Street Cred Magazine - March 2017

The Phoenix – March 2017

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20 YEARS AS THE EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH 2017

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Adele Cleans Up! with a whole host of wins, plus a nod to Beyonce, Adele proves she is top of the pile

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ENTERTAINMENT

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TV - Online - MAGAZINE /markdwaynehost

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Its time to ‘Show what u got’

#SWUG 5 Cities. 5 dates. 1 massive party.

Mark Dwayne DNA birmingham Milton Keynes Liverpool London manchester

WOW BEYONCE! TWINS? YOU GO GIRL!

S

o Bey is expecting Twins thats really nice and great she has to let everyone know!

Word was the first child wasn’t a real birth but looking at Blue Ivy anyone can see it is her child, so what’re all the rumours for?

Shaq and Simone proved to be the Oddest Couple

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t was the oddest of odd couples as NBA Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal posed with Rio Olympics multi-gold medal gymnast, Simone Biles, in a photo that quickly went viral due to the pair's incredible height difference.

7-foot-1-inch O'Neal met Biles, who stands at 4-foot-9-inch, at a Super Bowl LI reception prior to the game between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with the ever-so-small Simone saying; "Everyone says that the number one picture of the whole entire year would probably be me and Shaq, and they said he was there. I was like ‘What?!’ He is a massive guy!"

Lady Gaga, herself a show-stopper as the half-time entertainment called Simone "an inspiration," while now record 5-time winning quarter back, Tom Brady, called her "The GOAT (greatest of all time)."

The picture shoot proved to be just as much of a headline-grabber as the game itself, with the Patriots record-breaking comeback to beat the Falcons 34-28 – having been trailing 21-3 at the break.

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ENTERTAINMENT

It’s time to ‘Show What U Got’ S

l Mark Dwayne

WUG is the word as singer/songwriter/ magazine founder/editor/promoter/dj/producer Mark Dwayne’s latest single; ‘Show What U Got’ is already proving a massive hit with its play on social media portholes and YouTube channel.

It’s been a while since his album ‘Hustler’ created instant hits like ‘In Love Again,’ ‘Barber Shop’ and ‘Get Down,’ but his new fresh, uplifting banger is a reminder – to the ol’ skool – of what they’ve been missing for so long, whilst opening the doors to a new era of fans who, instantly, have fallen for ‘one of their own’ whose dulcet, always meaningful lyrical tones have touched the hearts and minds of people of all ages, generations, genres and cultures.

For multi-talented Birmingham-born Dwayne, Founder/ Managing Editor of award-winning lifestyle and entertainment magazine, Street Cred, it’s been a journey of ‘discovery’ as his life-long determination for success as a solo singing entity is now bearing fruit – on a personal level as the catchy single marks a ‘comeback’ for one of the city’s allround favourite sons.

Immensely proud of his hometown, for the always affable MDG, ‘This Is The Time’ to Show What HE’S Got...in no uncertain way.

He’s been singing since the age of five, sampling, covering and appearing as legends like the late Michael Jackson, who he covered alongside Peter Andre at the Clothes Show at Birmingham’s NEC in support of the British Heart Foundation back in 2001 when Michael came out with ‘Rock My World’.

All in his quest for that ultimate ‘goal’ of becoming a succesful singer/songwriter in an industry that has been his raison d'etre for so long.

But, as is his effervescent ‘always-giving’ nature, Street Cred took over his life as he put his

own singing career on hold as he pursued his ‘job,’ his ‘responsibility’ to uplift those around him and give his fellow-Brummies their deserved platform to shine – as it was always felt that the city was ignored by major labels – both home and abroad.

Mark also collaborated with Pato Banton and Phoebe One, on ‘The Real Moneymaker’ with the latter.

But it wasn’t just Birmingham based artists that used the platform, as it was national and international artists such as Destiny’s Child who he brought to Lozells Road, Beenie Man, Jessie J, Buju Banton, Joe, Usher, P Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Teddy Riley, Missy Elliott, Shola Ama, Richard Blackwood, Trevor Nelson, Damage and many more who graced the front cover of the Street Cred Magazine.

After twenty dedicated years of serving Birmingham’s untapped talent, “It’s time for me to show what I’ve got,” he says.

‘Show What U Got?’ He’s been doing it for years, with his tracks getting prime-time, regular play on the likes of Radio 1 Xtra, where he got record of the week twice on Dream Teams Sunday Show by Timmy Magic and DJ Spoony, and appearing on Ministry of Sound album listings to great response.

His mum, Marcia McLaughlin herself a multi-awarding winning Founder/Managing Editor of The Enterprise Newspaper and, for seven years, The Phoenix Newspaper, is an ever-present inspiration and guiding light in his life.

Mark would like to thank Simon Cowell for the work that he has done to put talent on the map and for recognising him as the ‘R Kelly of the UK’, Gordy Pix for being one of the most supportive friends that he has ever had, and Paul Kennedy for believing in him, and giving him a great insight into the industry and the future of it.

Now Mark Dwayne is on a platform of his own as he can, himself, now expose his own, personal life experiences and overwhelmingly natural talent to the masses as he creates his own Birmingham-led ‘#SWUG’ movement to show the world what his city’s got, and to pass on the legacy of Street Cred Magazine to the next generation.

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SIGNATURE AWARDS 2017

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Signature Awards 20

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he 3rd Signature Awards again saw some of the best and biggest Asian businesses and professionals gather to highlight their being and celebrate their success, at varied levels, at a lavish dinner and awards ceremony at Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s Edgbaston Stadium, in Birmingham.

