B A T I S T E
AARON TURNER
BELCHEZ SARUNAS JACKSON
N ODISEAS
M I C H A E L E VA N S B E H L I N G
YOUNG T & BUGSEY
E 6 0.
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ISSU AL
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US $6, CANADA $7, UK £7
V O L U M E 4
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The Greater Than Ever Corolla Nothing beats relentless drive. With an available 2.0L engine, the all-new, fun to drive, 2020 Toyota Corolla is ready to shift into high gear and seek out new opportunities. Let’s go places. Prototype shown with options. Š2019 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Table of
Contents Photography by Andrew Zaeh
s Tribal Printed Suit DAVID HART Black Western Shirt COACH
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J O N B AT I S T E : C E L E B R AT I N G HIS ANCESTORS ONE KEY S T R O K E AT A T I M E
Issue 60
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BLEUMAGAZINE.COM @BLEUMAGAZINE
Table of
Contents 14 Access By Bleu
48 The Creatives Belchez’s Art is The Heart of Harlem
16 The 4x5
52 Travel
Young Former Stars With Big Accomplishments
Untamed Nature & Authentic Hawaiin Culture on Molokai
19 Gadgets Out of Wallet Experiences
58 Fashion Young T & Bugsey
21 Cars
76 Feature
Tesla Takes a Traditional Turn
Michael Evans Behling: Fresh on The Scene
22 Soled Up
78 Feature
The Hype is Real
Sarunas Jackson: Hollywood’s Multifaceted Baller
22 Grooming Get The All-Star Look
80 Op-Ed I Do, For Richer, Not Poorer
32 Fuel Morrow’s New Orleans
82 The Humans 34 Fitness Shaun Jenkins Personal Growth Through Sweat & Fitness
86 Fashion The Cool Kid
39 Books
94 Spotlight
Voices of The Millenium
40 Fashion
Meet Me at The Spot Photography by Andrew Zaeh
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Style in The Key of O
97 Icon Mac Miller
Black & Navy Brocade Indo Western Sherwani VINTAGE INDIA NYC Sharkskin Pants STEPHEN F
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M
MASTHEAD
On the Cover JON BATISTE Words By DÉVON CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON Photography By ANDREW ZAEH Fashion RAVEN ROBERTS
Publisher/Editor-In-Chief
Staff Writer
Head of Content EIC Bombshell by BLEU
Contributing Writers
DéVon Christopher Johnson
Jamie Rollo
Ebony Allison
Digital Content Designer
Taylor Edwards, Tony Torrusso
Tyrus Townsend
Contributing Photographers
Managing Editor
Andrew Zaeh, Caroline Malouf, Elton
Johana Lopez
Julian Kim
AD Sales:
Todd Evans, Rivendell Media 908.232.2021
Anderson, John Walder, Katelyn Perry, Khrystian McCalister, LaKeith Taylor,
Graphic Designer
Matthew Johnson, Monica Dzick, Nelson
Luis Carlos Lopez
Cosey, Olivia Owen, Rhea Whitney, Steve
UK Fashion Editor
Special Projects & Operations David Gaillou
Buissinne, Timothy Smith, Tina Reeves,
Sean Azeez
East Coast Fashion Editor Raven Roberts
Vincent Dolman
Partnerships & Branded Content
Interns
info@bleulife.com
LaToya Shambo, Lashawnda Goffin
Imani Suliman, Justin Harper,
West Coast Fashion Editor Douglas Hickman
Pauleanna Reid
Business Development
Brent Zachary, Massih Azad
Dawkins, Roxelana Trinidad, Tanya Hayles,
Editor-at-Large
Deputy Editor
DéVon Christopher Johnson
Emeka Dibia, Lavanya Sunkara, McKenzie
Vee Banionis
Trevoy Ross
Chairman, CEO & President
Brigette Schoenung, Dominique Carson,
Art Direction & Design
Copy Editor
THE BLEULIFE GROUP
Digital Content Strategist
Kelly Nguyen, Nicholas Hunter Saifa Khan,
Kaylin Young, Brandon Beachum, Kwame Owusu
Stacey Edward, StaceyAnn King
Editorial Contributors Claire Concannon, Danny Walker, Elysia
Brand Ambassadors
Tanswell Kishon Springer, Matia Peebles,
Rannon Harris (Chicago - Midwest) Leroy Williams (Northeast)
Merilee Kern
Newsstand Distribution: TNG, 1955 Lake Park Drive, Ste. 400 Smyrna, GA 30080 Submissions: Bleu Magazine 140 West Street 2nd Floor New York, NY 10007 info@bleulife.com Bleulife Media & Entertainment Inc. | 140 West Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10007 | E-Mail: info@bleulife.com | Online: bleulife.com Printed in Canada. Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, feature writers or other contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Bleu Magazine or its staff. All advertisements, photographs, text or illustrations are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized to have secured proper consent for the use thereof. Bleu Magazine shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss, expense or liabilities on advertisements accepted after the deadline. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or advertisement in Bleu Magazine is not to be constructed as an indication of sexual orientation of such persons, advertiser or organization. Partial or complete reproduction of an advertisement, news article, feature or photograph from Bleu Magazine is strictly prohibited as Bleu Magazine is a registered trademark. A $25 or 1.5% (whichever is greater) fee will be charged for all NSF checks. All rights reserved.
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MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
We are the champions, my friends And we’ll keep on fighting ‘til the end We are the champions We are the champions No time for losers ‘Cause we are the champions of the world I’ve taken my bows And my curtain calls You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it I thank you all But it’s been no bed of roses No pleasure cruise I consider it a challenge before the whole human race And I ain’t gonna lose
P
When selling a car, the dealer often leads with “the car goes 0-60” in whatever amount of seconds that the marketing team decided was an influential number to foster a sale. The implication is the faster its gets to that magic number, the better the vehicle is. But, what if you are not trying to break any speed records? Stop signs and traffic lights are just fine with you. Well, if you agree with the latter, then you are aligned with BLEU. This release of our 60th issue absolutely feels awesome. There is no denying the huge accomplishment that reaching this milestone means in the print media world. We just weren’t in a huge rush to get here. We took our time and allowed plenty of room for acceleration adjustments. Let’s be honest, most accidents happen when one or more drivers are going too fast. The rush to get to the destination trumps the need to pay attention to the road. So great you get there fast, but now your car is totaled. We did it our way and will continue to do things the way they are intended for BLEU. We launched this magazine as one of many in a saturated crowd. Many accomplished mediocre content really fast. Most of those no longer print. I’m glad we took our time. Cheers to 60! And many more.
Queen, “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS” DéVon Christopher Johnson Founder And Group Publisher
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C O N T R I B U TO R S
ROXEL ANA TRINIDAD
ANDREW ZEAH
Roxelana Trinidad is a Los Angeles based writer and digital content producer. She moved from Miami, FL to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She is currently a freelance writer and producer for a popular music channel The TERRELL Show. Follow her on all social media @roxelana.
Before hitting his stride as a photographer and VMA-Nominated director, Andrew held creative positions at major record labels where he helmed the visual branding for many of today’s top artists. Since then, Andrew has had the pleasure of lensing campaigns for AT&T, Revlon and Johnson & Johnson to name a few. Always happiest on set, Andrew is thrilled to be a contributor to Bleu.
EMEKA DIBIA
M C K E N Z I E D AW K I N S
“I tell stories.” Whether for broadcast, print, or in a song, Emeka Dibia prides himself in storytelling. “Everyone has a story. It’s a joy to grab a person’s attention with skillfully written emotion. Often times when you really resonate with someone... It’s not because of the words you write. It’s the feeling in between the words that draws people in. Emotion. Drama. Truth...Truth is the best one by far.” Emeka Dibia’s knack for telling stories started in his elementary school’s broadcast team. He knew he had something special there and demanded his 9-week term be extended. He’s also skilled in contract negotiations.
KHRYSTIAN MCCALISTER
Khrystian McCalister is a visual artist with a passion for art, fashion and music. Her ultimate goal is to spread positivity to everyone she encounters and create beautiful lasting imagery. She hopes to have a great impact on our generation that will flow out into the rest of society.
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MAGAZINE
McKenzie Dawkins is a freelance writer and digital content creator. Her writing navigates a variety of spaces to suit client needs, but she is especially passionate about the topics of beauty, self-love, mental health, and wellness. A lover of words and storyteller at heart, McKenzie works collaboratively with clients to establish a distinct, deliberate, and confident brand voice and message. Her work includes social media and website copy, blog posts, op-eds, and press releases.Her writing has been featured on Elle.com, hellobeautiful.com, madamenoire.com, and xonecole.com.
DOMINIQUE M. CARSON
Dominique M. Carson is a freelance music writer, critic, and a proud Brooklyn College graduate. Dominique’s work has been featured in Singersroom.com, Soultrain.com, Birthplace Magazine, rappersroom. com, Pure Soul Magazine, Brooklyn Roads, and NYCityWatch.org. She was an honorable recipient for Blackstreetonline.com’s Black Celebration Awards’ News & Journalism category in September 2013.
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AC C E S S BY B L E U
LOS ANGELE S R OLL S OU T THE BLU E CAR PE T F OR THE PR EMIER E OF “LI T TLE ” On Monday, April 8th, Little premiered in Los Angeles’ Regency Village Theatre. Little stars Regina Hall as a disrespectful tech mogul, Jordan Sanders, who is turned into a 13-year old, played by Marsai Martin. As a 13-year old, Jordan tasks her assistant April, played by Issa Rae, with being her guardian. April takes this opportunity to get back at Jordan for all the times she was mistreated by her and so the boss and assistant become a comedic duo. Among those in attendance for the premiere were the movie’s cast which included big names: Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Regina Hall and Luke James. A few other notable names at the premiere included Janelle Monae, Patrick Starrr, Francia Raisa, and Jessie, D’Lila & Chance Combs.
Singer, dancer, Actor, JD McCrary rocks “R.I.P. Nipsey Hussle” jacket
Janelle Monae and Issa Rae
Producer, James Lopez, Issa Rae, Marsai Martin, Regina Hall, Producer, Will Packer 14
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Beauty Vlogger, Patrick Starrr
Actress, Francia Raisa
AC C E S S BY B L E U
A
A L L S TA R W E E K E N D On February 16th in Charlotte, North Carolina, media outlets from all over the world gathered to get exclusive remarks and interviews from prominent players during 2019’s NBA All-Star Weekend. While fans waited in anticipation of the Sunday night All-Star Game with Team LeBron vs Team Giannis, many players spoke to the press about their excitement and All-Star experience thus far. Hamidou Diallo (winner of the 2019 dunk contest) expressed his excitement about being in the NBA and playing during All-Star Weekend. John Collins spoke about his favorite memories from past All-Star Weekends, and even chimed in on his support of Kaepernick. NBA Vets like Kemba Walker spoke on their favorite pastimes, accounting Dwyane Wade’s 2006 Championship win with the Miami Heat as a standout moment. And The King himself, LeBron James, spoke about his transition to the Lakers and his unwavering promise to the kids of Akron, Ohio.
