the 2010s, albeit maybe not as extreme as two decades ago, but that line of thinking still exists in fashion today. People still bleach their hair, get body piercings, or wear ripped jeans, as was popular just a quarter of a century ago.

We lived the 90s, and we loved the 90s (and still do). Despite a lot of fashion don?ts in that era, that decade made an impact on the world today. It may seem like we are way beyond those times now, but hey, a little nostalgia never hurt anyone.

t he Po w er of

3

w

By:Marage Blakeney

or her voice and share it with the world.

III?s passion, dedication, and tenacity are major signs of his musical genius. His talents have been recognized and acknowledged by major hip-hop artists and producers. In fact, III?s first contract was with music mogul, Russell Simmons. As a young 18 year old who just inherited a lot of cash, III made extravagant purchases. These expensive transactions almost cost him his life. Similar to his idol?s life, Tupac, III was shot six times (in the leg) in a robbery attempt. Shortly after the incident, he lost the record deal. In 2010, III caught the eye

illiam Shakespeare once asked a poignant question, ?What?s in a name??

The winner of BET?s (Black Entertainment Television), ?One Shot?, III knows the blood, sweat, and tears associated with personifying a name. In order to make it to the top of hip-hop royalty, he had to overcome many challenges including staring death in its eyes. These ripple effects have given his music and name a significant meaning.

28

Formerly known as S Dub, III, wanted to follow in his older brother ?s footsteps.

His brother formed a rap group comprised of neighborhood basketball players. However, III had to prove his worthiness to join these rap pioneers.

His innovative writing skills were ahead of his time. III took aspects of his environment and personal life to infuse them into musical melodies that would inspire and guide others to be successful. Whether an individual aspires to become an athlete, rapper, and/or mentor, III believes that it is vital for one to understand the power of his

of Sony music executives. He was offered a second deal. During this time, III suffered a severe asthma attack that resulted in his heart stopping for eight whole minutes. To make matters worse, his loved ones could not locate him in the hospital because he was provided with the wrong name tag. Once again, his deal fell through as a result of a label merger.

However, these trials and tribulations did not stop him. He transformed these mountains into stepping-stones for the next chapter in his journey.

III decided to enter BET?s ?One Shot? inaugural hip-hop competition. The rap contest featured over 20,000 contestants. III?s audition

experience was very different than most of his competitors. While most of rappers had on gold chains, he wore an unusual kind of accessory, an ankle bracelet for electronic monitoring. He said, ?A lot of the contestants were laughing and excited to get the airtime and be around the celebrities. I made a lot of sacrifices to be there.

I was very serious. I had been around the celebrities before when I had my previous deals.

I wanted to create something different. I wanted to show pride for my city.? His family was so excited when he was announced as the finale winner. III was awarded a record deal and $100,000 cash prize.

III realized that he needed to create a unique name and brand for himself. Therefore, in 2014, he upgraded his rap moniker from ?S Dub? to ?III?. This alias had profound meanings for him on multiple levels. First of all, this is a reminder to him that blessings come in multiples of threes. It is a spiritual tribute to the Trinity: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the Third Chapter in his life. Three times is a charm. So III is determined to making his name a brand that includes a non-profit organization to uplift the community and a clothing line. Recently, Chance the Rapper has been spotted with the number ?3? on his garments while promoting his current album. Chance stated that ?3? represents his third album, the Trinity, and family. III says ?some people may see it as stealing? but I?m going to let God deal with that, work hard, and grind harder.? He advises young artists to ?copyright your work and make it legal so that others cannot steal your product.? III also encourages them to use their brains, pay attention, and constantly check-in with accountants to avoid financial and social pitfalls.

III believes that nothing is more powerful than God, and everything has happened because of God?s planning and positioning. His older daughter has been blessed with his musical talents. She raps and sings. As a matter of fact, she has been in the studio with III since she was five years old. In addition to being a loving father of two daughters, he is working on a visual short film for his song. III plans to do more performances at local boy/girl clubs and

churches to share his testimony. He is determined to make his own path and create own identity that will provide guidance and inspiration to others. That is the amazing power of III! For more information about III follow him on Instagram and Facebook: numeral3

VOLUM E 4

L

By : Desi Helm

TheITG irls

ifting the standards in today's modern music industry, the ladies behind the soul filled melodies and hip beats of Volume 4 are poised to reach new heights with songs that will soon be filling our air waves.

Volume 4 is the brain child of producer Timothy "Krazy Figz" Walls, who set out to create an all-female ensemble with a distinct sound and potential to become a Worldwide sensation.Bringing his vision to life, he created Volume 4, which consists of Janelle Gee, K. Riss, Frenchiee and DK. When their unique talents 30 combine, they bring together an intricate fusion of 4

very different voices and styles to generate a melody that is all their own. Level 21 sat down with Volume4 (V4) to learn all about their music and what sets this group apart in the sea of other musicians.

We are excited to see a group come out of Charlotte? I know you call Charlotte home now, but where are you all originally from?