Recognizing excellence in finance, law, business, property, diversity, banking, owner practice, promoting apprenticeships and young professionals, this again proved

l Excellence in Promoting Apprenticeships - E2E Linkers Ltd

l Excellence in the Professions for Owner Practice - Ian Henery (Ian Henery Solicitors)

l Excellence in Diversity - Irwin Mitchell

l Excellence in Land, Architecture & Property Development - Anthony McKeon (Residential Lettings)

the ideal platform to mark the major contribution made by people from the Indian sub-continent to the British economy – locally, nationally and worldwide.

Presented by BBC Asian Network’s Tommy Sandhu, this proved a great opportunity for many of the Indian-led businesses and organizations, in Birmingham and wider afield, to truly recognize and acknowledge some of the great achievements made – on a variety of scales.

Ninder Johal, president of the Black

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SIGNATURE AWARDS 2017

017 Makes Its Mark Country Chamber of Commerce and head of the Nachural Group of Companies who organized the Signature Awards, said; “This (The Signature Awards) shows the strength of the business and finance sectors in the region. I am encouraged that all sectors were recognized.”

Also the chair of the Black Country Asian Business Association, he added; “The celebration of awarding key professionals is only part of the picture. The bigger picture is the encouragement of the capacity

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of leadership in the region as we continue to understand the global picture with an uncertain Eurozone, a slowing global economic picture and the need to create local prosperity.”

The Signature Awards was, in fact, a celebration of South East Asian businesses and organizations who are, in large, becoming the mainstay of the British economy that without whom, may well be further behind its major world partners that might well be the case today.

l Excellence in Business - Ali Allibhai (Autobase GB)

l Excellence in Exit Sultan Choudhury (Al Rayan Bank)

l Young Professional of the Year - Kasim Choudhry (Big Events Co)

l Excellence in Law - Zee Hussain (Simpson Millar)

l Excellence in Finance - Arun Luther (Genesis)

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ENTERTAINMENT

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the grime act stormzy-ing the charts

The Scottish Steak Club @ Macdonald Burlington Hotel

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or those with a discerning pallet, a grueling day’s shopping in Birmingham can leave you yearning for something to replenish the dwindling energy – and what better way to do so than a visit to the Scottish Steak Club in the Macdonald Burlington Hotel & Restaurant for that deserved last ‘hurrah’ for the day.

Serving only the highest quality produce and finest Scottish cuisine in a contemporary setting, the restaurant works with whole raw ingredients, sourced directly from local suppliers, and the menu offers an ever-growing range of organic food and drink - the imaginative interpretations can’t fail to delight you.

The onsite restaurant at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, in the heart of the city, The Scottish Steak Club prides itself on firstclass catering and service of first class food and attention that you’d want to experience time and time again.

And with the array of fine dishes

hailing from the proud Celtic nation, from the finest, fresh and flavoursome steaks, ribs, sea foods, burgers, plus wines and spirits, you'd need to go a long way to find its equal – The incredibly large and juicy Tomahawk Steak providing the ultimate challenge for any customer.

So, when visiting the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, just across from the newly built Grand Central, make sure you take time out and pay a visit to its Scottish Steak Club.

But, beware; for when you are told to ‘clear the table,’ when ordering the Tomahawk, they mean ‘clear it of everything as you are in for the biggest steak you’re likely to ever see – or attempt to completely devour. Good luck to you on that one!

The imaginative interpretations of classic Scottish cuisine can’t fail to delight hotel residents or passing customers and is very highly recommended – if only to see if you can take on the challenge of the Tomahawk’.

I

t's great to see that Grime artists are coming through especially the good ones, its been a great year for the genre sales wize with acs such as Skepta Bugsy Malone and Wiley.

I mean last year there was a big uproar about the lack of urban artists represented in the Brits but this year they have brought through one major to give the limelight.

There are many more that deserved recognition but admittedly what stormzy has achieved simply can not be ignored.

Stormzy started from the underground and has now reached commercial success, this could be the guy that puts real grime on the map!

We knew massive success was coming when we saw him win multiple Mobo Awards and featured in movies.

When you see that Ed Shereen bringing a credible grime artist out like that on his main performance its certainly a good look.

His new album is the talk of the streets and critics are saying its the best Grime Album ever made.

The hype is unreal and the promotion you see him getting is not the norm for a grime act, This Morning TV and Brits?

Who would have thought. Good to see that times are changing and artists who are not so pop getting the recognition, we certainly need to see more of this and hope that the Brits

Stormzy BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

March 01-02 elbow 05 Lukas Graham 08 Us The Duo 14 Nathan Grisdale 16 All Time Low 17 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox 18 The Stranglers 19 Emeli Sandé: Long Live The Angels Tour 20 Sonic Boom Six 24 James Arthur 29 VO5 NME Awards Tour 2017

O2 INSTITUTE

March 01 Blue October 02 Lady Leshurr 03 De La Soul 04 Kehlani 06 LANY 09 Lucy Spraggan 14 Laura Marling

16 Crowbar 17 Kioko 18 Black Star Riders 21 The Early November 22 Geko 24 Mallory Knox 27 Doc Brown 29 Mist

BARCLAYCARD ARENA

March 04 Brit Asia TV World Music Awards 7-12 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships 2017 13 The Weeknd 18 Dream Extreme Cheer & Dance Championships and University Nationals 24 Craig David 25 A R Rahman

GENTING ARENA

March 1-5 Cirque du Soleil Varekai: Tales Of The Forest 9-12 Crufts 2017 and Best In Show 17-18 Russell Howard 22 André Rieu - Rescheduled Date 23-25 Olly Murs

NEC

March 03-05 The National Wedding Show 03-04 What Career Live? What University Live?

