FALL 2012 FASHION ISSUE by LARAW

- CHAZ DENNIS

BEGIN 1.

TGIF

DIFFERENT

FRESH PRINTS

NERD ALERT

ED’S NOTE

13.

JUSTIN

19.

PHOTOS BY NATE LUBBEN

29.

SOUNG FX

35.

THE ANATOMY OF BREAKING BAD

39.

LUNA

43.

PHOTOS BY DAVID KWOCKS

52.

KONE

55.

ARTWALK LA

57.

ROCK THE BELLS 2012

59.

SONDRIA BAILEY

63.

CC BODY PAINTING EXHIBIT

66.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL WRIGHT

75.

RENEGADE PRESIDENT

81.

13 JOINTS YOU SHOULD COP

83.

PAPA

43.

KYM

89.

BACK TO THE REVOLUTION

91.

JONNY ROCKETTZ

95.

TH FLASH BACK COLLECTION

111.

PHOTOS BY ICARUS PHEONIX

123.

AFWLA

126.

FOH

127.

NOVEMBER 6

FIN

EDITORS Efehi Ogbebor Kaymar Haye Chaz Dennis

ART DESIGNERS Efehi Ogbebor Chaz Dennis Melanie Kearns

CONTENT MANAGER Christina Ledesma

WRITERS Christina Ledesma Kaymar Hayes Chaz Dennis Cheik Kone Alton Pitre Denise De La Cruz

WRITING EDITORS Christina Ledesma Adam Martinez ART DIRECTOR Efehi Ogbebor Kaymar Haye

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sharif Rasheed Sondria Bailey Danny De Maio David Padilla Kymberly Williams PHOTOGRAPHY Kaymar Haye FASHION DIRECTOR Chaz Dennis

ADVERTISERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; INFO R & R Salon (pg. 27) randrsalon.com White Chair (pg 28) whitechairclothing.com Ateliers Arthur (pg 38) ateliersarthur.com Opinionator (pg 78) Kumari Visionz (pg 90) kumarivisionz.com

For inquires on writing, modeling, ordering, advertising..etc contact us at: RAWMAG@RAWWATER.NET LOS ANGELES RAWWATER 612 South Flower Street Suite 1215 Los Angeles, CA 90005

JUSTIN BARCO

Pretty muthafucka, Long Beach is what I’m read stories about psychiatric patients and reppin. My hair is long and sometimes I pin it watch old fashion shows. A big inspiration of up. I see my life as a timeless fashion film star- mine is also where I’m from. Growing up in ring everyone who I have crossed paths with… Long Beach I saw gang members, graffiti and the world is my audience. Fashion is key to theft as art. I don’t promote violence, but I was truly embracing individuality. My outlook on raised to be a go-getter. Go out and get what life and fashion is geared towards those who you’re passionate about and just do it -fu*k it. don’t like to follow rules. I was never a good I translate that into my ready to wear closet rule follower. In art and fashion there are no where I give two sh*** about what people think rules so you can become whoever you want and I do what makes me feel good. I have goals to be. I’m not a painter, but I use myself as in this business of entertainment and I’m going a blank canvas and through clothing I mold after them. I’ve been blessed to be on the right myself into whoever I want to be that day. path in working with huge musicians/actors I’m inspired by everything in life - homeless etc. Some of them are even helping to guide people, rich people, paintings, films. I like to me into the right lanes to reach a check point.

JUSTIN BARCO

Through my art, whether it is with film, fashion, modeling or working with musicians on creative projects, I aim to inspire people stuck in the ghetto to find a different route. I want them to apply the same passion they put into gang banging and violence and use it to find their artistic talents.

JUSTIN BARCO

WE control our future and not the system that has built us up to break us down. TO: It is our job as artists TO create TO inspire others TO be better.

JUSTIN BARCO

Photos by Nate Lubben

Nate Lubben

SOUNDfx By Denise De La Cruz

When Maddie McFly or Dupree aren’t working several jobs, going to school or getting distracted by girls, they’re making music as the duo, Sound FX. Introspections, love and the hip hop culture are seen through the eyes of these two young men from the I.E. (Inland Empire). Here’s my time with Sound FX.

How did you two meet? Dupree: We met playing basketball. We had mutual interests. We’ve known each other since we were 14. How did you guys become Sound FX? Dupree: At first we were just fucking around making beats and rhymes. We plan things out to a certain degree but most of the time it’s really organic. We’ll just do it. If we like it, we’ll put it out. If I like it and he likes it then the world might like it. Do you guys work together or individually? Dupree: We’re two separate creative individuals. I’ll be working on something on my own and he will be too. And we kind of come together. Where I slack off, he picks up. Where he slacks off, I pick up. What inspires you? Maddy McFly: Life is our inspiration. It’s simple but true. Dupree: Because of that we try to keep it personal. We try to touch on real issues in our lives. Sprinkled with a little bit of fiction. What do you want your music to represent? Dupree: We want our music to represent honesty. We want it to relate to people going through life the same way I am. You know, I’m 21, kind of on the fence about what to do in the future. Being forced to go a certain way by society yet you want to do something else. You might want to be an artist but your family is telling you to be something realistic. Mcfly: We get comments sometimes and this one kid saw our video and said he was motivated by us. And we’re just living life, yet he was motivated by what we’re going through. So I want it to represent motivation, inspiration, see us on the grind and hearing in our music that we’re working two jobs, going to school and still trying to do this music thing. Dupree: We want to let them know that they’re not alone. We want to connect people through our music and build a community of like minded people. 30

