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Saoul Vanderpool Founder / Publisher Frederick “Chef Mookie” Hicks Co-Founder / Food Editor Rayner Wharton Jr. Co-Founder
Heeders
Crystal Wimberly Managing Editor
Contributing Photographers Jong Clemente Floyd D. Hobson III Gregory Prescott Treagen Kier Cesar Cabrera Micah Bickham Joe DeAngelis Courtney Barron Marianna Massey Brian Luman (Intern) Joe Marino (Retoucher)
Contributing GLAM Toye Adedipe - Stylist Courtney Chenard - Stylist
Jordan Hall Photographer / Writer Hakim Pitts Writer Mike Sanford Publicist / Journalist Ken Fujimatsu Webmaster Benjamin J. Brown Tech/Gaming Editor Lorraine LaPrade Field Journalist
Contributing Writers Jade Perry Thaiia Reynolds Lisa George Nike Ma Cara Noel Nikki Warsop Danny Hill Imade Nibokun
Interns Darwyn Allen II Robert K. Jones Horatio Wauchope
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CONTENTS ARTS OMARI HARDWICK ROMEO MILLER AMERICAN: NEGRO
28 34 40
CULTURE GENEVIEVE: TALKS READ & REVIEWED GOOD EATS: KATZ IN THE SPIRIT: NAMING VONRAY: REPRINT
FEATURES COVER STORY
AL SHARPTON 50
I KNOW ‘THAT GUY’
BRIAN WHITE 56
10 10 11 57 62
REALMUSIC BROOKE VALENTINE RUSSELL DELEGATION KENNY LATTIMORE DWELE ISRAEL HOUGHTON BARRY SOUTHGATE KEITH ROBINSON
8 12 14 18
20 24 26
PHOTO BY © JONG E. CLEMENTE
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, POLITICAL/SOCIAL ACTIVIST
COVER
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COVER SUBJECT - REV. AL SHARPTON PHOTOGRAPHY- JONG CLEMENTE ASST PHOTOGRAPHY - BRIAN LUMAN ASST PHOTO/VIDEO - DARWYN ALLEN II INTERN - ROBERT K. JONES RETOUCHER - JOE MARINO
Transition is not a part of life. Transition is life. From birth to death, laughter to mourning, youth to old age, poverty to wealth even sun up to sun down, humanity and earth remain in constant flux. The moment things cease to change will be the instance when life itself no longer, will be. It’s my advice that we embrace these temporary variances understanding that the only constant things in life – our GOD and LOVE for one another – are the epitome of all we will ever truly need here and in the here-after. Our staff bids Managing Editor, Crystal Wimberly a regretful and heartfelt farewell. Crystal honed the voice of our emerging subculture and now takes a hiatus to allow life’s transistion to play its course. We send with her our blessings and pray life finds her way back to Heed in the future. Crystal you WILL be missed! Share It • Live It • Heed It
Saoul Vanderpool Founder/Publisher
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Ziggy appeals to the masses adding to the world famous Marley dynasty, Raven Symone moves from the screen and takes the stage on causes beyond Broadway, Tichina Arnold remains relevant landing one role after the next, Gospel duo Mary Mary gives back ‘Something Big’ to the community, Brian Culbertson is a newcomer with seasoned musical skills, SuperProducer Warryn Campbell does music his way on ‘MyBlock’, Underground sensation Conya Doss drops another soulful album, ANTM contestant Camille McDonald shows us fashion + Much More. ORDER YOUR BACKCOPY OF HEED’S SUMMER ISSUE @ www.heedmag.com
Cliff notes
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Brooke V. | Singer @4everbrooke
RE-INTRODUCING
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY PRESCOTT
BY LISA GEORGE
BROOKE VALENTINE
She’s back! And, this time Brooke Valentine is armed with a new attitude and is definitely a force to be reckoned with. In 2005, the hit single “Girlfight”, featuring Lil Jon and Big Boi, was her musical introduction to the world, with her freshman effort “Chain Letter” serving as the perfect chaser.
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The world responded favorably -- the single sold over 300,000 copies globally within the first 3 weeks, peaking in the top fifty in Australia and Ireland, and Top 40 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. “Chain Letter” debuted at #16 on the US Billboard 200 and as high as No. 3 on the
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums singles charts. Despite selling more than 2.5 million CDs worldwide, Valentine fell out of love with the industry and took a break to find out who she really was. Having accomplished that, she returns triumphant, not only knowing what her purpose is
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Brooke V. | Singer @4everbrooke
in life but so much more and has lots to say. With this latest project, Forever, Brooke is reminding her fans that she never fell out of love with making music or them. Admittedly, Brooke is scared yet excited about this next stage in her career. “There [are] always two sides to everything and, I guess the scary part is, it’s like a new world out there. The exciting part is everyone is accepting me as if I never left.” Forever, her 14-track full-length album features a delightful mixture of pop, dance, and R&B. Released in the spring of 2012, the title track and first single highlights a “family is forever” theme, featuring the vocalist’s 2 year old son, London. Valentine takes listeners on an emotional journey as she belts out the heart-tugging lyrics, “Somebody come and save me/It’s all over now” in “Selfish Lover” and “I never felt so good in my life before/This kind of love is so magical” in “Down for the Count”. The sentiment in the latter can be heard, during the interview, as she ecstatically proclaims to surrendering to love daily. “Every time I see my son, I surrender to love,” she says before recalling a tender moment when he simply wanted to rock in the rocking chair and she stopped everything to enjoy those three special minutes with him. And with “Perfect”, accompanied by the piano and drums, one can visualize the transparent feeling of inadequacies of a hurt lover willing to forgive as Brooke croons “If love was an emergency, you’d get there late too”. Grammy-nominated artist and actor Tyrese joins her in the conversational duet between two lovers wondering if they should go on in “Rub It”. Brooke’s raw emotive ballads seem to originate from a stronger sense of self. Her growth and strength is easily heard in her voice, as she firmly states “I can trust myself in the studio and know that if I go with my heart, I can’t go wrong. In the past, there was a roundtable with a bunch of execs in the studio...Now, I don’t do roundtables. It’s just me and my mike. If it comes to my mind and I can sing it, I feel as if it should be there”. As an advocate for developmentally challenged children, she feels as if one should be able to
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trust oneself before being able to allow someone to cry on your shoulders. Hence, the transparent and organic emotion in her music, accentuated by her soul-stroking vocal range as exhibited in “Insanity”. Punctuated by the soft strokes of a piano and sorrowful caress of her back-up vocalists, the inner struggle of an abused person knowing that this should end is felt. “You brought out the best in me/And then you re-arranged my face/You knocked me in another space/Can’t let you keep on hurting me.” The birth of her son London and their ensuing journey forced her to tap into her inner strength and voice. Living through her son’s stroke at birth, followed by the blood transfusions and challenges associated with his cerebral palsy, made her realize, as she says, “I’m here for something and I need to speak up.” And so, for her, the return to music is, she tells us, “…not about winning Grammys and awards and everyone knowing your name. It’s more about memories and speaking to someone and touching someone… Them wanting to dance to your song at their wedding or wanting to play your song at their child’s birthday party. Being a part of those memories is the award for me.” Memorable moments will definitely be created with Valentine’s album which also includes up-tempo club jams such as “Pretty Boy”, “In the Air”, and of course, the title track, “Forever”. To new artists entering the industry, Valentine encourages them, “You only get one chance to be a
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new artist. After that, you’re an old artist. I would encourage any new artist to step out as yourself. See yourself as much as you can.” Advice obviously gleaned from her self-reflection during her time off, she continues to remind them, and probably herself, that “People want to know you. They want to know and feel your heart.” Three words that Brooke uses to describe herself? Wisdom, trust, and…weirdo? She laughs. “Weirdo because I don’t try to fit in anywhere!” Who qualifies as a weirdo? According to Ms. V, Big Boi, Lil John, and the late greats Pimp C and ODB, because “They were and are true to themselves. It was an honor to work with ODB, and Big Boi is dope!” By letting her walls down and allowing her authentic self to come through on this album, Valentine is definitely not concerned about trying to fit in. Calling her album a diary, she says, “With Forever, each song is a page from my diary. It’s so personal. I’ve been gone for a while, and a lot of what I’ve been through and what I’ve learned is on this album.” Brooke tells us that she hopes her fans “…identify with something on her album. Hope that it touches them in some type of real way…I hope they find something that’s timeless for them. I really want to connect with people in a real way because I put a lot of my heart into this album, so I hope that they can feel their heart in it as well.” She wants to be remembered as someone that shared her heart. Someone that was honest and people could trust. This emotionally transparent album will definitely resonate with listeners, which is great for Brooke as she wants to “date her fans”. With only one album out before this, she admits, “I haven’t had time to date them. It’s like going on one date with someone. There’s no trust. We need to go on some more dates so that I can get to know them, court them, and see what they love.” Brook ended the interviewing by thanking me for my time. “I appreciate it and to my fans, I appreciate you guys for riding with me even during my break. I appreciate all the love and support. God bless you all.” She can be found on www. bvalentineforever.com and @4everbrooke.
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Read&Reviewed Every year we are inundated with negative campaign ads from opposing political parties. It becomes challenging to determine which candidate has the country’s best needs at heart through all of the negative campaign ads and all the word games that politicians play. I decided to kill some of the media noise by going directly to the sources and reading each of the current candidates books. The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on reclaiming the American dream by Barack Obama, was published in 2006 prior to his run for the presidency in 2008. Audacity expresses the view of the President, prior to his election as Commander in Cheif of The United States. His views on life, politics, community, and family are all very consistent with the man that is currently in office. He opens the book by letting the reader know that is not ignorant of the shortcomings that exist between the Democratic and Republican parties, his ability to separate the person from their politics, and the reason he doesn’t allow certain people in the media to raise his blood pressure. Throughout the book he uses examples from American history to support his vision of a strong America. He demonstrates a clear understanding of the history of the building of this nation, the climate, the culture and the intent of the founding fathers at the time the Constitution and
Genviève Talks What is Online Social Activism? On November 6, 2012 the US presidential election will take place at the forefront of popular culture and at the height of social media. President Barack Obama, who ushered in a new practice of grassroots digital campaigning through social media, is running for his second term. There will be people from every country, language, and religion focusing on the election and posting up-to-the-second information and commentary on viral networks using multi-media campaigning. Thanks to pioneers and innovators such as the late Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, the entire world is populated and connected like never before. Billions
A NIKE MA BOOK REVIEW
other declarations and laws were created, and how those decisions impact America today. While his book does not focus as heavily on foreign affairs and the dangers outside of the US borders as Mitt Romney’s book, I was not left with the impression that he lacked an understanding of who America’s enemies and allies were at the time he wrote the book. He discusses the need for improvements in the American education system in order to make our nation more competitive in the areas of science and technology. He mentions the need to improve our infrastructure to ensure and improve safety nationwide and bring us up to par with our international counterparts. No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, by Mitt Romney, was published in 2010 prior to his run in the 2012 presidential election. The first third of No Apology was a super patriotic essay on America’s greatness, the power and influence we have over other nations, and all the reasons why the world needs a strong America. He made a point to mention Barack Obama’s “apology tour,” accusing the president of weakening America’s image of strength and power by consistently apologizing for our role in certain world events. (The President apologized to Afghan President, Hamid Karzai for reports of American troops burning the Quran. This incident sparked outrage and attacks on Americans
in Afghanistan.). Mitt Romney pulled no punches in expressing why he believes Barack Obama’s foreignpolicy is dangerous to America’s good standing with our allies. He concluded the first third of the book by declaring: “It is time for America to pursue the difficult course ahead, to confront the looming problems, to strengthen the foundations of our prosperity, and to secure the sources of our liberty and safety. The sacrifice and hard work will not stop our national energy, they will be restored. I’m one of those who believe America is destined to remain as it has been since the birth of the Republic: the brightest hope of the world. And for that belief, I do not apologize.” Like Barack Obama, he uses a number of examples from world history to illustrate his plans to create a strong America as well as, potential points of failure for the United States to avoid. He believes that the U.S. government prior to 2008 was a wonderful time in America, being sure to mention the Clinton administration among them, while the Jimmy Carter years are questionable in his opinion. His focus on creating a stronger educational system is more driven by the need to make America a more productive country in business by focusing on the areas of science and technology, and he acknowledges that our current education system is weakened by politics. I strongly recommend that every voter take the time to read both of these books before going to the polls in November.