Hamidou Diallo
Kemba Walker
LeBron James
Isiah Thomas and Grant Hill
Giannis Antetokounmpo
John Collins
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NOW WHAT
Before
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Photo Cred: TriStar Pictures
2 After
Not every celebrity adores the limelight. Many young millennials who grew up in front of the camera decided to leave that life for good to remain grounded while focusing on other projects. Here’s a list of former stars who prefer to keep things low-key and personal.
MARA WILSON Best known for her role as the magical little girl, Matilda, whose main escape from her uncaring adoptive family, and evil school principal is reading books, Mara Wilson grew up to be a writer!
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Wrote a biography, “Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame” which was published in 2016
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Currently shares her writing on Mara.substack.com in which you can subscribe to her writing, and exclusive content
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Won the Shorty Award for Best Author in 2017
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In 2013 she wrote for humor site Cracked.com where we learned she grew up to be a riot
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Has written for publications including Vogue and The Guardian. (2016-2017) Plans to write another book in the future.
Photo Cred: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
MAGAZINE
He’s best known as the professional basketball player with a brief marriage to Kim Kardashian back in 2011. Rather than keep up with his stint on reality TV, this young athlete moved on through other professional endeavors.
1
Dabbled in real estate in 2014
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In 2018 he opened fast food franchises for Five Guys in Minnesota and Wisconsin
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In 2018 he was the first franchise partner for Crisp and Green
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Last played for Atlanta during the 2016-17 season
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KRIS HUMPHRIES
In 2014 he organized The Kris Humphries Foundation Basketball Clinic at the Rochester YMCA to give back to the youth
Before Photo Cred: Getty Images
After Photo Cred: Getty Images
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THE 4X5
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DANICA MCKELLAR Remember her?! She was best known as Winnie on The Wonder Years, because once the show wrapped up, she left acting to become somewhat of a total math genius.
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She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Math from UCLA in 1998
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Between 2008-2012, McKellar wrote several best-selling books aimed at teaching math to young women
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Finished in 6th place on Dancing With The Stars in 2014
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In February of 2019, she walked for Go Red For Women’s runway show during NYFW
4 5
Before
Photo Cred: Lindsay Duncan
Photo Cred: IMDB.com
After
Is currently a STEM and education advocat
Photo Cred: twitter @danicamckellar
SARAH BARRABLE-TISHAUER
Degrassi didn’t just give us Jimmy (Drake), it also gave us Liberty! While Sarah’s character, Liberty, was best known for being annoying, clingy, and somewhat of a nerd, Sarah in-real-life took her entertainment skills to music, and uses it to empower other women.
Photo Cred: tvtropes.org
After
Before
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She graduated from Concordia University with a BA in Communication Studies and Computation Arts in 2012
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Worked as an account manager at a marketing agency in 2017
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She received a Certification in Digital Marketing in 2017
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She supports a local initiative in Toronto called INTERSESSIONS which bills itself as “A DJ workshop for females and femme identifying individuals” and offers a safe environment to give women the opportunity to become DJs 2017
5
Her LinkedIn profile currently lists her as a freelance marketing consultant with 10 years of experience in 2019
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GADGETS
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Illustrations by KELLY NGUYEN
Out of Wallet Experiences Thinking about how to manage your finances can be especially daunting. This is why many people choose to avoid the topic altogether, but the more experience you have with money management, the better your financial outcomes will be. Whether you’re new to financial literacy, or well-versed in it, these four apps make it easier to manage your money.
LearnVest
Albert (IOS) Albert’s services help you optimize your finances by analyzing your spending habits and providing you with the financial advice you need. This app’s smart notifications are perfect for you to learn how to manage your finances efficiently. There are spending alerts and bill alerts which monitor your transactions so you’re never going over budget. Albert is available for free on IOS.
LearnVest provides serious financial advice and management for users' real income and expenses at a fee of $19/month. You’ll have access to advisors who can improve your financial IQ and give you an individualized financial plan to help you reach your goals. The LearnVest website is also filled with useful tips to help any millennial manage their money. The app is available on IOS.
Wealthfront (IOS) Wealthfront is a free app available on IOS that gives you financial expertise made just for you. After you link your accounts, Wealthfront provides you with a free financial plan that can help you improve your finances without ever requiring you to speak with anyone. The best part is that their financial strategies and planning were designed by a team of doctorate recipients using decades of academic research, so you don’t have to worry about whether Wealthfront’s advice is right for you or not.
Mint From the creators of TurboTax and QuickBooks, Mint is a free app that gives users personalized financial advice based on individual spending habits. On top of improving financial literacy, this app is aimed towards the convenience of users. You can connect all your bank accounts and bills to the app so that your finances are in one place, which means no more tracking finances on multiple apps and less worrying for you! Mint is currently only available in the US and Canada for free on IOS and Android. An alternative app called Emma is available for UK users.
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#BEAUXUP Your Style Essentials Delivered To Your Doorstep Bi-Monthly.
T
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TESLA CAR
N R U T L A N O I T I
D A R T A S E K A T
Words by BRIGETTE SCHOENUNG
The Tesla Model 3, with a lower price tag and classic looks, courts a more traditional shopper.
The first vehicle built on Tesla’s third-generation platform, the Tesla Model 3 rolled off the assembly line to provide consumers with a lower entry price for the Tesla brand, and for electrics in general. The Tesla Model 3 is a compact, luxury, four-door sedan, with a long range battery, rear wheel drive, and a maximum range of 325 miles. Other specs include an AWD dual motor and in its highest spec, Model 3 Performance, the car’s dual motors can take the car from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds. Tesla Model 3 at standard range starts at $35,000 which presents an opportunity to buy into the Tesla brand for a lower sticker price than most Tesla Motors vehicles. The Model 3 has a more traditional appearance than many new electrics, it is proving to be a great competitor for the BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Those who prefer the techy, futuristic look of some Tesla models may prefer the Tesla Model X, with its falcon wing doors, or the Roadster, which resembles a sleek bullet. But for those looking for a traditional compact luxury sedan, but want to go electric, the Tesla Model 3 is likely to meet their needs. This model includes many state-of-the art luxuries such as a 15” touchscreen as the
dashboard’s center element, satellite maps with live visualization, custom driver profiles, over-the-air software updates, and an enhanced autopilot driving system with 12 ultrasonic sensors, 8 cameras, and 1 forward-facing radar. Just like the Tesla Model S, the Tesla Model 3 has both front and rear trunks, but this can present a problem for the Model 3, since the interior is smaller. Though the Tesla Model 3 technically seats five, some consumers found back seats to be cramped, so this may not be the best choice for drivers who often have backseat passengers in need of leg room. However, Tesla Model 3, S and X have access to Tesla’s ever growing Supercharger network which currently amounts to 1,441 stations and 12,888 chargers, at the time of publication. With the recently announced V3 Supercharging, the max charge rate goes for 1,000 miles-per-hour of charge which is extremely beneficial to those who travel long distances for friends and family. Nonetheless, according to CNBC, in 2018 the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling luxury car in the US. There are other choices for consumers looking for an inexpensive electric, and there are other choices for consumers
looking for a compact luxury sedan with a traditional appearance, as well as other Tesla models to choose from, but all these attributes come together in the Model 3. The Tesla Model 3 has created a point of entry into the avant-garde brand for industry-savvy consumers who may never have thought they could afford to buy in, while offering an eco-friendly option for those who are more interested in a high-performance interior than a flashy exterior. Many Tesla models seem like they were designed to garner stares and looks of envy everywhere they go, but this subtle sedan will likely attract attention only from those already in the know.
TESLA MODEL 3 PERFORMANCE DUAL MOTOR SPECS Battery: Acceleration:
Range: Drive: 20”
Long Range 3.2 seconds 0-60 mph
310 miles Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Performance Wheels
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THE HYPE IS REAL Photography KHRYSTIAN MCCALISTER
Most sneaker collectors have a specific niche of kicks that they lust after and then there is Ryan Payne.
The Detroit Michigan native, better known as @rozayraw on instagram, has an impressive collection that is just as eclectic as his lifestyle.
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DOLCE & GABBANA SORRENTO LOGO STRIPE SOCK Original Price: $645.00
BALENCIAGA TINY LOGO SPEED SNEAKERS Original Price: $795.00
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SOLED UP
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PUMA THUNDER SPECTRA Original Price: $100.00
GUCCI NEW ACE FLORAL EMBROIDERED Original Price: $730.00
ADIDAS YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 SEMI FROZEN/YELLOW Original Price: $375.00
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YEEZY BOOST 700 WAVE RUNNER Original Price: $300 Resell Value: $500
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SUEDE BLENDED STUDDED SNEAKERS Original Price: $1,295.00
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SOLED UP
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FENDI MANIA LEATHER SNEAKER Original Price: $950.00
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Get The All-Star Look 1
Whether you’re changing up your look, or maintaining your signature style, these products and styles will keep you ahead of the game. Get some inspiration from your favorites.
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BEARDS
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James Harden
LeBron James
Quincy Acy
Tyson Chandler
Credit:
Credit:
Credit:
Credit:
Credit:
Mark J. Terrill/AP
Carlos Osorio/AP
John Locher
The Associated Press
Ron Elkman/Getty Images
MAGAZINE
Carlos Boozer
1. MEDICINE MAN’S ITCHY BEARD WASH Made with essential oils like coconut oil and Vitamin E oil, this 100% natural and organic beard wash heals chronic beard itch. Its ingredients help prevent sebum, dandruff, irritation and rejuvenates the skin underneath the hair, promoting beard growth. Available on onedqt.com
$18.99
2. CANYOUHANDLEBAR BEARD SHAMPOO It’s hard to find a wash that won’t be too harsh on the natural oils of your skin. But this shampoo thoroughly cleans beard hair without stripping the healthy oils away, leaving hair feeling healthy and nourished and preventing flakiness. Its spearmint and sage leave behind a clean scent that stay throughout the day. The best part is that although this shampoo is formulated for facial hair, it’s suitable for all hair! $25.00
Available on CanYouHandleBar.com
3. NAKED ARMOR SWEDISH BLACK WOOD SHAVING BRUSH This convenient, travel-sized brush is perfect for shaving wherever you go. The bristles are made from a new technology called Futura, a synthetic fiber that outlasts animal hair. The stiffness of the bristles and the easy-to-grip handle are great for creating thicker foam when you lather soap and makes for a better shave. $16.95
2
Available on NakedArmoRazors.com
4. BEARDILIZER - CLEANSING BEARD GEL This cleansing beard gel will leave you feeling energized and reinvigorated with its mild white musk scent alone. The formula sanitizes your beard with its antiseptic, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic properties. You can rest assured that you’re not walking around with a dirty beard. To maintain proper hygiene, it can be used throughout the day, especially after a meal. $7.99
Available on Beardilizer.com
5.STRIKINGVIKING FOLDING WOODEN COMB For all the men who get unwanted beard static from using regular plastic combs, this comb is a real game-changer. It’s made 100% out of durable sandalwood, so no more hair static and no more hair damage. It’s also a folding comb that’s travel size, so you can carry it to-go in your pocket or bag!