In the song “Adult Entertainment” you say, “I would shout out my city if the name sounded cooler.” In hip hop, hometown pride is a common subject matter in songs. How did the way you grew up and where you grew up influence your music? MaddieMcFLY: I moved to the I.E. when I was 13 and yeah, hometown love is big in hip hop but I just feel like my connection here isn’t so strong. It’s funny because I feel like we have more of a connection with L.A. because we’re always down there. When it comes to the I.E., no disrespect, it’s been great, but we just spend more time in the city but we’re not from there. Dupree: I personally don’t like when rappers say, “he’s a west coast rapper; he’s an east coast rapper.” I feel like music should not be regional. You shouldn’t make a certain sound for a certain region. You should make your music universal. We have fans in the Netherlands and France and they take to our music. I feel like when you take to a certain sound your music lacks a broader reach. Your lyrics are filled with personal experiences and advice. Where does the need to spit wisdom to your listeners come from? McFly: I feel like that means a lot because you get a voice and you get a chance to get on the mic and say whatever you want. Anything in the world. I feel like there’s so much an individual can say. The quietest person in the room can have the most to say. I think it’s important to have a message not all the time but when you can. I just want people to be able to get some wisdom from us while feeling good and having fun. Dupree: You get a voice so might as well say something that’s worth saying. When you listen to a Sound FX song and you hit the stop button I want someone to able to feel like they’ve grown as a person. We’re just opening up our lives and showing people the layers to it that you wouldn’t be able to see just by looking at us. What do you have out so far for listeners and what’s next? Still Dreaming EP, Still Dreaming LP, Forever in A Day EP, Medusa, Neverland EP, we’re probably going to drop another project towards the end of the year. What do you guys do when you’re not Sound FX? Dupree: We’re always Sound FX. We were friends first. Work to us is fun. When we’re working on music it feels like we’re kicking it. When we’re kickin’ it we’re working on music. So there’s no real disconnect. McFly: He’s my brother, outside of music. We help each other out on so many situations. Dupree: I’ve seen him grow from the 14 year old kid I met and I’m still going to see him grown into the person he’ll be tomorrow. Where can people find you guys? Twitter.com/soundfxmusic Facebook.com/soundfxmusic Soundfx.bandcamp.com

LARAW.NET

The Anatomy of Breaking Bad: How the deterioration of Walter White’s moral integrity mirrors that of U.S. militaristic endeavors By Danny De Maio

The story of Walter White is the story of the United States of America. That should be taken quite literally and in as many varying ways as you’d like to. The protagonist (and recently the antagonist) of AMC’s hit television show Breaking Bad encapsulates America’s humble beginnings, meteoric rise, and moral fractures like few pop-culture creations ever have. With the first half of the final season complete (it returns for its final eight episodes next summer) it stands as an ideal time to survey what Walter White has become. Some of his accomplishments have been triumphs of the human spirit, while others have firebombed the very life he’s fought so hard to preserve. White’s story is, in more ways than one, the story of the Unites States of America. We’ll start from the beginning for the sake of chronological sense. The first time we meet Walter White (in the pilot episode obviously titled “Pilot”) he is a fraction of a man. He lives his life under the thumb of societal rules that extend from the workplace (a dead-end chemistry teacher) to the home (a subservient husband). He’s yet to find his voice beyond the confines he’s been molded to respect. When thinking back to the British colonial era, we automatically narrow our vision on American colonies. Justifiably, some of this has to do with the fact that we identify ourselves as American (whatever that means or doesn’t mean 35

to you), but a great deal of this has to do with the fact that American colonists were some of the first to successfully severe ties from Britain. During “Pilot” Walter begins to do the same, realizing his life and freedom will have become stunted. In a scene that still resonates after so many dead bodies on the show, Walter beats up a teenager who is making fun of his son’s cerebral palsy condition. It’s the very first time that we see the show’s protagonist begin to break bad. In taking a mirror to ourselves we know that America was the bratty offspring of the prim and proper British Empire, but we weren’t always like that. After the initial departure of the Mayflower to the Americas, we were people attempting to flee the royalty’s grasps. Eventually, after a number of new taxes levied on the colonists to support wars not fought by them, American colonists began to break bad as well. Surely we’ve all studied the Boston Tea Party from the time we were twelve years old. In hindsight the Boston Tea Party was a precursor for the American Revolution. Walter White’s outburst in the department store functions on the same level. He’s being pushed one too many times and the cage becomes unhinged. The department store incident is a miniscule infraction in comparison to Walter’s first murder. During the final moments of “…And the Bag’s in the River” Walter strangles a drug dealer who attempts to rob and kill Walter and Jesse for their high-grade meth. Set in a basement, Walter’s murder is the tiny motor that sets in motion his descent. The deceased character is forgettable at best, but the

action allows Walter to realize he can kill, and his ends are worth defending with as much bloodshed as necessary. Taking into account the violent roots of American history, Walt’s first murder parallels the true start of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord. Much like “the shot heard ‘round the world” Walter’s act of murder situates itself in a grey area. He initially has a mind to release the drug dealer locked up in his basement, but after the man takes a swing at him with a serrated piece of a dinner plate Walter finds that he has no choice but to kill his attacker. Similarly, this is where young America was at one time. As an idea, the United States had been present in colonist minds, but until a traumatic event like Lexington and Concord, they weren’t sure whether they were ready to risk death for it. The events on April 19, 1775 and Walter’s clash with a rival drug dealer in the basement are representations of declarations of true intent, whether or not colonial America or Walter initially realized this. As the show progresses into its second season, Walter and his methmaking endeavor enter a twisted, indefinable period. In fact, season two is the first instance in which we aren’t only conflicted about rooting for a drug dealer, but downright disgusted with ourselves after the credits roll. This continued grey area aligns itself well in the initial postRevolution years of the U.S. While the Civil War and Vietnam get more attention in the history books, the aftermath of the Revolution was what set the stage for America’s eventual rise to world power. The War of 1812 pitted the U.S. against its mothering

Britain once again in a time that the young nation was giving isolationism a shot. This obviously didn’t pan out as Americans had hoped, as the war raged for nearly

three years. From that war’s end until 1861, American forces dabbled only in comparatively minor operations like the MexicanAmerican War and the Seminole War. This era of American militaristic history is perhaps the most difficult to draw good guy/ bad guy lines. The moral haze of this period can be found correspondingly in Walter’s season two decisions. Take for instance the lack of sympathy he has for Jesse when his friend Combo is murdered in cold blood by a rival gang or when he idly watches Jane choke to death on her own vomit while Jesse sleeps next to her. Though these are not explosions in the show as a whole, they’re grenades that leave a significant amount of shrapnel in the characters that are already attempting to mend past wounds. The lines between right and wrong become blurred during these episodes and even from an objective standpoint it’s tricky to define who the true aggressor is. When we’re told the story of the Alamo as children we are told the heroics of Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett against the villainous Mexican army, but in taking a step back, America had been making a play at Mexican land for as long as people had been coming west. In truth, there’s a valid argument for both countries and the moral glasses are easily fogged up. Walter White, to this point in the series, is neither hero nor villain. His moral compass is spinning erratically, but at least still attempting to make the “right” choice (as is seen when he recount his chance meeting with Jane’s father the night of her death). However, this misleading lull in both America’s history and Walter’s story is one of the final times that they each have the luxury of falling back on the grey area. During season three, Walter become’s an official business partner with Gus Fring. Gus is the mover and shaker of the meth business in the Southwestern U.S. and he has close ties to the Mexican drug cartels, as we see later. The union that Walter makes with Gus operates similar to the U.S. westward expansion in the early to late 1800s. Both men see that there is a frontier that has yet to be settled, and resources that have gone untapped. The difference here is that instead of Texas oil and California gold, Walter and Gus see a million more meth heads who would love nothing more than to wrap their head around Walter’s unique blue meth. Hand-in-hand, the two walk towards a promise of success that’s too lucrative to resist and too good to last. Just as anticipated, Walter and Gus’ amicable business partnership begins to fray. As viewers, we can reach back to what American history has told us regarding the expansion of the south and west, from the original thirteen colonies. For one, northerners moved south and west to make new lives. However, second and more importantly, the country began to diverge lit-