COLUMN BY GENEVIÈVE A. NIXON
of users worldwide update their social networks like: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and blogs like Tumblr with “likes” and “status updates” at a whim. Users share with a close few, or a few thousand friends and followers or, if you’re a celebrity of sorts, a few million followers, their minute to minute, picture to picture, status updates and tweets through social media. Social media, at its best, is a service for activism. In turn, social activism is the bridge connecting social change through online media, by using the content that we all share to influence each other and create change on a local, federal, or global level. Through our mobile devices, we
have a direct effect on people through our social networking behaviors. Whether all we have time for is a quick “like” or “retweet”, join the conversation or, even better, share the message and contribute to its movement. The Trayvon Martin case is a prime example of how social media can have a direct impact on the political involvement of the public in what would otherwise be considered local or unheard of news. Because of social media, thousands of people around the world -- from students and professionals to celebrities -- all shared in some of the same sentiments regarding the murder of Trayvon Martin. Social media platforms like
Facebook created a space where people who otherwise do not know each other can share in the same causes and conversations, and ultimately helped to organize protests around the country in record time, which otherwise would have been close to impossible. At the very least, thousands posted pictures of themselves wearing hoodies, which became an iconic symbol of what Trayvon was wearing at the time of his death. We are all ultimately and forever connected across the world, on all levels of life through social media. And, this level of connectivity will continue to rapidly grow as technology capabilities increase, as the demand and consumption exceeds yesterdays
Katz Delicatessen - New York, NY Today I ventured down to the Lower East Side for brunch. After navigating my way on the F Train and walking a few blocks down E. Houston, I stopped in front of my destination – the famous Katz’s Delicatessen. Now, for my generation, Katz’s is famous for “that” scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” but long before Billy met Meg, locals were stopping in to Katz’s for a pastrami on rye.
Our waitress, Tamara, was fantastic! I’m not a huge pastrami eater, so it took me a while to decide what to order, and Tamara came back a few times to check and see if we were ready to order. I ended up ordering the Reuben with pastrami (I mean, really, how could I go to Katz’s and NOT order pastrami?!), my friend ordered the corned beef, and we split an order of steak fries.
I walked in, and was immediately surprised by how large the restaurant is. New York is second only to Philly in the number of super-tiny restaurants, but Katz’s is huge! It’s also a bit confusing. There were a few security guards standing near the front door, and a guy handing out pink tickets. The guy in front of me was trying to convince the man at the door that he’d never been given a ticket, and the guy at the door wasn’t buying it. When I was handed my ticket, and then immediately glanced over to see a sign that read that Katz’s charges $50 for lost pink tickets, I decided that I would know where that pink ticket was at ALL times throughout my meal.
While we waited for our food, we snacked on the yummy pickles that Tamara brought to the table, and while we snacked, I interviewed a few other patrons about their thoughts on the upcoming election. The first person I questioned was my brunch companion, Damany H., from Jersey City. Damany noted that this election will be about the candidate who will best deliver a plan for the direction in which we would like the country to turn. He’s disappointed that President Obama didn’t work harder to get the American people to understand his plan. He also felt that Obama does indeed have a plan, as opposed to Romney, but he wishes that Obama had stepped outside of the D.C. area more, to talk to the American public. Mitt Romney did some good in Massachusetts, Damany admitted, but he also said that he doesn’t want to vote for someone who would choose a running mate who would kill social security and bankrupt the middle class. He felt that, in general, Obama does, and would continue to, govern from consensus.
My friend and I were shown an open table in the back, and we made our way back there to take our seats. The décor is typical of well-known eateries – there were the photos of the owner and famous folks from throughout the years, from Chris Noth to Judge Judy to “that guy whose face you recognize, but don’t remember why”. The tables and chairs were basic but clean. I mean really, this place isn’t going for ambiance, it’s going for “Get your yummy sandwich, eat it, and go, already!”
Next, I spoke with Spencer, a 20-something from Manhattan. Spencer was 18 in 2008, so that was his first real
experience with our nation’s political process. He said that he’s not as into things this time around, and that he’s trying to avoid media reports so he can form his own opinions. Lastly, I spoke with Tamara, our waitress, and a 20-something from Brooklyn. Tamara said that she is just now starting to pay attention to the candidates and their platforms. She noted that she didn’t simply want to vote for President Obama because he’s a fellow Black American, but because she agrees with a number of his initiatives, including the Healthcare Bill. However, she really wants to sit back and study the candidates and form her own opinion based on their ideas and platforms. Okay, now back to the food. Like I said earlier, I was a bit wary of the pastrami, because I typically don’t eat THAT much red meat, and also because I usually prefer my nonburger, non-gyro sandwiches cold. I mean, my typical deli order is turkey and cheese on rye, but I was definitely willing to give pastrami a chance. Well, color me pleasantly surprised! The sandwich was delicious! It was a heaping portion of pastrami on rye, with sauerkraut, Russian dressing and melted swiss. It was drippy, it was flavorful, and before I knew it, half of it was gone! The pastrami was tender and seasoned very well. The fries came and while they were decent steak fries (read: good, but nothing to write home about). But the sandwich was so deliciously filling that I only ate a few. I’m going to be honest -- traffic doesn’t
A CARA NOEL RESTUARANT REVIEW flow well in Katz’s. You walk right to order directly from the deli, and left to get waiter service. But Katz’s does run like a well-oiled machine. It’s been around a long time, and I can only imagine the number of patrons it gets each week. But I get the idea that their regulars don’t care, because the food is just that good. Now don’t get me wrong, our service was fantastic! Tamara was friendly, attentive, and very patient with our picture-taking and question-asking. I’m always wary of waitstaff who work at a restaurant, but don’t eat there. That’s not the case with Tamara. She made honest, informed suggestions, which helped me decide what to order. Katz’s is a-OK with me. Please understand that it’s pricy – our tab came to roughly $58 for two sandwiches, an order of fries and two drinks. But let’s be realistic. Tourists come to visit the Big Apple to sightsee, and to spend money. And guess what, people will pay $16.95 for that Reuben. Shoot, I did, and I live in NY. Would I go back? Yep! For me, it’s not a “go there every weekend” type place, but if I’m in the neighborhood, and wanting some pastrami, Katz’s will be my spot. Oh yeah, and in case you’re wondering, the pink tickets are used as your check (they write your total on the ticket itself). Don’t worry -- I kept mine with me the whole time!
Russell Delegation | Choir @russellondemand
INTRODUCING BY NIKE MA
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RUSSELL DELEGATION
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Russell Delegation | Choir @russellondemand
Gospel music used to be choir robes, unified voices, an organ, a piano, a drum, a tambourine, and that church sister who could raise the roof on the sanctuary. But the sound has changed. The rhythm and tone has morphed into a sound that is most commonly heard on mainstream radio. The Russell Delegation’s summer release, “How I Feel About You”, which uses the chorus from Al. B. Sure’s same-titled hit, is a perfect example of how much the sound of Gospel is changing. The choir sings along with rappers Mahagony Jones and B-Wellz, while Lisa McClendon and Tia Pittman sing a soulful ballad. Gone are the choir robes, and the tambourine is off in a corner somewhere collecting dust. Which raises a few questions: How and when did the traditional sound of gospel change, and what should we expect next? I had a chance to speak with several key people in the Gospel industry. Arvetra Jones, Jr., president of the North Carolina Gospel Announcers’ Guild, pointed out that the sound we are hearing now really is not a change, but that we are coming full circle. He reminded me that artists such as Thomas Dorsey and Edwin Hawkins were revolutionary in their time for their combination of the blues sound with scripture-based lyrics. Vicky Mack, founder of GospoCentric Records, points out that the Edwin Hawkins song “Oh Happy Day” was not well received by Gospel music lovers. Many stations refused to play the song. Vicky shared a similar experience to that of Hawkins when she began releasing gospel music that sounded more like R&B under her label. She said that she was called the devil and people threatened to take over her company. When she introduced gospel groups like Trin-i-tee 5:7 and Kirk Franklin, she received death threats and had to hire bodyguards. But the negative publicity drew attention to the not-so-traditional sound and helped make Kirk Franklin’s song “Stomp” a hit, selling 3.5 million copies. Vicki created the new sound in Gospel that many have come to love so that her daughters would have music with a positive message to enjoy.
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Zee, of dasouth.com, agrees with Arvetra and Vicky. None of them believe that the more contemporary sound of gospel music will diminish the message behind the music. All agree that it is the intention and the integrity of the artist that makes a huge difference in the music. They believe singing the music is one thing, but the life of the artist should reflect what they are singing.
These Gospel industry giants suggest the following artists to watch as the gospel sound continues to shift : Lecrae, Israel and New Breed, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Isaac Carree, and The Ambassador. All five agree that Gospel music is not morphing into R&B/hip-hop. The sound of Gospel is simply evolving.
Khalif Townes of uGospel.com points out that there are many secular artists that transition to singing gospel music. Singers like Fantasia and Kelly Clarkson, whose roots are in the church, were easily able to transition to gospel with little fallout from their fans. If their content as secular artists is still positive and not degrading, listeners will not find the message in the music difficult to relate to. Herb Middleton, producer of The Russell Delegation’s single “Night and Day” states, “At the end of the day it’s a matter of personal preference. As you know, I took Al B Sure’s song…and I pulled it over to my own relationship with God and said, ‘I could really think about you all day and tell you how I feel.’ So his song is relative to what my personal experience is.” There was no way to have the discussion about the more contemporary sound of gospel music without discussing the money. Arvetra, Zee, Khalif, Vicki, and Herb all agree that money plays a big part in the Gospel industry. They point back to the artist’s integrity and dedication as the deciding factor as to which artists will succeed and which artists will not. Vicky Mack says, “You have to be dedicated and called to do this... And some [artists] come out too early; they need to sit in their ministry for a while.” She is confused by artists that state that they are only singing for ministry and not the money. She points to the Scripture in Proverbs 22:29, which says the diligent man in business shall be recognized by prominent people. Making good business decisions and yielding a profit based on those good decisions is considered a sign of good stewardship.
