The New Power Magazine V7N4 June '09 by Colom Media Group, LLC

WWW.NEWPOWERMAGAZINE.COM

TS-CRE X UNDE

EATOR ERCRWN

Introducing the........

MR-16 HD/CD 16-Track Digital Multitracker When inspiration hits, the MR-16 is ready wherever you are.

YO YO

June 2009

FEATURES

MARIO A New Point Of View

PAGE 14 Jay - Z Says Wendy’s Help Kill Auto-Tune

YO-YO

2009’s Shocking R&B Divorces

My Journey To

R. Kelly, Tyrese, & Usher

Fearless

PAGE 20

PAGE 30

PAGE 38 SHONIE Passionate Pieces Of Me

PAGE 42

NPM

WHERE READING IS FUNDAMENTAL.

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views and opinion of Colom Media Group, LLC, The New Power Magazine, nor any of our advertisers. Colom Media Group, LLC does not claim any responsibility for stories, photographs, interviews, audio, video, nor any other advertising or promotional material sent to us that has been misrepresented; nor any other unsolicited material. The New Power, the diamond fist, and all related logos are trademarks of Colom Media Group, LLC. This publication may not be reproduced in whole nor in part without the written permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2009, Colom Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Editorial, advertising, subscriptions, and reviews: P.O. Box 8465 Columbus, MS 39705.

News You Can Use

Publisher’s Point

iPhone Users: Older, Richer, & Watching More Videos....18 Bands and Brands Hit Snag Registering Custom Facebook URLS ..... 18 Major Layoffs Coming To Myspace ..... 19

DIY: Do It Yourself Pg. 34

Free To iTunes Distributor, WaTunes, Adds Video To VIP Service ..... 19

Marketing and Promotion

The New Power Chick

Your Online Music Marketing Report Card ..... 29

New Power Sports Top 3 Shooting Guards In NBA History ? ..... 41 Airykah Denise.... 48

The #1 Spot The Top 10 R&B / Hip-Hop Albums and Top 10 R&B / Rap Ringtones According To Billboard.Com ........ 46

Independent Cover

Men + Health + Sex ...... 49 Causes of Obesity In Men ........ 50 Penis Enlargement: Does It Really Work ........ 53

Women + Health + Sex ...... 56 My Breast Don’t Look Normal ........ 57 Feel Attractive, Have Better Sex ? ....... 59

Tweeked Out Ent. ........... 64

VDJ Do It All His Spins Are Heard Around The World Page 30

i’m lovin’ it

EXTREMELY VOCAL

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

A NEW POINT OF VIEW Words : Lauren Walker / Photo: Sony-BMG Courtesy Singersroom.com With his first album since 2007's “Go” dropping soon, we sat down with Mario to see what the vision for his album was. He not only gave us insight into his forthcoming project but also talked about his PETA campaign, acting career and the legacy he’d like to leave on the music industry. Mario even dishes about what is up with the bald head....

that. It’s written from a male perspective. It’s not your normal “baby please don’t break up with me, I know I did wrong I want to do right now” – it’s not that record. It’s more like “why,” like why break up when you’re going to have to do the same thing with somebody else (and) start all over again. So it’s definitely a true story. It’s real hot! It’s true in a lot of ways not just for me (but) for a lot of my friends.

Garrett.

W How did you end up with the title “And Then There Was Me”?

Mario: That’s the name of my movement. That’s the name of me. There’s been a huge change in me personally and more than anything that’s what the title means to me. What has inspired you since “Go”?

Mario: Really just wanting to become more of a challenge for myself as far as being a performer, a writer, and an entertainer in general. One of the things I feel like has kept me around as an artist in our generation is the fact that I have made transitions on each album and (am still) continuing to do that you know.... that’s what keeps my fans and influences fans. I want to say everything that I’ve done, even outside of music (you know doing TV shows and doing shows out of the country) all of it influences me as an artist. You’ll hear that on the album, it’s a lot different. My last album was very R&B driven, I would say this one is still very musical but it’s not as R&B as my last record. What was your inspiration for the first single “Break Up”? Is it based on a true story?

Mario: Very true story. It’s written in a very different way than I would usually sing or perform a situation like

Where Reading Is Fundamental

That’s what I was going to say, did it happen to your personally? Who broke your heart?

Mario: No, I didn’t say anybody broke my heart. I wasn’t heartbroken I was more disappointed than anything. It’s almost like you’re not breaking up with me because of what you think is going on but you’re not working off of a factual situation. It’s just what you think is going on.(laughs) So that’s what it’s about, it’s like I’m questioning her. There are all these question marks like “Okay, so Lauren is perfect right ?” You have a good time when we’re together. I’ve never broken your heart. I’m pretty much a good man to you. I’m real with you. I’m good to you, I take care of you when you need to be taken care of and when you want to be taken care of, so why would you want to break up and you’ll have to do the same thing with somebody else?

So that’s pretty much what that’s talking about. But the idea with the record was to come out with a record that continues to separate me as an artist. Shout out to Sean Garrett, he’s an incredible artist as well as an incredible writer who helped me come up with a lot of ideas. He’s on the song. It’s Gucci Mane and Sean

(662) 251-0075

Singersroom: In the past most of your singles did not feature rappers. What led to the change this go around on “Break Up”?

Mario: I’ve always done records that were just me and I was able to just express myself as a singer and do records I love to do. With this record I wanted to be able to show my personality. I haven’t been able to do that on most of my records, they have been just good radio songs or good records to listen to; make love to; or whatever you want to do to them. But with this record, it’s a record for the clubs. I wanted to go to the club and be able to hear my music playing, because you know they don’t play mid tempo or slow records/slow jams in the club unless it’s like the end of the night or whatever. But this is a record that you can play in the club. Gucci Mane is just somebody that I respect as an up and coming talent and up and coming entrepreneur. You know he’s got a long career ahead of him, so it was Sean’s idea as well as mine to put him on. He’s loved in my hometown (Baltimore). When I go home and go out he gets love like that so it’s like come on let’s do it. In 2004 we witnessed a “Turning Point” in your music. With a few films under your belt now, where would you like to go next on the ‘big screen’?

www.newpowermagazine.com

Mario [Continued]

to listen to; make love to; or whatever you want to do to them. But with this record, it’s a record for the clubs. I wanted to go to the club and be able to hear my music playing, because you know they don’t play mid tempo or slow records/slow jams in the club unless it’s like the end of the night or whatever. But this is a record that you can play in the club.

world. Maybe something political that will allow me to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. I don’t know, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens there are a lot of good scripts out there.

was never my thing. When I was 3younger I used to really like jerseys as you probably could see in my first video (“Just a Friend 2002"). Jerseys, sweat suits and stuff like that but I wasn’t really a fur person. Now I can’t say There was a rumor about you that I haven’t seen something linking up with Tyler Perry , is that I liked but naw, you won’t there some truth to that? see me wearing furs.

T Mario: As far as Tyler, I haven’t talked with him personally about anything yet – that’s something that we’re going to speak into existence. But I would definitely, definitely work with Tyler on something. I enjoy his films so I would definitely like to make something with him.

Gucci Mane is just somebody that I respect as an up and coming talent and up and coming entrepreneur. You know he’s got a long career ahead of him, so it was Sean’s idea as well as mine to put him on. He’s loved in my hometown (Baltimore). When I go home and go out he gets love You’re the new face of PETA, like that so it’s like come on let’s how did that come up? do it. Mario: One of the ways that In 2004 we witnessed a came about was through my “Turning Point” in your music. publicist but also, I met with With a few films under your belt them at an event and they asked now, where would you like to go me if I wore fur and I told them next on the ‘big screen’? “no.” I’ve always been an animal lover. I’ve always had an animal Mario: On the big screen...I whether it be a snake or dog. I’ve think I want to get into the always had animals growing up. households of America, contin- So they asked me if I’d be a part ue to grow and do films that ulti- of their campaign against killing mately show a personal and tal- animals and I was like yeah of ent growth. But that comes with course. I don’t hunt animals; I a lot of hard work and persist- don’t kill animals – I might each ence. And you know doing films chicken a lot. Eat a lot of lame you could always go the inde- meats but other than that I’m pendent route, do your own film good with it. So that’s how that or whatever. Hopefully I’ll get came about. the right role in the next couple of months or in the next year or Be honest, have you worn a fur, so that will allow me to do that. chinchilla or some other form of apparel in the past and regretted I would like to do maybe a it? romantic comedy, an action film --- you know film that’s signifi- Mario: I was offered on photo cant to the culture of our new shoots and stuff like that but it

This is a fan question... what made you shave your head bald? Mario: It really allows me to feel good. I really love the bald feel of it. Not to sound cocky but, I feel like I can do anything and I’m comfortable with it. My motivation behind it was really me getting tired of getting cuts. I got this product I just put on my hair; put on my face where I don’t want the hair and just wipe it off – and it’s gone. No razors, no nothing. When I grow my hair back I’ll probably grow it all the way out too. Do something different with it. What do you want to be remembered for ? What legacy do you want to leave on the music industry? Mario: What I would like to be remembered for most is having a voice. Having a career that spanned through generations and continuing to inspire other talent and introduce new talent to the industry – that would be fulfilling for me. I’m starting with the name Soul Truth Entertainment.

