Brutha Autumn 2014 Issue #10

AUTUMN 2014 ISSUE 10

KNOWLEDGE, CULTURE, & STYLE FOR THE MODERN CARIBBEAN MALE

TRAVOLTA COOPER’S: THE BLACK MOSES

THEBLACK ISSUE PRAS MICHEL: FUGEES. FILM. FUTURE

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N A S S AU , B A H A M A S

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issue 10 BRUTHA_CONTENTS

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EDITOR’S LETTER CREDITS CONTRIBUTORS TWO CENTS!

lifestyle 10 POWER & MONEY

Success in abundance can be yours!

David tells us how…

12 SHE SAYS – HE SAYS

Zakiya & Darnell on when to call its

quits with your significant other.

feature 48 Prakazrel Michel:

Fugee. Film. Future

outro 54 MAN ON THE RISE

Inside the mind of hit Director

Travolta Cooper

16 CREATING THE BALANCE

Time to Broaden your Horizons

By David Wygant 18 WORK IT

The Magical Power of Eye Contact

60 FEMME FATALE

Here’s Brooklyn’s own Berry Boo. 64 TECH & GADGETS

Introducing the all-new Apple iPhone 6

fashion 20 Fall Into Fashion in a New York minute.

66 CRUISE CONTROL

The Next Generation Midsize 68

38 It’s a Resort Affair

art & culture

BRUTHAMAN Ever wondered why you can’t change yourself? Maybe you can…

By Mastin Kipp

42 FEATURE

The 2014 Bahamian Icon Awards 46 FEEDING ME

Chicken Mango Stir Fry anyone?

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BRUTHA_EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR’S LETTER

To my Brutha,

There’s something completely different in film than in literature or music. We all know that movies are big business – uh, hello HOLLYWOOD – but why is that exactly? My take is that because people tend to gravitate more to being able to see a line come to life, to feel the music in film illuminate a scene or actor’s feelings, or perhaps its simply the fact that you can escape for an hour or two to a dark movie theatre with a hot new date. Whatever the reason may be for you, the one thing you should really appreciate is that it takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears and talent to make an incredible film. This is what is required to fully walk into your destiny – blood, sweat and tears.

In my favorite film, Sister Act 2: Back in The Habit, Whoopi Goldberg shared with her students that, “if you wanna go somewhere, and you wanna be somebody, you better wake up and pay attention.” That is what you need to do right now as you read this – WAKE UP and PAY ATTENTION. The world is moving much faster each day and in order for you to reach success you have to be more focus, more resilient and receptive to broadening your horizons now more than ever.

Inside these pages we’ve profiled some Brutha’s just like you who went against the odds, followed their passion and came out successful. Former Fugee band member, Pras Michel, graces our cover and shares some deep lesson on being true and dedicated as a young black man. Bahamian director Travolta Cooper talks about his life as a filmmaker and his international release of The Black Moses film. Not to mention we’ve highlighted some career tips, dating and relationship advice, recipes, the new iPhone 6 plus more.

International motivational speaker, Les Brown, puts it best when he coined “I don’t know what you’re up against, I don’t know what you’re facing. But here’s what I do know: you’ve got something special, you’ve got greatness in you, and I know it’s possible that you can live your dream.”

So the next time we talk, you can share how you leaped toward or into your destiny.

Anything is possible and I believe in YOU. Remember, Brutha Magazine is all for you. Don’t forget to spread the word to another Brutha.

Love your Brutha,

TRAVIS T. SWEETING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF travis@bruthamagazine.com

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Editor-In-Chief

Guest Fashion Editor

Copy Correspondents

Travis T. Sweeting

​Chance Davis

Mastin Kipp Zakiya Muwwakkil Darnell Lamont Walker David Wygant

Anita Clare

Contributing Photographers

C. Jermaine Jai Gutierrez Steven

Art Director

Keisha Oliver

Web Editor

Advertising Sales

Travis T. Sweeting

advertise@bruthamagazine.com Phone: 242-464-5782

Publisher

Clask.Ic Publications P.O Box SS-5536 Nassau, Bahamas

www.bruthamagazine.com This Magazine is published quarterly. No part of Brutha Magazine may be reproduced in any form by any means without prior written consent from Clask.ic Publications. We reserve the right to edit, rewrite, or refuse material and we are not responsible for products that appear in this publications. Š 2014 Brutha Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

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BRUTHA_THE CONTRIBUTORS

CHANCE DAVIS

CORDERO TOUSSAINT

ANITA CLARE

Texas native Chance Davis moved to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion stylist in 2012. My goal to make every styling experience an amazing moment to remember is what drives him, he says. Being recognized for his personal style by DJ Sheka Booker and others, his journey began in the fashion industry. As a fashion stylist, Chance has styled celebrities, performing artists, models, NFL athletes, and high profile individuals for events/editorials.

His love affair with his Nikon D3100 began in 2010. Inspired by local photographers, Cordero networked at events and met the C.E.O of Creative Images - Ms. Portia King. He became her assistant for a year and learned the art of merging passion with business. While employed at Creative Images, Cordero got the chance to organize a photo shoot with First Lady Bernadette Christie.

Anita C is not only a photographer but an artist. Envy, as many of her clients called her, is a graphic artist, clothing stylist, theatrical makeup artist, music video Director and Semi-Pro Photo Editor wrapped in to one.

Soon after he moved to New York City, where he assisted influential stylists in the industry he began working for magazine editors on his own all while continuing to build his personal clientele.

JAI GUTIERREZ

STEVEN

Jai Gutierrez was born one of two in Sicily, Italy. Having learned from his mother that hard work always pays off and if you want something in life you have to go after it cause the world does not owe you anything, he became a model turned actor turned CEO.