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ARVETRA JONES, JR – PRESIDENT OF THE NCGAG
VICKI MACK LATAILLADE – FOUNDER OF GOSPOCENTRIC
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Cliff notes
Kandi shows off her abused alter-ego, “Que” focuses on his future, SBshades goes international changing the LISA GEORGE REMEMBERS STARSventures WHO WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US. game of the fashion industry, Rocsi is just getting started as she tenaciously into new opportunities, Gerard is the bonnerfide truth when it comes to gospel music, The Color Purple launches Kadejah’s career into a broadway musical nirvana, Alvin breaks stereotypes in African American film-making, Mint Condition celebrates 20 plus years of love music, F.D. Hobson takes us on a photographic journey through his eyes + Stories of abuse
Music has a way of moving people, helping to punctuate a time in one’s life or help one through something … be it good or bad. Other times, songs can move masses. And, for this, there are the individuals that we must thank. Their indelible marks on time are like stars whose brightness will shine long after they and we are gone. And although we may not always pay attention to these stars, their brightness continues to shine light on the farthest and darkest crevices. Sometimes conjoined with a fond memory, and at other times, evoking an emotion long forgotten. Through music, some artists continue to gently caress us… mold us… unify us. Their impact, solid. This section of Heed seeks to have one look up into the skies at these beautiful stars, and if only for a moment, take you on a mental journey to a good space… a time when you danced like you never wanted to stop, hollered some favorite tunes while driving down the streets with friends, cuddled with a loved one – “kitchen time” at family gatherings. “At first, I was afraid, I was petrified/Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side”. The opening lyrics for one of the century’s most timeless songs solidified Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Gaynor’s place in the world and catapulted disco onto the music map. This former disco queen had many people moving at clubs and parties, and for decades since, various characters in movies have belted out this anthem. “I Will Survive” is ranked #492 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and #97 on Billboard magazine’s “All-Time Hot 100”. In 2000, the song was ranked #1 in VH1’s list of the 100 greatest dance songs. Younger generations who don’t even know this artist’s name still know the words to this finger-snapping-rollyour-head-with-an-attitude song. Although Gloria has other hits such as “Never Can say Goodbye” (1974), “Let Me Know (I Have a Right)” (1979), and “I Am What I am” (1980), none quite did it like this global anthem. According to her bio, in March of 2001, her single, “Just Keep Thinkin’ About You,” topped the Billboard Dance/Club charts at #1, while her international hit “Last Night” with Giorgio Moroder debuted at #1 throughout Europe. In keeping with the theme of #1, Gloria Gaynor was the first to record an album especially for clubs, and she was the first to do a mega-extended dance medley party mix, releasing 12” dance singles that are now high-end collector’s items. Today, Gloria remains an internationally recognized name, actively performing worldwide, and is quite involved in philanthropic efforts. Fond memories were created by many screaming “Wooo… wooo… wooo…” and waving their hands or doing the bump to the 1979 charttopper, “Ring My Bell” which reached #1 in the U.S., the U.K, and Canada in 1979. Anita Ward’s hit has been remixed and re-released, several times, since its original release. This song went to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Soul Singles chart and also reached #1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. It has also been covered by many artists since its original release, including Blondie, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Ann Lee, Tori Amos, Blood Sisters, and so many others. It is also considered a disco-era classic. Though this was a platinum track, it isn’t the only song in her repertoire that was a hit. Her record, “Don’t Drop My Love”, was also well-renowned, and her album Songs of Love not only went gold, it was #1 in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Germany, and was nominated for a Grammy. Thirty-three years after “Ring My Bell” hit the musical airwaves, Anita Ward is still performing in the U.S. and overseas. As a matter of fact, this Disco Diva has performed a few times with Gloria Gaynor at casinos around the country in recent years. She also lends her talent to causes, such as joining Tom Joyner’s cause of providing support to students attending historically Black colleges and universities. To do this, she joined some of the most fantastic artists in soul music such as Queen Latifah, Fantasia, Chante Moore, SWV, Boyz II Men, Silk, H-Town, Shai, Tony Toni Toné , Yarbrough & Peoples, Rose Royce, and Taste of Honey onboard the Royal Caribbean International’s
FOR THE SLACKERS
“Who? Me, Myself, and I. What?” Coming on the scene when music was at a crossroads and gangsta rap was taking a strong-hold, De La Soul released their debut album. 1989’s 3 Feet High and Rising, was hailed as the future of hip-hop. Clearly not meant to be confined by musical norms, Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove, and P.A. Pasemaster Mase changed the landscape of hip-hop. For over 20 years, they have rocked us with their De La songs full of inscrutable samplings, whimsically irreverent lyrics, social commentary, light rhythm, and laid back rhymes. They have gained respect within and outside the hip-hop community with their contributions to rap, as well as jazz, funk, soul, and alternative genres. Not only are their musical innovations acclaimed and respected worldwide, but they paved a path for many alternative rap groups to come after them. Today, De La Soul continues to tour the globe with sold-out crowds of over 30,000 and released their eighth album in April. Posdnuos & Dave also released a side project entitled First Serve in 2012.
In Memorium
Top to bottom left to right: Gloria Gaynor, Chris Lighty, Sherman Hemsley, Chubby Taveres, Michael Clarke Duncan, De La Soul, Anita Ward
‘Navigator of the Seas’. Rewriting history, Anita Ward’s track “Ring My Bell” has been recently featured on Wii’s Gameplay “Just Dance”, released November 2009, and on the soundtracks of 14 movies in the past three decades, including most recently, Book of Eli. Although she is now a full-time wife and mother, music has never ceased to be a part of her life. “I’m going out there with a lot more fire and determination, because now I’ve truly lived the songs I sing,” Ward says. In 2011, she released a new single, “It’s My Night”, that surely has long-time fans rocking. When people talk of “good music”, there’s that possibility that they are referring to hits like “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” (1976) by Grammy winning group Tavares. Like many groups in the 70s, this sibling group of five, from Cape Verde took to stages with their smooth moves and harmonic tunes. The brothers -- Ralph, Tiny, Chubby, Butch, and Pooch Tavares -- originally called themselves “Chubby and the Turnpikes” and put out other hits including “Don’t Take Away the Music” (1976), and “Whodunit” (1977, another #1 R&B hit), among others. In 1974, Tavares had a #1 R&B hit with “She’s Gone”, which became a hit for Hall & Oates. “More Than a Woman” was specifically written for Tavares by the Bee Gees and was issued as a single from the 11-million-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Their music regularly topped the charts with hits such as “Out of the Picture” (which was sampled by 50 Cent in his 2003 song “Many Men (Wish Death)”). Clearly, creating music remains in their soul, as Tavares has been singing and performing for almost 40 years, although these days, the group comprises of just Butch, Pooch, and Chubby. No longer an active member of the group, Tiny still creates music and gladly joined forces with his granddaughter, Lorae Tavares, to perform a beautiful rendition of “Christmas Shoes” in 2008. Lorae released her first single, “Back to Summertime” on iTunes at the age of 15 in 2011. Chubby Tavares released his first solo album, Jealousy, in July 2012 – just a few months after Tavares, Four Tops, and the Temptations toured the U.K. together. On his Facebook page, he says “ I feel it’s time for my own solo project to reflect upon my career…Now, with 4 decades of a very successful career performing with my brothers of whom I have no intentions of leaving, I introduce my CD, Jealousy, to you. It has something for everyone!”
And then there are the stars whose light was slightly dimmed with their passing. Behind the scenes, hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty helped shape the music scene and guided the careers of Sean “Diddy” Combs, 50 Cent, Soulja Boy, Tribe called Quest, Missy Elliot, Mariah Carey, and many others. Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, brought his characters to life in the forty-plus movies he made during his career. His acting stirred us like the harmonic melodies in music. Actor Sherman Hemsley, best known as George Jefferson of All in the Family and The Jeffersons – where are the words to describe the joy and laughter that this man brought to millions of households for decades? Heed Magazine is proud to take a moment to thank the stars who no longer stand in the spotlight – those still with us and those whose earthly existence is no more. p, as well as jazz, funk, soul and alternative genres. Not only are their musical innovations acclaimed and respected worldwide, but they paved a path for many alternative rap groups to come after them. Official Albums Released: 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) De La Soul is Dead (1991) Buhloone Mindstate (1993) Stakes Is High (1996) Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) AOI: Bionix (2001) The Grind Date (2004) Today, De La continues to the tour globe and are currently working on their 8th Solo album. Posdnuos & Dave also released a side project entitled “First Serve” in 2012 Now, with 4 decades of a very successful career performing with my brothers of whom I have no intensions of leaving, I introduce my CD “Jealousy” to you. It has something for everyone! You’ll hear well known classics like “My Foolish Heart”, to the doo-wop beat of “Daddy’s Home”, to rhythm & blues “It’s All in the Game”, and I can’t forget the Eagles’ hit, “I Can’t Tell You Why”. You’ll hear fresh, new songs like the soulful country gospel “Words of a Fool” written by Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb. My longtime friend Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King joined me the cool ballad “They Say It’s DeJa Vu”, and you’ll love the pop rock sound of “Flee the City” and the title track “Jealousy”!
Kenny L. | Musician @KennyLattimore
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Kenny Lattimore Takes Us “Back to Cool” BY MIKE SANFORD
PHOTOGRAPHY © COURTNEY BARRON
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enny Lattimore made a lot of noise back in 1996 with his selftitled debut album. Garnering much acclaim for his hit single “For You”, he has established himself as a premiere singer -- arguably one of the top male R&B singers of the late 90’s. Receiving the NAACP Image Award for Best New Artist, and nominations for the prestigious Grammy, Soul Train, and Stellar Awards, Kenny’s career spans nearly 25 years. In 2002 he married singer Chante Moore and their union, ending in divorce last year, not only produced a ton of successful duets, but also the birth of their son. Not just a singer, Kenny has lent his talents and time to the worlds of television and theater, with appearances in hit sitcoms such as Moesha and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. As a humanitarian, Kenny has not only been an avid supporter of the United Negro College Fund for the last 15 years, but he’s established his own non-profit organization, The Kenny Lattimore Foundation, which uses mentoring, education, and the arts to empower young people. With his upcoming album Back to Cool scheduled for release this year, Heed had the chance to catch up with the “the new master of the new soul” for what turned out to be a very inspiring interview. Check out Kenny Lattimore as he takes us “Back to Cool”. 15
Heed: What can we expect from the new album “Back 2 Cool”? KL: You know, I think that the album is honest. I think that it reflects the ups and downs surrounding relationships. I sing love songs unapologetically. The only thing I can do is be authentic and sing my love songs. I’ve always wanted to encourage people with my songs and not just give the human perspective but give it in a way where I can show that we all have flaws. With this album I kind of stepped outside of my normal lyrical box. I decided to sing about what it’s like to go through the pains of love. Back to Cool is really about being okay with the transitions in your life, whether good or bad. I think what you’ll also hear in my performance is what I call the ‘new adult’. I have
a newer swag on Find A Way. I brought in some younger producers who may have been 10 when I came out! [Laughs] If I’m going to make new music, I wanted to bring in something new, and of course I tried to touch on the things I think adults wanted to hear. I have a duet with Lalah Hathaway, and I think it totally works for me. I have a song, the actual title cut, Back to Cool with Kelly Price. I loved having Kelly on there because she was SANGIN! [Laughs] Heed: You’ve been in the music industry for a long time, what do you think has contributed to your longevity? KL: I started out at 14 with my mom managing me. It’s great to have the longevity and for people
to consider you relevant. Some people consider you to be underrated. But actually, I think it’s better than being overrated. Being underrated gives me more of a chance of having longevity because it gives people the opportunity to keep discovering me. It’s refreshing to people because they haven’t been oversaturated with my music and what I do. I want to be more positive about that. I think it gives me a chance to continually connect with people and not worry about what everybody else is doing. The music is really what gives you the longevity. Having a song like For You is timeless. The song was so classically written that it will live on forever. My biggest issue in my career is constantly putting out music that, will compliment For You and as long as I can do that I think my music will live. I think that my music draws a certain listener that is looking for depth and spirituality. They’re looking for passion. Heed: “For You” had to be one of your biggest hits. What did that song do for your career? KL: It set the standard and it puts the pressure on anyone who wants to write a song for you. It’s not a negative pressure though, because I think it also sets the bar for me. The beauty in having a song like that is I can sing it forever. I see me being able to sing it anywhere in the entire world. For You has had that kind of impact on various parts of the world. It becomes new all over again; like on a continual basis! Heed: What keeps you grounded? KL: People honestly. Other folks that are not afraid to get in my face and say your mess stinks! [Laughs] Honestly, I think I’m around the greatest people who are not afraid to say ‘your mess stinks’. I think that apart of being grounded is the fact that I was raised to be grounded. I was never raised to look at people inferior to myself. I looked at the realism of having other peers that were amazing. I enjoyed watching other careers soar! I was there to see Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Mary Mary take off and become the successful artists they are today! The sad thing is some artists become full of themselves when they have certain types of success. I’ve been a tax write off, so those experiences will humble you and you’ll know that you’re not really special, but you’ve been given a special opportunity. The problem with that is, sometimes
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we’re not prepared for the opportunity. We have to be thankful to God for everything, because if we did that, it would solve a lot of issues… Heed: How has your faith shaped your music? KL: My faith has been the foundation of my standard. When I first came out, a lot of people were confused about why I didn’t sell my sexuality in a certain way. I came from gospel music and I came from parents, grandparents and pastors who challenged me to have a standard so that everyone could listen to my music. My influence has been the Christian community and I always wanted to exist in the Christian community without their being a question mark. When I talk about why it’s significant to sing love songs, it allows me to bring my message and be on platforms that a lot of people are not given. I’ve been really blessed to be able to get the responses I’ve been getting, in particular at my church home in LA, “New Dawn Christian Village”. My leader, Pastor Frank Wilson, and his wife have been amazing. When I got there it was so wonderful because they didn’t care about me; no one made me feel any different— everybody was equal. When I first came, I had to sit for a year and I really needed that. I believe that I was supposed get the replenishing from Pastor Frank. I am forever grateful for that church and the timing of them being in my life. Now, when I get in the church I can sing and be free because the relationship has been built. Some of it was coming outside of the church and meeting him for lunch. Sometimes we think of it in a one dimensional way. But the heart of it, is what happens outside of the church. Like, I believe I was called to be a mentor and share my life story to bless other people. When I was 18 I had a job at a group home counseling and I found this love and passion for mentoring and giving back. So last year, I started a foundation “The Kenny Lattimore Foundation”, which offers mentoring, counseling and of course the arts! Heed: How do you balance being a father with your music career? KL: I take my son with me. I incorporate him into whatever it is I do. He loves the entertainment industry. I try to incorporate him literally into what I do, so that it’s real. So that he’s not outside resenting what I do, so that it’s not a fantasy. He will
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have the memories of being with me on the road. Heed: Did you ever reach a place where you wanted to quit? KL: In my first year as an Architecture major at Howard University, I got a record deal. However, I’m considered an alumnus because I completed 2 years of the program. My mother was also an educator there. She was a counselor, but she was dying from cancer all around the same time. Honestly, it was very difficult for me to walk on the campus for a while. I guess I always wished they had an arts and administrative degree that I could’ve gotten involved with just to teach me a lot of the things I needed to know for the business. By then, she was gone and my interest to finish school had kind of diminished. It was a pretty tough time for me. Heed: What are some things you “take heed” to?
other people’s perspectives whether you think they’re right or wrong. Even down to my son, I try to understand his perspective as a nine year old. It helps me to be patient with him. It helps me to walk away from work. Sometimes we engulf ourselves in work because of the responsibility of having to take care of people. It helps me so that I don’t miss living. I take HEED to moments, or at least I’m learning to. I take HEED to balance in a major, major way. You’re not going to get a selfish or arrogant Kenny. I’ve never been that. But I will say that it’s been a very full and rewarding life for me! Heed: Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans? KL: I want the new adults to tweet and follow me @KennyLattimore and tell me if I am on point with this new music! Follow me and let me know what you think. I want to communicate and be apart of the dialogue with my fans.
