Aman Magazine February 2022 ft Diamond Jack

Collector’s Edition

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Feb 2022

Awesome Books

By Black Authors

FUN THINGS TO DO ON VALENTINES DAY

Does The “Third Date Rule” Still Apply

DIAMOND JACK Of Netflix’s ‘Love Is Blind’ Is Empowering Women To Find Themselves

AMAN MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 6

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Fun Things To Do On Valentines Day

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17

Artist Spotlight James Qupid

Ike Rhein

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NETFLIX’S ‘LOVE IS BLIND’ STAR DIAMOND JACK

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Awesome Books Does The 3rd Rule Stilly Ap- By Black Authors

Artist Spotlight

Editor-In-Chief Amani Sams Graphics Department Alyssa Hill Writers Kalyn Huggins Skye Miller Gabriela Henríquez Photographer Shaunelle Murphy Makeup Artist Ebony Alexis 03 | AMAN MAGAZINE | AMANMAGAZINE.COM

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Happy February everyone! This is one of my favorite months!

It’s time to show the people in your life that you care; whether it’s your best friend of babe!

After the tragic loss of Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst, last month I feel this month is an important time to tell your loved ones that you care and check in on them and their mental health. This issue is packed with tons of tips on fun things to do on Valentine’s Day as well as great books to read in honor of Black History Month. Also, don’t forget to check out our featured interview with Diamond Jack! You won’t be disappointed. She really is the internet sister to all of us!

Don’t forget to interact with me and let me know what your favorite article was by tweeting me.

XOXO , @Amani_Sams AMANMAGAZINE.COM |AMAN MAGAZINE |

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Does the “third date rule” still apply today?

By: Kalyn Huggins

For those of us that don’t know what the “third date rule” is, it’s a dating rule which dictates that both parties withhold sex until at least the third date.

Some believe waiting until the third date a couple can have sex without being fearful of abandonment and or considered “loose”. In today’s day and age hook up culture, which is popularized via dating apps, social media, the music we listen to, etc. Which can be the reason a lot of millennials are having a hard time in relationships or finding one. With hooking up being the new norm it leaving this generation sexually unfulfilled and confused about intimacy. So, to answer the big question... no, I believe the third date rule doesn’t apply today.

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Fun things to do on Valentine’s Day

By Gabriela Henriquez

Valentine’s Day is a great occasion for those who want to make a kind gesture to their loved ones.

Whether it is for your couple, a friend, or your family, there are a bunch of activities that you could do to share a special moment with them that are not necessarily expensive.

My advice, as I like to plan almost everything in advance, is that you talk to the people that you are going to be spending the day with and decide if you want to do an indoors or outdoors activity, if you want to do something with many people around -such as going to a restaurant, or if you want to do something more private and chill.

Here are some of the activities I’ve done on previous Valentine’s Day or that I’m considering for this year:

1. Cook together at home This is something you can do with your other half, your friends, or your family. It can be romantic, or you can make it as casual as you want. Pick a recipe, buy all the ingredients you need, one or two bottles of wine, and enjoy an evening together.

2. Eat breakfast in bed Like the activity above, you can make a special breakfast with your couple and decide to stay at home, having a cozy moment together.

3. Go hiking If you like activities outdoors, there are places where you can go to have a good hike. In Atlanta, you have Morningside Nature Preserve, Palisades West Trailhead, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and many more. After the hike, you can stay at the place and have a picnic.

4. Go to a winery If you like wine as much as I do, going to a winery is probable an awesome activity for you.

This is an activity that may fit all tastes, as you have so many options of wine to taste. After this, you can decide to go to a restaurant or eat at your place, depending on your budget.

5. Play tourist in your own town I’ve been living in a new city for the last year and a half, and there are some historic and “must go” places I haven’t had the chance to visit. Valentine’s Day is a good opportunity to go to these places and finally get to fully know your city.

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6. Recreate your first date The first date of a couple is probably one of the most romantic and fun memories someone can have. You are just getting to know each other, and you don’t really know if you’ll have a future with the other person. After a while together, you may probably see that first date as a romantic and exciting moment that you’ll like to recreate. I encourage you to go for it, this is actually my plan this year.

7. Make a bucket list Either with your couple or a group of friends, you can make a bucket list of activities you want to do together for Valentine’s Day and for the weeks after that. This gives you many possibilities and many excuses to continue going out together to do fun stuff.

8. Hold a game night Again, this is something you can do with your couple or with friends. This is an activity that I particularly enjoy since game nights used to be a “thing” during my childhood. Being able to recreate that with my partner and with friends, makes it an exciting experience, especially if you add other elements such as a bottle of wine and a cheese platter.

