Swagga Digital Magazine Winter/Spring 2014

LOOK GREAT ❇ DRESS SHARP ❇ LIVE WELL

SWAGGA DIGITAL MAGAZINE

DUPREE

AKA PREE SPONTANEOUS

✛ BEHIND THE LENS WITH JOHNY RIOS PHOTOGRAPHER

FEB - APR 2014

❋ FASHION culture

LIFESTYLES

ARTIST ON THE VERGE

ARIEL GOODEN OBAMACARE WHAT IS IT ABOUT

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Music&Art

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Winter/Spring 2014

anniversaryIssue VOL. 4 ISSUE NO. 15

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Editors Note

This issue is dedicated to my mom whose courage, strength, tenacity and love has been a rock for me in the production of this issue.

There were so many people who were instrumental in the production of this issue, and I could not possibly name them all in this writing, but I just want to thank all of you and you know who you are for assisting me with this issue. Many thanks to all of the wonderful and talented models, MUA’s, and Hair Stylists.

Reproduction of any material within this publication, in whole or in part is, prohibited without expressed consent of publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party of the information, claims or ads herein to include errors, inaccuracies or omissions. By advertising the advertisers agree to indemnify the Publisher against all claims relating to or resulting from said advertisements.

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VOLUME IV, NO. XV | ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS DUPREE GANT

WHO MADE IT HAPPEN

FASHION CONTRIBUTORS 38. STOP CANCER SHOOT 46. Oxford Way Clothiers

CULTURE 86. ON THE RADAR

WALK D0N’T RUN CAMPAIGN

LIFESTYLE 08. Behind the Lens Photography by JOHNNY RIOS

82. AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ALSO KNOWN AS OBAMACARE

ART

68. ARTIST IN MOTION

MUSIC 72. ARTIST ON THE VERGE ARIEL GOODEN

DUPREE GANT “COVER PAGE” H&M SF FILIP KRAGON ERIK LEWIS JE MODELS BLACK VELVET HAIR BRAZIL SIMPSON SHIMEL KEMOA BRUCE LOGAN J.ACTIVE AKITIVATE PRODUCTIONS JOHNNY RIOS BVHGLAM STUDIOS CELEBRITY STYLE TEAM DIEGO SANCHEZ, WARDRODE STYLIST LAURA MORALES, MUA MACY’S SF UNION SQUARE ATLANTIC RECORDS BLOOMINGDALES NETFLIX MARIAH PARKS BRANDON PARIS CLAUDIU RAYMOND DAVE LEON SCOTT MCFARLAND GABRIEL WILLIAMS JACOB HANSON NORSTROM SAN FRANCISCO RAYBAN EYEWEAR FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS MTM MODELS VALERIE VALENTINA DESIGNS PATRICE FISHER OF ZANE DEBBIE NGHIEM GG CONNECTIONS SOLOMONS CHEST LATIYAH ABDULLAH DESIGNS

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ON THE COVER 76.

34 SWAGGA DIGITAL MAGAZINE Published (6) Times @ Year Printed in the USA In Print | iPhone | Android | iPad® All Rights Reserved ©2009-2014 SDM PUBLISHING SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION~subscribe@swaggadigitalmagazine.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT~www.swaggadigitalmagazine.com NEED TO SEND A LETTER TO EDITOR~information@swaggadigitalmagazine.com SDM PUBLISHING 510.883.3260

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VOLUME IV, NO. XIV | ANNIVERSARY WINTER ISSUE 2014

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BRANDING & STRATEGY

DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY | ARCHIE BRUMFIELD GRAPHIC DESIGN ~ CREATIVE SERVICES | SDM PUBLISHING PHOTO EDITOR ~ ART DIRECTOR | RON FULCHER ADVERTISING MANAGER | ARCHIE BRUMFIELD

SOCIAL MEDIA

CONSULTANT | KING SUNN CREATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA | FLIPBOARD.COM

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHER | RON FULCHER PHOTOGRAPHER | JOHNNY RIOS PHOTOGRAPHER | SETH LONDON PHOTOGRAPHER |ERIK THE EYE CATCHER PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE | BRAZIL SIMPSON PRODUCTIONS PHOTOGRAPHER | SHIMEL KEMOA PHOTOGRAPHER | MOISES PEDRAZA PHOTOGRAPHER | SETH LONDON PHOTOGRAPHER | DREW BREEDY EZEFIGI PHOTOGRAPHY