09-12 Crufts 15-18 The Big Bang Young Scientists & Engineers Fair 16-19 Hobbycrafts 16-19 Sewing for Pleasure & Fashion Embroidery 17-19 Cake International 18-19 MCM Birmingham Comic Con 18-21 The Photography Show

23-26 The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show 25-26 Miniatura – The Dolls’ House & Miniatures Show 31-01 Apr National Engineering & Construction Recruitment 31-02 Apr Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show

TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL

March 01 British Classics (SH) 02 David Gower, Chris Cowdrey and the Holy Bail (TH) 03 Birmingham Conservatoire presents Gala Piano All-Nighter (TH) 04 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2017 (TH) 04 Yeomen Of The Guard (SH) 06 Gilbert O’sullivan In Concert The 50th Anniversary Tour (TH) 08 When In Rome (SH) 09 Jordi Savall directs Academy of Ancient Music (SH)

l Russell Howard comes to the Genting Arena 11 Nigel Kennedy & Friends A Gala Celebration (SH) 12 Superheroes At The Symphony (SH) 12 80’s Invasion Tour 2017 (TH) 16 Mary Berry Everyday (TH) 17 Paul Carrack (SH) 17 G4 (TH) 19 Julian Siegel (TH) 21 Just Call Me God: The Final Speech of a Dictator (SH) 24 Brendan Cole (SH)

25 Celebration Concert Oxfordshire County Music Service (SH) 25 Marti Pellow: Mysterious (TH) 27 Armida Quartet (TH) 27-28 Stewart Lee Content Provider (SH) 30 Amy Macdonald plus special guests (SH)

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

March 01 Wednesday 13 02 Joel Dommett 04 Kirvana 09 ACDC Experience 18 L.A Guns 22 Battle Beast 23 Love/Hate 24 Ian Prowse 25 Charlie Baker is The Hit Polisher 28 Sonata Arctica

The Phoenix – March 2017

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BIGScreen

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egendary hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is forced back out of retirement by a former associate who is plotting to seize control of a shady international assassins' guild.

Despite his apprehension, John is bound by a blood oath and has no choice but to help him. In order to honour this oath and clear this personal debt, John travels to Rome where he is forced to square-off against some of the world's deadliest assassins in a relentless cat-and-mouse game of kill or be killed.

John Wick was one of the biggest surprises of 2014. A modest budget action movie starring a former mega-star who had never quite maintained the momentum The Matrix Trilogy had given him over a decade earlier.

What we were blessed with was a no-nonsense movie with a simple plot and a bucket-load of action.

It was refreshing to see a movie like this in a time when the vast majority of action movies feel the need to have big, sprawling, overly complicated plot-lines that are made worse due to the by-thenumbers, choppy, nothing-newhere action we’ve seen recycled a thousand times over.

In the short time since it’s release, John Wick has gone on to accumulate quite the following and its success meant that a sequel was a no-brainer.

However, John Wick told a clear and concise story that came

review

John Wick: Chapter 2 full circle, so where do you take it from there? How do you take what was originally intended as a standalone action flick and turn it in to something more? Well...they found a way.

Chad Stahelski returns to the director’s chair equipped with a bigger budget and even bigger balls.

As a veteran stuntman who worked on films such as 300, Rambo, The Expendables, The Hunger Games and The Matrix (as Keanu Reeves’ stunt-double, no less!), Stahelski knows his way around action and it certainly shows.

Stahelski has been there, on the other side of the camera, right in the thick of the action and this has given him a huge advantage over

the average filmmaker when it comes to handling a fight scene or shootout.

Under his guidance, you feel every bone-crunching punch and wince at every head-splitting gunshot.

Every action sequence in John Wick: Chapter 2 is a long, creative, meticulously choreographed ballet of bedlam that will leave your heart racing and your smile stretched from ear to ear.

Arguably the greatest thing to come out of the original John Wick was the bizarre and eccentric underground society of assassins, equipped with their own hotels, clubs and strict moral code, and John Wick: Chapter 2 proves that it’s predecessor barely

Black Sabbath Mark ‘The End’ With Final Show Back Home

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t was their last ever show before the curtain closes on what has been an illustrious, nearly five-decade career for the pioneers of Heavy Metal.

This was the gig that every Black Sabbath fan wanted to attend as Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and drummer Tommy Clufetos, took to the

wORDS by antony brown

stage for one last time.

And they didn’t disappoint, performing some of the band’s greatest hits to a sell-out audience of 14,500 at the Genting Arena in their hometown of Birmingham.

For the band to culminate their farewell - ‘The End’ - tour, at the Genting Arena was a great honour for the venue.

Guy Dunstan, General Manager

of the NEC Group Arenas, said: “This is a monumental evening that will go down in history, and I am very thankful that the Genting Arena had the opportunity to be a part of it.

“For Black Sabbath to perform their final show back here in their city, where it all began, was a very apt end to what has been an outstanding career for the band.”

scratched the surface.

In the sequel, writer Derek Kolstad decides to take us deeper into that wonderfully weird world and reveals just how far-reaching their influence is.

This isn’t a small group of people - this is a global society. They have their own hotels, garages, tailors and armouries and everything is paid for with specially made gold coins.

Everyone knows everyone and

their rules are everything. Seeing John Wick traverse this ironic world of morally astute killers is a brilliantly funny and unique experience.