9. Go to a Yoga or Pilates class If you like exercising, trying something new during Valentine’s Day may be a good idea for you. This activity allows you to accomplish your daily exercise goal while spending time with someone you care about. Who knows, maybe you love the class you decide to try and become a regular participant in these classes.

10. Get a couples massage I haven’t done this before, but I would love to. I think Valentine’s Day is a special occasion to do something relaxing, out of the ordinary. Look for places near your place and go for them.

Sometimes these places create special offers for Valentine’s, so it might be a good time of the year to go without overspending from your budget.

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Awesome books by black authors

Lot by Bryan Washington Washington’s brilliant, viscerally drown world leaps off the page with energy, wit, and the infinite longing of people searching for home with soulful insight into what makes a community, a family, and a life. Lot is about love in all this unsparing and unsteady forms.

By: Kalyn Huggins

As we’re all settling into the new year, we’re sharing some awesome reads by black authors for the slowed-down days and months ahead!

This list includes famous black authors as well as promising up-and-coming black authors.

Each story represents a variety of black voices in a range of genres. Hope you enjoy our list, happy reading!

1 Everything Inside

by Edwidge Danticat Internationally acclaimed, best-selling author of brother writes another great read. A collection of vividly imagined stories about community, family, and love.

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7) Bold Words from Black Women by Tamara Pizolli This book celebrates the power of Black womanhood in this first-of-its-kind collection of inspirational quotes from fifty activists, artists, and leaders, featuring bold, attention-grabbing illustrations- perfect for readers of herstory and little leaders.

5) My sister, The Serial Killer

by Oyinkan Braithwaite Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Oyinkans’s debut novel, tells the story of a beautiful serial killer through the eyes of her protective older sister as she struggles to keep her sister’s murderous habit in check.

4 3) Nudibranch by Irensen Okojie Nudibranch is a dark and seductive foray into the surreal. Nudibranch is about a girl from Martinique moonlights that gets into dimension-hopping monks, sworn to silence and must face a bloody reckoning 4) Red at the bone by Jacqueline Woodson - This story centers around two black families who come together when a girl and boy in high school, become pregnant. The girl comes from a family and life in which, “Even as a child, she’d never doubted that she’d one day go to college.” But having a baby at 16 was never part of the plan.

6 6) Queenie by Candice Cary-Williams 25-year-old, Queenie Jenkins is a Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither.

She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers.

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Diamond Jack : Empowering Women to find

themselves first while on their journey to finding love

iamond Jack is more than just the star D on Netflix’s hit show “Love is Blind”. She’s a tenacious and resilient woman that is an entrepreneur, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority inc, and everyone’s virtual best friend!

Interviewed By: Amani Sams

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The Love Is Blind franchise continues to grow and expand to countries such as Brazil and Japan. How does it feel to be a part of the original cast?

It was a dream come true honestly. I never thought in a million years that it would get so big like this. I think everyone’s main goal was to find love. So no one ever thought fame came with love. For it to come to this point and how big it is, even us that didn’t find love like myself, I’m still grateful for all the opportunities that came after it. I think I learned a lot about myself and also who I want in my life. I think that was actually a test for me.

What can long-time fans expect from the next season of “Love Is Blind” Atlanta?

Hopefully of course love. Hopefully a little more excitement and more adventure. Hopefully just true love honestly.

That’s what I’m hoping.

What advice do you have for women that’s trying to find themselves while on their journey to find love?

My advice for trying to find yourself is do what you love and don’t allow the outside world to tell you who you are. Especially from this show, I have noticed that people always try to dictate or just have opinions. Some of them are positive and some of them are bad but you know who you are. Just stay true to yourself. And do things that make you happy.

Make yourself happy first and I feel like once you do that you will be able to really find yourself and know what you’re really here for. I know back in the day I would always pray and say ‘What am I here for?’ ‘ What is my purpose in life?’

You know and honestly I never knew. Out of all the people that’s put on this earth, what is my purpose that you want me to do God? Like what is my voice to the world? Sometimes you have to ask those hard questions. Those hard questions will help ladies figure out who they truly are and learn about themselves. You have to ask yourself these hard questions.

What advice do you have for women that are starting new beginnings after a breakup?

I would definitely say self-love and self care. On Sundays I just take time out to meditate, praying, [or] going to church. Just do things for yourself.

I know breakups are hard. I know sometimes for me, I have to get in another relationship to move on from the last one. Just to get my mind off of that person.If you’re really trying to get over that person you have to completely cut all ties with that person.

Not saying that you can’t be friends with them but if you’re at that vulnerable state then you need to cut it off in the beginning before you can move on to be friends. Because you’re going to always bring that person back, you’re going to want to always see that person, take time out to see that person, or sex. And none of that is healthy. You want a healthy relationship and a healthy mind set. You have to keep positive energy around you and positive friends.