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$19.95
Available on VikingBeardGear.com
HAIRCUTS
Allen Iverson
Stephen Curry
Jimmy Butler
Russell Westbrook
Jayson Tatum
Credit:
Credit:
Credit:
Credit:
Credit: Rick Ostenkowski/
Keith Allison
Barry Gossage/Getty Images
Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Mark D. Smith/USA Today Sports
USA Today Sports
O ew
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Lar ry
oN
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s Celebrity Foll g n i r ow B i ng w o r r t
Restaurant
RESTAURANT
ns rlea
MORROW’S
Words By EMEKA DIBIA
Photo Credits Nelson Cosey 30
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From servicing VIP clients to serving VIP food enthusiasts, this New Orleanbased culinary influencer is changing how we view Creole and Korean infused food one plate at a time!
FUEL
F
and I made like eleven thousand dollars. I just continued to stick with it. I saw potential in it.” Morrow has had his share of ups and downs as he’s journeyed through entrepreneurship. From lost profits to failed business ventures, however one moment stands out as a turning point in his life. A night when he lost $35,000, gambling. “I felt hurt, I felt lost, I’m like what am I going to do. I’m 22 years old. I got friends about to graduate college. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I felt empty. All of that was motivation. Because I dropped out of college, I can’t be playing around while everybody is advancing in life. Everybody [has] that one thing that kind of ignites their fire and that’s what kind of did it for me.”
Photo Credit: IG/@morrowsnola Crawfish bread
Photo Credit: Nelson Cosey Pictured: Owner, Larry Morrow
In a city like New Orleans, food somehow seems to find you. Many corner stores, gas stations and even vendors on the street offer up Southern hospitality in the form of comfort foods to fill your stomach and feed your soul. If you take a trip to the Marigny neighborhood you’ll find something extra special— Morrow’s, a fairly new restaurant adding its unique flair to the gumbo pot of New Orleans’ restaurants. You might recognize the name. It belongs to rising entrepreneur and influencer Larry Morrow. The 28-year-old is a trailblazer in his own right, with much of his popularity stemming from the starstudded events he curates in New Orleans. Some of his past clients include big names like Drake, Mary J. Blige, Meek Mill, and Diddy. Now celebrities and visitors from all over the country keep the restaurant packed. On Instagram, the restaurant boasts a following of more than 48K. However, Morrow doesn’t do it alone, his mother and business partner, Lenora Chong is the chef. With an airy decor consisting of a cursive neon sign behind the bar that reads “The Morrow of the story…” you instantly know that you are in a culinary delight. Morrow’s mother and maternal grandmother were born in Korea and their menu honors their New Orleans experience and their Asian heritage; classics NOLA favorites such as crawfish pasta and red beans and rice, to dishes like Korean BBQ and a Bibim Bop, which is an array of blanched vegetables and marinated beef served in a rice bowl topped with a fried egg and a sweet and spicy sauce.
Photo Credit: IG/@morrowsnola Cajun crawfish pasta topped with grilled salmon
Ocean’s Delight - A New Orleans & Korean cuisine fusion
“I went through trial and error: clothing lines, trying to come up with ideas, M&M machines when I was in high school, cutting grass. I was just drumming up a bunch of different ideas,” Morrow said. “I think once you go through that trial and error phase you’ll find that one thing. You’re going to strike gold and [realize] this is for me.” Morrow laid out how he turned a gambling habit into an important life lesson in his book All Bets on Me. It tells the importance of taking risks on yourself. Morrow says anyone interested in entrepreneurship has to be willing to put it all on
Photo Credit: IG/@morrowsnola Grilled redfish Acadania topped with crabmeat
“Whoever is meant to walk with you on your journey, will walk with you on your journey.” the line. One of the mottos Morrow lives by is letting things happen organically. “Coming up. I was the lil homie. A lot of people didn’t know me. I would be in different settings with people who I wanted to know... But I was like you know what when the time is right they’re going to know who I am.” Morrow said. “Whoever is meant to walk with you on your journey, will walk with you on your journey.”
For many the magic happens at brunch. Every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. options include fried oysters, catfish, shrimp and soft-shell crab tower called the “Just Watch,” shrimp and parmesan grits, catfish Benedict and a 33-ounce mimosa pitcher for $22. New Orleans meets Korea is not just a label—it is the Morrow way of life. I got a chance to talk to Morrow about his overall success, one New Orleanian to another. He delved into how he first hit it big making a huge profit after charging admission for a big birthday party for himself. “I did a party for my [20TH] birthday...
Photo Credit: IG/@morrowsnola
Photo Credit: IG/@morrowsnola Crab meat hush puppies over sweet potato fries
All of his trials and errors, hopes and dreams have come together as if he’s producing one of his star studded events and that vibe has carried into the restaurant. “Let me tell you something. I’m happy. I’m happy with my life. If I could be someone else or do something different, I wouldn’t. I believe who I am. It’s only the beginning...I want to be able to take care of my family and inspire people, motivate people.”
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Words By DOMINIQUE M. CARSON
Photography By MONICA DZICK
Illustrations By KELLY NGUYEN
SHAUN
JENKINS: PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH SWEAT AND FITNESS
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FITNESS
my mission and can continue to create revenue through my lenses and eyes. It’s great that I am an ambassador because I cultivated my relationship with them over the years. It just blossomed into an amazing relationship. Lululemon is a great resource for fitness pros and a great visual representation of an international brand.
Personal trainer Shaun Jenkins started off as a Tier 3 personal trainer. Over the years, he developed gregarious and amicable relationships with clients and health affiliates due to his passion for a healthy lifestyle. With certifications from NSCF and Precision Nutrition, Jenkins continues to educate himself in order to properly assist his clientele. He asserts that this is a career that should not be money driven, and should be viewed as a career with longevity.
What are your words of encouragement for new personal trainers in the field? They have to understand it’s not an easy journey, you have to put in work. You have to earn your keep. It’s a business, but you must be driven and motivated. You shouldn’t be a money grubber in this field because you will not last long. People are actually going to college because they want to take it seriously and have a lasting career as a trainer. Educate yourself about fitness and health! It’s necessary. It will separate you from other trainers. You have to be open to learning new things. Also, if you’re the smartest person in the circle, you need to get a new circle. Hang out with people who are smarter than you; you don’t know it all. You are learning more and more everyday and you shouldn’t be afraid at all.
We spoke with the New York native about his journey to becoming a personal fitness trainer, a Lululemon ambassador, and an overall excellent communicator amongst his clients. What made you decide on a career in fitness? Fitness has always been a part of my life; I was an athlete.I played football and lacrosse throughout high school and college. I also did martial arts so I was always into sports. It’s in my DNA! I started my career in fitness 10 years ago; I was in the nightlife industry but it wasn’t for me at all. I wasn’t really interacting with people and it’s all about connection. So, I decided to use the skills I’ve learned in the nightlife industry to connect people through fitness. I know fitness is my calling and it became my career move.
What was the transition like from a career in nightlife to fitness trainer? It was a huge risk. It was a risky transition because at the time, it was my low tier career. Fitness, 10 years ago was like the bottom barrel and didn’t see the longevity at the time. I was lucky enough to push the cutting edge of fitness and jump on the scene. Being a fitness trainer wasn’t a trend and I didn’t treat it as a scam. I’m thinking about longevity and how I can educate myself as much as possible. It’s a grind because you don’t have a set salary and you have to market yourself. At the time, my wife and
I had our daughters, six years and six months, so I had financial responsibilities to maintain especially for the kids. Thankfully, I’ve learned the go-getter mentality from my mother and father. With that mindset, my definition of success has truly skyrocketed because of that frame of mind. How did you become a Lululemon ambassador? I’ve developed a relationship with Lululemon within the last 10-15 years, but I became an ambassador in 2015 through networking. Lululemon is considered to be leaders in athletics apparel for men and women. They believed in
GENERAL WORKOUT ADVICE FROM SHAUN JENKINS
Through motivation and commitment, Lululemon ambassador Shaun Jenkins knows how to work past the comfort zone for fitness results that are truly inspiring.
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Do 45 minutes of cardio 3 days a week to increase your goals
For muscles, do strength training routines such as resistance bands
For abs, do planks as opposed to crunches. Your abs will develop more than with crunches, and they link to the spine more.
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OF THE MILLENIUM As the generation often regarded as the loneliest, most anxiety ridden, and least likely to conform, millennials have a unique voice to offer our society. Sometimes imagining a walk in the shoes of those you wish to understand can help solve disparities. In this case, we have the privilege of getting into each other’s minds. Through tragedies, and triumphs, here are a list of books by millennials.
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EVERYTHING’S TRASH, BUT IT’S OKAY
By Phoebe Robinson (2018) The best selling author Phoebe Robinson is back with yet another side splitting memoir that will have you laughing one minute and silently reflecting the next. Her witty style of writing makes this book an enjoyable read even when discussing more serious issues on society. Not only does Robinson reference hard hitting issues such as sexism and race relations, but we also get a look into her personal life, how she hid money problems from her parents and the struggles of dating, not forgetting the first time she met Bono, and the second time. This exhilarating and hilarious essay collection on gender, race, dating and the world falling apart in general is a must read for those of us who have strong opinions on all that’s wrong with our world.
2 HUM By Jamaal May (2013) This powerful collection of poetry by Jamaal May opens the readers eyes to the post industrial landscape of Detroit. Themes of fear, loss, depression and addiction are all spoken about in an almost spiritual voice connecting the reader to the poem. You can see the struggle for survival but there isn’t despair. His words elicit imagery where the sounds of machines and humans create a hum that vibrates through us all. These are the feelings we get when reading May’s poetry. This performative yet private self-reflexive debut digs deep into the struggles of the poet’s fears and personal issues in the most beautiful way.
