PYNK Lemonade The Squeeze | Volume 1

ari o'neal tell them if you dare + the uniform for hustlers + 12 things BeyoncĂŠ taught us

What does it mean to make something a note from the co-founders of pynk lemonade

Back in October (2018), we sat down and had a real conversation with each other. We asked ourselves the question, do you want to create amazing things for yourself or for someone else? It goes without showing we chose the former rather than the latter.

We started PYNK Lemonade for people like you. We started PYNK Lemonade for people like US. This is more than a brand. It’s a hub for people who want their voices to be heard and for people who want to make an impact on this world. It’s a safe space for creatives and individuals alike to use each other as resources and shoulders to lean on when no one else understands.

Our personal hope for PYNK Lemonade and all of its’ properties, including The Squeeze, is that it will take over the millennial culture and give us the means in which we can express ourselves. We have things to say! We just need the proper platform to express it.

We’ve got all the flava you need right here. So, QUENCH YOUR THIRST and come get a taste of what we have to offer.

Chanah McKenzie + Chloé Francena Adams

Photo Cred: JoLaSoul

a note from the editor-in-chief of the squeeze The question “What do you want to be when you grow up” has been a question asked to us since we were very young. From pre-k to college, the pressure of the future silently rang in our ears as teacher after teacher presented this inquiry to us.

It wasn’t until I was sitting in my fifth grade class when I really started thinking of an honest answer. The idea of being a fashion designer or a scientist seemed realistic, but those careers were not my true dream. When tasked with the assignment of creating a story as to where we saw ourselves in fifteen years, eleven-year-old me went for it. I presented a paper on me being the editor of my own magazine. Back then, magazines were still printed regularly and collected heavily in my house. I LIVED for Essence, Ebony and Jet as well as the classics of Vogue. I fell in love with characters like Sidney Shaw from “Brown Sugar”, Khadijah James from” Living Single”, and Miranda Priestly from “The Devil Wears Prada”; all female characters killing the magazine game.

Fast forward fifteen years later and I am the Editor-In-Chief of PYNK Lemonade’s digital magazine, The Squeeze. With this opportunity, I was given creative control to come up with a magazine that I thought was just right for our generation. I say all that to say, affirmations are as real as you allow them to be. Eleven-year-old me didn’t know that, but the innocence and purity of believing that dreams can come true and all that Disney channel stuff, ordered the universe to adjust.

With that, I sincerely hope you enjoy our very first issue of The Squeeze. It is catered to motivate, inspire, educate, humor and relate to you. We took the time to create honest transparent stories ranging from a variety of topics. From the hustle of work, music of today, and reminding us all that we are the culture, everyone can find something they connect to. There is so much to come with the many issues we plan to create and we look forward to having you on the journey with us.

Ramona Roberts

quench 16

tell them if you dare

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08 ART FASHION REVOLUTIONIZED 12 FASHION TRENDS IN THE WORKPLACE 16 TELL THEM IF YOU DARE 18 THE SARCASM OF ENTRY LEVEL JOBS 20 THE CREATIVE SPIEL 19 THE #GIRLBOSS ERA IS IN FULL EFFECT 21 THE UNIFORM FOR HUSTLERS

LIVIN’ YOUR BEST LIFE

23 POSITIVELY MOVING FORWARD 24 TIME FOR A CLEANSE 26 THANK YOU, UNCLE: AN ODE TO LASTING MEMORIES 28 LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

yo

our

thirst

ari o'neal 30

MUSIC MATTERS

30 ARI O’NEAL: THE NEW AGE ROCKSTAR 36 IF IT’S NOT THAT 90’S R&B 40 DAMIAN JOHNSON: THE URBAN CREATIVE

BIG BAG TALK

43 3 FINANCIAL TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW 45 PUSHING YOUR PARENTS TO THE CASH APP OF BANKING

WE ARE THE CULTURE

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it's about the experience

48 12 THINGS Beyoncé TAUGHT US 50 TO SPIKE ONE’S INTEREST 52 A GOOD GUY 54 IT’S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

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the uniform for hustlers

June 2019 | Volume One CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, WRITER Chloé Francena Adams CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, DESIGNER Chanah McKenzie EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SENIOR WRITER Ramona Roberts Contributing Writers IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE Adrinece Beard Cynthia Vasquez Deiona Monroe Ta’lor Prince AJ Watts Khrystina Blanks Charles Jones Copyright ®2019 PYNK Lemonade - All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review - without written permission from the publisher.

Please direct all permission requests, subscription queries and orders to info@pynklmn.com.

art fashion revolutionized byCHLOÉ ADAMS

Photo Cred: Bonafide Visuals

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he has no boundaries when it comes to her work. Whatever she imagines, she makes come to life. The Sungod. Artist. Fashionista.

College student. The work of 22-yearold Sunaé Long is no ordinary thing. It’s revolutionary. It tests boundaries and forces change.

So, we had to sit down with her to hear exactly what it means to be in her element of limitless creativity.

Chloé: How did you come up with the name “Sungod?”

Sungod: I got the name Sungod from my roommate at the time. One day I was in my dorm room. On top of my desk, I had a lamp that would shine down [to the ground] and I was dancing around. I was doing some dance and she was like “you look like a Sungod.” And I looked at her and said, “That’s kind of tough.” *laughs* So that happened in 2014, my freshman year, and then the year after I decided to do something with it. That’s when I turned into Sungod.

When I first came across your page I said to myself, “That’s a really dope name,” and it fits you well!

Yeah! Everything came from my roommate. She even started my art page.

Which is @ArtbySungod on Instagram.

So, when did you start considering yourself an artist? This being your name and your brand, when did you start considering that title?

I knew I loved art because my nana raised us on craft parties. But I never called myself an artist probably until my sophomore year. I actually started with clothing. So when I really started painting heavy, I noticed I was doing art way more than I was doing homework. *laughs* When I decided to use Sungod as my brand, that’s when I started to call myself an artist, or artrepreneur.

So you said you were an “artrepreneur.” How do define that term?

An artrepreneur is someone who uses their creativity to feed their pockets and support themselves - someone who has their own hustle and their own brand and can do what they love. It’s taking something from nothing, turning it into an idea, and making it into physical income.

Do you see yourself being an artrepreneur full-time at

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one point in your life?

Oh yeah. Junior year I was full time. I guess that’s probably why I was so much more committed – because it was all I had. That’s the goal. To do it full time.

I know life is getting crazy because you said you were full-time junior year. I can see how it would be difficult to keep it going. You’ll always have the passion, you’ll always have the spark, But sometimes life justYeah. There were days when I was exhausted. But I had to say to myself, “Do you want to eat today? Then it’s time to do something.” It was motivating.

So, we know you are a painter. We know you do fashion. Where did the mix of fashion and painting meet?

I wanted to do something that was different. I said to myself, you know what, I’m going to start painting on clothes, painting on hats. From there it got bigger and I started to visualize every piece and connect with others through my pieces.

That’s what I believe helped me and my brand stand out.

Even if someone else was doing it, nobody painted it the way I did it. No one had the creativity or vision I had when I put it into a piece.

So I thought that was what could separate me as an artist.

You know, trying to find ways to pull from different inspirations and different pieces, but then, also be yourself and be your own unique person is very hard.

How do you keep up with fashion trends and how do you make them different?

I have a few apps that I go on. I follow style pages, hashtags, I try to follow people from different states and different areas so I can see what’s trending there, too. Sometimes I see things from other places that got up to New Jersey late and it’s amazing to see how fast it reaches people. It gets crazy. For example bulletproof vests.

I saw you made one!

Yeah. And now it’s hitting up here! So I said let me be the first one to paint on something like that.

So you take the stuff that you see and you go ahead and put your twist on it.

Yeah. I research it. Or even certain clothing sites. I look

my art will be legendary.

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and think, “that looks like something I can paint on. I’m going to do something with that.”

That sounds revolutionary. What do you think it means to revolutionize art or revolutionize your pieces?

To revolutionize my art means that my art will be legendary. I want my art to live on forever. I feel strongly about my pieces and I want them to spread out more.

I want to start making other pieces, do things in digital work, and make clothes for children, too. I want to make art that’s for our community and for our people.

I want it to hit home.

That’s beautiful. What advice would you give someone like a young artist or up and coming creatives who are just trying to make their way through life? What would you say to them?

I would tell them to always remember the reason why you started. Remember why you started and why you love it. Remember the love you had the first time around.

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#societyway

V BASKETBALLSOCIETY_

fashion trends in the workspace byRAMONA ROBERTS

Fashion in the workplace has evolved into a new era of encouraging uniqueness and embracing individuality.