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

THE NEW POWER

BE SEEN. AND GET EXPOSED.

662.251.0075 www.newpowermagazine.com

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Source: Hypebot.com

iPhone Users:

Older, Richer, Watching More Videos

hone music apps and mobile videos may soon become as important to marketing and artist whose audience skews older as it already is those whose fans are under 24. A new Nielson survey shows that 82% of iPhone users are over 25 with 53% over 35 years of age. Other finding of the Nielson iPhone survey include increased video viewing include: •As of April 2009, Nielsen estimates that there are 6.4 million active iPhone users in the U.S., up from 2.1 million a year prior. The most impactful iPhone announcement this week may be the price reduction of $99 for the 8 GB version: cost has been one factor (in addition to AT&T exclusivity) that’s kept the overall iPhone audience modestly sized.

•37% watch video on their phone (6x as likely as the typical subscriber) •Forty-percent have household incomes of $100K or more – twice the ratio among all subscribers (19%). That income may also be helpful for current iPhone owners who want to upgrade: in-contract iPhone owners may have to pay an additional $200 to upgrade before their contract expires. •It’s not just for looks. 98% of iPhone users use the data features of their phone, services that should improve with the enhanced speed promised by the iPhone 3G S. •88% use the Internet (making them 4x as likely as the typical subscriber) •75% download apps (5x as likely as the typical subscriber) •72% used location based services (7x as likely as the typical subscriber)

Bands & Brands Hit Snag Registering Custom Facebook URL

acebook launched free custom URL's as promised June 12th, and for those who use a standard profile page grabbing an easier to find and remember url like facebook.com/bruce.houghton went off without a hitch. But some artists, labels and other brands that use Facebook "pages" rather than profiles ran into a brick wall. Hypebot reader and metal blogger Daily Grind altered us to the problem on Saturday. Artists,

labels, bloggers and other brands who had pages with fewer than 1000 Facebook friends were being blocked from registering custom URL's. But Hyepbot has leaned that the restriction for smaller bands and brands will be lifted on June 28th. You could work harder to get your friend count over 1000 or mark your calendars for 6/28, because that's when another land grab for Facebook url's begins.

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

Major Layoffs Coming To Myspace. Could Hit 25%

ayoffs described by one source as ":massive" are coming to MySpace although there is no official word yet from the company. MySpace shed 5% of its staff a year ago and laid of as many as 45 more last month. But these cuts will go far deeper, according to TechCrunch and could hit several hundred. Management will inevitably blame a tough economy and plummeting ad revenue, but declining traffic is the real culprit. Monthly unique visitors to MySpace have fallen from 64.6 million in June of 2008 to 56.8 million in May of 2009 while Facebook rose from 35.2 million to 113 million during the same period. New leadership has been brought in both at parent Fox Interactive and MySpace to turn the ship around with music as the cornerstone of the

rebuilding process. A brief personal message to the head of MySpace Music: Good luck, Courtney. This is going to be a tough one and you have many masters, Now is the time to get the indie and d.i.y. music communityies more involved again They helped create MySpace, and they can help make it relevent again. It won't cost millions either. Just equal treatment and a place at the table. And you don't have a lot of time before Facebook finally jumps more into the music game. They really have no choice but to. Believe it or not, a lot of us are routing for you. Bruce Houghton

Free To iTunes Distributor, WaTunes, Adds Video To VIP Service

aTunes, the recently launched music distribution service, got some skeptical reactions (including from me) when it said it wouldn't charge bands to sell on iTunes. How could such a model be sustainable? The plan for the service's future profitability apparently includes upselling those uploading to iTunes some paid VIP services including placement on Amazon, Rhapsody, Zune, Wal-Mart, Amie Street, FYE and HMV along with iTunes trending reports and promotional services for $29.95 a year. Now VIP customers can also deliver unlimited music videos to iTunes, AT&T, TMobile, Verizon, Sprint, and the new video streaming service VidZone. I'm still skeptical, but

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

it's a tempting combination “It’s quite amazing with the power of the internet how the workflow of digital content is delivered. By distributing our catalog of music videos to services including VidZone, this provides our VIP customers avenues of online distribution while they control their content with great flexibility. We are very excited to provide more choices for our VIP customers.” said Kevin Rivers, Founder and CEO of WaTunes. WaTunes also offers a social music experience that enables fans to connect and stream unlimited music, rate and comment on their favorite albums, meet friends, and buy music directly from iTunes.

www.newpowermagazine.com

R. Kelly, Tyrese, An Now Ushe 2009â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shocking R&B Divorces Courtesy Singersroom.com

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

, nd er:

ore often than not R&B men and women sing about love, romance, relationships and passion. In the last six months however, several leading singers have called it quits in their own relationships, leading us to think of the phrase "Where is the love ?" In 2009 alone, artists including R. Kelly, Tyrese, Amy Winehouse, Kelis, and recently Usher filed for divorce. Even multiple award-winning actor Mel Gibson has found himself in court after an over 20 year marriage. Ironically each artist, prior to filing, continued to run â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;business as usualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as if life was golden - at least for the cameras. Tyrese, known both as a recording artist and sought after actor, kept his divorce quiet for months before radaronline.com caught up with the proceedings while news of Usher's divorce leaked before a single piece of paper was filed in Fulton County, Georgia. It is clear that divorce is never a good thing, especially when children are involved, but a few of these artists are receiving attention that may or may not effect the release of forthcoming projects including Usher's anticipated "Monster" album; R. Kelly's "Untitled" album, and Amy Winehouse's long-awaited follow up to "Back To Black". Most important though, will the rocky relationships and drama behind the scenes filter into the songs and feel of their albums ? Unsubstantiated rumors of Usher sharing intimate details from his marriage to soon-to-be ex wife Tameka Foster Raymond on his album have begun to circulate. While there may be no truth to such rumors, some believe the singer has two songs that may stir up some controversy.

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

l www.newpowermagazine.com www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

USHER t is official. Usher has filed for divorce in Fulton County, Georgia after just 22 months of marriage to former stylist Tameka Foster Raymond. The Diamond-selling singer officially filed for divorce Friday, June 12 after weeks of break up, separation and divorce rumors.

According to documents unveiled, Usher and his soon to be ex-wife are due to appear for a hearing July 15. At press time neither party had made an official statement and according to PEOPLE requests for comment were not returned. Tameka Raymond did however tweet on her Twitter account late Friday the 12th, stating "People with good sense restrain anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs ~ Proverbs 19:11. Roughly five hours later, the former stylist twittered about her nearly six month old son Navyid. As previously reported on Singersroom, Usher had been spotted on numerous occasions without his wedding ring. Rumors that he was unhappy with his marriage plagued news sources including InTouch Weekly and NY Daily News, just hours before the official filing took place. Usher and Tameka Raymond married in 2007 and have two children, the youngest of which was born in December of 2008.

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

R. KELLY

Kelly offic i a l l y ended his 11 year mar riage Thursday,

January 8, 2009.

According to a statement from their lawyers, the R&B star, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in

June 2008, and his wife the original divorce filing Andrea Lee Kelly will have took place in 2006. joint custody of their three children. Kelly and Andrea have three children together. While no other details were provided, the Kellys were Kelly married Andrea, who reportedly trying to patch had auditioned as a backup things up after Andrea filed dancer for him two years an emergency protective prior, in 1996. She went on to order against the "I'm A choreograph sets for his Flirt" singer in 2005 and after tours and videos.

