CHINKZ DRUGZ
TABLE OF
CONTENTS dj magic- 3 dj drewski- 4 sboe- 8 bsb- 10 slow bucks- 11
CEO/PUBLISHER Damon Whethers
li st james- 16 barbara grace- 17
LAYOUT DESIGNER Chevon McIntyre
troy ave- 18 carol maraj- 19 candi world- 20
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chevon McIntyre WRITERS Alexandra Darley, Nelly New Shoes, S.A. Prophet MARKETING & PROMOTIONS Damon Whethers
ONLINE EDITOR Chantal Cook PHOTOGRAPHER Chevon McIntyre, Corey Murray Makeup/Hair Artist Tish Ferguson CONTRIBUTORS Miss Vii WEBSITE MANAGER Ms. Electra STYLIST @trend_ambassada PUBLICIST Sparkle Callahan For Ad Space Contact Info@SparkleCallahan.com
With winning Flex’s contest, DJ Magic gained more exposure and in 2009 was named the newest member of Big Dawg Pitbulls, a respected crew of DJs created by HOT 97’s own Funkmaster Flex. He was then granted a slot on the radio and the opportunity to live his dream! Exit 21 Magazine’s Damon Whethers inquired if the radio was what made DJ Magic’s career skyrocket beyond what he had in mind for himself. “Obviously [the radio] expanded [my career]. The radio is like another outlet, like the NBA. You can play in college all you want but when you play in the NBA it changes the demographic [of the game]. So really, the radio expands the whole look. But, I still have to keep grinding, I got to get up and keep coming to the streets and do big events in the streets. It don’t stop! I can’t just sit back like, ‘I’m good.’ It don’t stop!”
DJ MAGIC
We caught up with Hot 97’s DJ Magic at his 3rd annual car show in Brooklyn, New York. Taking it straight to the streets, DJ Magic humbly recalled how he started in the game at DJ Funkmaster Flex’s DJ Contest. “I never thought I was going to get on [the radio]. I was always just grinding and in the street. I was doing what made me happy. I didn’t really care about the radio at the time because I really didn’t think it was going to happen. I always felt that I was nice and that I was one of the best out. I never said that though, I kept it to myself. I stayed humble, I kept grinding and praying and just doing what I had to do to make myself happy and then at the end of night I’d go to sleep. So really, it just came to me. And then, my art started getting out. I started doing better, I started doing bigger parties and that was really it. I started on the radio and I didn’t stop there.”
Other DJs have been on the radio for a while but now there are some pretty nice up and coming DJs stepping out. Being that DJ Magic started with Flex, inquiring minds were curious to know if DJ Magic could see himself in Flex’s spot one day. DJ Magic honored Flex and exclaimed, “I look up to Flex. He’s a good brother. He helped me out and guided me. He doesn’t give me nothing- he makes me go out there and get it. But, filling his shoes and getting his spot and everything... I mean, I want to get to his level! His spot is his spot. He shut that down. I want to do my own thing at my own level and make it great and big.” For all of those aspiring DJs, listen to DJ Magic when he says, “I am one of the most humble dudes you will ever meet. People think I look at myself up here and I’m looking at myself at the ground. I do regular things and I like to be a regular person. Stay humble, stay grounded and don’t burn bridges. Make sure you keep good people surrounding you. Show love to your family because they’re the ones that are going to be there for you. Your friends will be there when you’re doing good but they might not be there when it’s raining. Humble yourself, love your family and enjoy what you want to do as a person! Don’t worry about nobody else.” To find out more about DJ Magic, follow him on Twitter and InstaGram and listen to his show, Takin’ It To The Streets, the first Saturday of the month 2AM. – 4AM on WQHT’s 97.1 FM. DJ MagicTwitter: @IAMDJMAGIC Instagram: @IAMDJMAGICFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ DJ-Magic-Da-Gift/130211577044955 Web: http://www.hot97.com/djmagic/Exit 21 Magazine Written by: S.A. Prophet
The New York club scene is famous around the world for providing one of the best environments to party. A celebration can’t happen without the most important thing and that’s the music! Well, who provides the music? It’s the DJ of course! In New York City not anybody could rock the clubs and still have the people begging for more. This man has definitely rocked reggae parties in Brooklyn to top clubs like Griffin in the city. He is also a part of the number one radio station in New York City called Hot 97! The man behind the turntables and the dope DJing style is none other than DJ Drewski! This New Jersey native always had a love for music. His love for Hip-Hop started at a tender age when his older brother used to play Hip-Hop records around the house. At the age of seven he attended a concert his father did with the Notorious B.I.G and since then he knew music was going to play a major role in his life. He started to really get into the art of DJing around the age of 13 and 14. DJ Drewski would DJ at house and school parties. His first officially paid gig was actually at a hall that was attached to a bowling alley. He was underage DJing at a 21 and older spot. DJ Drewski said, “I was so nervous that I was praying that I didn’t mess up.” Little did he know that his first official gig was only practice for the musical slaying he would go on to do in the future!