Sexual. Intimate. Personal. Gritty. Raw. These are all accurate ways to capture the emotions of Seth London’s photography and who he is as a photographer.

London specializes in male beauty and male fashion, and his work has appeared in Paper, Client, Oh La La, Bleu Mag, Bello Mag, Seventh Man, The Fashion Journal, Nylon Guy Mexico, Beautiful Mag, and The Source. He has photographed a range of celebrities, most recently Fat Man Scoop, Ciara and Travis Porter, Q form day 26. As well as models from of American Next Top Models and two designer’s look books form Project runway.

He has booked fashion shows, commercials, plays, and advertising campaigns.

Moreover, he was featured on the cover of “7 Magazine” in NYC, appeared in “the Real Housewives of Atlanta”, an “Applebees” commercial, MTV’s TRL, and music videos. At this point in Jai’s life he has learned to make the industry work for him.

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His portfolio includes Bahamian Icon Awards, Miss Bahamas World and Universe, and much more. Cordero is very grateful for Bahamian-photographers who paved the way for him and other young artists.

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Growing up with an eye for art, being different and establishing crazy, creative ideas was never an issue for her. Anita surrounded herself with positive and inspiring people. This young woman gets her motivation by just looking at the simplest things; establishing new and electrifying ideas for her photo shoots leaving her colleagues and viewers wanting more. She loves doing this and would not change it for the world.

*two cents *your comments “Great Issue..”

Jo Kreator Stubbs “Wow” Lencia Kemp “dammmnnnn jimmy” Tancie Taylor “#teammackey” Brian Young “Congrats!! I saw that cover earlier… No idea you were there!”

Jhonatan Silfa “Good look Kenny” Douglas Hanna “Awesome bro!”

Dominic A. Bain

*add your two cents We’d love to hear what you think of our Autmn/Winter 2014 issue. Contact us via email, facebook, or twitter today!

Email: mail@bruthamagazine.com Tweet: @BruthaMagazine

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BRUTHA_POWER & MONEY People ask me sometimes, if I could give them one piece of advice that worked for me, to help them achieve personal success in their life, what would it be?

Well, today I’m going to share that advice with all of you, and I want you to write this across your chest, your face, and your bathroom mirror so you see it every single morning when you get up. I want you to write it in your iPhone, or your smartphone, so wherever you are, you remember these words. Learning how to fail is how you succeed.

I’ll say it again. Learning how to fail is how you succeed. I know it’s a cliché. Life is full of clichés, and a lot of them are true. If you’re not willing to fail, if you’re not willing to take constructive criticism, or you’re not willing to fall on your ass sometimes, then you’re never going to achieve your goals, whether they’re personal, business, or financial goals.

Sometimes I get emails, and

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they say things like, “David, you were so harsh in today’s blog.

You were really tough in that new program. Did you need to take that tone?”

The answer is always yes.

Because everything I do or talk about here is for the good of you. I’ve done it in my own life, and I know that until I accepted I won’t always get things right, I didn’t enjoy the level of success I do now. A client at one of my boot camps, used some terminology about women

which I didn’t feel was right for a man of 45 years old. He was talking about how he “wants to date nines and tens.”

I told him that was pickup language and I made him do push-ups right there on the street. I made him scream out that he treats women like

numbers and objects, and that it’s wrong. Women went over and started talking to him. One woman in particular said, “You know we’re all just ones. Ones you want to be with, and ones you don’t want to be with.”

He smiled and realized he was looking at things completely wrong. In life, you have to fail.

You have to go out and do the things that scare the hell out of you. It doesn’t matter if it’s to approach a woman, going for a job interview, or starting your own business.

Wherever you are in life, you have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone in order to grow. If you’re nervous when you talk to women, you need to practice that. If you’re terrified of kissing a girl at the end of a date, line up some dates and face your fear. Create that moment with women, go in for

the kiss, and see what happens.

You won’t always get it right and that’s fine.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Some of you even say it in your emails.

“David I’m scared of rejection. I don’t like to fail.”

If you’re afraid of failure, you’re also afraid of success, because nobody who succeeded in life got it all right first time.

Thomas Edison failed at putting that damn light bulb together so many times before he got it right. How many times have people run for presidential candidate before they were elected?

When Peyton Manning loses a big game, he goes back and starts all over again. It’s the only way to do things in life. It’s the only way to live. Anyone who’s ever been great, entrepreneurs who went bankrupt and started again, people who have lost businesses and then come back stronger, they plow through it and keep going.

THE DOT MILLER COLLECTION 2 0 1 1 C AC I Q U E AWA R D W I N N E R

A U T H E N T I C B A H A M I A N S T R AW W O R K

Phone: 472.0430 or 434.6864 | Email: dotmillercollections@hotmail.com | Facebook: Dot Miller Collections BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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Zakiya Muwwakkil

BRUTHA_SHE SAYS

SHE Love or Leave?

SAYS

When It’s Time to Call it Quits.

When it comes to love many of us create mental checklists of what it is we want in a partner. Sometimes we even go as far as to writing these lists down in order to assure that we know what we want and get as close to perfection as possible. Over time those lists might change. Where we once had a certain ideal, we may begin to evolve in our thoughts and accept that this perfect partner may not really exist. Or, on the contrary, our lists might become even more stringent as time goes on due to a few unfavorable experiences.

And then there come those times where you meet someone you think is the perfect fit, or so nearly perfect that you fall madly in love. On the other hand you might have met someone so far removed from your expectations of a partner, but the spark is so strong that you’d rather burn your list than to let them slip away.