3 PRIVATE CITIZENS
By Tony Tulathimutte (2016) Private Citizens depicts young people, not as privileged millennials but as a generation that has had to deal with an ever changing society whilst growing up in San Francisco, California. The four leading characters are significantly different yet similarities are seen amongst them. As the estranged friends discover their way through tech startups, protestors, gentrifiers, karaoke bars, house parties, and cultish self-help seminars, they wash up in each other’s lives once again. This hilarious yet heartbreaking novel tackles important issues which Tulathimutte deals with in an elegant form of writing which, to some, is also seen as a satire.
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WOLVES AND OTHER NIGHTMARES
By Alicen Grey (2014) This collection of poetry by Alicen Grey takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster, from falling down to finding yourself again. These poems, written after a one-on-one cultic relationship, describe the journey taken by Grey after the trauma she dealt with. The healing process of her journey can be seen within the words of the poems, the highs and lows of this spiritual awakening to confront residual trauma with courage and lyricism. The power of the poems seep deep into the soul and have you feeling ecstatic and bitter but at the end of the painful journey there is finally some hope for the author.
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MENTORSHIP: THE PLAYBOOK
By Rahkim M. Sabree (2018) This part self-help, part memoir and part workbook discusses personal lessons from relationships had in adolescence through to adulthood and relates them to mentorship mechanics by establishing a “call to action” after each chapter. This book serves as a roadmap and gives a reassessment of goals as the poet weaves from mentor to mentee. The personal experiences described by the author make the book relatable for all readers, as he shows his journey to becoming a mentor and the calls to action necessary to get there. This book highlights the need for mentorship in young men looking for acknowledgment of their total being.
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Snake Print Jacket MANFREDONIA Faux Leather Pants TALENT’S OWN Black Square Ring KONSTANTINO Bracelet KONSTANTINO NECKLACE
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Belchez’s Art Is The Heart of
NYC
brings us many talented people who carry unique stories in forms of spoken word, music, writing, and abstract art. Belchez uses various mediums to convey his messages. Whether it’s furniture upholstery, photography or paintings, we get a glimpse into the world of a Harlem man’s mind.
Designed by BeLcHez and (Instagram) @stevenothello
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Every artist’s environment and experiences inspires their artistic creation, and influences their worldly perspectives. For Belchez, that inspiration was his Harlem upbringing during the 80s and 90s. His upholstery work is reminiscent of Dapper Dan’s art, which was made famous for using luxury brands to create statements for those often left out of luxury life marketing. We were invited to Ice Water Studios for a deeper look into his artwork, and a deeper knowledge of a world we have accepted as okay. Belchez is highly praised for his upholstered furniture in which he takes name brand fabrics, and adorns them on chairs, footstools, and even on canvases which he uses to create more art. An example of a canvas piece with deconstructed Louis Vuitton bags is a 5 feet by 4 feet portrait of Jesus titled “Jesus Cost” made in 2011. It offers a poignant look at materialism, and religion. His process is that “the idea happens first...preparation happens second, and then the product is the final outcome.” He sometimes posts his process on social media which shows the deconstruction of name brand handbags such as Louis Vuitton. This is the step right before he has already imagined how to repurpose these leather, and vinyl products. To watch handbags highly coveted by society be destroyed, and to see the new creations at Ice Water Studios is almost therapeutic. It’s like imagining a world where you’re the last person left, and coming to the realization that maybe you’re a little wild and will go on a rampage of destruction, because in that sense, you will be creating your own world. With a mind that can deconstruct just as well as create, it’s no surprise that Belchez’s work was praised by Harlemite Dapper Dan. In the words of the Iconic Dapper Dan: “Bel, you’re the future.” One of the most impactful works of art was a series of 10 photographs titled The Places I’ve Been and The People No One Sees, which tells a haunting story. The montage features pictures of everyday people in undesirable circumstances with beautiful, paradisal photos embossed over them. “A Crack In Love,” photograph one of 10, featured a young adult man trying to navigate his way out of a bad situation. Belchez explained how he knew this young man was often under the influence but this time when he saw him, the young man was looking
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Photo Credit: IG/@BelchezNYC
to turn his life around by purchasing a bus ticket out of the city. The young man allowed Belchez to take his picture in exchange for bus money to leave the city. Belchez agreed. He took the picture and had to return home to get some money. He didn’t mean to leave for so long but five minutes turned into an hour. When Belchez returned to where he had left this young man, he was gone. He looked for him,and asked the people around. During the time Belchez was gone, the young man had jumped in front of a bus. Belchez shared that this haunted him for a long time. He felt guilty about it, and wondered how it would have played out if he had gone down from his apartment sooner. It’s a raw example of what makes Belchez’s work incredibly powerful and unique. Another series of his artwork is the $.25 cash pieces which are grenades of different colors painted on large canvases. But there’s something unique about these pieces...Belchez let us know that, they’re actually quarter waters “or barrels, depending on what generation you grew up in” he says. Surface level, some may think this series was of pop-art hand grenades, but the message behind them is much more profound. Belchez explained how quarter waters were readily available growing up in the hood, but they’re just sugar. Sugar that keeps children hyper. Sugar that slowly kills the youth. In a sense, it’s like the children’s version of all the liquor stores found in low-income neighborhoods. Of course, that’s only one way to interpret Belchez’s profound work. It’s up to the viewer to decide what it ultimately means to them.
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Belchez’s work at Ice Water Studios, and follow him on Instagram @BelchezNYC
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Words by LAVANYA SUNKARA Photography Courtesy of LAVANYA SUNKARA AND LOCAL BUSINESSES
Molokai UNTAMED NATURE AND AUTHENTIC HAWAIIAN CULTURE ON
Away from tourist attractions on other islands, the laid-back island of Molokai offers a genuine Hawaiian experience unlike anything you’ve experienced
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into a stranger’s car. Driving on the pitch dark, treelined road to the only town of Kaunakakai, I had a realization. Molokai is unlike any other island; it is peaceful and people are warm, showing the true meaning of aloha. On this “Friendly Isle,” there were no glitzy resorts or shopping malls. Its lone main street spans a few blocks. With a population of 7,500, the island can doesn’t need traffic lights. Chickens run freely, clucking away under coconut trees and on empty beaches. Though just eight miles from Maui, Molokai is pure Hawaii: Unblemished natural beauty and a community that values ohana, or family. The simple life is cherished, from the alluring scent of plumerias from a local farm to hot bread fresh out of the oven of a decades old bakery. It was my first time in the Aloha State, and I was glad my introduction was Molokai, where I experienced authentic culture amid incomparable beauty.
At the small Molokai Airport, I waited patiently for my driver who never arrived, my backpack alone on the outdoor baggage carousel. The wind picked up swaying the palm trees, as the sun quickly descended, leaving behind an orange afterglow. I expected garlands of leis; instead I was greeted by an elderly security officer who offered company. A young Hawaiian Airlines employee, who closed her gate for the day, approached. “Would you like a ride?” I said yes, and my adventure on Molokai began, by getting
The 38-mile long, 10-mile wide island boasts the world’s highest sea cliffs that tower 3,600 feet above sea level, and the longest continuing, fringing coral reef in the country. Waterfalls tumble down lush mountainsides, ancient coral fish ponds line the southern shores, and long stretches of white-sand beaches like Papohaku rarely see a crowd. Nearly half the population is of native Hawaiian descent, valuing a traditional lifestyle and preserving the land. In the late 1800s, the island became famous for its Kalaupapa Peninsula, where patients with Hansen’s Disease, better known as leprosy, were exiled until a cure was discovered. A few remain in the isolated community, which can be visited with a permit on an arduous hike down the 106-year-old Pali trail. In Halawa Valley, on the northeastern shore, a dirt path up a hill surrounded by colorful Birds of Paradise blooms leads to the thatched roof educational center of cultural practitioners,
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Anakala Pilipo Solatorio and his son, Greg Solatorio. They are descendants of the oldest settlers of Hawaii, whose community was ravaged during the 1946 tsunami. Only a few families live in the sacred valley and the Solatorios provide guided cultural hikes, sharing their culture and traditional way of living off the land. As I approached for my cultural hike, Greg Solatorio blew the pu, or conch shell, to announce my arrival, and gave a traditional Hawaiian welcome -- pressing our noses and foreheads together, meant to exchange ha, the breath of life. Wearing a red kikepa, the Hawaiian sarong, and leis made of ti leaves and kukui nuts - which represent the circle of life, around his neck, Greg shared the valley’s history and lead us barefoot through the family’s taro fields. He taught the true meaning of Hawaiian words that are often misinterpreted. A luau isn’t a party; the name comes from the luau leaves used to serve food. He pointed out medicinal plants, historic rock walls, and worship sites as we made our way through the thick jungle to the 250-foot Mo’oula Falls. Afterwards, I ventured to the Halawa Valley’s two crescent shaped coves, where I found a few others similarly wandering, taking in the views of the Cathedral valley behind and the power of the Pacific. Giant waves slammed the green cliffs and rocks, leaving driftwood strewn on the beach. The next morning, with the early rays and a cool breeze streaming through the shutters of my room in Hotel Molokai, it wasn’t hard to greet the day. The members of the Waakapaemua Canoe Club were ready with bright smiles and paddles in hand. Seated at the back of an outrigger canoe, I rowed in unison with the others as the mist encircling the nearby Maui and Lanai islands melted away. Turtles poked their heads up, and we briefly stopped to admire them before continuing on. Upon returning, I refueled at the local Kanemitsu Bakery, famous for its “hot bread”. This warm, meltin-your-mouth bread is the size of a human head and slathered with tasty cream cheese, strawberry and blueberry toppings. It’s customary to stop by the bakery’s back alley after dinner to grab freshly baked bread. I heard the french toast was delicious, but I opted for sumptuous purple-colored taro donuts, making a mental note to return that night for the bread. On my last afternoon, I wandered through a pine forest to the lookout point of Kalaupapa Valley, a quintessential Hawaiian cliffside landscape that shows up on many Instagram feeds. That day, it was enshrouded with mist and air thick with dew. Instead of disappointment, I felt resolve, to return to this paradise. A hui hou (‘till we meet again), Molokai.