Once again, Keanu Reeves returns, for there is no John Wick without Keanu Reeves! If you were to type the words “Keanu Reeves Acting” in to Google and hit the images tab, you will be bombarded with countless memes poking fun at Mr. Reeves’ acting ability.

Whether or not you think Mr. Reeves’ is a good actor is completely subjective and opinions will differ depending on the person, however it must be said that, much like The Matrix before it, John Wick actually benefits from Reeves’ minimalist, dead-pan acting style.

John Wick is a man of action, not words and he says more with his fists, knives, guns and pencils (yes, pencils!) than he ever could with his mouth.

As the saying goes; “Actions speak louder than words” and in John Wick’s case, they speak louder than pretty much everything else, too.

Say what you want about Keanu Reeves, but his dedication to the role of John Wick is unprecedented.

From combat training to weapons handling, Reeves transformed himself in to a legitimate badass.

I implore all of you reading this to open YouTube on your pre-

BIG SCREEN

ferred device and type in “John Wick Taran Tactical Training” and bask in the glory of what you’re about to witness.

Keanu Reeves is basically John Wick in real life. You would not want to get in to a high-octane shootout with this gentleman.

Ian McShane returns as the smooth but wickedly scathing Englishman, Winston and Lance Reddick reprises his role as Charon, the cool-as-a-cucumber Concierge with a secret.

Riccardo D’Antonio, Ruby Rose, Claudia Gerini, Common and Laurence Fishburne (Neo and Morpheus, together again!) round out the excellent supporting cast and they’re all game to take you on this wild journey.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is everything an action movie sequel should be - bigger, louder, bolder, more complex and action packed with excellent world-building and a higher body count.

It’s THE ROAD WARRIOR to John Wick’s MAD MAX. It’s ALIENS to John Wick’s ALIEN. It’s JUDGEMENT DAY to John Wick’s THE TERMINATOR. John Wick: Chapter 2 sits comfortably with some of the greatest action movie sequels of all-time and, if Chad Stahelski, Derek Kolstad, Keanu Reeves and company can deliver big on John Wick: Chapter 3 (which has already been announced) then we may very well end up with one of the greatest sagas in the history of action cinema.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Rom Com ‘Mahi NRI’ a sweet Valentines success

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eleased just in time for Valentines, ‘Mahi NRI’ (My Beloved Non-Resident Indian), is already kicking up a storm; both here in the UK and further afield.

Set ostensibly in Birmingham, the romantic comedy that follows the life of student, Sherry (Hardy Sandhu), who lands in the UK with very little experience of the British way of life.

He’s in England to become an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) to please his girlfriend’s mother back in the Punjab who feels that a

man from UK is the only suitable match for her daughter.

The narrative follows the twists and turns that he goes through as it takes a humorous sideways look at the rural Indian point of view; of Britain still seen as the place where the streets are paved with gold and that all British Asians have huge sprawling houses, big cars and an endless supply of money.

“I worked hard to prep myself for the part,” Hardy said. “Sherry is a happy-go-lucky guy who doesn’t have a care it the world, until the reality of him losing his

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girlfriend dawns upon him – a role I really relished.”

Rameet Sandhu who plays love interest Mandy, says; “As a British Indian - born and raised in Glasgow - I was so humbled to be chosen for my role in the film. I worked very hard to play Mandy and I hope my work will be appreciated.”

Director Gaurav Bavdankar said; “Most Indian filmmakers want to film in London, whereas I wanted my main characters to be based in my home town.

The support and love we received from the people of Birmingham and the Black Country while filming was overwhelming.”

Mahi NRI was made by Firefly Motion Pictures and Ranbir Kaloya Productions.

Awards Seaso Biggest ‘Winn S

o with the ‘Awards’ season proving yet another ‘must talk about’ thing of the past, who really were the ‘winners’ and losers during the last couple of months?

At the BAFTAs as expected the hit musical La La Land dominates the ceremony - nominated for 11 of the 24 categories and winning five of them, whilst one ‘home’ interest who picked a ‘Best Supporting Actor’s’ gong was ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ Dev Patel, for is performance in the film ‘Lion.’

Whilst Black representation was said to be at a premium there, the BRITs, at least, made an ‘effort’ with the ‘token’ grimey appearance of Stormzy, whose electrifying duet with the multi-talented and much-loved Ed Sheeran during his performance of new singles 'Castle on the Hill' and 'Shape of You' highlighted the point.

The Grammy Awards had the ever-brilliant Ad-

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ENTERTAINMENT

Brit Star, Cynthia, Shines with Legend at Grammys

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ons Ends With ner’ Drake ele sweeping major categories. But controversy there as she reluctantly accepted the ‘Album Of The Year’ award for “25,” in Los Angeles, the question was asked; ‘Was racism why Adele beat Beyoncé?’

Even Adele herself thought she (Beyoncé) should have won the album of the year Grammy over her.

The ‘Moonlight/La La Land’ ‘narse-up’ at the OSCARS, well…less said there.

Away from the Awards, a ‘big-up’ to Drake, who deserves a special ‘award’ of his own..

He promised to refund fans after support act, Travis Scott, was performing ‘Goosebumps’ from his own album when he fell through a hole in the stage which was meant to house a giant globe – but luckily wasn’t hurt.

The Canadian rapper said: “I’m giving all you guys your money back. London England, I love you, I hope you enjoyed your free show!”

hilst it was the likes of multi-winners Brit, Adele, and the enigmatic Beyonce who pretty much stole the headlights at the recent Grammys, there was another UK ‘big-hitter’ who got her share of the attention from the assembled stars.