erally and morally. Don’t believe for a minute that the north didn’t have some maturing to do, but the south had morally and economically branched away from what the north had become since the end of the Revolution. Turning our attention back to the Gus/Walter merger, it’s clear that Walter is functioning as manufacturer (the south) and Gus as the distributor of goods (the north). The relationship is far from symbiotic as one might expect and the glaring differences between the two prove to be too much for their egos to see past. If moving Jesse out of the lab and into the watchful view of Mike, and putting Walter under constant surveillance are psychological preemptive strikes against Mr. White, then the true war begins with the death of Gale. Like a general ordering a strategic attack, Walter sets in motion the plan for Jesse to murder Gale, Gus’ beloved chemistry talent whom he hopes will replace Walter after he has disposed of him. Like a brother tearfully eliminating his evil twin (much like the north and south), Jesse fires a bullet through Gale’s head. It draws allusions to Fort Sumter in that it’s the seemingly small-scale attack that proves to bring hell on earth. In the season finale Walter murders two of Gus’ drug dealers to save Jesse (his true partner) from being laid to waste in a hail of gunfire at their hands. Season three concludes with the civil war raging, but still in its early stages. At the start of season four, in a fit of calculated rage, Gus slits the throat of the lab security guard, Victor, in front of Walter and Jesse. It’s a tone-setter for everyone involved, conveying his will to do anything to secure the success of his venture. Walter is of a similar mind, and so he begins the war between the north and south. The ongoing cat and mouse affair drips with an intensity not felt in the series to this point. The same could be said for the American Civil War, as it pitted two entities very much the same, bound together, and as furious as the wrathful Old Testament. Running out of options before he is effectively defeated, Walter sends a suicide bomber to finish off the last man standing in his way; Gus Fring. With Gus’ meth business effectively defeated, Walter is able to begin to pick up the pieces of his business with a mind of building an empire. Sounding familiar? With Gus out of the way after the aptly titled “Faceoff” episode, Walter turns his attention to fulfilling his dream. Without knowing that his dream has changed, he once imagined it being about leaving his family financially comfortable after he had passed; his new dream is something far sinister. Whereas his goal was an easy tangible as a dollar amount (somewhere in the $700,000s) Walter is now twisted enough to disregard his marriage and family’s safety by stretching for power. When questioned by Jesse about his aspirations, Walter declares that he is “in the empire business.” It’s a terrifying declaration that stands alongside his declaration that he “is the danger.” Right before our eyes, Walter has

devolved from a loving family man doing everything in his power to save his family from financial ruin into the realm of murderous ruler. This enters into the post-World War II era of U.S. militaristic involvement. The conclusion of the World War II left the U.S. as an undisputed world power that was either the hero or the villain to the rest of the world, with no room for leeway. Without ever declaring it outright, the U.S. government strategically built itself an overseas empire in the name of worldwide betterment. The purpose of this isn’t to say whether it ended up better or worse, but it’s obvious that the country no longer sought isolationism as it once did. This effectively began the U.S. presence as a worldwide police force. Unfortunately, there are corrupt cops sometimes. From Vietnam in the 1960s/70s, to Afghanistan in the 1980s, to black ops in Iran and beyond, the U.S. influence has effectively got us in hot water worldwide. While a case could be made for losing sight of what was most important: the home. We’re not speaking all militaristically either, because economically many U.S. companies have gone overseas to build their empires for a cheaper price while leaving those at home without jobs. Bluntly, it’s greed of all sorts. If there’s one moment of the series (thus far) that exposes Walter White as a man rotting from the inside out, it’s when he orchestrates the simultaneous ‘hits’ of nine prisoners who worked under Mike. The scene itself draws distinct allusions to 9/11. Planned to hit like a whirlwind all at once, all nine men are murdered in cold blood. September 11, 2001 had the same tactic in mind. If that didn’t convince the viewer that it was creator Vince Gilligan’s way of commentating on the American story, then the aftermath did. As Hank reads to a class of elementary school children a man rushes into the room to announce that nine prisoners willing to ‘roll’ on Heisenberg (aka Walt) have all been attacked and murdered. The parallels between the show’s scene and President George Bush on 9/11 are unmistakable. As the first half of season five has come to a close the remaining eight episodes of the series are up in the air. The show is at a crossroads that has branches jutting out in every direction imaginable. You may try to guess how the story of Walter White will end, but it’s frivolous. The song of America rings in a similar key, especially in an election year. After 236 years of steady rising to be the world power, America finds itself at a truly critical time. After years of recession (what constitutes a depression, I’m not sure, but it sure feels like one), longwinded wars, crashes in education, and more, the story of America from here on out will either be one of resilience or internal collapse. No king ever ruled forever and no empire ever went without being toppled. The question is not a question of if the United States will slip, but when and how far. The question of Walter White’s fate is quite similarly that of the U.S. Stay tuned.

LARAW.NET

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Kaymar’s Rant I sat down with College for a candid one-on-one to see what’s on his mind for this school year.

Kaymar: Wow, College, this plan seems scary, why would they do this?

Kaymar: Hey College what’s going on? What’s new in the world of higher education?

College: Simply my friend, its capitalism. The mass have to be dumbed down in order to vote outside of their personal interest. They will never understand a complex ballot and they will vote to pay higher taxes and take home a smaller amount of pay. About 1-5% will have all the money and power and knowledge. The mass will never understand the true meaning of a republic government, which was theorized by the great thinkers of our past. They will never understand a check and balance system and will accept a fascist government with all its lies and false promises. We had slavery first, and they were freed physically but never mentally. It took one hundred years after slavery for blacks just to be able attend the schools they wanted. Now, we have enslavement mentally and financially. Now, another work force is needed that will never challenge the status quo. One that will work like the slaves did and work for little or no pay (today’s prison work force). Let me ask you this, when was the last time you saw someone reading for enjoyment? When was the last time you heard of a book club for teenagers? This generation does not even read comics books or magazines anymore. So they have no need for a book with a critical subject matter.