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WHERE TO S TAY
W H AT TO DO
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HOTEL MOLOKAI 1300 Kamehameha Highway Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 877-553-5347 hotelmolokai.com
VISIT PLUMERIA FARM 1342 Mauna Loa Highway Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 808-553-3391 molokaiplumerias.com
HIRO’S OHANA GRILL 1300 Kamehameha Highway Kaunakakai, HI, 96748, 808-660-3400 hotelmolokai.com Photo Cred: facebook.com/HirosOhanaGrillLLC
MOLOKAI SHORES Kamehameha Highway, Star Route Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 808-553-5954 Photo Cred: Molokaishores.com
GO CANOEING WITH WAAKAPAEMUA CANOE CLUB Kaunakakai Harbor 808-553-3530 molokaiwaa@gmail.com
KE NANI KAI 50 Kepuhi Place, Kaluakoi Resort Molokai, HI, 96770, 858-679-2016 kenanikai.com
TAKE A GUIDED CULTURAL HIKE Halawa Valley 808-542-1855 halawavalleymolokai.com
KANEMITSU BAKERY 79 Ala Malama Ave. Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 808-553-5855
DUNBAR BEACHFRONT COTTAGES 9962 Kamehameha V Hwy Kaunakakai, HI 96748 808-558-8153 Photo Cred: Jeffrey Jumper, Molokai
MOLOKAI FISH AND DIVE 53 Ala Malama Ave Kaunakakai, HI 96748 808-553-5926 Photo Cred: Jeffrey Jumper, Molokai
MOLOKAI PIZZA CAFE 15 Kaunakakai Pl Kaunakakai, HI 96748 808-553-3288 Photo Cred: Jeffrey Jumper, Molokai
PADDLERS RESTAURANT & BAR 10 Mohala St. Kaunakakai, HI 808-646-1681 Photo Cred: paddlersrestaurant.com
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LEFT JACKET KOZHA LONDON TROUSERS ASOS SCARF LEVIS
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YOUNG T & BUGS This artistic duo channels musical literacy and fashion effortlessly.
GSEY-RAP DUO
Words By ROXELANA TRINIDAD Fashion stylist SEAN AZEEZ-BRIGHT Fashion Coordinator DANNY WALKER Fashion assistant SAFA MOHAMED Photographer VINCENT DOLMAN Photography Assistance CAZ DYER Grooming JOLANDA COETZER AT LHA REPRESENTS
FULL LOOK DIESEL SHOES ALEXANDER MCQUEEN JEWELRY TALENT OWN
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Los Angeles is thousands of miles from the UK, but a simple conference call has connected me with the Nottingham rap duo Young T & Bugsey. As we get acquainted with one another, there is a relaxed transfer of energy between receivers. Young T & Bugsey are the type who make a vibe out of any environment they find themselves in and their rhythmic beats, which have garnered them nearly 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, reflect that. Having started their musical journey back in 2013, they’ve reached over a million views on multiple music videos on their YouTube page, and have millions of streams of their singles like “Gangland” and “4x4.” Success follows those who are authentic and humble about their craft and Young T & Bugsey are actual proof of that. Since the age of 16, Young T & Bugsey actively made efforts to make their artistic passion a reality. Bugsey shared that they were fortunate to have the support of their family and their community. The Community Recording Studio is where the pair met their mentors who taught them the importance of learning the fundamentals of music. They learned
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that their artistry is a journey and that it’s necessary to understand the foundation of music in order to create longevity with their work. The exposure of different musical genres allowed them to appreciate music and helped them understand why a listener responds to certain melodies. With all the support the duo received, they put in the work from the jump. Young T taught himself how to use music software and play the keyboard by ear, “anything else I’ve done is just to pass the time,” he said. Bugsey pens bars and shared that he “grab[s] inspiration from everyone around me.” Young T & Bugsey’s music showcases how grounded they are in their sound, and it’s evident by the way they infuse their Jamaican and Nigerian culture into their beats and delivery style. When you listen to any of their songs, there is an element that goes beyond the classic trap sound. The melodies they incorporate come from the influence of the music from their ethnic backgrounds. Bugsey shared, “anyone can make a song, but it’s about actually being able to add a bit of soul to it, to making it a bit more authentic.” It’s because of that authenticity that their
music caught the attention of fellow artist Stormzy, record labels like Sony, and millions of other fans. When discussing the overall impact they want their music to make, Bugsey talked about highlighting the lyrical and melodic surprises, so the audience is left with the reaction that, “these men are sick at making music.” Bottom line they don’t want their music to be remembered solely on the “tricks and gimmicks, it’s just about the music.” These two friends, who behave more like brothers, shared advice for fellow artists who are passionate about music and want to break into the industry, “keep it humble and learn as much as you can, because it’s a long journey. Follow your gut.” With a mixtape dropping this summer, expect to find Young T & Bugsey at a few festivals and touring on their own. When I asked who their dream female and male collaborations would be, they unanimously agreed on Drake, and 19-yearold musician Koffee. Make sure to keep an eye on these trailblazers, and in the meantime check out their music on all streaming platforms.
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Words By DÉVON JOHNSON
Photography By ANDREW ZAEH Photography Asst By CASEY MATTHEWSON Fashion By RAVEN ROBERTS Make-Up By KERRIE PLANT-PRICE Grooming By JENNA ROBINSON
B A T I S T E
CELEBRATING HIS ANCESTORS ONE KEY STROKE AT A TIME Jazz, Rock ‘N Roll, Blues, R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop are the offspring of soul. The soul of America’s original sin - Slavery.
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U Under the seventy-foot retractable roof of an imposing structure on New York’s latest gravity defying feat of engineering, The Shed, sounds of New Orleans penetrated the room. The air filled with horns and drums and cymbals. Feet stomped creating a powerful base felt in the bodies of everyone in attendance. Over 100 musicians made up of college and university students from the 369th Experience Band, the Howard University Showtime Marching Band, Brooklyn United, and other NYCbased musicians opened The Shed to the public with the kickoff of the Soundtrack of America. Leading the pack as an equal, Jon Batiste, marches in with his characteristic presence of confidence and agency. He’s playing the harmonaboard, an instrument as intriguing as it is difficult to play. Most in this room have never heard this music. They definitely have not heard it played this wayunapologetically. The way it was meant to be heard, in your heart. That is the genius of Jon. Whether it’s in full WWII regalia playing the music of James Reese Europe and the Harlem Hellfighters Marching Band, or Bandleader and Musical Director with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert he delivers every performance on full throttle. He carries with him the pride and talents of generations long ago. We had the opportunity to catch up with Jon on what has become a rare warm day in NYC. His schedule takes some serious coordination to land on. The phone rings and Jon answers, “How ya’ll doing?” he continues, “I’m happy to be doing this today!” And just like that, we’re on the rhythm of Mr. Batiste. I attended the opening of The Shed at Hudson Yards on the west side, and you had one of those strong, soul grabbing performances. Describe the experience of being with the marching band and walking in, and being on the west side in that neighborhood. YYeah, it was amazing to represent the ancestors. You know the Harlem Hellfighters was the first all-Black infantry and they were really pioneers in introducing the world to what is now known as Jazz music and Black music when they went to Europe during the war. So, to be playing their music and playing music that I composed inspired by them in such an amazing location, I mean we’re talking 64
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about Manhattan, New York and so much of the music being sold by all races of people is just like, we’ve come a long way. I’m glad to be a part of that lineage and to continue representing everything that we’ve created in the world. How has your music evolved from Times in New Orleans to Hollywood Africans? Well, Times in New Orleans is really the first documentation of me stepping out. I graduated high school early. I was 17 years old when I moved to New York and Times in New Orleans was me documenting 16-year-old, 17-year-old Jon, the music that I had been playing, and all the things that I had learned up unto that point. Hollywood Africans is bigger than just the music, it’s really me coming into my own in terms of my philosophy and my manhood, and understanding what it is that I wanna say with the art. Obviously, the music, it becomes more mature, and you develop in your identity as a musician, but with that comes a deeper sense of who you are as an artist, and what
you wanna say, and I almost feel like Hollywood Africans and Times in New Orleans they’re both beginnings. When you hit your thirties, you know I was 30 when I made Hollywood Africans, and 16/17 when I made Times in New Orleans. I feel like those are two ages where you’re embarking on the next phase. Sixteen/seventeen you’re embarking on your young adult life, and by 30 you’re an adult but it’s like you’re just beginning as an adult. You went through your twenties and figured out a lot of things, and now, okay, I’m thirty, let’s figure out the next thing. I know you’re working on a Broadway musical. Basquiat’s genius is revealed more and more as time passes. What is it like composing music for the Broadway musical? It’s amazing to think of this genius of Basquiat, and figure out a way to transform all of that into a Broadway show. The possibilities are endless. It’s really been a matter of figuring out what things we wanna strike off the list because there are so
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I’m glad to be a part of that lineage and to continue representing everything that we’ve created in the world.
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it, which was a lot, but also what I wanted to say and who I wanted to be as an artist. But the first year was a real adjustment, it was tough.. Would it be too presumptuous to assume the harmonaboard is your favorite instrument? I feel like it is always with you just in case duty calls and the rooms need some soul infused into it. I love that you said that, “bring some soul into the room,” because that’s how I see it. I see it as a way for me, at any time, at any moment, to just bring it out and inject the moment with something. And I don’t say it’s my favorite instrument, but it’s definitely the instrument that allows me to be with the people. You know, you can’t take a piano with you everywhere you go, even though that’s my favorite instrument for sure, but you can’t take it with you everywhere. That’s why I love it because I can take this instrument with me. We made a whole record on the subway with this instrument, it’s like you can go anywhere.
