Heed Magazine Spring 2012 Issue by Heed Magazine

COVER SUBJECT - LAZ ALONSO PHOTOGRAPHY- JORDAN HALL STYLISTS - UGO MOZIE & DAVER CAMPBELL RETOUCHERS - AARON FORD & JOSEPH MARINO

Contributing Photographers Jordan Hall Aaron Ford (Retoucher) Joseph Marino (Retoucher) Paolo Prisco Roderick Hawthorne Jong Clemente Jessica Cheung (BTS shots) Saoul Vanderpool Founder / Publisher Frederick “Chef Mookie” Hicks Co-Founder / Food Editor

Contributing GLAM Ugo Mozie Daver Campbell Adetoye Adedipe Jordana David

Rayner Wharton Jr. Co-Founder / Fitness Editor

Heeders

Crystal Wimberly Managing Editor Jordan Hall Photographer / Writer Jennifer Pearre Art Director Hakim Pitts Writer Ken Fujimatsu Webmaster

Contributing Writers Antoinette R. Banks Mike Sanford Jade Perry Benjamin J. Brown Imade Nibokun Thaiia Reynolds Lisa George Nike Ma Cara Noel Nikki Warsop Kenneth Burns Danny Hill Lorraine LaPrade Apprentice & Contributing Writer

Christopher Wharton Multimedia Technician Andre Lewis Audio Technician

Interns Robert K. Jones Shaquan McMillan

HEED MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY & PRINTED IN THE USA. DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION: 1 YEAR (4 ISSUES) US $9.99 VIA ZINIO.COM PRINT SUBSCRIPTION: AVAILABLE FOR SINGLE COPIY PURCHASE ON BARNES & NOBLE NEWSSTAND $5.99 / OR VIA MAGCLOUD.COM / PRICE VARIES. YEAR BUNDLE PRINT & DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION: $24.95 HEED: VOICE OF AN EMERGING SUBCULTURE (ONLINE). HEED (PRINT)

ISSN# 2158-3781 ISSN# 2158-3773

© 2012 HEED MAGAZINE INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE WRITTEN AND VISUAL CONTENTS OF HEED MAGAZINE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. EXCEPTING TRANSLATIONS, YOU MAY NOT REPRODUCE OUR ARTICLES ONLINE OR IN PRINT WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING WRITTEN PERMISSION. PLEASE CONTACT THE AUTHOR TO OBTAIN HIS OR HER WRITTEN CONSENT. ONCE YOU RECEIVE PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR, CONTACT US AT INFO@HEEDMAG.COM TO LET US KNOW WHERE AND WHEN THE ARTICLE WILL BE REPRINTED. HEED ARTICLES CANNOT BE REPRINTED WITHOUT OBTAINING AUTHOR PERMISSION AND NOTIFYING THE MAGAZINE.

CONTENTS ARTS POET’S CORNER AMILLION MAYFIELD

11 12

CULTURE IN THE SPIRIT: CREATING THE HILL: MAJORITY GOOD EATS: PACIFICO GAME ON: ONLIVE FASHION: MULTIPLICITY

FEATURES FROM BROADWAY TO B-BOY:

LAZ ALONSO 42

DIDDY’S TEAM PLAYER GOES SOLO:

DAWN RICHARD 60

21 34 51 57 70

REALMUSIC DESIREE JORDAN FRED HAMMOND TIFFANY EVANS LUKE JAMES K’JON RUBEN STUDDARD DRUMMA BOY TANYA BLOUNT SOS ABIMARO

10 16 22 27 32 36 38 52 66 68

PHOTO BY © JESSICA CHEUNG

COVER

LAZ ALONSO, ACTOR

Conceived in the midst of a recession, pushed through the digital distribution canals of Zinio and Magcloud, finally delivered to you in print form via Barnes & Noble newsstands nationwide. This is my baby and godchild to a staff of today’s leaders, trendsetters and game-changers who have persevered to bring to surface the voice of an emerging subculture. An abundance of time, nursing and persistence has brought this matte finished issue into the palms of your hands. We only hope that you will experience the beauty, substance and enlightened perspective our team sought out to create at Heed’s conception. Lastly, but indubitably not least, we offer thanks to God, creator of all things good. What a present you have bestowed on the marred face of pop-culture. Happy Birthday Heed! Share It • Live It • Heed It

Saoul Vanderpool Founder/Publisher

Friends with benefits If you Like us you can Follow the revolution of the emerging subculture and be eligible to win FREE stuff like concert tickets, giveaways + MORE.

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Reknown singer/ songwriter, Marsha Ambrosius reinvents her career, Hill harps on the importance of maintaining good health, Krista has a voice that you have to hear in order to believe, Barbara & Kenny hold tight to their house music thrones, Heed occupys America, Darrin Henson talks new book and charitable work, B.Reith serves up a dish of his unique brand of musical artistry, International popstar Lira paves wave to success in the US + Much More. ORDER YOUR BACKCOPY OF HEEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WINTER ISSUE @ WWW.MAGCLOUD.COM

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Cliff notes

WHAT YOU MISSED AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2012 ISSUE OF HEED MAGAZINE

FOR THE SLACKERS

INTRODUCING THAIIA REYNOLDS

DESIREE JORDAN

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inger, Songwriter, Pianist, Model, Actress and Entrepreneur, Desiree Jordan is a woman leaving her imprint across ears, eyes, hearts and minds. The Washington D.C. native caused a beautiful stir when Singersroom.com caught wind of the soulful breeze performing “You and Me”. Selfdescribed “alternative soul”, Desiree breathes an effervescent positivity into all she creates. As the Founder and CEO of her own entertainment company DeseJo Entertainment, Desiree leads the development and promoting of artists, most notable Anthony Que (formerly of Day26). Earlier this month I had the opportunity to speak with Desiree who is currently completing her debut album. Heed: Who is Desiree Jordan and why should we be listening to you? I am an alternative soul singer/songwriter. I am a pianist, producer, and model. Everything! [Laughs] I am on a crusade to “keep good music alive”. It’s like a motto. Whenever I start promoting on Facebook or Twitter, I encourage people to keep good music alive. Heed: “You and Me” is simply beautiful. In about 2 ½ minutes you touched on so many emotions. What is the inspiration behind the song? Well, it’s very much love based. It’s very emotional for me. I wrote it a little while back and it’s applicable to a person or a pet; it’s just about love, reaching out and connecting to something only you and that person can share. It was important for me to release this single so people could be reminded of something they haven’t felt in music in a while. Heed: You are a self-described “alternative soul”

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singer/pianist. What made you define yourself this way? In the D.C. area, a lot of performers and singers are R&B soul or neo soul. I wanted to be “alternative soul” because people are expecting a certain voice, a certain sound. I know the soul is there, but the sound of my voice is different. I would compare it to Corrine Rae Bailey, Amel Larrieux, or Sade. The types of voices they have are comparable to mine. They are not powerhouse singers or belters like a Jennifer Hudson or even Jill Scott -- she has a soulful voice.

I really count my spirituality and relationship with God as the most important thing in my life.

Heed: What brings a smile upon your face and reminds you of your purpose in life? How do you remain inspired? I really count my spirituality and relationship with God as the most important thing in my life. It’s imperative to live and to make sure I’m on one accord. I’m inspired from listening to music and daily keeping myself in check thinking about all my situations, and reminding myself that it happens for a reason. I’m inspired by being able to translate my experiences into song. I count that as a blessing. It’s a gift that God has given me and I remain inspired because I feel compelled to share it. Heed: What is next for Desiree? You can expect an album/EP in the spring; more music…yea! I am working with Q, formerly of Day 26, as his music director and artist development. Going backwards in order to go forward… while working with Q, “Quarter Her” got 800,000 downloads in winter 2010. He released on Singersroom and received 130,000 views, which is great for his new single.

Heed: Your performance energy puts me in the spirit of Amel Larrieux…have you heard that before? What music artists past or present do you relate to the most and have an impact on you as an artist?

Heed: Let one word generate a response: ‘gospel music, ‘love’, ‘family’, ‘soul’, ‘freedom’, ‘Desiree’s music’, ‘shoes’, ‘smile’

Yes, I have. I have always enjoyed her music but never looked at her as an influence. I noticed from my own performances that they are chilled, soulful and reminiscent of her. Past artists I love are Donnie Hathaway, Roberta Flack. They both play the piano and are two of my favorites. Oh, Stevie Wonder and Prince are up there too. My parents listened to jazz and old school R&B while growing up. I love Rochelle Farrell, Jill Scott, R&B, classical...pretty much everything. In my iPod, there is classical to Beyoncé to electronic music. Music for me is more about whatever feeling I get from it. That’s what inspires me!

Love- Everywhere

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Gospel music- Positive

Family- Important Soul- Internal Freedom- Amazing Desiree’s music- Fresh air Shoes- Fierce Smile- Love

Mama I wanna write, shoot, design forheed IF YOU HAVE THE EDITORIAL APITITUDE OR DESIGN CHOPS TO CAPTURE OUR AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION AND DELIVER QUALITY CONTENT TO THE MASSES; SEND US SAMPLES ALREADY!!! RECRUITMENT@HEEDMAG.COM

Contri buters

A FEW OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT MAKE EACH ISSUE HEEDERIFIC

Jong El Clemente - PHOTOGRAPHER Brand Specialist imported from Manila, Philippines, Legal Management Major, I.T. Minor and Graph Comm Master...go figure

Nikki Warsop-Lindo - WRITER Ever so eloquent in speech and prose, loves conventional and unconventional beauty. B&B mogul in the making.

Daniel Hill - WRITER Songwriter, producer, engineer and frontman for rock group, Yellowtieguy. Owner of indie record label Alchemical Records.

Jennifer Pearre - ART DIRECTOR Over 15 years in the industry of “all things creative”. She can design, paint, bake, white-water raft & she does it all well.

Cara Noel - FOOD CRITIC She believes in manicures, overdressing and primping at leisure. Her advice to the world, “Laughing is the best calorie burner”.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

KNOWING GOD’S VOICE BY BISHOP KENNETH C. ULMER REVIEW BY NIKE MA As soon as one says, “God told me…,” eyes roll and labels of “zealot” or “insane” are tossed about. But how does one differentiate between the voice of God and voices in his head? Does God really talk to people in today’s high tech world? Dr. Kenneth Ulmer’s book, Knowing God’s Voice: Learn How to Hear God Above the Chaos of Life, sets out show the reader how to know, without a doubt, when God is speaking to you.