Whatever the case might be, you’re in love, and as the butterflies flutter through your stomach and the beating of your heart is so strong you think it will jump out of your chest, you continue to float on clouds of bliss. That is until the novelty wears off and you’re left with the question of whether the relationship is worth continuing or if its time to call it quits.

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When it’s Worth the Long Haul.

As the adage goes, “love can make you do some crazy things.” Most of us have been there – the place where love is so strong that despite warnings or personal apprehension we continue to stick with a relationship due simply to the power of love. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes its bad. When it’s a good thing you’ll know. You’ll know its good because that person loves you in a way that uplifts you. You feel safe with your partner, you can trust your partner, and they support your dreams and goals.

We all get a little impatient or frustrated sometimes, we even get hurt by our mates. But weighing the good with the bad, reminding us that in life there are ebbs and flows and when they come it’s not always wise to throw a good relationship away for a momentary issue.

It’s worth the long haul when the person you’re with does their best to be their best – for themselves and for you – and whatever that is, it’s up for you to decide.

When It’s Time to Call it Quits.

We are all very different, thusly; our needs for companionship are

different. Again, the best person to decide the ideal mate for you is yourself. It is you that knows your needs, desires, and aspirations and therefore it is you who should set the tone for that. But, then there are things that are universal, particularly as it relates to what we shouldn’t accept in relationships.

Disrespect, abuse, or any forms of consistent intentional mistreatment within a relationship are grounds to leave. We all have flaws and sometimes we hurt our partners unintentionally or we keep things from them in order to salvage their feelings, so of course nothing is black and white but varying shades of grey. But, if someone consistently displays acts of disrespect that creates tension, stress, and hurt in your life then needless to say it is best to move on. No form of love is strong enough to supersede respect.

But aside from the obvious, there are other not so clear-cut reasons to call off a relationship and those refer right back to your own personal needs.

Sometimes we get into relationships with people that are simply seasonal. Maybe you have outgrown each other. No disrespect is present, the trust and the love are there, yet the love might have transitioned

from romantic to familial or platonic.

It happens, and when it does, you and your partner may just decide to move on.

There are other cases where one might deeply love someone but in other areas of needs the person just doesn’t make the cut. If you love your partner, but that’s about all there is, you might find it best to evaluate whether the relationship is worth its weight in long-term partnership development. Some people need more than love. They need stability, shared interests, commonality of goals whether financial, future planning, or family building, and if you and your partner can’t have mutual understanding and willingness to compromise in these areas it might be best to let things go.

Humans are so complex that we all have different individual needs for companionship. Ultimately it is up to us to decide the best type of partner for our lives. You and your mate are the ones who decide when it’s worth the long haul or when it’s best to let each other go.

But whatever the decision, we must always be willing to be patient, be honest, and be understanding – both to our partner, to ourselves and to the journey we call love.

Darnell Lamont Walker

BRUTHA_HE SAYS

Once, a while back, somewhere over middle America, I wrote a poem on the back of an airline ticket: She grew up and no longer wanted to be as oblivious as the girl her friends believed she was The girl he had proof existed between Friday evenings and Monday mornings She laughed and played on swings She took kissing photos in parking garages and laughed when he asked that she do it upside down She wiped frozen yogurt and cake icing from her face when he was feeling playful and put her hair in a ponytail when she feared he may push her in the lake She felt love then without looking But near the end she looked for it in his words And he was a man of few I wrote the poem and remembered leaving because too many moons passed, and it seemed no matter how much more we’d grow, there’d be no more blooming. The fun we had was just that, had, and no more would come.

Contrary to what those drunken, bitter family members have

to say when they stand at the microphone at weddings with Steve Harvey in mind, relationships are not meant to be hard, or war-like. They should bring foods we can’t pronounce, laughter we can’t control, and smiles we can’t wipe away at all times, and the moment we stop having fun with them, we should be done with them.

In a conversation with my dear friend, Paul, it was decided fools find it hard to walk away when they need to. In moments of frustration and anger, doors to the outside world appear, and we must know when to turn those knobs and exit the bullshit these relationships have turned into.

Like the girl in the poem, we have to know when we need more, and what to do when more isn’t given.

Like him, we need to know when we are unable to give, and we must set the hopeful receiver free.

Thanks to those who are too afraid of the loneliness that exists on the other side of the living room door to exit the broken situation-ship inside, the internet philosophers meet their LIKE and SHARE quotas. We have to be able to kill them on the way out. Along with the crooners who suggest

pain, strife and struggle are a part of every loving relationship, and to move forward they must accept that they’re just ordinary people; like everyone else.

The Perishers once sang a diddle I listen to just moments before every breakup titled, “Never Bloom Again:”

HE SAYS

Never Bloom Again

Lighting struck Now it’s silent and dark Like to try to light a candle But for that I’d need a spark Our luck changed I don’t know why, don’t know when But it changed and now it’s hard Not to dwell on memories I know we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again I’m sure we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again Now it’s cold on my side of the bed Though you’re near, you’re far away Partly here, partly gone Our luck changed I don’t know why, don’t know when I wonder where we would end up If we could start again I know we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again I’m sure we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again I know we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again I’m sure we’ll grow But we’ll never bloom again BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_CREATING THE BALANCE

Despite what some of you might think there’s actually nothing wrong with being single. There’s no urgency to find a long-term girlfriend, and there’s no shame with spending some time alone.

The trouble is so many guys worry about what’s missing in their life when they don’t have a woman.

When you actually think about it, being on your own is an amazing opportunity to explore yourself and the world around you. There are so many amazing things to do in this world. All you need is to be open to them. In fact, the other night, I have a new friend in my life and we spent some great time together.