Frenchiee: I am originally from Boston, been in Charlotte about 10 years

DK: Durham North Carolina, moved here a few years back K.Riss: Originally from Maryland, but I grew up in Winston Salem, so I have always called North Carolina home. I moved here to go to UNC Charlotte.

Jan elle Gee: From a small town in Bertie County.

Cotton fields, dirt fields, the country. I moved to Charlotte to attend UNC too.

With a sound the marries a fusion of soul and pop called Urban Pop, the 4 ladies are working to revamp the classic 90s music scene by adding their own special flare. Their sound has an edgy old school feel, with fresh up to date beats that insist you dance and sing along.

You guys are pretty well known for a remix of "Creep"

by TLC, but you are much more than just remixes. How would you describe your style of music?

Fr en ch iee: V4 has versatility that is out of this world.

You can't put us in a box for music. We can do trap, rock, pop, even reggae. Whatever you want, we can give it to you. We take pride in our craft and genuinely love our music.

How did you all come together?

Jan elle Gee: We didn?t know each other before the

Jan elle Gee: We didn?t know each other before the group. Our producer hand-picked us a couple of years ago. We actually just celebrated our 2 year anniversary. He picked each of us for our individual Performing, you all seem to work together so well.

How do you create that chemistry since you haven't known each other long?

Fr en ch iee: Our group works so well, because we are not like "normal girls", we are more like the girls that hang with the guys. We are very independent and can do for ourselves each individually. Our bond is really more like sisters. We are down for each other. It's not like high school. We are all grown. If we have an issue, we pick up the phone and talk. We don't let it linger.

Jen elle Gee: Our chemistry is really organic. It grew into this. We just flow together now. Natural Stars. (and you could hear her smile as she said this) Speaking of stars, you guys are often compared to TLC. Especially you Frenchiee. Since you are the rapper of the group, I bet you get compared to Left Eye a lot. How do you feel about that?

Fr en ch iee: It's an honor. At first, I didn?t want that responsibility. It's big shoes to fill. It wasn?t until I rapped on our first track that I realized how good I was at it. Although I am a vocalist at heart, I have grown to

D K Jan elle Gee: We will be dropping an EP very soon. Our single ?Body Work? is out now. You can get it on Tidal, iCloud and Spotify. You can even make your own V4 station on Pandora.

FR ENC H IEE

love rapping too. Probably because I love to write. We write a lot of our own songs and I love to be a part of that.

Fr en ch iee: The video is the best. Our creative director, Ana Obqueze helps with the dance moves K.Riss: You can follow us on everything at ?weareV4? to hear about our events, music and see our videos.

Listening to them speak, it is clear each girl has a place, a special role in the group that compliments and DK:We did a show in Atlanta. It assists the others when needed. DK, was life changing. The audience the last member to join the group, is was great. There was a lot of love the silent type. Not shy, but strong, there. observative and just a tad bit more K.Riss: Yeah, I agree. It was our reserved than the others. She is first major performance, and we definitely the nurturer in the group. did the whole thing in heels. (she Always chill. While Janelle is the total opposite. She is the free spirit in the laughs) group, the life of the party. But don't Jan elle Gee: It was fulfilling. We let it fool you. She is adaptable and work hard to get ready for a always willing to change or adjust to show. People see our clips and whatever the needs of the group are have no idea how much work at the time. The girls see K.Riss as the goes into a performance. It was big sister of the group. She is known like all our hard work finally paid to evaluate each situation, and won't off. Felt like the crowd believed in let any of the ladies approach us. anything without a plan. K.Riss loves to have fun, but the ladies will I hear you guys have been putting in a lot of work on your new EP. Can you tell us about you r lat est t r ack ?

To date what's been your most memorable moment as a group.

agree that she can "crack the whip" and make sure they are about their business when she needs to.

Frenchiee brings them all together.

She is the perfecting pairing of business and fun, she is the glue. As each lady begins to describe each other, the conversation goes off into a tangent as the ladies smile and laugh at their revelations and opinions of each other. You can hear their love for each other as they talk, and it is apparent that the ladies have formed a bond that can't be broken.

You guys seem to have a good relationship. Keeping it real, girl groups have a reputation for falling apart. How do you plan to keep your group together?

K.Riss: It?s all about respect. When it comes down to each other we respect each other 's gifts and respect our craft. We believe in our talents and abilities together. Ultimately it keeps us focused and together. We are so focused on making this a career and lifestyle that we don?t deal with drama or anything that steps in the way of that.

Fr en ch iee: Anything is possible if they just be themselves and believe in themselves. To learn to love themselves and not be carbon copies

of everyone else. I want them to be the best version of themselves and not the next reality star.

Jan elle Gee: Being in a girl group is such a collaborative effort. It's also a part of what we stand for. We want to represent the fact that women can bring their talents together and be successful. Be the best version of you.

DK: We want to move mountains and change the culture.

K.Riss: That?s our mission. Girl Power.

