GudMag II by GiveUhDamn

Reek - Delisha - DJ Gaines - Nichols - Celica - levi - Richmond

To: You From: Devin

gUd

2017 has been one of the best years for GiveUhDamn. Just a few years ago, I was ready to throw in the towel and just forget it all. Instead, the burning desire to influence the youth and bring my ideas to life prevailed. They say your life can change in one year. I see no lies in that statement. Aside from my personal life, I’ve finally created multiple projects for gud. The website was restructured and updated. I recorded my first pod-cast/radio demo. The biggest accomplishment of all would have to be the magazine. To me, each issue is like an album to a musician. There were days I remember daydreaming about working for Complex, Fader, or any musical publication. Fast-forward 5 years later, I’ve created my own. This is only a peek of the potential for gud. In the words of A$AP Twelvy, “This my last year being broke.” I’m carefully unleashing every single idea I held back this year. 2018, gud will be something to talk about. I’m speaking it into existence right damn now. I want people to know what I have been working on, but you have to just stay tuned and see. I’m blessed for how far gud has come and I look forward to the places it will go. For everyone who has ever been featured or inspired by me, keep that fire in your heart to chase your dreams. Don’t let anyone dictate your talent and continue spreading that positivity to others. You get what you put into it.

Now go get yours.

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JUMP SHOT CLASSICS Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clothing Store Buy Sell Trade Vintage Sports, Street Wear, & Sneakers Open 12-7 Monday-Saturday 5866 S. Staples, Suite 401, Corpus Christi, TX

Photo by: Thomas Garcia

Levi

Thompson Photos by: Levi T.

can’t say I believe in the American dream, but one thing I do believe in is my own dream. I strive to live a lifestyle where work doesn’t feel like a un-fulfilling job. Can you imagine having the opportunity to make a living off of doing something you love? Well for 21-year-old photographer, Levi Thompson, the imagination is slowly turning into a real life. 2013 is one of the most memorable years in young Levi’s life. Only a junior at St. Martin’s Episcopal High School, Levi decided to pick up a quick summer job to save up for his first professional digital camera. With a little financial help from Momma Thompson, he finally purchased a Nikon D3100. This would be the moment where photography found a permanent spot in his life. “I worked a summer job to save up some money for a camera because I was tired of using my android phone, (*laughs),” said Levi. “My camera means everything. Photography has opened up so many doors and connections for me. None of which would be possible if it wasn’t for my first camera. I’m eternally grateful to my parents for making it possible for me.” After finally owning some quality equipment, Levi would join his school’s newspaper as a photographer. With each and every

With each and every assignment, he found himself improving and enjoying the art of photography. From his teachers to professional photographers on sporting sidelines, Levi realized his potential had no ceiling. “It was a daunting task for me at first,” said Levi. “But with the help of my photography teacher, professional photographers, and the support from family

and friends, I continued to improve. Before I knew it, I was taking pretty decent photos.” As a full time college student at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, Levi dedicates a majority of his time to things that involve being behind the lens. When he is not cramming for a final, you can find him freelancing for Volcom and Nice Kicks or capturing an unforgettable

moment at a hip-hop venue in town. “I’ve been freelancing for Volcom and Nice Kicks and other photography jobs while sometimes doing Uber food deliveries for some extra cash,” he said. “ I’m obsessed with photography. I’ve been working my hardest to get to a point where I can solely live off of my work, but until then I have to do what I need to do to support myself.”

Mary Ellis is not just a girlfriend. She’s Levi’s number one fan. Whenever he finds himself doubting his work, Mary is there to pull him out of the trenches. The camera would be a foreign object to Levi if it wasn’t for the unlimited support from his family. Their energy and willingness to put their son in the best possible

Khalid Ever since high school, his photographic progression continues to rise with each flash of the lens. The best way to tell if someone loves what they do is by looking at the quality and time he/ she puts into their craft. A prime example is displayed in Levi’s favorite style, concert photography. As a fan of the hip-hop culture himself, Levi lets the energy of the music 9

take over and zones out. “I love capturing the pure energy and excitement that a rapper or singer emanates through my photos,” he said. “I feel that photography are just as much apart of music culture as the music itself.” Levi’s incredible talent behind the lens is fueled by the motivation of his favorite

position to succeed is a love like no other. “Both of my parents have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to put me and my siblings in a position to be successful,” he said. “My family means the world to me and I work my hardest every day to one day pay them back everything they’ve done for me.”

