CONTENTS
MAY/JUNE 2008
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NAPPY ROOTS The boys from Kentucky are back; they’re still independent, minus 1 member, and about to release their hottest album since Watermelon, Chicken, & Grits.
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BARACK OBAMA The charismatic Illinois Senator is on a quest to become the first African - American in U.S. history to win the Presidency. Some say he’s too good to be true. We take a look at a confusing time in his life, and how he managed to come out of it a better man.
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DAY 26 P. Diddy’s newest boy group from MTV’s Making The Band 4 speaks to The New Power about what it’s like to be new in the business and living their dream.
In The Streets Doc 6, Aaron Colom, Brandon Colom, Tracy Gunn, Dub G., Kevin Gordon, Alan Harrison, Keeno, John Adkins, Ambassador’s Way, Hollywood Lounge, Bernard Wren, Red Billa, CD Cellar, Antonio Rogers, Rick Mason, Bigg V., BeBop Records, Soufside, DJ Xmas, Kerrold Ellis, Derrick Pettiway, DJ Finesse, DJ Fuyal.Com, Mr. Dilligence, DJ Break Em Off, DJ Sweat, Booger Brown, TSkhilz, Cody Gopher, Dick James, Alfredo Cardona, Down South DJs, & Hot Jock DJs
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MINT CONDITION
NPM
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. 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 © 2008, Colom Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Editorial office: 118 S. McCrary Rd. Suite 126 Columbus, MS 39702 / Advertising, subscriptions, and reviews: P.O. Box 8465 Columbus, MS 39705.
Barack Obama cover artwork by Joe Dent
((( The Rewind
THE
NAPPY ROOTS
10 SPOT The 10 hottest R&B / Hip-Hop ringtones
TITLE
ARTIST
1
Because I Got High
Afro Man
2
Candy Shop
50 Cent
3 4
Crank That (Soulja Boy)
Souja Boy Tell Em
I Ain’t Mad At Cha
2 Pac
5
Irreplaceable
Beyonce
6
Best Friend
50 Cent
7
Don’t Stop The Music
8
Bed
9 10
Shawty
Rihanna
The Humdinger
sake of Nappy Roots - the brand.
W hat’s happening? We haven’t heard from yall in a minute. You’re not with Atlantic Records anymore; you’re independent now. How’s that working out for you? Skinny: Everything’s going good. We couldn’t be in a better position as far as artists maintaining their rights and getting their money as well.
B Stille: I thank Atlantic for the simple fact that they helped build us a fan base. Especially with us going independent with NREG/ Fontana/Universal right now. We definitely gettin’ our money now, and eating like an artist is suppose to eat off of the work that he makes.
Would you ever sign with a major label again? Skinny: They’d have to throw some serious paper our way before we’d really consider it. We’re not interested in giving up rights that we should normally have. It’s like asking a slave if he wants to be a slave again after he’s been free. You know what I’m sayin? I ain’t fixin’ to go back to sharecropping or none of that. Our process of doing business is a lot easier and faster than dealing with a major label. We’re our own boss. We’ve been nurturing a relationship with Interscope over the past few weeks. Being an independent label allows us to do many things that someone under an artist deal signed to a major can’t do. We’re looking to do good business with corporations for the
I noticed thatn a p p y roots.com is back in your hands. I’m assuming that Atlantic had control of your site?
Skinny: When we signed in 1998, our A&R took it upon himself to go and register the name. Back then, we were in college and we were like, o.k., cool that’s dope we got nappyroots.com. As time went on, we realized that’s not always good for the company to control the site because you can’t put what you want on it. After we left, they still controlled it for several years. They didn’t want to give it up. When it expired, we were next in line to get it. Now we can instantly keep our fans up to date on what we’re doing. Talk about your new cd, The Humdinger, and how it differs from your other projects. Skinny: It’s phenomenal. We put a lot of thought into it. We’re steering the ship now, and have the ability to A&R our own material. We’re not letting producers run hog-wild and charge $40,000 a track. We’re very hands - on with this project. You’re gonna get a lot of uptempo bangers, and the thought-provoking conscience southern music that you expect to get from Nappy Roots. We stepped it up 20 notches. I think this album will be the steppingstone for the new southern-conscience movement.
one side is being exploited. People are making our kind of music, but just not being heard. Nappy Roots is gonna fill the void and give you what you’ve been missing. Anybody outside of the group work with you on the album? Skinny: There are two females on this album, Slick and Rose, that are definitely gonna blow up. They’re out of Atlanta. Our fans expect a Nappy Roots and Anthony Hamilton collaboration on at least one song. So he’s on there. Our producers are in-house. Also 3 Kings out of Nashville, N.A. and Soul Massiah out of Atlanta. R. Prophet left the group; yall still cool? B Stille: Yeah, he’s a talented dude and we wish him the best. Yall visited the troops in Iraq a while back. How did that come about? Clutch: We were fortunate enough to go over there and do that. The troops were polled and asked who they wanted to come and perform, and we were in the top 2 behind Jay Z. That was a great feeling man to go over there and entertain troops that are fighting for us, and give them some type of hope and motivation. B Stille: I don’t support the president that we have right now, nor do I support the war, but the troops have our support.
www.nappyroots.com myspace.com/nappyrootsmusic
With the club and booty music as well as cocaine music dominating the airwaves, are people ready for yall again? B Stille: When I was growing up, you had a balance between the backpackers and gangsta rappers. You needed both. Right now, only
Words: Anthony Colom Photo: Nappy Roots
J. Holiday
Plies w/ T-Pain
With You
Chris Brown
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e-Life Words: Anthony Colom Photo: Mint Condition
MINT CONDITION After a three-year hiatus, the band is back with a fresh new sound.