She’s such a cool woman. There’s nothing-romantic going on between us. We’re just having fun and expanding each other.

Friendships are so important to me, and it doesn’t matter if it’s male-male or female-male. So anyway, the other

by David Wygant

night we had a massage and then she dragged me out to see some singer/ songwriter. We did a little bit of dancing, and a little bit of meditation. It was a really beautiful experience because it’s something I never normally do; Not on my own anyway.

To be honest I’m not much of a dancer.

In fact, I’m really scary on the dance floor. I can feel the music in my head, but when I’m standing up I can never translate that to my body. I love listening to music though.

But I allowed my friend to guide me, because I trusted this is something I need to open up to, and to let go of any inhibitions I have. So I did my best version of what dancing is. I also did my best version of meditation during the meditation sequence. Of course, my brain was racing thinking of twenty different things. I was thinking about life, where I was, what was happening the next day. I could not quiet my brain

down, but eventually I got into the music and it was an amazing moment. It was a beautiful moment for me.

This Takes All The Pressure Out Of Dating It’s amazing when you meet new people in your life, and when you take away the term dating, and replace it with connecting, you bring special new people into your life you can actually enjoy with zero pressure and zero expectations. When you have zero expectations, you’re just enjoying someone. You’re not thinking about how you want to sleep with them, or how you want them to be yours. You just enjoy them, and enjoy the expansive, beautiful being they are in front of you.

That is where the lessons are learned and the growth happens.

It was lovely just to be there, and I thanked my new friend. You enjoy life so much more when you take away the

Why You Have To Broaden Your Horizons

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outcome. Forget about the outcome and start to come out of your comfort zone. When someone suggests you do something out your comfort zone, you need to listen because that person could be a messenger sent to move you, guide you, or to teach you something about yourself. Forget trying to sleep with someone and you might find you end up having the best sex of your life, and finding that special girl in a very short space of time.

That’s the beauty of life. Get out your comfort zone, forget the outcomes, and allow the messengers to come into your life. So the next time someone tries to drag you to something you don’t want to do, accept it, and go into it with no outcome and no expectation. Watch the kind of night you have and the kind of connection you have to yourself. Trust the journey my friends, because it’s full of messengers and lessons, and they’re all there to enhance your life!

For dating advice visit www.davidwygant.com BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_WORK IT

by David Wygant

The Magical Power Of Eye Contact Have you ever thought about the power of eye contact?

I was hanging out with my daughter last week, and whenever she spoke to me, she looked directly into my eyes the whole time. Her eyes were never looking down, never wavering, and never looking around.

She was looking into my eyes constantly.

And it made me realize something; Most people’s eye contact sucks!

Think about when you’re on a date, or you meet someone for the first time you’re really attracted to. How often do you look directly into their eyes without breaking your gaze? It’s something you really need to be aware of. You see, eye contact is so powerful. It’s such a powerful way to connect with a woman. It tells her, “Hey, I want to focus on you right now. I don’t

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want to focus on anything else but you.”

You have to be more aware of your eye contact when you’re talking to women; especially if it’s a woman you’re attracted to. Seduction starts with your eyes. The next time you start talking to a beautiful woman, look right into her eyes. Next time you’re on a date, look into her eyes. The eyes never lie, and if you’re really in tune and practiced at this, you can tell whether someone’s telling the truth, you can tell how they’re feeling, and you can get them to open up more. People tend to trust you more when you can look them in the eye.

It’s funny how children can teach you so many amazing lessons about communication and love. They probably teach us as much as we teach them. They teach you how to be present, they teach

you the power of eye contact, they teach you how to love unconditionally, and they teach you how to have fun no matter what age you are. Oh, and of course they teach you patience. Whew, nothing can drive you crazier than a kid that refuses to go to bed after a long day of fun!

The biggest lesson I’ve had from my daughter is about the true meaning of love, and I have to tell you, at the very beginning it’s all about the eye contact.

Don’t fear it. Embrace it. Be more powerful with your eyes, because they speak so much. The old cliché that the eyes are window to the soul is true in so many ways!

There’s your tip for the day!

Go start using it!

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BRUTHA_FASHION FEATURE

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FALL INTO FASHION Photographed by: Steven in NYC, NY, USA.

Model: Onnys Aho | Request Model Management NYC Styled by: Sequine Lee Grooming by: The Menswear Project

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FALL INTO FASHION

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FALL INTO FASHION

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BRUTHA_FASHION FEATURE

FALL INTO FASHION

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BRUTHA_FASHION FEATURE

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FALL INTO FASHION

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BRUTHA_FASHION FEATURE

Photographed by: Steven in NYC, NY, USA. Model: Ale Rodriguez | Red Models NYC Styled by: Sequine Lee

FALL INTO Grooming by: The Menswear Project

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BRUTHA_FASHION FEATURE

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FALL INTO FASHION

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FALL INTO FASHION

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ResortAffair HOUSE OF RAPHELITA & HARL TAYLOR BAG 2014

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With a cozy group of style and fashion enthusiasts stretched along a chic runway nestled in the courtyard of Club Land’Or Bahamas, House of Raphelita & Harl Taylor BAG presented their Resort 2014 collection.

Patrons were impressed by the visibly cohesive and bohemian-

centric styles by Bahamian Fashion Designer and 2013 Caribbean Mission Catwalk First Runner Up, David Rolle. With a variety of exotic fabrics, cuts and styles for not only women but men too, the line release has proven itself with impeccable finishing and taste. We extend

warm congratulations and thank you to David for a job well done and look forward to his next release.