Do things for yourself. Even travel,sometimes that might help with those bad breakups or even start a hobby like hot yoga or self defense classes. We all need that! Start a business to keep yourself busy.

And meet new people because once you meet new people you will definitely stop thinking about that person all day.

Beyond TV, What other endeavors can we expect from you this year?

I definitely want to continue with acting.That is my main pursuit this year. I have a new business also that’s coming out. It’s a boutique and it’s called “sorority land”. I’m a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Myself and my business partner wanted to bring something out to the world. We wanted something fresh, something new for members and non-members. It’s greek paraphernalia but it’s targeted for everyone. We’re going to have options. If you love our dress with the colors you can still buy that. It doesn’t have to have our letters on it for you to buy it.

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Artist Spotlight Ike Rhein

Ike Rhein Releases "Messed It Up" Featuring Platinum Recording Artist Luh Kel

I

ke Rhein is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Grand Rapids, Michigan, but is now based in Miami, Florida. Ike Rhein discovered his voice and passion for music at a young age. He learned how to play numerous instruments, and began creating melodies, compositions and songs as a child. Ike Rhein has since been featured in countless media outlets: The Source, Thisis50, Hip Hop Weekly, ELEVATOR Magazine, The Hype Magazine, etc. He has accumulated millions of streams and views. Ike Rhein has worked with various talents such as YN Jay and multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated Vinny DeLeon. His latest release, “Messed It Up,” features platinum recording artist Luh Kel and was mastered by Grammy-nominated Andy Vandette.

With a fusion of futuristic notes and nostalgic vocals, Ike Rhein’s distinctive sound is on its way to the forefront of the global stage.

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Ike Rhein kicks off his 2022 reign with the release of “Messed It Up” featuring platinum recording artist Luh Kel. “Messed It Up” has a smooth beat and is laced with even smoother lyrics. The dynamic duo showcase their musical prowess and provide listeners with a catchy, impassioned anthem.

“Messed It Up” details how hindsight is 20/20. The record is about longing to change something about yourself in order to belong with someone else, but realizing that the whole thing was just a misunderstanding in your head. “Messed It Up” is about taking a failed relationship, turning it into a learning experience, and reflecting on yourself. “There will always be a chance to find love or ‘the one,’ if you will.” Ike Rhein continues, “The hardest part is that sometimes you’ll never know if someone is right for you until you realize someone was wrong for you.”

“Messed It Up” was produced by Sogimura, and mixed and mastered by Alex English and Grammy-nominated Andy Vandette, respectively. Ike Rhein, once again, enlisted Ike Anyanwu, aka IkeyTV, to direct the music video for “Messed It Up.” The music video takes you through different scenery, and depicts Ike Rhein and Luh Kel in unison. The video brings the song to life with emotive visuals. The sonically pleasing, heartfelt Pop track leaves fans with no doubt that Ike Rhein and Luh Kel definitely didn’t mess it up with “Messed It Up.” AMANMAGAZINE.COM | AMAN MAGAZINE | 16

Artist Spotlight James Qupid

James Qupid Releases New Single “Super Clean”

James Qupid is a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from South Florida. He has been featured in countless media outlets. Warm as wool and smooth as silk, James Qupid is mighty versatile. James Qupid has been honing his craft like a seasoned chef; he puts as much soul into his sultry dishes as mama’s home cooking. Obsessed with pairing live instrumentation with space age digital sounds and wicked bass, James Qupid has a unique talent of crafting songs that simultaneously feel retro and futuristic. His innovative streak has him freely hybridizing genres as diverse as Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Pop, R&B, and Rock, with a healthy smattering of Electronic influences. His smooth vocals and playful, yet understanding, lyrics exude the attitude of a suave and experienced man worthy of the moniker derived from the god of love.

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The super talented James Qupid is back with a new music video for his single, “Super Clean,” to kick off the new year. The self-produced track is laced with heavenly harmonies and bass thumping 808s. The vibey jam is brought to life with visuals from Oasis Imagery.

“Super Clean” combines R&B and Hip-Hop/Rap. The track is meant to be a fun, catchy song that embraces confidence. “’Super Clean’ embodies what it means to be the flyest in the room,” James Qupid explains. The music video is a clever rendition of the anthem, and features clean visuals and phenomenal dancing.

“Super Clean” showcases James Qupid’s versatility with his smooth flow and silky vocals. The singer-songwriter and producer is only getting started in 2022.

James Qupid is ready to take over this year. Go grab your best outfit, throw your shades on, and press play on “Super Clean.”

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