MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY 2013
ARTS. CULTURE..... AND THEN SOME.
Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality.
WHAT THE FUNK’S INSIDE 5..................THE RUNDOWN 6.................. EDITOR’S NOTE 9.................. NELLY B’S CORNER 13................. FROM THE PLAZA 19................. THE POWER OF THE POUT 21................ ANOTHER VALENTINE’S DAY 25................. TOOLS OF TE TRADE W/ DAVENCE 29................. STEPPIN’ ON THE SCENE W/ NEVZ 31................ GUNS & VIOLENCE: DJ KAYEX’S HIP HOP COMMENTARY 37................. FTF BEAUTY OF THE MONTH
One Love, One Heart... Let’s get together and feel alright... 4
E EDITOR-IN-CHIEF C.E. LAWTON CONTENT EDITOR GENESE NICOLE CREATIVE DIRECTORS C.E. LAWTON & GENESE NICOLE COPY EDITOR C.E. LAWTON CONTRIBUTORS ROBBIN PLAZA, DAVENCE YOUNG, TSHENELLE BETHEL, GERALD GRANT, NEVZ TOWNSON, DJ KAYEX ONLINE CONTRIBUTORS ROBBIN PLAZA, DAVENCE YOUNG, TSHENELLE BETHEL, GERALD GRANT, NEVZ TOWNSON, DJ KAYEX ADVERTISING FUNKTHEFORMULA@GMAIL.COM FUNKTHEFORMULAMAG.COM It’s the commentary of your life ... but better. Art. Culture. And Then some.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
I want to give you some love ... I want to give you some good good lovin’. Nesta Robert “Bob” Marley
Love for ourselves. Love for our people. Love for all peoples. Love for life. Love for God. Love for a higher power. Love for that specific someone in your life that you can’t do without. Love is more than what one day out of the year can fathom ... Hell, it’s more than what any one individual can fathom, no matter how much they may peg themselves an expert or the like. One thing is for certain though... Love starts from within. Should it not, you can more than likely expect to be without. The idea that you can’t love anyon else if you can’t properly love yourself is a statement with such an immeasurable level of truth. So you can rock your “Love Is For Suckers” tee for the umpteenth year in rebellion all you want... go right ahead. But no matter to what magnitude Love has claimed your heart... Let it claim it, especially for yourself. Nesta Robert Marley taught the importance and power of love for ourselves and one another through his incredible, timeless music. And who better to celebrate throughout this issue than him, not only born in the month where love is celebrated, but black history and culture is celebrated as well. His words are applicable to the then and the now, and his influence of an immense stature. Show us what it is to love, Bob. Let us know that every little thing... Is gonna be alright. -C.E.
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Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around.
S ’ . B Y L L E R P.C.O.S N E N R CO How I found out ... & the journey since
“I just can’t give up now, I’ve come too far from where I’ve started from, nobody told me the road would be easy and I don’t believe He’s brought me this far to leave me”-Can’t give up now by Mary Mary November 2nd 2003. Two weeks after my 18th birthday actually (please don’t go calculating my age lol!!!). Its funny that I remember the date it all started, but then again I’m good with dates. It was a Saturday morning, and most of what I remember that morning was pain...brutal intense pain in my lower stomach. My cousin had come over with his little sister (who was about 1 or 2 at the time) and I remember her jumping and landing on me while in bed and having to fight back tears because the pain was so intense. Mom gave me a painkiller which helped but by the time we were getting ready to go to church that evening the pain resurfaced with a vengeance so my older brother and sister took me to the district medical facility. Doctor- Well it looks like you have a mild case of appendicitis... Me- What?? Doctor- Yup, we’re going to write you up a slip and have you sent down to San Fernando General Hospital for observation. Fast forward a few hours, and I’m at Gulf View Medical getting checked in for over night observation. Before this I’d never stayed in a hospital more than a few hours. I remember being scared..very scared and then the intense pain of having an IV inserted into my arm (do note-I have a crippling fear of needles). My night was an uneasy one, with one moment of peace when older sister came to check in on me and drop off an overnight bag. The following morning (Sunday November 3rd 2003), to my dismay I was being rolled in for surgery to get my appendix removed. After a messed up night of throwing up, dealing with the side effects of being cut open and stitched and the drowsy effects of the anaesthetic, I finally saw one of the doctors who oversaw my surgery. He explained that not only had they removed my appendix, but they discovered a growth (which I would later learn was a cyst) on my right ovary and did their best to remove as much of it as possible (The surgeon was considering removing my ovary completely but the OBGYN objected). After the surgery, things were fine. I finished high school and started my Bachelor’s degree at the local University. It was only until the middle of 2006 after the end of my first year at University that things started
to get out of hand with my menstrual cycle. I never did have a regular cycle as a teen now that I think back. It was okay, but ever so often there were sporadic moments, like I’d miss a month here or there, or just bleed heavily for a day and then it would stop, but even that didn’t prepare me for what would come next. I missed my period for about three months well (to the dismay of my parents who I’m guessing were thinking I was pregnant, little did they know I was still a virgin at the time lol). Eventually I made an appointment to see an OBGYN, who did ultrasounds and sent me to do a rectal scan (I’m not going to get into details on that one, all I will say is that it was literally a BUTT HURT!!!!!!). The diagnosis was confirmed. Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. I ended up with Depro Provera to bring my period and then Yasmine to regulate it. Words cannot describe the torment I underwent the first time my period came after taking the Depro Provera (Disclaimer-my experience does not always happen with this pill, it only happened with me any time I had to take it after not seeing my period for a few months, other times I took it and had no side effects). I missed half a month of work of work due to constant vomiting (I was on a vacation/summer internship) added to which the intensity of the cramps I experienced could be compared to contractions/labour pains. I bled HEAVILY...and in many cases experienced clotting (I won’t get too much into that...it tends to freak people out lol).
