First Published in Great Britain, 2018 Copyright © 2018 by New Wave Studios No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher and parties involved, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below. Photography by Jay. D Modelled by Tanatswa Styled by Rumbie Shantel Words by XuestLove, AJ and Prince Dee Jr Curated by Derrick Odafi
London, UK www.newwavemagazine.com newwavestudios1@gmail.com All rights reserved.
Enter One Day and night make haste despite the crumbling minds that piece together reality through perception. Everything is real yet nothing exists beyond our common self-deceptions. Cradle to the grave fairytales of victory and failure. In a world were man defines them both, does either truly matter? Pink and fluffy like dreams laced with technicolour contradictions, In a world where knowledge is power, to question is to embody resistance. The truth echoes itself from within our souls, like gold beneath the earth, Whispering warmth and wisdom wrapped in instinct and intuition. An ode to the traumas of human birth, Brought forth from the seed of a dream crying life into existence We...build and break ourselves daily, praying that maybe one day, the pieces will come together again. We distance ourselves from the reflection of our flaws in those who remind us of similar ones. Throwing shade while cowering behind our fears, praying that one day, we too shall be as shameless as the sun. - Xuestlove
Death & Taxes Love me completely or leave me alone. Breakdancing around issues deemed trivial, but is this break one of silence? Or of broken bones? My dreams pray to one day be as consistently taxing as death and taxes. Arguing about Marxist ideologies but I don’t actually know what Marxism is, Filling mind with other business like the people at my old churches regularly did. Damning reflections of self-satisfying falsehoods. Lonely brogues imitate steps missed during broken boyhood’s. ...love me completely, or leave me alone. Wholely defeat me or leave me to grow. Broken in pieces piercing beyond broken souls, but glory will form from the dirt that you throw... Love me completely, or leave me alone.... - Xuestlove
Eureka Only when I realized my own selfishness Could I understand the mindset of those who had wronged me Not angry or hurt But almost amused by the anticlimactic apiphany At least now things will be different I lied As my thumb hovered over that green and white glowing square Ready to retread the worn path of self destruction. - Khalik
Bussin out the passy we dont play But we pray Cos the devil workin hard for double pay That nigga put in shifts i aint lie what can i say But a bum is still a bum Lucy get up out the way - Khalik
The cunning of demons isn’t in their slight of hand or silver tongue But simply their knowledge of our deepest desires. Why, If your demon were to manifest itself into existence wouldn’t it tempt you with false promises and deflect you with excuses Take on the form you desired most Circumvent your ideals and undermine your will, whisper such sweet words into your soul, only to leave the bitter taste of disappointment gnawing at your sanity. Isn’t that special someone, so sweetly sinister, exercise caution As demons, are not ghouls or horned abominations , But beautiful beings, designed by our shortcomings and armed with vices. - Khalik
Feeling so conflicted deep inside that kill the soul Wish I didn’t feel it all I can see the words that I’m writing but don’t feel it all Maybe coz I’m writing yours They say home is where the heart is so where is that How the hell I let this melanin turn into black All these opinions is demons making me fall back Like it’s the season to tell me everything that I lack But would you feel my pain if I let the best rock Heart moving same pace as my wrist watch I fear man more than I fear a tick tock Still driven but this record is my pit stop All this arrogance only the realist know my heart Could they handle it if I let them see the scars Will it their perception will they see the star Coz it’s the colour inside that makes us who we are - Prince Dee Jr
Worth and Worthy You are a testimony. A testament to trials triumph and truly unbelievable stories. You lived, when death seemed far more enticing. You stood, when falling enticed thee. You are worthy of the value you exude. Believe in the good within you, for it is true that you have always been valuable. You are a testimony.
Hood Enough I’m from the East where all them niggas into stealing Them puffer jackets wasn’t nothing to believe in To find equality in Hell you’ve got to educate yourself But then again that fraud money looks so damn appealing Chilling in the ends, in my twenties with no rhyme or reason Am I Hood Enough? Am I Hood Enough? Am I Hood Enough? Am I Hood Enough? It’s getting closer to the winner I know my ex’s see me flexing, know it makes them bitter My younger niggas down with the knife work Looking for acceptance in my eyes, got me thinking, damn Man, I could have been that little nigga (oh yeah) Ferragamo Belt, little nigga can’t you see the bigger picture? - B Joux
Untitled 25 and I feel so alive These words from deep inside Reflect what’s in the soul, I channel it to my mind My pride is in the lane, my ancestors have made My fortune in the name, the product of being brave But no vanity, humble as can be, competition give me clarity Verses give me wings so fuck you and your gravity Stay mad at me, kill competition on some savagery Noone as bad as me, melanin be the fashion the trend that I believe Have you seen so much shades not a single fucking tree, let it breath Each line is a prophecy visions of in my prime Time for me to obviously show why this is mine Signs of great ghosts in me is what you find Roll a W I’m on a different high - Prince Dee Jr
CREDITS
CREATIVE DIRECTION/ PHOTOGRAPHY Rumbie Shantel // @rumbieshantel PHOTOGRAPHY Jay D MUSE Tanatswa // @Tnatswa STYLIST Rumbie Shantel // @rumbieshantel
POETRY/VERSES Xuestlove // @thexuestlove_ Khalik // @champagneogah Prince Dee Jr // @prince_dee_jr B Joux // @b__joux
LOCATION Surrey Docks, Canada Water CURATORS New Wave Studios // @nwavemagazine