For when the legend that is… well, John Legend took to the stage for his time to shine and it was his singing partner on the night who shone just as big.

Broadway star, and British actress, singer, and songwriter, Cynthia Erivo took the stage, with Legend, to perform at the show’s ‘In Memoriam’ segment.

The Londoner, who starred in TVs ‘Mr. Selfridge’ and ‘Chewing Gum’ and now multi-Tony Award winner, performed a cover of the Beach Boys’ classic ‘God Only Knows,’ at the 59th Grammy, just before a montage was shown of some of the performers who passed away in the past year.

Nigerian-born Cynthia, 30 – who herself picked up a Grammy for ‘Best Musical Theater Album,’ is noted for leading roles in stage productions such as; ‘Sister Act,’ ‘The Colour Purple,’ ‘Beyond the Lights,’ ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream and ‘I Can't Sing - The X Factor Musical.’ Her next project is playing the lead role in the upcoming film; ‘Harriet Tubman,’ the greatly revered American abolitionist and humanitarian

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ENTERTAINMENT

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A Rose Between Thorns

l Dr Saroj ‘Rose’ Duggal

I

live in England all my life and I see a lot of things. I’m a 79 year old man. I live in Shirley Solihull. I used to live in Grove Lane in Handsworth.

After so many years I still buy my food from the same family of shops from back in the day.

Many of my friends and family shop from the same family store.

This steady income over the years to many Asian families has helped to boost their economic development.

There is nothing wrong with that. I have seen many Asian families send their kids through private education and university.

Just from owning one of those shops that Caribbean people buy from.

The question I want to ask is why the Asian man never spends money with the black man.

He will expect us to give away what we do free to him.

Why? I am sure this is a question that many people would like to ask.

Well I can see from you picture that you are Asian and further more you are the agony aunt.

I am bound to get the right answer because you must know it. Answer me truthful and make the readers rate you.

- Lloydy, Solihull Dear Lloydy, That is a very interesting question you have asked me, but as an owner of a business that deals with clients from all backgrounds, colours and creeds, the only thing I can say to you if that is happening to you, is that you should not shop with them anymore!

Leave those shops alone, see how they do once they don’t see you coming in the shop anymore!

Personally I don’t think that all Asian people are like that, although I agree there may be some that are not brought into the 21st Century as yet, but that is their problem, if they want to continue to live life without learning how to clap with two hands.

l

Matilda: Students put the finishing touches to Matilda

Life-Size Creations Mark 100 Years since Roald Dahl’s Birth

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ife-size versions of Roald Dahl’s most iconic creations have been hand-crafted from paper and cardboard as part of an exhibition celebrating 100 years since the writer’s birth.

Students on Birmingham City University’s Design for Theatre, Performance and Events course have created the unique structures which featured a cast of Dahl’s most well-known characters from Matilda and George to Augustus Gloop and Fantastic Mr. Fox. The installation, which was made up of a set and characters constructed entirely from brown paper and cardboard, went on display at Birmingham City Uni-

versity’s Parkside building.

The exhibition imagined a 100th birthday party for Roald Dahl, attended by characters from the writer’s books.

Among the creations were 12 characters, paper trees and furniture – including a replica of the original writing chair Dahl used to pen his classics, reconstructed to the exact dimensions of the piece which now sits in the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, in Buckinghamshire.

The show was made up of 1km of corrugated cardboard and 2km of brown paper, with the firstyear students working day and night over 18 days to pull together their creations.

The installation concept was designed completely by the stu-

dents and is lit with specialised set lighting and includes a backdrop replicating the look and sound of giants from the BFG walking through the woods.

Hollie Wright, Module Leader for the project, said: “This year’s installation captures some beautiful details. It really is over to the students to devise methods to complete them to such a high standard of finish with such basic materials.

Having only been at university for a few months, the challenge of collaborating on such a scale must be daunting, one which the students embarked on positively”.

Books referenced in the exhibition include ‘Matilda,’ ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’

‘George’s Marvellous’ ‘Medicine, Fantastic Mr. Fox’ and ‘The Twits.’

Dahl was born on the 13 September 1916 and passed away in 1990 having written dozens of books and short stories which have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide.

Away from the written word, he was also an ace fighter pilot, a chocolate historian, a medical inventor and a spy.

Roald Dahl Museum Director Steve Gardam spoke to the students about the writer's life and work on their research trip and visited the installation for a special view.

He said: "What fantastic, creative collaboration. It was a privilege to see the work of these talented young people, inspired by their visit to the Museum and 'Dahl Country'.

I loved the leafy woodland setting for the 100th birthday party for Roald Dahl, with his empty chair waiting for the guest of honour.

So many of his books grew out of the beautiful landscape of the Chilterns, where our Museum is based today, and it seems apt that a great artist – whose main tools were pencil and paper – has been celebrated in an explosion of paper and imagination."

Jay Z and P!nk Headline Star-Studded V Festival

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irgin V Festival 2017 will be headlined by Jay Z and P!nk with other performances due to come from Craig David, Ellie Goulding, Stormzy, Jess Glynne, George Ezra, Clean Bandit, Madness, and Anne-Marie.

This will be P!nk’s first appearance, at the festival, in 10 years after her debut appearance in 2007, while Jay Z is set to perform a decade-worth of hits.

Despite strong rumours that he would be appearing there, Ed Sheeran will be absent from the line-up.

The Virgin V Festival 2017 takes place at Weston Park and Hylands Park on August 19 and 20.

