©Copyright 2017 Original Kool Media ©Koolthoughts
Letter From the Editor Koolthoughts was a an idea I came up with in 2009. It was during the summer after my freshman year at Clark Atlanta University. I was on the front steps of the hosue I was staying in at the time when I decided to start a blog. I wanted a way to share the new music that I discovered as well as my thoughts with friends and fans beyond. It didn’t take long for the blog to expand beyond music and into fashion, art, tech, and lifestyle. Sharing my thoughts on emerging trends within these industries has attractted a small community that have their own thoughts and perspectives. This first digital issue of Koolthoughts Magazine is a result of years of procrastination and uncertainty. I finally decided to put it together and share it with all who are interested. I look forward to creating more issues and sharing content that peak your interest and challenge your perspective. Furthermore, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions on the topics covered. I have so much I want to share and I’m anxious to see this once small Tumblr blog continue to grow into a community of free thinkers and tastemakers. Peace, Joseph Tiller Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents Afro Tech
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Flava In Ya Ear
p7
A Trip to Athens, GA With AxJ
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Cryptocurrency: Cash of the Future?
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Afro Tech “There was a time America wouldn’t let us ball, those times are now back, just now called Afro Tech” - Jay-Z
Only two years in the making, the AfroTech conference has quickly become
a must-go event for entrepreneurs and tech enthusiast. A conference where techies gather and share their products and ideas, and learn how to progress in the ever changing tech industry. Afrotech is where startups can get the recognition needed to become a household name. AfroTech is powered by media company, Blavity, and attracts startups from all over with an emphasis on minority owned tech companies. Siminars and a pitch contest gives startups a chance to gain the knowledge, notoriety and possibly the financial backing that most need to stay afloat in an industry where roughly only 10 percent of startups succeed. A true wellspring of information, AfroTech covers everything from design, data, branding and more. This year’s conference is quickly approaching. On November 10-11, some of the brightest minds will find there way to the tech hub of San Francisco, home to industry giants like GoPro, Intel, Apple Inc. and other household brands. If you’re looking to finally get your idea off the ground, ready to take your startup to the next level, or if you’re a student looking to get into the tech industry after graduation, AfroTech should be your destination. 30 tech professionals who work with some of the biggest companies in the industry are coming to share their tips, techniques, and experiences that has brought them success. KT
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Flava’ in Ya Ear
“Here comes the brand new flava’ in ya ear” -Craig Mack
We’re back again with the new Flava’ In Ya Ear. There is an enormous amount of music spanning across genres that are available for all to indulge in. So much, that it’s very possible to miss out on true talent. Here is where we highlight artists that you should listen to if they’re not already in your rotation.
Lute
Jesse Reyez
Lute is a Charlotte, NC na-
There are songwriters and
tive with a conversational style of rapping. His breakout single “Still Slummin’” prompted J.Cole to sign himt to the Dreamville label in 2015 and was featured on the label’s compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers II that was released the same year. Lute recently released his first major release, West 1996 pt. 2, a follow up to part one that was released on Soundcloud. The album is Lute’s recollection and flashbacks to life before signing his deal.
there are singers. Jesse Reyez is a rare combination of both. Some may have to get adjusted to her style of singing, but her voice is very distinct and leaves a lasting impression on the ears. Paired with her songwriting skills, Jesse Reyez is a talent that can’t be ignored. The Toronto native has a gift for putting together songs that are vivid and relatable. No song displays this more that her breakout single “Figures.”
Axel Leon
Snoh Aalegra
Axel Leon is a rapper’s rapper.
Snoh Aalegra is as beautiful to
He comes from the South Bronx, and his birthday is June 8, Global Hip-Hop day. He was born to rap. It’s only right that Big Pun is one of the artist that influenced Axel, but he also listened to Big L and Jadakiss. Axel’s quick witted lyrics on tracks like “100 to 1” caught the attention of Eminem, both recently appearing on BET’s 2017 Hip-Hop Awards cyphers.
look at as she is to listen to. The Swedish born singer has a voice that is mellow and robust. Her style is very bluesy. She provides jazz lounge vibes with her music especially on songs like “Charlesville 9200” and “Under the Influence.” Aalegra’s Don’t Explain EP has great production and sounds as if you are in the studio as she’s recording. She definitely has a captivating and disarming voice which is why Boi-1da sampled her vocals for Drake’s “Do Not Disturb” track from his More Life project. Her most recentt project, Feels was released in October.