As if that weren’t enough, I had the doctor’s words looming over my head... “Understand that it will be difficult for you to conceive...and if you do, there is a good probability that you will miscarriage.” Continuous use of the prescribed birth control combined with out of control hormones caused a lot of changes in me, especially physically. I gained weight and I had a hard time accepting the body I ended up with (I touched on this in previous blogs). At times It affected me emotionally. I got depressed, not being able to cope with these changes.. having to deal with being bombarded by all the comments/insults from family and so called “friends” about me putting on weight (highly annoying and in some cases very hurtful, talk about a self esteem killer)..then the issue about having children...sighhh... I realised that in order for me to cope with everything that was going on, I had to understand what I was dealing with. I did a lot of research so that I could understand what was going on with me physically and emotionally. Adjusting to my new body literally included things like having to get resized for bras every year because I’d out grow the ones from before lol (I was a 34DD before surgery, and to date I am a 34H..they have been this size for a while but I’m praying to God they don’t get any bigger). Sometimes its good, I’m seeing my period ev-
ery 5 weeks (that is as normal as it gets when I’m not on the pill) and I don’t have any major mood swings; other times I’m in a hot mess folks sad to say, such as my episode last year where I bled for 26 days straight, added to which I was on an emotional train wreck. I’m having good days now!!! And since my cycle is coming regular enough, I’m not too fussed about taking the pill or going back on any medication any time soon. It took a long time to learn how to love myself again, but it was definitely worth it. I am however fussed about my health. Having PCOS means that I am at risk for diabetes which is a BIG NO NO. I remember once hearing a girl say that since she can’t lose the weight because of the PCOS she might as well eat whatever she wants. I totally disagree with this. PCOS should never be used as an excuse to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle. I watch what I eat, in all honesty I should be exercising more, but I am definitely more active than before. After my health, the next concern is what options I have when I’m ready to have children. I’ve done my research and I’ve seen fertility drugs options, surgical procedures and even herbal remedies. Being the spiritual person that I am, I know that if God has a child/children in my future, it will happen no matter what those doctors say. I’ve taken everything that has happened in stride and I will continue roll with the punches. It took time...a lot of time from me to be comfortable in my own skin again. I’ve grown to love me for me....especially since there is more of me to love lol!!!!! To be honest the only thing nowadays that bugs me somewhat is the extra weight around my mid section. But I guess there is shapewear for that lol!! As far as science shows, there is no cure for PCOS, so it’s something that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I’ve actually seen some women consider it a death sentence (honestly, that’s a bit extreme, PCOS won’t kill you), but nonetheless, I’m not letting my PCOS or its side effects stop me from doing me and living the life I want. Regards, Tshenelle aka Nelly B.
Love the life you live.
Live the life you love.
The
From Plaza W/ Robbin Plaza
Hey my Funky People!!! It’s ya girl Robbin here once again bringing you the latest word on health and beauty. I know that it’s that time of year again, and if you are like me, you made that New Year’s resolution to lose weight or get into better shape… right? And just like me you figured it out that making the resolution is one thing, KEEPING it… well, that’s an entirely different ball game. Well my fellow FUNKsters in the NYC area, I have brought you someone who has made it his life goal to help the ones like you not only MAKE, and KEEP that resolution… but to make it an overall life change. Ladies and Gentlemen… allow me to introduce to you Mr. Trooper Fitness himself… Prince Braithwaite! RP: It’s good to be talking with you sir, and it’s not like I’m surprised or anything, but I am curious as to what made you choose fitness as a career path? PB: I have been familiar with working out in a gym from a very young age as I was always into sports and my brother had me working out with him pretty early on. Of course my knowledge was limited, but it kept me inclined to want to learn more. As I grew as an individual I started to notice that there is even more satisfaction in helping others do things they struggle as opposed to only doing it for myself. I love helping people stay motivated and guiding them through a healthy life style. Trooper Fitness has become more than fitness of the body. It is also fitness of the mind. At Trooper Fitness it is our belief that a positive and strong mindset is the foundation for being successful in any realm. Troopers are not only strong on the outside, but even more importantly on the inside. RP: That’s a great way to think about it, a lot of people mainly think about the physical factor when it comes to fitness, not the mental. But while we are on the topic of the physical, name your favorite part of your body to work out. PB: Most of my training is usually very multi-joint oriented and involves more than one muscle group. I particularly enjoy explosive power exercises like box jumping or power cleans to name a few. But for isolation days, I guess I am pretty fond of the bench press too, and that would constitute as a chest exercise. RP: Oddly enough, I know some people who mirror your sentiments exactly. I’ve heard the names of those exercises before (laughs). But before you get into the actual act of working out, what would you say is your favorite pre- workout meal? PB: I wouldn’t recommend eating a full meal right before a workout. I prefer to have at least an hour between eating a meal and working out. I am a fan of nuts as a good energy source snack and because of their fat content (good fats), they keep you satisfied longer too. However, if I haven’t had a chance to eat in the last 2-3 hours and it’s time to workout I will grab a banana because it is a quick energy source and will not feel heavy in my stomach.