Block B Returns to Europe

S Books: The entrance to the exhibition mixing Dahl’s books and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory

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outh Korean boy-band Block B again brings their powerful performances throughout Europe via Amsterdam, Helsinki, Lisbon, Budapest, and London, this month.

Just like their last Europe tour in 2015, their fan created another viral movement via MyMusicTaste, an online service that brings together music fans to request their favorite artist’s concert, demanding Block B come back to Europe.

Since their debut, the 7-piece outfit has continued to impress by topping Korea’s major music charts and winning numerous awards.

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MOTORING

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F1 Lead Conference on Benefits of Hosting Major Sports Events

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aku City Circuit (BCC), promoter of the 2017 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, hosted the inaugural Conference on the Benefits of Hosting Major Sports Events (BHMSE) in association with the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan at Baku’s Four Seasons Hotel, the symposium featuring contributions from high-profile representatives of several current F1 Grand Prix races.

This newly formulated event, the first of its kind to be staged in Azerbaijan, featured speakers from BCC’s senior management team as well as key figures from within the Azerbaijani government and business community.

Additionally, representatives from several major international sporting events, such as the Russian, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prixs, also took to the stage to showcase how they have each benefitted from hosting global sporting events.

The special one-day conference provided a unique platform for sporting promoters and businesses from across the region to share their own experiences and learn from a vast array of international guest speakers who discussed and analysed the economic and social impact, importance and benefits that staging major sporting events can have on host cities and nations.

Drawing from their extensive combined knowledge, they will outline the many opportunities and challenges that organisers face when bringing global sporting celebrations to their countries and how to maximise the huge potential these events offer.

Arif Rahimov, Executive Director at Baku City Circuit, commented: “We were thrilled to host the first BHMSE conference to highlight the benefits of hosting a major sporting event.

“The importance of the F1 race to Baku and Azerbaijan cannot be underestimated. After successfully hosting the European Games in 2015, the F1 race weekend continued the process of establishing Baku as a home of major international sporting events.

Wasps Support New Safer Driving Campaign A

viva Premiership Rugby Union giants, Wasps’ trio Joe Simpson, Jimmy Gopperth and Ashley Johnson experienced the dangers of mobile phone distractions while driving as part of Aviva’s new #DriveSafer campaign.

The stars were put through a Virtual Reality experience by Aviva, proud sponsors of Premiership Rugby, while sitting behind the wheel of a stationary car to highlight the potential consequences of interacting with your mobile phone while driving.

Unaware of what was about to happen, the players were exposed to three near-misses all caused by

a distracting smartphone that was receiving messaging while they travelled down a dark country road.

The scenarios included a darting deer, a fallen tree and a brokendown motorist, with the culmination being a traumatic high-speed crash.

The film highlights the staggering fact that if you are driving at 45mph and look at your phone for five seconds you will have travelled the length of an average rugby pitch.

Along with Wasps, Premiership Rugby and the other 11 clubs are all supporting Aviva’s #DriveSafer campaign to help raise awareness of dangerous

driving caused by distractions.

This follows on from Aviva’s successful Safer Driving campaign last year.

Scrum-half Simpson said; “Having been put through Aviva’s VR driving experience, it was really shocking to see just how distracting a mobile phone can be while you’re behind the wheel.

Jimmy Ashley and I would encourage everyone to play their part in making our roads safer and to put your mobile phones away when driving.”

Aviva’s Brand and Marketing Communications Director, Peter Markey, said; “We’re on a mission to make Britain’s roads as safe as possible and we’re proud

that Premiership Rugby and all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs are helping us to make people wake up to the dangers and take that extra care when they are behind the wheel.

Distractions while driving – particularly the use of mobile phones – is still a huge problem in the UK and we believe there’s no excuse for having to pay for other people’s bad driving.

For this reason, the Aviva Drive app is free to download and safer drivers save an average of £170 off their Aviva car insurance, so there’s every reason to put your mobile phones away and help make a real difference.”

New Models All-Round for F1 2017

W

ith new designs specifically to improve the show this year, a massive emphasis has been for on how Formula 1 cars actually look is high on the agenda.

The 2017 models will wider tyres making the cars just look right, the proportions better aligned than they have been for years. It shows that the rules have done what they were supposed to do - nearly two decades since the first of the new breed of narrow-track cars.

It's way too early to make an accurate call on how fast each car is. At benchmark corners for the impact higher down-force levels will have this year, they certainly appear to be quick.

Lap-times are already significantly faster than the end of last

year with much more to come by the time the cars are running to full capacity with a couple of months of development behind

them - by around May. With a raft of new liveries added to the impression that this is a new start for F1, this promises to be

the most competitive and exciting season for some time.

l

JLR India President Rohit Suri

Petrol Variants for Luxury Cars in India

T

ata Motors-owned JLR is the latest in a line of luxury car giants to make available petrol variants for all its models sold in India - with Mercedes-Benz and Audi set to follow suit very soon.

Hit hard by the ban on big diesel cars and SUVs in Delhi-NCR JLR India President Rohit Suri said the company was already adapting its portfolio "not just because of the ban (on big diesel cars and SUVs) but also due to the increasing preference for petrol vehicles.

We will do our best to address the demand."

Joe King, Audi India Head, said; "We are working on future investment plans but they needed to be reworked and the most immediate action was adopting the petrol strategy."

He said reworking of the strategy was due to the shift in customer demand towards petrol from diesel vehicles in the wake of Supreme Court ban on diesel cars and SUVs with engine of 2,000 cc and above in Delhi-NCR and NGT order on similar lines.

