KENYAS MOST VISUAL MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE No. 2
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY THE BLACKMERG GROUP
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i dont do fashion i am fashion. DES12NMGZ | 1
NAUGHTY THINGS WE LEARNT
CONTENT
PAG 5
AMBITION IS PRICELESS
PAG 10
GENIUS OF THE ART PAG 18
AMBITION DAIZY WAYINKE
4
THE SEDUCER LIXWILS
16
THEMASTERMIND BARBIE AKOTSI
8
THE ENTREPRENUER
20
THECONQUEROR CANNIBAL
12
THE INNOVATOR LUCILLE
22
The Contents of this magazine were compiled with your visual pleasure as the first priority, the images you will be exposed to are of purely and uttermost bueauty with very artistic angling captured under superb lighting by the most experienced photographers in the game. Enjoy. 2 | PHOTO iCON
SEDUCTIVE LIXWILS PAG 18
IT ALL STARTED WITH A SELFIE..
DESIGNER SHOWOFF PAG 27
GRAPHICAL AMAZEMENT PAG 18
EDITORIAL
THE NEW SKOOL PAG 15
I’m tired of standing in front of the bathroom mirror and picking myself apart every morning. I grab at the skin on my waist and ask myself “why?”, I drag my fingers through my knotted hair in disgust and I pinch my thighs, wishing they would get smaller. I’ve been so set on being society’s idea of perfection that I had not slowed down to notice how beautiful I really could be. The freckles running down my neck, like constellations in the northern sky, the curls in my hair laying over my shoulders and the roses blooming in my cheeks. I stood in the mirror and looked myself in the eyes and noticed my pupils darken and grow larger because I really do love myself. I used
“grass so green skin so tan hands running through hair
to only care about what you thought of me and the day you threw me away, I threw myself away too. But today, that’s not the case. I’m picking myself back up and putting myself back together. I love who I am as a person and that’s enough.
wind whispering kissing, tickling as they start to DES12NMGZ | 3 become bare”
ambition is priceless
sweet ambition Dreams and ambition Is lifes fuel, And reaching it is just as dangerous, As giving up. This lonely, cracked shell, With a person hidding inside, Waiting for her ticket, Waiting for her time, To be able to reach out, Safely, And grab that brass ring, Before its to late. BUT thats not going to be a problem! Because while others worry about gossip and drama, IM waiting for my chance! To stand up and shout: LISTENN UP! THIS IS HOW ITS GOING TO GO! Thats MY name up there, In the shiny lights, And this is YOUR chance to shine! I’ve achieved my goal, When will you be ready to start climbing towards yours?
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Sometimes you think one thing But it’s really another All your dreams come true It seems ambition is consequences’ mother They changed my life But actually they didn’t Now I know what money is for And for what it isn’t There are things That money cannot buy It’s not just love It’s also how to answer the question why Now the blame is mine Even for silent things in the night Everything I had hoped for Have now vanished along with the light Ambition once served me well As I became more powerful than my dreams Now I feel so very small As its rewards shrink in the face of extremes With the seriousness of life upon me Staring down what once made me smile It is the reality of what is expected Which can no longer be hidden in a denial A life changing moment Does not recognize time or titles Now is the moment when I have to answer my own question And pray that God will believe me in his witness of my recitals
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i seized the day and ended up in seizure pains where a heated fever reigns and eats my brains like beaten eggs feverishly fried on a stovetop of lies where you drove off the side of a cliff and broke off the ties and that’s it i quit i’ve dusted off my hands and trusted your demands til i was crushed like a cardboard can
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SUNTOCONNOSTINTEMPORE LACOMNR?QUIDNMADITATIO QUATT DOLOREPELIS Acesdelibus.Utipsamditlab iumesumiliur,nemvelenienda aperisquat.Optaeritaabo.Nemoloritfugitiur,utemfugiaaut quat lit quas iuntiorem sim
how inevitably they were tossed out of harvard eviscerated in newsprint cold-shouldered by forgotten matriarchs and I have to think (you know where I’m going with this) short of a criminal act how could I compete with the sad sack who was Abraham Lincoln before he was Abraham Lincoln the tubercular Eugene O’Neill the idiot Einstein the rejected Malcom Lowry the incandescent torn and lovelorn and thirsty
Life is too short to keep sweet sentiments tucked under the covers of fear.
i am haunted by the failures of great people
except by standing on point in front of our two sleeping ginger tabbies with a scallopshell lampshade wrapped in a pale blue polyester brocade and think don’t say ... think don’t say (cats are sleeping) could they do this?