21 years in, Levi has already drawn the attention and recognition he has worked hard for. Artist such as Pierre Borne, Earthgang and his personal favorite, Isaiah Rashad, have posted his work on their personal Instagram. His persistence has even allowed him the opportunity to have an official spot with the 2018 SXSW photo crew.

Travis Scott photographer (Greg Noire), his girlfriend Mary Ellis and last but not least, his family. Greg Noire is one of, if not THE, best photographer out of Texas. The crisp composition and smooth edits from Greg are a constant reminder for Levi to never stop improving.

When you do what you love in life, it can be easy to forget the appreciation for who you have become. We grow through our creations. In most cases, you can see growth in a person and their work simultaneously. If you work on your craft vigorously, the journey to success will force you to have patience and confidence amongst other qualities.

“Photography has taught me that I am capable of much more than I thought,” he said. “It helped develop a confidence in myself that I never had 5 years ago. Thanks to photography, no matter what I do in life, I know that I can do anything if I work hard and set my mind to it.” Every opportunity that has

presented itself to Levi is just another chapter to a success story in the making. In the next five years, he hopes to work shooting look books for a clothing brand while working for music publications and festivals. At this pace, Levi can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. A lesson we can all learn. 10

Lil wayne

Khalid

Playboi Carti

REEK

mongst the overlooked and underappreciated music scene in San Antonio (TX), lies one of the cities best hip-hop artist. A 22-year-old who is best described as a musical enigma of styles and sounds. The music may be unpredictable, but the quality is of high consistency. Who is this musician I speak of you ask? The name is Reek. At an early age, his family noticed the potential of their son becoming more than just a fan of music. Music was everywhere growing up. He would listen to a vast array of genres except country. More specifically in hip-hop and rock n roll. Some of his favorite artist today are legends from the past. Artist like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Big L and Soulja Slim. His eclectic ear is a prime example of why his music sonically stretches across different genres. Six years ago, Reek made the decision to pursue music as a full-time career and hasn’t looked back since. When your heart is genuinely telling you to chase your dreams, it’s hard not to listen. It’s almost as if nothing else matters. His parents were separated, but they both expected their son to pursue music. His parents were separated, but they both expected their son to pursue music. The main concern from his parents was the financial security that comes with being an aspiring rap artist. Also the exposure that comes with potential success. “Telling them (parents) I wanted to pursue music as a career wasn’t really a shock to them,” said Reek. “The social stigmas of making a living off your music was the biggest woe for my mom. Pops just grew concerns about how I would handle myself and do things once the music picked up.”

Photos by: Jairus Popp

The music never stopped despite the skepticism. Looking back at his earlier project, “DirtyThird”, to his most recent release “Free Market” EP, Reek continues to progress. Not just in lyrical capability, but in his lyrical comfort, delivery and selection of production. To Reek, there is nothing like having the opportunity to share his unapologetic art with fans and allowing himself to live through them. “I’m just like my fans so I know what it’s like growing up trying to figure out who you are and where you fit in,” he said. “My sound reflects that in every record.” There is value in the study of your success and the lessons from your failures. Reek has delivered TexasSouthern influenced like “True Playa” to brutally honest introspective tracks like “Mood Swings”. Being able to analyze his sound over the years allows him to tap into new creative spaces and add value to his skill-set. When your

truly passionate about something, the sky’s the limit. Reek also belongs to a group of equally talented musicians who go by the name of, IVY. This is not your average music collective. The best way to describe how they work is very Wu-Tang or TDE-esque. Each member focuses on their own solo projects and endeavors. Yet at the same time, everyone comes together to collaborate and showcase the musical chemistry on any track. “I hate them dudes, worst group of artist you could ever work with, (laughs*)” Reek said jokingly. “ Nah, I love those guys so much. Those are my brothers and such a great band of hard working, unselfish people like myself.” As he continues to learn about himself and improve musically, Reek’s side mission is to change the musical landscape of the 210. San Antonio has recently begun to