METALLIC PRINT BLAZER DAVID HART WHITE SHIRT KRAMMER & STOUDT BLUE TUXEDO PANTS DAVID HART BLACK DRESS SHOES WARFIELD & GRAND
many options. You can put the art on stage, you can project the art, you can have different ways of being in the theatre, of playing with the senses. When you think about being in an art studio in the 80s, in the lower east side of New York, that has a lot of things you can play with. You can think about the idea of the creative process, trying to figure out a way to create a show that shows you the creative process of a genius artist. It’s just taken us a year to figure out this is what we want to say, and this is the direction we wanna take, and now it’s about painting that picture, no pun intended, but just painting that picture-You went to Juilliard, and you did both undergraduate and graduate school there. What was it like, the experience of a young Black man from the south coming to New York to go to Juilliard, and what kind of student were you? Well, I went to Juilliard in the early days of when the jazz school realm had just begun, so I was studying both jazz and classical. I was also somebody who was adventurous in my pursuit to collaborate, so I was collaborating with the actors, and working in the action department, and collaborating with the
dancers and working in the dance department. I was basically all over the place, walking around the halls playing my harmonaboard, and you know making a ruckus in the cafeteria. A lot of the administration, they didn’t really like that. They didn’t understand where I was coming from because there wasn’t a lot of people who looked like me, especially in the early days. I think one of the biggest things that I’m proud of is my influence in changing the demographics of the students who have decided to come to Juilliard by people saying ‘oh Jon Batiste went to Juilliard, maybe I can go there’ for a lot of people who wouldn’t have thought that was an option for them. But back then it wasn’t the case. There was nobody like me that came through there before so it was an adjustment for me to figure out that this is how this works, and this is what I can take from it, but I’mma keep my identity while I take this information. By the time I graduated, I had already formed my band, and I had already been on the road, and by then the relationship with me and the school had changed. I had come to terms with what I wanted to get from
And you do go any and everywhere with it, for sure. Speaking about school, and your career, what advice do you have for the next Jon Batiste who may be reading this article? I’ll just say believe in God, and be yourself. That’s my two things. I always tell people it’s bigger than us. It’s not just about you, and once you get that, you’re ahead of the game. Then you start thinking about things much bigger. It’s not really about any individual. I think being yourself is just as important because you’re the only one who can do what it is you can do. If you’re not doing the things that you do, you’re just an imitation, and if you’re an imitation there’s always gonna be somebody that people can go to for that value. But if you’re doing the things only you can do based on the way you grow up, and the people that you learn from, and the things that inspire you, which nobody else has that combination of things that make them up, that’s your advantage. That’s everybody’s advantage. If it was a business, that’s how you would want to operate. Let’s offer people the things that nobody else can offer them. Last question here. You’re super young, you’re a millennial, as they say, even though you have an old soul, what’s on the horizon for you? Well, I’m gonna do a few things that I’m excited about. I got an album that I wanna put out, it’s a live album from the Vanguard, the historic jazz venue in the city, and a lot of my musical heroes in the jazz space have played there. John Coltrane made his albums there, and I wanted to make a record there, so I’m gonna put that out. Then I’m also really thinking about this symphony that I’m gonna premiere at Carnegie Hall, but doing a symphony as nobody has ever done it. Could you imagine what would Beethoven be doing in 2019 if he was Black and came from New Orleans; that’s what I’m gonna do. It’s coming out in the winter, so that’s really something I’m gonna be working on throughout the year along with Basquiat. Its a large form piece that’s gonna have like 200 different musicians, MCs, DJ, the band, the symphony orchestra, the choir. It’s gonna be a large thing. It’s called The America Symphony so it’s really about what we were just talking about, that cycle that we go through. just talking about, you know that cycle that we go through.
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FRESH ON THE SCENE
At just 23 years old, Michael Evans Behling is one of Hollywood’s latest and most promising upand-comers. A standout on the CW’s must-watch football drama, All American, Behling navigates a new industry with raw talent, tireless drive, and a fresh perspective. 72
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Leaving college in pursuit of the entertainment industry, Michael Evans Behling is a testament to what can happen when you bet on yourself. Just a few years ago, Behling was excelling both athletically and academically at Indiana State University. The former track athlete was a hurdler on a biology pre-med track when a serious foot injury and extensive surgeries clouded what had thus far been the vision for his future. It was then that Michael reassessed the trajectory for his life and revisited a childhood dream, entertainment. He left Indiana State in his sophomore year to pursue modeling and entertainment full-time. Backed by an agency, Behling landed several commercials with brands from Adidas to White Castle, before booking a small part on Fox’s Empire. Now, Behling shines in his biggest part yet, the supporting role of Beverly Hills High quarterback, Jordan Baker, on the CW’s All American. All American centers around Spencer James, played by Daniel Ezra, a stellar football star from South Crenshaw High School who catches the attention of Billy Baker, the football coach of Beverly Hills High. When Baker, played by Taye Diggs, recruits James for his own team and moves him into his home, Baker’s son, Jordan, now has to vie for his father’s attention both on and off the field. Jordan’s status as the popular “it-boy” is threatened, manifesting in a bravado that, Behling shares, has been challenging for him: “The biggest way [I can’t relate to Jordan] is in his level of cockiness, the way he walks around with his head held high. I can’t do that…I kind of stick to myself but stepping into that role has been challenging because he is kind of this loud-mouthed, cocky kid.” Though Behling is very new to acting, his performance is more than convincing both in his character’s bravado, and in the delicate nuances that influence his behavior. Behling emphasizes that both he and his character Jordan are young biracial men, grappling with the struggles that accompany that dual-identity. Behling explains, “Jordan is this mixed kid with a foot in two different worlds. I, myself, am a mixed kid and I know growing up, and still sometimes to this day, you feel like you don’t fit in with necessarily either race, whether that’s Caucasian or African-American, because you are this hybrid…It’s being trapped in this bubble, almost, of not fitting either place, and that’s probably the biggest way that me and Jordan can relate.” We see Jordan tackle—pun intended—some heavy issues, particularly surrounding class and skin tone in the Black community. One of the show’s most notable episodes involves a powerful scene in which Jordan and his dark-skinned teammate Spencer get stopped by the police. Viewers watch as the boys’ difference in skin color and class background informs how they navigate the interaction with the officers. Behling calls the scene “heavy” and “powerful,” sharing that it brought several of the actors on set to tears. He also reveals that he and co-star Daniel Ezra were able to add to the scene by ad libbing and playing off raw emotion. “In the spur of the moment, that was real for us. People of color, people who look like us deal with that type of stuff all the time, and it’s real…That’s what [one of] our show runners says all the time: ‘Why have drama when you can have real life?’” Therein lies the beauty of All American. Behling praises the show for shining a light on these topics in an organic manner: “What I love the most about our show is the fact that we can hit these real life stories, these real life issues that are happening in America—whether it’s with the LGBTQ community, or the African-American community, or with people who are abusing drugs—we’re hitting these things in such an organic way, in my opinion, that is relatable and doesn’t shove it down your throat; it doesn’t throw it in your face. It just kind of comes out the right way.” Behling loves that the show isn’t about proving a point or taking a stance. It’s about making sure that the people watching at home are seeing themselves and their stories reflected across their screens. As for Behling’s transition from student to star, he’s managing things with eagerness and enthusiasm. He describes every day on set as a “high,” and expresses his gratitude for being part of such an all-star cast. He shares how Ezra and Diggs in particular have aided in his transition to the industry with genuine encouragement and guidance. Michael says the greatest advice he’s received from his on-screen dad is simply to “slow down, take your time… have fun and play.” Insight and proximity to a veteran actor of Diggs’ caliber is a privilege few new actors experience fresh out of the gate, a fact that is not lost on Michael. “I wake up every day and think, is this real life? Like, when am I gonna wake up and be back home in Indiana?” As far as we’re concerned, no time soon. It seems this young star’s career is only just kicking off.
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Words by ELYSIA TANSWELL
Photography by TINA REEVES
Sarunas Jackson made the decision to be an actor at a young age, and although he didn’t know what acting was at the time, it was as if destiny set the path to pursue it. Now he offers his personal advice to aspiring actors.
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Sarunas Jackson’s passion for acting started at a young age. “I always loved storytelling. Watching Fresh Prince as a kid, Will Smith was really inspiring to me. [The character] was somebody I related to. I was like five at the time I didn’t know exactly what it was, I just knew I wanted to be a part of whatever I was seeing.” Nowadays, Jackson is best known for his role as Dro in the hit show Insecure. A controversial character amongst the fanbase owing to the fact that he is in an open marriage. Of the mixed reactions to Dro, he said “I think as a society people don’t like different, so there comes a lot of fear. Even though both the characters Dro and Candice are in an agreement to be in this open relationship and Candace was the one who brought it up, I knew that Dro was still gonna get the heat of it. I think he even had a line that was like ‘people just gotta find what works for them, and this works for us’ and I was like it’s that simple who are people to say that ain’t’ right.” Jackson is also hosting the Under Armour project Home Court, a basketballcentered travel series that looks at the hometowns of great players and has a role in Good Trouble, a spin-off of The Fosters. But it won’t be long until he’s known for his leading role in the BET series Games People Play. “My character is a professional basketball star. He goes through the challenges that people would expect a basketball star in a relationship to go through. It’s also about three different women, wives from different backgrounds and their lives. There’s always something going on. This show is different, there’s a bigger range of emotions that I can tap into as a leading man.” Of course, success means adjusting to fame. Of this process, Jackson says “Naturally I’m a person that knows how to roll with the punches. I think when you’re a person of color you’re always adjusting to your circumstances so that made me always adapt. I was a basketball player as well so that was an introduction to it. You gotta take the good with the bad. Something I had to adjust to was some of these blogs posting stuff that’s just untrue, and strangers commenting on your life. But to have people that meet you and say that they’re fans of your work, that’s been amazing, you know I can’t trade that for the world.”
SARUNAS JACKSON: HOLLYWOOD’S MULTIFACETED BALLER
Working in the field since his first commercial back in 2011 means that Jackson has some expert advice for aspiring actors. He offers advice such as, “What’s for you is for you” as there have been roles Jackson wanted at the time that, upon reflection, just weren’t right for him. “Book the room not the role” because sometimes the people in the room will think of you for something else down the line. “Detach until you’re attached.” Once you’ve done an audition do something productive so you don’t spend your time obsessing over it. But above all else, Jackson knows from experience that everything has to rest on the foundation of a good support system, “When you have people like that, it makes the ride so much more enjoyable.”
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Words By ELYSIA TANSWELL Photography By STEVE BUISSINNE
I DO, FOR RICHER, NOT POORER More millennials are choosing to marry later in life or not at all. Are they attributing their connections to something more than physical, or fiscal? Millennials don’t seem to be very fond of marriage. There is quite a bit of data showing that the rate of marriage amongst young adults is significantly lower than it was for previous generations. In 2014 the United States Census Bureau reported that only about 3 in 10 young adults have ever been married, down from 6 in 10 in 1980. Also in 2014, there was the Urban Institute report which predicted that the millennial marriage rate might fall to 70%. This would be significantly lower than the rate of previous generations. For Baby Boomers, the marriage rate is 90%. For late Boomers, it’s at 87% and for Gen-Xers, the rate is 82%. The Millennials that do marry are also doing it later in life than their parents and grandparents. As of 2018, the Census Bureau puts the median age of women’s first marriage at 27.8 and men’s at 29.8, whereas twenty years prior it was 23.6 and 25.9. So what’s behind the millennial aversion to matrimony? I’ll start with an uncontroversial opinion that won’t alienate any of the older readers: Millennials are better at relationships. Ok, I lied. #sorrynotsorry. Before you bust out the pitchforks, hear me out. It’s not just marriage that is declining. Divorce is too. An analysis by Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at The University of Maryland, found that the rate of divorce in the United States fell by a massive 18% between 2008 and 2016, largely thanks to millennials (boomers are divorcing like there’s no tomorrow). What this data seems to imply is that Millennials aren’t running down the altar with whoever they happen to be dating when the clock struck midnight on their 21st birthday only to realize their mistake and get divorced decades later like their boomer parents did. A wedding isn’t evidence of a successful relationship; a successful relationship is. Millennials are better at relationships because there’s less 76
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societal pressure to get married asap. They have the freedom to explore and learn who actually suits them, and don’t feel the need to force it. Whilst I think that millennials being able to take their time to find the right person for them without
societal pressure is important; it is by no means the whole story. In researching the numbers for this piece, I kept bumping into commentary about how marriage rates tend to be split down class lines with the upper
“You wanna do well in America, [...] Three rules that you need to fulfill as a person before you can start complaining about your life failures being the result of somebody else’s actions. Number one you need to finish high school, number two you need to get married before you have babies, number three you need to get a job. That’s it. You do those things you will not be permanently poor in the united states of America.”