SPECIAL THANKS H&M CLOTHING STOP CANCER 2014 BRUCE LOGAN BLACK VELVET HAIR J. ACTIVE AKITIVATE PRODUCTIONS CALUMET PHOTOGRAPHY STORE, S.F. BVHGLAM STUDIOS CELEBRITY STYLE TEAM DIEGO SANCHEZ, WARDROBE STYLIST LAURA MORALES, MUA MACY’S SAN FRANCISCO UNION SQUARE ATLANTIC RECORDS, NYC BLOOMINGDALES NETFLIX DEBBIE NGHIEM GG CONNECTIONS DESIGNER STOP CANCER 2014 CLAUDIU RAYMOND DAVE LEON JACKSON MILLAN, SIETE CLOTHING

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WWW.SWAGGADIGITALMAGAZINE.COM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | RON FULCHER

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FASHION 41 SWAGGA DIGITAL MAGAZINE Photo by Erik The Eye Catcher

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DREW BREEDY EZEFIGI PHOTOGRAPHY

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SIETE CLOTHING

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MUSIC

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ART 68 SWAGGA DIGITAL MAGAZINE

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Photography by: Moises Pedraza

ARTIST ON THE VERGE

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ARIEL GOODEN Who are you ,and what do you do? I’m Ariel GOODEN AND I’M A SINGER/SONGWRITER.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST RECOGNIZE YOUR SPECIAL TALENTS? I’ve been singing since I learned how to talk but I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music at a super young age. When I was in 2nd grade, my parents were in a local band and I would go with them to their rehearsals. I would go through their songbooks and read lyrics so it inspired me to start writing.

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WHERE ARE YOU FROM? HOW DID THE ENVIRONMENT YOU GREW UP IN EFFECT YOUR OUT-LOOK ON LIFE AND YOUR OVERALL GROWTH PROCESS THAT HAS MOLDED YOU INTO YOUR IDENTITY TODAY? I grew up in Richmond, CA and then later on in my teenage years my family was fortunate enough to move out of Richmond and to a safer neighborhood.

Growing up in Richmond definitely molded my mindset, though. We didn’t have much when we lived there but made the best out of what we had. I’m proud of where I’ve come from and it keeps me humble and appreciative of everything in my life but it also makes me want to work harder so I would never have to go back.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN YOUR CURRENT PROFESSION? When I moved to Los Angeles for school I was introduced to other songwriters and producers and was given the opportunity to work with them as a demo vocalist for songs they’d written for other artists. With the connections I made doing that, I was introduced to other people that eventually encouraged me to not wait any longer and start pursuing my own career as an artist. When I graduated college I was finally able to put all of my time and focus into my music.

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN LIFE THAT YOU CAN RELATE WITH? I’m sure it sounds cliché but, my mother. She’s gone through so much in her life and still remains such a positive spirit and I’ve been learning so much from her during my transition into adulthood and life after college. She’s allowing me to learn my own lessons and be my own woman but I’m still learning so much from her by just watching how she moves through life.

GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE IN YOUR CAREER THUS FAR? Definitely getting people to just allow me to do my own thing. People sometimes have a vision for you rather than trying to see your vision for yourself and I don’t want to be put into anyone’s box and be told what I’m supposed to do or who I’m supposed to be.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL EVER REACH SIMILAR MILESTONES AS THE PERSON PERSONS YOU ADMIRE MOST? ARE YOU DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE SIMILAR SUCCESS? I don’t know if I’ll reach similar milestones or success because we’re two different people with two separate paths in life but I can only hope to remain a positive person throughout and possess the same kind of warm-hearted energy that my mother has.

HOW HAS PURSUING YOUR DREAMS IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? IF YOU CAN CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROCESS IT TAKES TO BECOMING SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR FIELD OF EXPERTISE WHAT WOULD IT BE? It’s impacted my life by giving me the confidence to know that it is possible and it’s also taught me how to be patient but if I could change anything, I’d make people more genuine. That doesn’t only apply to the entertainment industry, either. That goes with everything because genuine people in general are really hard to come by.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER HOBBIES AND ACTIVITIES YOU LIKE THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT?

I love cooking! When I moved out of my parents’ house at 18 for college, I started missing those home cooked meals. I learned how to cook by helping my mom in the kitchen when I was younger so when I started living on my own and had to feed myself I put everything I learned from her to use REAL quick.

WHAT PUTS YOU IN YOUR MOST RELAXED STATE OF MIND? HOW DO YOU CALM YOURSELF WHEN PRESSURE PRESENTS ITSELF?