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

TYRESE

R&B singer/actor Tyrese Gibson's short lived marriage and subsequent divorce is starting to rack up a hefty tab. According to Los Angeles based reports, a judge has ordered the former "Transformers" star to pay his estranged wife $65,000 ! In addition to the settlement of sorts, Norma Gibson will receive $6,230 a month in support, in addition to havWhere Reading Is Fundamental

ing her rent and car note paid ried to Tyrese just ten months, says the singer was by the singer/actor. an absentee father. According to documents, "Persons in the entertainNorma says "He earned ment industry always seem to roughly $800k during the ten have a fascinating ability to characterize their life choices months of marriage". as somehow different, more While the settlement may important and not a matter seem reasonable, entertain- of choice, but a requirement, ment site TMZ says Norma entitling them to special rules Gibson is contesting the and considerations." prenuptial agreement she supposedly signed before Norma and Tyrese married their marriage. last Spring 2008, and have a 2 year old daughter. As previously reported on Singersroom, Norma By NJai Noszor Singersroom.Com Gibson, who remained mar(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

Jay-z Says Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ad Helped Kill Auto Tune

xplaining the inspiration behind his new track "Death Of Auto-Tune", that always marketing savvy Jay-Z pointed to a recent Wendy's commercial that spoofed both boys bands and the over-use of the note shifting technology. "I just think in hip-hop, when a trend becomes a gimmick, it's time to move on," Jay said in an interview on a Chicago radio station according to MTV. "I saw a Wendy's commercial and they're using Auto-Tune. They're joking on it. It's like, OK, enough of that ... It was a trend. It was cool in the beginning. Some people made great music with it, now it's time to move on." Photo by Arthur Elgort

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

Publisher Colom Media Group, LLC publisher@newpowermagazine.com

Editor-In-Chief Anthony Colom anthony@newpowermagazine.com

Music Editor Todd Young todd@newpowermagazine.com

Art Director Joe Dent joe@newpowermagazine.com

Advertising Director Yvonne Wilson yvonne@newpowermagazine.com

Promotions Director Terri Lebowitz terri@newpowermagazine.com

Web Editor Salena Lopez webmaster@newpowermagazine.com

Contributors James Johnson, Njai Joszor, Singersroom.com, urban-connectionz.com Colom Media Group, LLC P. O. Box 8465 Columbus, MS 39705 (662) 251-0075 www.newpowermagazine.com info@newpowermagazine.com

Your Online Music Marketing Report Card by Nick Crocker of nativedigital.com.au / hypebot.com Not every artist needs an A+ online. But everyone needs at least a C-.

your MySpace page ?.

MARKETING and PROMOTION For an A, answer ‘yes’ to questions 1-20.

For a C, answer ‘yes’ to questions 110.

16 - Does a Google image search return an image of you? 17 - Do you have an established presence across Facebook, an active engagement with the Twitter community and an up to date Last.FM page? 18 - Is the band regularly producing and distributing original content to fans via email and across the online presence: photos, text, video, outtakes, live recording, broken guitar strings, guitar picks, signed posters… 19 - Do you replicate all artist content across all your online properties including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, your homepage et. al. 20 - Do you track and engage with all mentions of you across your Homepage, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, on blogs and in forums?

The challenge for independent artists, label managers, artist managers and anyone working with artists in online marketing is deciding where to apportion effort.

For digital music and music marketing in general to move forward, I think it’s important that some basic standards are established around an artist’s online presence. If these standards are established, music marketers can spend more time innovating and less time worrying about whether the Bebo page has enough of a photo gallery.

Digital agency Native has developed an online artist report card to help structure decision-making and reduce the grey area around representing music online.It moves from the basic to the advanced and is intended for all levels of artists. A threshold: This is the minimum requirement to pass. You need to answer ‘yes’ to questions 1-5. 1 - Is your music available for sale on iTunes?

2 - Do you have your own MySpace, with autoplay turned off, featuring your best songs? 3 - Have you embedded an iTunes buy link into your MySpace page? (You can generate iTunes links to your album here.) 4 - Do you have a document listing the email addresses of your fanbase? 5 - Do you have an application to sign up subscribers embedded in

Where Reading Is Fundamental

6 - Do you regularly (8-10 times a year as a minimum) deliver value to your fans via email? Delivering value means sending them mp3s, video content, letters from the band. Tour dates, calls to action to ‘buy my album’ and press releases do not constitute value. 7 - Do you have your own website on your own domain? 8 - Do you keep a list of online sources that mention your music? 9 - Do you have a YouTube channel to collect all video and audio content relation to you? 10 - Have you reserved your artist/band name domain on Twitter? For a B , answer ‘yes’ to questions 115.

11 - Does a Google search for your band/artist name return your MySpace page, YouTube clips of your music, your Wikipedia page (where relevant) and your homepage within the first 10 results? 12 - Does your website and MySpace integrate not just buy links to iTunes, a subscription form for your email database but links to buy merchandise and tickets. 13 - Is your music for sale on iTunes, Amazon mp3, emusic and BigPond (for Australian artists). 14 - Are you aware of being talked about on music forums relating to you? 15 - Do you track analytics on your website relating to user behaviour (where people come from, where they go, how long they stay, how many pages they view, what they search to find you)?

(662) 251-0075

To be the best, questions 1-21.

answer ‘yes’ to

21 - Do you have your own blog on a separate domain to your main site, a forum set up dedicated to discussion around your music and a series of subsites dedicated to various campaigns around your music (remix competitions, live album giveaways, UGC-style film clip sites)?

www.newpowermagazine.com

VDJ DO IT ALL THIS VEGAS DJ’s SPINS ARE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.

This guy physically takes his show overseas. 30

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

Words: Todd Young Photo: DJ Do It All

Hey, what’s happening ? Introduce yourself.

Why does djing interest you ?

When I was real young, my brother was a DJ. I was 5 and he was 15. So I wanted to be like him. DJ control the party. If you’re a bad DJ, then you’re gonna have a bad party. If he’s good, you’re gonna wanna stay the party. The next time he’s Tell me about the VDJ in djing, you’re gonna wanna be front of your name. You’re where he is. I wanted to be that involved with videos, too ? dude that WAS the party.

VDJ Do It All

I’m VDJ Do It All. I’m from Portland, Oregon. I’ve been in Las Vegas since 2001. I been dealing with music, entertainment, and dancing since 5 years old or younger.

Yeah. I’m am now a video DJ. What’s type of music do you As technology moved on, I had spin, and videos do you play ? to move on. I was given my name, Do It All, All of this takes place in the because I was doing everything. Vegas area ? I’ve been playing classical piano since I was 9. I was American Yeah, I do it kinda different. I state karate champion in put in a live drummer and per- Portland, Oregon for 5 years. cussions with my set. I’m not My friends and peers around the really a resident club DJ. I put on city just started calling me Do It a show. So my stuff is really for All. I’m like that with music. I the stage. It’s not like going to a never wanted to play just hip club to a DJ, I put on an actual hop. I play house, techno, elecshow. tro. I mix it all together so that I can be booked for anything, anyCan you describe your show where. for us? Is it true you’re about to go to The concept is all original, Russia to do a show ? although you do see Travis Barker and DJ A.M. doing their Yes. I’m gonna be in Russia at thing. My drummer, he’s a the end of June. breaker also. While I’m playing a video and scratching, he’s play- What’s taking you there ? ing the drums and breaking at the same time. I might let the It started from my drummer, track play, have a group of Kendrick Harmon. He was dancers come out, we’ll all join going over there to an event, and in on a choreographed dance he showed them some of our together. Then I’ll go back and videos, and wanted to book us cut another record. You may see over there as one of the headlinme hanging upside down djing ers. It’s a benefit show for HIV / at the same time. People want to Alcohol / and Drug Awareness. be entertained. So that’s what we In their inner cities over there, do. they have a problem with kids

starting as young as 11 or 12 years old becoming alcoholics. They love hip hop. They see the videos and hear the music, and think these artist are really that lifestyle. So thaty wanted some Americans to come over and teach the kids what hip hop is really about. Some of the videos pass off the wrong signals with alcohol and the drinking. I’m gonna add a couple of their artists to my shows. I’m a choreographer, so I’m gonna work some of their break dancers into the show as well. Do you any fears about going over there ? Umm... This will be my 10th country. So I’ve kinda gotten over the fear of going places. It’s a little different, cause Russia isn’t like any of the other places that I’ve gone to. But I wanna take the chance, and one day be able to say that this is one place that I’ve been. I want to express my talent to the world. What other countries have you visited to perform ? Five cities in Australia. I’ve been all over England. I’ve been to Paris. I’ve been to Lagos Nigeria. Amstedam, Germany, and Tokyo. I’ve been quite a few places, and I’m not done yet. Contact: Chiq Diva Divadend Entertainment (404) 816-6000 divadend@bellsouth.net

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

PUBLISHER’S POINT

l The New Power Magazine

DiY:

Do it Yourself BY ANTHONY COLOM

www.newpowermagazine.com

[ PUBLISHER’S POINT ]

I would never judge a person for taking his or her own road to success as it pertains to the business of music. I know that there are aspiring artists in this industry who would die to have the major record labels dangle a carrot (recording contract) in their face. There is nothing wrong with it if the money, publishing, and master ownership is right and fair. But a contract with a new unproven artist is usually gonna be worst than the contract for the last man taken in the 2009 NFL draft. At least he’ll earn $300,000 in the next year. A new unproven artist on a major label ? Well, who knows ?