Visit House of Raphelita on Facebook for more information and images from the show.

Photographed by C. Jermaine Photography in Nassau, Bahamas.

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BRUTHA_ART & CULTURE

Director’s Cut

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An Iconic Night in The City of Dreams On July 12th, 2014, The Bahamas came alive as the 2nd Annual Bahamian Icon Awards illuminated the greatness that exists prominently across our shorelines. Hosted at The Atlantis Ballroom on Paradise Island, guests were serenaded with stellar hosts, performances by Visage, Lyrically Blessed, Julien Believe and a witty and cheerful speech by Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Sir Durward Knowles.

The organization began as an idea of local businessman and Man On The Rise, Addis Huyler, CEO of Sidda Communications Group.

The mission of The Bahamian Icon Awards

EDUCATION Arlene Nash Ferguson Arnold Martin (Winner) Rosemary Hanna Theresa Moxey Ingraham COMMERCE Barry Malcom Chad Sawyer Trevor Williams Kim Bodie Felix Stubbs (Winner) HUMANITARIAN Jaydian Miller Mario Carey Lady Camille Barnett Nick Dean Sandra Dean Patterson (Winner) JOURNALISM Candia Dames (Winner) Gina Rogers- Sealy Paul Turnquest Peter Ramsey Wendell Jones

Organization is to provide an achievable goal that inspires and encourages consistent efforts to achieve excellence and the fostering of good will. Together with his team, they’ve successfully woven a pillow of strength within our borders that is likely to last for many years.

It’s a great feat to fill a ballroom with hundreds of The Bahamas’ movers and shakers in an effort to lend support to those with exemplary talents and accomplishments.

The Bahamian Icon Awards is clearly a beacon of hope that local support exists and we look forward to next year’s show.

TOURISM Charmaine Burrows Chef Cheryl Mckenzie Don Williams Errol Thurston (Winner) Jermaine Wright Ronald Duncombe HEALTH Angie Collie Dr. Kevin Moss Dr. N’Tari Darville Dr. Winston Campbell Olivia Curry (Winner) FINE ARTS Jamaal Rolle Kishan Munroe (Winner) Livingston Pratt Patrice Lockhart Sue Bennett-Williams Theodore Elyett ENTERTAINMENT Glenn Sherman Lavardo Stubbs (Winner) Paskeisha Edgecombe Terez Davis-Nixon Traceyann Perpall / TAP

MUSIC Dillon McKenzie Julien Thompson (Winner) Lyrically Blessed Wendy Lewis Willis and the Illest SPORTS Chris Brown (Winner) Pauline Davis Coach Henry Rolle Cynthia Rahming Waltiea Rolle ENTREPRENEURSHIP Capt. Randy Butler (Winner) Chinarae Pratt Erik Russell Giorgio Knowles Mervin Sweeting Jr. Randy Butler Spence Finlayson LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sir Durward Knowles

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BRUTHA_ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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BRUTHA_FEEDING ME

Chicken and Mango Basil Stir Fry {

SERVES 4}

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Chicken: • 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (substitute tamari for gluten-free) • 5 teaspoons cornstarch, divided (you’ll use part of it in the sauce and part for the chicken) • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar • Pinch of red pepper flakes (add more for extra heat) • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar • 1 1/2 - 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces • 2 teaspoons vegetable or coconut oil • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed • 1 large mango, peeled, pitted and diced • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced • 1 medium red onion, diced or cut into thin strips • 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn into pieces • Hot, cooked rice, quinoa or noodles for serving

In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the broth, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, vinegar, red pepper flakes and sugar until smooth. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and remaining 3 teaspoons cornstarch.

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat until hot and rippling. Add the chicken, breaking up any clumps, and cook until it is golden brown on all sides and just barely cooked through (it will cook a few minutes longer later in the recipe). Scrape the chicken onto a plate, keeping as much liquid in the skillet as possible.

Add the garlic, mango, bell pepper, and onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.

Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet over medium heat. Whisk the sauce quickly before pouring it into the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, while the sauce simmers and thickens, 1-2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Sprinkle with basil and serve over rice, noodles, quinoa or by itself.

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Recipe Source: MelsKitchenCafe.com

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BRUTHA_FEATURE

PRAS MIC FUGEES. FILM. FUTURE

In a strange world where things make sense, and everything works out the way we imagine, I’d be entering some hipster spot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn looking much like a Williamsburg reject, to meet Prakazrel “Pras” Michel.

Unfortunately, Pras was the only one of us in Brooklyn, and I was taking a much needed break from yelling in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, demanding justice for the slain Michael Brown.

“Oh, you’re in Ferguson,” Pras asks, his interest peaking, and giving me a great place to jump into this interview I knew would someday come.

Our conversation quickly went from huge fan and artist to comrades speaking on the phone about revolutionary war tactics, government

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BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

policies, strategies, and candidates. Amazingly, Pras is not one of those artists who took up a cause to appear more conscious to his fans, but in reality knows nothing. Quite the opposite, he jumped at the chance to help fellow musician and friend Michel Martelly on his run to become President of Haiti, successfully securing the office. This movement, this hard work which at times seemed impossible, gave birth to the Documentary, Sweet Micky for President.

CHEL

BY DA R N E L L L . WA L K E R

Photographed by Jai Gutierraz in NYC, NY, USA. Creative Direction: Chance Davis Styled by Rosie Philidor | rosiephilidor.com BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_FEATURE

“A voice full of experiences too many black men share across America that warns the unbothered black men of what could come, and how to prepare.“

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Years ago, I promised to never ask questions I have the answers to. I broke that promise with Pras and asked why he felt the youth today aren’t as hard working and inspired to create change. “This is a generation today that feels very entitled,” he says, adding, “they don’t understand what work means because they don’t have to.” I quickly become the Amen Corner, throwing “yeah,” and “I feel you 100%” through the receiver, excited to finally talk to a true messenger.