KL: I take HEED to family. I take HEED to mercy and forgiveness. I take HEED to new perspectives all the time because it’s sometimes difficult to see
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Dwele | Musician @therealdwele
RE-INTRODUCING BY LISA GEORGE
DWELE Dwele thinks he has us fooled. He firmly believes that he can hold our souls hostage and continue to tap our musical senses with his catalog of music. His plan started over a decade ago when his melodic appetizers started infiltrating the world of music with his self-released album Rize. Mr. Gardner took listeners on a journey to a time of innocence as he crooned about a young boy’s attraction to his 8th grade teacher with “Jimmy Down”. This hit -- along with its comrades “Timeless” and “Lady @ Mahogany” -- sealed the deal and his plan took seed. Dwele’s harmonic assault is swift, causing all who cross his smooth lyrical path to wave white flags in sweet surrender. Over the years, that assault has consistently engaged souls, capturing more POMs (prisoners of music) with each album release. Armed with the influences of Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder along with his multi-instrumental skills, he has fearlessly forged on, balancing his desire to create music for the world, yet not lose himself to it. Despite solidifying himself as a proven hit-maker, Dwele strengthened his melodic fortress in 2010 with the release of W.ants W.orld W.omen. With this artistic creation, Dwele struck another decisive blow - his fans helplessly spellbound.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREAGEN KIER
When we met up, Dwele had me at “Hello” and a gentle infectious laugh. I was reminded of why we all love him and how he really does not have us fooled. It’s simply an ongoing, beautiful, and reciprocal musical love affair. His formula is simple – be authentic, relatable, and continue delivering soulful tunes. Staying true to himself and unyielding with his organic story-telling, Dwele has once again delivered a masterpiece with this latest release. His sixth album, Greater than One, was released this past August on eOne Music. Although known for imparting messages through his music, he says that this time around, “It’s less of a message that I’m trying to share. I’m just trying to share a feeling. Like with every album. I call my albums a soundtrack to your life. I want to put a feeling out there. Create a memory with this album through music. I want to create mem-
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Dwele | Musician @therealdwele
ories for the listeners.” Backed by the light beat of drums and guitar, the first single, “What Profit”, provides a seductive glimpse into the album’s offerings. “What profit a man to gain the whole wide world and lose his girl?/If I was your man, I’d do all that I can to keep you, girl” says it all, as Dwele enhances the lyrics with his captivating vocals. He explained that his collaboration with the genius Mike City was a simple creation, saying, “I put my music to it and that was it.” Consistent as a music seducer, Dwele brought Phife Dawg in for the remix of “What Profit”. “He’s a legend. I grew up listening to him. It was definitely a pleasure working with him.” Fans are definitely going to celebrate him once again joining forces with his friend and three-time Grammy-nominated artist Raheem DeVaughn for the duet “What You Gotta Do”. The duo are a definite artistic complement to each other’s musical strengths, dispensing elementary guidance to the fellas with the reminder that it’s the simple things that keep “your baby happy”. The song takes listeners to the days of young love with “…rest in peace Saturdays” and “…before past relationships built the wall of bricks in and you wear your baggage on your sleeve… when she was rocking dookie braids”. The song “Obey”…the title taps one’s curiosity vein and Dwele’s inspiration for it showcases his mental tapestry and triggers for his musical creations. “I always try to make a song on every album that could be the ‘get it done’ song and I think ‘Obey’ is that song. Um…” Dwele pauses for a thoughtful moment, then continues, “Okay, the inspiration for that song. This is the first time I’m saying this actually. You’re getting an exclusive. I was at home with a friend and she was stretching me. She was showing me how flexible she was. Right. But the way she was doing it. It was almost like ‘Damn.’ So, you know I’m into videography and I picked up my camera and I was recording her doing these stretches in slow motion. And when we were watching it back, I said this would be a dope video over a sensual song. So initially, the name of the song was going to be called ‘Stretch’. And, so I made the song but the music didn’t say ‘Stretch’ to me. It said ‘Obey’ and
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I just moved from there.” “Listening to this album, you would probably think that we went back into a time warp to the ‘80s. You know what I’m saying -- it kinda has an ‘80’s feel. As far as the subject matter, this time around, it’s less of a reflection of what I’m living right now. This time around, I spoke from past experiences as well as present experiences. I kinda of dipped into the past on this one.” To set this album off, the title has its own journey. Greater Than One, Less Than Three was the initial title, signifying the relationship between two people and playing on the symbol for love floating around on the internet -- <3. But after some discussion, the latter half was dropped. Dwele says, “It’s effective. I think it’s clean and it looks cool on the cover.” He continues, “[The album’s] kinda where I am right now. I feel comfortable. And I feel cool with the music right now and I feel like that really came across in the album. Swank. I’m kinda swankish.” Music lovers, be prepared for more musical assaults from Dwele, as he says, “I would love to learn how to play the guitar comfortable enough to get on stage with it and rock out. I’m not quite there and I want to be there.” Our interview was conducted about a week before this album dropped. When we asked Dwele how he was feeling about the impending release, he responded, “Cool. It seems as the reviews so far have been good. So, I’m excited to see how people feel about the album in its entirety. You know with the interludes and everything. I’m looking forward to seeing how they feel about it.” In response to a fan saying that he is “Smooth, deep, sensual….a good artist because his music content is rich,” Dwele says, “That makes me feel good. You know definitely hearing comments like that makes me want to keep doing what I’m doing with the music. I’m just glad that people are feeling what I’m feeling. You know what I’m saying. ‘Cause ultimately, I kinda make music to make me feel good. And, when I hear that people are feeling what I’m doing that means that I can keep doing what I feel. I can keep doing what I
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love”. On the state of R&B music today, Dwele says, “There should be more of a balance as far as radio goes when it comes to what R&B is being played. I think that it’s definitely wearing a lot of different hats right now. Right now, the pop/R&B is crushing the game and I’m not hating on it. I love it. You know what I’m saying. I love going to clubs. I love dancing to certain songs. It’s fun. I believe there’s a perfect time for every kind of music. But I think there should be more of a balance on what they’re forcing to the public. You know what I’m saying. I think they should play more soulful music onto the radio. A lot of times these kids don’t even get a chance to hear it to know whether they like it or not because they’re not even being touched by it. I just wished there was more of a balance between the types of R&B that’s being played.” Also the philanthropist, Dwele loves giving back in many ways. He truly enjoys going into schools to talk to students about paying attention in class. “I tell them about how the things they’re learning in school… they need to actually pay attention to. “Cause you never know when you’re going to need it in life. I run into a lot of kids who want to be producers and rap artists or singers.” Dwele tries to impart the importance of mathematics and English, and the major roles they play in our daily lives. At the time of the interview, he had donated one of his paintings to a non-profit to raise funds for HIV/AIDS awareness in Detroit. As an artist, Dwele feels as if he has grown a bit as a result of his fans reaction to his music and performances. “It affects the way I produce and write. I think I’ve grown in that sense. As a person, I feel like,” he pauses and laughs. “I feel like, um, I used to let a lot of things slide. I find myself not doing that as much anymore.” He smiles. “I think it’s a part of growing up.” His musical onslaught continues. Dwele can be found @therealdwele and www.dwele.com
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Israel Houghton | Musician @israelhoughton
Israel Houghton Living His Dream
PHOTOGRAPHY © CESAR CABRERA & MICAH BICKHAM
BY HAKIM PITTS
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T
he sun is setting on at warm Saturday evening in Philadelphia. To my distant left, I see the Benjamin Franklin Bridge carrying bustling cars to and from New Jersey. Looking straight ahead, I see Camden’s skyline, docked ships from yesteryear each carrying a story of their own, and the usual people celebrating life on the Spirit of Philadelphia as it cruises down the Delaware River. This is the normal scene for Philadelphia’s Historic Penn’s Landing, except for the fact that tonight I am accompanied by a massive sea of people. Some sitting but most are standing. They are young, old, black, white, red and yellow. I look to my immediate right and see a young mother. She is strong and beautiful yet the fatigue from life and motherhood has aged her countenance. Her kids are buoyant and joyful. They run around in circles, nagging her and asking questions like kids always do. She is frustrated but attends to her kids and then watches them run off again. I say to myself, ‘she should probably go home’. The sky is gray, thick clouds are drawing near to one another and buckets of rain could fall at any moment. But there is a patience and hunger in her stance. I see a similar hunger in the faces of the thousands that stand roundabout me. As I continue to survey the crowd, the emcee loudly shouts, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and welcome multiple Grammy, Dove and Stellar award winning worship leader, songwriter and producer, Israel Houghton & New Breed’. The crowd goes wild and everyone stands to their feet to welcome their friend and brother, Israel Houghton and his group of singers and musicians, New Breed. A month earlier, I met with Israel in NYC the day before he made his appearance on ABC’s The View along with fellow Gospel Music heavy hitters, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin. This particular show, appropriately named Sunday Brunch, was dedicated to Gospel Music. The four men were there to promote their upcoming combined endeavor, the King’s Men
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Tour which kicked off this Fall. I asked Israel how he felt about appearing on such a huge daytime television show. He said, “It marks a great day for Gospel Music, and I’m glad to be apart. Kirk called me and told me about the tour opportunity and that [mainstream] venues wanted us and believed in our music. I was down…it was pretty easy. We want people to see Jesus, so we’re going to intentionally cultivate an atmosphere where they can encounter and experience His presence.” Israel has traveled the world several times over, leading people in praise and adoration to God. Israel has broken down cultural barriers and has given people songs to help them through the valley and over the mountaintop. He’s a leader, an icon and is revered by people in both the Christian and Mainstream music worlds. Some would call him a big deal, but he strongly disagrees. When asked to discuss his achievements, he firmly shy’s away. “I am a husband, father and friend’, says Israel. ‘Relationships define us, not opportunities. What do people who know me say about me? The emphasis for me is on things that are eternal. When I leave here, I want people to say, this guy was a friend, a great husband, Father of the Year all the time; I want my kids to call me blessed. The sun has gone down in Philly, but Israel is just halfway through his set. Couples are holding hands, strangers are dancing and singing with one another; it feels like a family reunion. Israel transitions into another song, a tune that the crowd knows all too well. The band members tenderly play the melody, and the crowd immediately begins to chant the powerful refrain: “I am a friend of God he calls me friend’. This anthem has made its way around the world and dispels the idea of a distant, faraway, cosmic God but tells of a Creator who is caring, very present – in love with His creation and a friend. Israel, who is biracial (Black and White), was raised by white parents and grew up in a Hispanic community and church. He says, “I looked different, had a funny name and knew that I didn’t fit in all the way. I had to learn how to manage all these things or I would have just assimilated.’ He began to sing, play and lead worship at various
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places, but depending on the church, he wasn’t black enough or white enough. But Israel says he knew what he was called to do. ‘I began to write things down and how I saw the next ten years. I knew that I didn’t just want to be an artist; I wanted to lead a movement of worshippers who were intentionally cross cultural and to be a bridge for different people groups. I surrounded myself with people who ‘got it’ and began to dream out loud with them.’’
of being relevant. He tells me, “I’m motivated to write a message that’s more love driven than religion driven. Jesus extended grace to people regardless of their struggle. Jesus loved people.” Israel values authenticity and hates the traditional hyper spiritual statements people tend to hide behind. “All that stuff is BS”, Israel laments. “Just say that my day is crap right now. Most of the people I encounter are going through something very difficult. Being real is okay.”