create opportunities/ events that focus more around hip-hop music. Big named artist are slowly making the city a tour stop destination, but there is much more promising room for improvement. “San Antonio has so much untapped potential,” he said. “It’s time for a huge culture shift in SA with music, the nightlife and the marketing demographic. I hope it happens soon but I can’t rely on other to open a door all the tie. The folks at IVY are in the lab working on it as we speak.” A new year is almost among us, but Reek’s dream remains the same. Continue pushing the evolution of his music forward in hopes of making a comfortable living to support his family and himself. Going on tours with IVY and creating a legacy that will never die. All these things that are possible. As long as he continues to put the work in with the same mindset and hunger.

obody said life would be fair. We don’t all fall into the perfect family. We can’t choose our neighborhoods or the trials and tribulations we will go through. It’s easy to wonder “Why Me”. It may not make sense at the moment, but those troubling times are the blueprint to chase a better life, by any means necessary. Delishia Jernigan is 21-yearold musician who has seen it all, but refuses to fall. Music has been her source of joy and therapy since she was 5-yearold. Growing up, Delishia participated in her church choir and would sing all throughout her home. Even her childhood punishments evolved taking away her music privileges. “When I was younger, I experience a lot of things that would break others but I was able to shut it out thanks to music,” said Delishia. “Instead of getting punished like no TV, my punishment was no music for a week or not being able to sing in the church.” Delishia always knew she wanted to pursue a music career since a toddler, but track and school at Texas State

Photos by: Jasmine Thomas

University hindered her from actually creating. There was simply no time to focus on her passion. 2 years ago, Delishia made the tough decision to find her happiness and chase her dreams. Along with a busy schedule, the biggest mental block for Delishia was the stigma associated with female music artist in hip-hop/ R&B today. Women are usually expected to look a certain way and have a certain sound or sell a sexual image. These days, artist like NoName, Rhapsody and SZA have broke the mold. Inspiring a generation of future female artist to be true to themselves. For Delishia, singer and songwriter, Kehlani was the inspiration she needed to write her first song. “I knew I wanted to do music but I didn’t believe in myself because of the beauty standard in the music industry,” she said. “I tried to find myself in the spring but everything pointed back to music. The leader of an acapella group I was in introduced me to Kehlani who wrote and sang her own music at only 20-years-old. I write my first song shortly after but it was trash, (laughs*)”.

D e l i s h i a.J 24

“I have learned patience through creating music,” she said. “I have done my research on the artist I love and they all took at least 5-7 years to get on the scene. I’m on my second year of truly pursuing music so I have work to do but lots of time to do it.”

urban contemporary / hip-hop creative continues to make every step in her career a calculated move. They say you get what you put in to life. As she continues to learn more and more about the all-around production of music, Delishia is on track to give it everything she has to A light that once seemed to flick- turn dreams into reality. er is now shining brighter than ever in Delishia. The aspiring

With the support of her auntie Maria and the motivation from her favorite artist like Beyonce, Donald Glover and Kehlani, Delishia continues to grind her way to success. From releasing her first two songs to winning a $500 musical contest, every small victory moves her closer to happiness. “The thought of being happy inspires me,” she said. “I’m hoping to release two small mixtapes in 2018. I’ve recently met a great producer along with other great

musicians, so my new music won’t sound like anything you’ve heard from me thus far.” For all artist of any form, the hustle never truly stops. Delishia continues to find herself and her sound in the studio. She aims to take her time and craft the perfect project debut. In the next 5 years, she envisions herself opening up a line of tours and exceeding the limits of her own musical imagination.

ime is not on my side, so I can’t waste mine.” This bar from Austin’s up and coming hip-hop artist, DeAndre Gaines is one we can all relate too. The feeling of wanting to accomplish and create so much in such a limited amount of time. What can be overwhelming for some, is the motivation for DeAndre’s pursuit in music and tech.