HHHHI Dr. Ulmer, Pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California, pulls examples directly from the scripture, showing how developing a relationship with God is key to knowing His voice. He points out, “What God really wants from us, though, is a relationship with us where we speak with Him and listen to Him.” Dr. Ulmer begins with the example of the first time God called Samuel (1 Sam 3:7 −10). Samuel did not know the voice of God. He mistook God’s voice as that of his teacher Eli. When Eli realized his student was hearing the voice of God, he told him how to respond to the voice. Samuel followed his instructions, and received instructions from God. In this scriptural example, he points out that Samuel did not recognize God’s voice at first, but by the end of that particular scripture, it is revealed that Samuel had a well established connection with God. Dr. Ulmer also uses personal examples to support moments in his life when he, as a minister, could not hear the voice of God in situations where he needed answers, like when his daughter passed away. He points out that the spiritual walk with God is not always a journey with smooth roads and clear skies. There will be times when you hit major storms and you will have to have faith that even if you don’t hear the voice of God, when you are in relationship with Him, you are never alone.

“What God really wants from us...is a relationship with us where we speak with Him and listen to Him.”

Throughout the book, Dr. Ulmer examines the relationship with God layer by layer, explaining the key scriptures regarding hearing God’s voice and building a relationship with Him by providing historical context and definitions of key words in the scriptures. He makes it all relevant to the present-day Christian by using personal and other real-life examples. Knowing God’s Voice is not a “light” read. At times it becomes quite repetitive as Dr. Ulmer revisits certain scriptures in an attempt to dig deeper into certain passages. However, Dr. Ulmer does a good job of pulling together all aspects of the spiritual journey without losing focus of one of the most commonly asked questions of Christians and other spiritually minded people: How will I know when God is speaking to me? This book would make a great in-depth bible study tool for individual or group study.

AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL RETAILERS & WWW.AMAZON.COM

Poet’s Corner “FOUND PRINCESS”

BY HOWARD BURCH 2/14/12 Hey there O lovely Princess I heard U Lost your way How has something so part of you Suddenly gone astray? Sorceress of verbs and nouns Please pick up your wand Those of us who know and luv u Pray u bless us with your muse We.... the world need a stroke For from your pen comes joy and hope Jade, today the world needs U Today, O scribe of God Beloved I beseech U For old and new times sake For Mom, Dad, Brother + me Me, Who you blessed at age 9 With a joy, a love That stands the test of time I miss U mind, body + soul O Spinner of Yarns Play us your Tune!

“IN RESPONSE TO MR. BURCH” BY JADE PERRY 2/26/12

Learning to write again Is like learning to breathe After gasping, and choking, trying To survive. Back when I wrote, When I could breathe deeply There was music, and light, and so much to say. I am gasping and afraid That I won’t know how to write. When I need to write the most When I need the words to flow From my pen. Will they be there? Classes and courses, Devastations and tribulations, False starts and early stops Have threatened to kick the poetry Out of me. When I need to write the most When I need the words to flow From my pen. Will they be there? Or have I successfully suppressed Dark shades of ink spilled. Feelings formed words so fluidly then. Feelings finding clarity Through poetry. But now… When I need to write the most When I need the words to flow From my pen. Will they be there? Or will the representations be obscured Paper-images blurred By mishaps and misfortunes. Learning to write is like Learning to breathe. This is an attempt To breathe deeply again.

INTRODUCING

AMILLION MAYFIELD

PIMP

BY NIKE MA

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The joke was that his mother bet someone that she would have a million dollars before she was twenty-five. The fact is that, during an attempted robbery, the Smith & Wesson pointed at her belly, pregnant with him, jammed. There is a saying that the chances of a Smith & Wesson jamming are one in million. So naming him Amillion made perfect sense. Lucas Amillion Mayfield didn’t embrace his unique middle name until his late teens. He even named his daughter after the late vocalist Aaliyah, who sang the song entitled, “One In A Million.” He was raised in Washington D.C. by his mother, a former Black Panther. They moved to Delaware just as Amillion was entering high school. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned a degree in Social Work and Business Management. He received a professional basketball contract in Europe prior to the birth of his daughter. But upon hearing he was going to be a father, he decided to reconsider his career path. He did not want to be an absentee father. “If I’m not playing ball, and getting paid for that, what am I gonna do? I just wanna make a living doing what God wants me to do,” he said. Mayfield made the decision to put down his basketball and pick up his pen – pulling together the poetry he had written over the years and publishing his first book. Social Work as a career was a logical choice for Amillion. It was an opportunity for him to put his degree to use. He always had a heart for helping people. His first job was as a YMCA camp counselor when he was about 16 years old. He currently runs basketball camps for PAL (Police Athletic League) and runs coat drives with sponsorships from United Way. He says he is always at peace when he is writing. He loves the art form of poetry and strives to reach the common person. He counts Tupac as one of his influences. He found him to be relatable on several levels. Both he and Tupac classify themselves as poets not rappers; both were raised by single mothers who were also Black Panthers; both rap from their hearts. He also lists Jay-Z, J Cole, and Nas

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as influences. He compares his recent release, “Block Symphony”, as having a similar vibe to “If I Ruled the World” by Nas and Lauren Hill. In spite of his rhythm and rhyming skills, he doesn’t want to be identified as strictly a rapper. Poetry, in addition to basketball, has always been one of his first loves. He describes his music style as hip-hop soul – adult, but classy. He released his first single, “All I Need”, in 2011. The video can still be seen on VH1 Soul. His first book, P.I.M.P., was also released in 2011. A word that doesn’t normally have a positive connotation represents his journey to find himself. He credits Tupac with opening his eyes to how an otherwise negative word would invoke the question “Why?”, and open up a discussion to a different point of view. He decided to take a negative and turn it into something positive. He explains P.I.M.P on page 22 of his book – it stands for “Poetry In Motion Proceeds”; “Positive Inspirational Motivated Person”; and above all, “Poetry Is My Profession”. He was aware that the title of the book would be inflammatory, but he decided to step out on faith and challenge reader’s perceptions. He explains the concept of turning a negative into a positive when he speaks to the youth in the community and inmates, “It’s nothing wrong with being hustler, we just don’t want to sell drugs to our own kind. You can hustle computers to Dell! I’m all about taking it and embracing and making it shine.” In his poem “The Chase”, he ends with the words: “I am running from the fame.” I asked him to explain. Fame can be positive, but he points out that he would write poetry for free. “At the end of the day, I just want to do what God blessed me to do,” he adds, pointing out that chasing dreams and chasing money can lead you in very different directions. Intent is key. Amillion is releasing his EP in March 2012. “Poetry In Motion Soundtrack” with the first single called “Block Symphony” with vocalist Jasmine Nicole.

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“

When you fall, get up and run faster. Many thought I couldn’t make a dollar without a basketball in my hand. I come from a humble place. Take your positive and your negative and deal with them on an even plane.

”

music

FRED HAMMOND STORY BY JADE PERRY

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If, in your life, you’ve never had issues, breakups, divorce, etc… then cool and God bless you, but this project is for the rest of us. –Fred Hammond, on God, Love, and Romance

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eal. That is the word that kept running through my mind during my candid conversation with Fred Hammond. Some might know him from his time with Commissioned. Others are still singing his hit single “Blessed” during Sunday services. Many are touched by his vulnerability in Pages of Life and Purpose by Design. Still others are captivated by the musical genius displayed in projects such as Free to Worship and Love Unstoppable. Now, Fred Hammond shares his thoughts on ministry, music, and his new project God, Love, and Romance. You have such a consistent career, and a sound that can touch the hearts of generations. How do you keep things fresh, new, and relevant for the times? It’s all about being topical, staying current, and paying attention to the surroundings – finding what out what the need is out there and serving it. What we [as artists] do is a service. I never felt like I was a talent-based person; I really felt in my heart that I wanted to tell someone that Jesus loves them and died for their sins. I wasn’t a very good orator. I wasn’t that person that stood up like, “And GOOOOOD SAIDDDDDD…” I felt I should be that guy, but I just didn’t have that in me. Yet, I could do that through singing, which is what I love. So now I just try to pay attention to the temperature of the times.

How have you maintained balance during your ministry? It happened over time. I learned to balance what’s real: ministry, church, life, etc. [I learned] there are some things that you are going to need in your life. For example, there was a period of time that I surrounded myself with work; so much so, that I was engulfed. I stayed in the studio. Everything about me was studio, church, traveling to church, doing concerts... and then I started burning out.

I just felt like I was losing it. So one day I took my family to Florida. I took my sister and her kids, so my wife and my daughter would have some people to hang out with. I sat by the pool. I slept for three to four days – and this was a 10-12 day vacation. I didn’t know what to do. I was unraveling. On the sixth day, we went to Universal Studios, and I just sat by a little lake. I noticed I was feeling okay by the water. I just sat there… And all of a sudden, a boat jumps out! People were clapping and a boat show was starting. I wondered what it would be like to be able to control those

boats over the water. Then the Lord said, “You need a hobby”. So, I went home and I bought two jet skis. In a month, I bought a boat. I crashed it a few times, and bumped it around, but eventually, I learned how to work that boat. I just enjoyed the water. I started getting bigger and bigger boats, and got back into motorcycling and four wheeling.

Is there any consistent theme throughout your ministry? Each season brings something new, something that says that we want to be closer to God. People

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Each season brings something new, something that says that we want to be closer to God. People want to find out how to be close, how to love God better. There are seasons of us reaching out to God and having Him help us. There are seasons of making God bigger in our lives...

want to find out how to be close, how to love God better. There are seasons of us reaching out to God and having Him help us. There are seasons of making God bigger in our lives, and that was the praise and worship season. This broadened our horizons through the heart of worship. Now, I’m moving from Psalms to Proverbs, focusing on what everyday life is like. God is okay with us being heavenly minded, but He put us on earth for a reason. Sometimes we think that being on earth is being carnal, but you have to deal with humanity. You have to understand how the earth works.

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There are important things we have to do on earth, like raise kids and maintain a marriage. You can’t just slap a Scripture on those things. Just like you can’t look at someone who is hungry and say, “Be warm and be filled”. There is a practical life that God wants us to deal with.