Ray BLK
Ray BLK has received compari-
sons to Mary J. Blige and I can see why. The singer hails from London with her own stories and experiences in the form of lyrics and melody. Songs like “Baby Girlz” displays her ability to tell a cohesive story. A student at Brunel University, Ray Blk studied English Literature. Her album, Durt, reads like a short story of her ups and downs with relationships. Her lyrics are personal, making her a relatable artist and worth a listen. KT
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and love. The grass roots movement t’s not a common occurrence for is slowly growing into something that me to take a quick road trip from Atis needed and being sought after in lanta to Athens, GA at 10 p.m. on the culture. The LXVE Collective was a Wednesday. I’ve been trying to birthed from a collaboration of AxJ schedule an interview with AxJ for a and three like minded friends, Joncouple of weeks. So when he preathan Tease, Karl Binion, and Greg sented the invite to the Athens stop of Brown. They’re responsible for the the Nothing But Time tour, it was an annual concert, properly titled, LxVE easy decision to make. Fest. Only three years in existence, LxVE Fest has become an anticipatAtlanta road work on I-285 caused a ed event, with AxJ continuously getslight delay, but the trip was as calm ting questions about the next one. It and collected as AxJ’s demeanor. Not may not be in February like the previan ounce of nervousness or anxiety ously, “but it’ll definitely be next year, was detected, which is a great way for sure.” Even with aspiration with to be when you’re wrapping up an in- taking it on the road. “I would love to dependently produced tour. Combin- tour LxVE Fest in different cities.” ing resources with fellow tour mates DivW, J.Coop, and Last Name Good the guys hit the road early September, Athens being the fifth stop on a seven-city tour. With Atlanta, Kansas City, St.Louis, and AxJ’s hometown Indianapolis checked off the list, the Naptown native gave his home the props of being his personal favorite stop on the tour thus far. He attributes this to the outpour of love and the support of family, something that AxJ holds dear to him and serves as the foundation for all that he is doing. As a newly married man with his own family, AxJ’s approach to making music has changed. “Music-wise, A lot of stuff I recorded lately, I think within the next year or two, the music you’ll hear come out will sound more like I’m married, I think.” The main focus for AxJ and the LXVE Collective brand is to spread positivity
“It Felt Good to Just Rap.”
One tour at a time of course, The Nothing But Time tour is in support of AxJ’s recent release, 14 Hours. Inspired by a 14 hour road trip to Austin, Texas for SxSW in 2015, the tracks on the tape were recorded a year after the trip. It displays the passion that AxJ has for hip-hop and pursuitng a career as a rap artist. To drive 14 hours to perform for only a few minutes, it commands a lot of passion. It also requires a lot of time. A recurring theme between the mixtape and the tour, which was done by design. It’s raises the question of, what will you drive 14 hours for? As we arrived at Go Bar, and walked in on rap cypher. It wasn’t long before AxJ was introduced. A brief technical difficulty with the sound system promoted him spit a few bars over the beat boxing of an audience member. The night was fundementally hip-hop. It was easy for AxJ to grab the complete attention of those in attendance. Tracks like his “Bring It Back” and “Roll Bounce” from14 hours, possessed the audience into constant head nods and call and responses. His crowd control is effortless. It’s 1:07 a.m. Thursday by the end of the show. AxJ humbly accepts birthday wishes as we lingered around eating free pizza before heading back home, and why not, we had nothing but time. With the tour requiring him to wear multiple hats at once, this show provided a bit of a
breather for him. An artist before all, he shared this thought, “It felt good to just rap.” KT
@filmafreaux
Cryptocurrency Cash of the Future? Cryptocurrency is considered to
be worthless by some and others feel it is the money of the future. Banking and financial institutions have been tracking this digital phenomenon since its creation in 2008. It has also attracted the interest of celebrities and buisness owners. More and more people are finding ways to get become rich off the digital currency system. Could this be some kind of cyber gold rush, that will usher in an economic revolution? Or is it just a bubble that will eventually pop? Cryptocurrency essentially works the same way as traditional money and banking. When you deposit or withdraw money from your bank account, it is a transfer of information, into a database. Cryptocurrency is completely digital (no need for a wallet in the future), unregulated by government, and could possibly change the way we consume goods. The creation of Satoshi Nakamoto, crytocurrency was intended to be a peer-to-peer electronic cash sys-
tem. Nakamoto also created Bitcoin, the first and most popular cryptocurrency currently used today. Since it’s inception, Bitcoin has inspired many others to build companies and apps that use cryptocurrency, making it a rapidly growing trend. Even celebrities such as Ghostface Killah, Jamie Foxx, Richard Sherman and Drew Carey are getting in on the digital cash phenomenon. I’m sure you want to know how it works. Without a central entity controlling the authenticity of transactions, cryptocurrencies have to regulate themselves. From the moment of the first transaction a ledger, often called a blockchain is created. A blockchain is a list of all the transactions, from the very first to the most recent transaction made of a specific cryptocurrency. Every user gets a copy of the blockchain to make sure that all transactions are accurate and valid. Here it is for the visual learners.
Courtesy of quora.com
Now that you know what cryptocurrency is and have an idea of how it works, here is how you can get in on the cryptocurrency fun. First create a digital wallet. This is where your Bitcoins or whatever cryptocurrerncy you choose will be stored. There are different types of wallets that you can choose from depending on your level of participation. You can then buy cryptocurrency using money in your bank account or you can “mine� for digital coins. Mining is the process of solving mathmatical problems to recieve coins. 1Each Bitcoin is currently worth $5906.00 and could possible be worth more as time goes on.
There are a growing of markets and companies that are now accepting bitcoins as a valid currerncy in exchange for products and services. Some companies include Microsoft, Whole Foods, Subway and Overstock.com. As more investors and companies join the cryptocurrency movement the more visble it becomes. It can eventually replace the current system of trade and commerce or it will fade out just as quick as it arrived. KT 1charts.bitcoin.com
DivW
“Not to Mention”
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