With the new player drafted, no matter how terrible his team is, he still gets his money. If that were the case in the music industry, I’d be outside of the “Big Four’s” offices with my CD in my hand every day. The major labels are going to the 360 Deals with new artists and some established artists. I, personally, am not sold on it. To me, it looks like they’re in a bad situation right now, and are looking for another way to take money out of the ass of the artist. There are executives at labels doing half-ass jobs marketing, promoting, and distributing, and the new artist gets dropped. For what ? Do we really know what kind of talent this artist really has ? We never saw or heard enough to determine whether or not we’d become a fan. Aside from exposure from a video on BET or MTV (and we rarely see any there anymore), and possibly (I do mean possibly) some spins on the radio, why would you choose to sign with a major label if the deal was not fair for you ? The labels have access to record stores. So do you, but it won’t matter cause they won’t be around long. The labels have internet service. Oh, wait ! So do you. They have access to DJs. So do you. Of course you may not have enough money to pay em like they do. If the people want your music and love it, most DJs aren’t stupid enough to NOT play it. My point is DIY: Do It Yourself. Do It Yourself. Do It Yourself. Yeah, it may take a lot longer to reap the rewards. But when you do, it’ll be worth it.

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

Cover Story

YO-YO

MY JOURNEY TO

FEARLESS m oom.co Singersr ations y s te r u munic zor Co Njai Jos nd Tunnel Com a Words: e g Brid Photos:

38 l

The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

For well over twenty years there has been a marriage between R&B and Hip Hop. Today, there is one particular trend that is still disturbing to fans of both genres -- the ever present lack of female Hip Hop artists. In fact, the late James Brown's hit "It's A Man's World" may have become part of pop culture iconography but its words reign more true in Hip Hop than anywhere else.

an exclusive Singersroom interview is simply "I never really left the game, I've always been associated in some shape, form or fashion."

You see, Yo-Yo is as real and as down to earth as they come. In fact, she shared her admiration for today's hard working women in Hip Hop and R&B while getting fitted for a photoshoot, stating "I'm multi-tasking, In the early 1990s, however, like don't a phoenix, a pack of empowered women rose to challenge the Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Kool G Rap and N.W.A's of the Hip Hop world. One of those empowered ladies was Compton born emcee Yo-Yo. Nearly eighteen years after the release of "Make Way For The Motherlode" Yo-Yo continues to bless the mic, support the community and most important empower women, especially those with their eyes set on music. You may have seen her do just that on VH1's Miss Rap Supreme but today, Yo-Yo is moving forward with her own label and a new look at life through 2009s "My Journey To Fearless". While you might want to ask the former "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" rapper where she's been all this time, her answer through

Where Reading Is Fundamental

worry I can do this. I'm a mother," with a laugh. But that laugh quickly changed to heartfelt concern over the way female artists are and can be treated in music, not just Hip Hop. "Well you know it's a hard game. Being that it's so male dominated and being a female in the game, if you don't stand up straight they'll ride your back,"

(662) 251-0075

says the Grammy-nominated artist. "There's just not enough of us that have the power or strength to withstand all the b.s. this game offers." Despite the troubles of the industry, Yo-Yo confirms that there are a few ladies who are handling their business and know how to navigate the game. One of those women is "Turnin' Me On" singer/songwriter Keri Hilson, who Yo-Yo knew before the success of "In A Perfect World". "I was going for Keri Hilson because, before she came out with her first single I knew that she was a wonderful writer and I loved her style. I loved her aggressiveness." In addition to Hilson, Yo-Yo credits Missy Elliott, Beyonce and close friend Mc Lyte for their hard work and ability to do it just as well as the men. While she's showing love to the aforementioned ladies in the industry, Yo-Yo, as with her album, says it all comes from the "heart and soul of a woman but it's not about shutting out the men though". To find out which men, specifically in R&B, that Yo-Yo pulled in for her new album and more about the Hip Hop veteran check out the interview. (Continued on page 40)

www.newpowermagazine.com

There are a number of collaborations on your album "My Journey To Fearless," how did they come together ?

[ YO-YO CONTINUED ]

Yo-Yo: I picked these people because these are people I trust. Missy (Elliott) of course, just the way she came in and dominated. She came in the game knowing who she is, what she wanted and how to get it. I respect her for that. There are a few R&B men on there, specifically Raheem DeVaughn and Ray J. Is there some history there, particularly with Ray J ? Yo-Yo: Raheem DeVaughn – oh my God that guy is so talented. Once he hears the music and gets in the studio, it’s just magic. I have another single just released called “Morning Comes” with Ray J, produced by Eric Sermon, which is my favorite so far. These are all people I love. I love their talent, honesty and truth from music. As far as the Ray-J collaboration, how did that come together ? Yo-Yo: Actually, I’ve known him for a while. He heard the song “Morning Comes,” called me and was like “Yo, I want to get on this song with you”. Ray J is so talented. He’s from Los Angeles and I’m from L.A.. He’s one of those brothers that is true to himself. I love him not being Brandy’s brother, as he’s his own man. I love his talent and his hunger for music. You helped a number of aspiring artists on 'Miss Rap

Supreme', which was a great opportunity. How do you feel about the shortage of female rappers in the game right now ?

helping with the release of "My Journey to Fearless" ? Yo-Yo: Oh God yes. It is so much easier. You’re seeing people you never would have seen, who never would have had the opportunity to showcase their talent had it not been for these outlets on the web. I think it’s not just my turn but it’s everyone’s turn who has the motivation and hustle because there are so many avenues right now. All you have to do is be truthful to yourself and a hardworker – great music, that helps too.

Yo-Yo: I think there’s a lot of female talent out there for sure. It’s a hard game. This is like playing basketball. It’s a boys game. Hip Hop is a boys game. If you can hang with the boys... I mean look at Keri Hilson, that’s another reason I love her. She can play these boys game and that’s just not in Hip Hop, that’s in music period. That’s why I love Beyonce – she works just as hard as the boys. I’m excited that this album is going to do so many great You mentioned her on your things, not just for myself but first single. Would you like to for my community. Things are collaborate with her in the going to come out of this. Me future ? just being able to put out music from new artists and support Yo-Yo: I’d love to work with females (through YoYo Music). Beyonce. If we got a chance to work together I would love that, Would you say you're looking she’s a talented young superstar. more for female artists or talent in general ? Would you do another season of 'Miss Rap Supreme' if the Yo-Yo: I'm looking for artists. If opportunity presented itself ? I find some hot female artists that's cool. I'm always keeping Yo-Yo: There are other televi- my eye out for talent. If I had a sion projects that we're working choice between a hot girl and a on. Miss Rap Supreme, I'm not hot guy, I'm going with the hot sure of. We're keeping our fin- girl. gers crossed and our mouths shut. But, yes, TV and film is "My Journey To Fearless" is a something I'm definitely inter- fresh start for you. What is difested in doing (more of). I went ferent about the Yo-Yo we knew back to school when I was on years ago in comparison to the east coast and studied acting now ? so instead of getting roles for being Yo-Yo, I'm looking to get I hate to say it, because I believe roles because the part fits me. in all the music I’ve ever done but, this is the first time that I’m Reality television was and is comfortable with the music. still hot but, the internet is And it’s not fake music. I’m talkmoving ahead rapidly as well. ing shit and I’m being sassy. I’m How do you feel about the being me. You know ? new digital platform and is it

New Power Sports

TOP 3 SHOOTING GUARDS IN NBAWhat HISTORY ? Do You Think?

By Amanda Smith for Georgia Informer Our criteria are simple: statistics, championships and influence on the game. We did our own research, primarily on NBA.com and magicmetric.com, to ascertain our findings.

1. Michael Jordan: Considered by many to be the best basketball player of all time, Jordan is our #1 pick for shooting guards, as well. Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and quickly rose to the top with his awesome slam dunks, often from the foul line, earning him nicknames like “Air Jordan.” Probably the most marketed athlete ever, Jordan won his NBA championship with the Bulls in 1991, then followed with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing him what is known as a “three-peat.” Jordan left the NBA to play baseball in 1993, but was back with the Bulls by 1995, winning them three more championships. He again retired in 1999, but was back in 2001 and played two seasons with the Washington Wizards. Honors: Five NBA MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Award, fourteen NBA All-Star game appearances, nine All Defensive First Team honors, three stealing titles, ten scoring titles, and still holds the NBA record for highest career scoring average in a regular season with 30.1 points.