The Vision behind God, Love, and Romance After hearing more about his hobbies and interests, our conversation shifted towards his new

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project, God, Love, and Romance. There is no denying that this project is well thought out, both musically, and thematically. Fred Hammond addresses the ups and downs of love through soulful ballads, high-energy anthems, and jazz vibes. It speaks to the life experiences of singles and couples alike. So, I wondered what his vision was for this particular project. “[The album] has been on my heart for two years. I didn’t pray hard about it. When God gives me a direction, I just kind of wait. If it starts to become stronger in my ‘knower’, then I’ll pursue it. In gospel music, you don’t usually sing about love. A male gospel singer won’t sing about his ‘honey’ or his ‘baby’. You can say all of this stuff, but you can’t sing it. Everybody is scared! It’s like “The Emperor’s New Clothes” – like there is a certain way to say these types of things! The Bible can say it. God says it throughout His Word: how Hosea went after Gomer, how Jacob loved Rachel, how Solomon dealt with wives and concubines. Why aren’t we doing this through song? The enemy has twisted our mind, because he knows how powerful music is. If worshippers start singing love songs , not lust songs but love songs, then the power of love would become strong in the church, and divorce rates would go down. People can always say, ‘Well, why don’t you just use prayer?!’ We have been using it. We’ve been going to Bible class and marriage seminars. I want to give something for couples on the way home, when they are mad at each other. Maybe they can hear something like “Face It All”, and start to talk, and have some good memories. I feel like Noah. All those who want to get in this ark, cool. If, in your life, you’ve never had issues, break-ups, divorce, etc., then cool and God bless you, but this project is for the rest of us. 90% of the comments are positive. One person said, this doesn’t sound as good as Joe or R. Kelly. Yet, these are not sex songs. These are love songs. At the end of the day, they are pure love songs, guided by the Word.”

A quick word of advice, and encouragement “In a marriage, you have to have vision. If there are two separate visions, in a marriage, then you have di-vision. Even for the single women, you have to get with a man who has a vision. Sometimes, you might have to gently help him to realize it. Don’t nag him. Don’t poke and prod. Gently help him to realize his vision…” Sharing laughs, gaining information, and taking advice from Fred Hammond left me feeling empowered and enlightened. His authenticity allowed him to speak to particular circumstances that were relevant in my own life. What I thought would be a brief interview with one of my favorite artists, turned into a time of reflection and encouragement. As we ended our conversation, I hopped into the car, blasted his project through my speakers, and sang about God, Love, and Romance for the rest of the day.

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The Spirit of Creating Spirituality, in its various forms, holds the foundations on which a lot of the arts are perceived. Architecture, music, painting, fashion, photography, gaming, and athletics are among some of the biggest aspects most highly affected by the spiritual world we live in. Most of our readers will relate to that moment when something clicks, and magic happens. It’s contained in a feeling of complete euphoria that remains in a very specific point in time. It’s this feeling that brings artists together and drives the creative process, even right from the beginning. It is the completion of your creative spirit captured in a song, a piece of poetry, on a canvas, or fabric, or an athlete’s record time.

Some call it, “Connecting to the Source.” That’s probably a really simple description everyone can agree on, though it really takes on a personal meaning for each of us differently. Many go through a multi-stage process where we are actually building

a relationship with our creative energy and encouraging growth over time with repeated exercise.

Determine and design your goal and objective clearly. Commit to the completion of your objectives. Most of us should really consider ourselves athletes. We are always training our bodies and our minds to be able to move forward and handle tasks and accomplish our goals in our lives. Are there still conflicts with your goals and your actions? Who can change your actions? How? What kind of frame of mind does it take to get the body to commit to its purpose?

Inspiration is a good motivator, so identify what inspires you! I believe it starts from realizing that you have something to say in a way that requires a more complex form of communication. An artist begins to communicate with their community. A good portion of the time after creation is spent discovering the people who understand what you’re

REFLECTIONS BY DANIEL HILL

trying to say and can and want to communicate back with you.

Have peace about your decisions. Decisions must be made all the time. Some of them are quickly determined, few have long to plan, but we are directing our next course every moment of the day. You cannot control the actions of others, but you can control your reactions to the actions of others and take action yourself.

No, you don’t decide everything. This is where it gets fun! Just like that. In a single moment and without any warning, it became fun! Some decisions are not up to you and, should there be a conflict with your decisions and the decisions of others, this provides what is a called a “challenge”. Challenges are fun. Challenges are what keep people playing any game. There is a lot left to discover. We’re just getting started!

THE COME BACK KID

BY NIKKI WARSOP

photography

©roderick hawthorne

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Tiffany Evans. The child singing prodigy turned teen-pop-queen is primping and priming for her comeback. Oh, how we’ve missed real talent.

he’s gifted with a voice that could still a room, turn a hardened cynic into a believer, and might even give Beyoncé a bit of pause. Her name is Tiffany Evans and, at only 19 years old, she’s ready to take the music world by storm, once again. The third time seems to be the charm for the singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur who broke into the business at the ripe age of 5. To the delight of her fans, the industry veteran is looking to break big this time around with a Spring 2012 release of her yet-to-be-titled, independently produced EP. Tiffany Evans. If the name sounds familiar – it should. If not, a couple of keystrokes and a Google search later will reacquaint you with the

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Tiffany Evans you’ve known for quite some time now. She was the pint-sized singing phenom who dazzled audiences with her stunning vibrato on Oprah’s “All-Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids” episode in the early 2000s. She was that little girl with that big voice who wowed judges of the seminal hit TV show Star Search, receiving perfect five scores on all of her appearances -- a first in the series history. Or you may remember humming along to “Promise Ring”, the first single from her self-titled debut album, executive produced by R&B singer Ciara and released in 2008, when Evans was only 16. Remember her now? Sure you do. Well, little Tiffany has grown up fast and so has her music. She’s no longer singing about a “Promise Ring” or finding the need to tell people “I’m Grown”. Her sound has matured and so has she.

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“Everyone knows what I was when I was younger,” she acknowledges, “but now it’s time for them to understand who I am as a woman.” This new sound, her self-described “coming of age project”, ushers in a new era for Tiffany. “[My new] music is so raw, so R&B, so urban, so what everybody is missing in music!”, she gushes. No longer the girl-next-door, Tiffany’s current look and sound is a departure from the cookiecutter image she’s best known for. She admits that, while there’s more of a mature, willful sex appeal associated with her forthcoming EP, it is an unforced and honest representation of her life experiences captured through song. “I’ve become a woman and continue to become woman. I’ve grown and have learned much [since my first album]. What I’m singing about…I’m really going through these things, and I want you to relate,” she shares.

Earlier this year, she teased fans and critics alike with a preview of her newest project, slated for a 2012 Spring release. “Won’t Find Me,” is the frenetic, beat driven lead single off of her upcoming EP. Her vocals unmask a young woman’s defiant affirmation of independence from an absentee lover and an unfruitful relationship. The single is somewhat reminiscent of the angst found in Kelis’ infamous “Caught Out There” hook. The video accompaniment introduces a moodier, sassed up Tiffany, who at one point is clad in leather pants, rocking a bare midriff. No cutesy bubblegum pop music here. Try down the hall. The Bronx-born, Atlanta-bred beauty definitely has it. Talent, that is. Sans Auto-Tune or a hot beat, Tiffany can definitely s’ang. A quick review of her video catalog on YouTube reveals a series of effortless vocals and a couple of rapturing a cappella numbers reminiscent of a time long before the mass adoption of pitch control technology. It’s a testament to her homegrown voice that was nursed and raised in the church.

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Tiffany has racked up plenty of mileage within the industry. But despite her talent, she has not achieved the official break-out success most artists dream of. Her first album didn’t perform to critical expectations and her anticipated sophomore project, Perfect Imperfection, was shelved due to her “mutual” parting with Mathew Knowles and Music World Entertainment family last year, causing her to go independent. But Tiffany hasn’t been deterred. “I’m happy [that] I’m underrated. Underrated is fly; they’re just expecting my arrival!”, she laughs. And expect the arrival of that soon-to-be titled EP any day now. She promises not to keep her fans waiting for much longer. She assures us, “Once the EP comes out, we are planning to take it everywhere!”

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music

Luke James who is

STORY BY MIKE SANFORD

I like music that makes you want to cry. I love to emote. And that’s what I want my music to do. I want to be that for somebody.

hat’s the question many asked during the 2012 BET Honors Celebration, where Luke James’ nationally televised debut lit up the stage instantly becoming a highlight of the night. With vocal styling comparable to those of D’Angelo and Maxwell, he consistently delivers and executes his arresting falsetto impressively and flawlessly. With the release of his first single, “I Want You”, taking the music world by storm, pretty soon everyone will know exactly who Luke James is. Born and raised in New Orleans, Luke was exposed at a young age to the incredible world of music. He says, “My mother saw to it that I was exposed, especially when she noticed that I had an interest in music. She helped guide me in whatever I decided to go in, as far as music.” When he was around 11 years old, Luke’s desire to pursue music was birthed. While watching the hit show, Showtime at the Apollo, he was in awe of a contestant’s rendition of Donny Hathaway’s cover of “A Song for You”. “I got chills,” recalls James. “…At the time, I’d never said I wanted to be a singer; I just knew I wanted to entertain. And I’d never heard of Donny. But when my mother found her copy of one of his records, I knew then that I wanted to reach people that way.” It appears, now several years later, that Luke is reaching many people in that way.

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works because Luke’s raw talent is unmistakable here. It is not overshadowed by over production; it actually appears that the track is working around his voice. And this is just the first single, so what mark does he plan to make through his album? He said, quite simply, “I just want to inspire. Honestly, I just want somebody to give my music a shot, and by that I mean listen to it. After you give it a fair listen, it is what it is. I’m hoping that it becomes a necessity. I also hope to break down the walls of being creative…I just want to be a part of that hammer that knocks down the idea that we can’t have real music on the radio.”