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I understand u guys have a new album that’s about to drop ? Yeah it comes out May 6th, and it’s called eLife. We’ve got Anthony Hamilton on a track called Baby Boy / Baby Girl. We’ve got Ali Shaheed from A Tribe Called Quest on a joint called Why Do We Try. Then we got Phonte from Little Brother on a track called Something. How would u describe this album? You’re known for your soulful funk-rock sound. There’s really not a lot of rock. We kind of went into a different area. The album is called e-Life cause it’s more of a computer sound, rather than rock. It’s more of a futuristic sound, or world music. But it’s still got soul. Like if u go into a hotel in Paris and a track will be playing; it’s kinda like that whole vibe over there.
Motown to The Jackson 5, Parliament-Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, Led Zepplin, War, Rolling Stones, to The Average White Band. You Know ?
Aside from the new album, what else does the group have going on ? Are yall doing any touring right now ?
Are all of u from the St. Paul, Minnesota area ?
Yes, we’re planning all of that right now cause the single just came out. It was the most added at radio the first week. Everbody’s gonna love this record. The record is about sharing files. Basically, we shared a lot of files thru the internet. Baby Boy/Baby Girl is about family. When I first started getting on the computer, I found myself on the computer on myspace til 5 in the morning. My kids were wanting to spend more time with me. So I had to pull myself away from it to spend more time with em. We got a thank you song to our parents for just helping us grow up. U know, doing the right things; whooping us when we needed to be whooped, and just how much we really appreciate what they’ve done for us today.
Everyone is but me (Rick). I’m from Chicago. Being that the majority of the group is from St. Paul, and right next door to Minneapolis, how much of an impact has Prince and The Time’s Minneapolis Sound had on the group? A lot ! We had Jeri Curls. We had the whole sissy-boy look (laughing). I was against it; me being from Chicago, I was like..... I ain’t putting on no stocking. I was like...my folks wouldn’t be down with that. An artist named Rocky Robins also had a big influence on us. U got guys in the band who listened to Miles Davis, Monk, Charlie Parker, and Herbie Hancock. It ain’t the whole Minneapolis thing. It’s the whole branch off the tree.
We’re doing some spot-dates right now. We’re working on putting a full tour together.
How long have yall been together ? This core has been together since ‘89. For those who don’t know, the band is missing a member now. Kerri Lewis, who’s married to Toni Braxton, left the group a few years back. Did yall go your seperate ways on good terms ?
Yeah, everything we’ve been doing since day 1 has been written and produced by Mint Condition.
Umm, you know, it’s never good when people are stubborn and not understanding things, and have personal things that play into how they handle things. U never know how something like that’s gonna play out, but you’ve gotta have forgiveness, and you’ve got to be able to admit you’re wrong and move on from those things instead of carrying a grudge.
I can hear a lot of different influences when I listen to the group. Who was it that made yall want to pick up instruments and sing ?
Being that he was a member, and there for all of your hit songs, is the door still open for him to come back if he wanted ?
The great artists from Prince to The Beatles.
U know what, I really don’t think it’s shut. We’re family, so u know...... anything’s possible; u never know.
Are yall still doing your own production ?
As far as the tour, when will that kick off ?
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis gave the band it’s big break on their Perspective Records label;how close are yall to them ? Do u still stay in touch ? We talk to them every blue moon. I really don’t have any information on how to get a hold of em. The Band is independent now. Do u have any regrets not having the A&M Records machine behind u any more ? No, this is our second album doing it this way with our own label, Caged Bird Records. It was definitely time for us to have ownership and own our own masters.