DJ Drewski is one of the many talented DJs that have landed a position on New York City’s favorite radio station Hot 97. It’s not easy landing a job at Hot 97. One has to be persistent and even be willing to work for free. DJ Drewski got his start by interning for famed DJ Cipha Sounds. DJ Drewski recalls Cipha Sounds hosting the Sucker Free show for MTV. After every show Drewski would sneak his way to Cipha’s dressing room to let him know that he was willing to help Cipha with anything he need. He would do this after every show until one day Cipha Sounds decided to give him a shot but only as his personal driver. After paying his dues for a while, Cipha decided put Drewski on and they started doing Sirius Satellite Radio, MTV, and Hot 97. DJ Drewski started networking until he was able to secure an opportunity of a lifetime at Hot 97. Hot 97 is definitely making major moves! The radio station now has its own show! Yes you heard that right! The name of the show is called This is Hot 97 and it airs every Monday at 10:30pm EST on VH1. DJ Drewski describes the show as an unscripted comedy series. The show gives the fans insight on what really happens behind the scenes everyday at Hot 97. Drewski says that everyone is like family and even said that respected radio personality Angie Martinez is like his sister. It must certainly be amazing to work in an environment where everyone is treated like family. DJ Drewski has accomplished a lot as a young DJ. His hard work and determination is what made him successful. He believes that if a person hustles and positions themselves in the right way, they will always win. He also believes that a person must find an opportunity and create their own reality. DJ Drewski’s words of advice are “know what you want and go for it and do not be afraid to step out of your element!” WRITER’S CREDIT: ALEXANDRA DARLEY
HOVAIN EXIT 21: LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO? HOVAIN: I’M HOVAIN HYLTON MANAGER OF TROY AVE, BSB RECORDS. EXIT 21: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE BUSINESS? HOVAIN: I’VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS. EXIT 21: EXPLAIN TO THE UP IN COMING ABOUT BEING INDEPENDENT. HOVAIN: BEING INDEPENDENT IS A GREAT MEASURING STICK ON HOW BAD YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU SAY IT IS YOUR AFTER, BECAUSE YOUR SUCCESS REALLY IS IN YOUR OWN HANDS AND I’M FINE WITH THAT. KNOWING THAT I EAT WHAT I KILL, I LIKE TO EAT SO I GOTTA LAY MY MURDA GAME DOWN. EXIT 21: WHAT PROJECT’S ARE SET TO BE RELEASED SOON AFTER VOLUME 4? HOVAIN: AFTER BSB 4 DROPS IT’S TROY NEXT MIXTAPE MAJOR WITHOUT A DEAL AND THEN HE WILL BE WORKING ON HIS SOLO MAJOR ALBUM ALSO SOLO TAPES FROM KILLA(YOUNG LITO) 7 AND BLOCK. EXIT 21: WHAT POSITIVE ADVICE CAN YOU OFFER TO A INDEPENDENT ARTIST? HOVAIN: JUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, AND BELIEVE IN GOD AND DO GOOD BUSINESS. HOVAIN:THANKS FOR HAVING ME,AND SHOUT OUT TO BSB CREW, LABEL AND STAFF BROWSVILLE BROOKLYN. I CAN BE REACHED AT THE HARRYPOWDERSHOW@GMAIL.COM FOR ALL BUSINESS AND BOOKINGS FOR TROY AVE AND BSB CREW.