RP: Bananas eh? That makes sense, I’m writing this down by the way (I laugh). While we are on the subject of eating, and you know I had to ask this (laughs)… seeing as no one is perfect, what’s your number one “junk” food indulgence? PB: (laughs) Oh man… Well, I wouldn’t say I have sweet tooth, but I am a sucker for cheese which is an indulgence I do have sometimes against what I would consider my better judgment. But if you really want the dirt… RP: yes… we do (we both laugh)… PB: when I go on vacation and totally let go I tend to go for the same desert… molten chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. But I certainly maintain discipline when I am focused and not on cheat mode. I might have that 4 times a year if even that much. RP: Four times a year? Man I wish I had your discipline, that’s one of the main reasons why I’m in the mess that I’m in now (laughs). But for the ones that have more will power than I do, what advice would you give to the person that can’t seem to lose those last 10 lbs. to get to their fitness goal? PB: I would say, everyone’s situation is different. You have to assess what I like to call your areas of opportunity. Do you go out for drinks periodically? Do you do the same thing every time you go to the gym? Everyone’s area of opportunity is different. Ultimately, it is going to take a change that is a little uncomfortable from what you are used to. “Good change never comes with comfort.”
Think about what you probably wouldn’t want to do, and your results will lie somewhere in there. That’s why personal training tends to work for a lot of people. You will be doing a lot of things that you wouldn’t choose to do and will create more stimulus on your body… the type of stimulus that will induce change. RP: Hmmm… I can see that… doing the same thing over and over could get boring for the person doing it, resulting in giving up when they shouldn’t. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience, (we both laugh). However, there are people that can go the distance, and as far as the people you have trained in your career, which gender would you say is easier to train, men or women? PB: In my opinion, gender is not a factor at all. Personality types are more of a factor…., and trust me I have dealt with a lot of personalities. Some people are very competitive which is an easy button to push for motivation, and others are motivated by other things. So I deal with everyone as
individuals as I learn what motivates them, certainly not by gender. RP: Wow, I never thought about it that way. I’m not competitive, and there are far more days that I feel unmotivated than when I do… Are there ever days that YOU just don’t feel like working out? PB: Oh most definitely. It happens more often than one might think. RP: REALLY? (I have my eyebrow raised sky high) I wouldn’t have thought that, you always seem so switched on (he laughs) but I do understand that we are all human, so on those days, what do you do to motivate yourself to get your workout done? PB: Sometimes, I may find a colleague to join me, which helps a lot. But mostly I just start moving without thinking too much about it. Sometimes I’ll tweet it to feel accountable. I’ll tweet “#GOTIME at the gym” or something like that. I value my word, so that will always work with me. Let me assure you… that moment always sucks, but I always feel great after.
RP: Ahh… the good ol’ twitter motivation… (we both laugh), I could see your followers and clients keeping you accountable for your word too, better if you didn’t upset them I think, (laughs)… ok so now you are motivated to move, and you are starting up your workout…Cardio or Strength? Which one is your favorite? PB: I would have to say personally, I would be inclined to pick up some weights before I would feel the urge to just do cardio on a treadmill. But mostly I like to mix the 2 through what is called high intensity interval training (HIIT). It is strength training in a circuit or continuous routine that leaves minimal time for rest. This not only builds strength, and gets your heart rate up, but also increases your metabolism which will allow you to burn more calories even after the workout is finished. It is also exhilarating and stress relieving. I am big on cross training and mixing it up to shock the body. RP: Whoa, that sounds intense… I’m working a sweat just thinking about it (we both laugh), I’m gonna admit, this next point
is more for my personal knowledge than anything (he laughs) but, in your opinion, what is the number one mistake that most people make when they try to lose weight? PB: The number one mistake that I see people make is working out to lose weight and not adjusting their eating habits for weight loss. RP: That’s one of my BIG problems, I love to eat, and I barely like to work out… I can barely move for the next few days after a grueling workout (or even ones that aren’t so grueling) (we both laugh)What would you say is the best way to recover from post workout pain (extreme soreness)? PB: I say revel in the glory of what was obviously a challenging workout. Sore means you pushed your limit. That is how your body is going to change. But depending on the person, if the pain is unbearable, cold showers and pain relievers like Icy Hot may help. RP: GLORY??? (there goes my raised eye-