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FEATURES Page 14 T.A. CORLEONE / LIL’ TRAY Page 15 DEAD END Page 16 NATALAC Page 17 LIL’ HOUND / BANKROLL JONEZ
I started our page for models, The New Power Chick, back in 2003, our first year of publishing. The reason for the section was to give our male readers some eye-candy and keep them interested in the publication. 5 years later, I see guys on the street and in different cities that I visit, and they always ask me for the new issue so that they can see our newest model. Every week, our e-mail box is full of photos from young ladies wanting to be featured. So I guess it’s safe to say that The New Power Chick section has become a hit. I can honestly say that I want to help these ladies get the exposure that they seek. The New Power Chick is more than a section where we highlight a woman’s body parts. For those who don’t read the text beside a lot of our photos, take the time to do so. You’ll see that these ladies are more than a pretty face, big chest, and round booty; these women, a lot of em, have careers, or they’re curently attending college. We’ve featured accountants, mortgage brokers, loan officers, college graduates,and our current model, Green Eyed Mammi has a degree in Business Management and hopes to attend law school in 2009. I want our female readers to know that the word chick is not meant to demean these women or be negative in any way. It’s only meant to be playful. I’ve never been blasted for using that term, but I just want u ladies to know why I use it. A new power chick, to me, is a woman with the total package: physical beauty, inner-beauty and strength, intelligence, and ambition. You’ve got to be headed in the right direction to be a New Power Chick. About 3 or 4 years ago, I remember getting an e-mail from a lady who said she really enjoys some of the thought-provoking articles that I publish; especially the article on Black Wall Street. Not The Game’s record label, but the wealthiest black community in the country (located in Oklahoma) in the early 1900’s. This is where all the black folk in town kept their dollars in the black community and shopped with the black grocery stores, banks, doctors, lawyers, tailors, and so on. A place where black men owned more airplanes than there were in the entire state of Oklahoma. That is until a bunch of jealous, out of work white men returning from the war bombed and burned the community down. She said it’s good to see articles like that, but also said as soon as she opened up the magazine, the first thing see saw was ass ( there was an ad for a Tennessee modeling agency on page 2). She didn’t really care that these ladies bodies were on display. I have mixed-emotions about it. I understand her point of view . She may have a good point. I have a daughter and I wouldn’t want her to appear in a magazine wearing what I see a lot of women wearing. I’ve been literally cussed out by my wife, chastised by my sister-in-law, and received a hummmmm from my mother. So I tried to clean it up some. I’ve tried to explain that in the beginning, our readership was about 90% male to 10% female, and that heterosexual men love to look at beautiful women. Now our readership is about 65% male to 35% female. Ladies your gaining on em. I’ve been hit with that ‘Why don’t u show some male models?’ Man, that makes my stomach turn just thinking about that (LOL). Really ladies, I’m considering your ideas. If you’ve noticed, we’ve printed articles on breast-cancer awareness and a few other things that women would be interested in. Like interviews with Tyrese and Trey Songz. Honestly, those two issues were probably our two fastest moving issues. It’s a fact that women spend more money than men; there are more of u in the world than men. So that’s why you’ll notice that this publication has kind of shifted to more of an urban-lifestyle magazine: the sports, health care issues, political commentary, and spirtual motivation. You’ve got to give the people what they want. Besides, rappers don’t spend consistent money on advertising. They think they can advertise in one issue and sell a million cds off that one ad, not realizing that it’s repetition that pulls people in. Will your muscles get big if u lift weights one time? You’ve got to keep lifting if want ‘em to get bigger. You’ve got to run that same ad for at least 3 or 4 issues just to really get someones attention. Let me stop. Man yall know that adverting is a touchy subject with me. You’re bout to get me started. I’ve tried to explain this to independent artists at conferences a million times. To bring in local businesses and corporations, you’ve got to cater to women. And I don’t mind that. I don’t fault some of these models for what they do. Some are just trying to feed their families or pay their way through school so that they can lead a little easier life. So give em chance to do something great. Yes, some have beautiful bodies, but some of ‘em also have a beautiful mind.
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new power sports
Steroids Beyond Sports Celebrities now among those linked to drug shipments By BRENDAN J. LYONS Diamond, who has not been identified as a target in the case or accused of breaking any laws, helps run an anti-aging program at Clay Gym in Manhattan, according to the company's Web site.
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PATCHOGUE -- The names of R&B music star Mary J. Blige, along with rap artists 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean, and award-winning author and producer Tyler Perry, have emerged in an Albany-based investigation of steroids trafficking that has already rocked the professional sports world, according to confidential sources.
Information has surfaced recently showing those stars are among tens of thousands of people who may have used or received prescribed shipments of steroids and injectable human growth hormone in recent years. Law enforcement officials have said they have no evidence in their sprawling multistate probe that customers, including Blige or other entertainers, violated any laws. Instead, they are targeting anti-aging clinics, doctors and pharmacists who prescribed the drugs. Still, medical experts say that use of steroids and human growth hormone -- an estimated $10 billiona-year operation worldwide -- reaching into the entertainment industry illustrates how pervasive steroids use in the United States has become. It is not unique to athletics, where performance-enhancing drug use has marred many sports. For many celebrities, the lure of hormonal drugs is their supposed, unproven anti-aging effects. While Congress is preparing to focus on baseball players alleged to have taken the drugs, medical experts are warning that steroids and human growth hormone are being illegally prescribed nationwide at an alarming rate under the misconception they will aid healing, enhance looks, strength and speed, or slow aging. Records shared with the Times Union and information from several cooperating witnesses on Long Island indicate Blige and other stars were shipped prescribed human growth hormone or steroids -sometimes under fictitious names -- at hotels, production studios, private residences, an upscale Manhattan fitness club and through the Long Island office of Michael Diamond, a chiropractor affiliated with the celebrities, sources said.