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Diamond
SADY
SBOE is definitely the talk of the town in the Hip-Hop industry! SBOE stands for “Slow Bucks Over Everything.” It is not only a music group, it’s a movement! This clothing brand/rapping group is made up of four ambitious and multitalented members Slow, Bucks, Bounce Lit, and Von. These Queens natives are taking the rap game by storm, so Exit21 Magazine had to catch up with all of them to see how they were doing. The group discussed dropping their recent mixtape called All We Got is Us on DatPiff.com, which the fans can totally download for free. All the records where done from scratch and according to Bucks, he says “Everything was done in house, everything! No jacked beats, none of that!” Hip-Hop is definitely getting some new and fresh material! Besides putting out music, SBOE has been making some major business moves. They are now signed to Epic Records. So of course Exit21 wanted to know if an album was going to drop soon and if there was any big collaboration on it. The gentlemen mentioned that there is an album in the works that will be dropping soon and as far as the collaborations, it is all a secret. For the SlowBucks fans this will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat! Music isn’t the only thing this group has under their belt. They have also created a fashion movement under the direction of Slow who is the mastermind behind the clothing. SlowBucks has everything from signature tees to tanks, pants, hats and fleeces. You can definitely catch celebrities and athletes rocking their latest and hottest gear. Not only is SBOE grinding hard to become a successful household name they are also giving back to the community. A while ago they were spotted in Compton, California talking to young students about the benefits of staying in school. They wanted to give the young kids growing up in the harsh neighborhood of Compton hope. SBOE wanted to spread the message that education is the key to success and getting out of the struggle. SBOE is definitely doing amazing things. Make sure you guys stay tuned because this group is definitely creating some huge noise in the entertainment and fashion industry! WRITER’S CREDIT: ALEXANDRA DARLEY
We have three fresh faces breaking into the New York Hip-Hop scene! These three gentlemen King Sevin, Avon, and Young Lito have created a lot of buzz, which definitely caught Exit21 Magazine’s attention. BSB or in other words Brick Star Boys is what’s hot on the streets right now. BSB is the name of the group and the record label. An interesting fact about BSB is rapping wasn’t always a part of their lives. Avon and Sevin actually admitted that, “none of us was a rapper.” They happen to get into the industry through a friend that actually knew Troy Ave. For those that don’t know, Troy Ave is the break out star rapper that is signed to BSB records. Young Lito recalls that it all started when his friend asked him if he knew how to rap and he jokingly answered yes. Although he knew (they all knew) that they weren’t rappers before, they still believed that they could rise to the occasion. And they definitely rose to the occasion! King Sevin stated, “We all knew how to rap, we were just never doing it.” All three young rappers started carefully working on their poetic skills and hard work landed them a position on BSB records. The trio went on to create BSB volume 1, 2, 3, and 4. They also created White Christmas volume 1 and 2, which all mixtapes can be found on DatPiff.com. They are definitely working hard to set their brand apart from other rappers. According to Avon the best way to set yourself apart from others is to “just be yourself, you can do anything by being yourself!” BSB is definitely bringing the New York rapping style back with a vengeance. The group stated that BSB volume 4 and White Christmas volume 2 will be the last two mixtapes that they will be working on as a group for now because they are focused on bigger and better things. Don’t be discouraged New York because they are all working on their own individual solo projects and Exit21 will certainly be on the lookout. BSB is definitely a force to be reckoned with! WRITER’S CREDIT: ALEXANDRA DARLEY
EYE CANDY
@ANASHANEL
SLOW BUCKS
