Volume 7 #1 russell simmons by Flossin Media, LLC.

From the Editor

hen I am in New York or Los Angeles I am frequently asked, “Why are you doing, what you are doing [running a black owned media company], based in the Pacific Northwest?” This is as if to say, there are no black people or “urban” lifestyle choices here where people of color are making things happen. Is there an invisible race fence on the border of Oakland, or at the Arch of St. Louis? We face comments from all angles. Some say that we are “too urban”. We know this means they think we are “too black”; is this in contrast to everything else around us being “too white”? Conservatives feel that we are just some Hip-Hop magazine to be dismissed, while others feel we do not do enough to support the “gangsta rap” scene. Opinions and bellybuttons: everyone has one. Yes, we are a black-owned media company and yes, we are based in the Pacific Northwest. Why? Well, my Indian brothers say, “the wind begins here,” referring to The Strait of Juan de Fuca. Flossin’ has used this, as a spiritual metaphor of sorts, to launch our message to these winds; a message of education, inspiration, motivation and love. We strive to see the good in life, in situations and in circumstances. We go to work to use that good to create a formula; one of success, prosperity, and good living. We know that we cannot be all things to all people, but we must be true to ourselves and bring to our readers, even the critics, our belief in the Pleasure Principal: Good, Healthy, Centered, and Prosperous Living. This issue is special and marks a milestone for Flossin’. For three years, we have been beating the campaign trail for cleaner, healthier media. Media that inspires, motivates and uplifts human consciousness while providing a balanced perspective of role models. It seems the dawn of that change has arrived. We looked for a cover story that would reflect that change; we chose

Russell Simmons. Simmons has made a fortune over the years marketing the business of Hip-Hop, a culture which, once again, comes under microscopic scrutiny. Simmons has been called on to defend its behavior in light of the Imus controversy. Ironically, it comes on the dawning of his new book, Do You. 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success. What timing. As you crack the cover, you find that Flossin’ is devoted to content that speaks to the importance of higher education. We enlisted two guest columnists: Dr. Al G Gatewood, President of Portland Community College, and David McDonald, Dean of Admissions from Western Oregon University. Encouraging words from these two scholars serve to raise awareness for the healthy reality of what an education can do to put you in position of prosperity. They also open the dialogue to the struggles to the retention of African American male into higher education. [Yes, young black man, college.] We move from the value of education to the sphere of entertainment, highlighting playwright John Ruffin and his production, Woman to Woman. Flossin’ Media enjoyed promoting this play because we believe in the value of using the arts as a vehicle for creative expression, talent and success. Moving on, spoken word artist Talaam Acey dazzles us with his intellectual perspective of the “N” word, and, as always, our musical artists share their formulas for making it in the biz. One of our favorite segments is Profilin’ Properties. We are often asked “Why do you show beautiful homes? Aren’t you just a Hip-Hop magazine?” [Smile] We believe that good living brings about good things. We would like our readers to recognize that property ownership can be the single most standout factor for them to create wealth. This factor is not communicated or portrayed as achievable to this community often enough and Flossin’ wants to change this. We feel it is important to provide our community with various and significant types of investments/acquisitions as a means to stabilize and achieve wealth; a home is one of those things. As we turn to leadership and our CEO segments, it is an honor to feature a young lady, Leslie Goodlow-Baldwin, the first Black President of the Portland Rose Festival. Her appointment is a landmark for the Rose Festival, which, on its 100th anniversary, has never really had significant black participation. Why has it taken 100 years to achieve this feat? It could make for interesting conversation, and stimulate a healthy transformation. In a world swirling with conflict and change, Flossin’ remains dedicated to providing our readers, our community and the world at large, positive, uplifting and inspirational examples of formulas for successful living. Through our stories, be they in the areas of business, academics, creative arts, or simply a story of stepping up to prove that even a 100-year-old tradition can adapt to include everyone, we are all lifted up to the possibility of hope. And yes, we are sending this message out from the beautiful Pacific Northwest! Much Respect John Washington Editor-in- Chief Flossin’ Magazine

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Determine your Destination through Education

When you make your way in the world cleanly, through the sweat of mind and body, your education - what you learn along the way - teaches you to value what you have and, perhaps more importantly, value the fellow travelers on your journey.

e have heard it our whole lives: Get an education, young black man. It’s the only way you can overcome, the only way you can take your destiny in your own hands.

I agree, wholeheartedly. Truer words were never spoken. But they miss the bigger picture somehow. Education amounts to much more than what awaits us at the far end. Reaching that end point actually becoming a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, a scientist, a campus president is wonderful, make no mistake. But focusing exclusively on where you’re going can lead you to miss what is happening on the way. Education is at least as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Education is a transformative process. Earning a degree will get you where you want to be, surely, but it’s what happens to you in the classroom and the library and the laboratory that help shape the kind of person you will be when you’re practicing law or examining a patient or designing a bridge. It’s the intellectual spark that bursts into ﬂame when you’re engaged in dialogues with your fellow students. It’s the thrill of self-discovery when you dive into a James Baldwin novel or the speeches of Marcus Garvey. It’s the clarity that comes to current events when you start to measure them against the larger arc of history. It’s the sense of continuity that arises from acknowledging the broad shoulders which have gone before be they black, white, brown or any shade in between upon

which our modern civilization rests. It’s not enough to go to school so that you can have the phat house, the fast car, the sharp clothes. While income potential and material gain are an important outcome of higher education good luck trying to ﬁnd ﬁnancial security without going to school they are only part of the equation. It’s what you learn on the way that helps you to be an active, engaged citizen politically, socially, economically. It’s what you learn on the way that helps you to use your new advantages to make the world a better place for everyone. It almost seems redundant to say these things to and about young black men. After all, who knows better than African Americans the importance of collective effort in the name of positive change? Our continuing story is one of struggle, of transformation, of holding a mirror before the larger culture and forcing it to live up to its own ideals. The African American journey has been at least as important as the destination we have yet to reach. But today, perhaps more than ever before, this message needs to be heard. Young black men are constantly beset by images of luxury, decadence, and misogyny as the measure of manhood and all of it is shown as the easy

gains of a life of crime or fame. In other words, it is the destination that is allimportant. If the journey is mentioned at all, it is one of r uthlessness and brutality in which the collective struggle is sacrificed for personal power. This is exactly wrong. Discipline, dedication, creativity, intelligence, compassion, kindness, integrity, drive, and achievement these are the marks of manhood. And what’s more, the images of pop culture create the false impression that crime and fame are the only options for young black men false because, especially at community colleges, the cost of education is far more attainable than many believe or are even willing to consider. There is an abundance of financial aid available grants, scholarships, and, if necessary, loans that can help prospective students bridge their financial divides in a hurry. I think one of the most effective ways to counter the perception of diminished options offered by media imagery is something that has been with us from the beginning mentorship. Who better to show a young man the many paths available to him than an older man, one who is walking the path himself, who is defining himself as a man by the work he does and the ideals he exemplifies? Such men can be found in communities everywhere, and there doesn’t need to be a formal mentoring relationship in place if you can’t find a mentor, you can borrow one instead. Choose a man you admire and respect, and live by his example. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the number of young black men who make it as rappers or athletes pales beside the number who make it as scholars and professionals, or beside the number of those who, in the words of Thoreau, “live lives of quiet desperation, and go to the grave with the song still in them.” When you make your way in the world cleanly, through the sweat of mind and body, your education what you learn along the way teaches you to value what you have and, perhaps more importantly, value the fellow travelers on your journey. Because when we finally get where we’re going, we will discover that all of us, together, have arrived in the same place at the same moment and it will be time for the next journey. Algie C. Gatewood, Ed.D., is president of Portland Community College’s Cascade Campus.

Contents

Photos By Marinel Miklja

Presidential stature

n 1971, a ﬁve-year old Leslie Goodlow ﬁrst saw Portland, Oregon, having recently moved with her family from Galesburg, Illinois. A biracial couple of meager means, her parents hoped that the move would afford their children opportunities otherwise unavailable to them in the Midwest. This year, Mrs. Goodlow-Baldwin, now happily married and raising her own family in Portland, aside from her illus-