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The Albany investigation became a nationwide spectacle last February when authorities raided a Palm Beach County wellness center and the offices of Signature Compounding Pharmacy in downtown Orlando. The wellness center's owners and the pharmacy's operators are awaiting trial in Albany on charges related to the sale of millions of dollars worth of prescription drugs, mostly steroids, through a suspected criminal enterprise involving allegedly corrupt physicians and a series of anti-aging "clinics" that advertised predominantly through the Internet. In the past year the case has netted 10 guilty pleas, including felony convictions of three physicians and several operators of anti-aging clinics in Texas, Florida and New York. Along the way it has exposed allegations of steroid use by Major League Baseball players, pro wrestlers, NFL figures, police officers, prison guards, top-ranked body builders, people with ties to high school and college wrestling programs, and now, celebrities. In a brief interview at his Patchtogue office Friday, Diamond said patient privacy laws prohibit him from discussing the stars he has treated or why.
that he learned of the year-old criminal case only recently. Entertainers using steroids is not new. Last year, Hollywood action-film stalwart Sylvester Stallone paid a $2,975 fine in Australia to settle criminal charges he illegally possessed vials of steroids and human growth hormone discovered during a customs inspection of his luggage. Stallone, 61, said he needed the drugs to treat his body for a slowdown of his pituitary gland production of growth hormone and for the grueling training he's done over the years making films, according to the Australian Associated Press. But taking the substances in an effort to slow aging or promote healing, which is an unproven claim, is not an allowable reason for a physician to prescribe steroids or growth hormone. Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, an epidemiologist and coauthor of a report on growth hormone published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, said celebrities identified as customers is not surprising. "In the end the story is less about the entertainers and the athletes and more about the people who are providing them with the drugs," Olshansky said. "They can't get those drugs without somebody with a degree giving it to them." Still, big names draw interest, including in Congress, where hearings are set to begin this week on a report issued last month by former Sen. George Mitchell that exposed widespread steroids abuse in professional baseball.
"I don't have anything to do with athletes, I don't do athletes," Diamond said. "Anyone that wants to publicly state that they work with me can do so, it's just I'm not allowed legally to state who I treat or who I don't treat."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is pushing a bill that would make human growth hormone a controlled substance, like anabolic steroids. Human growth hormone currently is not a controlled substance under federal law, which means it is not a crime to possess the drug and the federal government has minimal control over its production and distribution, Schumer
Still, it appears evident Diamond caters to famous clients as evidenced by the many stars, including Steven Seagal, whose photographs -- some autographed to Diamond -- adorn his office's walls. "Because of this recent development as far as what I found out was going on with (Signature) pharmacy I was approached and I was ... told not to discuss anything right now ... because there's investigations going on," Diamond said, not elaborating. Diamond said he had previously met officials from Signature pharmacy at anti-aging conventions, but
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said. SOURCE: Brenden J. Lyons, Senior writer, Times Union / Timesunion.com is a part of Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y.
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Where Being Independent Is A Major Deal
We are continually inundated with dismal statistics about young black men.Currently there are more of them in prison than there are in college.
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Take a boy. Have his parents be two people who are—well, let’s say a little different from the Dick and Jane norm. Culturally different. Their union just doesn’t fit easily in with what is called predominant mode. More than that, have his daddy leave when the child is two. Have the boy never see his birth father again. Instead the boy’s mother remarries, and this time to a man from yet another culture. You can’t blame the boy for being, maybe, a little confused. Now we really get to the good part: the boy grows up; raised first by his mother and then by his grandmother when the mother leaves the country to find work. The boy’s schoolmates and friends are all different than he is; he is practically the only person like him that he knows. He’s bright and so it is obvious to him, and has been from as far back as he can remember, that his life is very different from what the larger society is telling him is the norm. Still the boy pretty much keeps a smile on his face the whole time, no matter what happens, but by high school he is having his problems; exhibiting what we might call “questionable behavior.” He tries the usual drugs. Though he does go off to university, it’s to Occidental College, not such a grand place.
learned from and improved upon, it can be a quest for the truth. We are continually inundated with dismal statistics about young black men. Currently there are more of them in prison than there are in college. Things are expected to just continue to get worse. What makes Barack Obama’s life different? Why can he be such a beacon of hope to so many young men? Probably for the very reason that, at least, his early years were not always pleasant; he did not always have what society insists he must have had in order to be a suc-
By now this boy’s name could be legion—but his destination is always the same: the streets if he’s lucky; Parchman or San Quentin if he is not. But this boy’s name is not Legion; instead, it is Barack Obama and his destination is the presidency of the United States. One of the many, many ways in which Senator Obama can inspire us is in the fact that he’s taken a life that so much of popular culture tells us limits so many of our children—from broken homes, raised by his grandmother and in a culture very different from his own—and turned these into a catalyst for his success. As he writes in his 2006 biography, The Audacity of Hope, he is a man imbued with “a chronic restlessness, an inability to appreciate, no matter how well things were going, those blessings that were right there.” We are usually told that chronic restlessness is a roadmap to disaster. Instead Barack Obama is showing us that it can be something else again. If harnessed and
cess. He agrees with this himself, and with much candor. He admits that he made some mistakes, did things back then that he would not do again. But he learned from those mistakes. This is the central and mitigating factor. And when someone, or something—whispered to Barack Obama that he was on the wrong course, that he had to get things straightened out, he listened. He acted. He changed. That’s something we can all do, and his life gives us
hope and inspiration that we will make the change. In this day and age, very few of us have a Dick and Jane life; with a mother and a father together, with enough food on the table, with siblings, with dogs and cats. And many of us who do have those things still err. Certainly we have all made our mistakes. But does this mean that our cultural disadvantages or even our mistakes should be the defining factors in our lives? Barack Obama teaches us otherwise. His example continually hammers into us the fact that life can still go on—and successfully—from wherever we find ourselves now. Certainly his life evolved, and with purpose, from where he found himself. From those early and isolated and confused and lonely years in the America of the 1960s and 1970s, Barack went on to graduate from Columbia University and then on to receive a degree from Harvard Law School. In the years since then, first on the streets of Chicago and then in the Illinois Legislature and the United States Senate, he has worked to help others realize the potential that they have. His life shows that life doesn’t have to stop because you experimented with drugs in high school. Choices are not over there. And if one is willing to improve upon early decisions and make better ones, he can go on to make a difference in his family, in his home, in his community and in his state and his nation. If we are willing to learn from it, Barack Obama’s example can change the example of each of our lives. So—man or myth. Which is Barack Obama? I respectfully submit that he is a man and certainly no myth because by taking the reality of his situation, and evaluating and working with what he had, even though it was different from the Dick and Jane norm, he has fashioned a life that has been and is in the process of becoming much more than that of a figure of myth. He is well on the way to becoming a real President of the United States of America.