College: Nothing much, just figuring out new ways of keeping the poor poor, the middle class stupid and the elite the elite. Kaymar: Oh okay could you give me a more indepth perspective? Let people know the deal. College: Well, I will speak in a language these suckers can understand. First, let me set the record straight: America has one of the most elite education systems top to bottom. However, it’s only for the rich because if you’re from a wealthy family you will never set foot in a public institution. You will stay at an elite level of schooling from birth. Kaymar: Why is this so, College? College: You know that cliché: “Education is key”? Well, it is very true because you can’t fool people who can think and earn for themselves. It didn’t start out with the rich versus the poor, but white vs. minorities. If you were white then you were right. And if you were not white then oh well, society can take advantage of you. That was what segregation was all about and if you can remember, the KKK was a college fraternity made to discourage people from going to school. It wasn’t a bunch of red necks. The motive was to keep the minorities from the knowledge so they would never fight back. As society can see, it physically attached very easily and it was used to make the elite even richer. For example, the Prison Industrial Complex is another form of this in today’s society. A person with mental abilities is a nightmare to society; just look at what Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and MLK did. They were all great leaders and most had their master degrees, except for those who did their studying in a prison, which was said to be equal to a doctorate. So the idea was that if you had an education you could be torn from society because they want to keep you from the truth. The dumbing down of society’s less privileged started after everyone was granted the right to attend any school of their choice. However, they put a price on certain schools to keep better education out of reach. The few of the ones who made it in spite of what happened got together and made programs like financial aid to help others get the value of a critical mind. This was fought by raising the price so people would have to take out huge loans, which enslaved them with a debt that they have no way of getting out of after college. Keeping them behind the eight ball, by having them work for the elite so they will never get ahead. However, many have still been able to overcome that. So, they destroyed the inner city public schools education level so the students have no way of getting a higher-level degree. Today, with Obama in office, we call this the “No Child Left behind Act.” They also started developing trade schools to create industrial workers. Workers, who work to make credit-slaves to the Industrial Complex, pay their taxes and keep quiet. They can’t afford to take out a house loan and they never become thinkers or readers, just pure workers and credit-slaves. We are now going to take out trades offered at community colleges so people will have to attend a trade school and learn a trade. They will have to take student loans to pay for it and eventually, we will have a perfect society of non-thinkers, easy workers and credit slaves to fool and control.

Kaymar: So, College, do sports have anything to do with it? College: That is the greatest trick ever to be played on this generation, ha-ha! I’ll explain. In the past, people went to school for academics. Now, people are paying ten times as much to go to a school with the best college teams so they can post pictures of them at the game on social Medias. At some colleges, football is held higher than education. You have a community of 500,000 students in which only a few thousand get a free education on an athletic scholarship. Then, the rest of the half million that didn’t make it think it’s their own fault that these few did make it and didn’t. The funny thing is that out of the scholarships given; only about 50% will get a degree. There is no telling how many will actually use their brains. Most will try to go pro in whatever sport they play but without the mental skill to function in this world, they will soon become just another physical tool that is used up and put to the side. As soon as their physical abilities have passed their prime, they are left to become just another tool that made a million for the system. Kaymar: So, College, what is the meaning of College then? College: Well, to be honest, I used to be the tool that created critical thinkers, which created the leaders of their generation. I am still the same tool but I just do it for the elite now. I keep the elite at a high level but as soon as someone breaks the system, I go and change the system to fix that problem so no one else can make it through. So, I really just create parts that fit into the machine of the modern world. The college rebels of the sixties are gone, the time where the movement against the system was created by the educated. Now I have made the educated live in fear. The fear of bad credit, the fear of not having the perfect life, the fear of not making it and the fear of not leaving the world in a better place than they found it. I have control over them with the two biggest ideological tools used to control a person: hope and fear. The hope that they will gain wealth and the fear of losing something that they never had in the first place. I am here to control those suckers. These are the same ideologies the modern world has used to control people in modern religious intuitions, the fear of hell and the hope of heaven.

Photos by David Kwocks

David Kwocks

KONE by Denise De La Cruz

My recent venture out to East Hollywood had me arriving to a charming apartment. Canvases with colorful art added personal aesthetics. Stacks on stacks on stacks of records were stored in every room. Smooth vintage jazz escaped from the living room and acted as the cherry on top to the tranquil aura the place was exhibiting. I’m then introduced to a dark yet welcoming room with an impressive set up of black and grey machinery that belongs to a beat producer named KONE.

How did the name KONE come about? It comes originally from a miss – pronunciation of my last name. Which is Koerner with a silent O. I was 14 or 15 and I was in a surf contest and the announcer said my name really badly. And my friends were like “yeah the Kone!” And I was like “What’s that?” “That’s you’re new nickname. “I don’t like it.” “Well too bad!” And it totally stuck so I just embraced it. Years later when I started DJing I figured I already have a nickname that people know me by so it just kind of stuck and followed me. What were your influences growing up musically? My folks were really into music. Different kinds of music, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, jazz. Music was part of the house I grew up in. When I was young I fell in love with rap. I remember one time at a Laker game with my dad I asked him what the music the Laker

girls were dancing to was. And he was like, “oh that’s rap.” I was like, “man, that’s cool” and he was like, “let’s go get some tapes!” He helped facilitate my love for rap not hate on it. How did you link up with Alpha Pup? Well I had a good rapport with Daddy Kev who started Alpha Pup and Low End Theory. My songs started making their way on the mix tapes he was doing and that other Low End cats were working on. Then I played Low End for the first time a few years ago. I had made stuff specifically to play there and was excited about it. After that I told him if he ever wanted to put that stuff on a release or mix that he could. A few months later I got an e-mail out of the blue and he was like “So we were talking about doing a release how soon can you put together an album?” I just responded with “Dude, if you’re serious I’ll get it together real fast.” We had a meeting, made sure

we were on the same page and it came together pretty quickly after that. That album was the Tractatus correct? How did that album conceptually come about? Yeah. I studied philosophy in college. I realized no matter what I studied as an undergraduate wasn’t really going to determine my whole career. So I wanted to study something I was actually interested in. There was a philosopher named Ludwig Wittgenstein, he wrote the book called the Tractatus Logico Philosophicus. It’s a hand book about the relationship between nature and language, logic and critical thinking and how all these things tie together. I had been gathering all these samples together that were reminiscent of that or along that school of thought. I found audio books that were interpretations of his stuff. Once I got the green light to make this record I had a project to give a home to

all these samples. For me it gave the record a thematic element to bring all this music together cohesively. I also thought it could be something that could resonate with the listeners after a few listens. I also never really heard anyone else do anything that was particularly philosophical or coming from a more academic place. It’s also a sort of tongue and cheek joke. I’ve had 8 million people in my lifetime ask me what I’ll do with a philosophy degree. Well I’m gonna make a record with that degree. Haha How is your creative process with any project? It differs from day to day. Sometimes, if I’m really bummed out and I go make a song, it ends up sounded really joyous. Or, if I’m in a really good lighthearted mood, my music comes out really dark and heavy. Sometimes I do go in with specific intentions of the outcome but it’s usually just whatever I’m feeling.