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THE MASTERMIND
rare sweetness! Time is short but oh so sweet With you and me together it is perfect as can be I love the way you look at me the smile on you face a look I rather not replace I love the way you wink the skip in your step yes time is short but man is it oh so sweet the last few months have been precious and I never want them to end but you said that you may have to go away and leave me far behind So I think I will live in this moment and not think of the time as short but remember it as sweet and smile right along I know that I will cry and put up a huge fight but as for now I know its fine SO yep, I know time is short, but we will make it sweet 8 | PHOTO iCON
I want to feel your lips pressed up against mine when the only thing on our tongues is alcohol and the only thing we are wearing is skin. To be against you and see you in another light. You may not believe in a certain religion but I could of sworn you were a Christian last night as the word God rolled off your tongue over and over again because you couldn’t remember the syllables of my name.
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pardon my inadequacy, i’m always two steps behind or a mile ahead, and yet i find myself drifting along the sea of people, catching parts of lost souls and blurring corners of conversation
a mysterious blend of dark and cheery. Your existence, like the gleaHeaven and Hell,
ming rays of the sunrise.
I taste when i’m with you.
Bringing new hope after a dark and cold night.
Heart as cold as ice, yet warm like the grassy fields of the spring meadows. You were the hurricane, chaotic and unforgiving. But with every storm, lies a rainbow radiating every inch of beauty within. Your mind beautifully balanced,
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You are the bitter sweet of life.
ting this muffin top) Withstand this cosmetic culture curse Superhuman in this skin
Bedspread silky sodden sheets
Red-lipped smile sweetly
Writhing within nightmare
(but beware teeth beneath)
glare silicon butterfly spiked beauty
I’m Sweet Siren Song
ages anyway
And I won’t be long left
Go away,
within this mediocre mani-
I’m finished.
verse I MEAN IT! Pretty porn-portrait perfect (But there’s no staples lacera-
Music that helps me heal what i’ve been through Your the closest nebulae that i really wanted to carry When everytime i’m out of balance in life Your one of the most irreplaceable skip beat to my heart PHOTO iCON | 11
THE CONQUEROR
CANNiBAL
iNTERViEW On why he chose not to make any trap records
On Iggy Azalea being too sensitive to haters:
”It’s called evolution. At some point you have
“She’s passionate about everything she does. I
to grow. Even if you make em, you gotta go so-
think that’s a part of what makes people love her
mewhere. On my ninth album, if I approach it like
and allows her to put so much effort and energy
trying to recreate my second album, I could’ve
into her art and how it comes across authentic
been done at my second album. At the point
and kind of .. you know, she cares. If an artist
where I run out of stuff to say, and I’m continuing
doesn’t care, it shows. But that’s lil sis man. Her
to regurgitate things ...when you have learned
future is definitely brighter than her past.”
everything there is to know about an artist or a person, then there’s no reason to come back. What are you coming back for if you’ve already learned it all?
On why his son Domani (a.k.a. D-Money) isn’t fea“Domani wanna be on every album. I tell him straight up and down, man, ‘You gotta earn your keep. You gotta, you know, pay your dues. You ain’t really like earned the right to be on a T.I. album yet. What have you done besides be my son?’ I think if I am too nice, then I think it would be to his detriment. Giving false accolades is the quickest way to have a mediocre child.”
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On his role in ending the Snoop Dogg/Iggy Beef: “I think one thing I know, that maybe she didn’t, is that Snoop don’t mean no harm. I just wish that I would’ve been able to speak to him before she replied. ...I didn’t boss up on nobody. Not Snoop, you know what I mean. That’s the homie. I respect him, admire him, salute him. I ain’t got nothing but love. Our kids play together. We got history, personally and professionally. There is not a set of circumstances that would allow me to call Snoop like [yells], ‘What’s up with this?’ Nah. I was just like, ‘Hey, big homie. What up, man? I’m in the crossfire. I’m kind of out here.’ I didn’t even get to say that much. Immediately big dog was like, ‘Hey I know what you callin’ for, what it’s about. Based on our relationship alone, it’s over with. Say no more. It’s over with. It’s dead. I’m sorry it won’t happen again.’ He did the post himself. I had no idea. I didn’t say, ‘Hey you need to do this.’ That was all on big dog.”
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On the death of Doe B: “We ain’t never gonna get another Doe B. That was our Biggie. That was the South’s Notorious B.I.G.” T.I. also confirmed that he’s already completed another album called The Return, that he’s working with director Chris Robinson on three mini-films, and that a remix to “About the Money” will be dropping soon, among other topics.
Who would have thought that the song and dance that has made fans out of grandparents and young children alike was created as a joke? According to We Are Toonz, that’s exactly the way things panned out when they gifted the world with the Nae Nae.
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Road to greatness is fill with despair and hardships of the world these guys have been preparing for stardom for Like Us on Facebook
some time now.