By Geoeff Plummer

trious career, has achieved one of the city’s crowning honors: President of Portland’s world-famous Rose Festival. What’s more is that she is the ﬁrst African American to hold such honor. The festival is celebrating their 100-year centennial under her guide. In light of her success, one is tempted to view her parent’s decision some 36 years ago as prophetic; a few minutes with her, however, and one quickly comes under the

impression that she would have achieved similar distinction no matter where her parents had taken her. Long before people of color held such lofty positions as she, Portland was a limiting environment for Leslie as a young woman. “The only teacher I had that was black was a typing teacher in high school,” she recalls of her time in public schools there. Nonetheless, she excelled in school, and was off to the diverse and esteemed University of California Berkeley shortly thereafter as a pre-med major. Though she planned to be a pediatrician (“I always wanted to help kids” Leslie offers), she switched her major to psychology soon, because, as she recalls, “I had some kind of mental block to chemistry.” Leslie’s mother took ill during her sophomore year, and she returned home to care for her. By the time her mother was well enough for her to return to school, Leslie decided she would continue her education in psychology at Grambling State University, a historically black college in Northern Louisiana. It was there that she ﬁnally had an experience that broadened her social horizons to the extent that her formal education had done for her intellectual horizons. “It was just so different,” she says of her time in the South: “It was a shock to see how much Black people accomplished there. I mean, there were Black doctors and lawyers and scientists. It was inspiring.” Clearly inspired herself, over the next two years Leslie more deeply explored her tendency toward community service, being awarded the coveted Finer Woman Award by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Moreover, she collected a string of academic recognitions including National Dean’s List and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology in 1988. Indeed, her accomplishments since then are enough to make even the most productive person reevaluate their ten year plan. She returned to Portland and took a job as a secretary at a mental health clinic run by the county. She so distinguished herself in the course of her duties that her boss suggested she return to school for a Masters Degree in social work, which she did in short order. Along the way, she

met and married her husband, Richard Baldwin. “It was really one of those love at first sight things,” she admits, clearly still as excited now as then. Their first daughter, Ebony, was born in Leslie’s final year of grad school. “That,” she says of juggling the demands of a graduate student and a mother, “was hard.” Clearly though, she has mastered the art of multi-tasking, raising an ever-expanding family, developing a distinguished career in social work, and maintaining a dizzying array of volunteer efforts. Aside from her relationship to the Rose Festival (she spent years on the board before becoming President this year), she is active in her PTA, a volunteer with her local Little League, and a new member of the Zeta Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. “I was so proud to become an AKA,” Leslie rather breathlessly explains. “It was twenty years in the making: I couldn’t afford the dues when I was in college. Now was just the right time.” “My mother always emphasized service when I was growing up,” Leslie recalls when pressed about why she became such an asset to her community. Leslie moved into management in the late 90’s, and, while grateful for her success, falls far short of being convincing that she doesn’t miss the one on one interaction with people in need, especially kids. “There’s nothing like seeing a kid’s face light up,” she admits. That’s why I volunteer.” She notes also the importance of being a role model to kids, likely as a result of her own deprivation during her childhood. “You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to be successful; but you do have to know what’s available to you.” Her resume bursting with special recognitions for academic, philanthropic, and professional accomplishments, it doesn’t seem at all an empty cliché when Mrs. Goodlow-Baldwin quips: “If you’re going to be a bus driver, be the best possible bus driver you can be.” It seems rather like sage and sober advice from someone who has already tested it. Leslie leaves little doubt that she will continue to achieve great things. And like the kids, the rest of us are watching—and waiting to be inspired.

“You don’t have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to be successful; but you do have to know what’s available to you.”

No Skipping Gym! Nike partners with many schools throughout the nation, organizing runs to raise funds for public education physical education programs. The event is part of the NikeGO program, which in recent years has provided physical activity programs in schools nationwide. In states across the nation, many schools have reduced or eliminated such programs after recent budget cuts. Over the years, NikeGO has been heavily involved in creating and raising money for school programs. In 2005, it partnered with HeadStart and Sport, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) to form NikeGo HeadStart, a physical education program for Head Start schools. For more info Log on to Nikego.com

Electric Dream

The Revolutionary Tesla Sport Roadster

By Geoff Holland

ere, we have the new definition of good, clean fun. At first look, the Tesla’s sleek lines and low profile telegraph its racing pedigree. A turn behind the wheel confirms the initial impression. Talk about a joy ride, with room for two, this 248 horsepower roadster has jam-you-to-the-seat acceleration, zero to sixty in four seconds and a very impressive 130 mph top speed. In an acceleration duel with a Porsche Turbo or Ferrari Maranello, the Tesla roadster always wins. If that’s not enough to get the adrenaline going, check out the sound that goes with it. What you hear with the Tesla is a far cry from the muscular, gas pumping rumble of the era gone by. At a standstill, there is no sound at all. Then, peddle to the metal, comes the rapid, turbine spool up of a jet fighter accelerating down a runway. The quiet, sexy whine of a Tesla taking off down the road comes from the thing that makes it most unique. Instead of guzzling gasoline, this new age machine runs

on electrons. Unlike most of its all electric car predecessors, the Tesla exceeds the performance of the ﬁnest sports roadsters of bygone times. And it does so without ever having to stop for gas or emitting even an ounce of pollution. In fact, it doesn’t even have an exhaust pipe. The engineers at San Carlos, California based Tesla Motors have overcome what have been traditionally the twin shortcomings of electric vehicles; short range between recharge, and battery weight and bulk. Tesla has built its powertrain around a compact array of the latest, lightweight lithium ion batteries, giving their slick roadster 250 miles of driving between charges. About 80 percent of drivers go less than 50 miles per day in their vehicles, so the Tesla has far more than adequate range to meet most needs. The cost of electricity to power the Tesla is only about a penny per mile. No worries about the gas crunch here, and even when the electrons come from the worst polluting coal power

plant, the electricity consumed by the Tesla causes only about 10 percent of the emissions that come from similar cars running on gasoline. Recharge is handled by plugging in to the nearest household current. A full battery top off takes less than four hours, and there’s a kit in the trunk that allows recharging away from home. The Tesla’s advanced batteries are proven and rated at 100,000 miles of useful life. With its ability to deliver maximum torque through the entire RPM range, the Tesla requires only two gears

to provide virtually unexcelled performance. When you need to go in reverse, the Tesla merely runs its motor backwards. Handling is exceptional, as one might expect from a car with the legendary road racing pedigree of England’s Lotus Engineering where the Tesla Roadster is now being built. “We wanted to bring a car to market that would absolutely change people’s thinking about electric cars,” says, Mike Harrigan, Teslas’ Vice President for Marketing and Sales. “We get plenty of performance without burning gas or polluting the atmosphere. What could be better?” First delivery of the new Tesla Roadster will begin around July of 2007. Tesla expects to build 600 to 800 cars the ﬁrst year and ramp up from there. Price tag, just under $100,000. “We’re happy to sell a car to anyone who wants one,” says Mike Harrigan, “but our early market focus will be in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Miami, and Chicago, because that’s where we’ll have our service centers. Eventually, we expect to add facilities in Seattle and Washington, D.C. “ What about shortcomings? Mike Harrigan grins and says “Well, it’s only got one cupholder.” For more information, go to www.teslamotors.com

ove him or hate him, it’s hard to deny that Russell Simmons put Hip-Hop on the world stage, and is one of its leading voices. By Michael Munkvold

The former CEO of the multimillion dollar record company Def Jam Records and the leader of the Hip-Hop Social Action Network, he is the proverbial “go-to guy” for insights on Hip-Hop’s place in and impact on art, fashion and politics. Everyone from Oprah Winfrey and Black Electorate magazine to National Public Radio and the United States Senate is all ears when he has something to say on Hip-Hop as a business, as an art form, and as a force for social change. “You have to know your core and non-core audiences and understand how to reach both without alienating either,” he wrote in his autobiography, Life and Def. “… the fact that I wasn’t a conformist trying to ﬁt in - that I was making people accept me on my terms - worked for me.” He discovered and nurtured acts considered among the shining stars of Hip-Hop, including De La Soul, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Method Man, and Run DMC (he’s Joseph “Run” Simmons’ older brother). He created the previously unthinkable marriages of Hip-Hop to poetry and stand-up comedy with Def Poetry Jam and Def Comedy Jam, respectively. He has created a media empire with Rush Communications, a multimillion dollar conglomerate, Phat Farm, his clothing label, and his various investments in TV, movies, and even Broadway theatre. He survived a bankruptcy to eventually become one Hip-Hop’s richest men; his net worth is estimated at $325 million. He is quick to add, however, that success is not limited to your bank account. The strict vegetarian and yoga devotee hit bookshelves with Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success, in which he writes that money alone will not make you happy.

“Forget millionaires,” Simmons writes. “If I know 15 billionaires, then I know 13 unhappy people. These people’s lives might be filled with mansions and yachts and private jets, but their medicine cabinets are also filled with antidepressants.” In the book, which he co-wrote with longtime speechwriter Chris Morrow, Simmons outlines a blueprint for achieving success and personal success by first finding happiness within yourself. “It’s about getting back from the universe what you put into it,” Simmons said in the New York Daily News. “It’s about the karmic laws that are unbreakable.” A large part of personal happiness and success, he writes, is giving back to people in your life, to your community, and to the world at large. He is involved in many philanthropic campaigns, such as Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation Inc, which donates clothes to victims of Hurricane Katrina. He also developed the Rush Card, a prepaid debit card that spares people who don’t have a bank account the expense of cash checking institutions. While he has been a public figure for decades, the last few months have brought him more publicity than he has seen in years. He called an “emergency session” of HSAN to confront the Don Imus controversy, and became one of Hip-

The

Laws:

1. Always Do You. Be true to yourself and your vision of success – the “Do You” of the title. 2. Have a vision and stick with it. Once you have a vision of success, follow it despite all obstacles. 3. Get your mind right. Approach every challenge with the right, conﬁdent attitude.