Deborah Johnson’s latest novel is The Air Between Us, available from Amistad / HarperCollins. The New Power Magazine l
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INDEPENDENT COVER
T. A. CORLEONE & LIL’ TRAY
TA Georgia Big Boys
let’s start this interview talking about something that I noticed. You’re an artist (as in paintings, drawings, and sketches), and this is one of the ways you make a living ? Yeah, I’m a professional artist. I do abstract paintings. I got out of the street game and got into art. I got a financial blessing through art. It’s all over the country. I got a black-heritage postage stamp of the march on Washington that’s being sold in local post offices all over the country. How did the stamp happen ? After I was in the streets so long, I bought two barbershops. I didn’t wanna be in the dope game no more. So I started trying to do other stuff. I knew God had blessed me with this talent to paint. I never went to school for it. I took all the money I made in the streets and from the barbershops and started investing it into publishing my own work. I hooked up with a publishing company in Atlanta called U.S. Art. They distribute all around the world. I got a little style that people like; so this company hit me up and asked me to do a stamp collection for ‘em. I got a webite where people can purchase my art. It’s www.tracyandrewsart.com. I also had a love for music,too. I hooked up with some good friends who happened to be producers, The Kuntry Boyz, out of Savannah, Georgia. Are you from Savannah ? No, I’m originally from Warner Robins, Georgia. I grew up in Macon, then moved to Atlanta. I use to live in Mississippi and California, too. I’m in Savannah now. Talk about your music.
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Once I started doing the music and developed a little fan base, I said, I can do this. I dream big, so I named my label Double Platinum Records. Are you the only artist on the label ? No, I have seven other artists that I work with. I got Ty and Melvin. They’re both gospel artists. Eddie, she does gospel and r&b. My biggest artist that’s being played on the radio and blowing up right now is Lil Tray. He got a song called Crank That Nascar and Swag. I been promoting my cd too. It’s called Big Boy. I got 15 tracks on that one. Where are yall pushin it right now? Being that we spend a lot of time in the Atlanta area, we’re trying to push it hard there right now. We been building with The Legion of Doom DJs. We’re gettin’ play in Miami, Alabama, and Tennessee. All of this has come about in like a year’s time. Everybody dreams to get there, but without money, you can’t do nothing. My art money is financing all of this. Are you making any other connections that are paying off for you? Yeah, well P. Brown with Street Talk Marketing in Atlanta has been helping us out a lot. She grinding real hard for us. Where can we go to find your music? You can go to myspace.com/tadadon to listen to all my artists. I have an official website that’s about to be designed. We’re moving out of the trunk right now. Any new artwork ? Yeah, I got 3 new pieces called The 23rd Psalms. I do a lot of spirtual work. I try to give back to God because my art and this music are a blessing from God. I want all of your readers to be looking for us to blow up in their towns in the near future. Holla at my artist Lil’ Tray.
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Lil Tray : I started rapping at 15 in the garage with my buddy J True. People were telling me they were liking my style, but my buddies wasn’t feelin’ me like that. I had just gotten out of jail and T.A. said let’s do this track. We did like 3 of em, and we been on the grind ever since. We did Nascar first; now we pushin’ My Swag. We been doing shows, tryin’ to get it. Tell us something about these tracks that are suppose to be making some noise for you. Lil’ Tray: We been doing shows on the Nascar track. We did some on T.A.’s track for a minute. We just recently started doing My Swag at some shows. They love dancing to that one. Crank That Nascar is a catchy title. What made you do a track with that title ? Are you a big Nascar fan ? I was sittin at the crib one day and T.A. said I needed to come up with a dance track. I said everybody’s driving. Everybody knows how to turn a steering wheel - something simple - so I said Crank That Nascar. It’s too easy not to do. You feel me ? I respect all the dance songs, but you ain’t got to get all sweaty to do mine. So you’re seeing a lot of people doing the dance ? Yeah, I’ve seen people doing it. They been showing me love on it. This Gods work. We putting him first. Do you feel that you’re good at what you do, or do you feel like people around you pushed you into doing this ? Do you put any time into developing your sound ? I feel that I’m good at this. Anytime there’s a show or studio session, I’m ready. I feel like I’m gettin’ better and better every day. Words : Anthony Colom Photo: Double Platinum Records Where Being Independent Is A Major Deal
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efore we get started on anything, I’ve got to ask you about the name. Why Dead End?
They give you their name so that you can pump up off it, really. You gotta have a grind or a push behind yourself for em to even do that. What music do you have for us to check out?