Two brothers, Levi and KB, a cousin, Crash, and a
“We’ve been dancing since we were little,” explai-
friend/fellow performer, Callamar, joined forces
ned Crash. “Our parents were artists and dancers
at a high school talent show and created a dance
and singers so we’ve been doing this since we
that has sent a shock wave through social media.
could walk, basically.”
No one imagined that one comedy skit would be the launching pad for what seems to be a very
Apparently, their parents’ influence has rubbed
promising career in entertainment.
off in more ways than one. Toonz may have won fans over with impeccable, and at times,
“The experience is crazy,” said Callamar of the
amusing dance moves, but that is just the tip
group’s almost instant rise to fame. “Just knowing
of the iceberg when it comes to the group’s full
what we come from. We never thought we’d
capabilities.
be here. Worldwide people know our name, in different cities and overseas.” Other members of the group chimed in calling their experience an overwhelming blessing. But
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THE SEDUCER
BODY TALK WiTH
LiXWiLS
members only
I’m sweet and loving on the outside, I’m a flower; a soft, pretty thing, I’m very kind to most everyone I encounter, Even those who, harm, bring. However, inside is a different matter, Too dark for flowers to grow, Images dance of blood and murder, The dance of screams is sweet and slow.
And sometimes in the deep, Mesmeric and illuminated hours of the night, I wonder in the wake of the melodious milky wave of dreams, That I might love you, Oh my sweet.
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Your presence was sweet Sweet and sour
but sour to my emotions
just what you are
Your presence was sour
sweet to my eyes
so sour
sour to my heart
Sweet and sour
sweet with your lies
so addictive
sour when you try Now everything is sweet I try too hard
I coldn’t predict it
I make myself believe
but now I see
things
This was all I ever needed
that are not real things that were never here things that will never happen
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MLove’s game vivid romance
lips meet
lover’s
it is
slow dance
almost sweet
Amusing billet-doux*
Love’s billet-doux
Amusing game
Love’s game
playful kisses
sneaky meeting
missing
just a
the Mrs. Love’s billet-doux
My sweetest dreams are created from the remnants of your kisses lingering on my lips
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Amusing game
moment fleeting Amusing billet-doux
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HERE YOU SHOULD ADD A DESCRIPTION OF THE IMAGE BELOW...
THE ENTREPRENUER
CUT YOUR CLOTH ,WHATS YOUR CODE?
I had arrived in Paris to study my art introduction to Victor Gilbert was where I would start invited to Les Soiree by host and close friend a fine white horsed carriage to me he would send my dress was the finest a gentleman could wear tailcoat of black, trimmed silk everywhere white vest and silk shirt with jeweled buttons would do black pants with satin stripe from hip to shoe with top hat of silk and gloves of pure white I entered the hall such a glorious sight walls of gold and sparkling gas light crystal and brocade danced in delight I greeted the host and traveled about Paris’s rich and the famous, there was no doubt sitting demure in a dress of peach lace face framed in ringlets, her face they did grace I was suddenly taken by pure surprise she smiled at me and quickly diverted her eyes I went to the host for introduction that night she smiled shyly and rose ,I trembled with fright I offered my arm, her touch was so slight
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we moved to the dance floor, it seemed so right gliding and moving in pure dancing grace the smell of sweet rose’s, the light of her face the Vienna Waltz did end much too soon returning to her seat I thought I might swoon
MEDOSA - WEAR -
her eyes did shine the color of green in that moment I knew she’d be my queen I paused and offered my best formal bow formed the words to say here and now “You are simply the Belle of the Ball my dear.” kissed her hand my intentions were clear as even fine evenings must come to an end this glorious night I was able to spend in the finest grandeur of Victorian grace reliving the memory of her beautiful face
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PHOTO GiRL
Not going to lie and say I love you because I don’t, probably but I want you, oh do I want you and deserve you yes, deserve I deserve you. A girl so soft so sweet sweet loving tender beautiful Librarian girl like you. Yes, I deserve deserve a night, a chance, a moment with those long long legs writhing wrapping smoothly luscious lip sucking gasping moving moving kissing pulling clasping sticky sweet honey coated candid book girl oh do I want me my skin to yours bones and nerves tingling tongue holding tasting maybe just needing a chance a moment a night
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THE INNOVATOR
It’s funny how you lie, because I know it all.
The pain you’ve been causing recently to me
The things that you say behind these walls,
hurts,
But I won’t let you know this, no I will not throw
It burns every curve, every slot, it slurs my mind,
a fit.
Because I’ve believed in you from the beginning
Because he’d spit out lines of ignorance all over
of time.
me.
And to think that you’ve been laughing,
And our friendship is more important to me than
Praising hate towards me.
this,
I wish I could just wake up, and tell you about
This sweet ignorance.
this insane dream.
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sweet release Such sweet release has come over me. I no longer fear, I no longer hold resentment, I no longer linger under the haze of your judgement-for you see I finally have given myself permission. Permission to just be. Or maybe I’m the one to blame? Have I really been acting out as crazed as you say?