Jan elle Gee: We don?t have to bring each other down or beat each other up to ?come up?. That?s the dope thing of seeing the 4 of us on stage.

When we perform, we give it our all, our best. We don?t just perform together, we are really together. We are an unstoppable force together.

JANELLEG EE

It is this ?force? that sets Volume 4 apart from other music acts. They realize they are stronger together and are determined to set themselves apart from other girl acts; by not just being good performers, but by being a force for Girl Empowerment everywhere. They are on a mission to set the world on fire. The ladies have coined a phrase, befitting of both them and their listeners alike.

?Alwayslivelife,B.L.U .E. ?Bold,Loud,U niqueand Edgy.?

They have pledged to live life with this motto to the fullest and with as much moxy as they have together, we think they just might.

K.R ISS

90'S GRUNGE By: Meghan Young - The grunge look of the 90's has been given a glamorous twist in the photo series starring models Laura and Melissa by Janis Ann, a British photographer who splits her time between Amsterdam and London. Combining Hollywood hair and makeup courtesy of beauty artist Marta Roque with studded bras, baggy checkered button-ups and snapback baseball caps, the looks are casual and edgy.

Styled by Suzan Sea, the photo series starring models Laura and Melissa by Janis Ann really captures the era beautiful, even when it comes to the Wu-Tang tees and acid wash overalls. Shot on location on what appears to be the grounds of a school, the photoshoot has a youthful flavor in spite of the sensual nature of the poses and even the looks.

34

Beco ming

?Wh o ar e you , in t h is m om en t , r igh t n ow ?

Wh o is Sh ad M oss??

By Kaitlin Booe

I

t ?s quiet, except for the crinkle of food wrappings and a prolonged ?um? as he spends a split second deliberating. ?A young, thirty-year-old who is on a mission. That?s who I am right now. I?m just a young, thirty-year-old with dreams,? he says. If describing himself as ?a young thirty-year-old? isn?t an indication of the juxtaposition of boy and man present in Shad Moss?s (also known as Bow Wow, or formerly known as Lil?Bow Wow) character, then let us explain.

There seems to be a curse surrounding Hollywood?s child stars. From substance abuse, to identity crises and premature deaths, the difference between those introduced to fame at a young age, and those who find it in adulthood does, indeed, seem to be a matter of maturity.

A quick Google search will tell you Moss hasn?t had the same troubles that have befallen child stars like Lindsay Lohan, or fellow nineties kid rappers Shyheim and Chris Kelly (half of the Jermaine Dupri-helmed group, Kriss Kross.). That same, quick Google search will tell you, however, that there is a certain media hang-up regarding some of Moss?s antics over the years? the most recent of which involve a chase with fans that some believe he paid for, and a social media blunder that curated the Bow Wow Challenge. ?When I did the Bow Wow Challenge, it was something I knew I was doing. One thing about me is that I?m very smart. I?m very smart with my words. I never once said I was on that specific plane. I said ?it?s a travel day.?I never once said ?I?m pulling up to my jet and I?m on my way to New York, y?all ready for me??No. It just had the picture with the jet and it just said ?New York bound,?? he told Level21 when asked about his social media involvement.

35

?Basically, take it however you want to take it. Sometimes people get bored and they look for any little thing and they ride it because it?s entertainment. The people put me on this jet, so let?s just roll with it. Why not??

Why not, indeed. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Moss?s music career began at the early age of six.

Although he didn?t meet long-time record producer Jermaine Dupri until 1998, Moss was working with Snoop Dogg (who, fun fact, dubbed Moss with the name Lil?Bow Wow) and Dr. Dre before he hit double digits. It was Dupri who helped him shape his career, however, and even with fame due to a quickly budding, promising music career, Moss credits Like Mike as the major turning point in his career. The film, which was released in 2002 and featured a teenage Moss ?runnin?up and down the court?in a pair of magical sneakers, ?took it so big,? he says. ?On ce I did Like Mike, I h ad w h it e k ids in Am er ica an d all over t h e w or ld w h o n ever even got a w h if f of t h e m u sic, bu t t h e m ovie w as so gr eat t h at k ids w er e ju st like n obody cou ld play t h at r ole ot h er t h an h im . Som e k ids pr obably cau gh t on lat er t h at ?oh , h e?s an act or , bu t h e r aps, t oo. He r apped in h is m ovie, bu t h e?s alw ays been a r apper .?Like Mike w as a t u r n in g poin t f or m e.? With an expanded fan base and doors opening to more opportunities came a name change. Technically, Moss?s decision to drop the ?Lil?from his stage name came a few months before Like Mike?s debut, but it?s a change that?s becoming symbolic in Moss?s growth from boy to man. Once again, the rapper changed his name in

"

2014, dropping his moniker completely in favor of his given name to start yet another new chapter, and it?s one defined by a desire to give back.