It started when I was in high school. I was playing football, and I hit pretty hard, so they called me Dead End. Plus, I lived on a dead-end street. I tore my ACL, so I took the name with me to this rap thing.
I got a new mix-cd that’s about to come out. It’s called Road Stops Here Volume 2. It’s gone drop soon.
So it’s kind of the equivalent of a major league baseball team sending a player to the minors to prove himself first ?
MISSISSIPPI’S ONLY URBAN
MAGAZINE
Where will you take it? You know, as far as the promotion?
d n e d a e d
You’re from the Mississippi gulf coast area, right ? I’m originally from Tampa, Florida, but I’m currently living in Gulfport, Mississippi.
So how long have you been pursuing your dream in this business ? I’ve been at this for about 4 or 5 years.
Yeah! They’re puttin’ me through training right now to see how I carry myself - to see if I can hold my ground. And I’mma hold it. Know what I’m sayin’ ?
Are they giving you any help or support ? How are they helping you ?
I noticed that you’ve got SlipN-Slide’s logo on a lot of your promotional material. What’s your affiliation with them?
Around Gulport and Biloxi. I’m gone take it up to Hattiesburg and over to Mobile. You know I gotta take it back home and take care of Tampa. Got any DJs supporting you and trying to give you some push ? Yeah, I got some DJs that I mess with. I holla at DJ Tony T sometimes, as well as DJ Sparky. I know a lot of em in Tampa, too. Who made you want to pick up the mic ?
Currently I got a little contract with ‘em. It’s like an On The Grind. The same shit they put Plies through. It’s like a 3 month contract. I guess they go around finding the hottest in the towns. If they like you, they send you something through the mail or whatever. I guess they knew I was from Tampa, and they felt that vibe I was kickin’, so they picked up ya boy.
Man, it goes way back. I started off as a battle-rapper. Cassidy and Murda Mook influenced me and had me crushin’ folks in the hood. I use to sing in church coming up, so Michael Jackson was an influence when I was singing. I got a dance song out right now. Don’t get it twisted though, I can still crush ‘em. myspace.com/deadend228
LET’S FACE IT WHOSE FACE IS THIS ?
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Answer on page 21
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Nat, what’s going on ? I’m use to being interviewed by women, but I’m stuck with you and your voice (laughing).
Where are you from ? I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, aka Duval County. Now I’m up in Columbia, South Carolina. I wanted to spread some more. So I had to spread across two states. I’m in Hartford, Connecticut right now as we speak. I’ve got two spots that I run my business out of (Jacksonville and Columbia), unless I’m on the road like I am right now. I’ve got a good team that knows how to follow orders. Sometimes I come off sounding a little harsh. Being an former marine, they understand and they still love me. They work real hard for me. I got in the game in about 2000, but you ain’t really in this business until you start dumping money into it; so I didn’t really start dumping money into the game until about 2002.
How has being a former marine helped you in the music business? Being a marine, you gotta be a strategist and you gotta have a strategy in order for any business to operate efficiently. You can’t have all those bullshit excuses about, awh, I forgot man. I was high and I made a couple of mistakes, or man get back with me tomorrow ; that type of shit. I laugh at these motherfuckas going around talking about they hard and they some soldiers. (Laughing) Half them jokers so soft it’s rediculous. The shit’s funny. They talkin’ bout ‘I’m the pimp. I’m the player.’ Then it’s ‘I gotta be with my baby mama and I can’t get out tonight.’ Man you ain’t no pimp. If anybody the pimp, she is. You the hoe. You ain’t even running yor own life. If she can’t be down with you and your program knowing that you gone be out some nights tryin’ to get some shit done, then she ain’t on your team. That’s your boss.
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Let’s talk a little about your music. I’ve got a Best of Natalac coming out. It’s gone stretch from 2000-2008. I got another new album called Operation Hood Freedom. Operation Hood Freedom is about the fuck-niggas in the hood. You know, the ones talkin’ shit behind your back, trying to get your paper, or homeboys that you doing business with, behind your back, they trying to fuck your girl. It’s about exposing all the got damn hate. You know, you buy some rims for your ride and the same nigga you bought em from comes back to steal em. That type of shit. You got to be looking man. It’s hard to tell who they are man. I got The Answers coming. It’s about how things are really supposed to be. It’s gone be a real clean type album. It’s about shit like getting the families right, and getting black women on the same page; cause black women ain’t down with the niggas no more. I got a devil-dog that’s going to jail right now for 2 years for a domestic violence incident that happened 6 years ago. The bitch caught him with someone else, now she pushin’ this shit up. Black women ain’t down with they niggas no more. Them mufuckas down with Mr. Charlie. They all for got damn self now. Forget Harriet Tubman. Them bitches is Jezabels now. Jezabel, give a nigga hell, and send him to jail.