What is your set up? Basically a MacBook Pro, an interface by Focus Right, Focus Right 24 DSP, two Novation Launchpad controllers, one Akai LPD8,and run everything through one or more effect pedals. Usually I run things through an analog delay pedal. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mostly digital but running it through some analog filters on the way out that allow me to manipulate it. I think it warms up the over-all sound.

What are some of your favorite venues to perform at? Low End is probably my favorite place that I’ve played so far. I haven’t been around the world playing my music yet but I have a feeling that even after doing so there’s still something really special about that place and that room. All I really care about is the venue having a decent sound system. Sometimes that’s in odd venues. I played a show in Stockton and the venue was changed last minute to a sports bar and grill joint in a mini mall. When we got there, a happy hour crowd was already settled in. We thought this is either going to be really fun or we’re going to alienate everybody. It turned out to be so much fun. Everyone stayed throughout the whole night. Folks were dancing and completely open to the music. I would take that any day of the week over playing some place that looks right but doesn’t feel right. As long as the sound system is good then I don’t really care where the venue is at. So what’s next for KONE? I’ve been recording a lot this summer. I’m setting up some tours. Hopefully going to do a little southwest run. I’m setting up for the beginning of 2013 to do more extensive touring. I’m hoping to have at least two more projects that I can give away on BandCamp later on this year. Where can people find you? My main website thekone.com has links to my Bandcamp, Twitter, SoundCloud, Facebook all that stuff. Facebook.com/konemusic Twitter: @thekone Kone.bandcamp.com

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Photos by Rachel Wright

Rachel Wright

art by

David Kwock Nate Lubben Apollo Staar Rachel Wright & L.A. R.A.W.

november 10 open 6 reception 8 543 2nd st POMONA

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RENEGADE PRESIDENT Interview by Kaymar Haye

Tell us about yourself and who you are? I was born and raised in California for the first 10 years of my life. My family and I later moved to Nigeria in 2000 because my father was elected as a legislator in the country’s House of Representatives. After living in Nigeria for three years, my family and I came back to the states and ended up in Houston, TX where I completed my high school education. In the fall of 2007, I was admitted to Cal Poly Pomona and have been studying Electrical Engineering with a minor in business marketing. I live my life by abiding by the quote of the great Gandhi that reads, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I try my best to carry myself in a very humble and respectful manner as well as lending a helping hand whenever necessary. I take pride in my high involvement in my campus community, and stress success in everything I do. I am firm believer that we are influential people that can impact the world, so I have decided to own up to my power and influence the world through my academics, organizations, leadership positions and community service. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself, and the trait you most deplore in others? The trait that I most deplore in myself is my lack of patience. I have really been trying to work on this because I can see the stress that it causes on others and on myself. The trait that I most deplore in others is selfishness. I feel like too many people in our society have lost the sense of “community,” and refuse to be their brother’s keeper. On what occasion do you lie? I don’t have exact occasions that I “lie” on necessarily; it’s just something that happens every now and again. What is the biggest misconception about you? One of the biggest misconceptions that I believe people have about me is that I have it all figured out, like I know exactly what I want to do with my life. I cannot blame anybody for having these preconceived notions about me because I do carry myself in a very confident manner whenever I am in front of people, but that is because of the quote, “never let ‘em see you sweat.” Only the people that I really let into my life know how conflicted I can be when it comes to my future.

CHRISTOPER

OSUALA

CAL POLY POMONA

STUDENT BODY

PRESIDENT

Which historical figure do you most admire? I admire a bunch of historical figures. To name a few, I would say Gandhi, Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz, Dr. Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, Caesar Chavez, Huey P. Newton, Tupac, Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. Du Bois, etc. I admire all these people because I view them as GREAT leaders and people that weren’t afraid to stand up, fight, and/or die for what they believed in. What is your idea of perfect happiness? My ideas of a perfect happiness would be a life where I have a wife and kids that I can share my time with learning together, having fun, and solving life’s problems together as a unit. A time where how much money and how many physical possessions I own is not a factor, and I get to go to work everyday mentoring and helping the youth through the various issues in life they may face. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If it had to be a physical thing it would be my HEIGHT! I hate being short sometimes. But if it had to be internally, it would be my fear. A lot of times in life I let fear get the best of me, and I let it prevent me from either trying new things, or going after something that I really want but would be devastated if I didn’t attain it. If you were to die and come back as a person or as a thing, what would you want it to be? If I were to die and come back as a thing, I would want to come back as a bird. I would be a bird because in my eyes, only they know the true sense of freedom. Birds get to fly and soar over the entire planet overlooking all of its beauty and its true size and worth, which allows them to escape the normal day pressures, issues and bureaucracy that we humans let bog us down and hinder us on a daily. They get to see the bigger picture of things and what’s really important in life.