The workplace has grown into something beyond an office but a workspace subjective to all types of careers, hustles, and passions. With that, fashion trends have found a home in the workspace and shed light on the diversity of their environment.

Here are a few people that identify with fashion as a way of expression in their workspaces.

SHAMYRA SYLVESTER communications specialist, u.s. energy information administration Your queendom should follow you everywhere your feet tread, including the workplace.

Wearing my kinky hair at work makes me feel like the boss that I am because I am confident being myself and honestly that’s as good as it gets!

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FLETCHER JONES actor + artist Fashion trends are constantly changing, so I decide to wear whatever I feel. My eclectic style helps me to stand out in the entertainment industry, where believe it or not — many play it safe and go with what’s popular!

AMARAH BLYTHE

global project manager, nissan united

Fashion is whatever makes you feel confident! It’s a way to express yourself without having to say a single word. I feel invincible when I walk into the office, I feel like I own the room.

I’ve always been a firm believer that when you look good you feel good.

RAYGENE TAYLOR

marketing coordinator, nbcuniversal

To me, style is an extension of a resume. In some ways, it serves as a visual representation of the skills typed on that piece of paper. One can see how creative, innovative, and organized I am all by how I decided to dress to work. I see myself as bold and an out of the box thinker. I wear bright colors, play with patterns, and even switch up my hair to show that.

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JESSICA HARRIS graphic desginer + stylist I believe what you wear to work should always be classic, with whatever edge you’re personality brings. For me, it could be anything from a splash of bright colors to layering different textures and prints. I live for nails that embrace me and of all my extraness.

MICHAEL MARKS

project coordinator, facebook

At Facebook, we have the luxury of having a pretty casual dress code and most people take advantage of it.

On an average day, you’ll see people in a t-shirt and jeans.

It definitely helps you work relaxed when you’re dressed relaxed.

TAYLOR JENÉE strategy + business, bed bath & beyond The graphic tee and blazer combo have become a huge trend lately. It’s one of my favorites because it allows me to express my individual style while still maintaining a level of professionalism in casual work environments.

AYO AWOJINRI

marketing specialist, fossil

The old rules of dressing to work are entirely out the window. I have more opportunity to flex my personal style at the office. It should be creative enough to make an impact, but professional enough that it doesn’t set off the wrong sort of alarms. I normally go with washed-down jeans and I try to elevate or cuff them with either a lace-up shoe or clean sneakers (Adidas NMDS, new balances, air Jordan 1s).

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KEVIN ADEMU-JOHN lead analyst, model "A fashion trend in the workplace for me on a casual day would be a blazer with a calm white mandarin collar shirt, nice cutup jeans and Chelsea boots. It’s really classy but at the same time lit."

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tell them if you dare byADRINECE BEARD

you’ll never be all the way ready.

N

ext time someone asks where you bought something, don’t be afraid to tell them.

At least Janaé Bellamy, 24, wasn’t when she worked in retail at Lenox Square Mall about three years ago.

“I was working for Topshop and literally hated my job,” she explained. “I wore these big red earrings and so many people asked me where I got them. They came back to the store wearing the same earrings. Then, my job brought the earrings into the store to sell. So I thought, what if I told people I made them.”

Originally, the Indiana native moved to Georgia to study fashion merchandising and business for two years before dropping out of The Art Institute of Atlanta. “I knew just like everyone else knows in my family that I am not built for a nine to five; in my opinion, that’s what college was prepping me for,” said Bellamy.

Before then, she said she didn’t always embrace herself as a creative but others did. She also remembers a science teacher who nicknamed her “Accessory” in middle school. “I was on the bangle (bracelets) wave heavy,” she said of her younger self, but now she’s creating her own wave as the brand owner of If You Dare handmade earrings.

“When I first started, I had no clue about anything but making the earrings,” she said, still working for 16

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Topshop. “Jerrika (Karlae), Young Thug’s girlfriend at the time, asked where I got my earrings. I told her I made them and she was just like, ‘Oh wow, those are very cute.’”

Looking back on it, Bellamy can laugh at herself because she had no website, business cards or Instagram page to direct her to. “I didn’t really think it was like a huge fumble until later on that day when I told friends,” she said. “I was just happy for the compliment.”

However, she said it motivated her, as well as the support of family and friends. As far as design, she sets her own hours and prices and makes her own rules.

“I’m usually listening to music, or watching Netflix while creating,” said Bellamy. “A little wine never hurts, that’s when I’m best.” Designing purely from her creative instincts, she has learned “that feeling cannot be forced whatsoever.” She said sometimes it’s best to forget about a project before finishing it.

“Since I moved back to Indiana I’ve been looking for other places that sell supplies I need, but for now, my sister goes to a place in Atlanta and ships everything I need, which is the best thing ever,” she added, “and my mom literally stays on me to help me with the business side of things.” Bellamy is also grateful for friends who help with connecting her to other local creatives in Indianapolis and growing her business. “My friends don’t ask for discounts, which is a blessing. They’re always buying my earrings!”

Today, she does whatever she must do to keep customers tagging her Instagram page (@ifyudare) or visiting her website shopifyoudare.com. She envisions her earrings being worn someplace fun like Carnival but noted that business babes have worn them to work too.

“You’ll never be all the way ready. You’ll learn everything you need to know by experience. Everything will come,” she said, encouraging other creatives to “just start.”

Recently, she worked with Creative Director Ike Stovall and Freelance Photographer Arria Woolcock, who assisted in modeling her latest destination collection just in time for spring and summer vibes.

Bellamy has bigger and better lemons to squeeze to show her commitment to her brand.

“I just started taking it seriously this year with photo shoots, marketing, etc.,” she said. She hopes to build a team and expand her products into boutiques and large retailers.

It’s amazing how things come full circle when you have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs said, “They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

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the sarcasm of entry-level jobs byRAMONA ROBERTS

O

ne thing college did right was having us think we can take on the world after graduation. The way getting that degree was deemed such an honor and prestigious accomplishment, I just knew it was straight to the top from there. Don’t get me wrong, graduating from college is something everyone should be proud of, I just had the wrong idea of what that degree could and could not do.

I’ll admit when I first started applying for jobs, I had to humble back. I was considering 4 years of college equivalent to 4 years of experience for any position related to my degree. Once I realized it was a little too soon for me to be “Director of Communications” and “Senior Editor,” I discovered my supposable place; entry-level jobs.

For whatever reason, they didn’t really break this down to us in school but based on my own research and what my colleagues and mentors explained, entry-level jobs were made for me at that time; fresh out of school, internship experience, and eager and bushy-eyed looking for my foot in the door. Not having experience outside of internships was normal and welcomed...so they told me, and so I believed. Wow, I was so young and trusting back then.

I quickly learned that somebody was confused about

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what entry-level meant, and it wasn’t me...or maybe it was. When 0-2 years of experience still ended up not being enough experience for an experience requirement of 0-2 years, I was baffled. How naive of me to think entry-level would actually mean entrylevel. The confusion and irony is draining.

The kicker is when I learned of entry-level positions that required 6+ years of experience. This is when I really felt led astray! How. How is this entry-level? I mean at least they’re being honest about the experience level they want, but at this point, they’re asking for mid to associate level of experience. Unless you’re counting my summer camp jobs after high school, college, and all my internships and activities, you know this is not truly entry-level.

So if you haven’t caught it yet, the sarcasm is that entry-level jobs nine times out of ten require more than entry-level experience. So to the HR departments of the world, please make clear the requirements you want when it comes to the level of experience. Consider that internships are VALID professional experiences.

It shows someone’s dedication and willingness to sacrifice towards their goal because more than likely it was an unpaid or underpaid position. Reflect back to when you were starting off in the workforce and building your career. The games must stop. Entry-level positions need to accept entry-level experience, period.

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the #girlboss era is in full effect

“T

he Future is Female” is a phrase that announces women are moving frontand-center as the world’s leaders. It’s an ear-arousing statement that has turned itself into a brand. From having a popular hashtag presence to companies racing to print this four-word phrase across a multitude of plain black and white t-shirts, it’s a bold logo that states, “We’re up next.”

Why is this so relevant?

Because the twenty-first century marks the first era in history in which women are capable of calling the shots. From taking over CEO positions to mothering children, women are continuing to shatter every glass ceiling. Anything femme is a pop-culture trend and the women’s empowerment movement is progressing fullsteam ahead. The “feminist” title is proudly claimed by many women, whereas it used to be a word that most would hide away from their everyday vocabulary.