From Lil?Bow Wow, to Bow Wow, to Shad Moss, one thing has remained consistent, if only

Take it ho w ev er yo u want t o take it .

unapparent at a first glance thanks to the media?s insistence the rapper makes his life seem grander than it really is, and that?s something Moss has a unique perspective on. ?It?s a waste of time,? he says, when asked about social media and fighting the battles to change that perception. ?Every week, a celebrity will do some dumb sh* t. Just when you?re the talk of the media, and if you can take it for

Jacket: Good Times (Vintage Shop-Charlotte NC) Shirt-Watch-Pants-Shoes: Score -(Charlotte NC) Photographer: Antoinne Duan Jones Creative Director: Michael Lopez MUA/Set Assistant- Jasmine Byrd Stylist: Candis Gibbs & Jerry Thompson Location: Weldon Bond Studios Set Props- The T.Z Studio- Laurence Logan

"

three days, at best four, another celebrity?s about to do some dumb sh* t to take your attention away.

That?s why I don?t battle with anything online, or the shade rooms, or none of those because when I go to these spots and host the nightclubs, I don?t see it.

When they see me walk in, it?s a whole other story. It leaves you, people forget. People do forget. So, why are you putting so much energy into this when this is going to be over?? Rather than feed into swarms of people with clapbacks that often add fuel to an ever-burning fire, Moss keeps himself at a safe distance. He maintains an online presence, but not too much of one that he?s entirely unreachable. With a focus that?s not directed by or on what people think about him, and allowing people to reach whatever conclusions they?d like, Moss is free to keep his nose to the grindstone. Although his rapping career may be coming to a close, he?s got no shortage of work left on his plate. Currently, part of that work revolves around trying to balance both his work life and home life (Moss is a father to six-year-old Shai). ?It?s tough, it?s tough. I just had to miss my daughter?s? you know, they had a Father?s Day brunch at her school and I had to miss it because I was on tour, and I had to explain to her why I couldn?t make it. It?s tough trying to balance it all out, but we have a great staff and a great team for assistance? guys who work their asses off to try and make my life a little easier.?

And, in return for all their hard work and help, Moss wants to do what he can to help them find success, whether that be with him as he shifts his pursuits to roles both on and off the big and small screens, or elsewhere. ?I?ve definitely changed people?s lives that have been around me for the good, but those are guys that came around me and learned, and that blessed them to greater positions elsewhere. I want to influence and make people better. So, I won?t be satisfied until my partners are paid,? he says. It?s a desire of his that is so strong, and one that shows just how big of a heart Moss has, that his mom says it?s a goal he?d die trying to accomplish. It?s not, however, the only place his influence is felt.

Currently, Moss is fresh off Jermaine Dupri?s SoSoSUMMER ?17 tour and is serving as an executive producer on We TV?s Growing Up Hip Hop spin off, Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. It?s in both of those rolls that Moss gets the chance to work with the next generation of rap and hip-hop artists. Not only does his involvement, particularly with Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta, give him the opportunity to expose some of the hardships, pressure, and hard work that goes into cultivating a career in the entertainment industry, but, as a poster child for what it meant to grow up

Photography Photo X Words

I do n't wait o n Jer maine. I do n't wait o n no bo dy

"

hip-hop, it allows him a chance to share the wisdom he?s learned. ?I feel like it?s my responsibility, I feel like there?s no home for artists and new artists, period. We don?t have another 106 & Park, it ended with me. There hasn?t been anything that has impacted the culture now, like, you know, a show that we tune into virally and on cable that hits home for our culture.? It?s a culture far from dead, but one without the same presence it had when Moss was going around as Lil?Bow Wow. But that?s neither here or there, and it?s definitely not a fact meant to prevent or dissuade. It?s merely something meant to motivate and inspire a work ethic that can continue to maintain and support budding careers. ?You?ve got to just stay at it. I was telling them,? them being the artists he?s currently touring with, ?that I don?t wait on Jermaine. I don?t wait on nobody. I feel like people can hold you back. If you have something special, if you?ve got a talent, then you go for it. You make the boss catch up. In this music business, that?s how I think about it.?

The candid way Moss speaks about the industry and his experiences within it belies one more thing about the depths of maturity hiding beneath the surface of someone who has maintained a boyish air. ?It?s not about who works the hardest, it?s about who works the smartest.? In talking to Moss, it?s abundantly clear that while he still feels young at heart, he?s taken clear responsibility for his own career and the decisions made to further it.

So, just who is Shad Moss?

We here at Level21 think we?ve got an idea. Ultimately, that?s up for you to decided, but we?ll give you a little hint: we think he?s a legend.?