Israel is surely living the dream. He has eleven successful albums under his belt including his most recent release, Jesus at the Center, which was recorded live this year at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Simply put, Jesus at the Center is about Jesus being the focus in every area of our lives. “We can’t just say that Jesus is first in our lives”, says Israel. “Does that mean I pay a little less attention to my family since He’s first? No, Jesus is in everything and everything is in Him. He has to be the priority in all our relationships and everything that we do. It all revolves around Him.”
‘It’s not over, it’s not finished. It’s not ending….I know it’s darkest just before dawn. This might just be the hardest season you’ve experienced. I know it hurts; it won’t be too long. So look to the sky, help is on the way’.
Israel is in love with Jesus, but he’s not lost in the Christian bubble and understands the importance
Fireworks begin to fill the sky as the lyrics from Israel’s single, It’s Not Over, gently wash over the audience. Hands are raised and heads are bowed as Israel encourages the people to hold on, trust and believe. I look to my right and see the young mother’s face flooded with tears. With one hand raised and the other holding her kids’ hands, she softly mumbles a sincere prayer to God, smiles and walks away. ////////////// Check Out New Breed Member Barry Southgate On Pg. 24
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Click»Swipe Mouse • Pad • Phone Soul Man
Heed Magazine had the chance to join in on an exclusive interview with the entire cast, executive producer, and director of TV Land’s newest hit show “The Soul Man” starring Cedric the Entertainer!
Le’Andrea Johnson
Leandria Johnson has had her share of difficulty. She has, however, resolutely chosen to sing through it all in hopes of reaching many along the way and I’m sure she has done that and more.
Cullen Jones
Alex Cross
As a spokesman for the USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash Initiative”, Cullen has been working diligently to help minority young people learn to swim, while making a name for himself in the world of fashion
After Washington DC detective Alex Cross is told that a family member has been murdered, he vows to track down the killer. He soon discovers that she was not his first victim and that things are not what they seem.
Durango NYFW
Brandon Camphor
Americana boot brand Durango hosted its highly Brandon Camphor & One Way have proved anticipated exhibit with photographer Ashley that humble beginnings coupled with a divine call Sky Walker for New York Fashion Week as a are all you need to navigate through the industry’s preview of the Fall ’12 ‘City’ Collection. harsh landscapes.
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Barry S. | Musician / Model @barrysouthgate
Barry Southgate first started singing with Israel Houghton in 2008, after the pair had met almost a year before at a Hillsong Conference.
CATCHN’UP Staying Connected He recalls their first conversation – “We were sound-checking when Israel walked up, introduced himself and basically just asked if I’d like to come out and sing with New Breed. There was no audition or goal-plan per se, and I love that about how he does things. It’s always an organic thing, just through relationship.” Now some four years later, Barry is as Israel jokingly described at his Deeper Conference, “New Breed Africa, New Breed America and New Breed Australia...”. Barry just returned from a five week tour in America - which included ministering with worship leader, Darlene Zschech, a songwriting trip in Los Angeles, and singing at Israel Houghton’s Deeper Conference. Southgate says, his current focus is writing great new music.
PHOTOGRAPHY © MARIANNA MASSEY FOR GETTY IMAGES
What He’s Been Up To?
Barry Sou thga te
“I can’t wait for the fans to hear what I’ve been working on”, he says. “This year has probably been the biggest rollercoaster for me ever, professionally and personally. And I think that’s definitely affected how I write and even how I sing.” Regularly featured on TV commercials, the multi-faceted artist has hit the big screen for the first time, landing a small role in The Sapphires. This Australian film, based on a true story, received a 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival.
Weighing In On US Elections When asked about the presidential election, Southgate simply says, “Regardless of who gets elected, I think it’s important for us all to pray that he will lead America well. I’m not into the popularity contest side of it all.”
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Keith Robinson | Singer @KeithSings
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CIRCLE PR
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Singer | Keith Robinson @KeithSings
Fondly remembered as the Green Ranger Joel Rawlings in the TV series Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue by fans, it may come as a surprise to some that Keith Robinson, who already has an impressive acting resume, claims singing as his first love. Those who enjoyed the Blade trilogy and followed the titular character’s on-going battle against “the thirst” were probably drawn into one of the scenes in Blade: Trinity by the slow-pulsing song “Thirsty”. On this collaborative effort with the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard and RZA, Robinson croons “Never going nowhere/You can’t run from me/Day and night, baby/Can I drink, can I drink again?”, emphasizing Blade’s eternal struggle. For Robinson, this collaboration was a dream come true as he tells us, “It kinda happened out of nowhere. I was in the studio with RZA and I kinda free-styled on one of his tracks. He liked it. He put Ol’ Dirty on it. We had a song. It was a great surprise.” Fast forward a few years and several movies, Keith shows that one can’t stray too far from their first love with the release of his longawaited solo album Utopia, featuring production by Step One, Jon B., and Mike City, with all songs written by Robinson himself. The album dropped in 2009 and showed the world that he was serious about singing. Enjoying his love affair with his musical career, Keith continued writing songs for himself and others, created a scoring company, and (of course) singing. At the 2007 Academy Awards, Keith was able to showcase his musical talents and was invited to perform the Oscarnominated song “Patience” from Dreamgirls with Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, and Anika Noni Rose. 2012. This year seems to be the year-on-the-cusp for Mr. Robinson as through his scoring company, Theme Song, Keith placed several songs. Definitely a man intent on expressing himself through his arts, this actor-singer often gets to mix both of his loves. His musical delights can be
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heard in movies such as 35 and Ticking in which he also starred, Divorce Invitation coming out later this year, and Dysfunctional Friends where he stars alongside Stacey Dash, Meagan Good, Hosea Chanchez, and Terrell Owens. The lead single “Same Rules” featuring Fabolous, off his sophomore album, Me, is also the leading single for the soundtrack of Dysfunctional Friends. Why is this catchy song and video getting so many raves? “It’s about unconditional love and vibe between you and whoever you’re dealing with…be it good or bad. The vibe and the energy between two people involved. It should always be the same, hopefully. It’s kind of an ode to keeping it real throughout whatever circumstance,” Keith says. One can definitely hear the influence of musical legends as Keith encourages everyone to “keep your hustle and dreams alive” in “My Hustle” produced by RZA. The video expertly showcases the struggles artists go through to reach their dreams. Regarding his musical contributions in Divorce Invitation, which also stars Robinson alongside Jonathan Bennett, Jamie- Lynn Sigler, and Nadia Bjorlin, he expresses the following – “I’m excited about it because all the music is outside of my genre. We incorporated a lot of Latin Jazz and Indie Rock. I got a chance to exercise my music muscle by going outside of my genre. I’m excited about that because that is definitely something you wouldn’t expect to hear from me.” Robinson fans also get to experience his musicalmuscle flexing on this latest album which boasts a “European-soul and Hip-Hop” sound. “When I say European, I mean it’s very open and the music relies on a lot of tone. When I say European, I refer to artists like Sting, Seal, and Jamiroquai, where you really get a chance to hear their tone. Not a lot of bells and whistles. I try to keep it a bit organic and I think European artists are really great at doing that. So that’s where I get that name from.”
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As with many R&B artists, some of Keith’s biggest inspirational influences include Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Sade. He wrote 80% of the songs on Me and is really excited about a few songs featuring David Banner. Believing that R&B music is a lost art, to stay motivated making such music in today’s world, he says “It’s in me. I don’t know what else I’d be doing so the motivation is easy… Making music that I love and having those around me appreciate it … giving me motivation to keep going… keep creating.” Yup, according to Mr. Robinson, it’s that simple to him. He goes on to say “My influences come from soulful vocalists and my immediate influence is Hip-Hop.” And so, it should come as no surprise that he would love to collaborate with Seal and Kanye one day. It’s easy for Keith to mix his two loves as, “For me, it feels pretty normal cause I always try to incorporate one with the other whenever I get the chance. So that’s always been my natural process throughout my career.” To stay balanced, Keith simply takes one day at a time. His legacy is simply that “I want my legacy, as an artist, to be that I really affected people, affected change for the better… made people reflect… made them dance, made them cry and to be a positive influence through my art. So, that’s pretty much my overall superobjective.” He wants everyone to cop the single “Same Rules” and of course, his sophomore effort Me “as it’s a refreshing organic sound of R&B music.” Keith Robinson can be found on Twitter at @KeithSings
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Omari Hardwick | Actor @omarihardwick
Omari Hardwick Art•Poetry•LIfe PHOTOGRAPHY © JOE DEANGELIS
BY MIKE SANFORD
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or someone who spent a period of his life living out of his car, Omari Hardwick has established himself in the entertainment industry as one of the most solid actors of this generation. Getting his big break back in 2004 when he was cast in Spike Lee’s “Sucker Free City”, he has come along way from spending nights in his backseat. With film & television credits including “Gridiron Gang” alongside Dwayne Johnson & Xzibit, TNT’s “Dark Blue”, “Beauty Shop” alongside Queen Latifah, the widely popular “The A-Team”, Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls” alongside Phylicia Rashad and the iconic Janet Jackson and most recently the remake of the classic 1970’s film “Sparkle” opposite the late, great Whitney Houston, he has been working diligently and persistently for many years and it is obviously paying off. Not only an accomplished actor Omari is a gifted poet who, having written more than 4,000 poems, is the host of TV One’s newest hit show “Verses & Flow”. This exciting and diverse show highlights and couples the lyrical genius of some of America’s finest emerging poets with up and coming musicians, and Omari’s familiarity with the art makes him the ideal host. Fresh off of a string of interviews following the premiere of “Sparkle”, Omari took some time out his schedule to talk with Heed. Sharing candidly on everything from Whitney Houston to the upcoming presidential election, the former San Diego Chargers player was as inspiring and moving off screen as he is on screen.