Spearheading this movement are millennial women.

Ranging from our early 20s to mid-30s, it’s easy to spot many new-aged girls headlining the covers of magazines and primetime news stories. From award-winning examples such as Malala Youzafsai to passionate women such as Cashmere Nicole, the single mother who created a $15 million valued makeup company while fighting breast cancer; they are the types of women putting the stereotype of millennials being lazy and entitled to rest.

In general, millennial women are more drawn to carving out their paths independently.

According to a survey conducted by Create & Cultivate Co., approximately 83% of millennial women envision themselves running their own business. Out of the 400

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byCYNTHIA VASQUEZ

women interviewed, the majority at 58% claimed they view entrepreneurship as the most appealing career path. Additionally, 55% of respondents also said that alongside their everyday nine-to-five job was a side hustle that they were/are managing in their free time.

As a collective, women are tapping into their passions and embracing a young hustler spirit. They want to attend college and graduate. A higher number of us are getting our undergraduate diplomas in comparison to past generations.

Although the largest obstacle standing in the way of a woman’s dreams of becoming a business mogul is financing their projects, women-owned businesses are now fueling a substantial portion of the U.S. economy.

Between 2006-2017 alone, the number of femaleled enterprises increased by 45%; compared to the number of other corporations that increased by only 9%, as pointed out by the 2016 State of WomenOwned Businesses Report. That means girl-power had grown exponentially at a rate five terms faster than the national average at the time.

How is this impacting the American economy? It is estimated that, in total, there are 11.3 million womenled businesses in the United States. Creating an approximate amount of 9 million job opportunities, while all businesses generated a combined profit of $1.6 trillion.

If it sounds like I’m girl-crushing, it’s because I am!

Women have come a long way of being barred from seeking higher education, being seen as domestic counterparts to society, and regarded as helpers instead of leaders. Today, we’re leading the world (alongside our male friends) and creating a drastic social change.

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the creative spiel 5 TIPS FROM CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, CHANAH McKENZIE 1. DON’T MARRY AN IDEA I know, you think your creation is the best thing on the planet (it probably is). But, sometimes, clients are looking for a different type of design or layout. If a client doesn’t like your idea or wants to change it, it will be hard for you to create something else. Ask the client for their option and go back to the drawing board with a new set of eyes.

2. TAKE YOUR TIME Don’t rush your art. Your creative juices will flow when they need to. Rushing makes room for flaws.

3. YOUR ENVIRONMENT MATTERS How are you able to think if you’re in a chaotic location?

Don’t get distracted. Go in your room, listen to some music and get the job done.

4. TAKE A BREAK Sometimes working hard can be overwhelming. Stepping away gives you time to breathe, relax and come up with new ideas.

5. ENJOY THE PROCESS You want to enjoy the process because you’ll end up appreciating the work that you put in in the end.

Photo Cred: JoLaSoul 20

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the uniform for hustlers byRAMONA ROBERTS

I

n this day in age, there are so many self-owned brands, clothing lines, and businesses. It seems like this generation has grasped on to the concept of developing your own hustle, rather than competing to be apart of someone else’s. Eight N’ Eighty is one particular creative and design firm reaching out to all who define themselves as hustlers.

Now we all know that the term hustler can relate to negative connotation such as drug dealers, or gamblers and similar references. However, according to the brand creator and creative director Troy Barbour, the word hustler is used to describe people who are aggressively committed to their goals, better known as go-getters. Due to Barbour referencing himself as this form of a hustler, he implements it into his brand, and his potential customers, hence the description of “Uniform for Hustlers”.

The firm’s description of “hustler” plays into their team as well. Eight N’ Eighty has been a door opener for a lot of their international designers by giving them opportunities to create for an American design firm.

This includes designers from Mexico, Ukraine, and more. Barbour explains the job of this company is to make sure “the starving artists never starve.” This means to be open to give great designers chances and help make them professional by giving them exposure and actually paying them for their work, rather than just getting it for free.

Eight N’ Eighty is not limited to being JUST a clothing line, or even JUST a brand. They create logos and brand design, for themselves and other companies.

They have an abundance of platforms including Eighty Labs, CREAM by Eighty, and Premium Goods. “We

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are a creative and design firm. We try to cater to both fields. We give them what we feel is hot, and we design our own stuff,” Barbour said.

Being your own CEO and trying to develop a competitive company is a full commitment. It takes patience as well as you truly believing in yourself and your company that it can get to where you want it to be. Barbour explains the hardest part about being an entrepreneur.

“There is no rule book…you have to really build from scratch and really network and be committed. There is no instruction book, all you have is YouTube and lessons from your mistakes.” Barbour talked about declining great design offers from Nike and T.I’s Hustle Gang. He explains he had to fully commit to his own brand if he wanted to be successful. He describes the journey as never-ending, constantly growing to expand and consistently grinding. Barbour understands that every great company started from somewhere.

Eight N’ Eighty has been out for over seven years and has come a long way. Currently, they have focused on CREAM, a new brand, and clothing line by Eight N’ Eighty including crewnecks, hoodies, t-shirts, hats and a variety of other products. The future is love. For the brand, that means incorporating more collaborations with boutiques and expanding their products.

Eight N’ Eighty is a platform for all uprising hustlers.

Barbour explains, “If you go to school, if you grind and work hard towards your goals, then you represent this brand.” The end goal of the brand is more than being a hot trend, but to become a universal representation of a “hustler”, and to hold those that wear their products accountable for its meaning.

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by Fine Art America

positively moving forward byCYNTHIA VASQUEZ

“S

taying positive” is a mindset that is forwardthinking and energetic. It shows that you’re an optimistic person who believes in seeing the good that comes from all situations. It’s a blessing toward yourself to remain light-hearted and capable of realizing the benefits in all circumstances.

Although it can seem easier said than done, I don’t believe that staying positive is the same as forcing a smile on your face. It does not imply that you should create a facade of happiness just to seem unaffected by the events that occur on a daily basis. In reality, everything is capable of impacting our general vibe and attitude. Yet, it’s safe to say that the extent to which any ordeal will influence us, is our decision.

Improving your outlook on life can completely shift your reality. Healthy thinking habits can help us think clearly and remain present. Instead of noticing that the glass is half empty, it’s about getting excited over the glass being half-full and that refills are an option.

Having the tendency to focus on everything that went wrong fosters thoughts that are negative and selfdeprecating.

Negative thoughts come streaming in after the first one is created in our heads. All it takes is you allowing the voice in your head to tap into your fears and inhibitions.

Statements that begin with words such as always, never, terrible, sorry, and so on are hyper-exaggerations that we’ll create from assuming the worst will occur.

It’s important to remember that these thoughts are not facts. They are all fictional and stem from fear or inhibition. It’s our brains becoming imaginative and allowing each negative thought to build itself off the other. However, these are just thoughts! Don’t allow yourself to be fooled into thinking it’s the truth.

Instead of viewing the “wrong,” begin to focus on determining the positive. Asking questions like, “What is one opportunity this situation afforded me?” or “What are the positive factors from this?” is a strategy to keep your mental state in check. Sometimes, we just need a reminder that shortcomings and failures are a part of the process of becoming better, and that nothing happens to us. Everything happens for us. Usually, the perks don’t just magically present themselves, they need to be found.

Through staying positive we continue to progress and do not get stuck in the present or past. We can acknowledge all of our emotions while also keeping an attitude that is uplifting and self-caring.

Remember: the energy we give out comes back to us!

Carrying the idea that life is amazing, and meant to be explored, helps us remain vibrant and lively enough to conceive situations that are equally as beneficial.

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time for a cleanse byDEIONA MONROE

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hen hearing the word “cleanse”, what comes to mind? Probably something along the lines of clearing out your body or emptying out all the bad stuff.

Right? When I imagine a cleansing of my spirit, I see evil toxins exiting my body and super [spirits] entering my soul. I am going through a spiritual transformation and am excited for it. I am excited to welcome warmth back into my soul and finally be rid of the cold.

Now, it is time for a cleanse. Here are a few tactics I’ve used to bring some light to my darkness: Isolation vs. Me-Time.

The difference between “isolation” and “me-time”--to me--is the first one is removing yourself from people and the other is taking time for yourself; it’s all about perspective, honestly. There is a huge difference between being alone and being lonely. You should be able to spend time by yourself and cater to yourself without feeling uneasy or abandoned. Me-time calls for pampering, not wallowing.

Pamper Thyself.