23-year-old, DeAndre, always kept a close relationship with hip-hop music growing up. The rhythmic patterns and head-nodding vibrations touched his soul in a way that no other genre had before. From the east coast’s “Jay-Z”, to west coast’s “Kendrick Lamar” or even “Outkast” in the south, DeAndre has

always felt inspired to create music. “I love music because it is always loyal to me,” he said. “I love the hip-hop culture. I’ve always paid attention but when I was able to see it up close and personal from different perspectives, I fell in love.” Despite the passion for music

DeAndre Gaines Photos by: Andre Francis

it wasn’t until 2 years ago that DeAndre decided to take his rap career seriously. A Revolt Music Conference in 2015 sparked a decision that would solidify the trajectory of his life. In 2016, the Austin native dropped his first two fulllength projects. The first project was entitled “The Ride” and was mainly

produced by Willie.Wav. As he continued to progress and find his personal level of comfort with music, DeAndre later followed up with an impressive 8-track EP “The Zoo”. A producer by the name of, “Native”, sonically set the tone for the entire project while DeAndre leveled up in his all-around lyrical ability.

“Through music, I’ve learned about the light within me,” he said. “While in college (Texas State University), going through these growing pains and life experiences, I have been able to use music and see how I operate or move in life.” God, family and just simply going through life serve as the three reasons of

motivation for DeAndre to make music. No matter how your feeling or what you are going through, music always has a way of allowing you to express yourself. It is truly a form of therapeutic motivation. One of my personal favorite from DeAndre has to be the hometown track “Dove Springs Freestyle”. DSF takes listeners on a

personal trip down the streets that raised him.

for Bay Area’s “IAMSU” which led to the two artist collaborating on an unreleased record entitled, “Build Me Up”.

how “Build Me Up” came about.”

“I made Su an app in 2015. He invited me out to the Super Bowl when it was in the Bay Area,” he said. “I flew out for a week and during that time, we vibed in the studio. That’s

“Dove Springs is where me and my family grew up and will always be home for me,” he said. “It’s not the same now. A lot of people in native Austin people live on the outskirts because of gentrification but Dove Springs will always remain.”

As DeAndre continues to make forward progress in tech and music, the goal is to only get better and bigger. Extending his discography and making TYYW a well-known app development company. All in all, DeAndre and I share a similar long-term

One of the most interesting aspects of DeAndre’s career goes beyond music. While managing a rap career, DeAndre is also the Chief Executive Officer of a tech-startup by the name of “Thank You & You’re Welcome”. The promising app development company most notably created an app in 2015

goal. That is to make a difference in this world while we can. “When you hear my music, I want you to take some faith and hope away from it,” he said. “I’m here on this earth to help and love others. If I can give or show you either of those things, I have done my job.”

Photos by: Richmond Kingsford

t’s a early Monday morning in chemistry class at Texas State University. The professor is lecturing about Lewis dot diagrams, but it all sounds like the Charlie Brown teachers speaking. Before you know it, Richmond Kingsford is in London. He’s putting together the first international fashion show for his clothing brand. The show is just as he envisioned until the bell rings. Chemistry class is over. The 19-year-old fashion designer often fantasizes about the places he could take his clothing line, Vague. Richmond’s had this burning desire to become an independent designer since his freshman year in high school. It was creations from brands like HBA (Hood By Air), Been Trill, and Midnight Studios that inspired him to get his ideas out into the world. Two years ago, Richmond began to design at his highest level possible and has not slowed down sense. “The first piece of clothing I ever made was a long sleeve that said “Spring Is Almost Over” in repetition four times on the back,” said Richmond. “I thought it was the most fire piece ever (laughs*). I bought a beige H&M sweater and thought “what could I add to this?”. I wanted to turn it into something cool at the time.”