classes marrying more than the working class... and it really bothered me. At first, I was confused as to why, but then it hit me: I was thinking of Ben Shapiro. Specifically, I was reminded of something he said during a speech at UC Berkeley: This is a sentiment that I’ve heard repeated rather a lot on the right. The notion that class and even racial inequality are not the result of systemic injustice, but of individual choices. Obviously, there are people who followed the three rules and are still poor. Clearly, there is an abundance of evidence of systematic racial discrimination in America. So why use an obviously terrible argument? I highlight it both to make you wary of this argument and also because it’s very wrongness is I think another big reason why millennial marriage is on the decline. The classists have it backward. It is not the case that less marriage leads to more poverty, but that more poverty leads to less marriage. A 2018 paper for The U.S. Census Bureau called “Millennial Marriage: How much Does Economic Security Matter to Marriage Rates For Young adults?” had this to say in its conclusion:
“In sum, when discussing the economic prerequisite for young adults to enter into marriage, this study finds that full-time work, median wages, women’s poverty (specifically for women’s marriage rates), housing costs, owning a home, and living in their parents’ home are all significantly related to young adult marriage in the United States.” The implication is that the relationship between marriage and economic security is economic security as a prerequisite for marriage, not marriage as a prerequisite for economic security. A 2005 Smock and Colleagues study looked at the housing measure and found that a significant number of those studied report not wanting to get married before owning a home. Others seemed to support this notion as they found a positive relationship between homeownership and marriage. Now the thing about millennials is that there was a housing crisis around the time they were getting ready to move out of mom and dads. And a massive financial crash is not something that getting married will magically fix. In many ways, the idea that you have to tie the knot early to fend off a life of poverty is a real
cock block. It’s bad for relationships. It’s a push for social conservatism. But as we’ve discussed throwing dogmatic traditionalism in the trash means that young people can take the time they need to develop a lasting loving relationship. For some, that relationship will last specifically because they took longer to find someone before they got hitched. But it also resists any attempt at spreading economic equality. Which we now know is often a prerequisite for marriage. Many millennials aren’t getting married simply because they’re broke. For millennials, economic security is a treasure dangled just out of reach. It’s not even just hard to get to. There’s, recession, student loan debt, a housing crash, underemployment, and a host of other debris raining down on them as they try to reach it. The decline in marriage represents the doubleedged sword of millennial existence. Social issues are better than they were in the past, meaning that society is more accepting of the behaviors that allow them to find the relationships that are worthy of marriage. But the terrible economic era they find themselves in means that like many things in society, only a lucky few get to take advantage of it.
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Words By TANYA HAYLES
P R I YA MALANI Priya Malani is an entrepreneur and founder of Stash Wealth. After building a career at Merrill Lynch, Priya left Wall Street behind to change the way millennials think about money. The mission of Stash Wealth is to educate and empower H.E.N.R.Y.s™, High Earners, Not Rich Yet, who are largely ignored by traditional financial firms. Can you speak a bit about the experiences, personal and professional, that led you to the financial industry? I was compelled by the fast-paced world of Wall Street from a young age. Although I was studying to be a professional ballerina most of my life, I pivoted during college and landed an internship with Merrill Lynch that led to a full time position upon graduation. Personal finance appeals to me because it’s both an art and a science. Also, I’ve always had a rebellious streak. So being part of an industry that needed a rebel to redefine what it can be is perfect for me. What is the one myth or stereotype about the personal finance industry you’d like to debunk? After 2008-2009, Wall Street lost the trust of our generation [millennials]. I was no longer proud to say I worked in finance. People think that the industry is full of salespeople who don’t care about anything but making money. And while there’s plenty of that, there are also tons of professionals who care deeply about helping their clients achieve their financial goals and are doing just that. What’s the most frustrating part of your job? Finding ways to make personal finance sexy - it’s still math at the end of the day. Keeping people excited is challenging, but in a good way. We’re trying to do something different and anytime you’re pushing the envelope, it’s going to be a struggle. Also, running a company is no joke! There are a
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ton of moving parts and you have to be on top of everything, so it can be exhausting at times. What are some of the best trends for millenials and finance? Technology is making it so much easier to automate our financial life. Automation is our number one tip. Beyond bill pay! We’ve all done that. But did you know you can automate your entire financial life - and you should. If there was one area of finance, a millenial should look into for building wealth, where would you guide them to? True story, unless you live in a bubble market, your home is not an investment. And crypto is gambling, not investing. As unsexy as it sounds, building wealth happens over time, not overnight. Start with your 401k and make sure you’re maxing your match. Set up a regular contribution and then.... forget your password. #notkidding
What is your number one life hack about money that you wish to share with millenials to build their financial literacy? Planet Money [Podcast]: Episode 688 - Brilliant vs Boring. It’s one of my all time favorites because it gets to the heart of distinguishing investing from gambling. Which is something people confuse ALL. THE. TIME. Is the side-hustle culture truly levelling the playing field? A side-hustle is no different than having a second job - a concept that’s been around forever. Millennials didn’t invent the side-hustle, we just re-branded it :) How much avocado toast have you eaten? Ha! I have avocado toast almost every single week and sometimes multiple times a week. It’s my goto breakfast on Ezekiel toast with a little sea salt, crushed red pepper and black sesame seeds.
Words By TANYA HAYLES
Photography By: Caroline Malouf Photography
DOMINIQUE MCQUEEN
After building a career at prestigious financial companies such as JP Morgan, Chase and KPMG, Dominique McQueen has landed as director at Finwell Benefits, building wealth for individuals and companies. Can you speak a bit about the experiences, personal and professional, that led you to the financial industry? Growing up, I’ve always been responsible with money. At a very young age when “fairy tales” and “make believe” were the norm for 8 to 10-year olds, I would always be assigned to the roles associated with money (Monopoly money at the bank, etc.). These experiences in my early childhood molded my inclination towards finance subjects in high school such as accounting and economics. My
educational track was always consistently filled with finance courses, so it was a natural decision to seek a career in finance. What is the one myth or stereotype about the personal finance industry you’d like to debunk? Not everyone is out to sell you products you do not need. A lot people do not trust their banker or financial advisor, because they are working on commission. There are fee only financial planners who are unbiased and charge you an “agreed upon”
upfront fee at the beginning of the relationship, which can help eliminate that mistrust about being sold unwanted financial products. What age do you think we should begin teaching our children about Financial literacy? As soon as our children are able to ask for a dollar, they should be taught the value of earning that dollar. My parents always made me earn my allowance, and that has been something that has always stuck with me. In addition to earning my allowance, my parents also gave me options for how to spend my allowance: I could save for the things that I wanted, and they would match my purchase, I could help those in need by donating to our local church, or I could spend the money. They explained the value in each of those options, which remains with me to this day. As the saying goes, with great power (the earning power of money), comes great responsibility (how you spend that money will impact your financial situation). How can millennials gain more confidence and knowledge in the arena of financial management? There are many avenues to gain financial knowledge. You can start with financial planning podcasts and magazines. There are also introductory online courses that are available to enhance your basic financial knowledge. The internet is also a good place for useful information. However, try to use an accredited site such as www.letsmakeaplan.org, with content from Certified Financial Planners. If there was one area of finance a millennial should look into for building wealth, what would it be? From my experiences, debt (student loans and credit cards) is an area that most millennials are burdened with. Even if you are building your assets with reasonable returns, most student loan interest rates can be as high as 10%, and credit card interest rates as high as 25%. Therefore, focus on reducing the amount of interest you pay to creditors, which is generally a drag on your overall net worth, and asset base. How much avocado toast have you eaten? I love avocado toast, so I’ve eaten lots – too many to count! However, my caveat is that I make my own! I’ve calculated the present value of purchasing avocado toast, and my compromise is to allocate the money I would’ve spent on avocado toast towards an investment account dedicated to future vacations.
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Words By TANYA HAYLES
Dominique Broadway is a Personal Finance Coach, Speaker, Finance Expert, Entrepreneur and the Founder of Finances De•mys•ti•fied and The Social Money Tour. She has a strong passion for working with young professionals, entrepreneurs and people of all ages to bring their Dreams2Reality (blog). Can you speak a bit about the experiences, personal and professional, that led you to the financial industry? I’ve always been an entrepreneur since I was about 7 years old, selling bracelets that I would make in camp, to running an education company in high school that taught kids how to use computers. I liked being an entrepreneur because it allowed me to make my own money and money always equaled freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. Did you always like numbers and math or was it something you grew to have a passion for? I liked numbers and math, but more importantly, I liked money and strategy. It’s really the strategy that runs the money and finance game.
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DOMINIQUE B ROA DWAY
What’s the most frustrating part of your job? The most frustrating part of my job is seeing people blow their money and when you tell people exactly what to do and they don’t listen at all. That is super frustrating, but people have to be ready to make a change in their financial lives.
What is the one myth or stereotype about the personal finance industry you’d like to debunk? The one myth that I would like to debunk is that you have to have money to start investing. This is not true and I like to show people are they can begin to grow and invest their money before they have tons of it.
What does the media narrative surrounding millennials and money miss? The media often focuses on the millennial that raised $20 million for their start-up, or lives with their parents because they have tons of student loan debt. However, they are missing the group in the middle of those two extremes, that are thriving financially due to their innovative minds and helping others in the process.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the lives that are changed through our financial education and advice. Having people come up to me and tell me that I gave them advice or they saw me speak and it changed something about their financial lives is the most rewarding thing ever!
Do you believe barriers, from family to investment opportunities, exist for women in managing their finances? It’s proven that women are better investors and better with managing their finances, however, women have to get more confident in going after opportunities.