Jacket: Awquard Art -Julian Grant (ATL) Shirt-Watch-Pants-Shoes: Score Bar -(Charlotte NC) Photographer: Antoinne Duan Jones Creative Director: Michael Lopez MUA/Set Assistant- Jasmine Byrd Stylist: Candis Gibbs & Jerry Thompson Location: Weldon Bond Studios Set Props- The T.Z Studio- Laurence Logan

Hat: Good Times (Vintage Shop-Charlotte NC) Shirt-Watch-Pants-Shoes: Score Bar -(Charlotte NC) Photographer: Antoinne Duan Jones Creative Director: Michael Lopez MUA/Set Assistant- Jasmine Byrd Stylist: Candis Gibbs & Jerry Thompson Location: Weldon Bond Studios Set Props- The T.Z Studio- Laurence Logan

Now a va ila b le on a ll music a nd strea ming pla tforms a nd from the hit-ma ker himself! Ty Sta tz presents Ma n of the Yea r, a sing le tha t represents a nd celeb ra tes ind ivid ua ls who ha ve ha d extra ord ina ry b rea kthroug hs in their lives. Whether it's a b usiness, fa mily, or persona l b rea kthroug h, this record is for you. Celeb ra te YO UR rise to MAN, or WO MAN, O F THE YEAR a nd g et your copy tod a y!

Gr u i t o nge ut !

der n u t shir s?? s e dr t he

ock l b r Col o r way you e. hom

s ' 0 9 et e r St l e y t S

44

Yo nev u can er l wi t ose ove h r al l s!

e ll b e i w f i l a g a hug in his mak b ack t e com year

To mmy Hil f iger t o o k o ver t he 90's.

He is back w it h a 2017 Co l l ect io n t o die f o r !!

46

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Le An n a &t h e ga r de n of

P

By Chris Lewis

repare yourselves! LeAnna Eden & The Garden Of, which features members LeAnna Eden, James Jeffrey and Zach Willard, is making waves all across the country right now and when you listen to their music, you will know why.

Their sound is described as alternative and their songs are meant to tell stories. One of their songs, ?The Protest Song,? delves into the current political climate and race relations in the United States. As the title suggests, the song encourages us to stand up against those who are trying to bring harm to the black community.

Although the band is local to Charlotte, LeAnna has performed all over the Midwest and East Coast. She has played at the Cactus Club, Milwaukee Pride in 2012 and 2013, the Black Dot Music Fest, and Rivers of Honey in New York City to name a few.

We were elated when LeAnna Eden agreed to share how she started in the industry and what her plans are for the near future.

Where did you grow up?

I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Wh at br ou gh t you t o Ch ar lot t e?

I was traveling with a friend. We had a band.

We were trying to making a living out of it and go to every event in America, and that didn?t work out [laughs]. I stayed in Cleveland for about a year, but I got tired of the cold. I found out my friend was moving here, so I said ?I guess I?m moving to Charlotte!? and now I?ve been here for four years.

Wh at is you r m u sical back gr ou n d?

48

Well, I did band in high school. I?m classically trained in piano. I started playing the piano when I was around five years old. I was in grade school band and played the oboe. I was in choirs. Glee club. I performed in musicals.

When I was eighteen, I taught myself how to

Ed e n

play guitar and I?ve been playing it ever since.

How do you f eel you r m u sic dif f er s f r om ot h er ar t ist s?

I sort of classify myself as a black alternative artist. I mainly listen to punk rock and blues. I?ll listen to hip hop, but it doesn?t really connect with me in the way that it does with most people. I like hip hop artists like Kendrick Lamar. He?s telling a story every single time he says anything. I like the beats and bass lines, as long as I can listen to it and find something that I like about it. With music in general, you can find something about it that will make you go ?Oh, okay, I can listen to this.? But I like punk music and rock bands. I feel like I try to emulate that while also trying to make it different.

Yeah , an d I t h in k t h at is a good w ay t o con n ect t o you r au dien ce becau se t h ey w ill be able t o t ak e pieces of you r st or y t h at you ?r e t ellin g in you r ow n m u sic an d r elat e t o t h em .

Yeah, especially within the black community, we are told that we need to act a certain way or dress a certain way, you know? As if there is this expectation of what it means to be black, but we are so much more than that. We created rock and roll. It?s cool to do that and be able to show people something else.

How w ou ld you descr ibe you r ow n m u sical st yle?

Well, I tell stories, definitely. I?m a storyteller. And alternative.

If the opportunity ever came about, I think I would probably say yes [to signing with a label.] It?s always nice to have someone else pay for your tour and book shows because being independent is really tough, and I feel like a lot of people don?t understand the amount of work that it takes to run everything. I had to build my own website and pay graphic designers to design t-shirts; it's just difficult. It?d just be nice to have someone do that for me, you know? Then I could be just the artist. But sometimes, I have really high anxiety and I can be a control freak, so a part of me is like ?Aw, man, this sucks.? Then, the other part of me is like ?What if someone can?t do this the way that I want it done.? If there was a label out there that was really understanding, worked with me, let me be who I am and really believed in what I was trying to do, then yeah.

I?ve h ear d t h at som e ar t ist s w ill sign w it h a label an d t h en af t er a f ew year s, on ce t h ey gain a f ollow in g, t h ey ?ll dr op t h e label an d t h en m ove on t o in depen den t pr oject s.

That all boils down to if the people around you are good people.

A lot of times, people will get approached, then realize halfway through that they?re just being used and are basically a number.

I would probably want to be apart of a small-town label with people that I know.