VAGUE Vague means everything to Richmond. The brand is his ultimate freedom of artistic expression and serves as a way to show the youth the limit possibilities of creating independently. Richmond isn’t necessarily majoring in anything related to his brand. By designing on his own, he is able to gain complete control and early experience for any future opportunities that will arise. “Vague started off with me making one of two pieces every couple of months,” he said. “Within less than a year, I’m putting out full collections with handmade pieces that held concepts because the brand itself doesn’t stand for anything. Literally “Vague”. I wanted to juxtapose that.” In this fast paced world we live in today, it is easy to downplay the importance of our ideas. You can never reach your full potential if you neglect the thoughts and creations that fester in our minds. Richmond understands that everything starts somewhere. That is why trusting your mind is key. It’s the faith he has in his own ideas that allow him to meticulously calculate each concept for his creations. “I usually start off looking at a personal mood board to help me brainstorm and then I think of what I want this drop/ collection to mean,” he said.

“I think about how I want it to feel when someone who has never seen my work and views the pieces in the look book for the first time. Each piece should speak on its own.” With 2018 around the corner, a new year brings about tremendous time and opportunity for Richmond. It’s been a few months since the last Vague release but creating quality always takes patience. Richmond and his fellow designing friend, Braylon, having been cooking up something that is really special. “We’ve been working on this entire collection via iMessage,” he said. “Braylon is a super talented designer and I want this next collection to emphasize the importance of collaboration.” When you think about the talent and dedication that this inspirational young man is putting forth into his work, it only makes sense for the possibilities to be endless. It’s crazy to think Richmond is only 19; Imagine when he is 25. The creation may be entitled Vague, but it is very clear that Richmond is on the right path to his dreams.

Celica Ledesma

Photos by: Victoria Ramos

hey say a picture speaks a thousand words, but what are you really saying? Legendary political activist, author, and educator, Angela Davis, once described progressive art as “social emancipation”. These two powerful words are the exact reasoning behind the ingenious mind of 21-year-old painter, Celica Ledesma.

universities, including Texas State. The same year I received first place in a Rodeo art show and completed a Mural in the hallway of George Bush High. That’s when I knew I wanted to be an artist.” Art is the ultimate form of creative expression and political freedom for Celica. Every piece is carefully crafted with a heavy and thought provoking concept in mind. Some art is to please people aesthetically, but Celica is trying to speak truth through colors and visuals.

Growing up, Celica was mostly involved in competitive cheerleading. It wasn’t until the 5th grade that she would begin to dabble in drawing or sketching. Throughout middle school, Celica would sketch all types of anime like figures. From an anime version of herself to cartoon shows like Invader Zim, the creative hand was beginning to show promising signs of a newly discovered skill. When her sophomore year of high school came around, Celica had taken her drawing from anime sketches to full blow “World of Warcraft” like creatures/ characters. She would draw night elves and weird victorian-goth outfits. It may seem like an odd thing to pencil, but Celica was confident in her creations. So much so, she decided to create a green glittery portfolio that would go wherever her backpack went. As she found her dwelling with the so called “artistic scene kids” of the school, she would finally venture into some of her first art courses. Celica was so dedicated to moving up in courses, she used her portfolio to

skip from Art One to Art Two. During this time, she found the motivation that would continue to spark her passion for art. With every piece she constructed together of water and/ or prisma colors, another door would open. “My senior year, I had a teacher named, Michael Blome, who recommended I go to Texas State University for art, but I honestly figured I wouldn’t get accepted anywhere,” she said. “ I ended up getting accepted to multiple

“I like for my art to be concept heavy with a good balance of skill,” she said. “For me at least, it is about exposing the truth. Right now, there is a lot of injustices going on and that is usually a good drive for me to start painting.” In my opinion, the imaginative ability of an artist is a skill I wish I possessed. With the time, dedication, and meaning that goes in to some people’s works, it is truly underrated how much respect and credit it receives. It can be quite discouraging at the age of 21 to create time-intensive pieces for class while attending school full time and finding time to have a life of your own. Add in the continuous anxiety and negativity of the world to give up and you have a recipe for disaster. Through it all, Celica perseveres to push through the so called “art crisis” and turn blank canvas into outspoken masterpieces. When your ultimate goal is to create visual truth, the amount of unfortunate injustices in the world will give you a constant reason to create. “I have this fear of being a starving artist or that my art will not matter until after I am no longer alive. What am I working for when the things that get noticed, don’t require much,” she said. “I’ve spoke to my professor and we talked about how every ten years or so, painting is declared dead until an artist changes it and how to survive in a post-internet society.”