brow again) I will take your advice about that icy hot and a cold shower sir… (we both laugh). What would you say is one misconception that people have about fitness trainers? PB: Perhaps, that Personal Trainers are all the same. There are some people who have had a legitimately bad experience having tried out a personal trainer for the first time and are turned off from the idea. A personal trainer should be the right fit for you. Every trainer has something different to bring to the table, and I don’t mean the exercises necessarily. You know you have the right trainer when you feel motivated in their presence. If they are good at what they do they will be receptive and motivate you the way you are best motivated. RP: That makes a lot of sense now that you think about it, personal trainers are NOT one size fits all. They all have different techniques, different strengths and different stories… What is your favorite training success story? PB: I couldn’t narrow down to one, but I am especially proud of a few successes in getting couples ready for their weddings. I have found that couples that prepare for their weddings together get the most results. I have a few couples who trained with me and taken my small group training sessions to prepare for their wedding, and have gotten in fantastic shape. Love is the best motivation it seems (he laughs). RP: Awww, that’s so sweet… and makes perfect sense, those couples are each other’s motivation, not to mention the one day that you absolutely HAVE to be picture perfect… so tell me something Prince…What’s up next for Trooper Fitness? ™ PB: The next step is to put more into reaching, helping, and motivating people toward their fitness goals through our online community. I truly believe that our motivational style of fitness is something that should be shared everywhere. So look for YouTube videos and eventually programs that you can follow in your city. RP: Ok!!! I like the sound of that!!! And EVERYTHING is going viral these days, just make sure that you do something for us transplants in Dallas, TX ok? (he laughs). Now I’m afraid to say that we are at our end, sir… so do me a favor and sum up your career as a trainer in one word. PB: Fulfilling. I can definitely see that… This man is on the rise in the fitness community, I can’t wait to see what he and Trooper Fitness™ do next… -ROBBIN OUT!!!-
If there is anyone in the NYC area that needs to contact Prince Braithwaite or Trooper Fitness ™, all the info you need is below: Trooper Prince: (917)975-7588 Follow me: www.facebook.com/TrooperPrince Instagram/ Twitter: @TrooperPrince Trooper Fitness LLC “ALL WE KNOW IS GO” www.TrooperFitness.com
Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.
Ok ladies, so we all know what time of the year it is… Again. Yep, that’s right… Valentine’s day is fast approaching, and I know that you are going to want to put your best face forward if you are going out on a date with your significant other. OR like me, you will probably be treating Feb. 14th as singles awareness day, and be going out for drinks with the girls. Either way, I wanna make sure that those luscious lips, cute cupid’s bows and killer kissers stay pretty, so enjoy this awesome list of lip colors that I have picked out for all my lovely FUNKY foxes. Enjoy Ladies!!!
*Top 5 affordable drug store lip colors:
NYC (New York Color) in “Blue Rose” This is one of my absolute FAVORITE pink lipsticks. It has a rich color and formula that works well for many different undertones and skin tones, and it is priced at a whopping $1.99… that’s right, I said it… $1.99!!! At that price, you might just wanna buy the whole selection (and I wouldn’t blame you if you did)
Cover girl Outlast Lip Color in “Timeless Ruby” This is for the ladies who plan on locking lips alot with their love this Valentine’s day. This is super long lasting color that looks fresh throughout the day. It comes with a moisturizing balm topcoat that keeps it feeling comfortable. One word of advice though, let it dry COMPLETELY before adding the top coat, this will ensure the longest wear possible. At around $8.00 (depending on the retailer) this longwearing lip color is sure to give you a lot of bang for your buck.
Wet and Wild Megaslicks lip gloss in “Sinless” This is a pretty powder puff pink with a little bit of a frosty finish to it. I couldn’t wear it alone, but with a deeper toned berry colored liner, it went VERY well. However fairer skin tones might be able to wear alone and enjoy the lightweight feel of the formula. I found several shades to be flattering, and at the price of $1.99 (YES… AGAIN!!!), I couldn’t help but to take home a few…. ok, ok…. Almost the whole line (hangs head in shame).
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in “On Fire Red” This has to be one of the sexiest reds I’ve encountered in a very long time. It’s bold but never clownish, pair it with a SOFT smoky eye to really up the ante on your look. Its priced at a reasonable $7.49 at most drug store retailers.
Rimmel London moisture renew lipstick in “Rose Passion” This is one of my favorite lipstick formulas, very rich and creamy, it feels great on your lips. It also comes with an SPF of 18, which is really important for the health of your lips. It’s around $6.00 a tube, definitely a must see for the fundconscious fox.
NYX cosmetics Diamond Sparkle Lipstick in “Sparkling Orchid” Believe it or not ladies, purple hued lip colors are HUGE this season. This color and formula of lipstick is for the diva who isn’t afraid of a little shimmer in her life. The formula is smooth and shiny with a soft glossy finish, the only drawback is you may find yourself re-applying, but that’s ok… it’s not like you’ve never re-applied a lipstick before… lol. It’s around $5.50 a tube, so even if you do have to reapply, at least this lipstick didn’t cost you and arm and a leg.