“Rangel and ‘em, they had to. If you wanted to exist,” he says, “not even survive…if you wanted to exist, you had to work. You were forced to have a certain consciousness. Today you aren’t forced to do anything.” Pras, not one for shying away from expressing his convictions and passions, recently sat with Charles Rangel to discuss why he supported Rangel’s recent run and win for U.S. Representative of New York’s 13th District.

There’s a hint of disappointment at how lazy recent generations have become. Like the old man he isn’t, but certainly wise, he says “Back in my day,” and goes on to use words like “microfiche” and “I had to go to a library.” It doesn’t take long to discover this is where comfort is for Pras; discussing these topics of great social and political import. “At the end of the day, it’s pure murder what the cop did,” he says of the Ferguson shooting that launched a thousand angry protesters.

“But on the flip side of it,” he says in an all too familiar voice. A voice full of experiences too many black men share across America that warns the unbothered black men of what could come, and how to prepare.

“You as a black man should understand the reality of the world you live in. A person of authority with a badge and gun comes to you, you immediately stop. You don’t ever want to give those dudes a reason. It’s going to be very very very hard to prosecute that dude and put him up on manslaughter because you’re already going against the system. Do you think the system wants to be changed? Not at all. Let’s move forward.”

“We supplied more than 85% of the blocks to the new National Stadium and the new airport. We also supplied the We move forward,90% and I of fight theblocks urge toto askBahamar.” him to spit his verse from Fu-Gee-La while I do a makeshift version of a beatbox over the phone. More important than talking about Brooklyn rooftops, palm trees and tee-pees, are Pras’ thoughts on the current state of Hip Hop. Music is not now, nor has it ever been my area of expertise, but I know what sounds good, and I know major players, and I know winning a Grammy, whether an upset, and perhaps jilted artist admits it or not, is the apex. In that strange world where things make sense, this would be the point where Fugees’ dope rendition of “Killing Me Softly” would play in the background like a soundtrack to the particular question. “When you turn on your radio now, are you bopping your head, or are you thinking ‘man, we need to get better music out there?’” If you’ve ever created something you knew was trash, and asked a friend “what do you think of this,” and they give you that squint accompanied with a slight head cock, you’d know the tone employed for Pras’ answer. “I mean, it’s cool,” he says clearing his throat to elaborate. “It’s some stuff that I like, but it’s not a movement, it’s just sounds. You’ll find something you’re going to register to. Something you’re able to tolerate, and eventually you just deal with it, or you lock yourself out of society.” Immediately, these words become important for not only coping with Hip Hop’s evolution, but all evolutions, and change. We must move forward with the time, find out where we can fit, even if it’s too tight or too lose, and tolerate it until we can make it better.

“The other day I was in the studio, and we played a Biggie record. Dude…” and there’s a deep, meditative silence that comes over us both. Suddenly, I’m in 10th grade on a school bus listening to the bus driver tell us the Notorious B.I.G. is dead. Pras finds his center, and continues, “Dude…you know what it is when you feel it. This is the generation that has no idea who Biggie is, but when they heard the sound,” and he

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BRUTHA_FEATURE

“When I see Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q, they’re in a zone. They’re capturing that essence right now. They’re in a minority, but eventually, people will catch on to it.”

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breaks into a beatbox of Track 5 from Ready To Die, and then “Who the fuck is this? Paging me at 5:46 in the morning, crack of dawn and.” Then, sadly, we’re back on the phone, not in Brooklyn 1994, and this conversation must go on. “I could see it in their face, like ‘what the fuck is THIS?!’

You can’t deny that, man.” We laugh in memory of the homie, Christopher Wallace, and I tell him about a kid I met who told me Biggie was killed before he was born, and the world stops making sense for a few seconds.

With an award show just days away, it seemed fitting to get an insider’s thoughts on Hip Hop frequently finding its way to the back burner, specifically at the Grammys. Pras jumps to answer, probably having been asked often, “The reason the Grammys’ doing that is because the sound is not what it was back then, so they feel it’s some bullshit. But you must remember this, you can’t expect to have get that energy consistently for 100 years. There will be moments when it’s great, and there will be moments when it’ll fall off. Every ten years, a revolution happens. It’s changing. When I see Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q, they’re in a zone. They’re capturing that essence right now.

They’re in a minority, but eventually, people will catch on to it.” I nod, hoping my respect for his answer is felt through the receiver.

“Who’s playing heavy in your headphones right now,” I question. Typically not a question to receive a quick reply, this time is different. “I gotta be honest with you. I’m always gonna love my street shit. I fuck with Rick Ross hard. I love Drake.

I think Drake is the most versatile Hip Hop artist on the planet. That motherfucker is in sync,” and my playlist is suddenly validated. Phones began ringing in Brooklyn, and the burger bar on West Florissant in Ferguson, MO in which I took refuge was becoming far too noisy with hungry protestors, a U.S. Senator and press, letting me know it was time to go.

Comrades don’t do long goodbyes. “It was good talking to you, man,” I tell him, hoping he hears me over the crowd. “Word. Peace,” and we’re done.

Check out Pras’ feature in The Black Moses film.