2. Jerry West: Widely regarded as the one of the best clutch shooters of all time, Jerry West spent his entire career with the LA Lakers. He averaged 29.1 points per game in 153 playoff games, 40.6 points per game in 11 playoff games in 1965, during one of which he sank perhaps the most famous shot of all time – a 60 footer with no time remaining in Game 3 of the NBA finals in 1970 against the New York Knicks, sending the game into overtime (the Lakers lost that game). West retired with only one championship (1971-72 season) and retired in 1974. He coached the Lakers to the playoffs for three years (1976-79), then became an executive for the team in various positions. Honors: All-Star selection 13 times, from 1961-73, 1969 NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team choice ten times (1962-67, 1970-73), NBA All-Star MVP in 1972, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Player Inductee in 1979, named one of NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996. 3. George Gervin: Prior to Michael Jordan, George “The Iceman” Gervin had the most scoring titles of any guard in the history of the NBA. He first played for the ABA’s Virginia Squires and San Antonio Spurs, then for NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. He averaged at least 14 points in all of his seasons and finished his career with an average of 26.2 points per game. He retired with the second most blocks of any other shooting guard in the NBA. Honors: ABA All-Rookie team, ABA All-Star 3 times, ABA All Time Top 30 Team, All-NBA team 7 times, NBA All-Star 9 times, 1980 NBA All-Star MVP, named one of NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

l www.newpowermagazine.com l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

SHONIE PASSIONATE PIECES OF ME

T Words: Anthony Colom

Photo: Slip-N-Slide Records / Def Jam

Ted Lucas and his Miami-based Slip -N-Slide Records are not only known as southern hip-hop heavyweights, but hip-hop heavyweights......period. His roster of stars have included Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, and Plies. Recently, the label has added Miami r&b songstress Shonie (Pronounced Shaw-nee) to it’s stable of artists. Driven by a determination and passion dating back to childhood, Shonie possesses a unique vocal and lyrical skill that reflects the left-of-center edginess that is Slip-N-Slide’s trademark. Hello, talk to our readers about Shonie.

Well, I’m signed to Slip-N-Slide / Def Jam. I have a single out called “Can’t Let Go” featuring Fabolous. I’m coming out with an album this summer called Passionate Pieces of Me. As of right now, we’re just focusing on the album and writing for a lot of people. It feels very good. I’ve been very successful, and I’m glad to be a part of everything; especially Def Jam. That’s a good look. Slip-N-Slide has always been known for rap. How did your signing come about ? Well, I’ve been working with Trina. I did background vocals on “Single Again.” We have a song together on her album that I wrote the hook on called “Wish I Never Met You.” So I’ve always been a part of Slip-N-Slide: writing and working with them. Ted wanted to do something different at Slip-N-Slide. When he saw the buzz that I was getting from my mixtape called Street Heat Volume 1 that we put in the streets and sent out to the colleges to let people know that I’m more than just a writer, but I’m an artist, too, he said he had to make it happen. What producers are you working with on your new album ? (Continued on page 44)

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

[ Shonie Continued ]

“Yes. I co-wrote the hook on Plies’ ‘Want It, Need It.’ That was definitely a good look. It’s things like that that keep me hype.” We have our own producers Midus Golden Child Productions, Kane and Kameleon. I been working with Cool & Dre, Gorilla Tek, Jim Jonsin, and Cainon Lamb who co-produced Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need You Bad.” Big Bird who’s done work for Britney Spears and Brandy. I have a great deal of respect for them because they could give their hot beats to anybody, and they chose to give them to me. I enjoyed working with each one of em.

been rapping. I grew up listening to LL, Big Pun, Biggie, Big , and Tupac. My brother always had that around me. I use to rap with him. You how you are when you’re young. Reality set in because there really aren’t any female rappers making it right now besides the bigger names like Missy and Lil’ Kim. It’s hard for woman. My manager came into my life and was like, NO!, we’re gonna stick to singing. So you’re not doing any rapping on your new album ?

I understand that at one point you wanted to be a rapper You’re gonna hear me do my thing. Rapping has helpme. It’s instead of a singer. helped me right hooks for (Laughing) Yeah, I had that little dudes. flash a one point. I’ve always

OK. Since you said that. You co-wrote the hook with Plies on “Want It, Need It.” Right ? Yes. I co-wrote the hook on Plies’ “Want It, Need It.” That was definitely a good look. It’s things like that that keep me hype. I’ve also worked with Flo Rida and Brisco. I love doing music, and I’m always looking for new people work with. When can we expect your new album ? Sometime this summer. We don’t have an exact date. All the information will be on my myspace at myspace.com/ shoniemusic

l www.newpowermagazine.com l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

THE

R&B / Hip-Hop Albums 6. Keri Hilson In A Perfect World

1. Eminem The Relapse 2. Chrisette Michele Epihany

7. Jamie Foxx Intuition

3. Method Man Blackout 2

8. Jada Kiss The Last Kiss

4. Rick Ross Deeper Than Rap

9. The Dream Love V/S Money

5. Busta Rhymes Back On My BS

10. Prince / Bria Valente Lotus Flow3r/MPLSound/Elix3r

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

SPOT Hot R&B / Hip-Hop Ringtones 6. Lil Wayne featuring Static Major Lollipop

1. 2 Pac Changes 2. T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake Dead And Gone

7. Lil Wayne I’m Me

3. Alicia Keys No One

8. Chris Brown Take You Down

4. Ace Hood featuring Rick Ross and T-Pain Cash Flow

9. 2 Pac I Ain’t Mad Atcha

5. Baby Bash featuring T-Pain Cyclone

10. Cchris Brown featuring T-Pain Kiss Kiss

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

AIRYKAH

l www.newpowermagazine.com l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

DENISE Hometown: Chicago Age: 22 Weight: 125 lbs Height: 5"7 Chest: 34 B Waiste: 28 Hips: 37.5 Shoe Size: 6, 6.5 Myspace: www.myspace.com/diamondcayne

Diamonds & The Ruff Ent. myspace.com/diamondsandtheruffent youtube.com/DiamondsandtheRuffTV

Contact: Heaven Alexander CEO / Founder 773-457-7118

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

TM ÂŠ 2009 Kellogg NA Co.

Men + Health+Sex

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

MEN

& HEALTH

Causes Of Obesity In Men By Arthur Allen Review by James E. Gerace, MD Source: WebMD.Com

52 l

The New Power Magazine www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

The prevalence of obesity among American men has doubled in only 25 years, and it’s killing us. A 2004 survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 71% of men 20 years old and over were overweight and 31% were obese. The same survey conducted in the late 1970s had found 47% of men were overweight and 15% were obese.

more weight.” Blackburn holds the S. Daniel Abraham Chair of Nutrition at Harvard Medical School, and he tells WebMD that as men get older, muscle tends to be replaced by fatty tissue. Since fatty tissue doesn’t

liver, causing metabolic problems like diabetes. Added weight puts you at risk of heart attack, cancer, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It can also affect your sex life and make it harder to exercise and enjoy your kids. Can genes cause obesity in men? How did we get so fat? “Obviously there’s a genetic component to obesity, “ says Barbara Rolls, PhD. Rolls holds the Helen A. Guthrie Chair in Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. “But,” she adds, “the surge in obesity clearly can’t be due to genetic changes. We don’t evolve that quickly.”

Science is searching for the causes of obesity and exploring the role of genes, the diets of pregnant women, and the feeding habits of babies. But the bottom line is this: Most of us have settled into sedentary lifestyles and have trouble resisting the temptations of cheap, plentiful food our culture has served up. need the same amount of energy to maintain itself, you gain weight. But if you’ve gained more than 20 pounds since college, Blackburn says, something about your food selection and exercise program is out of balance. “You need to run, not walk,” he says, “to see a health care provider who’s experienced in finding healthy lifestyles.”

That said, when it comes to getting fat, not all men are created equal. The genetic differences are clear from studies conducted by Claude Bouchard, PhD, of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University. Controlled portions of food were given over 100 days to sets of identical twins. While weight gain was similar for each pair of twins, it varied dramatically among the pairs. Some sets of twins gained as few as eight pounds during the “overfeeding” experiment, while others put on as much as 26 pounds.