Hop’s official (albeit self-appointed) spokesperson. “Their message is a mirror of what is right and wrong with society,” he wrote in HSAN’s official statement. “Sometimes their observations or the way in which they choose to express their art may be uncomfortable for some to hear, but our job is not to silence or censor that expression.” Not everyone was pleased, however. HSAN’s official response – calling on record companies to censor the words “bitch”, “ho” and “nigga” – provoked as much criticism as praise. In an interview with the Associated Press, feminist writer Joan Morgan called Simmons’ comments “short-sighted at best and disingenuous at worst”, while the Rev. Al Sharpton said that HSAN was too close to the music industry to objectively handle the problem. “[HSAN] are funded by the record companies,” Sharpton told the National Newspaper Publisher’s Association. “There are many people on the board who are in the record companies who could make the decision to stop using the words rather than pressuring people not to play the words that they’re using and manufacturing.” While Simmons has his critics, however, he has also been praised by many voices in myriad Hip-Hop, activist, and business communities. His work in those fields has always stirred controversy, but it has also won praise for creating untold opportunities for African Americans. “Russell Simmons and his rich Black friends are the future of Black New York and Black America,”Louis A. DeFreitas Snr. in Global Black News. “They have done what few Blacks have done. They have made lots of money and they are now sharing their wealth with their younger brothers and sisters.”

4. Stop frontin’ and start today. Anyone can talk big – it’s the things you actually do that deﬁne you. 5. Never give less than your best. Give your best at all times, for all tasks. 6. Surround yourself with the right people. Find people with the same or similar. 7. goals, listen to them, and rely on them for support. 8. There are no failures, only quitters. The only real failure is quitting. 9. Science of Success” Plant the good seeds. Do the hard groundwork. 10. You can never get before you give. Contribute to a process and help it grow. 11. Be powerful, Be heard. Make sure that your opinions get across. 12. Spit truth to Power. Be painfully honest with people to people in positions of power over you.

Photos by Monterra Photography

By Fawn Aberson

Monterra and Tehama

The Monterra and Tehama land is a west coast paradise with its rolling green hills, rainbow skylines and stunningly illuminated sunsets. hen things are heated slightly they often reveal the truth about their composition. This is true of food, precious metals and even the personalities of people. It is also true of land. California is rightly named the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Golden Stateâ&#x20AC;? maybe because the sun heats the land to ripened degrees of caramels. When you are fortunate enough to ďŹ nd yourself in some of the most lush parts of the state such as Monterra and Tehama, and if you are equally

fortunate to be there on one of the days when the sun has heated the land to the degree where all that sits within it comes to aromatic life, then you have hit sensory heaven. The truth about the Monterra and Tehama land is that it smells like thick sweet honeysuckles mixed with fresh sandy soil and ocean breeze. It is visually stunning with rolling green and golden hills scattered with purple, yellow and red foliage. Among hundred

The land is lovely, but it takes a pretty penny to own. Resident and developer Roger Mills feels that is worth every cent. “Living at Monterra is a journey of self-discovery….an invitation to reconnect with friends, family, nature and yourself,” Mills, who owns a hugely successful lettuce ranch that provides green goodness to stores and restaurants around the nation, has had the great fortune of snagging much of Monterra’s beautiful countryside. Within the last couple of years he, along with entertainment icon Clint Eastwood, who owns much of the neighboring

year old oaks and stone-walled landscaping it is not uncommon to cruise through the area and come across several black- tailed deer grazing along the roadway. Far from isolated ignorance, the area has the sophisticated air of San Francisco and the wild freedom of cities for which California is reputably known. Monterra is located just minutes from the sailboats, stunning land known as Tehama, have decided to open up the sunsets and the bleach sand beaches of Monterey, Car- territory for careful development so that others can mel and the famed Pebble Beach golf course. It is also a call this inspired treasure of land, home. short road trip cruise to the Bay area cities. Currently available for purchase are custom home sites that range from two to 20 acres with prices starting just over a cool million. Views overlooking meadows, hillsides, canyons and the near by seaside are still up for grabs. The architectural motif draws from historic Monterey, Spanish, European and Western inﬂuences. Secure gatehouse community preserves the privacy and exclusivity of the community. Eastwood fell in love with this land years ago and his love for nature ﬁts right in step with the open-air recreational sport of golf. Thus, the Tehama Golf Club and Fitness Center was born. A private club accessible only to Monterra Tehama residence, it dips and whines through the rolling val-

of the area. High above the fog of neighboring Monterey, the golf courses’ clubhouse can offer stunning views of the ocean and is often blessed by rainbow skylines. The area is abundant in natural stone and this natural resource is influential in many of the

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courtyards of the housing communities.

Land is the one thing that they are not making anything more of. As appreciating assets, owning some of Monterra is sure to pay off for those looking for a smart investment. Roger Mills can appreciate a good investment but he really wants the end user to feel like this is their home. Mills, who moved around a lot as a child, has decidedly planted his roots in the area as deep as the wine vineyards surrounding him. Here with his daughter and her family just down the road he enjoys the fruits (or should I say vegetables) of his labors. A delightful host of the area, Mills has a twinkle in his eye and large smile for all who interact with him. “I want people to feel Monterra like I do. A place where friends and family get together, have dinner, drink wine and enjoy the gift of story telling and life.” For more information about building a home in Monterra contact Monterra Realty at 866-648-9080 or visit www.monterra-monterey.com

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Reinventing oneself

I Personalize consultation. It is important to take the time I. to discuss with your hair dresser where you are at with your relationship with you hair and where you want to go. Lifestyle choices and changes can give hair dressers insights to a look that will give you inspiration and enhance these factors. It is important that you can feel conﬁdent in the stylist creating your look. Communicating effectively is the key to getting the end result you are looking for. Choose a stylist you feel comfortable talking with and who can understand where you are coming from on an emotional level. II. Visually stimulating environment. To help give yourself a mind set for change, your surroundings must be conducive to creativity. The right ambiance can dare you to be bold and coax you out of your hair slumps. Creating dimension in your hair styles can be inspired by dimensions in your surroundings. Pick a salon that motivates you.

Photos by Elisa Carral & Co.

air is the single most important accessory on a person’s body that can denote a change in ones appearance. Nothing reﬂects personality like a hairstyle.mnmnmnmnmnm

Short and sassy, crew cut clean, sexy locks and braided beauty all help convey ones internal expressions to the world. Often when we are going through a transformation on the inside, our hairstyle is one of the first things that reflect it on the outside. “People have place hair in great value, because your hair style is an expression of yourself in your own way.” States Elisa Carril, owner of the sexy retro salon in Wyckoff, NJ. “Recreating ones looks creates magic, it changes ones spirit and assists people in moving forward with innovation and confidence” Carril was fascinated with retro Hollywood and she used this as inspiration for the décor of her salon. “People are fascinated with the iconic glamour and sex appeal of Hollywood so I wanted to bring that look to them.” Carril has been in the industry for over 35years and she believes that “There is no such word as ugly,” she claims that if you go to the right salon you can find an environment that enhances the inner beauty present in all of us. Carril suggest three important factors one should one look for in a full service salon

III. Professionalism. Attitude and disposition of the people who are handling you should be stellar. Expect the best in courtesy and consideration about your needs, if you don’t get it ﬁnd a new salon. Ms Carril salon is located 310 Franklin ave Wyckoff, NJ 07481 201-891-6677

The

BIG Tobacco Smoke OUT

he time is now for the African American community to take a leadership role to address the horrific level of health disparities caused by tobacco consumption. Mobilization means to create awareness about the deadly impact Of the 55,662 African-Americans living in Oregon, smoking of tobacco within ourselves and not wait for prevalence among adults is at 27 percent, according to the mainstream validation of our demise. We elected to wait for syndicated radio host Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon. And every year 87 die, Don Imus to refer to young black women as with 1,700 that suffer from serious illness. ‘nappy-head hos’ before moving further upstream and address the music of some artists that are way too irresponsible in their lyrical content. With tobacco it’s been a waiting game, too. We arrived at the tipping point long before reports from two Surgeon Generals in 30 years, the Centers for Disease Control each year, or local state health departments that determine African-Americans spend $23.5 million in medical expenses African American are at higher health risk from tobacco consumption then other groups. on tobacco-related illness, and $24.1 million is lost in The maddening fact is the risks for using tobacco products are transparent. We already know productivity at work due to disability and premature death. there is a correlation between tobacco use and illness. And that corporate fat cats of Big Tobacco, just like the street dope dealer, will have you believe they want you to stop using their product. Could it be that influential Blacks turn the cheek due to the millions of dollars tobacco companies dump into revenue streams of the United Negro College Fund, B l a c k - o w n e d p u b l i c a t i o n s , political campaigns and We also know that convenience stores where we shop, tobacco causes, or promotions to marketing and companies pay vendors million of dollars in rack payments and management-level positions working for tobacco slotting fees to strategically place their products at eye level next companies? Choose your poison because at the end of the day we’re all sick from either second hand to candy, snacks and soda pop stands to entice underage use. Last smoke, or underhanded schemes. We’re talking 50 year a survey conducted by the African American Tobacco Preyears later. In the black community Big Tobacco’s vention and Education Network, a program of LifeworksNW, a promotions and marketing strategy has succeeded group of youth collected data from 100 stores. A total of 16,071 in making tobacco socially acceptable Today tobacco companies spend billions of messages were embedded in ads, posters, ashtrays and counter dollars each year in promotion and advertising, pads; that averages 17 messages per store. Why is there so much particularly mentholated cigarettes, to target and marketing to sell one product? encourage underage youth to smoke. Here’s a news flash: Nationally, black students attending middle school (11 percent), and high school (17 At the end of the day our community must break through the percent) initiate smoking. In addition, Black apathy around our tobacco consumption created by a finally children are exposed to second-hand smoke more then other children. Although adult black crafted tobacco marketing strategy, and a courtship with our males smoke less then their white counterparts, most cherished institutions. What we know is our penchant they demonstrate a 50 percent higher risk of for tobacco and the denial of the negative impact on our comtobacco-related disease. According to the munity aligns us with the guarantee continued use ensures: if National African American Tobacco Prevention and Education Network, 45,000 black we use tobacco according to instructions two outcomes will Americans die annually from preventable happen – we will get sick, and we will die. diseases related to smoking. One reason for the disparity could be found in the potency of mentholated cigarettes such as Newport, the No. 1 selling cigarette among blacks. Menthols dilate membranes and airways which Contact 503-288-8066, ext. 3011 for more information. allows for deeper inhaling that may contribute to higher risk factors for Yugen Fardan Rashad is program coordinator of the African American Tobacco Prevention and Education smokers. This means our puff behavior is different due to our use Network, a program of LifeworksNW. Newports, and Kools.