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BRUTHA_MAN ON THE RISE

Photographed by Jai Gutierrez in NYC, NY, USA. Creative Direction: Chance Davis 54

BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

TRAVOLTA COOPER & The Rise of Caribbean Filmmaking

There is no such thing as “just entertainment.” Everything we see on our televisions and our local silver screens, and everything we hear through our earphones and coming from the Caprice Classic that pulls up next to us at the light, will enter into beings, and into our society and bring about change; everything. This is why it’s extremely important that we begin creating better entertainment.

Luckily for Brutha Magazine, and the world, there’s Travolta Cooper.

Travolta, not named after the actor-turned-scandal maker, John Travolta, is an award winning, recordbreaking, Bahamian filmmaker. In a conversation overheard on the streets, one wise man told the other, “There’s a high price to pay when we use our talents to feed the people garbage.” Avoiding those high prices, Travolta has been using his talents to create outstanding work on film. His first feature documentary, Founding Father: Stafford Sands, explores why Sir Stafford Sands, former Finance Minister of the Bahamas, left the islands after self-exile.

How dare you live in the Bahamas and not know the name Sir Lynden Pindling? For those who don’t, Cooper is soon changing that. His second film, The Black Moses, starring Dennis Haysbert, will chronicle the life of the man affectionately known as “Father of the Nation.”

by D ar ne l l L . Wa l k e r BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_MAN ON THE RISE

But what makes Travolta Cooper different?

Why is he working to change the world when other filmmakers are trying their hardest to keep things the way they are? Brutha’s own, Darnell Lamont Walker, asked the questions.

Film is beginning to enter a new era of consciousness. More filmmakers are making film with messages that may change the world, or change the way the world thinks. How do you feel your films are doing that?

Well, I love mythology. And I love folklore. I suppose I’m a bit of a mythologist and folklorist as an artist.

Whether that is my film “Stafford Sands” or now “The Black Moses”, mythology is all about tapping into a collective consciousness - the collective human story. So that’s me. And in the words of Joseph Campbell (who wrote extensively about mythology) these myth and stories “are the interior makeup of our collective experiences”. As the world gets smaller and smaller through knowledge and social media [in particular] I think this “new era” you speak of will become more apparent. Joseph also said “If you want to change the world, you have to change the metaphor”. Another way to say it is that ‘you have to change the consciousness’’.

If we could sit you at a table with a filmmaker, and gave you the opportunity to ask one question, who would that filmmaker be, and why?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. About three years ago I would have said the late Orson Welles. I’d ask Orson what his final days were like. But today I’ll probably say the late Stanley Kubrick. Stanley was one of the greats. What would I ask him? So many things, but if you want one question, I’d ask him why he changed the room number to Room 207 in The Shining when in the book it was room 217.

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Put together an amazing team for us. You’re the director. Who’s the Producer? Who’s the Lead actor?

Producer is Steven Speilberg. Lead actors? Dennis Haysbert and Viola Davis.

There is no such thing as “Just Entertainment.” Each film, video, song, television show, etc. lends a hand in building thoughts and influencing people in some direction.

Do you think about this when you’re creating your work? Do you avoid putting negative images out there?

Filmmaking is art. But it is also a business. I do my best to marry art and commerce. I want artistic merit but I also want to make the money back that we’re spending to produce art. I don’t think too much about what’s negative or positive as an artist. Most artists only mostly care about what’s true. Sometimes the truth is negative. Sometimes it’s positive. But even negatives are positives after exposure... after light hits it. That’s both a natural and spiritual law I think.

When making The Black Moses, and exploring whether Pindling was a great liberator or a great drug dealer, were you nervous about releasing it knowing there would be great opposition in either direction? What has been the greatest challenge with this film?

There were many challenges, but I knew the movie I was making from the very beginning. I knew it would be a journey and there would be revelations, but I always had a guide - a model. And that

model was the Moses story or ‘mythology’

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BRUTHA_MAN ON THE RISE

if you may. Once I focused on that, I was less nervous. I wasn’t afraid of opposition but the fear of failing was always there because it was such risky storytelling. At the same time I was always comforted with this ancient story as a guide. This mythology permeated the life and times of Pindling as it did many of our black liberators. Pindling was called Black Moses, but so was Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

Even today its still with us, Barack Obama has been called our ‘Black Moses’.

What’s next for Travolta Cooper?

I go into production on my docu-narrative titled The Fugee in November. There’s also another Black Moses film in development. And I go into production on my first narrative film next year.

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BRUTHA_FEMME FATALE

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Berry Boo

BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

Meet this electric performer from Brooklyn, NY. Influenced by an eclectic genre of music, Berry Boo is well versed in multiple genres (Pop, HipHop, R&B, & Soul). She has created an unique style of singing, rapping & dancing leaving you with what she describes as the “I’m Berry Damnit” Experience. Berry has already made a name for herself in the music industry by touring the world on countless arenas/stages with some of today’s top artists: Melanie Fiona, Nicki Minaj, Robin Thicke, Ciara just to name a few. She is also a featured vocalist on Kanye West “On Sight” record off his Grammy Nominated Album “Yeezus”. After releasing her anticipated debut LP entitled “IMBERRYDAMNIT”, she’s now back with her newly released Single/Anthem “FGTS” (Fly Girl Trill Sh*t) & FGTS Remix available on iTunes now! With a fast growing following its no surprise on the demand of when, where and what Berry will be doing next.

www.imberrydamnit.com BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_FEMME FATALE

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www.imberrydamnit.com BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_TECH&GADGETS

Techno Savvy iPhone 6 “iPhone 6 isn’t simply bigger — it’s better in every way. Larger, yet dramatically thinner. More powerful, but remarkably power efficient. With a smooth metal surface that seamlessly meets the new Retina HD display. It’s one continuous form where hardware and software function in perfect unison, creating a new

generation of iPhone that’s better by any measure.”