While women put weight on “By the time you reach 35,” says their hips, breasts, and limbs, George L. Blackburn, MD, PhD, men gather it around the waist, “you don’t need to gain any where it circulates through the

We all know a few men who can quaff and stuff it all in their wooden legs and still weigh what they did in college. Some

The biggest health issues for overweight men It isn’t good to be fat, but there’s just so much good food and so many ways of entertaining ourselves from a swivel chair or a couch. As a result, a host of health issues linked to obesity threatens us unless we learn how to push back from the table earlier and head out the door for a walk or something faster more often.

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

people are more predisposed to gain more weight than others, and research indicates that gaining weight rapidly as an infant is associated with a higher risk of adult obesity. “We don’t know whether the weight gain in infancy is a cause of obesity, or whether they are both controlled by the same gene or perhaps by cultural practices,” says Nicolas Stettler, MD, MSCE, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania. But it may well be that some of us developed metabolic patterns in infancy that continue to influence our eating habits throughout life.

really took off in the 1980s. It might seem logical to assume that when a person eats a really big meal that person will back off on subsequent meals or days. But Rolls’ research has shown this not to be the case. At her laboratory, she feeds human test subjects large portion sizes without telling them and observes how they respond. They respond by pigging out. Over a period of 11 days, in a recent experiment, the overfed group sucked up 5,000 more calories than the “control” group, which was given healthy, complete meals but with half the portion size.

encouraging them to eat less energy-dense meals. A bowl of Cheerios, for example, provides the same calories as a couple tablespoons of granola. But, as she points out in The Volumetrics Eating Plan: Techniques and Recipes for Feeling Full on Fewer Calories (Morrow Cookbooks, 2005),eating the larger portion of Cheerios is more satisfying than eating the smaller portion of granola. “Bigger is better if it’s low-cal,” Rolls says. “Big portions of salad and soup can fill you up and displace other, more energy dense foods.” Looking for a cure for obesity

But genes don’t explain the increase in obesity. “I think we can safely say that at the end of the day, the cause of obesity is eating more than you need for your physical activity,” says Stettler. “We eat more, and the availability of more sedentary entertainment leads people to be more sedentary.”

Obviously, there are vested interests in favor of selling more food and drink, even if that does help fuel the obesity epidemic. “From the popcorn stand in movie theaters to fast food, we’ve been had by the most skilled advertising people in the world,” says Blackburn. “They keep telling us that it’s our right to be instantly gratified. Well, Bigger portions breed bigger there’s a sucker born every appetites which can lead to minute, and you’re a sucker to let obesity. Men eat 70% more at a yourself gain more than 20 sitting than women do, Rolls pounds in 20 years.” tells WebMD. But, she says, men are “the primordial eating Fighting back: How bigger machines.” They tend to listen portions can be used to stem to their bodies more while the rise in obesity women eat what they think they are supposed to eat. When it comes to finding solutions to the fat epidemic, Rolls The biggest change in eating has done some pragmatic thinkhabits, Rolls believes, is portion ing. Her research told her that it size, which started growing in would be difficult to convince the 1970s in restaurants and people to eat smaller meals. So recipe books. Then supersizing what she has done is focused on

Genetic research holds out the hope that in 10 or 20 years there may be new drugs to treat obesity. But there are more than 25 candidate genes involved in abnormal weight gain, and each person may have 12 or so of them, all making a very small contribution. So it’s unlikely that drug companies will find blockbuster drugs that can counteract the effects of all these genes together. “It will be very hard to have a medication driven by your personal predisposition,” says Bouchard. In the meantime, though, according to Blackburn, “The craziest thing you can do is to overeat and under-exercise.”

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

MEN

Penis

& SEX

ENLARGEMENT: Does It Work ? Don’t deny it. Ever since you first saw those penis enlargement ads in the back pages of a porn magazine years ago ? the pictures of sinisterlooking devices, the big letters screaming “Add Inches to Your Penis!” ? you’ve always wondered: Could I be bigger?

to our culture’s restless drive for self-improvement, information about penis enlargement is everywhere. Liberated from the

“Guys ask me about it all the time,” says Michael O’Leary, MD, a urologist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “They say they’ll do anything to have a bigger penis.” So is there anything they can do? Not really. “It’s pretty much bunk,” O’Leary says wearily. After all, if simple, effective penis enlargement were possible, every other guy in America would be a foot long. Yet common sense isn’t enough to stop some of us. And thanks

Where Reading Is Fundamental

classifieds of behind-the-counter smut, penis enlargement pills are hawked on TV. Without even requesting it, you might have ads conveniently delivered to your email inbox every day. More than 10,000 men in the U.S. ? probably many more ? have gone on the operating

(662) 251-0075

table to get highly controversial penis enlargement surgery. But don’t open your wallet and unbuckle your pants yet. We’ve explored the sordid world of penis enlargement so you don’t have to. Should my penis be bigger? First, even if you think you’re small, odds are that your penis is a normal size. The average erect penis is four to six inches long, with a circumference of four to six inches. There’s more variation in the size of flaccid penises. But that just means that a guy who looks well hung in the locker room isn’t likely to get much bigger when erect; conversely, a guy who looks small will grow a lot. Second, if you insist that you’re small ? even when the ruler says you’re not, you may earn yourself a psychiatric diagnosis: penile dysmorphic disorder. It’s similar to the perceptual distor-

www.newpowermagazine.com

tion of anorexics who still think they’re fat no matter how stick thin they get. According to one study, the majority of men who get penis enlargement surgery have this condition. They are also the least satisfied with the results. “Men who have a normal penile length but are convinced they’re small might benefit from seeing a psychiatrist instead of a surgeon,” says Karen Elizabeth Boyle, MD, assistant professor of urology and director of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Pumps and pills, horny goat weed, and other penis enlargement nonsense But enough of the sensible expert advice. Here is a rundown of your options if you are still looking for a larger penis. []The vacuum pump. This is the classic of the penis enlargement device genre. You stick your penis into a cylinder attached to a pump that sucks out the air. The resulting vacuum draws extra blood into your penis, making it erect and a little bigger. You then clamp off the penis with a tight ring ? like a tourniquet ? to keep the blood from escaping back into your body. -Penis pumps do have a real medical use: They help men with erectile dysfunction. But the pump has no lasting effect on the size of your penis. You will deflate to normal size once you remove the ring. -Risks include temporary impo-

tence, blisters, bruises, ruptured blood vessels, and discolored and thickened skin. The clamping should not be done for longer than 20 to 30 minutes at most since it will eventually cause tissue damage.

says it might be possible to stretch the skin of the penis. However, this would have no effect on the size of your erection. It would also require superhuman dedication. Risks include tearing of the tissue, burst blood vessels, and other problems. O’Leary recently saw a patient who was hanging heavy weights off his erect penis and fractured it, snapping the tissue. The result was terrible pain and surgery.

[]Exercises, weights, and devices. First, know this: You can’t bulk up your penis with exercises, as you can your biceps. It is not a muscle. However, some devices and types of stimulation are purported to stretch []Pills, supplements, and the skin and lengthen the penis creams. Hogwash. Every last itself. one of them. Most are mixtures of herbs like yohimbe (the -One popular example is “herbal Viagra”), ginseng, and, “jelqing,” a regimen of tugging of course, horny goat weed. or “milking” exercises. Naturally, They have never been shown to it has an “ancient” (which means have any effect on penis size. “bogus”) pedigree: Web sites tell us it’s an old Arabian technique Penis Enlargement Surgery passed down from well-hung Unlike most enlargement father to son. The details are schemes, surgery can work. veiled behind web pages Even critics concede that. demanding your credit card, but However, there are risks, and the jelqing exercises generally results may be less impressive involve a lot of work : 30 to 60 than you hope. One 2006 study minutes of firm yanking most published in European Urology days of the week. The real trick found that the average length is that you are supposed to do gain is less than one inch. Mark this without your penis getting P. Solomon, MD, a plastic surerect. So you had better have a geon outside Philadelphia, lot of self-discipline, a lot of agrees that the results are modfree time, and a door with a lock. est but says they are usually a bit better than that. -Other penis enlargement options include devices that you []Lengthening the penis. The clamp onto your penis to stretch penis is connected to your pelvis it sometimes for as long as eight with a tough fiber called suspenhours a day with tension or sory ligament. This holds back weights. “A manufacturer sent some of the penis shaft and me one,” says O’Leary. “It looks hides it inside your body. like a medieval implement of Surgically cutting the ligament torture. releases the tension and - theoretically - more of the shaft -Will any of this work? Boyle becomes outwardly visible. To says no. O’Leary very cautiously prevent the ligament from reat-

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

taching, you will probably need to attach weights or stretching devices to your penis daily for about six months. []Widening the penis. The original technique was to take fat from elsewhere in the body and inject it into the shaft of the penis to bulk it up. It didn’t work. The fat would get partially absorbed and your penis would be left looking lumpy. “These penises looked like cobblestone streets,” says Solomon. A newer version of this technique uses implanted allograft, tissue harvested from cadavers that’s used in many types of reconstructive surgery. Surgeons who do the procedure such as Solomon and Brian J. Rosenthal, MD, a urologist in Beverly Hills say that the allograft lasts longer and provides a much better result. We’ll never know how the tissue donors would feel about their second lives as penis stuffing. Other penis enlargement surgeries are available. In overweight or obese patients, the fat at the base of the penis may be removed by liposuction. While some surgeons will do both lengthening and widening at once as a deluxe package, others prefer to do them in stages. While Rosenthal predicts that penis enlargement is about to become as common as breast enlargement, Solomon disagrees. He says the biggest obstacle is the price. Penis lengthening costs anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. But when it comes to widening, the cost of allograft alone is $5,000 to $7,000 ? omitting the costs of the surgery itself. To get the works, you might easily need more than $20,000.

