The Flavorbook: Issue 2 | Aiming To Inspire

A Magazine Full Of Flavor!

We Got Flavors Is Your Hub For Creativity. Throughout the creation of our magazine, we’ve immersed ourselves in various realms of creativity. This Magazine contains the highlights of our daily experiences.

Our shared creative experiences connect us in ways that words often fail to explain. The unique stories that we hear, see, and take roles in, help us further understand the importance of having our own unique life perspectives. Through this Magazine, we will watch perspectives develop and grow, as we as we allow passion and intention to fill our creative tanks.

Photography by Pure Flavor Media & Brett Sayless

Efua Afrique Model/Spoken Word Artist

PURPOSE

Q. How did you get off into health in general?

A. Believe it or not these things happen in your life and eventually you revisit things wondering, “how could these have played a role in my life” .

When I was growing up, even though we were financially poor, my mother and father were still very conscious of what we put into our mouths. We couldn’t just eat anything. It wasn’t fast food this, it was a half a cup of juice and after that it was just water. We just thought that it was rationed and unfair. But it was teaching us to not only be conscious of what we put into our mouths, but also quantity control. I remember when I graduated from high School. My mother said, “You need to go into nursing or engineering... those

around”. I didn’t want to go to college, but I felt like it was the only thing that I could give to her. So um I chose IT because some friends were doing it, but I had no true love for computers. Got into it, got into a little trouble, got kicked out of college then packed the car and went to Texas. Life kind of made me grow up... and as I grew up, I found myself…not only chasing job after job, but also chasing where I fit in. My Purpose. Uh why I was here on earth. Every day can’t be just, get up, work, go to sleep.

I actually went to school for early education, because I love children. I was soon to be a father and then I said, “One of these personalities has to match my child, therefore, ill be better child, therefore, ill be better prepared”. I tought early education

Mahdi is a male nurse, father of three...

Mahdi is just a simply a complicated individual whos in the growing stage between the man he was and the man he’s becoming. he’s a father of three, a male nurse and one of the founders of bklear h20

…and…it’s like, the politics, it kind of put a bad taste in my mouth. It’s like the children werent really important. It was the business of grooming children, rather than allow them to express themselves and learn themselves and be their best selves. I didn’t want part of it. So I jumped into nursing as I watched my great grandmother transition. She was in St. Louis and I was going back and forth because, she only took to me. So to get her to take medication and food... she took to me and I kind of felt helpless…and I said if anybody else gets into this position, I am going to be better prepared. And for that, thats why I jumped into nursing.

Q. When did you figure out where your passion lied and where your self was really at?

A. When I grew up, my Mother said, “Anything you do, do it your best. You pick up trash, do it your best”. I kind of incorporated that with everything and then it was also paired with…”If you don’t know what it is, just keep going”. Lessons come to those who work. And that was to just keep moving ahead.

I really never knew where I fit in, and I understand that I have been able to come to understand that a lot of men of color walk aimlessly because of their lack of connection to purpose. And it’s the reason why I got into a lot of trouble...because I didn’t have a purpose to aim at. And so with that I just kept going. I didnt care if it was another job, trade or skill, I kept going. A lot of my buddies say, “Yo dude you live like Master P’s life”. We got a million professions, but I just knew. I knew there was more that I wanted. There’s always more that I knew I was supposed to get…you know I’d be damned if god put me on this earth to go to school and get good grades, to go to a good college. Pay all of this money to get a good education so that I can get a good job, buy some of these things that I consider good and spend the rest of my life stressing about losing them.

I said that’s not an existence to me. And somewhere in there, you learn a little more about your self, a little more but you’re equipped to do what scares you, what challenges you, what you embrace, what you like so on and so forth and where you fit. And um, sometimes where you fit, is where you didnt initially fit. It’s where you carved out a way, and thats why as a nurse, I found a niche in retail and became one of the founders of Bklear.

Who Is Jessie?

A. Jessie is my alter-ego. Someone I can use as an icon to express emotion and passion within my craft. Whether that’s music, acting, entertainment, or, my actual voice.