TAKE YOUR SHOT - College and Your Success during their lifetime than a person with only a high school diploma. People with college degrees also have more career flexibility and generally are happier about their jobs. Finally, people with college degrees a r e m o r e l i k e l y t o b e p o s i t i v e l y involved in their communities, perhaps because they have more time to donate since they do not have to work more than one job.

In life there are few certainties. However, one of those is that you must be able to do more than just get by. The animal that stands still either starves or is eaten by others. The fish that does not swim will suffocate and the person who does not learn and grow will be left behind. It does not matter what profession you choose… get better or get lost in the crowd. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are among the best because they work daily to make their games better. They watch, learn, and then practice to get the shot. They also make the time and have the determination to be able to stop their opponent’s shot. They practice to play and play to win. Microsoft and Nike did not start as overnight leaders. Nike’s first shoes were made by using a waffle iron and Microsoft took nearly a decade to create Word®. Both companies kept taking and making their shots in their development. Both worked to continually be better and smarter. As they grew to become international leaders many other shoes companies and software firms that could not keep pace failed. Knowledge is the coin of the realm today. It can be increased, invested, and used to create new opportunities and rewards. But knowledge is so much more than simply learning facts and figures. It is learning how to use those facts and how to create new ideas and opportunities. It is being able to move from the waffle iron to the swoosh. College is all about learning to create and use knowledge. It will provide you the opportunity to improve and get noticed. A college degree prepares you for the real game. It gives you the skills (critical thinking, communication, analysis, and technology) to show what you can really do. It also makes you better by exposing you to others who are learning and improving so that they can be the best. Even if you do not create the next big thing, college is the way to be successful. On average, a person with a college degree will earn one million dollars more

Succeeding in college requires a plan. Most people cannot simply walk up to the community college or university of their choice and begin to successfully take classes. There are two steps to entering college. The ﬁrst is academic preparation and motivation. The second is paperwork and process. College is available to anyone who is willing to work hard and learn. You do not need to be the 4.0 student to go to college. In fact, most college students were average students in high school. Preparing for college is not rocket science. It is two basic things. The ﬁrst is motivation. College requires heart as much as it does brain. You will need to be able to create goals and then work towards those goals. The second part of college preparation is academic. Have you learned the skills needed to enter a college or university and build your strengths? The basic skills are the same ones that a good high school education provides—reading, writing, math, science, social studies and a second language. Most universities have a minimum number of high school courses that must have been taken and passed to meet the academic requirements. If you do not meet these a community college is a great way to gain the needed skills. You can then transfer to a university and complete your bachelor ’s degree.

THE FIRST STEP IS

start in courses that best match your skill level. Check with your school guidance counselor or the admission’s office. • Visit the schools--it will be your academic and social home for the next 2-4 years. Make sure it is a place where you can thrive as a person. This is critical. Do not skip it since the wrong choice will cost you time and money. Look for a school that is the right size for you, one that provides the level of academic support and activities you need, and check out the residence halls and dining services since the majority of your college time will be spent outside the classroom! Visits can be scheduled by the admission’s office. • Apply for admissions. For the majority of colleges and universities this will require you to have your high school transcripts sent to the university, complete the application and pay the fee. Most universities do not require letters of recommendation or personal letters. Transcripts should be sent by the registrar or counselor of the high school or college you attend. • Finally, apply for financial aid. Generous support is available, but only if you apply. Get more information on financial aid from www. fafsa.gov or the financial aid office of your local college or university. Community colleges provide open access, which means anyone with a high school diploma or GED can register for courses. Four-year universities and colleges have admission criteria including varying levels of GPA and test score requirements.

• Contact the schools that interest you (it may be the closest, or perhaps the furthest from where you live). You can call, write, e-mail or visit the web page of the admission’s ofﬁce. Look for schools that cater to your interests interests. It is always a good practice to look into job placement programs and if the school of interest erest has such a program.

One ﬁnal thought, you can’t make the winning shot if you’re not in the game. In crunch time only the best are on the ﬂoor so go to college. Graduate from college and become the best that you can and keep taking the shot.

• Take ake the entrance or placement exams. Most universities require you to take either the ACT or SAT exam (fee waivers are available if yyou cannot afford to pay for the exam). Community colleges often require you to take placementt exams so that you can

Dave Mc Donald is the Dean of Admissions, Enrollment Management and Retention at Western Oregon University, the oldest public university in the west and home to the Western Tuition Promise, a guarantee of no tuition increases for four years (www.wou.edu).

fter all, every chance he gets, Twista sits down to slasher cinema. “I love me some horror movies,” Twista said, “With bodies gettin’ slammed around.” In particular, Twista, born Carl Terrell Mitchell, advocates viewing the Friday the 13th movies to watch the saga of murderer Jason Voorhees, a seemingly unstoppable force of nature. “You gonna like these horror soap operas,” Twista said. “But you gotta watch Friday the 13th part four The Final Chapter, cuz you see what happens to Jason; after that “part four”, it starts gettin’ wacky, but for true fans, it’s all good.” Diehard Twista fans, too, embrace the entirety of their hero’s work. Nevertheless, Twista’s last album, 2005’s The Day After, achieved much less critical and commercial acclaim than his previous album, 2004’s “Kamikaze,” which went platinum. “I’m a career artist, so I look at those things [a drop in sales] as I take a little bump, but then I come right back at you,” he said. “I come from the

heart and try to let the fact that I put my all into it effect sales.” Twista is also making another crucial move that will impact sales: He is listening intently to his fans. “The fans all tell me what they want to hear,” he said. “So I’m goin’ in and givin’ the fans something they were asking for: ‘Adrenaline Rush’ Twista.”

Indeed, Twista is set to release his upcoming album, “Adrenaline Rush 2007,” in August as an homage to his 1997 album, “Adrenaline Rush,” which spotlighted a very raw, real Twista. “It’s ‘07, exactly ten years since I dropped it “Adrenaline Rush”, so I was like, bam, lemme hit ‘em over the head with that original Twista sound,” he said. “So when I worked on this album, I wanted to come real hard, and the difference between this album and ‘The Day After’ is that this one is harder, more to the streets and the clubs.” Yet the album does not cater solely to any group but rather appeals broadly for its incorporation of so many sides of Twista. “I think I did good job of balancing the different ways Twista spits lyrics,” he said. “You deﬁnitely got a couple of treats on the album when it comes to quick lyrics, and then you will hear another one with me busting a slow ﬂow; the way I mix songs up, I just kept it smooth.” The consistently smooth texture of “A d r e n a l i n e R u s h 2 0 0 7 ” i s a l s o attributable to the fact that, unlike “The Day After,” the album is not broken up by a laundry list of special guests. Twista is the focus of his new album and his fans would not have it any other way. “My fans are into my lyrics so much they would be upset if I waste a verse on someone else,” Twista said. “I got a few players but I kept the features few, it’s definitely more me.” After dropping the first two singles, “Whip Game Proper” featuring Lil’ Wayne and “Give It Up” with Pharrell Williams, the verdict was in: Twista done good. “When I roll through the hood of K-Town in Chicago, my people tell me, ‘Twista, you back,’ and that’s all I want,” he said. In late March, Twista embarked on another

new venture to connect with his fans: He began writing a weekly question-and-answer column for “RedEye”, the Chicago Tribune’s free, daily newspaper. “Talking to the people, man, that’s what’s up, that’s what it’s about-fans will be able to get to know me better, to know me as a person, and I think I got some good shit to say sometimes,” he said. “I get my Clark Kent on, and I can be Superman on the rap side.” But with singles from his August-anticipated comeback album already climbing the charts, Twista is living proof that setbacks be damned, he is indomitable. “The black Jason of rap,” Twista said. “It is I.”