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH? It would be an honor to work with Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo and Frank Ocean.

WHAT AUDIENCE WILL YOU TARGET WITH YOUR MUSIC? Whatever audience wants to hear me.

WHAT DID YOU DO IN YOUR FORMATIVE YEARS TO DEVELOP YOUR MUSICAL TALENTS? I would sing (and still do sing) everyday, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to developing myself as an artist and truly defining my sound. So I would look for inspiration in everything and I would also try new things and new sounds just to experiment and find exactly what I like.

What do you want to communicate in your songs concerning the matters of love and respect?

I’m young so I’m still in the process of finding myself so I write about my process in my songs. I have a lot of love songs but my love songs aren’t always pretty but they are very honest and from the heart. I say what I feel at all times and depending on what I’m saying, it may or may not be very romantic, depending on who is listening, but my idea of romance is a bit different than a lot of people. And it could also be the same as a lot of other people, so those “other” people are the people who would feel what I’m saying.

DO YOU LIKE PERFORMING IN FRONT OF SMALL OR LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE? Small groups of people give a more intimate feel. It’s more of a conversation and less of a show. HOW HAVE YOU GOTTEN ALONG WITH OTHER TALENTED PERFORMERS? Pretty good! I respect anyone who is trying to do what I’m doing because I know all too well that it isn’t easy. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT MESSAGE YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC? I don’t really sit down and “decide” on a message. Like, I don’t say to myself before writing a song, “Okay this is the message I’m going to try to get across,” then start writing the song. A lot of my songs are just notes I’ve written in my phone at random moments whenever I have random thoughts. If something is on my mind, I write about it. It’s therapeutic for me.

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Stevie Wonder! And maybe a glass of wine. Whenever I feel like I need to recharge my batteries, I listen to my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, sometimes on repeat, to get me back together. “Visions” and “Rocket Love” are my favorites.

WHO HAS HELPED YOU DEVELOP YOUR MUSIC STYLE? Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo, Frank Ocean and Drake. I appreciate and am inspired by any artist who is honest in their music because it takes courage to talk about yourself in a real way and let a bunch of strangers listening to your music know who you really are.

The most human song I’ve ever written doesn’t have a title and isn’t out yet but it’s a song I wrote to an Isley Brothers instrumental. It was the song, “Let’s Fall In Love.” There is no hook or bridge, I’m just going on and spilling out all of my thoughts after going through a breakup after being with someone for 6 years who I thought and still struggle with feeling like they were/are my soul mate. I talked a lot of shit on that song and every emotion from anger, to hurt to eventually being honest with myself about my own wrongdoings came out. It was weird.

DESCRIBE YOUR PRESENT LIFE AND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN IT? Right now my present life is I just finding myself. I feel like life is starting for me and I’m being pushed off the ledge and into the water so I have to be fearless. I’m learning to be fearless.

Photography by: Moises Pedraza

WHAT IS YOUR MOST HUMAN SONG OR STORY YOU WROTE?

On the Cover Pree Spontaneous

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WHO IS DUPREE GANT A.K.A. PREE SPONTANEOUS? 78 SWAGGA DIGITAL MAGAZINE

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hat’s in a name? Dupree. Du-pree. Do Pre. Do. Pre-.

This was in 2006, long before he released the KB24 Black

My name is, at its core, doing things ahead of time.

Mamba® clothing line, so I was out of luck. But he chuckled

I’ve always felt that my name suited me perfectly because it sums up my belief that I’ve always had a

Predetermined destiny to be a Doer. And although my name may have come in a neat little package, my beginnings were anything but. I was born in San Francisco at the Kaiser on Geary Street, but only days after my birth I was given up for adoption. Whether through divine intervention or blind luck (I’m guessing it was a bit of both), I was adopted by two of the most loving and attentive parents this world’s ever known, and was raised along with my adopted sister, Nicole, down south near the City of Angels. My parents were honest with me from a young age about the circumstances of my adoption. Although I was surrounded by family that loved me, I always felt a deep need to belong, and from that sprang my personality. I’ve always been a people pleaser, with a dash of charm, and a desire to set people at ease and make them comfortable. Acquaintances and people I just met would label me the host type, maybe even the hype man.