When Did You Start Getting Into Your Craft?

A. Man, I’ve been into music since I could talk. There’s something about music that gives me an adrenaline rush, Going back to elementary school, we used to beat box on the desks, then they used to call me to that desk to freestyle. And that was the thing, it gave us something to do. Then we got off into the school programs and performances.That created a rush that people wanted to be a part of.

Was It Mostly Your Friends At The Time, That Helped Fuel Your Passion?

A. You know, it was mostly people from the outside. My friends that heard me for the first time would be like oh, “you nice with it” or “I love your poetry”. Family will support you but I feel like the support from the outside will be honest with you I would say.

Did These Interractions Strengthen Your Personal Confidence?

A. Yeah, I used to do this for fun, then people would say, “Yeah...keep going, do something else”. Then gradually over time, I kept getting better and better according to what the people say. If they say cut it out, I’d cut it out...but now I do things in a more conceptual way.

Thinking Conceptually, Who Are You Talking To In Your Music? Is This Target Consistent Or Does It Change?

A. It changes. I give people certain songs I feel like they might want to hear, then I’ll give them an emotion. Like I could get mad at someone, then I’ll get in my car and put on a beat to freestyle to and my freestyle is evolving from what just happened. Then I create a fire song from what just happened. Or I’ll see something that affected an entire city, then I’m making a song about that. Could be a lit song you know? Just something you can feel. It varies. I can do both.

How Do You Get The Inspiration To Make Real World Hits?

A. I got a real unique skill to feel what people feel... or atleast I try to. Because I’ve been through a lot. I don’t talk about it, but through my songs I talk about it. I’ve been through enough to say that you know, now I want to feel what people feel. So when I’m saying certain words, I try to put some energy into them to where when a person hear it they be like, yeah man, I felt that... Catch Jessie’s Full Interview

Monday| 2/6 @7pm CST

Premiering on Our Home Page WWW,WEGOTFLAVORS.NET

System is available at Total Wine and Woodmans

“Sometimes

Photographer | Stormstruk Photography Body Suit | Yitty

WHO IS AMAPOUNDCAKE & Why do you do what you do?

A. So I am Danni Adams and my social media alter-ego is @amapoundcake , I’m a Body-Positivity Influencer, Content Creator,Activist, all the things...ya homegirl. So I do what I do because, when I was a young girl, Ive always loved entertainment, but when I watched it,

Photographer | Kossina Creative Photography

I never used to see myself in any of it’s content. Outside of watching Tyler Perry, I didn’t see many fat, black people. That was the moment I understood that, there was limited representation for me. But I also wanted to live and be that representation. I also talk about and teach people, the importance of de-colonizing beauty and making sure it doesn’t stop with skin color, but also body size .

Do You Have A Specific Audience That You Speak To?

A. I know everyone says oh, I want my message to be for everybody, but I think who I’m genuinely for is people who, not only struggle with their bodies, but that also want to be in community with people who are marginalized, people who like to have fun... and I think those are my people. People who like to have fun.

How Can We Experience You?

A. People can follow me @amapoundcake on all platforms and on my website www.amapoundcake.com also, cop a journal.

Photographer | Kossina Creative Photography

Photographer | Kossina Creative Photography

Photographer | Kossina Creative Photography

Photographer | @RogueImages1

Photographer | Stormstruk Photography

Photographer | Wall Crawl

Hair | Hair Driven By Demi Make-Up | Kendra Danielle

Jay Holt The Chemist

Fin. W/ Sheri Williams Pannell. Artistic Director & Educator | Milwaukee Wi.

Performance Art Practioner, Sheri Williams Pannell, takes our team on the journey that inspired her current roles as a Creative...(Read More)

“Do What Feeds Your Soul...”

- S.W.P speaking on the words that helped activate her current creative purpose

Sheri Williams Pannell was born to create.