What do you see ahead for your Presidency in the next year? I see a LEGACY. That has been one of the main themes throughout my life and now throughout my administration. Any situation that I walk into, I try my best to leave my mark and to be remembered, and leave it better than how I found it. I see tough times ahead, but I also see glorious ones. One of the biggest hurdles that we are addressing this year is Proposition 30. If Prop 30 does not pass on November 6, 2012, The CSU System will suffer a $250 million “trigger” cut. This “trigger” cut will equate to a budget cut of about $12 million to Cal Poly Pomona. For those that may be unaware of Prop 30, it is a tax initiative that is being proposed by the Governor of California to increase a personal income tax on earnings over $250,000 for seven years, and increases sales and use tax by ¼ percent for four years. With the temporary tax revenues that are generated, 89 percent will go to K-12 schools and 11 percent to the community college system. Looking at it from a different point of view, I see this as a stage given to us as students to stand up for our education and what we believe in. It is also an opportunity for us to stand united as Broncos and let our voice be recognized as a campus and student body. How do you see the future for this campus? The future of Cal Poly Pomona looks tremendously bright. Everyday the campus continues to expand and expand. It is a bittersweet feeling for guys like me that appreciates tradition, because it is not the same as how I came, but it is also really cool to see all the growth that has come about in the last couple of years. This fall quarter, the campus just opened up our new College of Business Administration building, Qdoba Mexican Grill, and Einstein Bros Bagels shop. In 2014, the university should be completed with their first ever Recreation Center that will contain three basketball courts, a huge swimming pool, and a 51’ indoor rock climbing wall. It is really a beautiful thing to see all of the new ventures and expansions that the university has committed too, and I am positive that there is only more and more success on the way for the campus. What do you consider to be your office’s most important assets? I believe that our Administrative Assistant, Vicki Jackson, is our most important “asset.” Vicki has been working with ASI Student Government for five years now, and she is extremely resourceful with any and everything! Her attention to detail and her organizational skills have definitely come in handy this year for my administration in particular, because almost everyone on my team is new to Student Government. What can you tell me about your new product or plans for growth? One of the major plans or new products for this year that we have planned is hosting the first ever Cal Poly Pomona Homecoming! We are extremely excited about this, and we are truly looking forward to making history with this venture and leaving a legacy. The whole idea came about as Christine Hall, ASI Vice President, and I were campaigning for the elections in May 2012. We were trying to figure out how to increase the campus school spirit/ Bronco pride. We received various answers and ideas from faculty, staff and students, and we believed that throwing a Homecoming was the best idea suggested that could have a long lasting impact, and have so much potential to grow. Since Cal Poly Pomona does not have a football team, we are looking too center the event around our basketball team. Our basketball team won the NCAA Division II National Championship, and they are pretty popular amongst our student

body, so we felt that it was only right to do this. We are currently thinking about putting on the homecoming week during the second week of February. The week will consist of a pep rally, Bronco pride events, and event(s) for our alumni. Since this is the first inception of its kind, we know that we have to keep our expectations realistic and know that we are just planting the seed for the beautiful tree that has potential to grow from this in the future.

Ever had an argument and needed a third, forth, ﬁfth opinion from friends or family? “Who do you think is going to win the World Series?” A) Dodgers

C) Yankees

B) Angels

D) Giants

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PAPA by cheike kone

Bambadjan Bamba and Mathew Elam stopped by the studios of LA Raw to discuss their upcoming project Papa. Papa is a short movie, Bambadjan’s rendition of his personal experience as a young African immigrant caught between the challenges of defining himself in his host culture and the struggles of coming of age in a home dominated by a stoic and unwavering father. Bambadjan Bamba is an up and coming Hollywood talent hailing from the Cote d’Ivoire. He started his movie careers as an actor and is mostly recognizable through the current Snickers candy bar ad where he features alongside the legendary Joe Pesci. Bambadjan work includes noticeable appearances in the big screen such as Chris Rock’s “I Think I Love My Wife”, but more consistently in television where he’s been on most of your favorite shows: ER, CSI, Law And Order, The Sopranos, Bones, NCIS: Los Angeles, just to name a few…Beyond his Hollywood aspirations, Bambadjan Bamba is not shy about his attachment to his roots and strong desire to be part of this new generation of the African diaspora who want their story to be told and most importantly wants to tell it themselves. To make life of this project close to his heart, Bamba, as he is fondly called, sought out among others fellow Ivorian thespian Souleymane Sy Savane, who has recently co-starred in “Machine Gun Preacher” with Gerard Butler, to play his father and 2010 NAACP image award nominee Matthew Elam, his sidekick of the day, to play himself. While his cultural background and chops as an actor would naturally justify Souleymane Sy Savane ability to relate to his father’s character in PAPA, Bambadjan found out creator anguish was at its peak when it came down to not only resist the temptation of taking up the part of himself and at the same time find a young black actor who would not only reproduce a neat African accent but also understand and project the pressures of being a first generation teenage immigrant in quest for self assertion.

Talking about looking for one self in another, LA born Matthew Elam, 16, was just that. Matthew who had made his marks playing a young South African in a stage version of Sarafina had already perfected an African accent and, as any teenager that has walked this earth, completely understood what it meant to want a voice for one self even though the greater challenge was to actually to immerse himself into this specific lifestyle. Matthew Elam who is ever thankful for his acting debuts at the Amazing Grace Conservatory, an organization that offer performing arts training and opportunities to youngsters in areas and times where art education are greatly needed, comfortably bridges Bambadjanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ode to his father with the universal experiences of needing to belong, middle child blues, coming of age and the parent Vs Child love-hate relationship that plays out in that power struggle. PAPA is Bambadjan Bamba first film as a writer and director and will soon be shown in festivals near you in early 2013.

kym will by Kymberly Williams

People tell me they like my style fairly often. With so many well-dressed people out there, I don’t let compliments like that go to my head…I’m always flattered by them though. I hate discussing fashion with people I don’t know very well because it comes across as superficial or pretentious, instead of just being a hobby.

I was born in Louisiana but raised in southern California. I grew up very poor and moved around a lot, but for the most part I was raised in Pasadena, California. I moved to Long Beach about 12 years ago…I heart Long Beach. It was here that I figured out who I really was. People always ask me “What do you do?” expecting an answer like “I’m a stylist or singer or entertainer...”. I work at Buffalo Exchange in Long Beach, I come home, ride my beach cruiser along the shoreline, read (currently its Watchmen...soooo good) eat, then pass out. I make the most out of what I have. I love being me, not because I’m arrogant, but more so because I’m all that I’ve got! I better love being me! It took me a long time to be comfortable in my own skin and to be honest I still have insecurities. I hope to always have a certain sense of insecurity…that way my feet will always be on the ground. I tend to do my own thing rather than follow trends, but lately I’ve been all about it. When the 90’s came back I dove head first into that trend. I grew up in the 90’s so I had to participate. Fall is coming soon so I’ll be ready to switch my style up and get back to business. I love men’s clothing. I would wear it more often if I could. I’m a curvy girl so it’s a little difficult to find the right fit of pants.... I am a girly girl though…the type of girl who drenches herself in a bottle of $100 perfume before bed. My bra and panties have to match even if no one knows but me. And my nails are done on the regular… “I save the drama for my lashes” Janelle Monae. The way to my heart: 1. Science fiction 2. Food 3. Make me genuinely smile or laugh 4. Introduce me to something new, interesting, or exciting … maybe not in this order I have so many incredibly fashion forward friends who inspire me every day. I tend to have fashion themes in my life. For a year straight I wore all black. Before Jay z said it, I wore ruffled socks everyday for 8 months. I had a Teen Vogue spring and an African safari summer...haha! I woke up one day and ordered six pairs of Doc Martens. I had never owned a pair in my life and I can’t imagine life without them now. My style is just a collection of people and things that inspire me. I love being inspired and I love having the opportunity to inspire others…Arrogance vs. Confidence…Refer to your notes.