Available in silver, gold, and space gray, iPhone 6 features an A8 chip, Touch ID, faster LTE wireless, a new 8MP iSight camera with Focus Pixels, and iOS 8.

BODY

DISPLAY

SOUND

Alert types Vibration, proprietary ringtones Loudspeaker Yes 3.5mm jack Yes

MEMORY

Card slot Internal

No 16/64/128 GB, 1 GB RAM

DATA

GPRS EDGE Speed

WLAN Bluetooth NFC USB

Yes Yes DC-HSDPA, 42 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; EV-DO Rev. A, up to 3.1 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi hotspot v4.0, A2DP, LE Yes (Apple Pay only) v2.0

Dimensions 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 in) Weight 129 g (4.55 oz) Type Size Multitouch Protection

LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors 750 x 1334 pixels, 4.7 inches (~326 ppi pixel density) Yes Shatter proof glass, oleophobic coating

CAMERA Primary 8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, phase detection autofocus, dual-

LED (dual tone) flash, check quality

Features 1/3’’ sensor size, 1.5µm pixel size, geo-tagging,

simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus,

face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama)

Video 1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, check quality

Secondary 1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular FEATURES

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OS iOS 8, upgradable to iOS 8.0.2 Chipset Apple A8 CPU Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based) GPU PowerVR GX6450 (quad-core graphics) Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Messaging iMessage, SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email Browser HTML5 (Safari) Radio No GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS Java No Colors Space Gray, Silver, Gold

Source: www.apple.com BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

BATTERY

Non-removable Li-Po 1810 mAh battery (6.9 Wh) Stand-by (2G) / Up to 250 h (3G) Talk time (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) Music play Up to 50 h

MISC

SAR US 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body)

SAR EU 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body)

TESTS Performance Basemark OS II: 1252 / Basemark X: 15841

Display Contrast ratio: 1213 (nominal), 3.838 (sunlight)

Camera Photo / Video

Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 72dB

Audio quality Noise -94dB / Crosstalk -73.4dB

Battery life Endurance rating 61h

BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL 2015 Chrysler 2010

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BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

AVAILABLE BEST-IN-CLASS 295 HORSEPOWER+ WITH THE 3.6L PENTASTAR® V6 ENGINE 2015 Chrysler 200 tachometer The Chrysler 200 delivers exceptional power.

The available 295-horsepower 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine delivers 262 lb-ft of torque. With the available V6 engine, the All-New 2015 Chrysler 200 has more available horsepower than Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu+.

CLASS-EXCLUSIVE NINE-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION+ 2015 Chrysler 200 - 9 speed rotary shifter The Chrysler 200 is the only car in its class to offer a nine-speed automatic transmission+. The transmission features a wide gear ratio spread that provides smooth transfer between gears and efficiency at all speeds. It operates electronically rather than mechanically, using the Rotary E-shift.

SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES 2015 Chrysler 200 cutaway showing safety features The All-New 2015 Chrysler 200 offers more advanced standard and available safety and security features than any other vehicle in its class+. Advanced accident avoidance features include available Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist+ and classexclusive+ features including available Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go functionality+, available Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking+, available Parallel Park Assist with Full Stop+ and available Perpendicular Park Assist+.

For More Info Visit: www.chrysler.com

BRUTHA MAGAZINE // AUTUMN ISSUE 2014

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BRUTHA_BRUTHAMAN

Why You Can’t Change Yourself?

“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.”

- -Bob Moawad Our whole lives we are constantly looking outside of ourselves for Love, approval and to fit in.

This happens first as a child - when we adapt to meet our parents’ needs so that we can get love. Then, as we get older it could be a group of friends or we adapt to how we think our romantic partner thinks we should be - or the opposite - we rebel against how anyone thinks we should be and we stand out by not fitting in.

No matter how we slice it, adapting ourselves to fitting in or being a rebel and standing out – all of these behaviors stem from our thoughts about what other people think.

And living our lives from the perspective of what other people think creates massive pain in our lives. Because when we act based on what other people think, we are acting from the place of a deficit, that is - “I’m not enough, so I am going to change myself to be enough.”

And this core thought has caused A LOT of pain in my life. And this core thought has caused a lot of pain in general. The journey is that through feeling all of this pain, we come back to ourselves. And we stop identifying with what other people think we should be, or we stop rebelling against other people - and instead tune within and listen to whom we really are at a heart and soul level.

Each and every one of us - and that includes YOU - is a unique soul. We have a unique gift.

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We are great at something. And life comes into balance and our fullest expression begins to be realized when we align with our true nature rather than being a part of the herd or rebelling against the herd. The journey is within.

When we listen to and act from that place we are trendsetters - we are unique - we are special - and there’s no one else like us made.

And what’s cool is when we start to belong to ourselves and express ourselves - we put out a different frequency and, as a result, we start attracting and meeting people who are on that new wave length. And what’s so cool is in doing so we no longer need to chase people. When we belong to ourselves, we find whom else we belong to.

The joy of living a Self -Approved life is revealed when we begin to allow ourselves to be ourselves - we accept ourselves as we are - we accept ourselves as perfectly imperfect and the inner conflict begins to die down.

And our true nature emerges and The Uni-verse supports us in miraculous ways.

How can you start to live a Self Approved life today? What are you going to do differently?

Lots of LOVE, Mastin

Email Mastin Kipp for tips and advice:

thedailylove@thedailylove.com // www.thedailylove.com

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NEXT ISSUE

COMING SUMMER 2014! www.bruthamagazine.com

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