Growing up in Milwaukee Wi, Sheri was introduced to art at an early age. From birth, she was paired with a loving creative pack, also known as her new (at the time) family. Her mother, found her creative solace within poetry and playing songs by ear on the piano. Her father, a story teller, a blue collar man that could tell you all about it while wielding a gracefully rugged tone. Sheri’s unique family atmosphere, played a huge role in both her and her siblings creative lives. Being the younger of her siblings, Sheri grew up watching her older brothers perform with their Doo-Wop group, while their sister created socially relevant editorials for periodicals in her home town. At the age of about 4, Sheri decided that it was now her time to spread her own creative wings.

As a young girl, she was able to remember and replicate, fully choreographed dance pieces

naturally. Coming from a creative atmosphere (Milwaukee, Mom, Dad, Siblings…), exposure to the arts was more of a daily routine than just a scheduled occurrence. During our interview, Sheri recalled her own MPS Art experiences, speaking highly of their “very fine” and “all-round” art programs.

“So, on Saturday morning I took, acting courses and at that time it was at the Wisconsin Avenue School, also Drama classes. I took Ballet, African Dance… and that was through what we called, The Academy For Beauty And Culture. It was on what we know as king drive now, but it was on, at that time, 3rd & Center St., ‘by Mr. Wardell Anderson, God rest his soul.”

Through this program, she was introduced to the various creative sectors that supported her performance interests, such as the learning of instruments and singing.

During our conversation, Sheri went on to mention influencers and mentors such as Juliette Stellar, who oversaw her initial Piano experience and Ella Washington, who was a music supervisor at MPS during Sheri’s youth years. These Key experiences accompanied by her unique mission, to “uplift the community” that serves us, gave Sheri the mold that created the foundation that we see her standing on today.

Within her own artistic timeline, Sheri was introduced to a partner, who would help provide support and love her pieces throughout her artistic process.

“You know, so I was working as a family-life educator, which is a wonderful word for sex educator. Thats what my undergraduate training is in, and I was… in the community doing these workshops during the day ‘and at night... and on the weekends rehearsing, and I remember him saying, “You know I gotta see you some time…What is it that really feeds your soul?” and I said, it’s the performing, it’s the Art’s... and he said “Do it.””

Support hits differently when it’s meant for you. Sheri added this love to her tank making it her mission to fulfill this purpose...

You can catch the rest of this recorded interview, live on our site,

Friday February 3rd @ 7pm

www.wegotflavors.net

Photo Cred. Pure Flavor Media

Aiming To

To Inspire. W/ Bishop Of Brownskins

Q. If you could play any tennis player right now, who would it be and how much would you beat them by?

A. “I’d play Serena Williams just to watch her play. It might cost me the match... but the gains would undoubtedly be worth it. She’d win by (2) points cause I’d exhaust myself playing her to standstill.”

Q. If you could end world hunger with one dish, what would it be and who would cook it?

A. Personally I’d go w/ fried chicken. I know some black women who make some dope chicken that would not only end world hunger, but also wars. Unfortunately I can’t name names to keep their lives safe... and because I’m quite selfish.

Q. What’s life?

A. Life is what you make it, by having something to look forward to. People see life as meaningless because they have no goals & live according to what society wishes for them. Life is about striving, gaining, maintaining, & sharing w/ those you love.

Q. How does your definition of life show in your art?

A. My definition of life shows in my photos because I’m focused on my pics just like I’m focused on my purpose. It’s hard to convey other emotions because I see photoshoots, modeling, & even acting as objectives that need to be completed to the best of my abilities. But I can only improve & evolve.

Q. To inspire means to...[fill in blank]

A. To inspire means to make others want to try new things & evolve because they see how you explore your potential. I went from a timid loser to a creative who loves to try new things. Sometimes you have to see what someone else can do before you question your own capabilities.

Q. For the 99 and 2000?

A. What?

Q. What?...

Instagram | @Bishopofbrownskins

www.wegotflavors.net/thecreative

PURE FLAVOR MEDIA

PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAPHIC & WEB DESIGN

MARKETING CREATIVE DIRECTION BRAND DESIGN SOUND DESIGN MUSIC PRODUCTION MIXING & MASTERING

Team Spotlight

Kia “The Mix Artist” Shavon

Audio Engineer NYC, NY.