“

People alway s ask me ‘what do you do?’ expecting an answer like ‘I’m a stylists or singer or entertainer...’

”

Back to the Revolution By Sharif Rasheed

years ago young people screamed, “the revolution would not be televised” which was inspired by apoem from Gil Scott Heron in the 70’s. It was a time in history where people came out in the streets screaming and demanding equality and justice for all oppressed people around the world. These people were “educated and dedicated and united on the basis of bringing about change that they wanted to see in the world by any means necessary,” as Malcolm X once said. Schools lost the teachers, teachers lost the parents, parents lost the youth and the youth forgot about the revolution. Teachers are not investing in their students because they are too busy labeling them as future criminals or dismissing them from class because they speak up and tell the truth, like Jada Williams. Parents would rather be their child’s friend and not teach them the importance of reading and educating one’s self outside of the classroom. The youth relate more to Lil Boosie than Malcolm X. They see Lil Wayne wearing green Ugg boots as a revolution instead of learning about true revolutionaries like Ernesto “Che” Guevara. The revolution was not televised because Hollywood bought it and sold society a motion picture that turned people numb to the violence, oppression, inequality

and hatred. The times where people fought against “The System” ended with the flick of a channel. There is a “Brenda having baby” everyday, but we ignore it and say nothing to young girls in the world suffering. There is police violence everyday that leads to a handcuffed 21-year-old Chavis Carter mysteriously shooting himself in the head while sitting in the back of a police cruiser, but nobody is screaming what N.W.A screamed in the 90’s. Today we live in a different world where people are not sitting by radios or their television to get educated. Under Dre Beats, kids are listening to Rick Ross, French Montana, Lil Wayne and Meek Mill while screaming, money, drugs and selfhatred (if you listen close enough). Music that would have revolutionaries rolling in their grave is how the truth is told today. Entertainers are the teachers and the streets are the classrooms filled with eager individuals to listen and learn. This is the world we live in today, but this will not continue because the revolution is coming and you will be drafted on the first day of school. Back to the revolution is what back to school should represent. Changing a system that continues to oppress Latino and Black Americans on a daily basis. A revolution where education is the goal and everything else is not acceptable. Failure not being an option is what motivated people forty-two years ago. Today we have to be motivated by the truth. The revolution starts when you begin to realize that the truth has always been placed in the books. When you begin to seek the truth and end the inequality the revolution can start. So as you lace up your boots and put on your book bag and walk out the front door, remember that the first day of school is the first day of the revolution.

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Jonny Rockettz

What struck me first about this up-and-coming Long Beach music artist was his appearance. He appears to be of Jamacain descent but is none of the sort. Accompanying his dreaded hair is the hair on his face; his bristly, black mustache that surpasses the width of his lips and his short, rough, unbarbered hair on his chin. He rocks a loud vneck with an array of various colors and designs. On his hands and fingers are a couple of rings; one gold cross ring, and a gold watch that has a very antique look to it. Can’t forget to mention the loop earring pierced onto his left nostril. “Swagg” isn’t the word to describe the cliché of styles usually put on southern California’s natives that he possesses. It leaves me to ponder alternative adjectives.

You would think when a person has a name after someone or someplace that there would be some kind of correlation. This typical judgement totally made an ass out of my assumption. Jonny Rockettz doesn’t even like Johnny Rockets! Although he has eaten there three times, he dislikes the restaurant simply because he expected greater and only ate there because his name influenced him to. So why name yourself after something you dislike? Well, at a party in 2009, his friend Al’garon (who’s featured on his song, “Yellowbones”) gave him the name during a freestyle session. He liked it and stuck with the name ever since. He hadn’t known about the restaurant prior to receiving his name. He previously was known as “J. Dubbz” and “Young” – names, which he referred to as boring. A typical day, for Long Beach citizen, Jonny Rockettz consists of caring for his newborn daughter, Charlie Madyson, working, and staying “stoned”. He works as a poetry and physical education eacher at Doris Topsy Elvord Academy; a charter middle school in the city of Paramount. His upcoming album/mixtape is entitled “Charlie Madyson” in tribute to his daughter. When I asked why Johnny considers himself a “stoner” even though some people may view it as negative thing, he responded, “I’m a stoner, meaning that I consume marijuana.” He goes on to add, “Weed is so minimal compared to laboratory drugs. Some people drink caffeine when they wake up, I’ll maybe roll up a blunt, no difference.” Rockettz perception of marijuana and the definition behind the term “stoner” isn’t one that’s negative at all. He’s aware of the opposed opinions but it doesn’t bother him. Growing up listening to Lil’ Bow Wow and seeing Lil’ Wayne on the T.V. is what got Jonny Rockettz into rapping. The first music video he ever witnessed on the television screen was “Project Chick” by the Hot Boyz. This greatly intrigued him because during his childhood his parents never allowed him to watch hip-hop on television but with his father going to jail, it sort of freed him from those restrictions. “I never focus on why my father went to jail,” says Jonny. “Just when I moved with my mother at 16 I had a foundation but now had to learn how to be a man and that was a culture shock. I can honestly say I found God in hip hop so I used rap music and culture to grow into my own, a man.”

Jonny has a music video for a song called “Hold On (Free Tibet)”, which I found interesting. I asked Jonny to elaborate on the inspiration behind both the track and the music video. Initially the track hadn’t belonged to Rockettz, he was just a feature on it. It belonged to a guy by the name of E. Train who produced the track. However, E. Train felt the track was a better fit for Jonny, so he gave it to him. As far as the music video goes, one day, in Downtown Los Angeles, Jonny randomly trudged into an event where Monks were protesting for rights and at that moment he instantly thought, Man, this video has to be about this, as it relates to his first verse speaking on how, “the world is fucked up.” If Rockettz could collaborate with anyone it would be Louisiana rapper Lil’ Boosie, simply because he’s one of his favorite rappers who inspires him to be honest and transparent as an artist. If you’re a fan of Boosie’s music then I’m sure you know that it doesn’t get any realer than him when it comes to song lyrics. Jonny goes on to shout, “Free Boosie!” as he is currently incarcerated. Other focuses besides music for Rockettz is his daughter and money. He loves his daughter dearly and wants to care for her accordingly, so understandably, money is essential and plays a vital role. Rockettz says one of his dreams is to one day have his daughter say “Look, there goes my daddy on TV!” In spite of the fact that Jonny wants to be on television, he expressed that one of his goals is to be famous but not to the point where he is no longer human and can’t walk down the street. In five years, Rockettz sees his career, “well off” in his terms. Being stable enough to have everything he needs, but wealthy enough to be able to buy everything he wants. When listeners hear Rockettz’s music, his message is to instill honesty in his audience. He wants his fans to love him for who he truly is: a stoner who seeks truth and honesty, who loves music, but not as much as he loves his baby daughter. The interview concluded with an answer to a question. I asked Jonny if there was anything in particular that he would want people to know about him. His response was, “One thing in particular I want people to know about me is that I make mistakes, which makes me the perfect artist.” You can listen to Jonny Rockettz’s music at these websites: Youtube.com/Jonnyrockettz Reverbnation.com/Jonnyrockettz And also for updates you can follow him at: Twitter.com/Rockettzjonny