It’s quite a fascinating journey Luke is on, and it’s safe to say his hard work and commitment to music is paying off. You see, Luke didn’t just burst onto the big stage. He started out as one half of the R&B duo Luke & Q, who acquired some success and industry buzz with their 2006 single “My Turn”. It was around this time that Luke’s multifaceted talents caught the eye of industry heavyweight Frank Gatson, the singer’s current manager. Since this musical union, his resume now boasts stints as a background vocalist for R&B hit maker Tyrese; an opening act for Brian McKnight; and writing credits and work on records for Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Keri Hilson and Chris Brown. It has also been through this connection that Luke James met mega-producer Danja, and eventually signed a record deal with Mercury/ Island Def Jam by way of Danja’s New Age Rock Star Records. Now, with his debut album, Made to Love, in the

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works, Luke shares his pre-album, #Luke, free of charge with all those willing to download. Offering a wide range of musical compositions, production, and songwriting, this pre-album is worth much more than it actually costs. It is a true representation of what his musical and lyrical capabilities are, and the full-length album is sure to expand on them. With Danja behind the production of the album, there is no question that it will be extremely successful. “Danja is basically the Quincy Jones of this situation. I’m extremely blessed to have someone with a great ear who pushes for something more. I’m extreme, especially when I feel something. I’d rather try than not try, and musically that’s what we’re doing. It’s dope music that’s happening—it’s fresh.” His debut single, “I Want You”, is about as fresh as it comes. It’s a masterpiece. It showcases his effortless falsetto, accompanied by a hip-hop influenced track. Quite the contrast, but it works. It

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It is true, people want real music, live music with little intricate pieces, detailing the artists every musical desire. “Coming up, we had everything; George Michael, R. Kelly, etc. Those guys were talking about serious stuff. It’s something about that music. There’s a hunger there. It’s something about that music and I want to be that. I want to be a part of that.” And in some ways, Luke’s music can be described as vintage. It has the qualities of “that music”. What we all seemingly love about Luke James is the very thing that we love about “real music”—the passion & emotion. “I like music that makes you want to cry. I love to emote. And that’s what I want my music to do. I want to be that for somebody.” So it should come as no surprise that Luke cited Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, D’Angelo and the legendary Prince among some of his biggest musical influences. “They were talking about serious stuff. Purple Rain? I still don’t know what purple rain is, but I’m with it!” In an age, where a lot of music fails to speak to the soul, to the heart, and to the mind, thus limiting its communicative power, Luke has found a way to emote what’s lacking, while remaining culturally and musically relevant. He’s comfortable in his skin, and it’s quite obvious. “People want the truth; we want to hear something more than just the regular and we want to feel. If I don’t feel it, I don’t do it.” Luke was definitely feeling something on the night of February 13, 2012. This would be the

night that Luke James would be introduced to the world. Of course he says, “I was elated”, but he also says, of the performance, “People think I don’t get nervous, but I was petrified! I blacked out and just asked God to allow me to do what it is he called me to do, and it turned out to be amazing…” Amazing not only for him but also for the hundreds of people in the audience and millions watching nationwide as he sung his heart out before music and entertainment royalty. Quite the opportunity given to someone whom Stephen Hill had never actually heard sing. “He just gave it a shot without even knowing,” and now Luke James is a part of BET’s Music Matters campaign, and has toured with Grammy winning singer, Estelle. “It’s a beautiful opportunity to be apart of something like this. Music is a part of our lives. You can’t live without music and I truly believe that…”

People think I don’t get nervous, but I was petrified! I blacked out and just asked God to allow me to do what it is he called me to do, and it turned out to be amazing…

To download your free copy of Luke James pre-album #Luke and to find out more information visit www.whoislukejames. com. Be sure to follow Luke on twitter @whoislukejames! Also check out Luke James alongside some of music’s biggest stars during the 2012 Essence Music Festival, taking place July 6-8th in his hometown, New Orleans!

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INTRODUCING BY DANIEL HILL

KJON

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t’s only fair to say that this was my first time listening to a K’Jon album all the way through. Heed was recently sent an advance copy of his upcoming album Moving On to tell you about and I was the one blessed with a chance to listen to it. From the first track, I was instantly identifying some extremely unique and interesting qualities. The song’s structures are excellent. The changes in the phrasing of the instrumentation and the vocals are one hundred percent smooth. It sounds like K’Jon has all his cards on the table. Independently, each song is very strong. They all have his fingerprints, but they don’t all sound the same. Many songs make use of some wonderful background vocals as well. Chances are the song “Bad Gurl” will grab your attention. The lyrics are elegantly woven to tell a story from a variety of perspectives and the bass line just grabs you. It’s that simple. Don’t you love it when writers and composers take you to different places? “Take This Dollar” will take you places. It’s inspiring and motivating in a very honest tone. This is music to get you feeling productive and it sounds like a gift for those making it day to day. Appearing near the end of the album is the track titled “Place to Be” and, believe me, it’s a whole different location. This track is both mellow and funky at the same time, easy tones for both relaxing and dancing. We haven’t received a release date yet for “Moving On”, but we are confident that you’ll be glad you didn’t pass up a chance to hear this truly original artist and this extremely high quality production.

This is music to get you feeling productive and it sounds like a gift for those making it day to day. heed

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The Unhappy

Majority BY P. KENNETH BURNS

veryone has an opinion, especially when it comes to our elected officials. That opinion is not very high. Looking at poll numbers from Real Clear Politics, 48 percent approve of the job that President Obama is doing. Nearly 83 percent disapprove of the job that Congress is doing – that number is the lowest in polling history. A majority of Americans believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction. These numbers are accurate as of February 27, 2012 and are the combined averages of polls conducted by firms and publications such as Rassmussen, Politico, etc.

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Between the current state of the economy and the constant bickering between Democrats and Republicans in Congress (which lead to too many stalemates in the past year, not the least of which was the recent threat to the federal payroll tax deduction), many people are being left with two options -- deciding whether or not to vote the other party in power or simply throwing their hands in the air and saying, “Forget all of this. I’m not voting this year.” Before the latter option is addressed, it’s important to find out how and why voters may not be too happy with the powers that be. In many instances, it’s not that people have a problem with their particular congressman or congresswoman. It’s their “co-workers” that they have a problem with -- the other 434

Approval Ratings DISAPPROVE OF THE JOB CONGRESS IS DOING

APPROVE OF THE JOB PRESIDENT OBAMA IS DOING

48%

83%

thehill ing discussed to boost voter turnout numbers, including aligning the city elections to take place during the same year as state elections. Those elections typically take place during the mid-term congressional elections. However, she notes that what happens locally does not necessarily translate to the national scene.

You need to vote, everyone needs to vote, it’s your civic duty…you need to be engaged in the civic process. members of the U.S. House of Representatives. This was highlighted by Laura S. Hussey, Assistant Political Science Professor at UMBC, who adds that attitudes change come Election Day, when it finally comes down to picking a candidate. “While I think there is a great deal of frustration at the state of affairs in the way things are today, that might not show up the same way when an individual has to make a voting decision,” says Hussey.

13%

ACTUALLY VOTED IN GEN ELEC.

373,000

BALTIMORE CITY REGISTERED VOTERS DURING GEN. ELEC.

Who Voted?

Local frustration A frustrated populace during an election year is not just a national problem; it affects local elections as well. In 2011, the City of Baltimore had the lowest voter turnout for its primary and general elections in history. According to The Baltimore Sun, 23 percent of registered voters (which is a mere 12 percent of the city’s population) voted in the September primary to decide on a Mayor, City Council President, and other city offices. In Baltimore, the general election is considered a mere formality. Of the near 373,000 registered voters in the city, only 13 percent participated in the general election. Hussey is not surprised by the low turnout,

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considering that Maryland is a one party state -- Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1. In Baltimore, that number jumps to 9-1. The state’s three largest jurisdictions, including Baltimore, are heavily democratic and can outvote the other 21 counties in the state. “[Local elections] often occur in off years where there is not a Presidential election or a gubernatorial election going on,” says Hussey, who was not surprised about the dismal turnout. She adds, “That was certainly the case in Baltimore City.” The city had held its elections a year after the state’s gubernatorial election. A number of ideas are be-

Why bother?! Recently, I’ve asked each politician that I have interviewed for WNAVAM a question in regards to this year’s election. It’s not the traditional “Who do you support?”, which we all ask at some point. Keeping in mind the climate of the country – the frustration with gridlock in congress, the widening income gap between politicians and those that elect them, the economy - I have been asking those elected and those who have been running for office, “Why should anyone vote this year?”

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U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D), who has served in the Maryland General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, is running for re-election this year. Cardin says that he understands the frustration that many voters have, especially among young voters who have been affected by the economic downturn and have large college debt payments. He encourages young voters in particular to use their frustration to change the country and not sit on the sidelines. “I would just like to tell young voters who are questioning whether they should vote that, as Americans, we live in the best country in the world and that’s because we are free and we have the right to decide who are leaders -- by voting.” Dan Bongino is a former Secret Service agent who is running for the opportunity to challenge Cardin as the Republican nominee. “If you forfeit your opportunity to make a choice, I don’t want to say you forfeit the right to complain -- [you have] the first amendment right to do that -- but at some point you have to get off the couch and make a difference.” Bongino says overall that even though you may not care about politics, it certainly cares about you. “You need to vote, everyone needs to vote, it’s your civic duty…you need to be engaged in the civic process.” P. Kenneth Burns has been covering politics for over five years. He is a News Anchor and Reporter for WNAV-AM in Annapolis, Md. where he also covers the state house. He lives in Baltimore.

Ruben Studdard INTERVIEW BY HAKIM PITTS

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n May 2003, he stood before thousands of people with millions more watching around the globe as he was crowned the winner of America’s hugest singing competition. He defeated all odds, captured our country’s heart and inspired people to dream again. Ruben Studdard was our choice; he was our American Idol. Almost ten years later with four albums under his belt, Ruben is still wowing audiences with his voice and charm, but this time he’s doing things his own way. He’s fearless, has nothing holding him back and is ready to satisfy our burning desire for honest and authentic music. I had the chance to chat with Ruben a few days ago to get the inside spill on his upbringing, American Idol and the new direction for his forthcoming album. Hakim Pitts: Hey, man! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. I have some questions for you, cool? Ruben Studdard: Sounds good HP: Everyone knows that you’re from the South; tell me a little about your upbringing and the role that music played in your early years. RS: I was raised by two Southern educators who were hard working and really valued education. I’ve always been a student and fan of the arts…I started singing when I was about three. When I was in the sixth grade, I was in a talent show and when I sang, the girls screamed for me. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be in entertainment. HP: That’s hilarious, I can understand that. Who were the artists and musicians that you listened to while growing up? RS: Well, I grew up in the church and love gospel music so I listen to a lot of Winans Family, Fred Hammond, Commissioned and John P. Kee. In terms of secular music, I loved New Edition, R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and Donny Hathaway.