To turn out whatever way that my mind and heart find is best for me.
Backdooring you as if you weren’t anything new, I can’t recall these events in the album of my memories. Please start pointing them out to me.
Such sweet release! All those years of faked orgasms, of feigned adoration,
I feel as if we are strangers now. It’s breaking into my mind, I can no longer sleep right at night. And if I drift away, I wake up with dried tears on my face. I don’t want you to go, Please stay by my side. Weren’t we bestfriends? I never thought you’d be the one to make me feel as if I need to run and hide? But now you are, and I have to ignore this,
i’ve concluded that the coolest are the losers Because if I don’t.. There will be ignorance, Ignorance in the sweetest. And neither of us need this. This sweet ignorance.
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of cowering underneath your wrath behind closed doors.
THE SCIENTIST
FRACTAL DECOMPOSiTiON
Fuck me, I still dream of you. When I’m thick in sleep and I’m so so lonely and you not you but dreamYou my dreamYou is just so so fucking sweet... and you’re touching and I’m crooning and you’re touching and I’m twitching at the brink the steady hand steady tongue bringing me closer and further and closer and further
Don’t you dare look at me with those eyes You don’t own my body anymore Not these freckles that litter my skin Or the bruises that ink my calves Your big blue eyes were never there to fall in love with me But rather to teach me a lesson
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and I wish wish wish wish this was real real really happening because dreamYou isn’t quite as harsh as realYou was but I can’t kiss dreamYou without your perfect dream face cosmic scary dream morphing into someone somebody not you and what’s sad so sad, damn tragic is you don’t care a bit not a smidge not a fucking drop about my miss miss missing you dream or otherwise.
His eyes, Always carrying me like the ever flowing tides And reminding me that I could drown with one simple kiss. Don’t forget to pull me 26 | DES12NMGZ back to shore, darling.
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THE BEAUTY
ANALYSiS 1HAIR 1
Her hair was long Down to that place where ass just barely meets back
2EYES Her beauteous almond eyes- the biggest, the brightest.
2
3LIPS As if I’m drowning, I choke on the logic spilling from my lips.
4 3 5
4TEETH Bite because you enjoy holding on.
5NECK Sticking out your neck isn’t courage or stupidity, it’s both.
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THE NEW SKOOL FRESH
I didn’t have a sweet sixteen. I didn’t have a sweet anything. But I didn’t complain, I had no right to. I was a bad girl, And besides, Sixteens not all that sweet anyways.
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UCIANTIUM,VOLUPTUS, OCCUMQUAMACI BERROEATUSSECUPTASAUMNIASPOREPED UT ASINLOREPEAGNIMIL MAGNAT. 30 | PHOTO iCON
I want to feel your lips pressed
Do you know how deeply it
All you’ll ever be
up against mine when the only
hurts to miss someone even
Is something I’ve built you into
thing on our tongues is alcohol
when they are sitting right
Dying for our sins
and the only thing we are
next to you. I’ve been on a sad-
On your kitchen counter cross
wearing is skin. To be against
ness lately that’s uncurable. My
Leaking liquor
you and see you in another
chest feels empty and hallow
Those stigmata wounds
light. You may not believe in a
and everything is dark. The
Your shattered pulse melting
certain religion but I could of
dark can be peaceful and soo-
into my hand
sworn you were a Christian last
thing but when you’re missing
Your deafening presence
night as the word God rolled
someone like hell and feeling
Best paired with silence
off your tongue over and over
alone, it’s a suffocating atmos-
Begging, my eyes
again because you couldn’t
phere. Sometimes I just want
Bring your pleas to the floor
remember the syllables of my
to grip you by the shoulders
With my knees
name.
and yell out that I miss you, I
Marlboro lipstick
miss you terribly. You make me
Just like arsenic
happy and lately the sky’s have
Lust laced with cyanide
all been a saddening blue.
Kiss me and you’re crucified Just like Christ With your sinful, selfish sacrifice All you’ll ever be Is something I’ve built you into
THROW BACK She wanders with a ponderance of an unfulfilling existence . It’s like she missed the instance when life was handing out purpose. She became subverted by her own thoughts. Self-image contorted like spaghetti noodles or dreadlocks. The simplicity of existing has become brutal. She keeps the gold within vaulted like Fort Knox. That protection is like an island preventing her journey’s beginning.
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blackmerg design
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PHOTO iCON KENYAS MOST VISUAL MAGAZINE
THEy call her
bittersweet This definition of a very rare individual pag 12
cannibal The return of a King, pag 12
meet one of the sexiest bodies in the world... Body talk with Lixwils and she is out to rock your world
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a bi-monthly publication by the blackmerg group