Heed: Hey Omari, what’s going on man? OH: I ironically just finished my part of this challenge with my friend Misty Copeland, which was to walk up to someone randomly and recite some of my lines from Sparkle. Heed: Speaking of Sparkle, what was it like working on set with the legendary Whitney Houston? OH: Man, it felt like something important was definitely happening. It was one of those things when you walk into a situation not knowing that to expect because this was someone we grew up listening to. It was hard for us to know what we were walking on set with an icon. I was just smiling everyday because I knew I was blessed to be there. The fact that she wore the producer hat and was involved in the casting was flattering to me knowing that she had a hand in me being cast. She laughed a lot and smiled a lot…and I’m glad that this was the last piece of work she was apart of before God called her back home. Heed: Were you star struck at all? OH: I wasn’t as much as I thought I would be. Maybe it’s because I’m a former athlete, and I had to rise to the occasion and make the plays no matter who I was playing with. I will tell you this Mike; the one moment that got me was during pre-production. We were at a Cliff Bell’s, which is actually one of the places the girls performed at in the movie. Whitney and Debra Martin Chase gave me a life talk and shared their experiences. Whitney chimed in and when she did, it was like “wow”. She shared what she expected of me as an actor and where she thought I would end up in this industry. That was the moment where it was like I couldn’t even remember the words that were coming out of her mouth, I was so taken aback that she would get involved in any conversation about little ole me. Heed: Do you think the remake of Sparkle does the original film justice? OH: I think it does it great justice. I mean, I want to say it does it justice and than some. I was tweeting someone who was complimenting what we were able to do with the characters and I responded, “I will always honor the platform that we’re jumping
off of; but we’re equally honored that we got to put our flair on it”. From R. Kelly overseeing the music, to the artists who composed the score, I definitely think we all did the original film justice. I’m glad that I was asked to remix the role of Levi. Heed: Let’s switch gears a little bit. I know that you have a huge passion for poetry. What does it mean for you to host a mainstream show dedicated to the often hidden and underground art of poetry? OH: I think I would be remiss if I didn’t start out by saying that it means so much to me. It has eliminated the disappointments of films during my career that did not go my way. Verses & Flow has helped me see myself better in a business that does not often see all of what you
possess. I’m not one to hold grudges. I’m a Capricorn and Capricorns keep it moving. However, you work so hard at the art that even if you were not one to hold grudges you would be dishonest if you said those disappointments didn’t stick around for a while. To be able to bridge the gap between me as a poet and me as an actor has been a long time coming, particularly when I was first heard in this town as a poet. The opportunity has offered me the chance to stand in front of the world in a living room forum and share this art form. That the team trusted me with the platform to bring up young, budding, underground spoken word and musical artists is so humbling. It has allowed me to focus mostly on that this year, not necessarily forgetting what we did in Detroit for Sparkle, but I don’t know if I can say that the joys of 2012 are anything short of this opportunity, to marry my work as a poet and to my work as an actor. I think that’s the greatest testimony to the young man in me that my mom
and pop and grandparents raised. Heed: I read in your bio that you lived in your car during the early part of your career. During those moments what gave you the push you needed to continue following your dream? OH: You know, my moms and pops helped a lot. I was in a relationship and she wanted me to have a back up plan, and the world of back up plans offers only a seat to back up in. I didn’t want that. I wanted the relationship, so I took on the back up as a firefighter. But, God said my plan A was going to be my plan B. However, I wasn’t listening to God back then, because fear set in. Moms and pops were really the biggest in allowing me to break that wall of fear that I was afraid to climb over. They were like “we didn’t endorse you going all the way out there to come back home”. I got the loan from them to pay some bills that I couldn’t afford to pay, and it gave me this sort of belief that my life was a story. What I realized was that more than any story I could ever tell as an artist would be the story that actually gave me the opportunity to speak to you guys about perseverance, hard work, and how it pays off. Within months of living in my car, I realized that I had a testimony. Those roller coaster moments don’t stop when you’re a working actor. No matter the age, whether your Morgan Freeman or Morgan Jones from around the way, you will face major adversity; and anytime you are trying to make money for something you are willing to do for free, you will take it personally when things don’t go the way you want them to go. Heed: You should write a book! OH: I don’t feel worthy of doing that just yet. I think I’m going to put pieces of this 38- year-old life onto the stage in a one-man show. Heed: Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share on the upcoming election? OH: I think that we’re in a time where you see a lot of art blossoming out of this moment; a lot of young dynamic singers, filmmakers, and artists like my friend Misty Copeland, the ballerina, who I mentioned earlier. There is a movement of
change headed by artists, inclusive in that is obviously actors as well. I don’t think you can talk about the rebirth of this art without connecting it to the present political status. You get a lot of artists like Sean Combs who are trying to get the youth to vote and have an opinion about anything and I think that’s good, and I think it shows that art and politics go hand in hand, especially in today’s time. The Internet has given power to people, allowing them to voice their opinions in a public forum - which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. In this post-Bush era, whether or not President Obama did anything differently in terms of creating a better world for us is not something that I’m focused on in answering this question. What I am focused on is what he did do, and I think it’s a great thing. He spoke to the reality that the thing that we thought would never change, did. I don’t think it’s smart if we don’t take advantage of those opportunities to participate in change, which the election allows. Whether we get a Democratic president or a Republican, we as artists and we as a people need to continue to push the envelope and continue to make our voices heard in the best way we can. Heed: What are some things you take HEED to? OH: I take HEED to music, often wondering, “how we can survive without it?” I can’t imagine living life without listening to music. I also take HEED to the necessity to enjoy life and to move in a slower motion than we do. I enjoyed my moments going to Europe and reveling in the fact that they really take HEED to moving slow and literally smelling the roses. In our American culture everything is microwaveable, from marriage to dating to clothes. You go to the movies and order popcorn out of a kiosk. What kind of stuff is that? I’m always going to shout out technological advances, but I definitely say we need to take HEED to slowing things down. Heed: Anything you want to say to your supporters out there and anyone with a dream? OH: I would just say continue to stay open and challenge yourselves! Don’t beat yourselves up if you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see; it will get better!
Romeo Miller Entertainment & Value BY JADE PERRY
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Romeo Miller | Entertainer @romeomiller
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etting into Romeo Miller, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Take, simply, all of Romeo’s accomplishments and endeavors. He’s in pursuit of a degree, making music, developing his College Boyys clothing line, acting, creating a graphic novel, and presiding over the No Limitz Forever label & brand. Additionally, he’s immersed in charity work and philanthropy when he’s not doing these things. I expected to learn the most about those well-known endeavors. I did (and I’ll spill about that too!), but I quickly realized that there might be some myths to debunk about our Romeo. Some might think that Romeo is our generation’s Richie Rich. Think again. This young entrepreneur is incredibly down to earth and wise beyond his years. An interview set to highlight his endeavors quickly became an intentional conversation, with much to relate to, learn from, and laugh about. We began the interview talking about, of all things, textbooks and why they were so expensive. Surprisingly, I found we had similar gripes and I quickly realized that his celebrity had not gotten in the way of his sense of humor and relatability: “I mean, you would think that with money, I wouldn’t care that they were so expensive… but I feel you!” I thanked him for letting me have that moment. He thanked me for allowing him to share that moment.
God gives us all gifts and I found I inspire more people by being an entertainer.
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And then we dug in. “I grew up watching my dad, and being around him rubbed off on me. God gives us all gifts and I found I inspire more people by being an entertainer. It has been a great journey because my career is surreal. People grow up with you from when you were a kid, and still have respect for you. This generation grew up with me, and that’s what keeps me going. The reason why people work so hard is so you don’t have to work so hard when you’re older. That’s the reason people go to college. That’s why I decided to go to college. I already made the money, but I wanted to be a regular kid. I wanted to set my own trail, and that can be a little unorthodox.” Romeo played college basketball for two years, gaining lots of success and accolades. However, he decided to stop to focus more on his education and his life as an entertainer. He sees his life in the entertainment business as a platform to inspire kids to do the right things. While we many think that this would be an easy process for Romeo, I quickly recognized that his work ethic and passion have really been working for him these past years, as he told me, “When you’re going towards a goal, people only see the end result. Acting is what I really love; it gives me an outlet. This is why I went to film school and business school. I didn’t want things handed to me. I wanted to learn my craft. So I learned about various sides of it. The experience of working with great casts has been amazing for me! It’s been a blessing and this is just the beginning!”
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BELT - LOUIS VUITTON (ARTIST OWNED)
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As stated above, my biggest question was: How? Romeo is still making music and the fans are still responding. Not too long ago, he released a mixtape called Inception. In addition, his clothing line, College Boyys, is setting children up to dream big, do positive things, and get their education. He’s greatly involved in philanthropy and is now the president of No Limitz Forever. For Romeo, finding balance in all of his endeavors is mostly about working hard and being driven. “It’s crazy because my whole life I was good with time management. That’s the main thing. At the end of the day, you’ve got to really want it! You can’t force anybody if they aren’t passionate about something. You want to be the best? Patience is a virtue, but you got to make sacrifices.” Given his lifestyle and success, I assumed that there would be many people critiquing his choices. When asked about how he dealt with that, he had the best answer I’ve heard in a long time: “It’s simple. You don’t. That’s life.” The future holds great possibility and promise for Romeo Miller. It’s a given that he will continue moving forward with all of his entertainment goals. What may not be so apparent is that Romeo is really looking forward to doing more charity work through urbanforum.org. He notes that God didn’t give him millions of fans, support, and love for no reason. So, he really intends on using that to make a difference in the lives of children in as many places as possible. Well that, and “winning a few Oscars here and there.”
Romeo’s Advice & Takeaways “Take a chance! It’s 50/50, but you can always try. At the end of the day, if you have God and if you have faith, you’re going to make it. And one more thing…Tell the Heeders to hit me on my twitter @ RomeoMiller!”
Un Nègre Américain à Paris
An American Negro in Paris BY FLOYD D. HOBSON III
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any African American figures, such as Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, have all traveled to Paris, France in an attempt to feel a sense of humanity often denied to Blacks* within the United States of America due to their ethnicity. While implementing my study at Indiana University regarding heteronormative performativity of LGBTQ African diasporic males (both male-bodied and femalebodied), I have come across many assumptions of stereotypical behaviors and ideologies associated with masculinity, in addition to the scripts that needed to be appropriated in order to be viewed holistically as an average Black male in the African American community. I conducted this through the lens of the underground Ballroom culture, which continues to provide a safe haven for many individuals of minority backgrounds. I was asked to conduct research abroad for my program, and I chose to go to Paris, France. Like my predecessor Baldwin, I previously have not traveled to Paris before this endeavor, possess many monetary funds, or more than an intermediate fluency in the French language. The first objective I wanted to find out was an understanding of Black culture within the city of France and how an individual’s Blackness can influence one’s experiences within the Parisian community. The second was to interpret the cultural stigmas, if any, attached to being both Black and/or queer within heteronormative Parisian spaces in totality. I documented my travels and encounters through the use of photography, field notes and video/ sound captures.
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About Me
To see more from my experience, visit hobsonfotografie.tumblr.com/tagged/Paris www.vimeo.com/danielwarhol or www.youtube.com/fdhobson
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The Rev. Al INTERVIEW BY SAOUL VANDERPOOL
Al Sharpton | Minister @TheRevAl
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everend Al Sharpton is a man who requires no introduction. Heed Magazine’s Founder, Saoul Vanderpool was honored to have an audience with the long-time activist/talk show host/community leader/man of God about everything from his health to health care. Saoul Vanderpool: I wanted to first congratulate you on your one-year anniversary with PoliticsNation [on MSNBC]. Everyone’s been looking at you lately, and I wanted to question you first on being a vegetarian for the past two years. How has that weight loss and getting fit affected you and the things that you do for the community? Reverend Al Sharpton: Well, it’s affected me personally because it’s given me a lot more energy. You require less sleep at night, you’re not as tired. You feel better physically and you feel better about yourself. I think it is a contradiction to preach community control and not look like you have any self-control. SV: Talking about being fit, let’s segue that into the health care act and what Obama has done with the health care plan in America. What are your thoughts? I recall during your 2004 presidential candidacy that you mentioned to PBS that you wanted to have a national plan? RAS: I wanted a Canadian-style single payer plan. I think that President Obama didn’t quite go there, but he gave us the first health care plan in the country in decades. It was an amazing achievement. When you deal with pre-existing conditions, when you deal with the fact that you have 40 to 45 million Americans uninsured that are now covered, this is a tremendous asset. I don’t understand what the debate is -- in a country
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as civilized and as wealthy as this, why are we even debating whether we’re going to make health care affordable? SV: I want to talk a little bit about the economy and jobs. That’s a huge thing, especially for our audience, because you have kids who went to school and they were taught, you know, if you go to college, when you come out you’re going to have a job. Right now, we’re looking at high unemployment rates for everybody. RAS: We went through the worst recession the country has seen since the Depression. The worst. And when you look at the fact that this president, Barack Obama, inherited an economy that was on the brink of going over the hill and was able to walk it back? That, in of itself, is an awesome task. Now, has it recovered at the speed that we want? No.[…]Having said that though, every month since he’s been in office, he’s increased the private sector job force[…]I think that the fact that the Congress has fought his jobs bill – which was to provide jobs and rebuild infrastructure: highways, roadways, tunnels, bridges – it is absolutely appalling. How can you be voting against a jobs bill given this economy? But they’re more committed to partisan politics than they are the American people. SV: What do you believe a Romney/Ryan presidency will look like? What is the country going to look like if we get that or if we get four more years? RAS: When you see Mitt Romney advocating this trickle-down economic plan, then he puts on his ticket to run with him for Vice President Paul Ryan? Ryan’s plan, if you read his budget plan, would cut [the taxes] for the rich. That will cost somewhere around three trillion dol-
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lars. That would come out of the economy…He wants to cut into Medicare, he wants to cut into student aid. It would only save about a trillion and a half dollars. To give the rich a tax cut [and to cut] what he claims are burdening the country with social programs – entitlement programs, they call them…The entitlement mentality in this country is the rich who feel like they’re entitled to a tax cut. Promise it’ll trickle down into job and we never get the jobs. We’ve been in trickledown economic theory since Reagan. Reagan was elected in 1980. Now it’s 2012. When are the jobs going to trickle down? People do not go into business to provide jobs. They go into business to make a profit, and if they can make a profit without hiring people – outsourcing jobs, putting our money into tax havens like Romney himself did, using technology…rather than hiring bodies – that’s what they’re going to do. They’re in business to make profit. Government’s job is to protect people and to make sure citizens have an opportunity. So we must have the government do the government’s job. Not the government reward the rich and hope that the rich might provide jobs. That’s something that’s not going to happen. […]I think that if Romney and Ryan became the President and Vice President, we are going to go back into some very serious economic times… Because they’ve made it clear that they’re going to have this trickle-down – Bush with steroids, one of Romney’s aides said – kind of philosophy. That will only kill the middle class and poor. I think they would revamp Medicare, go after monies in Medicaid. I think it would be a disaster. I think four more years of President Obama would be a continuation and escalation – of jobs programs; health care, which he has done; having a world safe -- he was the one that killed Osama bin Laden. So I think that he needs four more years to finish the task. And hopefully he’ll get it.