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How can millennials gain more confidence and knowledge in the arena of financial management? Reading books that are recommended by financial experts or friends are always a great place to start. Looking for various online courses or websites can also help in your financial journey. We have tons of free resources on financesdemystified.com to help! If there was one area of finance, a millennial should look into for building wealth to what would you guide them to? I don’t think there is one area, as you should never put all your eggs in one basket, but depending on how much you have to invest, looking into the stock market is the lowest point of entry then real estate as it’s a great way to build wealth. What is your number one life hack on money that you wish to share with millennials to build their financial literacy? Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Think & Grow Rich are still my favorite classic finance books.
Words By TANYA HAYLES
A rising star in the financial world, and published author, Sophia Bera quit her job at a NY start-up to launch her own firm, Gen Y Planning. Now, she runs a 6-figure online business focusing on financial planning for young professionals.
SOPHIA BERA
Did you always like numbers and math, or was it something you grew to have a passion for? I loved saving money as a kid and was always great in math in elementary school, but I got kicked out of math class in high school for asking too many questions and talking back to the teacher so I thought I was bad at math. I didn’t take math in college because I was so traumatized by my high school experience. Then I went on to become a CFP and fell in love with compound interest.
Photography By: Matthew Johnson
What is the one myth or stereotype about the personal finance industry you’d like to debunk? That it’s boring and that it’s a only for old, white men. Personal finance affects everyone. Everyone needs to learn basic financial skills and when they do we feel more in control of our lives. All life events cost money and it’s important to learn how to plan to pay for these things so we don’t go into debt in order to afford our lives. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? I love the conversations I get to have with clients across the country. I am fascinated by the incredible lives, careers, and adventures that my clients share with me and I get to be on their team to help them use their money to match their values to live amazing lives. What is missing in the media narrative surrounding millenials and money? Our lives are changing very quickly and many of us don’t know what our lives will look like a few years from now, which is why I think it’s funny when the media makes these weird claims about millennials never being able to retire. I think that retirement will look very different for my generation but I’ve also noticed that millennials are starting to save for retirement sooner than previous generations. I think we’ll have several careers over our lifetimes and that the focus is on doing more meaningful work rather than working for 40 years at one company and quitting completely and then spending retirement golfing. What are some of the best trends for millenials and finance? I think robo advisors have helped to streamline investing for millennials and this trend will likely continue. I work with Betterment for Advisors to help manage my clients assets. I think you’ll see more CFPs working with Robo advisors to better serve their clients.
If there was one area of finance a millennial should look into for building wealth where would you guide them to? Your retirement accounts are one of the best ways to start investing. Start by signing up for your 401(k) and making sure you’re getting your full company match from your employer. If you’re not, you’re leaving free money on the table. This will also help you reduce your taxes, which will save you even more money. Then you get to invest this money over decades which is another way that this money can grow. Also, consider starting a Roth IRA while you’re young and in a low tax bracket. This money grows tax free for the future! Stop getting distracted by trends like cryptocurrency. Also, a house is not an investment. Real estate has averaged about 3.5%
over the last hundred years which is just barely keeping up with inflation. Do you believe barriers, such as family and investment opportunities, exist for women in managing their finances? Yes. As well as barriers for people of color. This industry has catered to old, white, men for far too long and we need more diversity among CFPs in order to create a new culture of inclusion and to attract more diversity to this profession. Do you truly have to have money to make money? No. You have to live below your means and spend less than you earn.
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Cool
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Words by TAYLOR EDWARDS Photography by LAKEITH TAYLOR
Co-founder of Atlanta’s hottest new hub, Ryan Wilson talks the birth, the brand, and the business of The Gathering Spot
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What does a 25 year old aspirant, T.I., Killer Mike, Andrew Young, John Singleton, and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre have in common?…they fall through “the spot”. “The Spot” has several implications. But thanks to the partners of The Gathering Spot, Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen, the catchphrase now means business. When the need to study grew into a need to gather, the pickings got slimmer and slimmer on their midday stake-outs for a table with decent bandwidth. With untimely evictions from favorite Starbucks, the corner Caribou Coffee, and your local mom and pop shops, a spot to meet up was becoming obsolete. The executive duo went deep into the think tank for a solution to their woes. Are you in a hurry to close a contract? Need Wi-Fi to send a quick email? Stuck in the heat of Atlanta traffic and can’t make it back to your office? Are you hungry? Want to brainstorm with colleagues? Even if you simply need to be inspired by great vibes and greater people, all routes lead to The Gathering Spot. Park your premonitions. At peak hours on a hump day an array of ethnic colors paint the scene in the membership community. A natural sister, a set of Black businessmen, middle-aged Caucasian, an Asian student– all spotted at The Gathering Spot…and each in a different industry. Often misplayed for a co-working space, the brainchild of Wilson and Petersen is a west Atlanta hidden treasure for entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and creative professionals alike. Intentional in every aspect, the Georgetown graduates had a clear vision of the site from conception to reality. From glass walls and the calming color schemes down to the wooden accents every detail is polished to perfection with the people in mind. Office and event space, prime real estate locale, full restaurant and bar, reliable Wi-Fi, soundproof room options, 24-hour access, modern art and wine cellars set the standards high to produce the ultimate playground for movers and shakers. Wilson’s observation became motivation when he realized that “there were two underserved demographics when it comes to city clubs or private exclusives; [that’s] people of color, and women.” EUREKA! In a society, and more so scenarios, where we are tolerated instead of celebrated, The Gathering Spot provides the inverse effect. The “for us, by us” curated establishment is a leading
Photo Cred: John Walder
Co-Founders Ryan Wilson and TK Peterson location where minorities are the majority. Wilson says “It will forever probably be that”. A place designed for us but in many ways accessible to everyone…just like hip-hop. And then, you hear Aaliyah playing in the background confirming that you should believe the hype! What’s the secret to the millennial megahouse? “I’m 28 and I’m Black! That’s what I’m bringing to the table. Every single day” Wilson unapologetically boasts that melanin is the magic ingredient to their success and diversity. Indeed, the variety is undeniable in the crowd and the amenities. There’s no place like it in Atlanta, and arguably, there is no existing competitor quite as unique. You can catch the latest political spills on the flat screens over rich bourbon. Catch a vibe jamming to a symphony in the courtyard. Tap into your inner mogul and slide into a business seminar. The staff is welcoming so you can bend their ear with a business concept. Additionally, sprinkles of Black girl magic serving libations at the bar. “Failure will find me so I don’t need to go out looking for it. But I do need to go out [and keep] looking for opportunities. So when an opportunity comes up that I think makes sense for the business it is my responsibility to take advantage of it…and if not, then why bother?“ Describing The Gathering Spot as an organization “in the community and experience business”, it
Co-founder Ryan Wilson only made perfect sense to seek A3C, the biggest music conference festival of the south. The five day festival is a catalyst for engaging and inspiring the artists, creatives, influencers, and entrepreneurs that shape the [hip-hop] culture, comparable to The Gathering Spot. “In many ways it [A3C] is very, very similar in the approach of how we bring people together” says Wilson in regards to the partnership. Both brands authentically exercise the infusion of culture, music, and technology in an innovative format to offer their audience a wellbalanced serving of edu-tainment. Ryan’s hold of The Gathering Spot is equivalent to his style in hip-hop and often relates to the one and only Shawn Carter. In solid comparison, he seeks strong balance with his business and another Georgetown gem, his wife Cassie. Wilson met Cassie in college. Only divided by occupation, Cassie’s a registered nurse he passionately describes as gracious. “She doesn’t take away from what I have going on. If anything, she adds to it and makes it easier.” Being intentional and committed to regularly working on making business better is what moves Wilson and The Gathering Spot forward at lightning speed and three years “feel like a decade.” Setting their eyes on the D.C. and L.A. areas next, the owners of the premier private club are making their mark on entertainment and enterprise today and in hip hop tomorrow. A thriving versatile hub, entrepreneurs can tune into the chart topping energy that is The Gathering Spot every day. If you’re not a member, it’s a must that you join the party.
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9 0 ’s K i d N o s t a l g i a Yo-Yo Waterballs
Are You Afraid of The Dark?
Animaniacs
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The Lion King
Hey Arnold!
Pokemon
Furby
Gargoyles
Dunkaroos
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Long Live Why Miller’s star power impacted so many
Words By TONY TORRUSSO Illustration By KELLY NGUYEN
Malcolm James McCormick, better known as Mac Miller, was born on the 19th of January 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before settling on Miller as a moniker, he also MC’d under the name Easy Mac (not to be confused with your favorite bodega pick me up) and over a decade released five studio LPs, two EPs, two live albums, and 12 mixtapes. He produced under the name Larry Fisherman for SZA, Vince Staples, Lil B, Ab-Soul, Riff Raff, Smoke DZA and himself before his untimely passing in 2018 which was officially ruled as an overdose due to a “mixed drug toxicity” of fentanyl, alcohol, and cocaine. Miller has always been brutally honest about his issues with substance misuse through his lyrics. From all the way back in 2014 on What Do You Do, he references the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman “a drug habit like Philip Hoffman will probably put me in a coffin,” and again on Brand Name in 2015 referencing fentanyl & the infamous 27 Club: “To everyone who sell me drugs / Don’t mix it with that bullshit, I’m hoping not to join the 27 Club.” Perhaps most unsettlingly, the last time he cited his ongoing turbulent relationship with addiction was on Small Worlds in 2018: “Tell myself to hold on/I can feel my fingers slipping/In a motherfucking instant I’ll be gone.”
On the day of his death, an outpouring of love from his collaborators, friends, family, and loved ones captured the internet’s attention. Hip hop mourned its unproblematic Jewish white rapper who was not afraid to have a dialogue about what it means to have been white in a time when hip hop was, and continues to be, a necessary medium for communities of color to communicate and address important issues. Miller respected the culture and never overstepped his bounds. Out of all the rappers who began to discuss mental health and addiction through music, few were as resonant and poignant as he was.
Some will remember Miller solely for his long-standing relationship and collaboration with Ariana Grande (her first big single is undoubtedly The Way, don’t @ me); however this only does both Miller and Grande a disservice as they’re both largely responsible for their own careers. People involved in substance misuse, like Miller should be entitled to admit vulnerabilities and have fans identify with them, but they should also be empowered to set their own path to recovery before blaming others for their relapsing behavior. He never publicly blamed her for his issues. It’s not her fault that she couldn’t pull him out of addiction, nor should she have been expected to, and respectful fans understand this. It is too early to tell exactly what impact Miller’s legacy will hold in hip hop culture in the next 10-20 years. What we do know, and have known for some time, is he was filled with tenacity, creativity, originality, determination, and perhaps most importantly, kindness. His fans will remember his ferocious output of grinding through the mixtape circuit and pushing out studio quality albums. Hip hop owes Miller more thanks than he received while he was still with us. Hopefully we’ll all be more gracious and grateful to the artists who follow in his footsteps.
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