Wh at n ew pr oject s ar e you w or k in g on ?

Right now, I?m recording an acoustic album. It?s more reminiscent of what I did as a solo artists before I got a band.

I?ve only really had a band for about a year and a half. Before, it was just me, but now there are three other people that I have to think about. It?s interesting. So, right now, I?m doing the acoustic project and showing another side of myself.

Wh er e do people f in d you r m u sic an d social m edia?

I have a website: leannaeden.com. There, you can find all of my flyers for shows that have passed and upcoming shows, and M u sically, w h o ar e you r biggest in f lu en ces an d w h o ar e there is a link at the bottom to check out my new music. The link you r f avor it e m u sician s? will take you to my bandcamp page where you can buy my Right now, I would say I?ve always looked up to Erykah Badu music. You can also Google my name and you can find my and Lauryn Hill. I think that the way Erykah Badu uses her music on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Tidal, and every other voice is just awesome, and Lauryn Hill, her Unplugged music app. As far as social media, I?m mostly active on album was really inspirational for me. When I listened to Instagram, @theletgoband. Look us up on Facebook, Twitter. that, I was like ?Okay, I can do this.? Valerie June, she is this Just Google my name, you can find me! dope folk and blues artist. I also really like Alabama Shakes.

Great things are on the horizon from LeAnna Eden & The Currently, I've been listening to a lot of Elliott Smith.

Garden! Thank you again to LeAnna for taking the time out to Do you w an t t o sign w it h a label or r em ain interview with us. We look forward to the band?s new music and in depen den t ? wish them continued success!

50

Her o es Kno w Ho w t o Br ace Fo r Impact .

By Marage Blakeney

The Sanderson Effect

R

alph Waldo Emerson, once said that, ?a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.? Dave Sanderson knew that quote all too well because he actually lived it. Sanderson?s mother always told him to ?do the right thing and God will take care of you?. Dave was unaware that his mother ?s words would become his manta that spurred him into selfless action during a pivotal shift in history.

On January 15, 2009, Sanderson boarded US Airways Flight 1549. He was one of the 150 passengers aboard the plane that was struck by a flock of geese that caused immediate loss of engine failure. Captain Chesley ?Sully?

Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles landed the plane on the Hudson River. Amazingly, everyone on the plane survived. Therefore, this incident was known as the ?Miracle on the Hudson.?

However, viewers watching via television or the internet only saw the outer workings of the ?Miracle on the Hudson?. They did not see or experience the inner workings of the actual miracle going on inside the plane.

Dave mentioned that, like most flyers do, he zoned out during the flight attendants emergency instructions. He trusted the crew and it was a short flight from New York to Charlotte. Unfortunately, this was no ordinary flight with ordinary passengers and crew members. The plane left LaGuardia airport at 3:24pm. A flock of geese struck the plane that resulted in the complete engine failure at 3:27pm. There was evidence of fire on the left wing. However, none of the passengers realized that the right wing was also compromised. Sanderson recalls that, ?it got so quiet that you could hear a pin drop?.

52

Suddenly, Captain Sully informed everyone at 3:28pm ?This is your Captain. Brace for impact.?

Once Dave heard those words, most people were calling their loved ones to saying their last goodbyes. However, Dave began to pray, ask for forgiveness, and make peace with God in his assigned seat of 15A. In that moment, a peace that surpassed all understanding flooded him and began to manage his mind in the middle of a crisis situation. Dave?s mother passed away in 1997. However, he held onto her words that said, ?Do the right thing and God will take care of you.? Dave sprung into action and did the right thing. He risked his own personal safety to help others off the plane, including a mother with her two young children ages three months and three years old. Dave was the last passenger off the plane, only to realize that there was no room left on the wing of the plane for him. Therefore, Dave was in 36 degree frigid water for six to seven minutes waiting to be rescued.

Dave mentions that the entire ordeal was miraculous, even down to the coordination of the New York and New Jersey ferry workers, police officers, medical centers, and the American Red Cross. Dave says they are the ?real heroes?. He said that, ?everyone was brave in a concerted six to seven minutes.

Everyone checked their ego at the door and realized that in order to survive everyone needed to serve each other.?

Prior to that day, Dave only associated American Red Cross with blood donations.

However, January 15, 2009 proved to the Sanderson family that the Red Cross mission reaches far beyond just blood donors.

Remember at the beginning of the story that Dave did not call or text his family, well he did not have to, because the American Red Cross contacted his family in Charlotte, NC and provided them with the miraculous update. The Red Cross provided each survivor with warm blankets and hugs. They supported each survivor while they were recovering from the freezing 11 degree temperatures.

Also, the American Red Cross was there to ensure that Dave had the best medical care to avoid perishing from hypothermia. He was grateful for this occasion, making new friends, and having a new sense of purpose for his life.