Sinful Colors lip Gloss in “Golden Red” I couldn’t tell you how excited I was when I heard that my favorite nail lacquer brand had come out with a new line of lip glosses. I was even more excited when I saw the color selection. The one color I ABSOLUTELY had to have was this one, and YES… I said one… I showed A LOT of restraint that day, lol. This formula isn’t as lightweight as I like, but it came with a GREAT color payoff, I didn’t even have to wear it with a liner, or reapply too often. Ladies take my word on this one, if you MUST have a high impact color gloss in your makeup bag but don’t wanna pay for one of those pricey brands, THIS is your gloss. It was $1.99 at Walgreens (I KNOW RIGHT?) I exercised restraint the day of my initial purchase, but please believe… I will be going back.
Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede lipstick in “Muse” Ladies! This one is HOT off the presses. SO brand new I barely got a good color selection to choose from. BUT I managed to snag one of the hottest shades in the collection. This beautiful blue toned magenta goes with almost EVERY skin tone, and I could go on all day about the soft matte formula. It’s not every day you find a longwearing lipstick that doesn’t dry out and torture your lips, and this one… doesn’t. It wore really well and was comfortable until I took it off, even though this shade isn’t for the shy of face, I would recommend it to the woman who is looking for a change and wants to spice up her makeup repertoire. So far this season, it’s one of my fav lip colors. At around $8.50 At Target, it’s one of my pricier choices, but WELL worth it ladies.
Black Radiance Illusions lip gloss in “Diva Deluxe” This raisin colored gloss is perfect for topping a brighter colored red that you might want to tone down. It also goes pretty well by itself. It’s a high shine formula that is lightweight and moisturizing. The shimmer particles reflect light to make your pout look extra full and sexy. They run for about 2.99 a piece at most drug stores, so this is another fab find for the diva on a dime.
Black Opal Patent Lips Liquid Lipstick in “Violine” I thought I would switch things up a bit by bringing in a deeper tone for the more dramatic diva. This bold plum color is one for the record books. I LOVED the feel of this lip color, is wore well without being overly sticky, and the color payoff was beautiful with or without liner underneath. At around $7.00, this one wasn’t too bad of a buy. It’s still one of my go to colors when I want to vamp it up a bit.
Well, there you have it ladies. A bevy of beautiful lip colors that will help you perfect your pout this Valentine’s day. Happy shopping!!!! P.S.- Don’t blame me for how much he wants to kiss those sexy lips. Enjoy your Valentine’s night!!!
by Gerald Grant
Valentine’s day ... You selfish sonofabitch you … Every year, every damn year you compel me to act extra saccharine sweet for someone I mildly like and bestow upon them gifts they haven’t earned nor deserve. The balloons …. The roses …. The candies … The bears … UUGH, just go somewhere, damn! Why you gotta force love onto me? More importantly, why do you force love onto others? Do you know half these hoes out here only act right just to get the gifts, and then they back to their treacherous and deceitful ways? I abhor you Valentine’s Day. Never once have you given me a single ounce of pleasure. Never once have you displayed a nugget of kindness. Never once have you given a sliver of hope that my valentine will someday, someway show their face and reveal their love. I get stuck with these lame ass, wack ninjas that’s only after themselves. I gotta knock myself trying to prove to you that either I like you, love you or am still in love with you. Like you can’t take the hint from all the other shit I’ve done that led up to today that I care about you … Why must I lay out all my cards on this particular day? That text message you got a few days back of me thinking of you … Or those random flowers during our last night out … You eating my last bite off my plate – dammit, those are signs that I like you/love you, geez! And what do I get in return after all my sweat equity, quite possibly my home equity account, and thought process goes into plotting and planning this day? Some arbitrary sex? … Oh no ma’am … I did not knock myself out for that … Come correct. Valentine’s Day … You have consistently failed me. From the first valentine I gave away only for it to be given to another right in front of me … To that time where I got my ears pierced and subsequently had to have surgery because it went awry … Ooo, remember that car I bought and was subsequently repo’d in my vain attempt at retaining a fleeting love? I’m tired of trying to be everything to everyone, Valentine. Damn, why must I get the left overs? Isn’t there someone freshly baked and seasoned just right – just for me? Is that too much to ask? In this day of Match.com, christiansingles.com, ashleymadison…even adam4adam or grindr…there has got to, got to, GOT TO be someone out there. Maybe I’m being too hard on you, Valentine, you know. I’m going to try to see the good in those failed encounters; ‘cause at the end of the day, I’m the common denominator in every failed attempt at trying to secure my true love. Maybe … I’m not smart enough … or thin enough … Or have enough money … There’s got to be some defect in me, right? I mean what other explanation can there be for my Valentine’s Days to always end in despair? Maybe I’m too needy, or too clingy … Overbearing? Something has to resonate as to why this always happens. Nahhhhh …. It’s these hoes I keep around me. I gotta get a better crop. So the hell with you Valentine’s Day. I’m gonna sit this one out this time. I’m not trickin no more money on someone that can’t love me for me. So if I find someone before your wicked holiday, I’m straight telling them I’m not getting them anything – see if they’ll stick around. If they can withstand not getting anything, then maybe I’ll keep them around. (Valentine’s Day arrives) Balloons – check, Flowers – check, Candy – check…. (deep sigh) Damn you Valentine’s Day – you got me again.