LA Raw Vintage pieces throughout are available for sale on rawwater. net. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and individually named; for all the one-of-a-kind individuals out there.

Vintage black maxi dress with a sheer top and silver studs Peek a Boo Pair this dress with masculine accessories: big glasses, a colorful beanie, and Doc Martens.

Vintage shirt with printed collar and yield patch Caution LA Raw grey cardigan Pair this vintage shirt with a pendant necklace and basic pieces.

Vintage mens blazer with patches Grand Dad Vintage shirt with triangle stud pocket Zig Zags These two pieces pair so well together to create this funky, dapper style.

Vintage leather blouse with hand studded collar Mix Metal Pair with printed pants, Doc Martens, and gold jewelry.

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Vintage Shirt with gold chain pocket Afro Jazz Pair with solid skinnies, printed socks, and vintage loafers.

Vintage denim jacket, hand studded with gangster appliquĂŠ Gangster LA Raw crop panther tank Vintage high-waisted denim cut off shorts, hand studded with leopard patch Meow! We created a grunge denim suit by pairing the denim jacket and shorts. The high waisted shorts go great with the LA Raw crop panther tank. Keep it 90s, by accessorizing with a beanie and Doc Martens.

Vintage shirt The Cosby Show LA Raw dope man tee Pair with skinny dockers, lace up boots, and a badass scarf.

Vintage plaid button down with stud pocket Boyfriend Wear this lightweight plaid shirt tied around your waist or as a boyish coverup

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Vintage plaid high low dress with studs Hi Lo Almost everything looks better with Doc Martens and a beanie

Vintage shirt Tribe Pair with Dwayne Wayne glasses, gold wrist watch, wooden bead bracelets, and olive green dockers.

Vintage suede and shearling vest Hippie SH*T Vintage shirt Birds and yellow This combination gives him a cool 70s vibe; cop this vest and pair it with an all over print shirt.

Vintage leather skirt with rose gold spikes Rose Thorn Pair with even more spikes and brightly colored accessories.

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Photos by Icarus Phoenix

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Africa Fashion Week Los Angeles (AFWLA) 2012 was founded by Ms. Nnenna Obioha and Ms. Onyinyechi Egeonuigwe. The creators realized the important role fashion plays in developing small business while noticing the lack of African talent in the LA fashion scene. This event created an outlet for African designers, businesses, and affiliates to present their product to a larger audience and network with fellow professionals. AFWLA was a week long event of fashion shows and mixers which encouraged networking within the African community. The fashion shows took place at Papillion Institute of Art, October 10-13th. The event was hosted by the lovely Nola Darling duo and showcased sixteen fashion lines. Each line had a unique aesthetic and the common goal of supporting Africa. The fashion show began with a live performance of traditional African dance, which were followed by 5-8 collections of mostly womenswear. The clothing consisted of traditional African cloth/prints with current cuts and shapes. Maxhosa by Laduma, a mens line of knitwear, stood out from the crowd. Laduma Ngxokolo was inspired by his grandmother who taught him how to knit and embrace his Xhosa heritage. The line consisted of knit sweaters that symbolize the rebirth of manhood in Xhosa ritual. Another notable fashion line was Della, a women-owned fashion business who works directly with communities in West Africa. Della is a line of handbags and accessories which are produced by women in the village of Hohoe. All earnings are given back to the women of Ghana to provide education and financial stability. Dellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to better the lives of African women by providing them with skills, empowering them with education, and rewarding them with the self sufficiency of earning an income. AFWLA was the event that Los Angeles needed. It played an important role of exposing local designers to fashion professionals while encouraging a sense of community. LA RAW was humbled by the invite and honored to attend. Check out www.afwla.org #afwla2012

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Complete the Sentence: The more ___ you give, the more ___ you receive. A. Love B. Hate C. both A and B It seems my last piece ruffled more than a few feathers, which is very relieving. I worried I lost my magic. See, I was first tapped to write this column because of my reputation as a hater. Indeed, Id admit that until very recently, I was full of hate. Hate for all things, for everything I couldnt have or didnt want, for every need I couldnt meet, every person I felt was better than (or not good enough for) me, hate for all that was popular and therefor exclusive of me, hate for every place I couldnt ever travel to, or for everyone who could go where I couldnt, etc etc. I have lived a life dominated by hate. And for my hatred, I have suffered. Yet , some part inside of me didnt want to hate anymore. In a world so full of hurt, why contribute more? Hatred in itself is a pestilence; why would I continue to contaminate myself with it? Or worse, why infect others and spread that which has caused me so much pain? I had to dig deep. I even sought professional help. It turns out I have a good reason to be filled with hatred. The world has been a cruel place to me, and in response, I became cruel. But is the world only filled with cruelty? Of course not. There is beauty all around us, in every atom of our existence. So why perpetuate this cycle of negativity by being yet another person who is content to be a victim? I literally had to look at the man in the mirror, MJ style. I simply didnt want to be better and the next morning I woke up better. Its a struggle, a constant struggle, and it takes a lot of thinking and a lot of talking and even more growing. Most of all, it takes forgiveness - giving and receiving. I cant pretend like Im perfect or that many things dont still bother me. For instance, every new Drake song I hear sincerely inspires rage in me, no joke. What I can do is take responsibility for what I contribute to the world. I dont want to live in a world filled with hate, so Im resolving not to contribute more to it. What are you willing to contribute? Can you address your faults and commit to improving them? This is normally where I say some clever line ending in FOH, but I wont this time. I want you here, now, working beside me. I want to be the change in the world I think it needs, and I need you to want the same thing. Peace. PS: The answer to the question above is C: both A and B. Which would you rather give, and which would you rather receive?

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