Audi India has brought plans forward for introduction of its petrol offerings by about five months while JLR have already launched their Jaguar XE in petrol to add to its existing Jaguar XJ in petrol. It was followed up by the launch of 2 litre petrol derivative of Land Rover Discovery Sport SUV.

Page 26

FASHION AND BEAUTY

The Phoenix – March 2017

www.streetcredmagazine.com

The Oscars never fail to disappoint when it comes to perfectly preened red carpety locks.

This years winning look was Emma Stone's loose beachy waves. Get the look with Batiste 2 in 1 Dry Shampoo and Conditioner and the Cloud Nine Waving Wand!

Mark Dwayne releases #SWUG clutch bags Black and gold editions to order contact TPN Media

Debenhams First Major UK Store to Sell Hijabs

A

major British High Street store has announced that it will be the first UK retailer to sell hijabs as part of a new Muslim clothing line.

Popular department store Debenhams are planning to feature a range of tops, kimono wraps, caps, hijab pins, and head scarves, along with other Islamic dress pieces by London-based designers Aab. The new range will be launched in May, firstly in their Oxford Street branch, before going on sale in its stores in Birmingham, Leicester, and Manchester – though there is no immediate plan to extend it further.

On the announcement, Jeanette Whithear, Trading Director International at Debenhams, said: “We are delighted to introduce the Aab range to our international and UK stores which enables us to offer collections that are highly relevant in both international markets and to our domestic customers.”

Debenhams director of PR, Christine Morgan, did add: “There is no plan to stock the range in further sites but we are yet to have a comment from the Sheffield branch regarding its participation.”

Reacting to the plans, Aab describes their concept as being based on “easy pieces where a handful of interchangeable items work together to create an entire wardrobe.”

Some members of the public were outraged by the announce-

ment and took to Twitter with the hashtag #boycottdebenhams.

Many feel the move is anti-feminist, whereas others believe that it is a good step forward that allows women to choose what they want to wear and how they want

to style it.

Debenhams has also announced that it will be opening stores in Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Phoenix – March 2017

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 27

MOTORING

Grammy’s Best Dressed Here is our pick of some of the gorgeous outfits worn at the Grammy’s this year.

Who do you think wore it best? Did we miss your favourite?

Let us know be getting in touch with Street Cred Magazine!

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Page 28 The Phoenix – March 2017

The Phoenix – March 2017

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Page 30

ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix – March 2017

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Drake the rude boy spotted in Co Op Dudley

MAN OF THE MONTH

Y

oung entrepreneur opens his own nightclub and looks out for talent in the city and creating work opportunities.

A humble guy with true passion who wants to give the best night-

life entertainment that people cry for.

I want to take time out to applaud my friend Leon Xtra success on his major new USA style nightclub 101 - Saturdays it goes off. Well done!

2pac film is held back

O

f all the places you would have never expected to see the Billboard star late in the morning shopping it would be a CoOp in Dudley.

It is rumoured that he had a a

private after party at someones house WOW. Also good on the guy as after his concert he went to the popular NUVO club on Broad St and bought everyone drinks..what he spent is undisclosed but wow

I

ts sad that there is still beef with copyright of the music and legal battles while the world awaits the biggest biopic ever but there is

SAMMY

still no release date as yet because of rights.

Apparently this is better than any hiphop biopic ever made but we will see once this is released.

Local Dancer Sammy meets the man of her Dreams; Joe the R&B don.

Introducing TCB Young guys to set up new YouTube channel to push young activities

I

ntroducing TCB, The Com Brothers, two young guys from Birmingham who are looking to make waves on the YouTube scene.

Shyam, 17 and Javon, 16, are already writing and designing skits relating to their childhood, school and college memories, as well as jumping on the current trends for YouTube.

For the two boys, fitness is important, and even moreso as they will be pushing each other in a

variety of YouTube challenges to see who will emerge the victor.

With a musical influences from the American Hip Hop, RnB and Grime scenes, these two college students are mini-entrepreneurs in their own rights, and are looking to make it big on YouTube.

Featuing Q&A’s, interviews with special guests, social experiments and much more, we’re expecting exciting things from this young duo as they step into the YouTube scene.

TCB

RAG’n’bone man on top after Brits win

R

ag’n’Bone Man wins Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2017 Brit

Awards This is the first time the Brits Critics’ Choice winner

has won Best British Breakthrough Act in the same year Human continues to storm the top of the album charts with sales of more than 170k

The Phoenix – March 2017

Page 31

STARTING APRIL 2017 You can pick up your copy of At newsagents up and down the country for only

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Page 32

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Support Column

Endometriosis Awareness Month

ant first step in endometriosis diagnosis and treatment. By keeping a detailed list of your pain and other endometriosis symptoms, you will be able to decide which therapy is best for you.

Make sure you keep a detailed account of your symptoms.

Make sure your cover the type of pain (is it a sharp pain or an aching pain, for example?); location (where do you feel the pain?); duration (how long does your pain last?); and intensity (how bad is your pain on a scale of one to ten?).

So what is it?

The disease involves lesions, made of tissue similar to that lining the uterus, being present elsewhere in the body.

These lesions cause bleeding, inflammation and pain, and over time they can become deeper and more invasive.

This creates scarring and adhesions which impact upon other organs and structures, causing them to fuse together causing implications for fertility and for normal organ function.

It can cause pelvic pain at any time, and not just during your period. Women can experience bloating, fatigue, bowel & bladder problems, rectal bleeding, aching in legs, back and pain during sex.

How is it diagnosed?