The talented, business driven, entrepreneur gracing the cover of Exit21 Magazine is the one and only Windsor “Slow” Lubin. This Haitian Queens native is one of the masterminds behind the Slow Bucks Over Everything movement. For those that don’t know about SlowBucks, it all started out as a fashion/promotional movement and just recently branched out to music. At first Slow used to make clothing for celebrities or athletes to promote his brand and this created a large buzz, which got the people interested in his clothing. Then the public started inquiring where they could buy such dope clothing and the rest is history! Lubin explains that the SlowBucks movement is a movement that really started from the bottom and now is a household name. He states “SlowBucks is for everyone!” Slow has taken his brand to another level because he markets his brand to all demographics, people, and genres of music. Speaking of music guess what? Fashion isn’t the only thing Slow was trying to conquer. He started expanding his empire towards TV! Yes, that right folks TV! He started SlowBucks.TV, which is all about exposing different artist from all genres of music. The main focus of SlowBucks.TV is to get an artist to download their best video for 100 dollars and enter for the chance to win 100,000 dollars. It’s not only about winning a few thousand dollars; it’s about how an artist spends his or her money. This is where Slow comes in because he teaches contest winners how to spend their money appropriately in order to expand their fan base, projects, and overall name. Lubin states, “We give you the information that is lacking in the industry.” Slow talked about SlowBucks.TV also showcasing their real lives, which is not a staged reality. It is actually about real events that go on in lives of SBOE. He feels that people can better connect to a brand if they see what is actually going on behind the scenes. Fans want to experience a celebrity’s lifestyle even if it means watching it behind a screen. Slow mentions that they want to show things like Juelz Santana eating fried fish at his mother’s house, to him picking up Lloyd Banks from the airport, and Snoop Dogg rapping in his mother’s room. These are real everyday situations that happen in their lives. It’s no secret that the marketing genius and entrepreneur inked a deal with Epic Records! Slow mentioned in the interview that, “the move just felt right.” SBOE created a major buzz for their brand and laid down the foundation for their success on their own! These are a few of many things that attracted Epic Records to actually partner up with them. Slow excitedly states, “Shout outs to everyone who showed us love after we signed the deal!” Our team at Exit21 Magazine congratulates Slow and the rest of the SBOE members for achieving an immense milestone in their careers. WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA DARLEY
EYE CANDY
@SHEZA_DRUQ
UP AND COMING BUTTER AND DENIRO
since1978, Sirius radio with DJ Whoo COMING THRU. WHERE Kid and Coach Pr etc. now we are CAN THE FAN FIND YOU working on promoting our clothing AT(CONTACTS)? line we started in 2011 Dinero & Butter, Apparel. Our love for music is still DINERO & BUTTER: Thanks there, we have DJ E Rock from Harlem again for having us! You can hosting our mixtapes that feature vari- find us on ig, FB and twitter @ ous artist and we consult for a few new deedinero142, @shawnbutter artist as well. and @dinero_n_butter EXIT 21: WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS YOU'VE WORKED WITH? DINERO: We worked with a few underground artist Triple Threat, Easy, Mo Barz, Naza Da Great. Now we are doing some consulting for Ladi Lennox and my little cousins Yung Keyz from the BX and Paul Eubanks from Queens. All great talents that need to be recognized.
EXIT 21: WHAT'S GOOD DINERO?
MARRIOTT
EXIT 21: IF YOU COULD WORK WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