As I just stated: me-time calls for pampering. It is absolutely essential to take at least one day out of the week to make yourself feel good. When I need to pamper myself, it can be something as extravagant as going to a spa, to something as simple as taking a nap. Regardless of what the reward is, I make sure that I am enjoying it.

Pampering yourself can even be as basic as just doing absolutely nothing for 30 minutes. I know my go-to pamper idea is just laying in silence, allowing my mind to just zone out in relief. Whatever tactic you do decide to use, make sure your body and mind feel loved and spoiled.

that can come from these sites. Nine times out of ten, there’s some unnecessary drama happening between people you never met, an update on a celebrity, another killing of the innocent, the teasing of a person based on appearance or mistakes; basically a lot of negativity just flowing around.

Letting go of social media can bring more positivity to your life than you think. Instead of checking your timelines, go out and be physically social with others.

Sometimes, it’s better to have real-life conversations rather than only having 140 characters to explain life.

Detox.

One thing that disrupts the flow of my mind is all the damaging foods and bacterias that enter my body. In the moment, the toxic foods give your taste buds joy and are just filled with so much flavor you can’t put it down--my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

However, once that moment is over, your body regrets it. If you’re guilty of the toxic food life, try drinking herbal teas, substitute sugary drinks for water [add lemons, limes and/or garlic for an even better detox], trade candy for fruit and raw vegetables, and overall, make better food choices. The better the intake, the better the outcome.

Get a Hobby and Utilize it.

What do you like to do? What activity gives you some type of enjoyment? Whatever it may be, do it as much as you possibly can. I have a full-time job and a puppy that never gets tired, but I always make sure to set aside time for me to write. My days are always unexpected and sometimes very hectic, but I always have my writing to bring down my stress levels.

We all need to slow down for a moment and just take the time to focus on ourselves.

Yes, you may have a busy schedule, but make sure your sanity is included on your agenda.

Give The Socials a Break.

What clouds my mind and spirit a lot is social media. Twitter and all these networks are fun, but there’s so much negative energy 24

Credited to HeyCoffeeBreak.com

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MAKE IT HAPPEN. TAATSOLUTIONS

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thank you, uncle an ode to lasting memories byTA’LOR PRINCE

It was March 14, 7:17PM when devastation struck, and the worst possibility became an actuality: I received notification that my best friend, my Uncle, had passed away unexpectedly in his home.

With my voice crackling, and my heart pounding, I remember exclaiming, “this can’t be true,” in a metered parking spot on a busy Old Town Alexandria street.

People stare my way, as I lament, “Not my uncle ... he was only 39,” through the phone.

I am robotic, and repetition becomes my only form of language. “He was only 39. He was only 39. He was only 39...,” I mumbled in a loop on my car ride home.

“He had so much more time left,” or so I thought.

That stark evening robbed me of the pen I used to continue me and my Uncle’s story, and I needed to face the fact that our ink had run out. Thus, immediately after the funeral services, I assured myself that I was okay, despite my frequent absence and negligence.

Since then, I have tried to mask my unwavering grief with jovial disguises and ignored emotions. It wasn’t until I was having dinner with friends a few weeks ago when two tears snuck up on me as I tried to enjoy myself in between courses. Those tears led to more, and before I knew it, I was in the restaurant restroom sobbing relentlessly.

My time in the restaurant bathroom was a low moment for me, but it taught me one profound thing: I needed an outlet. I could no longer wallow in my sorrow; instead, I needed to address it to deal with it. Therefore, I spent days researching and testing the best ways to cope with loss, and after hours, I decided to try something I 26

enjoy most -- writing.

Creative writing has always been an outlet for me, so initially, this task seemed simple. However, after some thinking, I knew that what I needed wasn’t a short story.

Rather, if committing to this process, I would need to free-write to cleanse my mind, but because I was complacent in hiding behind my mask, I was scared to express my emotions on paper. I knew I needed to release candor for this process to work, and that was something I was avoiding.

A week goes by before I finally dedicate an empty afternoon to pour my thoughts on a page uninterrupted.

I transcribe my stream of consciousness until my mind hits E and the afternoon turns to dusk. When finished, my eyes are puffy from withholding tears, so my vision is slightly blurred. Despite this, I can still spot a repetition of three critical themes in my penmanship on the page.

“This must mean something,” I fuddle. And after combing through the notes, I come to terms that this adversity is here for a reason -- I must seek the lesson to overcome the pain.

Processing these lessons were tough, but it helped me address my grief. Furthermore, these lessons taught me several things that can apply to my life moving forward, and I am here to share them with you -- as I think we all can benefit from each message.

The first notion that jumped out in my journal is the concept of time. Time is not guaranteed, so we must relish the present for we do not know when our time on Earth will expire.

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Before my Uncle’s death, I assumed that tomorrow would always get here, so I depended on future tenses.

However, after my reflection, I realize that time is not an obligation. “He was only 39,” was written in my journal several times because I anticipated more time with him, and I was unprepared for our clock to stop.

But as I reflect on my Uncle’s story, I realized that it is not about how much time he received, but it is about how he utilized that time.

While here, my Uncle traveled the world, worked his dream job, and most importantly, he generated his own tale in history. His use of time can inspire us all to focus on swift action, present-day happiness, and livenarrative creation.

The second discovery from my journal entry is that impact outweighs longevity.

creative writing has always been an outlet for me.

As previously emphasized, time is not a certainty.

Because of that, it is essential to make everyday build toward your lasting effect. According to his friends and family, my Uncle’s legacy is his ability to uplift and inspire. Thanks to my Uncle, I am continually reflecting on how I am impacting my friends, my family and even THE SQUEEZE

strangers. My Uncle touched every person he knew, and his legacy is sewed into his friends and family forever; he lived life with a clear purpose, and we all should aspire to that sooner than later.

The last and most important theme from my writing session is to make lasting memories with those you love.

Going through my journal after I finished writing, I noticed the words “I remember” written about nine times.

“I remember when you said...” and “I remember when we...” would not stop flowing onto the paper as I transcribed my thoughts. All of the memories I recalled were so vivid and familiar that one would think they just happened yesterday. These memories remind me that though my Uncle is no longer present, his presence will remain due to the lasting memories we made together.

Reflecting on these memories provided me with the highest sense of comfort, and it proves that life should be about crafting memories because memories outlive the soul.

Though the past few months have been painful, I have learned the power of adversity, and the positive effects of addressing pain. Moreover, I have learned that time is temporary, but memories are not.

To conclude, I want to thank my Uncle for his time, impact and memories. Although he is not here with me physically, his legacy will forever live with me.

My intentions will forever be to make him proud.

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life after college

byRAMONA ROBERTS

H

ave you ever wondered if there really can be a person who has life all figured out? You know, the girl or boy who has been prepped since childhood to take on anything the world throws their way. Well, I thought that girl was me. Hear me out, I had a pretty balanced foundation: three older brothers who taught me to smell out and dubb any guy that wasn’t worth the time, a mother who kept me spiritually balanced and helped formulate my strong faith, and a father and stepmother who kept me independent and strongly self-motivated in all that I do. Yet I walked into college and learned fast that I was far from that girl. I had to live through four years of experiences to gain my own perspective on life.

Since May 31, 2017, I have entered this stage we know as “life after college.” Yes, the constant conversation between myself and those who care to listen is the reality of life between graduation and full “I’m grown” status. The professors told us one thing and family and friends told us another, but it’s definitely going a different way. My peers and I pretty much agree that this stage is not what we expected; from dating to living with parents to the question of whether grad school is worth it and the struggle of confusing entrylevel positions that require 6 years of experience.

Every day is another story or lesson to add to the reality of this chapter, and every day it gets easier to say three simple words: I don’t know. I think everyone has had those awkward family dinners when aunties and cousins want you to lay out your four-year plan to success and you have to put on the fake smile AND make up the best sounding answer you can think of.

Or what about the reunion with friends who are well into their careers since college? You have to make 28

redecorating your room sound like the proudest moment of your life, just to avoid the “so what are you doing now?” question. It’s honestly funny how we have inner battles of just accepting the fact that sometimes we really don’t know.

In fact, we take our personal insecurities within ourselves and our current situation and assume the world and everyone in it is judging us. You will have those with negative judgments and comments about you, and they will always exist. Seriously, even when you’re proud and happy about where you are. So let’s not waste energy on them. But those friends and family members who actually want to support you and choose to relate to this stage in your life, they’re there with a purpose.

Remember that we only see and know what people choose to share with us. The acceptance of “I don’t know” is relatable on every level in so many different ways to every person in the world. Stop worrying about the judgment and move forward to the next phases in this stage. Positive things always happen after acceptance.