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HP: I can definitely hear all of those musical influences in your voice and music. Your love for music lead you to audition for the second season of American Idol. What was that experience like for you? RS: Overall, I learned that I can make it! That was huge for me. People don’t think that someone from the country can make it in a big city, but I think my Southern upbringing really prepared me for American Idol and the entertainment world. Southerners are shrewd business people, but we’re also well-mannered. People didn’t just like me as an artist, people liked me for me.

When I auditioned for American Idol, I was just looking for an opportunity. I had no idea what the magnitude of the celebrity would be like. HP: How did you deal with the immediate superstar status? RS: When I auditioned for American Idol, I was just looking for an opportunity. I had no idea what the magnitude of the celebrity would be like. It was a lot but I’m so grateful for American Idol. Years later, people ask me, do you still want to be associated with the show. If it wasn’t for American Idol, I would probably be in Alabama teaching music. I’m grateful for the fame. HP: Right after American Idol, you released your first album, Soulful, which was a huge success and sold over 400,000 thousand copies in the first week. On your sophomore release, you changed gears a bit and released a Gospel Album. What was the motivation behind that?

an Angel, the title track for the album. I loved the song and it was such an honor to work with him. Once I started recording, the rest of the music just went in that direction. We thought it might be a Christmas Album, but realized it was much bigger than that. Christians are everywhere and work in every industry, but when you’re a Christian in the music industry, people expect you to only do Gospel music. I love music and I’m not ashamed of being a Christian, but I still do secular music. There’s nothing wrong with that. HP: I totally understand. I see that you’ve learned a lot about people, music and the business over the years. RS: Yes, man. Ninety percent of my career is handling business. You have to keep your eyes on the goal. I’ve had my share of hardships, people have taken from me, but you can’t have a true experience without going through. HP: I agree. So tell me what experiences inspired you to start on your awaited release, Letters from Birmingham? RS: Well, man I just wanted to make great songs. But you can’t have great songs without direction. One day I was walking through Atlanta’s airport and got the inspiration for the album. I saw a cased exhibit of Dr. King’s Letters from a Birmingham Jail and immediately thought I need to tell my story to my fans. I started writing letters about my life and experiences. We wrote songs around the feeling and vibe of the letters. I share my relationship experience and wanted it to play like a movie: the beginning, the courtship, romance, progression and dissolution. People connect with that…the good times and the pain. HP: Wow, man that sounds good. I’m excited to hear it. RS: Yeah, man. It’s going to be full of great songs that fit into a theme, but are strong enough to stand on their own. It’s the most honest work I’ve ever done.

RS: It was all God. R. Kelly actually wrote I Need

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INTRODUCING BY LISA GEORGE

DRUMMA BOY

rumma Boy is the Grammy Nominated & Multiplatinum Super-Producer responsible for the monstrous thumping beat in “No Hands” by Waka Flocka featuring Wale and Roscoe Dash. It’s no surprise that this song reached #1 on the Billboard Rap Songs Chart, was nominated for Best Collaboration at the 2011 BET Awards, and won for Best Club Banger at the same show. Other production masterpieces which have kept millions rocking their heads “Oh My” by DJ Drama f/Fabolous, Wiz Khalifa & Roscoe Dash; Young Jeezy’s “Lose My Mind” f/Plies; Birdman’s “Money To Blow” f/Drake and Lil Wayne; “Put On” by Young Jeezy f/Kanye West, and the hit single “What Up, What’s Haapnin”, from T.I’s two-time platinum selling Grammy nominated album Paper Trail. Born Christopher James Gholson, Drumma Boy has gotten some impressive industry nods and is well respected by his musical peers. When asked how his new fame feels, he says “It makes me feel the same. I mean, I already feel good about myself. It’s good to know that you are going in the right direction; that people appreciate your music and your work by the votes, by the accolades -- it just makes me work harder.” And work harder he does. It’s not about working with Grammy winners and other celebrities. For him, it’s all about the numbers, showcased worldwide as super musical hits. “That’s what I set myself up to do. To accomplish the mission… to deliver for any label that comes to work with me and that’s why people seek after my work and my services because we do numbers.” He goes on to say, “Anything that I am passionate about and love is going to do numbers. There’s going to be a purpose, a cause, a connection in my music to the people.”

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Drumma acknowledges the challenges in working with the variety of artists on his roster and knows that this is where he differs from other producers, “My versatility is in being able to walk into any room and genre of music and be able to produce and know how to be therapeutic to the situation.” He adds, “I look at myself as much bigger than just a producer. I know I am a therapist. There are so many guys that I keep grounded in order to record these hits. A guy may have come from a negative situation in the hood and then he comes into the studio, which is a positive situation.” Chuckling before responding to the question of what his parents think of what he does, he admits to not telling his dad about his music until he was eighteen, “and he couldn’t do anything about it.” Shortly after being kicked out of college, his father, a college professor, questioned him about what he was doing with his spare time. “I mean things were pretty bad, as I had a D in gym class. My dad knew something was wrong then.” Drumma was turning down scholarships to play music, so the time had come – he had to come to terms with what he really wanted to do in life. He told his dad who he was and how big he was; however, his dad was skeptical. He told Drumma that if he wanted to keep doing what he was doing, he would have to show him $100,000 in a year. Ten months later, Drumma delivered and his dad burst out laughing. Regarding how he successfully cross-pollinates music from the past with today’s while keeping a pulse on musical trends, he says, “I just do what I love. It’s real easy. It’s in my blood.” With an opera singer for a mom and his father a professional clarinetist and music professor, it’s no surprise that Drumma Boy has orchestral training and has taken his share of piano lessons. Beethoven, Sibelius, Bach, and other classical greats are constant sources of inspiration as he seamlessly weaves the past and present. “I was doing some really strange stuff at a young age, as

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far as musically, so now it’s almost like riding a bike.” Regarding what else inspires his work, the African drum is one of his favorite percussions and triggered his drum patterns. He believes that all music started from the drum. “The drum is the beat, the tempo, the dance which gets the music

and rhythms going. Woodblocks, cowbells, and other instruments came afterwards but the drum was the first original instrument of music.” To his younger self, he would say “keep doing what you are doing. You are doing a hell of a

job”. His legacy – “I want it to be what it becomes. Everybody wants to say what their legacy is. That’s the fun about building a legacy. It is what it is… I can’t say what my legacy is. I would rather show you”.

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LAZ STORY BY CRYSTAL WIMBERLY • INTERVIEW SAOUL V. photography by jordan hall• styling ugo mozie & daver campbell

“R.I.P. Charlie Duchamp!”

o tweeted Laz Alonso, after the season premiere of A&E’s Breakout Kings revealed that his character, U.S. Marshal Charlie Duchamp, was taken down by the second season’s Big Bad. This may explain why his publicist didn’t want him talking about the show during his interview with Heed a few days prior. Just a little bit, maybe. But, with humor and grace, Alonso isn’t showing any hurt feelings. After tweeting that “it wasn’t my decision”, he immediately followed it up with this tweet: “But I love and support my cast mates, @Nicksantora & Matt Olmstead and wish them a successful 2nd season! I love them! #thefam”. That hashtag -- #thefam – isn’t a bit of facetiousness, it’s real. “I’m genuinely friends with the people that I work with,” he tells us, “We have real human relationships. There’s not just a bill and a check at the end of the month.” And Alonso himself is real. In person, he exudes a warmth and charisma that’s served him well in the industry over the past decade and beyond. Starting out in the ’99 Budweiser “Wassup” commercial (oh, you know the one) and on hosting duties over at BET, he worked his way up to his starring roles on Breakout Kings and last year’s Jumping the Broom with passion, hard work, and yes, that face. And it’s that face that keeps him so familiar to those who may not be a part of his massive fanbase just yet; it’s popped up in

bit parts on shows like The Practice, Without a Trace, Soul Food, NCIS, CSI: Miami, Bones, The Unit, and Entourage, just to name a few, paving the path for his big-screen moments in Jarhead, Stomp the Yard, and major roles in Spike Lee’s Miracle at St. Anna, his turn as the Big Bad in Fast & Furious, and as leader of the Na’vi in James Cameron’s Avatar (okay, you may not have recognized him in the last one, blue CGI motion capture being what it is). But it was his leading role in Jumping the Broom that’s garnered him the most attention – winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture over Laurence Fishburne, Eddie Murphy, and Vin Diesel. “It was humbling, man. I didn’t expect to receive it, to be honest with you. I was shocked,” he laughs, “All my friends joke around at the face I made when they announced my name. I was truly humbled and surprised. I was with people I’ve either worked with or been a huge fan of in that category.” When we asked Alonso what other actors rank up there for him, he admits, “I don’t necessarily have favorite actors; I have favorite performances. So on any given day, an actor I never expected could blow my mind. Octavia Spencer was one of them for The Help. She wasn’t on my radar prior to this and seeing her in that movie. I’m a huge fan of hers now. That performance was flawless. Same thing with Viola [Davis], who’s knocked my socks off a bunch of times. Obviously, everyone always says Denzel, but for me, Denzel in Glory was pristine. I just can’t compare that to anything else. Russell Crowe in Gladiator, Sylvester Stallone in Rocky – there’s certain roles that just move your spirit and inspire you.”

From Breakout Kings to breakdancing, Laz Alonso keeps it moving.