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SV: I’ve been seeing a lot of super PAC ads – one was really personal because it was people saying, you know what, I voted for Obama four years ago and things have not changed the way he said they would change. RAS: First of all, some of those ads are disingenuous. I never heard [the Obama administration] say he was going to change the world in four years. I’ve heard them say change will come and it has. We’ve gone from no health care plan to health care plan. We’ve gone from the worst recession in the history of the country since the Depression to where we have had a recovery – slow, but a recovery. I think what they are projecting are promises he didn’t make. He said that we would change the direction of the country and we have. Now we’ve gotta continue that change. But if somebody thought they were electing Superman [laughs], it was not because he made that connection…I think that, given the record filibusters, given the Republicans taking back the house in 2010 in midterm elections, he’s done an amazing job in getting some things through. And I think that people need to look at it in that context. SV: What about voter engagement? I know that National Action Network, especially you, what have you guys been setting up around the country in regards to that? RAS: We come in and gather the community leaders, the elected officials, ministers, to deal with the fact that we’ve got to fight these laws in the courts and in the legislature. But at the same time, we’ve got to get people their ID. So in case the court decision or the legislators vote does not come before November, we can still have people vote. A lot of these places, people didn’t even know the ID law had changed. So part of the job…is to inform people and to put a spotlight on things. You hear the criticism, ‘Oh, well, Al Sharpton, he just likes publicity’. That is exactly what we like. Part of the job of an activist is to publicly give some kind of spotlight on these issues that aren’t known. Would it help people if we kept it a secret that they changed the voter ID law? Trayvon Martin had been killed two weeks before we ever got the call. We helped make it known.
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His family didn’t call me because they wanted to keep a secret. They called me to make it an issue. You can never have an issue solved unless somebody makes it a public issue. Part of the Voter Engagement Tour was to publicly say to people, ‘Things have changed, you had voted in ’08 with your regular ID. You’re not going to be able to vote again.’ We need to get ID for the seniors who can’t afford the twenty dollars or whatever it may be…There’s no widespread fraud – even in Pennsylvania, there’s been four cases in eight years out of twenty-five million votes. So it’s a solution looking for a problem rather than a problem in need of a solution. SV: I hate to be a little forward, but it sounds like new-age Jim Crow. RAS: It’s absolutely new-age Jim Crow. The way I say it on the road is that it’s Jim’s son, Jamie Crow, Esq. He’s a little more educated, a little more polished, but it’s the same thing – they’re denying us the right to vote. SV: Let’s talk a little bit about Occupy the Corners [a month-long effort in NYC to get community activists and leaders on the street and on the corners marked with the most violence in order to reclaim the space for the community]. We’ve seen a lot of violence break out in our local communities recently. Do you think that could be attributed directly to the economy and the state that it’s in? RAS: I think that it’s a combination of things. The economy certainly plays a part; there’s a lot of poverty and desperation out there. But I think a lot of it is [that] guns are in our communities. You’ve got to deal with the fact that people are inundating our communities with guns. The third problem is that we’ve gone through a glorification of the “gangsta thug” life. Somewhere along the line from the days we came out of slavery to a few years ago, it became the culture of Black America…The first big civil rights decision in the ‘50’s, ’54 Supreme Court – Brown vs. Board of Ed. But then who had a meeting somewhere that I missed that we didn’t want to be educated anymore? That we wanted to be thugs and hoodlums? So when you feel that if you’re articulate and well-read and polished that you’re acting “white”, but if you’re a thug with a gun making babies…you’re acting
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“black”? It becomes culturally acceptable, and that adds to the poverty and adds to the violence. One of the things Occupy the Corner is is to be intimidating. We own these corners too. And we’re not gonna let y’all claim the corner. We’re breaking that whole mold that the Black community all is of one mind, that we all believe in get paid at any cost and it doesn’t matter. We want to visibly show young people that if they want to do something constructive, we’re with them…But just like we fight racial violence, and just like we fight police misconduct, and just like we fight disparity – like Trayvon Martin – we must also fight the internal demons in our community. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and. SV: Talking about demons and going into a spiritual front, a lot of people, they might forget sometimes that you’re a Reverend, you’re a Baptist minister. You’re a Christian man. How do you feel in regards to, because you have a Democratic standing, the Republican Party utilizing Christianity to justify a lot of the things they stand for? RAS: I am a Baptist minister…I’ve been in the church all my life. I have my own firm beliefs. But I do not believe I have the right to make my beliefs law. And I think the distinction between what the Republicans are doing and what real Christians should be doing is we have the right to believe; we do not have the right to make others believe and live by our beliefs. This is a democracy, not a theocracy. You can’t say “I’m against fundamentalists running the Middle East, but we’re going to run fundamentalism here in the United States”. You can’t have it both ways. So I support people’s right to same sex marriage. Even if I wouldn’t en-
gage in it, they have the right to disagree. The issue is not that you believe in same-sex marriage, the issue is that you believe you have the right to tell people what they can do. This is not whether you believe in women having abortions, the issue is do you feel you have the right to tell a woman what to do with her body? And I think that that is where I differ and others that are progressive differ. And I call it the showdown between the Christian Right and the right Christians. I have a firm belief in what I believe in, but I also believe that to protect my right to believe in it, I must protect your right to disagree. All my career I’ve taken controversial stances. I’ve lived to see some people that were against me turn around. What I do is not for the faint that goes and looks for comfort. You have to stand up for what you believe in. I believe in that. And, yes, a lot of the Black church will disagree with it. But again, if we make anyone’s beliefs law, someone can come in, believing the opposite of us, and make it against the law for what we believe. And then we all wanna rebel against it. You cannot have a society like that. I’ve had a few callers [on his nationally syndicated radio show] who’ve said ‘I’m not voting for President Obama because of same-sex marriage’. And I said, ‘Well, let me get this right – we’ve got unemployment down, health care he’s providing, [he] works with us on education, works with us on criminal justice of voter ID, but you
What I do is not for the faint that goes and looks for comfort. You have to stand up for what you believe in.
heard that two gays went out of town and got married so you ain’t gonna vote for him? Does that make sense to you?’ You’re trying to get in an issue that is not directly dealing with you because you’ve been maneuvered and manipulated by some right-wingers that want to play on the scriptures, when it’s not about the scriptures, it’s about the law. So they’re telling you we’re not going to give you money for jobs, we’re not going to give your kids Pell Grants, we’re not gonna give your mama Medicare, we’re not going to deal with health care, but this Bible says… The Bible says other things they ain’t doing! The Bible says you must heal the wounded, which is health care. They don’t care about that. The Bible says feed the hungry. They’re not trying to provide jobs. So they’re going to take one scripture out of the Bible and make that law, but everything else they’re going to cast aside. They can’t be that stupid.
The Spirit of Naming My name is Daniel.
that arose as a result of his decisions.
It’s a simple introduction. We use each others names to show our personal relationships with the individuals in our lives. When a name is mentioned, we pull up a picture in our mind of what a person looks like. That makes it easier for us to relate to one another and to share stories & ideas.
Discussing the idea that “God is my Judge” is easy. I think all of us have an understanding of God’s authoritative role in our lives. We would attribute God as being responsible for the laws of the universe and the basic laws that govern our relationships with each other, amongst other things. However, I typically find that when I begin to discuss Daniel’s role as “Judge of God”, things can get a little tricky. How could Daniel possibly be the judge of God? Well, within all the laws that govern our existence, there are laws that God has bound himself to as well. I have a saying with a group of my friends, “If you’re going to play by the rules, you’re going to play by all of them”. God takes the rules of the game very seriously. The crucifixion of Christ for the sins of mankind is the best possible example of how a very specific course of action needed to take place in order for all the rules to be adhered to. This is mentioned as being “the old laws” in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan exchanges his life for the life of his deceitful brother. The truth is that God is willing to be judged. Willing even to be judged by the same rules as everyone else. Christians are told to remind God of his promises and to hold him to them. Moses interceded on behalf of the people of Israel after coming out of Egypt. Abraham barters with God for ten righteous men to spare Sodom & Gommorah (He
Aside from this very practical aspect of using names, there can also be a very strong spiritual connection associated with names. Typically that connection comes from the meaning behind the name. “Daniel”, for example, is the English spelling of a Hebrew name that actually has multiple meanings: “God is my Judge” and “Judge of God”, “Worshipper of God”, or simply “God the Judge”. The fact that the name “Daniel” has these multiple meanings is definitely important in the Biblical context of the life of Daniel, and his activities with the Babylonian and Persian empires described in the Old Testament. Daniel is described as being placed in charge of entire kingdoms, answering only to the king. At any time the kings’ decrees came into conflict with Daniel’s relationship with God, Daniel would choose the path that kept him close to God. God responded to Daniel’s commitment by delivering Daniel out of any conflict
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could have gone lower...Romans 3:10). In the Bible, there are some very specific examples of a name given to a child because of spiritual circumstances surrounding the birth. Typically that child would perform a certain ministry for God. John the Baptist, for example. The Lord Jesus Christ has his own unique set of names. Immanuel being just one of maybe a few hundred names used to describe his personage over Old and New Testament. The name of God is a wonderful topic to discuss. Just simply beginning with the different languages out there, regardless of the culture’s definition of God. There are actually various extensions of just the name Jehovah. The movie Pi, or π takes a very unique look at the relationship that math and geometry have with the names of God from a very eclectic perspective, and if you can stomach a little foul language, would be worth watching once or twice… The name of God is the only name that God himself could swear by... Hebrews 6:13 What’s in a name? A rose by any other name… In modern times, names have seemingly less significance and meaning to society then they did in the past.
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REFLECTIONS BY DANIEL HILL
Expecting parents grab a catalog of baby names to select one that looks good with the family surname, or one that rolls off the tongue when its spoken, or because a name is either popular or unique. This is a far cry from naming your child based on the immediate environment and circumstances around your family, or naming your child based on the will of God for that child’s life. Some names have lost their meaning over time, and other names are seemingly without any meaning at all. Some people don’t even know that their name has meaning. If you’ve never looked up the meaning to your own name, why don’t you do that now? Look at the origin, history, and culture where your name comes from. Does this reveal anything new about yourself? Perhaps it affirms things you already know? Look at the lives of notable persons of interest in history with the same name as you. Do you see any similarities? I’m not superstitious, but I believe there is still a lot of power in names, and I still very much enjoy meeting someone for the first time and looking up the meaning of their name. You might really enjoy exploring the details, the history, the origin of someone’s name. You may even feel it gives you a better understanding of that person and open up some spiritual doors between you and that person over time. I hope you do.