If she’s amazing, she won’t be easy. If she’s easy, s won’t give up. If you give up, you’re not worthy. T you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.
she won’t be amazing. If she’s worth it, you Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you;
Hello fellow cosplay engineers, I have been asked a lot about the tools and materials I use and why I use them so I decided to do an article about them letting everyone some of my insights into it. There are a multitude of tools and materials I use when I create a piece of armor/prop or weapon for a client. But the tools that I use all the time are rotary tools, Sharp exacto knives, bunch of stick pins, wood burning tools, belt sander, block sanders, ruler of all shapes and sizes, Sharpie markers, non-sulfur created modeling clays, hand held power drill, high temp hot glue gun and my trustee dual action gravity feed Iwata airbrush. As far as materials go, I have been working with Eva foam, L200 foam, smoothcast, wonderflex, translucent wonderflex, fosshape, foam coat, styrene plastics, Duplicolor sealer/primer and their filler primer. Various fabric and faux furs, Heat Gun, Chicago Screws, LED’s, magnets, liquid latex, airbrush paints, a host of gloss sealers, enamel and acrylic based paints. And the list grows every month. I know that probably sounds like a crazy list of tools and materials to be working with, but I will explain about each of them. First, before I can determine what tools or materials from the list I mentioned above I have to see that actual reference art. Once I have seen it from as many angles as humanly possible, I can start assembling my tools for the task. I will use the Robomech project I am currently working on called Gurren Lagann as an example. This is a huge suit and very challenging, just what I like to sink my teeth into. Given the sheer size of this suit I had to think about 2 major things, overall weight and durability of the costume. I wanted something lightweight as to not over encumber my client that will be wearing this but I also want it to be able to take a beating. So the best choice given the tools and materials I work with was to go with a combo of L200, and Eva foam. Eva foam are the thick gym mats you normally see at the gym with weights and/ or workout equipment resting on top. You can get these in varying thicknesses, I normally work with 1/2 inch thickness for armor, it gives me just the right amount of “sturdy� while also being easy to work with and to bend/cut into shape.
L200 is the brand used by the pro studios that work in the movie industry; it functions extremely similar to Eva foam, and they work great together. The biggest difference is the L200 comes in huge sheets and is also untextured whereas Eva foam comes with one side textured normally. Also L200 is a bit easier to bend then Eva foam as it is not as dense. You can also order L200 foam in varying thicknesses. So I have figured out my base material I will be working with, which automatically I will be using my high temp hot glue gun to bond together all the pieces I will be cutting and shaping with my heat gun. The reason why I use a high temp heat gun and not a low temp one is that it produces a stronger bond to the foam, also it takes a much higher temperature to break that bond than low temp glue. Make sure you also use multi-temperature glue sticks to go into your high temp glue gun. Now I also need tools to cut the foam with, for that I will use sharp exacto knives and my wood burner tool with an exacto knife tip. On all the big long easy cuts I use the exacto knife. On all the small very detailed cuts I use the wood burner tools with the exacto knife tip, it really helps keeping those cuts smooth and not jagged. Of course I use rulers and make patterns to ensure everything that is supposed to be symmetrical, is. I then transfer those patterns to the foam via sharpies (be prepared to go through a lot of sharpies as the foam just soaks up the ink).
Once the patterns have been cut, I then grab my trusty dremel rotary tool and quickly sand down any areas that need it. Once that is done, I then get my heat gun and heat up the foam for about 10 -20 seconds then start bending the pieces that need to be painted. Once that is done time to glue the pieces for that section together. After that is done I go to my belt sander for the big areas or grab my dremel rotary tool for the small sections and blend the glued edges together. Having the option of both a belt sander and my dremel rotary tool is so important when doing armors or weapons or even props; if you have to smooth out a large area, a small rotary tool just will not cut it, you will need a large area sander to get it right. Now for small detail areas you will never go wrong using a hand held rotary tool. Once that is done and I have that particular section of the armor done I will coat it with a sealer/ primer, or a filler/primer depending on the type of painting base needed. After a few coats of this, I grab some sand paper or my fine sanding block and, once again, sand it down till it is smooth if I am going for a smooth finish. I then coat it with Smoothcast which is a liquid plastic polymer. This is a great alternative to regular resins as they require a large open space like a garage to deal with the fumes they produce. Smoothcast is nowhere near as fumey, plus it also dries in minutes compared to the hours it takes regular resins to dry.
Gurren Lagann Reference Art
As far as similarities they both destroy brushes so you get one use out of your brush per application of the stuff, but I love the fact that it can be used indoors. That is a huge selling point for me. Just make sure you use a big drop cloth and wear old clothes because whatever that smoothcast falls onto is marked for life, haha. I then start the actual paint process. I lay down base coats with a spray can (at least 3 coats). Then once that has dried fully, I go back with my dual action gravity feed airbrush for detailing (if you do not have one definitely invest in one). One thing to note, if I have an enamel base, I stick with enamel airbrush paints for all the detail work. If I have an acrylic base then I stick with acrylic airbrush paints. I have found unwanted effects pop up when you mix the two. After the painting is done the way I like it and I have used either a matte or gloss finish as a paint sealer, I can then reinstall my lighting if that particular section of the armor required it. I also used some translucent wonderflex to cover the eyes of the gauntlet portion of the armor, and then used stained glass paint over it to give the eyes a yellow glow. When it comes to lighting I use what is best for that particular area; it can be as simple as a flashlight, to the more complex wiring of LED’s. Fabric and faux furs are pretty self-explanatory, if the commission calls for it, use them, if you cannot sew, there are still ways you can work with it attaching it to armor. Velcro is one option, a liquid glue made for fabrics called fabric tac is another good option to adhere it to the armor bits of your commission. If you’re not sure, always use a scrap piece and experiment! Well I think I have talked you folks’ ears off enough for this article, but I hope it was informative to you good folks, and hope it helps you out in your own cosplay projects!