So what’s Laz Alonso doing to move and inspire others? After tackling the subject of racial identity in mun2’s web documentary, “Black and Latino” (Alonso himself is of African-American and Cuban descent; in the documentary he states that “It was kind of like a dual existence because outside of my house I would be just an African-American guy. But once I got home, I was Cuban again.”), and revealing in a recent Huffington Post interview that he’s eyeing life behind the scenes – cowriting a screenplay about post-earthquake life in Haiti as well as searching out opportunities to get further into the production game (after starring in and executive producing 2009’s Down for Life) -he’ll show up on-screen again in next year’s tentatively titled Planet B-Boy, a film adapted from the 2007 award-winning documentary of the same name. It’s definitely something he feels passionate about, saying, “I grew up with breakdancing and B-boying as the culture that kind of helped propel hip-hop forward.” When asked if he’s still a part of that scene, he laughs. “I’m retired! [But] B-boying now is totally different from what it was back in the day when we were growing up. I mean, B-boying now…it’s amazing, it’s in the air, these guy are doing all kind of acrobatics. It’s like Cirque de Soleil with hip-hop music playing.” The film, whose cast also includes Chris Brown and Josh Holloway (best known as Sawyer on Lost), focuses on the road to the Battle of the Year, the world’s largest international B-boy crew competition. Though not much information has been leaked about the storyline behind the adaptation – Brown will be showing off his dancing skills and Holloway will be playing Alonso’s best friend – Laz reveals a bit of the backstory…and a lot of love for the subject. “For me, it was a great homage to the era that I came from, because my character was one of the people who grew up during the early years of hip-hop and B-boying,” Alonso says, “He built this big empire, a la Puffy and a la Jermaine Dupri, where they started off as dancers and then they learned the business and became managers and moguls and eventually had this great empire.” He continues, “This character basically addresses something that is kind of prevalent that we don’t really think about on an everyday basis – the art of B-boying has kind of lost its way, or been separated, from hip-hop. And it’s one of the founding pillars of hip-hop! But that’s only happened here in America. Overseas,

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B-boying is very much alive. […]We created this culture. We have to keep it alive because if we let it die, eventually it will die everywhere else. We do drive what the rest of the world consumes.” The ability that America has to influence the world stutters when it comes to supporting the things we create here. Despite being well-received, films like Jumping the Broom and Miracle at St. Anna aren’t higher up the Hollywood food chain, due mainly to the contents of their cast. Or, rather, the color of the cast. Looking at the controversy surrounding George Lucas’s Red Tails says something sad about the expectations of the industry. Alonso acknowledges that, saying, “We should always make an effort to go support our films. Go out to the theaters the opening week. Go out the second weekend – it’s just as important as the first weekend. No black market, no bootlegs. Go see the film. Our industry – and when I say ‘our industry’, I mean Black Hollywood – is anemic right now. We may get one or two movies a year if we’re lucky. We need to start supporting our films. That’s basically how you vote in Hollywood. If you go to the movie theater to support the film, that’s how you show that we should be making more movies.” Alonso’s passion for his projects and drive to support films that don’t always get the box office they deserve runs deep. While many actors are able to immerse themselves in the life at a young age, Laz took his time – despite knowing who he ultimately wanted to be. So instead of running off to California as a dream-filled kid, he chose Howard University and a Bachelors in Business Administration. He did the real-world time, working as an investment banker before moving to marketing, and then into the acting world that was always his final destination. “You can always choose a stable route, but in ten or twenty years from now when you look back, are you going to be happy with yourself having made that decision?,” he asks, “There’s nothing wrong with failure, as long as you get back up again and learn from it. If it’s something that you truly, in your heart of hearts, think about every day when you go to sleep? Because, when I wanted to become an actor, I would go to sleep thinking about it. I would wake up thinking about it. All during the day, I would Google stuff and do research. I wouldn’t just watch performances, I

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studied them. It was something that was part of my DNA. If that’s how you are about anything that it is that you want to do, then you, by all means, should pursue it. That’s just your spirit confirming that that’s where you need to be. At the same token, listen to your parents; listen to the people around you. You might need to stay in school and get your education. I did. I didn’t just come up to Hollywood just after high school or college. Learn as much as you can, because, at the end of the day, anything that you require is never going to take away from you. It’s only going to add to your bag of tricks.” That bag of tricks includes a little something that makes certain segments of his fanbase very happy. Alonso tends to pursue roles that require a, let’s say, certain type of physique -- from Lance Corporal Escobar in Jarhead to henchman Fenix Calderon in Fast & Furious to the stunts required of him for Avatar to his moves in Stomp the Yard. When Laz joked on Twitter that no one retweets him when he writes about Obama’s housing policies, user @MissterRay goofed back, “we’re here for the movies and the body LOL save the politics for CNN” (to which Laz responded with a “#shutmedown lol”). So it’d almost be wrong if we didn’t ask how he keeps that portion of his talent together. “The majority of it just comes from being responsible,” he says, “I have a tremendous sweet tooth, so I don’t keep sweets in the house. If they’re in the house, they will get eaten. Quickly.” He laughs and continues, “I love to indulge in food, so I try to keep only what I should be eating in the house to keep me looking right.

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That’s it. Outside of that, I do have this trainer. His name is Mike T from Force Fitness Inc. I met this guy when I was testing for Fast & Furious. I had to play the villain opposite Vin Diesel and I had to gain this tremendous amount of muscle in a short amount of time. I had just come off of Miracle at St. Anna where I was playing an old man. I had to be overweight and, you know, just old. I had to look feeble; I couldn’t look athletic. So I went from eating pasta five to six times a day to gain weight and lose my athletic build to having to lose it very quickly, to get ready to look like I could knock out Vin. Mike got me in shape for that. Ever since then, he’s been my trainer for every film.” With all the elements that Laz Alonso has combined – looks, talent, smarts – he’d almost have a right to be cocky. But, as we mentioned off the top, Laz is real. And that realness revealed itself throughout the interview: his passion for his every project, his determination to succeed, his respect and love for the people in his life. He doesn’t even take the credit for his own success. “First and foremost, I know that I wouldn’t be here if God wasn’t blessing me. I really do feel like I’m blessed. I really, in my heart of hearts, feel like I’m blessed,” he says, emphatically, “I’m a Christian. I start my day and I end my day with prayer. I pray before every meal. I don’t think there’s anything mystic about it; I just always know that anything I accomplish, it’s because I am blessed to have the opportunity. And that’s all that I want. I just want the opportunity to shine and to show what I can do, to express myself creatively.”

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credit lines should appear near the edge

A CARA NOEL RESTUARANT REVIEW

Pacifico Cocina Mexicana - brooklyn, ny I met a friend for dinner last night. The restaurant was not at all crowded, but we still had to wait for a table. Really, it took until we started looking for a hostess that someone came over to seat us. We were seated in the enclosed outdoor patio area, and we sat down to take in the “ambiance.” The décor is interesting - brightly colored, but still kind of quaint. The restaurant itself is small, but with the outdoor patio area it’s bigger than in most Brooklyn restaurants. They make good use of the space. I wanted to get the full experience, so we ordered a small pitcher of red sangria. I’m not typically a sangria fan, but this one was good – slightly sweet with fresh fruit. It was pretty good. Now on to “la comida”. I ordered the Gringo Tacos, which ended up arriving about ten minutes after the waitress took our order. Let me tell you about those tacos….they were delicious! The ground beef was

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seasoned very well, and the cojita cheese and drizzled sour cream complemented the meat perfectly. The plate was arranged nicely -- the three tacos with different colored shells arranged around the plate; the guacamole, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce in the center of the plate. The guacamole was okay, but the real stars of the show were those tacos. My entrée also came with a side of white rice and beans -- nothing spectacular, but they got the job done. After finishing my tacos and a decent amount of sangria, my friend and I decided to order dessert. All of the options looked good, but my friend and I decided to split the brownies and pistachio ice cream. What. A. Treat! The brownies were super chocolaty, and the ice cream had full-sized pistachios (as opposed to chopped), with sliced strawberries as garnish. My friend and I sat and chatted (and finished the sangria), but it took the waitress forever to bring us our bill. Again, I had to look around for her before she came over. Now some people would appreciate that because she absolutely did not rush

us. But after a while we were ready to go, and we sat there longer than we wanted to waiting for the waitress. The bill was decent, though the atmosphere could have called for slightly lower prices. I know this review sounds slightly confusing, and that could be because I had a confusing experience. The food was good, and it arrived quickly, but our waitress just wasn’t attentive enough. Now, in her defense, she appeared to be the only server working that night, so she could have been stretched a bit thin, but she also seemed preoccupied. With that said, I probably won’t go back to Pacifico. Why, you ask? Because this is New York, and there are about three trillion restaurants. I fully intend to try as many of those restaurants as I can, and because of that, I probably won’t frequent restaurants that I don’t consider “stellar.” Would I recommend Pacifico? Depends. If you just care about tasty food, but aren’t big on service, definitely check it out. I really enjoyed my food, but the service left something to be desired.

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FRONT FACADE PHOTO © HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SMOJO/2444989189/

What can I say about Pacifico? Okay, I know --tasty food, but also interesting service and atmosphere.

Tanya Blount

photography by smile on three photography

STORY BY DANIEL HILL

Mike Ivory 52

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My marketing strategy is a little different. I’m just real. heed

v o i c e o f a n e m e r g i n g s u b c u l t u r e • w w w. h e e d m a g . c o m

I’m a student of love. I will never be a professor.

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It’s All About Relationships I

n 1993, Tanya Blount captured the world’s attention when she performed a duet of the gospel song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” with Lauryn Hill. It was such a memorable event that her fans are called “sparrows”. The duet is still one of the first things fans bring up when they meet her, even after multiple recordings and publishing two books. And it’s still inspiring Tanya’s work. She has not only a new CD coming out later this year, but will have a DVD available on April 22nd. Tanya: “[The DVD] is called ‘The Return of the Sparrow’, and I call my supporters sparrows. The reason why I call them that is because most of them, when they talk to me say, ‘You inspire me, and you strive to do anything, you endure, and you keep us dreaming.’ And that’s what sparrows do: we inspire, we dream, we thrive.” “The Return of the Sparrow” is a vocally driven project that also focuses on true musicianship with live bands. Tanya not only identified with her personal desire to share more of her personality on the album, but also pinpointed it as being something that fans desperately wanted as well. Tanya: “I tried some different things on the project, because as an artist you grow and there’s different parts of you. There’s the sexy Tanya, then

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there’s the mommy Tanya, the business Tanya, the wife Tanya, then there’s the quirky Tanya, and I wanted to give my fans all of me on this project.” While Tanya is excited about her own musical project, you can tell that a lot of her passion is towards a new release by fellow artist Mike Ivory. Tanya: “He’s a prolific songwriter, it’s incredible the way he sees things. The thing I like about him as an artist is he’s not just an R&B/Soul songwriter, he can write anything. When I think of him, I think of some of the artists I worked with in the nineties, like Timbaland, who would take it from a beat in his head and complete an entire song and give it to a Madonna, right then and there. That’s the kind of songwriter he is.” Ivory’s newest single, “Final Exam”, was released February 14th for digital download and has a YouTube video that is garnering a lot of attention. The song says a lot about the heart and the direction that Mike has in life. Mike: “I’m a student of love. I will never be a professor. I will never be someone who can say I have a doctorate in love. I am always enrolled in the school of love and this song is just about that. He’s expressing to his lady that he’s a student and he’s been studying her. From the moment his lady opens her eyes, he’s studying and he’s working on her, and he’s trying to get her to understand that, by the time it’s all said and done, you would have