Reggae’s prodigal son

by Ashley Lyons

Ah, the plight of the musician-what a long and humble road he travels for the love of song. Vocalist Leon Robinson is no different. For the past ﬁve years, Leon Robinson, often accredited solely as Leon, has been ﬁnding his place in the musical sun with Leon and the Peoples, hisself-proclaimed “reggae-soul” band. However, Leon never quit his day job to pursue music full-time. After all, there was no guarantee that his singing career was going to blossom and there is little money to be made in question marks. In fact, although he always hoped for musical success, Leon never banked on his music career to take off. What made him pursue singing was profound enjoyment. “At the end of the day, it’s about the music I love,” he said. To make the career leap, Leon had to earn admiration.“People are the real test because people have nothing invested in you,” he said. “They either like it [your music] because it’s good or they don’t.” And so Leon continued the uphill battle like so many musicians before him.With one major exception. Leon already had

a huge fan base because he is a movie star. Indeed, if the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Leon has been in over 20 films including Cool Runnings, Waiting to Exhale and The Temptations in which he sang and starred as Temptations’ frontman David Ruffin. But even though Leon had the luxury of relying on his cinematic stardom to catapult him into the musical spotlight, he did not take himself up on that offer. He got noticed and won acclaim the old-fashioned way: by working for it. However, in Leon field, the line is blurred between work and play. “It feels great when the crowd is packed in place, listening to your original music,” he said. “But it’s not the easiest thing in world to play.” people’s songs they never heard before, and you know after playing songs which ones people responded to and liked.” Carolyn White, a steadfast Leon aficionado, likes it all. “I’ll book a flight in a minute to go hear him play no matter where he’s at,” White

said. “He is a very strong reggae-soul singer and I really enjoy his music.” “Reggae-soul,” the term that Leon coined to describe his music, is strikingly accurate upon hearing his band’s tunes. Cer-

for me, my baptism came from Beres Hammond.” Hammond is one of the time-honored greats, but Leon underestimates the significance and lure of his own band. Case in point, at press time, Leon and the Peoples was nominated for a 2007 International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA) whose winner was to be revealed on May 5 at the 26th annual International Reggae and World Music Awards. But in the humble manner that typifies him, Leon still has not quit his day job despite unmistakable musical success. Then again, Leon’s day job is acting in major motion pictures including “Cover”, the movie Robinson is currently shooting. “Cover”, set for release in October, is a harrowing film noir foregrounded by the furtive AIDS epidemic ravaging the black community. “It’s scary and it’s definitely a hot topic, something people want to see,” said Leon, who from 2003-2005 headlined AIDS Walk New York’s yearly concert in Central Park. “Yet it’s AIDS shoved under the rug in the black community...and you’re

“It’s scary and it’s definitely a hot topic, something people want to see” tainly reggae is at the heart of Leon and the People’s music, but the tunes are infused with a sultry smoothness the likes of which are seldom heard outside of soul. Therefore, no preexisting genre quite pinpoints the People’s rich, multi-faceted sound. Leon attributes the complexity of his melodies to his wideranging musical taste. Thus while he claims great reverence for Bob Marley, he also applauds everyone from Supertramp and Sly and the Family Stone to contemporary acts such as Snow Patrol. “Since I was knee-high to a duck,” he said, “there’s so much great music out there that I’ve listened to.” For fans such as White who credit Leon and his Peoples for making some of the great music they’ve listened to, Leon and the Peoples finally released its first album, “The Road Less Traveled”, in January. “Leon performed for four or five years before we did the album because we agreed from the get-go to have it very organic and grow from the grassroots up,” said Leon’s manager, Victor Lewis. “He learned and grew from ground level and got a fan base from zero on up as opposed to a fan base based on the fact that they had known him as an actor.” The band took its time to develop and fine-tune its live sound, a tactic that resulted in an album that truly captures Leon and the Peoples, Robinson said.“We wanted the first record to represent how we are live, because we’ve been a live band the whole time,” he explained. “The songs that we play in concert are songs that are on the album.” To promote “The Road Less Traveled”, an album executively produced by Leon’s friend, Pulse Music CEO Joel “JK “ Kipnis, the Peoples quickly launched into their largest tour to date and performed for eight weeks in 27 cities throughout North America. Many nights, the People’s concerts sold out even in venues including the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, The Roxy in Boston and the House of Blues in LA, Chicago and Atlantic City. Leon attributes packing the house to touring with headliner and reggae legend Beres Hammond, one of his personal idols. “He is the one drawing most of crowd-I’m just contributing, and that’s the truth,” Leon said. “He’s considered everyone’s top, so

in a situation where this disease is one that people consider to be a drugs or gay disease, but it is far from it-it’s affecting all types of people in all walks of life.” Leon’s genuine concern for people’s welfare is yet another aspect that keeps his fans coming back for more. “Leon is one of the most sweet and generous men you could ever meet,” White said. “He really loves his fans and people that he sings to; he does not even act like an actor!” Except, of course, when he works his day job.

New Golden Boy?

n his single “It Ain’t Me,” Minneapolis-based rapper Golden demands be both known and heard in the world of Hip-Hop: “I been doin’ this since I was 10 years old/ so tell ‘em who I am.” So, who is Stuart “Casey” Golden? Who is this white kid from Minneapolis who went from rapping at his childhood best friend’s house to opening for the Black Eyed Peas? How does he state his presence with his debut album, Peddling Medicine? How does he sell himself to audiences and control the fear of being dismissed as a poseur, or (worse yet) a Vanilla Ice? “I can only be who I am,” Golden says. “I grew up around black people, and I don’t feel the need to change who I am for a certain audience.” He was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was surrounded by music at a young age. He says Hip-Hop

got into his blood early. “The first Hip-Hop record I really fell in love with was Kool Moe Dee’s Wild Wild West,” he says. “Nas’ Illmatic made me want to be an emcee.” Golden began rapping as a child with his best friend, Jay, a partnership that endures to this day. They both eventually moved to Minneapolis, and formed their first group, S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S. It was there, Golden says, that he was first exposed to what he calls a Hip-Hop “melting pot.” “There’s such a diversity,” he says. “Everything’s independent, everything’s grassroots. You’ve got all kinds of genres.” Golden first hooked up with the Black-Eyed Peas when he was in S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S., opening for them at Macalester College in 1998. The Peas’ frontman, Printz Board, took Golden under his wing and helped him hone his sound in a Los Angeles studio. S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S. soon opened for the Black-Eyed Peas on a national tour.

After S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S. parted ways, Golden focused on becoming a solo artist — and the transition was tough. “We disbanded, and then it took me eight months to learn how to write a song,” he says. “I was always used to being a part of a writing team.”

“I was sitting in my apartment at two in the morning, watching the show, and I thought ‘I’m your American Idol’

HEY GIRL!

HEY GIRL

The turning point, he says, was the song “American Idol”. “I was sitting in my apartment at two in the morning, watching the show, and I thought ‘I’m your American Idol’. It was just, ‘boom’. I started writing, and in a few hours, I had it recorded. It was that song.” Golden says he plans to keep moving as an artist, but his connection to the audience is his primary concern. Reaching his audience, he says, is his way of advancing not just his own career, but Hip-Hop itself. “I’m trying to change the system within the system,” Golden says. “The majority of the Hip-Hop audience is suburban white kids. If I can speak to that audience about real issues, I could affect change at some level.”

G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S Fergie: She’s the blonde-haired beauty who makes the Black-Eyed Peas sexy and fun. No mere pretty face, she brings a come-hither sensuality to songs like “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” and a refreshing sense of play to songs like “My Humps.” With her solo album The Duchess, she announces herself as an artist to be reckoned with, channeling the personal demons she overcame to be a star into a soulful, danceable gem. Self-assessment is B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

Please Listen to My

By Flossin staff / How Things Work www.howthingswork.com

Record companies hear from countless Forming relationships Contact information is key. You have struggling musicians every day. Most of them to know who to talk to in each departdon’t make it past the receptionist (who, by ment, and build relationships with all the way, won’t pass your message along to of them. This takes time, persistence, the CEO – sorry). The problem? They don’t and research; find out who’s in charge of each department, and keep pushing know how to navigate the surprisingly for an appointment. Be specific and complicated structure of a record company. firm about what you want from them.

o one can climb the ladder alone; you need friends on every rung, to form relationships with industry professionals who can help you market your music and shape your career. Gone are the days of sending unsolicited materials. First, you have to know who to talk to, which means doing a little homework on every record label you contact and educating yourself on how the industry works. You need to ﬁnd the right person to listen to your demo, and then the real work begins.

Get more contact information from them for other labels. Drop names.

You have to crawl before you can walk

The heavy hitters in the industry don’t want to hear the cassette demo you made in your basement; they want professional quality from someone with a professional history. This is where smaller, independent labels come in. Recording with a grassroots label gets your name and music out there, and provides you with a solid base of material to shop around to bigger labels later on.

Finally, don’t give up

Odds are that the first few labels you audition for will turn you down. No one likes being shown the door, but it doesn’t have to be a total defeat. Get names and references about other labels. Ask for advice. And find out if there are opportunities to audition again. It’s nice and all if you have talent, but just as important (if not more so) is the ability to move and thrive in a complicated, often brutal business. It’s a lot like a bar fight: the winners are usually the ones with the most people backing them up.

Anatomy of a Record Company

It’s not enough to call the main business number and leave a message. A record label is divided into different departments, and you have to know the best person to talk to in each of them. A & R (Artists & Repertoire)

– This department is in charge of recruiting, signing up, and developing new talent. “Developing” an artist involves everything from ﬁnding producers to helping with song selection. They’re a good place to start: Send them your demo, and keep bugging them about it.

Promotion Department

– This department is in charge of getting artists played on the radio, and getting their music videos on TV. Promotions people communicate with other departments on the best way to raise an artist’s public proﬁle.

Publicity

– This group is in charge of getting favorable press for the label’s artists. They arrange newspaper and magazine articles, TV and radio coverage. Without them, you might as well be playing in your garage..