Who Are You?

My name is Kia Shavon, creatively known as “The Mix Artist”.

I am an extremely laid back audio engineer, classically trained percussionist, and lover of most living things (I can’t with insects though...not yet).

Why Are You?

Audio engineering is generally a solitary job, which worked out so perfectly for me as a textbook introvert. But, as I approach 15 years in the field and almost 4 decades in life, I feel compelled to share the knowledge I’ve attained thus far. It would be so easy for me to just put the work in and stay to myself, but I can’t ignore the fact that representation and exposure to

information and possibilities beyond the status quo (which I’m here to help reshape) matters.

I’m excited to adjust my comfort zone to include sharing more of myself while unapologetically being my whole, complete, authentic self and inspiring others to do the same.

Where can we experience you?

Check me out on TheMixArtist.com where you can see (and hear) music videos to a lot of my work, watch a few interviews, and contact me directly.

You can also link with me on Instagram (@themixartist).

Discography

• Anayka She - Lonely

• Safaree - NFL

• Rich Riot - The Stick Up

• Kwen Dizzy - Big Facts

• J. Diamondz - Gully So Gully

• ASIM - Diamondz In My Chakraz

• TriniTrump x Maw Chan - Protected

• Shaaye - wRONG

• 2wo Nice - PSA

• Briana Mulzac - No Class

• Mere Turn - Neyhal

Make Up | Artistry By Diamond

Late Nights |

Model: Autumn Holtz

Music Producer: GLDN Child

Actress/Model

Ya’Amani Telford

Film, Events & A Few Flicks

W/ Palante Visuals

Deeply Rooted - Ko-thi | 12/3

Deeply Rooted - Ko-thi | 12/3

Deeply Rooted - Ko-thi | 12/3

Fin.

Yeah Thats Not the Case, But Almost.

Just Give Me A Minute

Creative Tips & Tricks Presented

How to remove the background from your images using (3) different techniques

(Photoshop tutorial)

- W/ Antoine Davis (Flavors Academy MKE Creative Mentor)

Method 01

The “Select Subject” button is one of the more underrated photoshop tools.

To access this option, you have to first select any automatic marquee generating tool. This could be the magic wand, the quick selection, or your object selection tool. Once your tool of choice has been selected, a button labeled “select subject” will pop up at the top of your photoshop dashboard. Once you click this button, photoshop will detect your image, locating the subjects within your image. Your subjects will then be outlined by a dashed marqee line, which will allow you to easily separate your subjects from their background. Once your subject is selected, duplicate your selection (Ctrl J) and hide the the layer underneath or mask your selection out. This method is great to use when your subjects features contrast your image’s background.

Method 02

These 2 tools compliment each other very well, while still playing (2) different roles.

The quick selection and magic wand tool share a space on your toolbar and both allow you to select multiple areas of your photo at the same time. The magic wands selections are made on a click by click pattern and the infomation selected is based on how close in color and shade the surrounding areas are. The quick selection tool allows its user the ability to create free hand selections by sliding our mouse over our intended area. Once your subject is selected, duplicate your selection (Ctrl J) and hide the the layer underneath or mask it out. These tools will pop up a lot in design.

Method 03

The “Pen Tool” gives you the ability to create selections from anchored outlines.

Thats pretty much it for this one. If your visual learners like us, scan the QR Below! Happy Editing!

“Just Give Me A Minute”

(Video tutorial)

Artists + Community + Schools

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Senior SZN | 10/8

A Balanced Recap Of This Years Free Senior Photo Shoot Event. Thank You To All Of Our Sponsors, Brewhouse Inn & Suites, Uwm School Of Public Health, Mind Bodi & Sole, The BBB Show, Mission 1011, Dixon Enterprises, House Of Renji & 4Waukee. We’ll See You Next Year!

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