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seen that I deserve an A on my paper.” Mike’s new album, Man of the House, scheduled to release April 2012, is, in his words, about, “Encouraging men to be more involved in the home, more involved in love, more involved in raising up the children, more involved in helping your wife or your significant other, and that’s really the tone of the album. Also it’s making a statement that the man is still very much alive in the home. ” Both Tonya and Mike are working very hard to keep music alive and with purpose. Together they’ve started a production company, Code Red Corporation, through which they can partner with other local artists and companies to represent not only the music they’re developing, but also the film and theater aspects of themselves and the other creative people within their organization. Tonya: “Under the Code Red Corporation umbrella, there are many things that are going on and we’re moving all of it at the same time. So it’s really exciting! It’s really where I want to be. I think it’s a great place for me to be right now in my career, I’m 37, and I guess I’ve just been around it for the last almost 20 years and I figured that I wanted to do something different. I wanted to exercise every part of who I am as an artist, not just a single aspect...I wanted to take everything that was inside of me and put it to work at the same time.”

tech stop T

en years ago, a game was released to the brand new Xbox console, codenamed “Blam!” while in development. It featured a faceless, nononsense hero called Master Chief, who went on to become a video game icon almost as recognizable as Mario himself. As a franchise, it has sold more than 40 million copies world wide over the course of 6 different titles. Halo: Combat Evolved has had a huge impact on console gaming, the First Person Shooter genre, and even modern culture. Microsoft needed a game that was going to set it apart from the fold, as well as to give people a reason to buy this new console that was trying to compete against the very popular Playstation 2. The development studio Bungie was working on a sci-fi epic that was first announced by Steve Jobs himself, only as a Mac and Windows based strategy game. By E3 2000, Bungie had overhauled the game into a third person action shooter, impressing gaming critics with its arsenal of weapons, vehicles, and futuristic mayhem. At that point, it featured aliens and human soldiers all battling with vehicles and a variety of weapons that pushed the 3D technology and graphic quality of the time to its limits. Eventually, Microsoft acquired Bungie as a studio and requested them to develop the game for the Xbox as well as for PC. This would lead to the defining moment for the console -- pushing it into the forefront as a desirable purchase with its first buzzworthy and exclusive title. Believe it or not, Halo: Combat Evolved was the first FPS game to feature the now common twin stick control scheme, and it forever changed the face of console gaming. One of the most common terms at that time was LAN parties, which featured groups of people taking multiple TVs and Xboxes and linking them through Ethernet cables to enable multiplayer matches locally. While the PC version of the game had online multiplayer the Xbox version did not yet have, its revolutionary controls eventually made it the version of choice -- evidenced by the eventual decision to make future ver-

A BENJAMIN BROWN REVIEW

OnLive Gaming B

sions of Halo exclusively for Xbox. However, the PC demo did its job, generating a significant buzz for the game and making it the title that would eventually become the face of the Xbox. Xbox had its epic mascot and well.can To this day, gamers and eingallawas gamer be quite expensive. developers alike wonder how successful the Xbox been New consoles canwould costhave anything without Halo, and vice versa. the yearstoand revisions fromAs $199 over $600.of Halo Even went by, players always wishedgaming for the magic that the original cam-as portable nowadays is almost paign and multiplayer maps provided. Revampedaversions certain expensive as buying home ofconsole. maps made their way various sequels, but even then Asinto of the 2009, the Halo OnLive Gaming Console it wasn’t the same. has introduced the world to the concept of

cloud gaming.

Now Bungie has moved on and the new 343 Industries studio has taken the helm. Armed withgaming talent from franchises like to Callplay of Duty, Cloud allows for gamers games Mercenaries, and Borderlands, these of Halothelook to takeonto Masby streaming themfans through internet any ter Chief and his bossy blue computer. companionAsCortana to newtheheights. available it stands, OnLive Thankfully, they decided to can update this classic and Macs, legendary game service be played on PCs, tablets, iOS first and, boy, did they it right.phones, and internet connected meandget Android dia players and TVs. The game itself as well as Halo: Combat Evolved is your one ofgame thosesaves games has such a greaton all of andthat profiles are loaded design that the experience one that many gamers love to repeatservers isthroughout the US and streamed to these edly tear through. So, 343 Industries left the devices. All the player has core to dogameplay, is have a condecent trols, weapons, levels, and connection the engine (2 alone. If minimum), you’ve everand played internet Mbit/s sweet the original game, you will instantly remember every Warthog ride, gaming shall ensue! every clever Marine saying, and every level name that Cortana Typically when you buy a console, you find yourself needing to spend another 50 to 100 dollars for accessories, cables, battery packs, controllers, and games just to go along with the initial console purchase. With the OnLive console package, you receive the MicroConsole, a wireless controller, an HDMI cable, and a power supply. Now to connect to the internet, you will have to have a wired connection since the MicroConsole does not have a wireless adapter built in. Besides, you’ll get your fastest speeds from a wired connection anyway.

GAME ON

LIFE’S SHORT. PLAY MORE.

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game on

A BENJAMIN BROWN REVIEW

With a great connection, you will be treated to 720p visuals of each game, varying based on the speed at your location. Either way, the gameplay is optimized to allow for surprisingly smooth gameplay once everything is ideal. Now, you won’t get image quality better than your Xbox, PS3, or gaming PC even if you have the greatest connection in the world. You will, however, be able to play top notch games virtually anywhere. Using Bluetooth technology, you can use the OnLive wireless controller to play on your iPad, iPhone, or internet tablet without the need for the MicroConsole. Also, if you don’t have the MicroConsole or the controller and wish to try the service out, OnLive places virtual buttons on the screen of tablets and other devices with touch screens. This allows you to play virtually any of the games in the library without the need for purchasing the OnLive hardware. As for games, the OnLive service handles this in a few different ways. Every game in their library allows for a free trial. Some trials are longer than others but most of them are around 30 minutes. To flat out purchase most games, you are looking at an average price of about $49.99 for your most recent games like Batman:Arkham City, Deus Ex:Human Revolution, Assassin’s Creed Revelations, and Saints Row The Third. You also have the option to rent these games for 3 days or 5 days with rates that are under $10. The best deal is the Play Pack bundle, which is a $9.99 per month subscription. This access gives you the ability to play over 140+ games in their library and gives you around a 30% discount on purchases of other games that aren’t included in the bundle. The games that are available under this plan are respectable as well. Some notable ones include the award winning FPS/RPG Borderlands, Homefront Multiplayer, Aliens Vs. Predator, NBA2K11, Bioshock, Lego Batman, and Tomb Raider Anniversary.

Duty, Mortal Kombat, Mass Effect, Skyrim, and Grand Theft Auto have not found their way into the library. Also, announcements concerning the upcoming titles are hard to come by. Once you get around to playing the service, the first thing you realize is how great the user interface is. Pulling up a screen that resembles walking into the TV section of Best Buy, you are faced with countless panels showing other people playing the service live. Then a dashboard is laid over it showing the different options for friends, a store, games you have full access to, replays of recorded highlights, games you played last, and more. The most interesting of these is the showcase. Here, you go to an endless wall of TVs that are viewing other players playing various games in real time. You can select each screen and simply view that person playing as a spectator. You can even cheer or jeer them much like the Facebook ‘like’ button works online. This can give you better insight into whether you want to play or trial a game without even having to pay anything. This cloud gaming service is wowing critics all over and, while it still has its challenges with regards to internet speed needs and game selection, the accessibility of the service is undeniable. Doubters will probably shy away from the service until more blockbuster titles are provided. Still, those willing to try it out are in for a treat. The OnLive cloud gaming service has the potential to bring top notch gaming to those unwilling to lug around their consoles or PCs everywhere they go. In theory, this could even provide better blockbuster portable gaming than the PS Vita and the Nintendo 3DS. OnLive will need to put some serious energy in wooing developers to make exclusive titles if they wish to make some serious gaming industry noise. Until then, the service is a spectacular example of true on-demand gaming.

The only gripe with the game selection is that there are few blockbuster titles in the library. Big names like Battlefield 3, Call of

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A New Dawn INTERVIEW BY RESHEIDA BRADY • STORY BY ANTOINETTE R. BANKS

photography by jordan hall

• styling adetoye adedipe • hair & make-up jordana david

music

hite walls accompanied with modern furniture complement the setup for this afternoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoot. Having been an admirer of Dawn Richards for some time, I wait anxiously for her to arrive. And just like that, enters our star of the day sporting an impressive cropped gray shirt, black leggings, and killer leopard pumps. With a reputation for delivering a powerful performance fusing vocal talents, impeccable dance delivery, and stage presence you would expect her to be demandingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;what is more surprising is her unbelievably humble outlook and artistic servitude.

I want to be known for pushing R&B to a whole other genre of music.

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She sits down and we greet each other like old friends. We kick off the interview by asking Ms. Richards: TB: How long have you been singing? DR: Since I was about six or seven years old. My dad was a choir director for his church, so it’s kind of like I didn’t have a choice. My mom was a dancer and she had danced in dancing school. So, at 2, I had tights on and then the choir started at 7. TB: Tell me about your rise. DR: Being from New Orleans, you dream of it but no one ever really leaves. You know, no one ever really came out till [Lil] Wayne. So the idea of a female artist coming out didn’t feel like it would ever happen. I just dreamed big. Her phone rings and graciously she says, “I’m sorry” further showing just how down to earth she is. It’s okay, I say as we laugh. What was the experience like with Making the Band? Why do they tape you so long and so often? That was the biggest shock for me. Never was I prepared to be in makeup on TV. TB: When you look back on Making the Band, is it weird to see yourself? DR: [Laughs] It’s absolutely the weirdest thing. Sometimes I say, ‘Dawn, that outfit and those socks?!’ For me it was the best thing I went through because it taught me so much about this industry. TB: And you had a very big love story [with Qwanell Mosley, formerly of Day26]. DR: I’m not a public person when it comes to my relationship. We had no choice because they followed us everywhere! It never was my intention to have my relationship on TV. It was very real for me.

TB: Did it affect you personally that so many eyes were on you?