Artist Development

–They plan an artist’s career with the label, introducing them to the public and promoting and publicizing each new development in their career. A good relationship with this department goes a long way toward separating one-hit wonders from artists with staying power.

Artist Development

Leagal Department

– They draw up and negotiate contracts between artists and labels. Always be nice to someone who has the power to sue you.

Business Affairs

– They take care of bookkeeping, payroll and ﬁnance. Somebody has to do it; be grateful it’s not you.

New Media

– Most importantly, this group helps the artist create an Internet presence, helping them with technology to stream music and music videos over the Web. They also help Promotions create and market music videos.

Label Liaison

– They’re the go-between people for the label and the distribution company (the guys who put CDs in stores.) They help decide when albums go on sale and help prevent conﬂicts between other labels the company owns. They worry about the ﬁne print so you don’t have to.

Marketing

– They coordinate plans for the Promotion, Sales and Publicity departments.

Sales

– They work with record store chains and other retailers to put your CDs on their shelves. They do a lot of work with Publicity and Promotion to get your music out there.

THE RADAR

Sacriﬁce and focus is what deﬁnes 15 year old Music Line Group/Capital Records recording artist Adriane Owens. Boys, the latest parties and who’s dating who are not items of interest for this teenager. by Keonna Jackson

acrifice and focus is what defines 15 year old Music Line Group/Capital Records recording artist Adriane Owens. Boys, the latest parties and who’s dating who are not items of interest for this teenager. Instead, spending time with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, writing music and being a highly sought after model is what fills her Blackberry. “I surely don’t miss the drama but I’ve never really lived a regular teenage life. I’ve always been in this industry. Before my singing career, I was always modeling and out of town. My parents exposed me to a great deal. I never knew what it felt like to miss out.” Music has always been in heavy rotation in Adriane’s life. Shortly after she learned her A-B-C’s she was singing the melody of Jesus Loves Me. Her now mature, saucy and melodic voice details the life of A.O. all grown up. “I have been singing for quite some time, but I seriously pursued this career last year. Last year

Grinding her way to the top, Fahrens got a story to tell and she’s telling it through the power of song.

ushing from her 9-5, across town to the recording studio, and then home to fix dinner for the family, is a normal day in the life of Fahren. But all the hustle and bustle of the day is not enough to stop this confident wife and mother of four from grinding out her dream to sing. She’s on the fast track to give birth to what God put inside her, and this is just the beginning. Having experienced heartache and pain at an early age, Fahren is no stranger to life’s hardships. But through her music she’s found solace and healing which has blossomed into a up beat, inspirational

was the year…....I put all my other hobbies to the side and really started grinding in the booth!” The grinding paid off as shortly after Adriane inked a record deal. Currently she’s in the studio working on her debut album hoping featured tracks from Genuine Music Group, Bow Wow, Amadeus and others make the cut. Balancing school, modeling, singing, family and friends, A.O’s platter has exceeded the full mark. How does she do it all? “I stay prayed up. I know that my hard work will pay off in the end. When you’re going after something you really love, it takes sacrifice. Work hard now, play hard later.” Out of the mouths of babes…… She’s poised and conﬁdent about what the future holds for her. Her ultimate goal: be b le ss ed a n d t o b l es s o t h e rs. Wa nn a kn ow ex a c tl y w h a t ’s i n A dr ia n e’s fu tu re ? Ch e c k h e r o u t a t www.myspace.com/adrianeao

soulful sound. Using the unique instrument God’s given her, those listening will experience the same. Her signature sweet, deep sound, reminiscent of Grade A molasses, delivers songs of love, happiness, pain, and forgiveness. As she bellows through pipes that grip your heart, the lyrics simultaneously soothe your soul. Her groovy, mature sound, encourages, inspires and reminds us that at the end of the day, it’s all about God’s love. All with a melody that makes you want to listen even more. Her today is different from her yesterday. It’s been an eight year journey of setbacks and victories. But she rolls with the punches and embraces the depth it gives her story. “This race is not for the swift. It’s for those who endure and will not faint at the end” she declares. Right now she’s focused and preparing for the release of her debut album Fahren – My Story. “Never compromise. Know who you are. There’s power in that.” And that’s her story

lack Dymond Enterprise By LaDessa “Willow” Cobb

No Conﬂicts In This Mine

lack Dymond Enterprise was founded by former NFL player Adrian Mosley and is based in Houston, Texas. Not to be confused with the bevy of other labels headed by sports personalities, Black Dymond is not another record label owned by some sports figure trying to get his rap career off the ground It’s a springboard for its artists to express their creativity through Hip-Hop and R&B. With a roster of two rappers, Fife, Dame and one young R&B starlet, Mosley’s sixteen year-old daughter, Dymond. Mosley is using his time away from the field to develop these artists into bona fide stars. Dymond, who is confident, soft-spoken and clearly knows a life a privilege fits quite nicely amongst both Dame and Fife, who are no strangers to navigating through a life that is not always kind to young black men clawing their way out of the hood through Hustle and Flow. Like most R&B artists, Dymond learned to move people with her vocal stylings while singing in church. From the moment she grabbed the mic she was clear she’d found her calling. Currently working on her debut album with mega hit producers like Mannie Fresh, and another up and coming teen sensation, J Xavier, this young songwriter isn’t straying too far into pop culture and leaving her roots behind. Laughing, Miss Dymond speaks about making the transition from gospel to secular. “My church family embraced me when I began recording. It’s much different singing in a recording studio and it’s very time consuming. I know they miss me.” Her debut single, I’m Feeling It is a testament to her goal of being a young teenager living out her dreams. With her peers being inundated with unrealistic images of beauty, images promoting promiscuity and fashions that are a little to revealing, Dymond not only goes against the grain but is proud of the work she is doing to combat these false realities. “I’m influenced by artists from Whitney Houston to Beyonce, women who do things in a classy way. I’ve never acted what they call grown and when it comes to my own personal style I pick things that are comfortable, not too revealing and always touting that Chocolate Girls Rule.”

Dymond

Clearly the ladies love of Black Dymond Enterprise, Dame speaks in matter of fact tones about his Madison Square Garden dreams. “I understand the advantages of being an independent artist but I came into this to be a star, leave my mark and set trends.” Influenced by some of Hip-Hop’s trendsetters and history makers like Jay-Z, Nelly and The Game, Dame describes himself as a bi-coastal artist who is well versed in free-styling and has a mean work ethic. “When I am working in the studio, I tend to shut down and get focused. I have a cousin who passed away and a daughter that keep me inspired to do this the right way.” Being creative as well as bi-coastal is in Dame’s best interest, as many artists from New York fight to reestablish the East and accuse Southern artists of being the demise of Hip-Hop.

“I understand the advantages of being an independent artist but I came into this to be a star, leave my mark and set trends.”

With only three years or rapping under belt, Dame is cool with riding the wave his city is on. “I find it funny that people say we (artists from the South) are wack and we are at the top of the food chain now. Before MTV and BET was messing with us we supported each other like a family and that is why we can do what we’re doing now.” Like his label mates don’t expect any half-stepping with Dame’s debut; his first

marketing and branding that has to happen in order to get a decent run in the music business, Fife is a self-proclaimed commodity. “When I am in the studio I am on it, always reinventing myself. When it’s time to write I get down to business but I always make sure I’m having fun. I love what I do.” Having a few more years in the game than his label mates crafting the right label situation and keeping his name alive in the streets is what makes Fife standout. When putting an album together or even keeping his mixtape game on point, Fife knows it all goes back to the streets. “The streets dictate to the mainstream what’s hot and because I’m in the streets a lot I know how to give the people what they want. I am not trying to groove you--- I’m trying to make you bounce. That is why I put a lot of energy into it. I’m trying to make you dance or maybe start a fight or something.” When asked about his role and goals as an independent artist, Fife piggybacks on Dame’s statement, that he is in this to be a star and leave his mark. His name in the streets is already solidified, so he asks, “Why can’t the world be next?” Fife too had the opportunity to work with Mannie Fresh and worked with Lil Keke, Bigg Tyme and other noted names for his release with Black Dymond. If his first single, What We Rollin featuring Lil Boosie is the backdrop for what’s to come, expect Fife not to disappoint.

Dame doin the damn thing

run out the gate is certified with heat. Working with Mannie Fresh, and a host of others Dame has his swagger in tact and is giving it to his fans straight no chaser, living the life some independent artists only dream about. Black Dymond Enterprise rounds out its roster with Fife, an eight-year veteran to the Houston Hip-Hop scene. With his swagger right, Fife is knowledgeable about the on and off effect that comes with being an entertainer. Understanding the

Black Dymond Enterprise is Getting hometown love on the radio and utilizing media outlets like myspace.com to create a buzz, while gearing up for a huge second quarter for all of the artists. Expect big things from them. www.myspace.com/houstonbestkeptsecret www.myspace.com/damewil http://myspace.com/dymondsforever www.blackdymond.com Fife throwin the shout

HIP-HOP GONNA BREAK ITS

RUSTY CAGE

From left to right: Dan, Rod, Chris, Chaucer Photo by Greenwood Images.

BY Ashley Lyons

ore so than many other musical genres, Hip-Hop bears the burden of eternal stereotyping. Think of as many of those stereotypes as possible, and then burn accordingly.