Today, I stand proud to say that I do not have life entirely figured out. I have goals and plans but a lot of question marks as to which direction is the best direction. However, I’m loving the journey with all of the mistakes and lessons included. Let us challenge ourselves not to measure our success based off of what “he” or “she” is accomplishing, or the concern of judgment. We should focus on our own journeys and embrace the uniqueness of our paths because that is what will make our life an inspiring story and testimony for the next generation.

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by Drew Friedman

ari ’ o neal Photo Cred: Kelsey Edwards, Eddie Photography

byRAMONA ROBERTS

W

hen I was young, the idea of a rockstar looked like the Kiss band. You know, white men wearing tight leather, big hair, heavy face paint and eyeliner.

Quite scary looking in my opinion.

Later in life after being educated on African American history in music, I would picture a Little Richard or Jimi Hendrix. Never had I heard the word “rockstar” and pictured a woman musician, especially of color. Today, however, female musicians are killing the game and one that’s taking the lead is Ari O’Neal. From playing with Beyoncé at her epic Coachella performance to Ariana Grande’s Sweetener tour, she is making her name known as a modern day rockstar with a lash tech and heels.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland and raised in Temple Hills, Maryland, Ari describes her upbringing as reserved and family based. She spent 9 years homeschooled, having only attended primary school in 2nd and 3rd grade. “I didn’t really have friends because I was kind of weird. My siblings had a lot of friends, but I was more of a homebody.” Her parents, being married for over 20 years, played a big part in showing Ari the benefit of having her siblings and appreciating family. “We didn’t have a lot of money and we struggled a lot financially; but we always had each other. We just had a really good and stable upbringing as far as learning different values and morals.”

O’Neal explains her family as being very musical and

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initiating her personal love for music. “My grandmother plays the piano and she sings. I would practice reading music with her, and she would listen to classical music.

My mom was really into James Brown, and my dad, of course, being from the islands played a lot of Bob Marley.” She laughs as she explains how her dad listened to a lot of “weird stuff,” and came to the conclusions that her family listened to a little bit of everything. All of these influences have had an impact on creating the rockstar we know today.

Ari began playing guitar at 10-years-old. By the time she was 16, she was attending the Julliard summer and jazz program and graduating from high school. At the same time, she began studying theatre at community college and once completed, continued studying at the University of Maryland College Park. “I tried to get into the music program but they didn’t accept me. So I was a theatre major. But I’m proud of it. It really helped bring me out. It really helped me as a performer.”

As we dive deeper into her story, Ari becomes vulnerable, and her energy is nothing short of inviting and humble. She explains how she got through school by using grants, loans, scholarships, and the help of her father. However, in her junior year, her dad lost his job and things became more challenging. “There was a time after school where I lived in my car for a little bit because my parents didn’t know I didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t want them to you know, because I didn’t want them to worry about me. And I didn’t want to

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I knew I could do it, I just needed time. move back home because I was already used to being on my own... I knew I could do it. I just needed time.”

And she did.

Once she moved into her apartment, she explained the excessive amount of work she had to do to pay for both her apartment and her car. “I was working about 4 jobs; playing in church, teaching, and working in administration at Levine school of music - where I actually went. Then I was in a band where I did agency work. So I would play at weddings, corporate gigs, and stuff. I was always working, seven days a week.”

Ari explains not being able to go out and enjoy parties because she had to gig to make money. “It was hard because I didn’t get to go to all the parties with my friends - you know the day parties and stuff - because I was always working and it just didn’t seem fair. I’m grateful though, because it taught me the value of the money that I make. I know my parents are proud of me and I’m glad I had to go through that.”

While playing for We The Fix, a DMV local band, Ari was contacted by Beyoncé’s creative director regarding the Coachella performance. “I found out through Instagram.

He saw my videos of me playing with The Fix and I THE SQUEEZE

got the call that I was going on my birthday. They flew me out the very next morning to go to rehearsals the next day.” You can hear the excitement in her tone reminiscing on the experience as she goes into more detail. “It was rehearsals for months and it was just the best. Working with so many talented women and men as well. The caliber of talent was just crazy!” Being amongst so many talented people pushed her to do what she does best: work hard.

“It was a lot of sleepless nights only because I felt like I had something to prove even though I was there, even though I knew I was there for a reason, but I didn’t want to get comfortable. It was a lot of nights where I would pour a glass of wine and just go over the music for the day and that was my life for months.”

She continues, “Everyone was so supportive of each other and talented. Working with so many people who were so professional made me want to be professional.

Just being on that stage and seeing that sea of people, we didn’t feel nervous because we had been working together for so long; it was like a show for us. It felt like we were just having fun together!”

After her experience with Coachella, Ari explains being

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blessed with the opportunity to join the On The Run 2 tour and performing with guitar solos beside the Queen B herself. If you haven’t seen it, I’ll just say, she is the new age rockstar. She has it down pat: the hair flips, knee bend with the lean, and playing crazy notes, she embraces the stardom. “There was this energy.

They created an environment where all that stuff I was doing back home, they welcomed there (on tour) and encouraged it, the creative directors and performers.

So that’s what I did every night when I went out there to perform with this amazing person in front of all these people. It was just an amazing feeling.”

thus far.

Ari emphasizes the importance of her staying on her craft due to the ever-growing musicians coming up.

“It’s so many girls that can come up and replace you and so many black women who are killing it.” So far, she’s been doing a great job marking her place having played with some of the top artists and entertainers - including Ariana Grande, NAO, Ice Cube, Normani, Kevin Ross, Desiigner and more. When asked about an artist she would like to play with in the future, she doesn’t pause or hesitate to answer. “H.E.R most definitely! She’s so talented, I love her like I want to choke her sometimes because I don’t understand how she is so talented. She’s my favorite artist right now and I have to play with her!”

Repping the DMV the best she can, she doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. With touring, partnerships with brands such as Fender, gigging with We The Fix, producing tracks and finding time for herself, the rockstar stays busy. No doubt, she is the living testimony that hard work pays off.

As an artist, Ari describes herself as energetic. She also believes that she is an example to women, giving them hope to do other things like being a guitarist.

“You don’t have to be a singer, you don’t have to be a dancer, even though those are great things, but you can play like one of the boys, and look like a lady too.

You can be entertaining and still be a sexy woman playing this instrument that’s sought to be masculine.”

She embraces every music genre and believes that’s what truly makes her a musician. “I feel like you can’t really call yourself a musician if you can’t adapt [to all types of music].”

Although O’Neal describes touring as being difficult due to being separated from her family and not having time to focus on one thing, she hopes to keep touring.

“I love what I do, that’s what keeps me pushing. I love performing and I love traveling. I always wanted to travel. So the fact that I get to do it for work and doing what I love every day is awesome. So, I want to tour for a few more years before I settle down. Get it out of my system before I start having babies.” She jokes.

As we come to the end of our interview, she shares her advice to young musicians wanting to get started in the industry. “If you literally surround yourself with what you want to do, the universe will put you in a situation where it will just happen- no matter how many people talk negatively about you or tell you that you can’t do it. If you surround yourself with what you’re supposed to be doing, eventually you’ll be doing it for real.” She emphasizes her belief in God and His impact on her life 34

Ari encourages people to check out the track she has produced, Blush, and to look out for more to come.

After touring she looks forward to reuniting with the DMV, (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), an area she explains produces some of the craziest musicians. “There is so much great music and musicians in D.C. and the live music scene is crazy. People actually go out and support live music in D.C., which is why I don’t think I’ll ever leave because people back home really appreciate good music and will support it.

If you literally surround yourself with what you want to do, the universe will put you in a situation where it will just happen.

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if it ain't that 90's r&B an interview with b.sweat byCHLOÉ ADAMS

F

rom the seductive sounds of Sade, to the upbeat melodies of New Edition, there’s nothing like that nineties R&B sound. The feeling brings a sense of nostalgia, really. It reminds us of the first moment we shared a kiss with our significant other. It’s the story of our parents and grandparents when they walked through the streets of the city. It represents our cookout line dances during family functions. It brings us back to the house parties during those summer evenings with our friends. It’s rhythm and blues and it’s not going anywhere.

In B.Sweat’s case, it is the source from which he pulled the inspiration for his latest project, 90’s R&B Love, set to be released Summer 2019. “Music has always been a part of my everyday life,” he said. “I had hoop dreams in the beginning and that faded away *laughs.* But once I got cut from my High School JV team, I focused on music. I was always writing some stuff and it started coming together after that. I found a mentor, one thing led to the next and now I’m here. I found more creativity with R&B.” Brandon Sebastien, who professionally goes by the name “B.Sweat,” is a 25-year-old singer, songwriter, and rapper. He’s no stranger to this music game having worked with the likes of H.E.R., NBDY and Sharii Marie.