DR: I know…it was aggressive [music] and I loved it.

DR: I didn’t care because I was in love. My only thing was making sure we separated our love from business.

TB: What genre would you like to be involved in?

TB: And that’s a beautiful thing to hear. Tell me how it’s like going from a group to a solo artist. DR: I relate to Beyoncé saying, “It’s like a crutch.” But it gives you a broader fan base and can feed off their energy. But me, alone, I get to be the writer or the artistic director. I get to tell my story. TB: How did you get to be in Diddy-Dirty Money? DR: I couldn’t leave because I was signed to Puff, so I just kept writing and sending them to him. Eventually he asked me to come to the studio and every time we got together it was so organic, so Puff didn’t want to break that up. TB: Who inspires you musically? DR: Well, I grew up in the rock world. I love Björk; her melodies are so amazing. I love Prince, the Cranberries, No Doubt, Green Day, Phil Collins—

DR: I really would like to create my own. I want to be known for pushing R&B to a whole other genre of music. TB: I heard you have an EP coming out. When does it drop? DR: That’ll be out March 27th. The name is Tell Tale Heart; there’s a story being told. The things I never could say. And I’ll be in South by South West. Which is like a Coachella. TB: How did Hurricane Katrina impact you? DR: My city turns everything into a song and dance and we talk about her like a bad girlfriend. My parents lost everything; to see them lose everything and then figure it out within six seconds was such a motivation for me. TB: Instead of calling fans “fans”, you call them “hearts”. DR: [Laughs] You know, I just never liked the word “fans”. They are my hearts.

TB: WOW! That’s a mixture I didn’t expect, Dawn. TB: Ok, so for your “hearts”, what would you like them to know?

Order Dawn’s Special Cover Exclusively at MAGCLOUD.COM

DR: I would like them to be patient with me! I would like them to just wait and see what I can come up with. If you’re patient with me then I’ll take you to a place you’ve never gone before. TB: What would be your advice to enter the music arena? DR: Who am I to give advice? I went through two groups, so what do I know?! But, I would say go all for it and find it out for yourself -- create your own journey.

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v o i c e o f a n e m e r g i n g s u b c u l t u r e • w w w. h e e d m a g . c o m

INTRODUCING BY JADE PERRY

SOURCE OF STRENGTH

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“We have had a gradual growth of sound. We’re influenced by so many different genres, but we can’t try to do everything either. So the sound is somewhat of a Caribbean sound in rhythm and accent, mixed with contemporary North American gospel, since that’s what we listen to. There’s some country, rock, and hiphop. So… it’s an anointed fusion.” SOS takes inspiration from the likes of Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribbet, and Israel & New Breed. However, the group is trying to make their sound even more diverse. “We’re a young band. So, we’re really trying to go back into Bill Withers, Billie Holiday… anything and everything. We’re trying to keep it to where we wouldn’t poison ourselves (with negative lyrics).” Yet, the most important source of inspiration is God. “It’s important that you produce the song that God has for you. Understand the musical influences from the Scripture, and use that to impact your music with the power of God.” JP: So how does SOS go about writing and producing music? SOS: “It’s random. There are twelve of us, so we all get inspiration. One member will share a melody or something and leave it via voicemail. Each member adds his or her different sound, so it’s pretty exciting. We are musicians…and we have to write to live. So, in terms of writing, we just do it anywhere. It doesn’t even always have to be gospel. The Bible says write the vision and make it plain.” Through music, SOS does just that. From their interview, I get the sense that all members of SOS serve as an integral part of the band. Since there are twelve in total, I wondered what the group dynamics might look like. “There is a wide range of age brackets. The youngest member

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is seventeen going on eighteen. There is a young bunch, who are jovial and ‘kicksy’. You know what that means? They like to crack a lot of jokes and things. The older ones are more cool and laid back. It’s a diverse group. We [Gary and Dwayne] have to be able to serve different temperaments. It starts with leadership. We have to create a climate of understanding and respect for different talents and temperaments. It’s not a bed of roses. It’s a lot of work, and it is not always sweet and easy… it’s actually crazy (and that’s the truth)! But we thank God for vision. In difficult times, we go back to the vision. God always has a way of showing how the negatives are complimented by someone else’s positives. Over time, people are evolving. It’s crazy, but it’s fun, and it’s what God calls us to do.” Gary expounds, “Without a vision, you would perish… without beginning with the end in mind, you will definitely perish. Dwayne and I know that this is what God wants us to do. We don’t question what God has for us to do. We can become despondent sometimes, but we always draw on each other’s strengths. Iron sharpens iron. So Dwayne and I continue to sharpen each other, praying and continuing to ask God to give us that strength to move further. We have a burning desire to move forward. When you’re placed in (a difficult) position, you have to move forward.”

In addition to making music… Members are busy with the Source of Strength

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foundation, a non-profit organization that “brings change into the community, by way of music”. Gary and Dwayne hope that teaching music to youth will educate, inspire, and relieve the stresses of living in what many see as at-risk communities. “We want to be present in the places where people are afraid to go, and start teaching there, so that God can do those things.” SOS plans to continue doing gigs and shows, start a full-length album, and expanding the Source of Strength foundation to include a music studio and dance theatre.

SOS’ Advice to Heeders “We need to question a little bit more, especially in church. If there’s anything we have to say to the Heed readership – question stuff, and then go to God for the answers. Don’t let anybody stuff anything down your throat. Make sure it’s for real… and I believe that you will arrive for the source”. –Dwayne Thomas “For the readers who might not be Christians, we want to be able to share the love we’ve received. We want to be able to reach out to those who don’t even know Jesus. We want to use music as a medium to touch souls and to show (not just talk about a Scripture) that what we are doing is something different. They can tap into it, and it will pique their interest. SOS is a movement: the brand, the youthfulness. It draws people in”. –Gary McSween

INTRODUCING BY IMADE NIBOKUN

ABIMARO

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inger-songwriter Abimaro Gunnel seemed destined to become a storyteller since her youth. She weaved her love for poetry into the musical influences of her English mom, Ugandan dad, and eclectic sister. All of this started when Abimaro’s mom gave her daughter one request: to replace the pop songs she wanted to sing with meaningful words of her own. Just like that, a songwriter was born. Poetic Beginnings “I used to write poetry a lot when I was younger. I used to go to the table to say some poetry [in front of her three older siblings] and they would say, yeah, its wack [laughs]. I don’t know why I wrote but I just really enjoyed words.” With a love for words came a love for reading. After falling in love with the works of Maya Angelou, Abimaro came across another poet who changed her life. “My sister gave me a book by Langston Hughes. It was a whole collection of Langston Hughes poems. I was really overwhelmed by them. I used to sit with my nose in them, like, wow.” Surrounded by inspiring writers, Abimaro began to explore other dimensions of her creativity. “I stopped dancing for a few reasons. And I felt like I needed some expression. One time I was at school and they said we’re having a talent show. So I decided to sing, I don’t really know why. From then, I started loving singing. And I started writing more and more and more.”

things that were relevant to me. I listened to a lot of Christian music that was glorifying God and meant for the church, which is fantastic, but I didn’t find that it was appropriate to play in front of my non-Christian friends. I started writing songs about my friends and I invited them to school concerts. They would be touched by it. I started to write every experience that I had. I just started getting better at it.”

who is Alex. I wanted everyone to understand that my focus was God. It turned out that everyone in the band was Christian and that God had provided.” Along with James and Alex, Abimaro’s 5-piece band was completed by Raphael Powell and BBC’s Top Sound of 2012 Artist, Michael Kiwanuka. This was an amazing feat for someone who wasn’t expecting Christian musicians, let alone acclaimed British artists.

Finding Her Brothers

Reflecting The True Voice of Women

It’s hard to say Abimaro without saying “& The Free”. Comprised of bassist James Beatt and keyboardist Alex Montaque, their fluid blend of soul, jazz, and folk beautifully complements Abimaro’s organic storytelling. Their breathtaking EPs, So I’ll Boast and Books, reflect a brilliant musical partnership. “They are like my brothers. They refine me and I think we’ve all really learned how to listen better to each other. We started at Goldsmith University in London. It’s known for music and the arts. I was in the first year and James was in the third year. We never spoke to each other because first years don’t really get a chance. He heard me sing and said anytime you need a bassist let me know because I really like to work with you. “ Abimaro took up James’ offer for her final university performance and got another surprise as well. “James brought his friend,

Abimaro’s dense songwriting often discusses the intersection of man’s frailty and God’s strength. But as a newlywed wife to grime rapper Samuel Gunnel, love songs would be an expected route. “I don’t know. I sometimes write out of a place of [being] upset. So, it’s good that I’m not writing [love] songs because I’m happy [laughs]. It would be nice to write a song about Sammy. I’ve written a lot of poetry about him.”

Crossing the Chasm

Using her lyrics as a lens to society, Abimaro’s music has a humanitarian focus. “My main inspiration is to affect the people around me. And the way that seemed effective the most is through song. “

Abimaro’s maturation as a songwriter made her aware of a glaring void. “I didn’t listen to a lot of Christian music that seemed to comment on

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With sensitive introspection, Abimaro has a way of treading the unbeaten path. While many songs project women as nothing more than sex objects, Abimaro wants to use her thought provoking lyrics to paint another picture. “My passion is to look at women and how they’re represented in music. When I was younger, I was really tired of hearing songs about love. There must be more things to sing about.” Abimaro longs for society to embrace the complexity of women. “I’m trying to make a point that we need to offer women another chance and point of engagement. And also offer men a chance to view women as a mother or a sister.”

Multiplicity

Photo, styling, make-up and body paintings: Paolo Prisco Photographer, Monaco. Model: Symone Beli Clothes: Zara, H&M, BCBG. Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Zara, Sonia Rykiel for H&M. Vintage and customized clothes and accessoires belong to the Photographerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Private Collection.

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East mingles—and shines—with West at the ESOSA fall preview. On February 10, Project Runway finalist, Emilio Sosa, made his Fashion Week debut at the Alvin Ailey American Dance studios with “Urban Geisha. The collection mixes Japanese calligraphy with urban graffiti and pairs brilliant colors w/ textured layers. The results are bold, wearable looks. Check out the full coverage of the Esosa event @ www.heedmag.com/Online

NIGHT ON THE TOWN EMILIO SOSA SPRING 2012 FASHION SHOW / NEW YORK, NY

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