BUTTER: I would have to say Jay and DINERO: what's good fam? Thanks for having Diddy because they are both smart business men who built empires us. from the ground up. Then of course Slowbucks because our grinds are so Mariott is an independent EXIT 21: WHAT'S BEEN UP? similar with the passion for clothes rap artist and songwriter BUTTER: just grinding and networking hit- and music. Definitely much success to from Harlem NYC. He not ting these NYC streets for new up and coming that movement! only has the drive to become talent. EXIT 21: ANY COLLABORATIONS? a footprint in hip hop, but with holds the lyrical abilEXIT 21: WHERE ARE YOU TWO FROM? DINERO: Our goal is to get the hottest ity to attract the attention of up and coming NYC artists together. avid listeners, through his DINERO & BUTTER: Born and raised in Harlem. 142nd and Lenox Ave. harlemboyz! And do a dope show hopefully in vast array of sounds. This August of this year. We are putting the artist has been featured on a plans for this together now. We just EXIT 21: HOW LOND HAVE YOU TWO number of mixtapes, appearwant to give these talents opportuni- ances in magazines, blogs, BEEN DOING MUSIC? ties to showcase themselves. clubs, as well as radio. CatchDINERO & BUTTER: we started working ing up with Mariott on his with my bro Big Skilly in 2007 and The Kartel EXIT 21: WHAT POSITIVE ADVICE Family Productions; which he produced beats CAN YOU OFFER TO THE YOUNG latest project on the release of his new club record titled YOUTH? for artist. we would put out their mixtape, How to do it good. This artist videos, do shows and promotion. In 2010 we started Dinero & Butter Mgmt. to assist un- DINERO & BUTTER First off I would is building a name for himsay stay humble and continue to work self. Watch for more music derground artist and build their buzz. hard. stick to your dreams even if no from this up and coming artone supports you. Also make sure you ist on Facebook, Twitter, and EXIT 21: TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOU have a back up plan just in case things Instagram @mariottharlem RECENT PROJECT'S. don't go according to plan. Get educated not only in this business, but for BUTTER: our most recent project with life in general knowledge is power. worked with underground artist Naza Da Great. He was featured in Hip Hop Weekly, EXIT 21: WE THANK YOU FOR thisis50, thesource.com, vlad tv, Hip hop
REPPIN’ WHAT’S NEXT! "THE BEGINNING On January 28th Lisa, The mother to LiJames The Chosen gave birth to one of the music industry's most respected Rap Artists.
LI J AMES THE CHOSEN
As a kid, LiJames would sit by his mothers radio while she cooked and he would jot down the lyrics to 2Pacs song "Dear Mama". Even if you ask LiJames today, he still thinks "Dear Mama" is 2Pacs best song ever! BORN & RAISED Being born & raised in Queens, LiJames lived on 169th Street and 88ave with his Mother and his younger Brother Darious. As some people may not know, "The Chosen" is LiJames's real middle name. It was given to him by his mother to give him a purpose in life and that purpose was to be the first to succeed in his family. So, at a young age he would just stand outside of ciphers and listen to the older dudes on the block freestyle. GET OUT During LiJames's grade school years he was recruited by N.D.I (National Dance Institute) where he excelled as a Hip Hop, tap, modern, & african dancer. He was also recruited by P.P.A.S (Professional Performing Arts School). He even danced at Alvin Ailey (New York City's best ballet school) but cut ballet classes because he thought "Ballet was for girls". He also attended 2 Job corps namely Cassadaga and Oneonta where he got kicked out of Each and every one of these places. LET'S FREESTYLE Wishing he could spit a freestyle LiJames met a friend that could. His name was Manny but some people called him Doza. Doza was a short , stocky, Puerto Rican, light skinned dude. He and LiJames chilled every single day cutting school, freestyling and smoking weed. They were close friends during LiJames's High school years.
FAST FORWARD 1997 was the year LiJames started freestyling, 2006 was the year he got locked up, 2008 was the year he was released, 2009 / 2010 were the years he started recording and he hasn't stopped since. Fast forward to 2013 he stay's out of trouble, works a 9 to 5 as a engineer for local 14 (New York City's highest paid union) And he's soon to be certified by NASM the U.S. Highest certification for personal trainers. He now writes complete songs with no effort at all and has a song catalog with over 400 songs recorded. WITH THAT BEING SAID Look out for this dude because believe you me he is going to make a lot of noise in this industry. Let's just hope it's for a long time.
REPPIN’ WHAT’S NEXT!