As faith would have it, everyone (total of 155) on board US Airways Flight 1549 survived and thrived. As a matter of a fact, only ten people went to the hospital. Today, Sanderson is an inspirational speaker, author, and major fundraiser for the American Red Cross. Bravery can show up at any given moment. However, one must move pass his or her ego to allow the selfless act to display itself. That is the true Sanderson effect. He truly understands that real heroes know how to brace for impact!

For more information about Dave Sanderson, please visit: www.davesandersonspeaks.com For more information about American Red Cross and/or to donate, please visit: www.redcross.org

By Davita Collins

Y

I am Mr .

Wo o ds

ou are driving alone down an unknown road, and it is dark. If it weren?t for the headlights illuminating against the obscurity, the surrounding, eerie forest would otherwise engulf you. As you anxiously continue to steer the car, a strong yet gentle voice reminds you that those several feet of highlighted pavement are all you need to see, and that faith will bring you safely to your next destination. Especially in a time like now, we need faith more than ever, and Mr. Woods exemplifies a man of faith who?s been chosen as a beacon of light to guide us on these dark roads of uncertainty.

Where are you from?

I am originally from Far Rockaway Queens, NY. For the readers who are getting to know you, tell us about your past and present success?

As for my past success, I initially got into the game with a men?s rebuttal record to TLC?s ?No Scrubs? called ?No Pigeons?. That record went Gold, and it was a huge success. The original tile was ?No Vultures? and it was featured on a mixtape by Brooklyn?s own DJ Rhude. I used to do a a lot of mixed tapes with him back then.

At the time when ?No Scrubs? came out, I was like ?hold on, we have to balance this out because guys don't want to ride in the passenger ?s side of a vehicle because of this song?. This song had a real-life effect on the streets, because the ladies were winning with this ?No Scrubs? song. I recorded ?No Vultures?, and it got into the hands of Funkmaster Flex of Hot 97 in New York City, and he loved it. So much so, that he called me! I couldn?t believe it, because I was just getting my feet wet at the time. He did call me, and I thought it was a prank call! He got on the phone and said, ?Mr Woods, this song could be huge!?

He said that the concept was really dope, and necessary and it worked. He was also working with Sporty Thievz at the time. They had an album out, and the concept of the song that I wrote resonated with them. So, a few days later, he set up a studio session so I can meet with Sporty Thievz to cut the record. I arranged the record since I wrote it. Since I am a solo artist and they were a group, I decided to anchor the record and go last. So, if you hear the song ?No Pigeons? and your hear ?Greet Your Highness Queensfinest?, that is me.

54

Moving forward, a lot of people loved my voice because I have such a distinctive, raspy voice, subsequently, I landed a major commercial project with Pepsi, doing a voiceover starring Master P who pulls up in a stretch Hummer. Then, Pepsi had me create lyrics for the commercial, and I would perform nationally promoting Pepsi products. I also did a McDonald?s ?Dollar Menu? jingle when they first started marketing the menu, around 2000. I was the guy on the radio rapping about ?dollar fries and hamburgers?. I didn?t know this would be

so big! I didn?t know that the dollar menu would still exist, even to this day! I just thought it was temporary. But I was the official spokesperson for the Dollar Menu.

Next, I toured with Kanye West, Fantasia, KEYSHIA COLE, & Lupe Fiasco for about two years, then I returned to Charlotte and opened my own recording and dance studio. I began doing artist development, working with several artists within the city . Since I had worked with Keyshia Cole before, (artist development) became a business for me. I have been working on my own music at the same time, while speaking publicly. I also started my own group with several other artists from Charlotte. I handpicked three other artists to work with me to start a movement, called TUK (Turn Up Kings) Movement. It consisted of myself, Jus. K, Bronze and Kyrk, a reggae artist. For the past few years, I have been branding and doing a lot of the shows. It got rave reviews, because of the four distinct fusions of sound we have; Jus.K is a singer, I am a Hip Hop artist, Bronze rapped Trap music, and Kyrk brings in his Reggae vibe. Presently, it is just myself and Kyrk who Continues to represent the Movement because Jus. K and Bronze wants to continue working on their solo projects, as solo artists.

Kyrk and I both come from Caribbean backgrounds, Kyrk is from Jamaica, and my family is from Guyana. We have a song called ?Melody Makers? that showcases our West Indian heritage.

We know you do a lot of community service, having run into you while we were volunteering at the Panthers Stadium. Can you tell us a bit about your non-profit organization?

Yes, I do alot of community service work with Kevan Glover for the Konnected Foundation. I enjoy helping others, because I'm such a peoples person. At one time I managed a hotel for about ten years and I learned how to deal with people from all walks of life, with different personalities. Additionally, working with the youth and elderly comes naturally to me. That?s who Woods is all about.

My own foundation is called K.L.O.U.D, which is another acronym of mines. The name has to have some kind of meaning. Some people call me the ?acronym king?. So, KLOUD stands for Keep Living Out Ur Dreams. The KLOUD Foundation is something I wanted to do, to go around and inspire the youth. I want to visit

high schools, do community service, tell them about my journey, and what I did to get here.