One of the new forms of artistic creation Celica is looking to venture into is expanded media. This is a form of art that involves video, photography, audio, zines and more. It can be about almost anything, but the concept is usually thought provoking and controversial. A perfect alley for Celica to adventure down. At times, Celica may feel as if her art is overlooked, but this is the furthest thing from the truth. One of the most recent highlights in her artistic career, was when the Columbian-American singer, Kali Uchis, was gifted a self-portrait from Celica herself. Kali Uchis would post the picture of herself with the artwork on her personal Twitter page. “I remember people were roasting me for bringing a whole painting to her concert but I gave it to her and it felt

so unreal,” she said. “She signed the reference photo I used and said she loved it. Who knows how many works she’s received on tour but I think about how many people we’ll see whenever she does take it home.” From Invader Zim to realistic murals of musical superstars, Celica has significantly improved in her all around artistic abilities and life. A few more years of college await, but she is prepared to see where her passion will lead her. “There is so much I still want to learn and I feel like, networking wise, it is good to stay motivated through school,” she said. “I secretly don’t want to teach but I will if I have too. I know my old high school professor is waiting for me to take his place. (laughs*)”

nicholas osella

remember scrolling aimlessly through my Instagram feed one day and coming across these weird cropped post from A$AP Rocky’s page. I figured Rocky was preparing to make an announcement about new music and went to check it out. There was no new music, but I did come across an amazing 6-9 post collage of A$AP Mob artwork. It was so clean and abstract. I remember thinking, “I wonder who put this together for him?” Fast-forward months later, I was searching for young and talented artist to feature in the second issue of GUDMAG. Amidst my search, I came across a 23-year-old graphic designer. He went by the Twitter handle, @StudioWOS. After digging deeper into his work, I realized

he was the creator behind the art collage on Rocky’s Instagram! Right then, I knew I had to reach out and let the people know even more about the man behind the art. University of Texas at Austin graduate, Nicholas Osella, is one of the most unique and progressive graphic designers I have come across in the ATX. The way the city embraces individuality is the same approach Nicholas embraces for each of his designs. The inspiration from his family and friends, lends to the determination of out doing his previous work every time. “I think next to my family and group of best friends, my biggest motivation is myself,” said Nicholas. “When I’m working on

Photo by: Natalie Campbell

a project, the only person I care about impressing is the client and myself. If we are satisfied, I don’t care about anything else.” After spending the past four years sharpening his deviceful talents, Nicholas decided to found his own agency entitled, “StudioWOS”. The visual arts and graphic design agency is his way of adding another layer of professionalism to his work, while building a portfolio for the clientele he has acquired overtime. This creation may just be a one man job, but it is a important step to creating a brand for himself. “StudioWOS is just a way that I can be cool within my own life,” he said. “It’s not my name because initially when I started sharing my work, I didn’t want people to know it was me creating these designs. I loved being a hidden figure. I’m still hiding, but peeking out when I want to.” Music and arts have always gone hand in hand. Much of the work he has created ties into hip-hop, while the music itself helps set the creative vibe. His diverse musical palette is a representation of the nature of his visual art. “When I’m really trying to focus, I play Flying Lotus, Mura Masa, or a DJ Set from BoilerRoom,” he said. “My huge appreciation for

music artist is my work has a musical focus. Sometimes I’ll draw in the morning and play Brockhampton, Tyler The Creator, or Lil Uzi. The list goes on and on.” Having worked with PAPER magazine and hiphop artist, Lil Yachty and A$AP Mob, Nicholas has begun to see the appreciation of his work by popular figures in pop culture. Despite the amazing opportunities, the young artist stays quite humble and determined. His best work is only as good as his next design. With the everyday mindset of re-invention instead of complacency, Nicholas is always able to create with no bounds. “I don’t limit myself to just one thing I made 6 months ago,” he said. “Something you made yesterday isn’t going to be viewed the same tomorrow. Take some time to really consider what you made and process what it means to you. Then you re-invent.” Every challenge or design starts off at his favorite place; a blank canvas. Anything can be a blank canvas if you chose to see it as such. If Nicholas continues to approach life with that exact mindset, he just may when a Grammy Award for Best Record packaging. It may sound far fetched, but you are only limited by what you set out in your mind.