This is Nevz, Here with your daily dose on real lyricism vs. horrible rap. Once again I had to breakdown weak punch lines and metaphors. This month’s issue is going to be the one and only Lil’ Wayne. Ooh yes, I had to take this one there since he had the nerve to say “I’m the best rapper alive.” …. Whoa ….Whoa….whoa….. Hold on for a very long second Lil’ Wayne. We don’t know who gave you the impression to be labeling yourself as the greatest rapper alive, so we will have to check your lyrics to see if you can even pass the lyrical bar exam … ‘Cause personally, WE DON’T BELIEVE YOU. You can’t just say you are and then make yourself friends with all the other artists so you won’t be tested by the lyricists in the business. That statement will not go on record without being tested, so I’m calling your bluff. Let’s see if you stand to the attention you’re trying to look for. Let’s get a little more personal; we know you don’t write most of your lyrics (at least me myself and people that are actually smart enough to check lyrics throughout songs). Your lyrics are horrible so that must say a lot about your ghost writer. So we can be a lot more realistic that your career is not based on songs that touch people because they don’t. Let’s break it down a little more, shall we: you jumped on the band wagon of other peoples songs to get some attention in the beginning. We call those people “band wagon rappers,” “leach.” Let’s break you down a whole lot more. Let’s see besides what I have just mentioned. Since you were pushed in a corner where hip-hop fans questioned your lyrics, you ran to rock music to get appeal then start wearing skinny jeans with rock belts. Then make it seem as if it’s cool to wear skinny girl jeans with the youth, utilizing the last bit of marketing you have left to influence this onto children that may not have any guidance at all and looking for something to follow. We all know that music is predominantly marketed to teenagers and children. I guess it’s all up to me to set the real insight on the realistic facts and not to let more people be clouded by the fake truth that’s shrouded in controversy.
Lil’ Wayne - (6 Foot 7 Foot) I beat the beat up, call it self-defense Swear man, I be seeing through these niggas like sequins Niggas think they He-Man, pow, pow, the end Talking to myself because I am my own consultant Married to the money, fuck the world, that’s adultery You full of shit, you close your mouth and let yo ass talk Young Money eating, all you haters do is add salt Stop playing, bitch, I got this game on deadbolt Mind so sharp, I fuck around and cut my head off Real nigga all day and tomorrow But these muthafuckas talking crazy like they jaw broke Glass half empty, half full, I’ll spill ya Try me and run into a wall, outfielder You know I’ma ball ‘til they turn off the field lights The fruits of my labor I enjoy ‘em while they still ripe Bitch, stop playing, I do it like a king do If these niggas animals then I’ma have a mink soon Tell ‘em bitches I say put my name on the wall I speak the truth but I guess that’s a foreign language to y’all And I call it like I see it and my glasses on But most of y’all don’t get the picture ‘less the flash is on Satisfied with nothing You don’t know the half of it
I have one question what part of your lyrics make any sense as far as a punchline I must have missed something ….lol
Jadakiss - “ Fuck You”( The Lox) Yo, everybody’s a snake That’s why I try to keep the grass cut So I can see ‘em when they coming Then I heat they ass up Cuz’ them niggas that you went to school with Will catch you while you in your new whip And turn your brains into Cool Whip Niggas that you running round getting ass with Ain’t gon’ help you do nothing but carry your casket Got the nerve to ask Kiss why I smoke so much And how I’m such a young nigga that seem to know so much While you was running round pumping for niggas I was listening And you still pumping for niggas I’m coming through visiting You heard, L-O-X came through in a yellow Lex And hop out with the Air Force One’s with yellow checks And you liable to see me Dolo, icing the Rolo Burner under the Polo, alot of y’all is homos Funny style niggas never down with me Type that go to the bathroom, sit down and pee I’ll empty your house, back of your cribs, smacking your kids Bullets going through your leather, cracking your ribs Don’t even hit me on my hip if I ain’t give you a call And I ain’t got a home phone number, I live on the road Now I’m getting bigger checks, conference calls with bigger ‘xecs Bigger bracelets with bigger begets, Fuck y’all
“I keep stepping with a nine on my waistline Got 16 shots and I don’t waste mine Never fess ‘cause I’m dressed with a bulletproof vest Try to test; I leave a bloody-ass mess Driving a Saab that connects with the mob Bank job, plenty of niggas I robbed Bloodstains are on my Belly’s A sucker got rowdy, so I shot him in an alley Pumped his face full of dum-dums Then left him for the cats the rats and the bums Yo, a lot of suckers hate me with a passion’ Cause they know I can catch them one night and I ain’t flashing” Kool G Rap
I loved that song and many others to follow. Kool G Rap (G was for Genius) spoke so much about guns, sex and violence. I learned more about firearms from his songs alone than ever before. N.W.A. the group that actually spawned the term Gangster Rap, brought their hood to life and exposed the Bloods and Crips gangs to the masses. A gang culture that was all too familiar to gun violence. Drive by shootings on the west coast would be almost a daily operation. Many other groups followed suit, talking about how many guns they have and how many people they shot. Ice T made a song called Cop Killer that got a rise out of the public. For almost 20 years Hip Hop has incorporated gun violence into its songs. Many public figures opposed the sales of these songs and artist making a living. Reverend Calvin Butts comes to mind as one who opposed some rap music. This fool (yeah I said fool) actually steamrolled a pile of rap cd’s in 1994 because of actual derogatory content. A culture caught on from this trend, for some reason it happens with all generations. Hip Hop however in my eyes seems so much more influential on the youth than any other genre of music. It wasn’t only music, it was a culture of slang words, fashion and dance as well.