If there’s one thing we know, he’s ready to change the game and bring back the real sound of R&B. B.Sweat talks about his favorite experience working as a singer/songwriter. “This was pretty crazy, but I remember one time my mentor flew up to NYC for a weekend with a few different artists to work with. So he hit me up and asked me to come through a session.

When he hit me up I asked him who he was working with and he didn’t tell me. So long story short, I ended

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up going to the studio which, by the way, I’m a huge Tank fan. Like huge. I believe he’s the king of R&B.” There’s no question, the style of R&B has definitely shifted over the years. We now hear quieter, melodic harmonies, often associated with the word “vibe.” But, what set the tone for some of our current R&B favorites was influence from big voices like, Usher, Tony! Toni!

Toné!, Boyz II Men, D’Angelo, Luther Vandross, Babyface, you get the point. So, we definitely understand why Tank would be a B.Sweat favorite.

“So I went upstairs into the session and it was with K. Michelle,” he continued. “She had a bunch of songwriters and people in the studio. So they were producing and writing for her that night. Not even ten minutes later, Tank just casually walks in. So I was like, ‘Oh, this is crazy!’ and he looked at me like ‘yeah.’ It was insane. But seeing the way he created his record and the way it just came together and the way they bounced off of each other’s energy, I had never really seen that before. He went in the booth and started freestyling to the point where she was vibing and they were just feeding off of each other. It was the craziest thing.”

To believe that R&B is dead is to believe the passion, the intimacy and everything else it represented (or expressed) no longer exists. R&B is, in fact, alive and well. If there’s one thing we can learn from B.Sweat, it’s that R&B, good R&B, takes the right vibes, the right people, and the right love. “Just being in the environment...The way Tank came in with the energy and the way they were just going back and forth, it was just crazy to see how that formed a record like that,” he said. “Usually when I’m creating, I’m by myself in a room and I’m only feeding off of my own energy, especially since I’m the R&B head in my group. So just

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to be in the room was amazing.”

R&B is amazing. From the atmosphere you’re in, to the creative process, from the final product of the song, to the reaction of its listeners; R&B has been a timeless treasure to our society and our creative conscious.

“There’s a lot more creativity [In R&B]” said B.Sweat.

“When I listen to music, I don’t listen like everyone else.

I usually listen to really study what I’m listening to.

That’s why I say, people like Tank and Chris Brown and even Trey (Songz) are some of my favorite artists. If you sit there and listen to the way their songs come about, lose the instrumentals and just listen to it acapella, it’s like, ‘yo.’ There’s so much going on and there’s so much creativity behind it.”

We asked B.Sweat, what to expect from him in the future. He couldn’t have given us a better answer. “I have a daughter who is two years old now,” he said. You can expect a lot of honesty in the future - especially because of her. Gotta keep it real with yourself before you can keep it real with anyone else. There’s a lot of growth that I have been applying to music and my everyday life.” So, what can we expect from R&B to get us back to how we felt with those classic songs? Maybe the answer is “honesty.”

R&B lives on today and B.Sweat is one of many artists who refuse to let it die. Check out our “Summertime Vibes” playlist on Spotify to listen to songs by B.Sweat and other artists alike!

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on

jacob latimore Be sure to check out our latest playlist on Spotify ‘Summertime Vibes’ featuring Jacob Latimore, Ari O’Neal, B.Sweat, Damian Johnson and a bunch of other dope artists.

- PODCAST REAL PEOPLE. REAL CONVERSATIONS.

new season june 2019

TUNE IN THURSDAYS | 8PMEST BOXHOUNDRADIO

V _HOUNDLIFESTYLE

damian johnson the urban creative

M

byCHLOÉ ADAMS

eet Damian Johnson. The Urban Creative.

At no surprise to us, he’s always on the move, working hard to ensure that his city and the people from the community are given a chance to be heard - all while doing his own thing and creating masterpieces in the studio. A 29-year-old singer and rapper hailing from Camden, New Jersey, Damian has a heart for people, his town and his music.

Chloé: Who is Damian Johnson?

Damian: I’m a singer/songwriter from Camden, NJ. I’m a personality. An urban creative. I have many hats.

I like that term, “Urban Creative.” What is that? What does that mean?

Urban creative is where people do a lot of things like music, art, comedy. It’s an expression. A lot of people from urban communities don’t have the opportunity for expression in these ways. So an urban creative is someone who shines a light on a lot of those things.

So basically an urban creative is someone who comes from these communities that are voiceless, in a way, and looks to push out and acknowledge creative energy from the people within these communities.

Exactly. Especially because one of the reasons we call ourselves urban creatives is because we find beauty in dark circumstances. Being from Camden, NJ, we’re expected to be in gangs, drugs or be incarcerated. So to see someone who is passionate about painting, or passionate about spoken-word or passionate about making music or talking on the radio is a rarity and it’s important.

I love that. Finding beauty in dark circumstances. And I’m sure a lot of people can attest to that statement.

Which makes me think, what or who has inspired you to make music?

I get inspiration through my surroundings and how I was raised. My grandfather was a soul singer. And I also have an uncle in the Bahamas who had a band. I used to grow up watching both of them perform and be so creative as far as expression. And then just being from Camden. It made me want to tell my own story in my own way. I was also raised by a single mother who had us listening to the songs that she came up with. So it would be everything from babyface to temptations, to anything.

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All the good ones.

Of course. Plus I was in the choir when I was younger too.

Okay, so you definitely have an extensive singing background. With all of your experiences, when you do end up getting on stage, how does that feel? What is it like?

This is the craziest thing I’ve noticed. Like most performers, there’s the sense of nervousness beforehand. But then you embrace the love from everyone in the audience - and switching your mindset to say to yourself “yo, they’re all here to see you.” It gets to a point where I feel like it’s show time. I have to put on a show for these people. I think that’s the best feeling - Understanding that mindset and feeding off the energy from the crowd.

Have you done a lot of shows?

Oh, yeah. I’ve performed all over. Just recently we had a performance called “South by Northeast” and it was interesting seeing all the different types of people and just giving them props. It’s a blessed feeling. And it shows you that you’re doing something right. It brings something out of you.

Is there someone that you would want to collaborate with in the future?

They’re so many artists that are dope. Are we talking about Jersey artists or mainstream artists?

Let’s do both. The entire purpose of this conversation and this magazine is to get someone else’s name out there that people might not know about - so definitely Jersey. And then also someone who may have inspired you and your music from mainstream.

So for mainstream, of course, will always be Jay-Z. You’re smart! *laughs* Also Andre 3000. I feel like he jumps on a song every blue moon and just demolishes it. And Frank Ocean as well.

Oh, yeah that’s a good vibe.

And as far as underground artists or artists from the city, I would say Mir Fontane, I respect his work. Don Michael Jr., another guy that’s just amazing, he does a lot of production. He’s just like a true Renaissance man.

Sunnie. She’s from Burlington. She’s amazing. She’s like the queen of harmony. So those would be the people I

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truly would work with.

Something that we want everyone to understand, especially us being PYNK Lemonade, is that you have your craft, skills but you also have so much more about you that could contribute to your greater purpose. So my question for you is, if you weren’t signing/rapping, what would you be doing to contribute to the culture?

I’d be discovering the talent of the voiceless. I think that would be my biggest contribution. If you think about it, when you see artists or creatives and want to get their name out there, they’re constantly overlooked because of where they’re from or the connections they don’t have. It’s giving that chance and opportunity for expression. Because if you run out of expression, you run out of the culture, you run out of the music, you run out of the creatives, and it just falls apart.

getting into film as well. I want to expose every talent in 2019. I told myself that I want to get to Heaven’s gate and be able to tell God I have nothing left! So that’s the goal.

I love that - expose every talent. That’s really amazing.

So, in terms of exposing talent and all that you want to do this year, how do you feel you can or want to impact the culture?

I just want to impact them with the message to keep pushing. I just want people to understand that they should keep creating. Your blessing is going to come to you, you just have to keep working for it. And lastly, never say a prayer and just sit down. Say that prayer and go right after it.

Chloé: Right! Faith and works.

Damian: Exactly. Faith and Works. That’s my message.

Tell us about The Rap Commute. How did it start?

What do you want to do with it?

The Rap Commute is the second part of my contribution to the culture. Me and my partner, Rashad Santos, we drive around and pick up artists in their neighborhoods.