BARBARA GRACE EXIT 21: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? BARBARA GRACE: Well it's an assortment of gifts. I moved back and forth from Miami, FL to New York most of my life. During my early teens I resided in Miami Hialeah FL, thereafter moved North bound FL. I'm now in Brooklyn, NY working on my Projects for Summer 2014. No matter where I moved, all I cared about was finding the right producer and studio to work with. I've gained a little bit of experiences and styles from various atmospheres and express it all through my Music. Even if I have to do a song in another language, I'm up for it. EXIT 21: WHAT LATEST PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? BARBARA GRACE: I'm currently working on a mixtape for the summer of 2014. This is my first Mixtape album and it's titled "Party Starter." The Mixtape's main objective is to get the party started. I love to dance so I want to make music I can really perform to. I care about giving my audience a fun positive experience. I currently have another project in the works that will surface within time. I'm just focusing on finalizing this mixtape. Thereafter, I will continue working on projects that help with branding. EXIT21MAGAZINE: NAME SOME OF THE PRODUCER"S YOU'VE WORKED WITH? BARBARA GRACE: That's quite the list. Ill name the ones that are currently involved with the "Party Stater" Mixtape Album. I've worked with Tony RodMann for T.R.E. LLC @ Under World Studio NYC in Brooklyn. I'm currently working with Sha Muzik (www.shamuzik.com), Humphrey Gomez aka Nology from Miami Florida (Www.soundcloud.com/nologymusic), and Jeremiah Bonez of Fishboot Entertainment (soundcloud.com/jeremiahbonez). EXIT21MAGAZINE: ANY CAMEOS ON ANY OF YOUR PROJECT'S? BARBARA GRACE: Thus far, I've collaborated with P.O.P / Dour Gang Artist "Kash Juliano." Other collaborations are in the works, the mixtape will reveal it all. It's not where you're from, it's where you're at so I'm for sure showing Brooklyn love. EXIT21MAGAZINE: WHAT'S NEXT FOR BARBARA GRACE? BARBARA GRACE: While promoting the Mixtape Album, I'll be performing at a couple showcases. In addition to music, I'm dabbing into the fashion industry as well. BARBARA GRACE: Thank you for having me. I can be found on Instagram @barbara_grace.
C
rown Heights stand up! This Brooklyn native definitely got the radio and streets on smash! There are no words to describe the hype this individual has created for himself in such a short time. He is none other than BSB break out star rapper Troy Ave! Troy Ave is definitely one of the most recently celebrated Hip-Hop freshmen of the year. He has been dropping radio hits like “Your Style” and “Piggy Bank.” He has also collaborated with some of Hip-Hop’s heavy hitters like Maino and Meek Mill. Troy Ave’s rapping style is definitely raw and so Brooklyn. He has even been compared to the rapper turned mogul 50 Cent! Ave stated, “I feel good about being compared to 50. I’m supposed to be compared to the generation before me.” It wasn’t always this way for the freshen rapper. He had obstacles to overcome just to be in the position that he is in today. Troy Ave took a two year break from music to focus on making money and helping his family. After those two years, he quickly bounced back and was determined to leave his mark in Hip-Hop. He put out mixtapes like White Christmas Volumes 1 & 2, and even gave it out to the people for free. Troy Ave recently dropped his debut independent album called New York City that definitely got Hip-Hop fans on the edge of their seats! Troy Ave also said himself that, “I ain’t come to fit in. I came to stand out, so I had to do something dramatic and drop a classic!” On his album he has collaborations with Pusha T, N.O.R.E, Raekwon, Prodigy, Tony Yayo, King Sevin, and Young Lito. He also has a few amazingly talented producers, who helped create the beats behind such a dope album. To all the fans the album is exclusively on iTunes and on Livemixtapes.com. Not only has Troy Ave dropped the most talked about album in New York City, he also has apparel! He has football jerseys, hats, graphic tees, and even has jerseys for the ladies.