Penis enlargement risks and disasters However, before you take out a penile improvement loan and slap your penis down on the operating table, it’s important to consider the risks. No major medical organization has approved of these surgeries for men with a normal penis. The American Urological Association stresses that they have not been proven safe or effective.

metic surgery. Would a woman who wants bigger breasts be called crazy? Why is penis enlargement any different? O’Leary insists it is. Unlike breast augmentation, which has for better or worse become standard, penis augmentation has not.

“If I thought there was a legitimate procedure to augment the penis, I wouldn’t have any probThe few studies that have been lem with it,” O’Leary says. “But done aren’t encouraging. The we just don’t have an effective, European Urology study looked proven, and safe way to offer it.” at 42 men who had lengthening procedures and found that only Doctor-approved penis 35% were satisfied with the enlargement! If you were hopresults; 50% went on to seek fur- ing to find something that ther surgery. works, don’t despair. There is one penis enlargement tech“I’ve seen some real disasters,” nique that all doctors actually says O’Leary, describing times recommend: weight loss. Yeah, he has repaired the damage it’s a bit of a cheat, but it can caused by augmentation gone help. wrong. Known complications include scarring, infections, loss “A lot of the guys I see who of a normal erection angle, think they’re below average are decrease in sensation, and impo- pretty overweight,” says Boyle. tence. Occasionally, lengthening Their penises are normal but can actually make you shorter: look shorter because they are Scar tissue reconnects the penis buried in fat Being overweight to the pelvis and draws more of can also make your normal penis the shaft into your body. look proportionally smaller than the rest of you. So slimming Surgeons who do the proce- down can help your penis look dures say they have good out- bigger and longer. comes and serious complications are rare. “I’ve done thou- The penis is an incredibly delisands of these surgeries,” says cate and sensitive organ.So think Rosenthal. “Our techniques very, very carefully before you have improved a great deal and start messing with it. Is it worth patients are benefiting.” risking an average-sized penis that works to take up the quest They are also tired of the argu- for a porn star monster that ment that men who want this might not? surgery need psychiatric help. This surgery just allows men to feel better about themselves, they say. Of course, there are risks, but that’s true of any cos-

Women+ Health+Sex 58

l The New Power Magazine www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

WOMEN & HEALTH

My Breast Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Look Normal. Is Something Wrong ? Jane Harrison-Hohner, RN, RNP Source: WebMD.Com

Given the breast centered focus of western civilization it's no surprise that many women are critical of the size and shape of their breasts. But what if something is truly abnormal about a young woman's breasts - would she know it? The purpose of this post is to try and address what is within the range of normal for breast appearance - and what may not be.

"developed"? Lack of any breast development by age thirteen merits some monitoring. The small, firm breast buds usually appear about age eleven. By age thirteen a majority of girls have the beginnings of a moundshape of breast tissue. Unless there is an overt reason for lack of development such as illness, radiation exposure, or hormonal problems there is evidence that

Age Matters What is too early for the beginnings of breast development? Many mothers would be surprised to hear that breast development is not considered premature if it appears in African American girls by age of seven, or in other girls by age eight! Mothers then worry about the development of premature/precocious puberty (full breast development, menstrual periods, etc). Fortunately 80% of early-developing girls will not come fully into puberty. In fact, breast development may halt, only to reappear at the more usual time.

likely equalize for about 75% of women. Very large breasts can develop in teen women. This can occur on just one side or be bilateral. In this instance normalization of size is unlikely to happen. While a tumor can prompt a very large breast, most enlargement is related to a robust tissue response to normal hormonal influences. According to DeSilva (2006) there is no increased risk for breast cancer among young women with an extremely enlarged breast. Cosmetic surgery, if indicated, can be done. Reduction of a very large breast(s) is called reduction mammoplasty. Unlike breast augmentation (i.e. breast implants) there is usually more apparent scarring.

breast development can contin- Conversely, there can be insuffiue until one's early 20's. cient breast development on one or both breasts. One type that Size Might Matter seems to cause particular disWhile most all of us have at least tress creates a tall tube shaped some difference in size between breast. There is tissue growth our two breasts, there are situa- under the nipple, but no roundtions where the size difference is ed breast mound. Again, plastic very apparent. Size differences surgery is the usual treatment. So what is the usual time to be which onset in teen years will

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

www.newpowermagazine.com

Extra Nipples? Having extra nipples has been reported in 1-2% of women. The line along which extra nipples are usually found extends from the armpit to the groin. Extra nipples do not usually have associated breast tissue so they may go unnoticed. A woman may think that the "accessory nipple" is a mole or other skin lesion. These do not have to be surgically removed unless, like a mole, they become inflamed by restrictive underwear or clothes. Hormonal Medications It has been noted that women using birth control pills may experience bilateral breast enlargement. This has been attributed to the hormone estrogen. A similar effect can occur in older women using post-menopausal hormonal therapy. Usually this is not a lasting effect, and size goes back down when the medication is stopped. Previously, medications which block estrogen effects were tried as a treatment for too early or excessive breast development (Bloom 2008). This is not a standard treatment, however. Breast Enlargement Options There are breast enlarging creams and herbal products advertised on the internet. As new products are touted, our Women's Health Board gets a spate of questions about the effectiveness of such products. The array of products includes pills, creams, devices, and even a chewing gum! I would concur with the review article written

by Dr. A. Fugh-Berman (2003) published in the journal Obstetrics/Gynecology. She investigated many of the herbal ingredients touted to increase breast size. A few ingredients have the possibility of producing weak estrogen-like hormones. Yet most have no data to support their use for breast enlargement. Perhaps most concerning is there are no long term safety studies. In the real world, women may not use such products for very long when the promised 3-5 cup size increase does not appear. Honestly, the most reliable way to get a larger breast size (short of weight gain or pregnancy) is breast augmentation done by surgically inserting a saline or silicone implant. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports an increase for cosmetic surgery from 14,000 in 1996 to 333,000 in 2005 for patients under age eighteen. At least 90% of those were females. Breast augmentation is one of the two most frequent plastic surgery procedures performed on teens (Zuckerman, 2008). Since most health insurance will not cover breast augmentation, the costs have to be borne by the young woman, or her family. While the decision to do augmentation is a very personal decision it is worth understanding some of the risks. The FDA has not approved the use of saline implants in women under age 18, nor the use of silicone implants in women age 21 and younger. Surgeons can still do the procedure, but the benefits have not been demonstrated to

out weigh the risks to the satisfaction of the FDA. Currently breast implants have a limited life expectancy. According to Zuckerman breast implants typically last about 10 years, and there is an increased of scar tissue formation the longer the implant is in place. Interestingly, a study of women planning to get breast implants because of dissatisfaction with being too small, found that there was no difference in bra sizes compared to a group of women who were satisfied with their breast sizes (Didie, 2003). Jane's Economy Breast Lift Thus far we have moved from discussing medically focused breast issues through more selfconcept, or cosmetic, concerns. Most women can think of a change in breast size, or firmness which they would prefer if the Fairy Godmother of Breast Structure was to grant them a wish. Would you be willing to develop a firmer breast profile without drugs, surgery, or any cost? OK, I was skeptical, too. But here it is-free to my readers: Chest Exercises to Help Tone and More If you do a few simple exercises, especially if combined with a balanced body work out, you will get better contours. As a bonus, saggy underarms (triceps flop) can improve. It will not increase or decrease your cup size by three to five sizes, but it will make what you have look better. And after all, isn't enhancing what we have been given what it's all about?