And they’ll tell us about where they’re from, who they are and how they contribute to the culture. Then they choose to bless us with a freestyle at the end. I think it’s good to get back to the essence of hip hop. It’s not big. It’s just us and a car and real music. That’s the best thing about it.

Where can we find your information on social media?

You can find us on Instagram @therapcommute, you can also find my partner @ninjasantos and also you can also follow me @dameomusic.

What can we expect from you, Damian Johnson, in 2019 and moving forward?

I’ve been linked up with my good friend Jake Harley.

We’ve been creating in his studio in Hoboken. I’ve been

Faith + works.

That’s my message.

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by Destine Lewis

pushing your parents to the cash app of banking byAJ WATTS

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hen it comes to interacting with a financial institution, it’s possible for different generations to have different approaches. Baby boomers, generally aren’t as open to Online Banking; for millennials and most Gen Xers, that’s the only way to bank. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, getting your parents to jump on board with today’s banking trends can be a real challenge – especially when they’re likely part of a generation that still appreciates the personal, face-toface interaction they get with a finance professional.

As we get more technologically advanced, teaching the people who taught you everything could prove difficult. Some of our parents’ reason that because they educated us on banking, they know what they’re doing and don’t need much, if any, assistance. There’s fear of the unknown, and of course, resistance to change.

Change isn’t easy for most of us, but let’s face it: as the world evolves, so must how we bank. Modern banking is increasingly on-the-go and much more efficient. But remember, because millennials have largely grown up with tech, they tend to be more trusting. In my experience, baby boomers are willing to adapt and learn, but remain less trusting of devices, networks and data banks. With hacks and cyber-attacks headlining news, their skepticism and fears of their information and money becoming vulnerable are heightened.

With all of that said, mobile banking tends to be the area our parents struggle with most. Having fingertip access to their finances is, for them, stressful. But as a millennial myself, I know we can help.

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3 WAYS TO HELP YOUR PARENTS WITH MOBILE BANKING 1. DISPLAY A STRONG LEVEL OF PATIENCE. Our parents took the same effort and time to teach us how to bank, so it’s important we do the same.

2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Show them tips and tricks you use in your own banking to help them understand the appeal.

3. ENSURE IT’S SECURE. Help them make the transition into modern banking by walking through how they can keep their information safe and secure.

So much time, money, and energy is saved when you can make a mobile deposit right from your phone and in the comfort of your own home. On top of that, making transfers and enabling bill pay straight from your mobile device is a game changer. By showing your parents the conveniences of modern banking, you’re in fact making their lives easier. It may be difficult at first, but the benefits of helping them get comfortable with the uncomfortable far outweigh the negatives.

Credited To: Affinity Credit Union

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3 personal finance tips you need to know

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byAJ WATTS

t’s been years since we began discussing the financial conditions and concerns of Millennials. But now, a new generation is just finishing school and entering the workforce in large numbers – Generation Z.

of money away. Try to get in the habit of seeing gifts as an opportunity to put aside some cash towards some real goals instead of spending it on things you might not need.

Interestingly, while Millennials often felt blindsided by such issues as the Great Recession, difficulty finding work and the near-impenetrability of the housing market, there is evidence that Generation Z is more aware of these problems, perhaps because it watched and learned from its Millennial older siblings. “Gen Zers” have also been shaped by the realization of their Generation X and Baby Boomer parents that retirement would be more difficult than they thought.

Debt – whether of the Millennial student loan variety or the Gen X and Baby Boomer mortgage type – is a constant concern within their families. Watching how debt and low spending power has bogged down older generations, Gen Zers fear they will be unable to save and plan for the future as the costs of education and housing rise.

2. CREATE A WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BUDGET TO SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR YOUR EXPENSES SO YOU CAN STAY ON TRACK.

But this bad news is also good news, in the sense that Generation Z’s wariness can be transformed into proactive preparedness for oncoming financial challenges. To that end, I would like to offer three personal finance tips for Gen Zers who are currently worried about what they will face taking their first financial steps out into the real world.

1. DO YOUR BEST TO SAVE ANY EXCESS FUNDS/ GIFT MONEY. If you’re lucky enough to have generous relatives, you may periodically get money from them to help with your getting started in life. This can be for birthdays, holidays or just because they like you. Do yourself a favor – don’t treat these as “free money” to spend.

Seeing as how a good amount of your income will be eaten up by bills, rent (if you’re not living in your parents’ house), daily expenses and student loan payments, it’s rare that you’ll have the chance to put a sizable amount THE SQUEEZE

Budgeting is a key aspect of adulthood (though some adults have yet to master it). So, it’s definitely a good idea to get started early. Get in the habit of sitting down each week or month and devising a spending plan that factors in both mandatory bills (i.e., car, rent, loan payments, food, etc.) and discretionary spending.

Figure out exactly how much you have to spend on what you need, how much you can save and whether you have enough left over to spend on something you want but isn’t absolutely necessary.

3. LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU – AND ASK FOR MORE PERSONAL FINANCE TIPS. Investing is often seen as something that rich old people do. Indeed, the participation of young people in the stock market has fallen in recent years. But a huge amount of wealth that’s made in our economy comes from stocks and other investments, and your retirement funds – as many older people who relied on Social Security and 401(k)s are now finding out – will likely need extra passive income to be sustainable.

Feel free to speak to a financial advisor at your bank or credit union for advice about your financial needs! Generation Z is justifiably concerned about its future, but that future doesn’t have to be scary or bleak. Taking these steps and committing to ongoing financial education can prepare you for the trials and unexpected occurrences of life.

Credited To: Affinity Credit Union

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12 things Beyoncé taught us

he did it. We can’t believe it (Well, actually we can). Beyoncé graced us with another surprise album. But not ONLY was it an album drop. It was accompanied with a Netflix documentary that quite possibly changed the entertainment game forever. Are we shocked? No. We will tell you one thing, though. She’s the QUEEN. Point.

Blank. Period. And what better way to pay homage than to serve queen Bey vibes in this article. SO, with that being said, here’s what ‘HOMECOMING’ has taught us.

LESSON 1 Chloé: Your art is on your time. Not anyone else’s.

It’s no secret that Beyoncé is the queen of surprises.

However, if there’s anything I can take away from her unexpected drops, it’s that her art will be ready when she’s ready. And she is in complete control of how and WHEN it gets out. We need to remember that for ourselves.

LESSON 2 Khrystina: Do EVERYTHING with intention.

Don’t just start something just to do it. Have meaning and purpose behind what you’re doing. In the words of Beyonce.

LESSON 3 Cynthia: Details matter.

You can be as creative as you’d like, just don’t skip over the small things for the big things. The small things are 48

always just as noticeable and important. In the words of Queen Bey, “I’m super specific about every detail… every tiny detail had intention.”

LESSON 4 Charles: The process leading up to success/greatness is going be long.

Greatness isn’t birthed overnight. Like Beyoncé’s performance preparation, it can take anywhere from 8 months to 8 years to see the results from your hard work.

LESSON 5 Ramona: Celebrate yourself.

We don’t have to wait for mainstream to celebrate us, we can do it ourselves.

LESSON 6 Chanah: Greatness comes from everyone The execution of greatness must exude from every person involved on your team in order to succeed.

Beyoncé had hundreds of people on her team. Each person gave 150% always.

LESSON 7 Cynthia: You create your own mainstream Don’t follow trends. Make them and execute your vision in a way that you feel is necessary. The hype will always follow.

WE ARE THE CULTURE

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LESSON 8 Charles: Being innovative isn’t always about bringing something completely new to the table.

You can repackage something as old as 14+ years and still bring a new light to it. The songs Beyoncé performed during her Coachella set were as old as 16 years. They’re repackaged, restructured, and get better with time … just like wine!

LESSON 9 Khrystina: Your Experiences Matter.

Every experience you’ve had, has helped make you the person you are today. Learn from the past, appreciate the present, and build for the future.

LESSON 10 Chloé: Time for family is important.

If we know one thing, Bey is VERY serious when it comes to her family. Rightfully so. Family (however you choose to define the term) is so essential in keeping you grounded and focused on what is most important in your life.

LESSON 11 Ramona: There’s nothing like the black experience.

The family vibes, the fun vibes, the talent, the culture.

There’s nothing like it. It’s so special. We should always celebrate it and it should always be celebrated.

LESSON 12 Chanah: Keep God at the center.

Keep Him there. In anything and everything that you do. God didn’t give you these visions for no reason.

There’s a greater plan.

I embrace mistakes.