Just Pass AuxCord The 49

Eros feat. Bobby Earth - Mu Dat Twitter: @KalibalasIsFI & @thebobbyearth

Jamiah Hudson - Tell Me Twitter: @jamiah_hudson

GiveUhDamn favorite, Eros, is sure to get the ladies moving with his latest offer “Mu Dat”. The Milky Wayv camp never misses and this is a prime example. Bobby Earth lends his vocals and production to add another layer of groove. Play this one with the volume high.

Jamiah Hudson questions the truth behind love with “Tell Me”. It’s been almost 7 months since her last single, but her latest track is a refreshing sign that Jamiah is taking her time to perfect her sound. The attention to detail is definitely paying off, as she continues to shine with each new record.

Marcellus Juvann - Prosper Twitter: @C3IIDOPE

Omenihu - Adios Twitter: @only_omenihu

Marcellus Juvann is just a truly talented rapper. It’s the only way I can describe the consistency in his quality of music. Fresh off his lastest project, “Carpe Noctem”, Marcellus links up with producer J. Official for a straight banger with “Prosper”. This might seriously knock pictures off the wall.

Austin’s own, Omenihu, recently released his first debut single “Adios”. This reminds me of when the radio had quality, easy to remember tunes that just jammed any where. Adios is a mighty impressive first single with cover art that is just as appropriate. Seriously though, this needs to be on the radio.

London Monet - While You Were Away EP Twitter: @itsLondonMonet

Terrence Wimberly - Feel The Groove Twitter: @nppymsk

The talented London Monet has been perfecting her vocals over the past few years with some impressive covers. I’ve always wondered when she would release a project of her own but the time has finally come. This past November, London released her solo debut EP “While You Were Away” produced by Crato. Her angelic and honest tone make for a stunning debut.

Terrence Wimberly’s latest offering, “Feel Tha Groove” is a perfect description of how this track makes you feel. The Birmingham, Alabama resident stresses his production over lyrics to give a soulful and groovy flavor to the track. Feel Tha Groove is an ode to peace and love. I can’t wait to see what is up next for this young man.

Reek & Sage - Free Market EP Twitter: @SenseiReek & @Sagemyster

Nicotine - Ghetto Prayer (Give It Up) Twitter: @Nicthecig

After a quiet first quarter, Reek has been busy releasing a bundle of sounds to end 2017. San Antonio’s dope duo, Reek & Sage, link up for the “Free Market EP” featuring AJ Bray and Big Beautiful Williams. This collaboration is something I’d like to hear more of in the future because the chemistry between Sage’s production and Reek’s delivery is spectacular.

During my deep dive for undiscovered sounds on Twitter/ Soundcloud, I came across a voice that lingered in my ear for days. Singer/Songwriter, Nicotine, released one damn good track with “Ghetto Prayer”. The relaxing vibes from Nicotine is accompanied by production from MellowHype’s other half, Left Brain. I need more of these sounds in my life.

Thank You

gUd

Delay after delay after delay but it finally dropped. I’m working on time management, but the quality is the priority. Thank you for your patience first and foremost. I want to thank every single person featured in one of GiveUhDamn’s best issues. Every single person I reach out to or write about has inspired me in some way with their passion. I want to spend a very special shout out to my good friend, Jairus Popp with the lens. He’s come such a long way since college and I am extremely proud of his progression. Don’t ever stop. Last but not least, I want to thank you (the reader). I can only hope to inspire everyone who encounters my creations. At the end of the day, I want us all to win. If my magazine can inspire just one person, then hopefully I can spark a cycle within the youth of unselfish inspiring from others.

12/12/17 : Blessed