He is creating a movement in his clothing by incorporating slogans like “POWDERrrr to the people,” which is an innovative/cool way of saying and meaning POWER TO THE PEOPLE. All his awesome merchandise is available at Troyave.bigcartel.com. Troy Ave is definitely making a name for himself in the entertainment industry, but he says that he is still not where he wants to be. “I’m driving a nice car but it’s not a Ferrari. I’m saying I got a nice crib but I don’t own the building” He ambitiously stated. Troy Ave is certainly staying true to self and expressing an immense amount of humbleness. Despite his recent success, he is still willing to keep working hard and is committed to walking down the path to super stardom. -WRITER’S CREDIT: ALEXANDRA DARLEY
Carol Maraj
“God’s Been Good”-Debut Single from Carol Maraj Talent and beauty run deep in the Maraj family. Carol Maraj, mother of the rap icon Nicki Minaj, has launched her own musical mission. The singer, songwriter, playwright, and mother released her first Contemporary Gospel single, “God’s Been Good”. Maraj’s heartfelt lyrics and motivational messages are complimented by electronic dance energy “EDM” beats creating a new spiritual anthem destined to cross musical genres. This is Maraj’s first musical collaboration with Fame Star Records and MDM Music Group. All her life, Maraj has been singing and cultivating her musical talents. “With my daughter’s career thriving, I started spending more time writing about my life,” she humbly states. Pursuing a commercial vocal career is just one of Carol Maraj’s professional ambitions. Maraj’s personal triumph over domestic violence inspired her to create the Carol Maraj Foundation and the ‘Beauty For Ashes Program.’ As a survivor of domestic violence, “I understand the overwhelming struggles with pain, confusion and self-esteem. I can relate to what women in those circumstances have suffered through” Carol reflects. Fired up and ready, the Trinidadian native is prepared to present her passions to the public. Now, her daily life consists of meetings with directors of various women shelters, motivational speaking, workshops and producing inspirational music tracks. Maraj is also a motivational speaker inspiring and uplifting suppressed women in New York throughout the tri-state area. Maraj credits her family’s success and the ability to overcome abusive relationships to her deep spiritual faith. Maraj wants to give back to the country of her birth. “It is my calling to serve the women of Trinidad & Tobago who are suffering daily as victims of domestic violence,” proclaims Maraj. “I will want to be a resource to women and teens that are trapped in an unhealthy or life threatening situation. I thank God for providing me with the tools to be of service to all women across the nation. This is my time- this is my real mission” Maraj declares.
EXIT 21: WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR CLIENTS YOU'VE WORKED WITH? CANDIWORLD: As of now I've only worked with one top celebrity. Which is Nicki Minaj. I've styled Gossip Viv and Beat Face Honey. My other clients you may not be exactly familiar with. But working with Nicki opened doors for clients reaching out for my services everywhere.
Candi
World
EXIT 21]: HAVE YOU BEEN PUBLISHED IN ANY OTHER MAGAZINES OTHER THAN EXIT21MAGAZINE? CANDIWORLD: No. I've seen my work in magazines. But I've never been published in any. Exit 21 magazine will be the first for me. Thanks for recognizing the hard work & grind that lead us to this interview. EXIT 21: WHAT IS IT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT DOING HAIR? CANDIWORLD: Seeing my work on others. Seeing the satisfaction on someone's face when they actually get the look they were going for or even past their expectations. EXIT 21: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A HAIR STYLIST? CANDIWORLD: I've worked in a nail salon for many years doing make-up and lashes (so ladies you can also hit me up for other services). But to answer your question it's been 4 1/2 years now since I started taking hair styling seriously again. EXIT 21: DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER JOB OTHER THAN HAIR STYLING? CANDIWORLD: I have several other talents and hustles, But this is my main job. I dedicated myself to this profession because I felt it was my calling. God gives us gifts and it's up to us to utilize our talents. This is something I've known how to do for such a long time and once I saw the feedback from my work it gave me so much confidence. I've done two tours. In 2010 I did the "I Am Still Music Young Money Tour" prepping the dancers hair & make-up for stage. In 2011 I did the "Femme Fatale Brittany Spears Tour" being apart of glam for Nicki Minaj and prepping her for stage. The beginning of 2013 a lot began to change. I styled Nicki for American Idol, Photo & Video Shoots, The Myx Moscato billboard & posters, Commercials, Performances and even worked on a movie set for "The Other Women". EXIT 21: ANY POSITIVE ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER TO AN UP IN COMING HAIR STYLIST? CANDIWORLD: Stay humble. There's a lot to learn no matter how good you are, you can always pick up something new to perfect your craft. Grind hard. Put yourself out there. There's gonna be times when you get frustrated and want to quit, But believe in yourself and never settle or give up. All things are possible I've seen it first hand. EXIT 21: ANY LAST SHOUT OUTS AND WHERE CAN THE PEOPLE FIND YOU? CANDIWORLD: I just want to shout out the people that's been there for me giving me great encouraging words to go on. Everyone you can find me on Instagram: CandiWorld. For bookings email me: CandiWorldHair@gmail.com
EYE CANDY @APPLE_EXOTIC