Endometriosis doesn’t always show up on ultrasound scans, CT Scans, MRIs or endoscopies. It is usually diagnosed via

a laparoscopy, which spots the adhesions during the keyhole surgery.

What else should I know?

Some women find that endometriosis affects their fertility and they can’t get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.

If disease is properly removed their chances of conceiving improve.

Hysterectomy is NOT a cure for endometriosis. Even re-

moving the ovaries won’t necessarily help. This is because endometriosis creates its own hormones to survive.

Pregnancy is NOT a cure for endometriosis. Some women will experience relief during pregnancy because of increased progesterone levels – but many won’t experience any relief at all. Afterwards, the symptoms often return

Talking to Your Doctor about Endometriosis

If you have or think you have one or more symptoms of endometriosis, talk to your doctor right away.

But there are some steps that you should take in addition to this first step to make sure you are an active part of the treatment of your endometriosis.

Keeping a Pain Diary

Keeping a diary is an import-

Royal encouragement to talk about mental health issues

In the Waiting Room

While waiting to see your doctor, don’t just flip through a copy of the latest fashion magazine.

Review your questions for your doctor; read through your pain diary to summarize your symptoms. Plus you won’t leave the office feeling like all your questions have gone unanswered.

Face-to-Face with Your Doctor

Hello Cysters!

This month is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Chances are you’ve never heard of it.

For those unfamiliar with endometriosis, it is vital, that you are aware of its prevalence. One in ten women has this condition.

That means, it is likely someone you know if suffering with this condition. It is as common as asthma or diabetes.

The condition is shrouded in mystery and misinformation – a situation that seems to extend to medical practitioners in the United Kingdom, as well as patients themselves.

Endometriosis is a known as an incurable disease which can affect women for most if not all of their lives.

However, to describe it as incurable would be erroneous.

With proper, effective, surgical treatment, it can indeed be resolved, enabling women to go on to lead pain free lives.

The Phoenix – March 2017

It’s important to establish a good doctor-patient relationship. Be open and precise about your symptoms; never downplay them. Minimizing your pain hurts your chances of getting appropriate treatment for your Endometriosis.

Some questions to ask your doctor could include: • What treatment plan do you suggest?

• How will we know if this plan isn’t working?

• What are the benefits and risks of this treatment plan?

• What treatment alternatives do I have?

• What will happen if we do

nothing about my symptoms?

Endometriosis can be both physically and emotionally crippling. Finding ways to cope with the condition is important to maintaining your health.

If you suspect that you may have endometriosis, it is important to talk with your doctor about it, we are also on hand to offer you any support.

Cysters will be running campaigns across Twitter to highlight these issues throughout the month and as always we will be talking about all things “endo” during our #CystersChat every Tuesday 7 – 8pm!

Remember whatever gynaecological problem you may be going through, you are beautiful and still a woman!

Love Neelam <3 Twitter: @cystersbham Facebook: Cysters Women’s Support and Awareness Group Email: info@cysters.co.uk Website:www.cysters.co.uk

l Prince William, wife Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge and brother, Prince Harry speaking out about mental health issues

P

rince William, wife Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge and brother, Prince Harry have jointly urged Britons to talk more openly about mental health issues, saying too many people suffer in silence.

The long-standing supporters of mental health initiatives launched the ‘Heads Together’ campaign in 2016, which works with charities

to help tackle the stigma around mental health.

William said in a speech; "For too long it has been a case of 'keep quiet and carry on'. As a result too many people have suffered in silence for too long and the effects of this can be devastating."

Catherine said that not knowing how to ask for help was a particular challenge for some people.

"Admitting that they are not cop-

Pacquiao Partnership to Provide Free Children’s Cardiac Care in Caribbean

W

orld Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao is partnering with a leading Caribbean hospital and charity to bring free cardiac care to children from his homeland.

Philippines-born Pacquiao, who founded the Emmanuel and Jinkee's Heart Foundation with his wife, sealed a partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands and tertiary care hospital Health City Cayman Islands during a recent visit to Grand Cayman.

His non-governmental Foundation back home sets out to assist the community with medical care as well as educational, shelter and relief needs - the mandate of Have

a Heart Cayman Islands is to partner with local and international organizations to subsidize and provide lifesaving heart surgeries to needy children from throughout the Caribbean and worldwide.

The reigning WBO welterweight champion was noticeably captivated by the beauty of the Cayman Islands and the warmth of its people when announcing that the first two children of many requiring heart surgery will travel from his homeland to Health City Cayman Islands this year.

Many, also a senator in the Philippines, said: "I may be a world class champion in the ring, but with all the help and kind support of Have a Heart Cayman Islands,

ing. Fear, or reticence, or a sense of not wanting to burden another, means that people suffer in silence – allowing the problem to grow larger and larger unchecked," she said.

The royals were promoting the initiative which is ’Charity of the Year’ for the London Marathon in April.

hand in hand, we will all be champions of these children's hearts.

I am so happy and rejoiced and happy to be part of this movement."

"It is an honor to partner with a living legend to bring life to many future legends across the world," said Harry Chandi, Chair of Have a Heart Cayman Islands.

"Partnerships like these are not only a blessing to children, but they keep us motivated to raise resources that help deliver worldclass medical care to people who need it the most."

The CEO and Head of Medical Services at Health City, Dr. Chandy Abraham, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to deepen Health City's partnership with Have a Heart Cayman Islands, saying; "We are in the business of giving hope to children - hope for long and healthy lives. Through this alliance, we can do more to support our mission of high quality, affordable care for all."