They make you who you are.

- bey THE SQUEEZE

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to spike one's interest

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here do I begin? From the moment my mother and I watched “School Daze” together, I knew my path would be different. I was experiencing the mind of a cultural genius. I think differently, speak differently. Your films are a major contribution to the way we interact as people of color and how we go about furthering our education. You address issues that are uncomfortable, but necessary.

To be an effective storyteller is to speak a thousand words through imagery. I can take any screenshot from any one of your films and be represented. Last year, I auditioned to be an extra in Blakkklansman and it was surreal meeting you. Shaking hands with you and having a brief interaction was a moment in time, frozen in my memory bank.

By watching your growth in this industry, it has taught me to be relentless in my quest for success. There is no extent to my blackness. My people make me great, there is power in my pen, and my mind holds treasures only I can gift to others. You’ve inspired my journey to be filled with purpose and intention. Nothing I do is “just because,” and my work continues to exemplify that.

You’ve given our people courage to be unapologetic in our everyday lives. I’ve always been amazed at how you’re able to evoke such great emotion and control it at the same time. We don’t leave your films wanting to evoke violence, but to promote change in effective, creative ways.

You once stated, “What’s the difference between Hollywood characters and my characters? Mine are real.” There is power and promise in authenticity and you’ve been the epitome of real. I look to your work as a reminder of our history. Our generation needs to see the things we weren’t able to experience, but we still carry the traumatic burden. There is beauty in the struggle of our past in which we use to rise above all adversity.

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The impact you’ve had on my life has been tremendous..

I would like to say that you will continue to inspire myself and so many other young storytellers to make their voices heard. Our smiles are brighter because of you. Our strides are longer because of you. Our culture is grand because of you. I want to personally thank you for being my creative strength when I doubted my gifts.

The legendary Malcolm X once stated, “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.”

WE ARE THE CULTURE

Thank you, Spike!

Khrystina

Blanks

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we’re more than just food.

AVB ATSHAUNSTABLE

a good guy

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e didn’t deserve Nipsey Hussle.

I remember the moment perfectly.

I sat in my living room on Sunday, March 31st rushing to complete a project for a client that was due Wednesday of the next week. I knew that if I didn’t focus in and complete it that evening, the project would be difficult to finish because I had other things I needed to do that Monday and Tuesday (procrastination at its finest). So, there I was in my living room – a half empty water bottle on the table in front of me, papers scattered around my couch, a pen, a highlighter, wires all around me coming from outlets in the room to charge my phone and computer, glasses on my face and most importantly, my notepad by my side – I had all the makings of getting everything I needed to get done, done. “You got this Chloé. Put your phone down and knock this out.” Cool. Got it.

Not even five minutes into my work, my phone buzzes.

Being the millennial I am with the attention span I have, I think to myself, “Okay, just check this message real quick and get back to work.” No big deal because, again, I’m a millennial so I can multitask, right? I open my messages from my friend, and I see four words: Nipsey Hussle got shot.

Ermias Asghedom, who more popularly goes by his stage name, Nipsey Hussle, was a Grammy nominated rapper, entrepreneur, philanthropist, father, soulmate, brother, son and overall, just a really good guy. To this day I sit and think about how much of an impact he had. A rolling 60’s Crip, who spent much of his time investing in his community, giving individuals who are re-entering into society jobs through his businesses and rebuilding parks, giving children a place to be free.

Many people have passed on. Life has gone on and we have learned to adjust for the most part. But why was Nipsey’s death so heartbreaking? Why did it literally shake us the way it did? I have to admit, I was only a recent fan. I had just discovered his discography by listening to his most recent work, Victory Lap. However, losing him was almost like losing a brother or friend.

Why did his death touch me and so many others in such an impactful way?

I can only imagine what it felt like the night rapper and activist Tupac Shakur was killed. The mystery behind his death (and quite frankly, the death of the Notorious B.I.G.) still haunts our community to this day. The fact

THE SQUEEZE

byCHLOÉ ADAMS

that individuals seem immortal but are taken away in the blink of an eye, is scary. My sister tells me all the time, she was just a teenager and the shock factor from the news of Tupac’s death impacted the entire community in a way that was unexplainable.

Nipsey Hussle, the Tupac of our generation, shot and killed for no good reason – and all we could do was ask why. I still can’t wrap my mind around it. But I do understand one thing- Nipsey Hussle was a scapegoat.

Someone who has done nothing but good, someone who took the burdens of his community, his people and his family and turned it around positively, all to be taken away for no good reason – except for the fact that after his death, a shift would take place; One that, I’m afraid to say, may not have happened had he still been alive.

It’s a shift of unity among Southern California gangs, a shift of love between families and friends who may not have spoken to each other in a while. It’s a shift of appreciation for the people who are in our lives right now, because at any moment, they could be gone. It’s a shift that has caused me to rethink my own life and the legacy that I want to leave behind.

In the words of his mama, Angelique, “When you live your life and have God on your side, there is no fear.

Everything is in the divine perfect order of our Creator.

I have perfect peace and I have strength. Please do not stay down. Do not stay stuck. Do not mourn. When you walk this earth, when you do good things for people... those are the things that would show. Now, my son knows the secret to the mystery of life.” Rest in Peace Nipsey Hussle. My heart goes out to your loved ones.

We may not understand why you were taken away so soon, but I can take peace in knowing that your spirit and legacy will live forever.

You’ve got to have Faith in what you’re doing.

- nipsey

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it's about the experience 5 EVENT MUST HAVES FROM EXPERIENTIAL EVENT COORDINATOR, CHARLES JONES III

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ummer is quickly approaching and nearly knocking at our back doors (if it isn’t already).

The sunny, hot days and warm summer nights with a mild breeze is something we all can envision. We have our cookouts, parties, festivals and summer jam plans all lined up. But question for those of you hosting a cool summer event this season: Do you have all the ingredients to make your event sweet?

3. TIKI TORCHES

To cover the basics, you’ll need food, liquor, the music, a fun theme and the right people. But what about the small details and elements that will take your event to the next level? Here’s what I’m looking forward to seeing this summer (and so should you)!

4. S’MORES

1. WATERMELON INFUSED DESSERTS + DRINKS Watermelon. The fruit the summer. Everyone loves it! But sometimes it can get a little boring.

Let’s get creative with it! Try adding it to your cupcakes, pastries, or drinks. Drink Suggestion: Ciroc has a new Watermelon flavor that is perfect to bring that summer vibe to any party.

2. A CAREFULLY CURATED COOKOUT PLAYLIST (FEATURING BEYONCÉ) Every (good cookout) playlist should include a mixture of old school songs and new school songs. It should be filled with classics that will have EVERYBODY on the dance floor. From Cameo to Frankie Beverly to the Gap Band and so many more, your playlist should exude prime cookout vibes. And now we have a new cookout song to add to your mix: Before I Let Go – Beymix.

These small, idle fixtures are fun and definitely set the theme. At night they set the mood and make you feel like you’re right on the beach!

More importantly, they combat those pesky mosquitoes. Make sure you have plenty of these at your event if you want your guests to leave without any bites!

S’mores are always fun. They make for a great social activity. Just make sure you don’t burn the marshmallows!

Activity Suggestion: Play Never Have I Ever with a group of friends.

Loser has to eat all of the burnt s’mores.

5. SUMMER LEMONADE (WITH A TWIST) Last but not least, to top it all off, summer events and functions aren’t sweet without a refreshing glass of Lemonade. For our 21+ friends, sometimes a little twist is just the thing you need. Need suggestions on a recipe? You came to the right people. Add some sugar, honey and iced tea but don’t forget to add a little feel good to your mixture. Try some tequila, rum or vodka that will add depth to your lemonade. You could even step it up a notch by adding some rosé or champagne! (Veuve Clicquot is our fave)!

No matter what you choose to do this summer just make sure you make it fun and exciting for all of your guests.

Make the moments count with your loved ones and friends. But this all starts with curating bomb events!

We’re here to help you take your event from fair to extraordinary!

WE ARE THE CULTURE

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SPECIAL THANKS ISSUU Mixam Print William & Antoinette Adams MaryAnn McKenzie InSpira Performing Arts & Cultural Center Boxhound Radio Intelligent Video Surveillance Corporation T&AT Solutions Basketball Society At Shaun’s Table FEATURED INTERVIEWS Ari O’Neal Damian Johnson Brandon Sebastien Janaé Bellamy Sunaé Long Eight N’ Eighty And to all of our family, friends and supporters…

THANK YOU

You’re looking for something sweet and we’ve got just the flava you need.

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