You had a video that got quite a bit of play on BET’s Uncut program awhile back, didn’t you ? Yeah, it was on for a year straight. Big shouts out to my girls out there workin. I wouldn’t have been able to put it out without em. That was my first track to really get out there. It was called Pimp Of The City. That’s what really put me on the map. That put me in places where people had never heard of me before. That video was directed by me and Big A from A-Frame Media. BET I appreciate it, but I will say that shit got canceled. It got canceled by another slimy-ass hoe, Jill Scott. She started hatin’ on Uncut and took something away from independent
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artists that helped them get their shine on. Her and some women from Spellman college got together; talkin’ bout it was showing black women in the wrong light. Her ass ain’t gone go do shit to the Playboy channel. Ain’t gone say shit about Hugh Hefner. The only thing she did was cripple her own. That’s what I mean about black women stabbing niggas in the back right now. That shit shut me down for a minute. I was gettin’ mufuckin’ rotation and everything was going good. Then she had to open her mouth about some shit like that. That was just fowl. It wasn’t like no niggas had guns to no woman’s head or nothing. They bounced that ass because they wanted to bounce that ass. Fuck Jill Scott ! I label her as a fuck-nigga. That’s why her shit ain’t gettin’ no play now. The DJs remember that fuck-shit. But anyway man, I’m still on my grind. I got a nice team and a fleet of wrapped vehicles. I’m out here tryin’ to get this paper. Any final comments you’d like to make? Yeah man. I gotta thank my family for sticking with me through this music. It ain’t always been easy on us. I wanna thank Joy McClendon. She head of marketing for my Bad Gurls clothing line. Born King my graphics man, I wanna thank him. Iwanna thank my whole team. I got the best team of people that anyone could have. I got too many people in my corner to thank everyone. You know how it is. You don’t wanna leave anyone out and piss someone off. I appreciate everything they do for me. Ain’t no way I could do all this shit and wear the hats by myself. I pay them to do it and they do a great job. Thank yall.
WWW.NATALAC.COM
Words : Anthony Colom / Photo : Natalac Records Where Being Independent Is A Major Deal
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health matters
Forgetful? Eat memory-boosting foods
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Some fruits, vegetables, grains, and fish can improve your brain’s health
very cell in your body needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to stay alive and work properly, including brain cells. Because oxygen and nutrients are carried in the blood stream, anything that impedes blood flow will starve those allimportant brain cells. The plain truth is that a healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. When clients ask me about optimal brain health and memory, the first thing I do is review their blood pressure and cholesterol level. I urge you to do the same: Know your numbers and if they’re elevated, take immediate measures to bring them down (eat healthy, exercise regularly, and when your doctor recommends medication — take it).
challenged. * Don’t smoke. Just as smoking increases risk of heart disease, it can also decrease blood flow to the brain and cause serious damage. * Give yourself a break. Seek out ways to destress your life.
Any specific memory boosting foods? Yes. Studies that focus on food and memory suggest that the more overall produce you eat, the better. One 25-year Harvard Medical School study of more than 13,000 women showed that the participants who ate relatively high amounts of vegetables over the years had less age-related decline in memory. Cruciferous vegetables and leafy green vegetables had the biggest effect on helping women retain their memory during the course of the study. In another study, the phytochemicals, anthocyanin and quercetin, actually reversed some of the age-related memory deficits in laboratory animals. 1.Some of the best cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and bok choy.
Here are some steps you can take to help optimize brain health and sharpen your memory. Story continues below ?advertisement
2. Some of the best leafy green vegetables: spinach, collard and mustard greens, kale and Swiss chard.
* Keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. A healthy heart makes for a healthy brain. * Get enough sleep. Research shows that sleep deprivation can interfere with memory. * Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by about half. Half! Aim for 30 minutes a day. * Challenge your brain. Keep your mind active and
3. Some of the best foods for anthocyanin: Berries (all varieties), cherries, black currents, eggplant, red, black, and purple grapes, plums, rhubarb, red onion, red apples, red/purple cabbage, and red beets.
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4. Some of the best foods for quercetin: Onions (red, yellow, white), kale, leeks, cherry tomato, broccoli, blueberries, black currants, elderberries, apricots,
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apple with skin (Red Delicious), and red, purple, and black grapes.
Folic acid can also help your memory Folic acid (also known as folate) seems to have a direct effect on memory. A study conducted at Tufts University in Boston followed about 320 men for three years. Those who had high blood levels of homocysteine showed memory decline, but if the men ate foods rich in folic acid (folic acid directly lowers homocysteine levels), their memories were protected. Also, an Australian study found that eating plenty of foods rich in folic acid was associated with faster information processing and memory recall. After just five weeks of introducing adequate folic acid into their diets, women in the study showed overall improvements in memory. Some of the best foods for folic acid include fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, lentils, black-eyed peas, soybeans, spinach, green peas, artichokes, broccoli, wheat germ, beets and oranges.
Eating fish seems to help too! A study conducted by researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago followed more than 3,000 men and women for six years to see how diet affected memory. People who ate fish at least once a week had a 10 percent slower decline compared with those who did not eat fish, a difference that gave them the memory and thinking ability of a person three years younger.