At one point as a youngster, I was terrified of public speaking! I used to shake in my boots! Whenever I had to do an oral report, I would tell my mother I was sick, so I would avoid going to school and standing in front of the class. As I got older, I fought through that fear on my own.

Once I got older and became an entertainer, I realized that everybody loved me, so the fear dissipated. So that is something that I would like to address with the youth. Because I feel that a lot of them have stage fright. They want to entertain, but they are afraid to be in front of an audience who are going to critique you. I would love to inspire them and let them know, that used to be me at one point.

I notice how inspirational your Instagram posts are, and how you are proud to talk about God. How does your spirituality influence your life?

I am all about God. I repost things that speak to what I stand for, because I believe God is the answer to everything. And God Speed is the only timing! Whether He makes it happen overnight, a decade or even two decades. So, whatever speed God is at, that is when it is going to happen. It will not happen before His time, nor after. He is the Almighty and has all the answers. I pray once I wake up, and before I go to sleep at night. I thank God for all of His blessings, whether good, bad, or indifferent. He has the answers and the recipe. He has blessed me so many times in life and I believe in him wholeheartedly. My faith is all I have, and because of it, I know everything is going to be alright. That is how I live my life.

Your brand is named B.U.G.A.T.T.I. which stands for Build Up Greatness And Tackle The Impossible. Take us back to when you were creating the concept. How did you come up with this and what is the significance?

I came up with a song, called B.U.G.A.T.T.I. Dreams. Because a Bugatti is a million dollar car. Everybody would love

a Bugatti, and that is a dream! I don?t have a Bugatti, I don't have one million dollars to buy one. But that is Woods?dream. But at the same time, the world has similar dreams. The world may not want a Bugatti, but they have something they truly desire like I do. So, I had to figure out, how could I make the Bugatti inspirational to the world?

To Woods, it means that's my ultimate dream automobile, and I am going to work hard to get me one. But to the world, I want them to be able to attain whatever it is they want. All you have to do is build up to being the great, and tackle the impossible. Sometimes things look like, ?I can?t do that, that is impossible.?But, tackle the impossible and you will become greater.

Any advice to upcoming artists, songwriters, or producers?

Stay true to yourself. You can take others people?s criticism into consideration, but never let negative feedback or criticism dampen or change what?s in your gut. Do what?s in your gut. They don't have the answer. God has the answer. Stay true to yourself one-hundred percent! Never change who you are, and what you believe could happen.

Where can people find your music? How can people find you on social media?

You can find my music on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Spotify. On social media, you can find me on Instagram and Twitter: @iammrwoods Facebook: Mr. Woods SnapChat: @therealmrwoods The journey of life can be a scary one, especially filled with detours of detriment, turnpikes of turmoil, and roadways to ruin. These serve as distractions that can steer you away from your purpose. However, the beauty in life's pathway is that is also filled with viaducts of victory, streets of success .

SUMMER SIT DO WN WITH SVNREY T

BY SHANNON RAWLEY

his summer, Level 21 Magazine got the chance to chat with musician, Svn-Rey about his career, future endeavors and how it all began. Our conversation with Svn-Rey began with his background.

For him, it all began in New York. While he?s from the big city, he grew up around the evolving scenery of the Queen City.

Although he?s been involved in music for almost seven years consistently, his interest in music goes back years prior to the start of his career. ?I started off being a fan of music and for a while I didn?t take it serious,? said the music sensation. He gained influence and inspiration from successful artists such as P-Diddy and Jay Z. When asked what makes his music stand out from the rest, Svn-Rey shared that his music encompasses a variety of genres. This versatility is something that makes him stand out from other artists on both a local and broader scope. In addition to versatility, his music is unique in the sense that although there are different genres, he makes them flow together perfectly to create a one of a kind sound that separates him from other people in the music industry. And you can add vocal range to the list of things that sets him apart. Genuine talent is something that can?t be duplicated and that?s what makes Svn-Rey one of a kind.

Throughout our conversation, we got to know a little bit more about Rey?s overall outlook on music, especially in modern times. Music has changed and evolved over the years and when asked his opinion on this form of artistry, Svn-Rey seemed to agree. He views music as a form of expression, one that is constantly changing. Although music can be portrayed in many ways, overall, it?s a way for people to express how they truly feel or to even share their past experiences.

For Svn-Rey, success means positively impacting the masses. Within the next few weeks he?ll be doing so with the release of his first single called ?It?s Real? from his upcoming project ?The Crown?. Also, expect to see him working to grow and progress The Kings Circle, and entertainment agency based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This is only the beginning for Svn-Rey. Make sure you keep up with his latest moves and music by following @thekingscircle on social media.

56

Jacket: Score Bar Shirt: World of Cashmir Watch-Pants-Shoes: Score -(Charlotte NC) Photographer: Antoinne Duan Jones Creative Director: Michael Lopez MUA/Set Assistant- Jasmine Byrd Stylist: Candis Gibbs & Jerry Thompson Location: Weldon Bond Studios

Up Next : The Model Issue www.level21mag.com