When the last embers die down, what will remain is Copacrescent, a burgeoning Hip-Hop act out of Portland, Oregon. Copacrescent is a collective of four young musicians hailing from varied personal and musical backgrounds. The unlikely quartet of emcee Chaucer Barnes, guitarist Dan DiResta, bassist Chris Ponti and drummer Rod Nightingale blends a multitude of styles into its primarily Hip-Hop repertoire to create a distinct personal sound. “When you marry jazz guitar to dub sound from the bass, and then add gospel drums and an emcee, everybody really enjoys it,” Barnes said. “It’s something brand-new that hasn’t been explored and creates so much room for the players.” To fans, the freedom that Barnes’ band has to wiggle and shine is one of the key elements of Copacrescent that sets it apart from most other live Hip-Hop groups. “Unlike other Hip-Hop groups where there are samples or drum machines used on their tracks and live shows, Cop-

acrescent is a live, full band,” said Copacrescent connoisseur Jenni Price. “Rod plays unique crisp drums beats, with Dan’s smooth vocal-like guitar licks, their bass player Ponti brings a real reggae sound to the group and Chaucer is lyrically on point and tight, with catchy sweet beats, and raw talent.” Barnes sounds off on the idea that, especially instrumentally, Copacrescent breaks the mold for the average hip-hop bill. “A bunch of live Hip-Hop acts have players just as a backdrop for the emcee,” he said. “My players relish the opportunity to be involved in a project where their voices are equal to mine.” Of course, Barnes is literally the voice of the band and he and DiResta actually comprised the original incarnation of Copacrescent that was born in 2002 of the Gettysburg College music scene in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When Barnes and DiResta graduated from Gettysburg in 2004, they decided

“I make it a point to never say nigga; my entire generation is gonna hang its head that we called each other nigga all the time,”

to take their show on the road and set up shop in Portland where they have been fine-tuning their music ever since. “We want to focus on becoming the darling of northwest because we have chosen this [the northwest] as our home, so it’s not about getting back to New York or Philly or Boston,” Barnes said. “It’s about finding the proper home for our vision instead of lolling into a vision that’s already happening; we do not want to be on the tail end-we want to be trailblazers.” Copacrescent fan Drew Shoals, who sits in on ocassion as the band’s drummer, thinks Copacrescent is in fact paving its own way. “There’s nothing like it [Copacrescent],” Shoals said. “They put a lot of thought into creating a live band sound and not just an emcee with tracks on a CD to rap over; it’s a musicians’ HipHop band.” Copacrescent is also a lyricists’ Hip-Hop band thanks largely to the very literary Barnes. “Chaucer is a great poet-I’ve actually heard him do spoken word and he really gets inside of his lyrics,” Shoals said. “He’s equally great when doing his emcee thing; I really dig his lyrics and delivery.” Barnes credits the New Underworld Order [NUO], a loose affiliation of emcees from Baltimore, Maryland, for teaching him the fine art of delivery and more. “I woulda got up and done that [emceed] like I was reading it lyrics off of paper, but you gotta rock tha shit, punctuate with your arms, jump, be fly and make people wanna [get into it] themselves, and NUO is expert in that,” Barnes said. “They [NUO] put me on stage for first time and taught me technical stuff, too, like breath control, mic placement, how to be kinetic on stage, how to draw people’s eyes on stage, and without that I wouldn’t be the Chaucer Barnes of today: a full-service emcee.” However, the wordplay that Barnes spits is all him. “I’ve always been clever with words,” Barnes said. “What I’m doing lyrically is trying to create characters and events that nod to timelessness, so I make a point not to name-drop, because those brand names are gonna wash away.” So in stark contrast to the stereotype of so much modern hiphop and rap, Copacrescent contains no mention of Louis Vuitton, Cristal or Mercedes Benz. What is present in Copacrescent’s catalogue is an array of poignant and provocative pieces. “Each song is an argument and the goal is to create dialogue until long after I’m gray and not hip anymore, long after I’m done being cool,” Barnes said. “Those issues, causality, determinism, existentialism, even 30 years from now, will be relevant, and that’s why it’s so important to play live, to enjoy banging in cars, to not be a passive thing, but to engage them the listeners corporeally, engage them intellectually.” To the end of intellectualism, when laying down lyrics, Barnes sets another stereotype-smashing rule for himself. “I make it a point to never say nigga; my entire generation is gonna hang its head that we called each other nigga all the time,” Barnes said. “Because I play to a mixed audience, there are a lot of people I want to enjoy music, and I want them to repeat every word, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable for a mad white crowd or a mad black crowd to scream out nigga because I wrote it.” In August, “Shelf-Life”, Copacrescent’s first full-length studio album, will finally arise from the union of Barnes’ precise language and his bandmates’ exacting musical execution. “We wanna do the best job we can with it and that’s why we’re taking so long; at the end of the day, that album is gonna represent five years of Copacrescent,” Barnes said. “Not just something that just came up and we cooked up, cuz this is something that’s been simmering, this is that crockpot hip-hop instead of saute hip-hop, and it’s been bubbling for aminute.” “Street kids, complete b-boys, something in it for them, and young professionals, something in it for them, but the music

requires all of those people to come to us, to make it accessible to themselves to make it alluring,” Barnes said. “Ultimately, we just want to be one of those bands that is thought of as top of the pile where it’s not about where you’re from or what you’re doing, but no matter what, you think that shit is dope.” In the end it’s hard not to fall in love with a band who is so free from the conﬁnes of stereotypical hip-hop. To c a t c h C o p a c r e s c e n t b e f o r e A u g u s t , v i s i t t h e b a n d ’s w e b s i t e a t w w w. c o p a c r e s c e n t . c o m o r o n t h e i r M y s p a c e p a g e a t h t t p : / / w w w. m y s p a c e . c o m / d i g g i n dashdeeper to hear firsthand what the band hasto o ff e r. < h t t p : / / w w w. m y s p a c e . c o m / d i g g i n d a s h d e e p e r >

Northwest Hip-Hop goes back to the Nest

T Te’ Deezle

G-Razor

Yng Stylez By Michael Munkvold

e’Deezle was arrested at 19 on a gun charge and spent two years in prison. G-Razor was 18 when he was shot and paralyzed from the waist down. Yng Stylez was in his mid-teens when he got mixed up in the Bloods (gang). All spent their early years rapping and running with gangs. All were dealt life-altering blows. All are now recording with Nest Coast Entertainment, owned and run by Deezle’s uncle, Tyrone Muhammad. All typify the “NestCoast sound” of artists who know the grim reality of “thug life”.

Coast” years before in his rap. Muhammad saw this as a opportunity to transition this identity into a movement that had never before existed in the region. A movement that he feels will put the Paciﬁc Northwest HipHop scene on the national map. He said he had seen the tattoo on many other young

“You have some real ‘hood brothers in the NestCoast,” says Muhammad, also a veteran of gang life. “We’ve actually been through it. We have a real message to give to the youth, and to the elders that can actually help all of us see things better on our growth to repair.” Muhammad named his label “NestCoast” at the inspiration of a tattoo of the words sported by Stylez. Yng Stylez had tagged the Paciﬁc Northwest as the “Nest-

men in his neighborhood, and grew curious about their possible impact on Hip-Hop in the Northwest. It was different, it wasn’t the Westside story and it wasn’t the Eastside story but the Nestside Story with a sound all their own. He recruited Te’Deezle, G-Razor and Yng Stylez, and set about creating a “Nest Coast sound”. He says he sensed a growing movement of young, disenfranchised Hip-Hop artists who needed a voice, and wanted in on the proverbial ground ﬂoor. “I knew that a movement was forming, and that we’d never had a movement in the

Northwest region. When he said the name, I knew that it was a movement whose time had come in the Northwest.” Yng Stylez says that NestCoast reflects a more positive, honest message about street life than the “thugs, guns, and money” image appearing in most mainstream Hip-Hop. “Keep your head up, eyes forward, keeps it pushin’,” he says of NestCoast’s message. “Misery loves company, so if there’s a miserable situation, some people just feed into it, but the best thing is to just keep it pushin’.” To that end, Muhammad says, it is important to include the voices of former gang members as a kind of education. “We need people who [are] in gangs,” Muhammad says. “They had to go through it, so they have a good understanding of that situation, and the children don’t… I don’t believe that anybody knew that the Northwest had gangs. We want to tell our side of the story.” G-Razor, says NestCoast Entertainment is creating a new image and a bigger spotlight for the Paciﬁc Northwest’s Hip-Hop scene. “The NestCoast is rebuilding something that we felt wasn’t being recognized,” he

“We need people who [are] in gangs,” Muhammad says. “They had to go through it, so they have a good understanding of that situation, and the children don’t… I don’t believe that anybody knew that the Northwest had gangs. We want to tell our side of the story.” says. “I think we just needed the right to people to… step forward and be the voice of the Northwest.” He says he started running with gangs at 15, seduced by the bigger-than-life images of money and power. At the same time,

“Portland finally has three artists that take the whole weight of the whole town on their shoulders.” Muhammad sums it up, “This is the Nestside Story and we are claiming our own.” however, he was honing his Hip-Hop talents at neighborhood competitions called Po’ Hops, and amassing a following. He says it was only after he was shot that he realized what a futile, dangerous road he’s been traveling. “I wish that, when I was 15 or 16 years old, someone had come up to me in a wheelchair and told me that the gang life wasn’t so glamorous.” He says he got the needed encouragement to go on from a fan he met in the hospital. “While I was in the hospital, some guy came up to me and told me that no matter what happened, he wanted me to keep rapping,” he says. “I don’t even know who that guy was, but if I could meet him now I’d say thank you.” Te’Deezle says NestCoast Entertainment will strike a chord in Northwestern listeners, especially in Portland. “Our music influences our whole community,” he says. “I don’t think anyone expected the amount of talent that they’re getting from the NestCoast, or the amount of hustle… I think everyone is going to feed off that.” Te’ Deezle, Yng Stylez and G-Razor all believe that NestCoast Entertainment is a chance to tell their community about their lives, and take on the mantle of leadership. “Portland finally has three artists that take the whole weight of the whole town on their shoulders.” Muhammad sums it up, “This is the Nestside Story and we are claiming our own.” For more info on Nest Coast artist go to www.nestcoast.com or nestcoastmuzik@myspace.com

Tyrone Muhammad, CEO of NestCoast Entertainment, addresses the crowd at press conference.