SOURCE: Joy Bauer MS, RD, CDN TODAY nutritionist and diet editor Today.Com Where Being Independent Is A Major Deal
M GEM E G Well, I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (MN) and raised between MN and Long Island, NY. I have wanted to be a model since I was five years old. I like to express myself through pretty pictures. I also want to put a different outlook out there of what a model is supposed to be. Career Highlights: The Gathering Live - Starring India Arie & Vivica A. Fox Midwest Flavaz Magazine Urban Magazine Runway Fever Bloomingdales Stormm International And-1 GMC Bachelor's Degree: Business Management Graduated December 18, 2007 - Show me MAD LUV Master's Program: Hopefully Law School fall 2009 (anyone need a lawyer?) Dream Job: An Urban Glamour Model, a High School Calculus Teacher, or a Lawyer. Chest: 33D - Waist: 25 inches - Hips: 37 inches - Eyes: Green Hair: Black/Past Shoulders If you've got a hot concept for a photoshoot and you want to send outfits, shoes, or accessories to me, here's your chance. Bra:34D Panties: medium Shoes: 8 Tops: small Jeans/pants: 5-6 Dresses: 4-6 Please send the materials along with a cover letter to: The Entertainment Companies, LLC ATTN: Green Eyed Mammi 4906 Xerxes Ave. N Minneapolis, MN 55430
WWW.GREENEYEDMAMMI.COM myspace.com/greeneyedmammi69 Photo by Mason’s Models
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Dangero Back On The Block For Bookings Call : 662.242.0624 myspace.com/dangeromusic
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Meeting every 3rd Sunday Jackson, MS DJ Meeting : 8 PM Artist Showcase : 9 PM To perform call: (601) 961-2250 finesseentertainment@gmail.com
Have you been praying for things and then later questioned why God did not help you? Have you been wondering what it is that you must do to gain God's Favor and receive the blessings that will heal your body, mind, spirit and money? For the longest time, men could only envision God as a being that required appeasing; a God who would only bless you if you somehow found His Favor or become worthy of His blessings in some way. There was a time when we even believed we had to be of a particular race in order to be blessed.
S W LA E TH OF ING K N I TH
My friend, it's time to change this perception. It's time to realize that you are already worthy. It's time to understand that you are already blessed and entitled to abundance, health and success. It's time to see that you are unconditionally blessed. We have all prayed for things and later questioned why God did not help us. Why do some people have miracles and appear blessed when you are not? What is it that you must do to gain God's Uncommon Favor and receive the blessings that will lift you out of the financial bind you may be in or out of the pain your body may be experiencing? Why isn't God listening to you? Where have all the blessings gone?
By Nia Colom-Blackmon
[1]Women
When no reply appears evident and no sign of change can be seen, family and friends will give you countless reasons why God did not grant your request...
feed on emotions. How we
feel or how we are made to feel is what fuels us.
You did not pray correctly. Your sins outweighed your good works. You haven't done anything to be worthy of God’s good. God has afflicted you for a reason.
[2]Conversation = Intimacy. [3]For most women, the small things are what
Your illness is who you are and you should embrace it. Basically, you are led to believe that it is God who is holding out on you, and that He is the one who has chosen not to help you with your problems... for reasons that seem very unfair and not clear at all. You are simply expected to consider God’s lack of response as a mystery that may never be resolved. Well, God is not the one withholding your blessing.
really matter to us (a walk in the park, a hug or kiss, or a card expressing your TRUE feelings).
God’s not the one withholding your blessing!
[4]Every woman has a hidden sexual fantasy. [5]Approximately 3 out of 5 orgasms are faked or extremely exaggerated. This may be found devastating, but it’s the truth.
B [
Columbus, Mississippi
Where have you performed? I’ve hosted for Ricky Smiley and Hurri cane Andrew at Delta State University back in 2003. I’m normally on the road featuring for Hurricane Andrew, who’s out of Atlanta. Me and him are business partners. We own a cd and dvd duplicating service. We do pretty much most of the comedians cds and dvds from Atlanta and the surrounding area. You have a degree in Mass Communications? So what makes you wanna do comedy ? I went to school trying
By E. Bernard Jordan To Purchase The Laws Of Thinking log on to : WWW.LAWOFTHINKING.COM
WHOSE FACE IS THIS ? Answer from page 15 : Lloyd
Comedian / BOOGER BROWN
ooger Brown, I’ve been hearing your name in the streets for a little while now; tell us something about yourself. I’ve been doing comedy for about 7 years. I didn’t start getting paid professionally until this year. I’m straight outta Columbus, Mississippi, but I’m everywhere. I got a spot in Jackson, Mississippi, and Atlanta. I have a degree in Mass Communications from Jackson State University.
When you feel lack or an unmet need, realize that this is a sign you do not believe you have God’s Divine Favor or blessings. Do not focus on your lack, as this makes you feel even more unworthy and lost. Instead, catch yourself when you have these thoughts and remind yourself that you do not have to experience this need or lack. It is up to you alone to choose to see this with your spiritual eye and to decide to accept the blessings of God that are already there.
]
to figure out a way to get on stage. My college roommate, DJ Too Tall, use to do parties and I would come out the back room doing characters and telling jokes. I lost some good paying jobs after college because I really wanted to be doing comedy. What makes you funny ? I push the limits. There are no boundaries. Anything you’re working on ? I’m doing a lot of drops and public service announcements on DJ Too Tall’s mix cds. I’ve got a dvd called Booger Brown’s Beat Downs. It’s Based on fights I’ve recorded at night clubs over the past 7 years. I was in a movie shot 4 years ago; it hasn’t come out yet. Gabriel Hart is the Director. It’s called Baby Boy Don’t Get Your Hair Cut at The Last Dragon Barbershop This Friday. Just google Baby Boy Don’t Get Your Hair Cut to find more info about the movie. myspace.com/boogerbrowncomedy [ Words and Photo: Anthony Colom ]