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Brian White I Know ‘That Guy’
INTERVIEW BY D’MARCO BROWN
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ARMOR LEATHER COAT - ASHTON MICHAEL STYLING TOYE ADEDIPE FOR BLACKBOARDGROUP.COM • PHOTOGRAPHY JORDAN HALL
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ow many hats can one man wear? Brian White might have donned them all. A former athlete and Wall Street stockbroker, White’s been rocking the actor beret for quite some time. A favorite of Tyler Perry’s, White has also popped up in this summer’s Cabin in the Woods as well as Perry’s Good Deeds. He’s been a “that guy” on your television screens and looks to blow up even bigger with The CW’s newest drama. Heed sat down with the man of many talents for a quick chat. Heed: Sports has always been a big part of your life. Your father played pro basketball and you played pro football. Did you have any thoughts about acting before you got into it or was this path something that you kind of “fell into”? BW: Never! I’m from Boston and, up until recently, “being famous” wasn’t a career path. Coming from Boston, everybody from the Northeast pretty much goes to college, graduates at age 22, and then has some type of job. I wanted to be a lawyer and then a teacher, but I found out how little money teachers made. So then I wanted to be a lawyer again, and, in pursuit of law school, I got a chance to play professional sports, with football and lacrosse. I then ended up on Wall Street after an injury and found out that I didn’t want to do that. But there’s a lot of good that comes from discov-
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ering what you don’t want to do, like networking, life skills – tools that you can use in other areas. And that brought me full circle to theater, which I had been introduced to through ballet…which I had to do because of football. But, no! I never thought I would be in the entertainment business. You know, doing a photo shoot for a magazine, having a new TV show. It’s mind-blowing! Heed: You’ve worked with Tyler Perry numerous times, most recently playing his brother in Good Deeds. What is it about his work that inspires you to keep working with him? BW: Two things, really. One, the characters that he asks me to portray are about as far as you can get from Brian White. The guys that I play in his movies are real – I see guys like that every day. I’ve always wondered why women fall for the bad guy, or the guy who doesn’t respect her. I love exploring those types of characters. More so, I like hearing people talk about those characters. Tyler, in his movies and shows, puts dialogue that’s hard for a lot of people to swallow. It’s not necessarily celebrating what’s right, but what’s wrong and what we need to fix. And that’s what I really admire about Tyler and what he does in his position. The other reason is that it’s just so much fun to work with him! His sets and cast are like family. It feels like a real family of friends that you’re going to keep after the production is over. Talking about something of substance and being around people that I really care for are why I like to work with Tyler.
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Heed: What I’ve noticed is that you never choose the same type of role twice. They’re always completely different. Is that a conscious decision to make sure of that? BW: That’s the whole goal. When I started this business, I got offered some roles that people refer to as “star-making” roles. But I said, I’m not so interested in just being a movie star. It was more about challenging myself, and developing as a character actor. Sidney Poitier, Sean Penn, Forrest Whittaker – all never played the same role twice. I aspire to be like them. I made a promise to myself to only choose projects to do based on certain criteria -- if I’m not trying something new, undertaking something that scares me, or feel too comfortable doing it, then I’m not growing. I want to choose projects that have substance and a message. Heed: You’ve got a brand new show, Beauty and the Beast, coming out on CW. Can you give us a quick rundown? BW: The show is a remake of the classic tale. It stars Kristin Kreuk from the show Smallville. She’s a detective named Catherine whose mother was murdered by a secret organization when she was younger. Catherine would have been hurt as well that night if it weren’t for Jay Ryan’s character, the “Beast”, who saved her that night. Years later, they cross paths again, and things begin to happen. I play Catherine’s boss who doesn’t know her relationship with the Beast, or even what he is. It’s a great show geared toward 18 to 40-year-old women. I’m really excited for it to premiere so everyone can check it out. Heed: So what would you say is the greatest reward of being an actor, as well as the greatest setback? BW: Well, when I started, there was a separation between an actor and their career. And, as social media is taking over, that line gets blurred. So the worst part now, I would say, is that line being blurred, because I like to engage in social media
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and talk to people. But then some people will talk to you as if you’re a specific character, not as a human being. Even though you’re on there talking to kids about why they should vote, someone’s on there calling you “Walter!” [from Good Deeds]. So you have to spend so much time kind of trying to erase that. But, on the same coin, they actually care that you’re saying something at all because of what you do. And I’m not afraid to talk about anything. The more right-on-the-pulse of the hot topic that you are, the more good you can do if you have something of value to say. Heed: In 2008, you worked on the Obama campaign and the next election is right around the corner. Have you been involved this time around? BW: Yeah, I’m always supporting and trying to push young people to vote. This past year I was the co-host of the United Negro College Fund’s Empower Me Tour. So we crossed paths with the campaign while galvanizing young minds to make sure they’re registered. I’m actually an Independent. I’ve always been an Independent. But I’ve also always supported Barack as a person. I’m not a Democrat, I’m not a Republican. I just deal with people. This go-around, my function is to hopefully get people to educate themselves about what people are really talking about, and about the real politics. Because, unless you really understand what’s going on for yourself, you’re gonna be on the outside looking in. Heed: You started your organization Black Carpenter which works with young people. What is it about youth that makes you want to gear your attention towards them? BW: I used to hear older people around me talk to us like we were crazy – “The next generation has lost their minds.” And then, all of a sudden, I woke up one day and had an 18-year-old sister and realized, it’s not the youth that are crazy, they’re just listening to a bunch of crazy adults. So I feel like I’m part of that last generation that had two parents around that went to college and believe in education. So while I’m still relatable to those
young impressionable minds, I feel like it’s my duty to try and tell them the truth. A lot of reality TV and media are misinforming kids about how stuff is done and why stuff happens. So I started Black Carpenter to provide counseling and guidance. Heed: Any advice for actors who are just beginning their career? BW: Yeah! Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. A lot of people say they’re not acting if they aren’t in a movie that’s in theaters. I just did a touring play with Morris Chestnut and Michelle Williams. You’ve seen Michelle Williams all over the world with Destiny’s Child. You’ve seen Morris in every movie under the sun. But being an actor is about acting! You can be in a class, community theater, high school theater. If you wanted to be a football player, you wouldn’t automatically start out in the NFL. It seems like, in entertainment, people feel, “I just know I have swag, so it’s going to happen.” Take a look at Justin Bieber, who put quality video out time after time on YouTube until someone finally said, “Okay. Let’s give this guy a shot.” My advice would be that you have to be an apprentice before you can be a master. And make sure that you know going in that it’s a 99.9 percent chance that you’ll never make any money doing it. And, if you still want to do it, then go for it! But don’t ever wake up one day and go, “Aw, I didn’t become rich. Someone lied to me.” Because that’s not what it’s about. Specifically in acting, there’s a hundred thousand people that are in the union and ninety-nine percent of them are not working on any given day. So make sure that you can’t do anything else to make yourself happy, and then you’ll know you’re in pursuit of the right thing.
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ake fashion, styling, photography, graphics, animation, creative childhood, boundless imagination, constant determination, an enthusiasm for God and you get the design duo VonRay Accessories. The story goes that Dennis brought home a necklace from the clothing store he worked for in Louisiana for Latasha to wear with an outfit. It was then that Dennis had an epiphany that Latasha could make a similar necklace. Latasha being crafty anyway at first laughed then began thinking they could save money making their own jewelry. In 2008, VonRay Accessories was born combining both of their middle names Vondelette and Ray. Latasha Henderson Robinson and Dennis Robinson II began creating one of a kind accessories that represent the futuristic urban chic. “We got family and friends to pose wearing the accessories, took photos and created a catalog that was shared on Facebook. Everyone thought we were already established because the photography and models looked so professional. It was just us using our talents.”
-Dennis was explaining that a lot of celebs shop at Atrium,he didn’t do a pull for Kanye for our accessories,but celebrity stylist pull our pieces all the time! HEED: How has life changed for VonRay since its inception to where you are now? VonRay: It has been growth from beginning to now. We are just doing what we love to do so it’s surprising how people appreciate what you do. A lot has changed. We have to grind a little harder. I have been asked for my autograph. People have seen Dennis wearing the pin and say Randy Jackson wore that pin “where can I get it?” Now buyers ask to carry our pieces in their store. I remember
how we went through hell to get our designs on Res and Black Eyed Peas. Back home in Louisiana stores turned us down a lot now they are calling and we are in higher demand. Our pieces are carried in Atrium which is based in SoHo in New York. The sales have changed since we have a lot of celebrity stylists who pull our pieces for editorial shoots and television appearances from Atrium. We have been in New York for eight months and things have really started happening within the last three to four months. When we go back home in Louisiana they treat us like celebrities. I use to beg the newspapers to feature us now they are begging us. They are showing us a lot of love. We had to move from home, a place we love in order to have Louisiana accept us. Coming to
**SHOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR HEED MAGAZINE AT THE HARLEM HABERDASHERY BOUTIQUE. PHOTOS BY SHAWN JOYNER/UNFADEABLE MEDIA (WWW.UNFADEABLEDOT.COM); STYLING BY LOUIS JOHNSON AND SPRY LEE SCOTT
Talents that earned the husband and wife design duo national exposure when American Idol judge Randy Jackson wore a sparkly Taboo Character Swarovski Pendant earlier this year. The pendant created such a buzz on social media sites that it became a Twitter trending topic. Randy Jackson has become a supportive fan and has since worn two other pendants: one a customized piece of his face on an April 2012 AI show and another Emotioncon Swarovski on a May 2012 AI show. Randy Jackson isn’t the only celebrity that is proudly wearing the duos design. Following Randy’s pin debut was Carly Rae Jepsen (Justin Bieber’s new artist), Ahsan Watts (Interscope recording artist) and Mindless Behavior.
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New York made us step our game up. We kept back lots of stuff in Louisiana but came to New York and let it all out.
in between. When we are really concentrating we listen to inspirational gospel artists like Vickie Winans and Kim Burrell.
HEED: You are husband and wife as well as business partners. What talents do you each bring that makes the designing duo so unique?
HEED: Now living in the city that never sleeps: how do you remain spiritually grounded while living out your passion in New York City?
VonRay (Latasha): I love clothes and do styling! I contribute the fashion design, styling, film and multimedia.
VonRay: I fast when God calls me to fast. I listen to my brother who teaches. I pay my tithes. I plant seeds. I pray a lot. We grind a lot. Every time God gives me an idea we move. I use to move in my emotions a lot now I move in God. We have been keeping a prayer life. We pray together as a couple.
VonRay (Dennis): I bring the graphic design. I animate, develop characters, and create my own stories. From certain storylines I create clothes for my characters. I have worked in retail for years so I also contribute styling and photography. HEED: Where do you find inspiration for the pieces you create? VonRay (Latasha): My childhood was wonderful! I had so many toys and dolls. We enjoyed toys from my mom’s childhood plus newer toys. My mom would take the clothes off the dolls and tell me to make new clothes. My mother was real vibrant and loved clothes and sewing. My siblings and I all learned how to sew and was just around it all the time. Both my grandmother and great grandmother made clothing. My mom told us “create a job for yourself; God gave us imagination for a reason.” VonRay (Dennis): I go by what I don’t see. I see what everyone is doing on the left and I try to go right. If the trend is stripe I’ll do octagon. I’m a creative person and I try to make our pieces creatively different. HEED: Are there any songs/artists you listen to when flowing in that creative zone? VonRay: It depends on the day. Kanye is our absolute favorite artist! We really like Janelle Monae, Lupe Fiasco, and Common. We listen to underground hip hop artists like Tracoil, O’Billie, and Christian Dee who is from Louisiana. On other days it could be reggae to rock and everything
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HEED: What is next for VonRay? Where can we purchase your pieces? VonRay: We have an online store on Etsy at www.etsy.com/VonRayBoutique and are working on a company website. We have our pieces in Atrium located in SoHo in New York City as well as the Artspace in Shreveport, LA. We are interested in doing some product placement right now. I’m working on a toy line VonRay Dolls and the style will be chibi form. Dennis is working on animation and illustration projects. Dennis has an imagination that is beyond and to the roof! A brand like Lil Wayne’s line Truck Fit VonRay could do a special edition line for one of his characters. We would love to collaborate with brands like Converse, Fossil, Swatch and Beats by Dre on different pieces such as watches, bags, shoes and headphones. We are studying companies that are fresh and new as well as the already established.
CELEBS&VONRAY
CARLY WEARNING VONRAY ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
FLO’RIDA POSING WITH HIS ‘TABOO’ VONRAY ACCESSORY
HEED: Is there anything else you would like to share? VonRay: We thank God for creativity, Saoul, Heed Magazine, (you) Ms. Thaiia, my late mother, my oldest sister, brothers and our family. There have been so many who have helped us along the way and we appreciate all our supporters, customers, alumni models, youth mentees and most definitely our haters. Our advice is to stay true to the path given to you. There is a provision for your vision.
RANDY JACKSON ROCKING VONRAY’S ‘EMOTION’ PENDANT
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