Hip Hop at this point eroded from partying and having a good time and dance offs to some clown holding a concealed weapon just in case somebody wanted to test him. I recall being at a house party on a New Years Eve in 1987 (yeah I’m up there in age). My best friend’s Goose Down Bomber jacket was stolen from the coat room (bedroom). A big argument broke out between my friend and the person he accused that elevated to a fight in the street and my friend getting stabbed. I was there to prevent him from getting stabbed a second time. Fortunately my friend recovered from the stabbing and is alive and well today. I couldn’t hold Hip Hop responsible for the turn of events that evening because it was a bunch of teenagers and underage drinking that may played a major part. My friends and I didn’t carry guns or knives, we just “shot the five” in those days. We speak about how young and restless we were in the old days, but outside of that one incident nobody ever got seriously hurt. I remember how acquiring a gun was so easy to do many moons ago in the Bronx. I had my order in to get a Glock 17, but for some reason there was a delay on my order. When I look back at the time years ago, I was glad that there was a delay. I recall my dad always would tell me that “A real man only fights with these” as he held up both clenched fist. He never made mention of guns to me in my life. My dad was a Vietnam Veteran, a boxer in the Army and a tough as nails dude that survived a miserable war that he enlisted to fight in. Who the f*ck enlist to fight in a war across seas at the age of 19? But I digress, I canceled my order on my Glock 17, just felt that I didn’t need a gun to be a tough guy. Besides that what if my pops found out that I had a gun? That sh*t wasn’t saving me from him, this dude survived war…. lol. What has changed since I was a kid and today? I can’t say much has as we see incidents like Columbine High School, Virginia Tech and the most recent tragedy in Sandy Hook Elementary School. Who or what is responsible for these tragedies? Who do you point the finger at when someone is shot in the hood? Is it the
GUNS&VIOLENCE
I want to focus on the gun violence aspect of Hip Hop in this piece. I constantly ask the question; does art imitate life or does life imitate art? I never knew drug dealers to have rap careers and confess their crimes on a hot 16 bars in the booth. I figured it was the other way around, some idiot heard some song about somebody showing people he’s not the one to play with because he’s packing heat.
Hip Hop Commentary by DJ KayeX
I’ve seen it evolve constantly over the years and it’s impossible to predict it’s next evolutionary stage.
latest Call of Duty game? Is Hip Hop to blame because of all the gunplay talk? Do we blame the movies and television? I always put the blame on the lack of guidance. As a kid I must have watched every Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis film that was filled with violence. I have listened to plenty of gun talk in Hip Hop for years. Not once did I think I needed to be a tough guy ghetto Rambo mowing down people with total disregard for life. I grew up with respect and values instilled in me by my parents. It seems like kids today don’t even have the same level respect for life. You can watch almost any reality show and there is a fight the ensues after an argument. I’m now a parent and my children enjoy the First Person Shooter games as many kids do these days. I constantly give them the speech before I even allow them to play certain games. When I quiz them about the games, they recite the lines while rolling their eyes at me ”I know dad, these are just games and not reality, never play with guns they are not safe and are not toys, life is precious”. I think back to my youth and remember my Dad saying to me “son you’re gonna be all right in life”. I asked him what did he mean by that and he replied “because you don’t follow what people are doing, you make up your own mind for yourself”. I know now that my biggest influences in my life are my parents, not Hip Hop, not movies or television, my parents. When children don’t have proper guidance and structure in their lives, sometimes they can easily be influenced by nonsense. It is paramount that we continue to educate our youth about what is entertainment and what is reality. No form of entertainment should ever have more influence on our youth than we do as a productive society.
We should really love each other in peace and harmony, instead we’re fussin’ n fighting like we ain’t supposed to be.
ARTIST: WD
Street Art Save My Life Facebook.com/streetartsavemylife
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ndz u o S e armone
hef del | C o M | Singer
http://www.baangandburne.com/
FunktheFormula, Inc. 2012