l The New Power Magazine l www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

WOMEN & SEX

Feel Attractive, Have Better Sex ? Better Body Image May Boost Women's Sexual Responses By Miranda Hitti / Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD / Source: WebMD.Com

Call it the feeling-frumpy- were also asked if they were High or-fine phenomenon of sex more, less, or as attractive as a The vast majority of the and aging for women. decade ago. women -- about 70% -- reported being satisfied with their A new study shows that a No matter how young or old sex lives, no matter how attracwoman's sex life may be richer the women were, they tended tive they felt. if she thinks she's at least as to report having been more attractive as she was 10 years attractive 10 years earlier. That How does that square with the earlier. sense of faded attractiveness other findings? Researchers was linked to less frequent sex and medical professionals But if she thinks her glory and a drop in sexual desire. "may be placing too great of days, in terms of attractivean emphasis on specific physiness, are over, some aspects of "Women definitely receive ological reactions," Koch says. her sex life might have faded messages in the culture that as as well. they age they're less attractive For example, she says some and that can be interpreted as women don't rate intense "This study points out that less sexual as well," Koch says. orgasms as being crucial for women's body image was a sig- Unrealistic standards of attrac- sexual satisfaction. nificant predictor of their spe- tiveness in the media are one cific sexual functioning," such influence, she says. Women vary in their sexual researcher Patricia Bartholow priorities, and those priorities Koch, PhD, tells WebMD. Better With Age may shift over time and with Some women were exceptions. different relationships, says Koch is an associate professor They reported being just as Koch. She stresses that she's of biobehavioral health and attractive as 10 years earlier. A not saying that women don't women's studies at few said they had become care about sexual desire, arousPennsylvania State University. more attractive with time. al, and orgasm. The study recently appears in Those women reported The Journal of Sex Research. increases in sex, sexual enjoyment, and sexual desire, says Heyday Over? Koch. Koch and colleagues studied about 300 heterosexual The study focused on body women for a decade. The image. Many women were critwomen were 35-55 years old. ical of their bodies. However, Most were white and college some said age had brought educated. more confidence, which made them feel more attractive. The women took surveys about their sex lives. They Sexual Satisfaction Rated

Where Reading Is Fundamental

(662) 251-0075

"It seems that they look more at the overall sexual experience," Koch says. "Some of the things that we don't usually measure -- such as intimacy, communication, [and] affection ... are qualities that they use to evaluate their sexual experience, as well as some of the physiological responses that researchers and medical professionals tend to focus more on."

www.newpowermagazine.com

"Women's body image may affect their sexual relationships." Ways to Improve Body Image The study doesn't prove that feeling attractive boosts a woman's sex life. The two may go hand in hand.

advice about improving body image: Figure out what can realistically be changed (such as physical fitness).

Don't forget the perks of aging, she adds. "Hopefully, it empowers [us so] that we have better knowledge of ourselves and we can communicate to other people," Koch says.

"Women's body image may affect their sexual relationships," s a y s K o c h . "But we all know that our sexual relationships can also affect our body image. So if we're in a satisfying relationship and our partner gives us positive feedback, that also helps us to feel more selfconfident and feel better about ourselves."

Accept aspects of aging that

What About Men?

"That can boost our body image," says Koch. "It's a reinforcing cycle."

Don't hold yourself to the media's standards of attractiveness. Get help from a counselor or support group if body image stays poor.

Koch offers four pieces of

Wo m e n aren't the o n l y o n e s w i t h b o d y image issues.

can't be changed.

"Women and men a r e socialized very differently in our society and so they do have s o m e unique i s s u e s, " K o c h says. "But I t h i n k that the issues of b o d y image and men and aging have really been underappreciated and understudied. ... I think unfortunately that these issues are becoming more prominent for men as well."

Tweeked Out Entertainment JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

D E T I N U WE D N STA

Independent Cover

y Colom Anthon helby : s d r o S W : Tanya Photos

Where are you guys from and what it is that you do ?

DJ Danny D: We have two sides to our company. We’re a collective group of DJs, producers, managers, and promoters located in the greater metro Jackson, Mississippi area. We go out and DJ shows, and we also book shows for DJs. We do weddings and parties. Then we have the radio station side of it where we

64 l

The New Power Magazine

a couple of DJs who go and DJ on a radio station. We spin all types of music from hip hop to techno, e hop, and all types of stuff that we do. How many DJs does company work with ? DJ Danny D: Right now about 5 or 6. We’ve got Uncl Ryan, DJ Libra, DJ RPM, DJ 2 Tall, DJ Reign, and myself. DJ Libra

and Uncl Ryan have been all over the DJing. They’ve been to China, Germany, and the UK. We’re kinda turning into a DJcrew. With all of the technology, we’ve been each other, and showing each things. In all get together and talk about what’s new in the DJ world. We all trade music with each other. Do you, as a company, plan to start a label and back any

www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

DJ DANNY D

DJ 2 TALL

DJ REIGN

artists ? DJ Danny D: Yeah that’s kinda the daeal with the radio station. With the station, we hope to be the premier place for independent artists to get out there. We’re an internet station. It’s visual. All we’re doing is playing independent artists 24/7. Who playing yall ?

now. We’re planning to triple that real soon. We want get a stage and get involved with a lot of the city events. We plan to recruit and gather more DJs and independent artists to put on the station, and to manager and book for. Do you provide the sound system for artists and bands performing in your area ?

[ Tweeked Out Entertainment ]

DJ 2 Tall: Donnie Cross DJ Reign: Kassius Klay DJ Danny D: A lot of the main independent artists in our area have already come and done interviews. We’ve got some drops from em. We’re really looking to get some more. I know have others within your company. So is your company strictly about music ? DJ Reign: We help out with a lot of charity events to help raise money, like Relay For Life and events.

DJ Danny D: Yeah ! In the past we’ve done sound for Gucci Mane, Juvenile, Jeezy, Boo Rossini (Da Boss Playa), and Pleasure P. What about DJing for artists during their show ? DJ 2 Tall: Yeah. All the time. You name it. We’ve done it. We’ve done Donnie Cross, Smack A Batch, R&B duo Recognition. I’ve done a Juvenile show before. It’s a long list man. DJ Danny D: Yeah we DJ’d for Gucci when we did that show.

DJ Danny D: In September we’ll be a charitable event for the Luekemia Foundation.

You guys have something called Hump Day Madness; what is that about ?

DJ Reign: Here in Jackson, I’ve been using Serato’s video mixing aspect to the crowds. DJing is really going to that in the larger cities across the country.

DJ Reign: We try to bring in at least one guest a week. If it’s not an independent artist, it’s someone who’s got something to announce about what’s going on in Jackson for the weekend. It gives the independent artists coming thru, the chance to talk about their music and what they’ve got going on. This all happens in our studio. People can log on to our website and listen and watch.

What are some things that you’re hoping to accomplish with your company ? DJ Danny D: Man, on the entertainment side, we’ve got about 30,000 watts of equipment right

66 l

DJ Danny D: We’d like to start steaming all of the concerts that happen in these clubs around here for those who can’t make it, and to help advertise the clubs. Who else is involved in your company besides the DJs you named earlier ? DJ Danny D: We got MS. Tweeked Out - COO Heather Mai. We’ve got Tanya Shelby. She does photography. And we also have our Tweeked out model - Ms Kim. What’s your reach as far as how far you’d send your DJs and sound systems to do shows ? DJ Danny D: We cover the entire southeast. In talking to different people over the years, we’re probably one of your better companies as far as pricing for sound. When say that you provide sound reinforcement; what all does that involve ? Is it the whole 9 ? You know..... lights and everything ? DJ Danny D: Everything but the stage. Lights, speakers, microphones. We did a trance show not long ago. The cops came and shut us down mulitple times. They said they could hear us 9 miles away. We’ve done stuff in Alabama, Tennessee, all over Mississippi, and one thing in Louisiana. It’s amazing how many people have called us over the years. We had a lady call us from Detroit, Michigan.

The New Power Magazine www.newpowermagazine.com (662) 251-0075

BE SEEN OR BE FORGOTTEN. ADVERTISE IN THE NEW POWER MAGAZINE.

662.251.0075 www.newpowermagazine.com

URBAN

CONNECTIONZ CLEVELAND’S PREMIER URBAN ENTERTAINMENT

MAGAZINE Hip-Hop News

Fashion, Sports, and Poetry Artist Interviews CD Reviews Release Dates and more .... www.urban-connectionz.com