“Just live your life so that you’ve given everything you’ve got and there’s no money left in the bank.”

Running Man

By Michael Munkvold

ichael Walton has an important name: he is one of USC’s star track runners, training to show off his talents at the 2008 Olympics. However bright a star he is, he says he is never too big to forget that life promises him opportunities beyond the track. While some athletes depend on their talent to get through life, he stayed in school, studying communications and learning new and exciting things. Education, he says, was one of the greatest enrichments of his life. He says he grew interested in subjects he had never thought would appeal to him, such as philosophy. He says that getting his education opened his eyes to a whole new world. Walton says he was not a very good student in early high school, but studied hard so he could run track; much to his own surprise, he grew to love learning for its own sake. “When I was in high school I wasn’t the greatest academically,” Walton says. “Track was my motivation to do well in school. Once I had to study to be in USC, I found I was learning things I needed to know.” In most major universities, only a small percentage of students in the athlete class graduate. Michael Walton proves himself a successful exception to the rule. 1. Find a connection to make a connection Walton volunteers with the group Speak Out to Reach Out to speak to underprivileged students. He says that, after his speeches, he is always struck by the response. “The kids I’m reaching, they can relate to me, what I’ve been through,” he says. “They went up to me later and said how much they appreciated it.” 2. Sacriﬁce pays off He says he is a better person today because he stuck with work he initially though was too hard. “Do the things you sometimes don’t want to do to bring about the result you want.” 3. Hard work gets results Talent gets you only so far, Walton says. Work takes you the rest of the way. “Maximize every bit of talent you have. You only live once, so enjoy it.” 4. Know what and who you’re working for. Walton says the support of his family and friends helped him through school, and showed him how to stand up for what he wanted. “Just cherish the people who mean the most to you. Show them that love every day.” 5. Put everything you have into everything you do “Just live your life so that you’ve given everything you’ve got and there’s no money left in the bank.”

Erika Martin Just Wants to Have Fun

No one could accuse model, actress, and fashion designer Erika Martin of being a downer.

he co-host of E! Entertainment’s new show, “Dress My Nest”, says she succeeds in her career and her life by keeping a positive attitude and remaining open to life, surprises and all. “Just go with the ﬂow,” she says. “It’s not the destination that matters.” Martin says she carries that carefree philosophy into her fashion career. She believes in keeping an open mind to everything life offers, and keeping an eye out for the unexpected in her designs.

“I don’t let other people bug me,” she says. “It causes wrinkles.” “My sense of style is deﬁnitely spontaneous,” she says. “I don’t take myself too seriously. The one thing that makes or breaks your outﬁt is your attitude.” Even though she doesn’t have much of it, Martin prizes free time – her favorite pastime is Kundalini yoga – and does not let other people interfere with her work or her life.

gave me so many emotions as a kid. I knew right there that I wanted to do plays.” However, growing up in a structured preacher’s kid household, John Ruffin’s father pressed business management ideology more than creative arts. So from a management perspective John learned to incorporate what he needed to be with what he wanted to be which today shows up as the CEO of John Ruffin Productions. His production company specializes in theater, predominantly gospel musicals, with themes surrounding forgiveness. “I always liked tear-jerkers that poked at the heart but made me laugh and cry at the same time. I was very influenced by The Color Purple and the way it made you feel and run to God for help. I always wanted to make people feel the same way.”

John Rufﬁn & Sherifat Savage rehearse a scene from his play “Woman to Woman”

Power Plays Chicago, or Shy-ca-go as Playwright John Rufﬁn pronounces it in his deep jet jaw drawl, is where the 14-year veteran of professional theater playwriting, producing and directing calls home.

he eldest of five and the son of a preacher man, Rufﬁn learned early on how to orchestrate a cast. “Growing up in my family was like growing up in comedy improve. We were always acting out and teasing each other about our worst features and dealing with that made you pretty creative.” Rufﬁn recalls gathering

his siblings together in the back yard and creating “stories” to act out. As a seventh grader, he remembers his first “Ah Ha” moment with what would become his destined career. His class took a ﬁeld trip to see the play, “The King and I” “I was laughing, cheering the actors on and I remember seeing how the audience loved it and that

Ruffin learned from his father’s business in the ministry to empathize with others at an early age and was astonishingly enough ordained into the ministry himself at the age of 17. “I saw a lot of things that happened in the church and that happened in the world. I learned that if you can keep hope in a situation you can make it through. I wanted to somehow help people try to find an answer for situations they were in. So in the head of John Ruffin that is what I thinking about all the time “ Ruffin is a licensed minister, but is more comfortable on the stage then behind a pulpit. A hugely spiritual presence Ruffin felt his calling was to deliver the message of forgiveness and God’s love in a more exciting way then he had seen in his church experiences.

Gary Jenkins of silk, Sherifat Savage and Monifah walk through their scene.

“Each play has its own business plan and then there is a plan over all. The challenge is that in this business the money comes in big lump sum so you have to learn how to make long-term plans on budgeting it and then be disciplined”

Quick to note the importance of Bible teaching, he feels that it is the past and there are stories that we go through in our experiences today that address the same principles of Christ’s love. These are the stories he writes about and these are the plays he produces.

It is not surprising for there to be an alter call experience at the close of one of Ruffin’s performance or even during it. At a recent production of his cause I was just ignorant to play “Woman to Woman.” Folsituations. The biggest was lowing a challenging road trip jumping out their so soon. to the Pacific Northwest, RufThe zeal that I had and eagerJohn Ruffin, Monifah, Angela Evans, Sharifat Savage and Gary Jenkins fin stumbled over a line but ness that I had to create this to the audience’s delight, busted out in to new album this summer. Comedian PK has dream and make this dream come to pass, a freestyle flow of a spiritual divinity also been a regular on Ruffin’s crew and a I jumped out there too soon with out getting the directly addressing the crowd. It prompted big crowd pleaser. Alaina “power pipes” education first. I Should have spoken to other laughing, cheering and several hallelu- Woods has also transitioned into consecu- playwrights, which I did but not persistently. jahs amen’s, before getting back on track. tive Ruffin plays. All will be in Ruffin’s current production Love the Hurt Away, I think I should have gone to Columbia ColOf course no man is an island, and Ruffin which he looks to tour in the fall of 2007. lege and gotten it from there. There were a is no exception. He admits he has been To date Ruffin has written, pro- thousand plays on Broadway and even if I lucky and from the beginning of his duced, directed and starred in al- would have picked up their model, I could career has always surrounded himself most all of his nine plays. But, he have saved myself a few headaches. I felt with exceptionally talented people, but the knows his creative passion always I had the raw talent, which is good, and it key to success takes more that talent. “God must be tied to sound business sense. will open the doors; the Bible says, “Your has blessed me. I always had great talent on gift will make room for it.” However, my side but talent without loyalty means “Each play has its own business plan and education will keep that door from slamabsolutely nothing. What I’ve learned to then there is a plan over all. The challenge ming in your face without any money.” develop is the loyalty and sincerity in is that in this business the money comes in people. There is a lot of talent out here but big lump sum so you have to learn how to Ruffin sums up his Formula for Success like it is the character of a person I have learned make long-term plans on budgeting it and this, “If this is something you want to do then to asses. Things we do require other people then be disciplined” educate yourself about it and then pursue it and for them to carry the same vision. I with everything you got. Making sure that am almost like Spike Lee, I keep using the Having become more seasoned Ruffin can you stay true to yourself, your family and same cast members all the time because look back at some of his professional grow- your friends and if you keep all those things there is that chemistry and that loyalty that ing pains and make some self-assessments. true then you won’t fall into any walls beas the owner of a company is necessary.” cause you got people watching your back.” Some of Ruffin’s powerhouse of talent “The biggest mistake professionally for To find out more about John Ruffin and his include gospel singer Angela Evans, who me was not educating myself in the thework go www.myspace.com/johnruffin or has sang back up for Shirly Caeser and ater field, as much as I should have. There CECE Winans and currently debuting her are many times I bumped my head be- for booking information call 708-785-PLAY. Gospel great Angela Evans & Bro Man Reginald Ballard on set.

Power pipes Alaina Woods & Xscape singer Tamika Scott talk Woman to Woman.

Singer comedian Rick Rush

FLOSSIN STANDS