Throughout my childhood I couldn’t bear to see friends bored around me, it tended to weigh down my energy. I believe that’s why I excelled in sports and other activities that channeled my competitive nature: I loved the way competition brought excitement to my life and those around me. From a young age I was passionate about sports. My first love was soccer, and growing up I was always ready to play. I even wore my soccer jersey under my suit when I went to church. By the time I reached 6 feet tall, I had moved from the suburbs to a more urban Los Angeles environment and basketball and football received all the praise in my age group, so naturally, I played both. Although I was talented, these only lasted through high school, whereas with soccer and track, I continued throughout college. I was no Kobe Bryant (no matter how much I wished it were otherwise), and my true talents were on the soccer field and on the track. Crazily enough, however, I did share some similarities with Kobe Bryant, who I eventually crossed paths with in Newport Beach. Years ago, we pulled up next to each other at a stop light and he looked over and asked me: “What do you do?” The million dollar question. At the time I was involved in so many business ventures and harebrained schemes I didn’t know where to begin, so I kept it simple and told him I modeled and ran track (both true). Somehow I built up enough courage to ask him if he had a clothing line I could model.

INTERNATIONALLY PROMOTING POSITIVITY & RAISING AWARENESS

and said, “Don’t worry, kid. You definitely have the look”. After all these years I still wonder what he meant.

Was it because people say I look like I could

be his little brother? Or did he see something else in me? I guess I’ll never know for sure, but that experience has served as a constant motivation to validate the promise he saw, and to not hesitate to grab an opportunity. After 24 years of being a constant Doer, bouncing around and exploring all the wonderful opportunities life presented me, the Predetermined aspect of my life crept back in and things came full circle. I was reunited with my biological mother and was introduced to her sons, my brothers. I also had a chance to meet my father and his mom before he passed away. What I’m most grateful for, however, was meeting my maternal grandfather. He played professional baseball, received his master’s degree in journalism, became a sports writer, and later a public relations specialist. Even separated by hundreds of miles and a generation, I saw where, not only my athletic ability, but my creative and innovative inclinations had their roots. This realization helped mold me into the person I am today. I am the CEO of Ippra Pi-

oneers FCI whose mission is promoting positivity and raising brand awareness for various organizations and causes internationally. My life’s work is to promote and manage individuals and businesses that want to expand and build their brands and have a positive impact on their communities. I’m very blessed to have been given a chance in life by my family, biological and adoptive and everyone I have met along the way.

Thank you for tuning in to Dupree Gant A.K.A. Pree Spontaneous!

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Y

ou’ve heard of ObamaCare, but what is ObamaCare exactly? ObamaCare (AKA The Affordable Care Act) is a US law aimed at reforming the American health care system. ObmaCare’s main focus is on providing more Americans with access to affordable health insurance, improving the quality of health care and health insurance, regulating the health insurance industry, and reducing health care spending in the US.

What is ObamaCare?: ObamaCare is the unofficial name for The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Obamacare’s health care reform does a number of important things including offering Americans a number of new benefits, rights, and protections in regards to their healthcare and setting up a Health Insurance Marketplace where Americans can purchase federally regulated and subsidized health insurance.

• The Affordable Care Act contains over a thousand pages of reforms to the insurance and health care industries in order to combat rising health care costs and to provide affordable health insurance to more Americans. Despite it’s length and complexity, most of the important reforms are contained within the first 140 pages of the law. Check out our summary of the many titles and sections of the Affordable Care Act. • Before the law you could be denied coverage or treatment because you had been sick in the past, be charged more because you were a woman, be dropped midtreatment for making a simple mistake on your application, and had little or no way to fight insurance company appeals.

• As of 2013 there were around 44 million Americans who went without health insurance (about 16% of the population). The majority of uninsured are working families and those who simply cannot afford health insurance. One of the major things ObamaCare does is help these individuals to get health insurance through expanding Medicaid eligibility and offering cost assistance through health insurance marketplaces.

• The Affordable Care Act reforms Medicare. This includes offering Medicare recipients the same new benefits, rights, and protections as everyone else as well reforming many aspects of the Medicare system including cuts to aspects of the program that weren’t working.

• Cost assistance subsidies for reduced premiums and reduced out-of-pocket costs are available to individuals and families making less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level via their State’s health insurance marketplace. Small businesses with less than 25 full-time equivalent employees making less than $25,000 in average annual wages.

• As of 2015 large employers will have to provide health coverage to full-time workers. This will help to provide coverage to those who aren’t covered by subsidized private insurance or the expansion of Medicaid.

• Most Americans will have to have health insurance by 2014 or pay a per month fee on their year-end federal income taxes for every month they go without coverage. Many Americans will be eligible for subsidized health insurance costing anywhere from 0% - 9.5% of their Modified Gross Adjusted Income.

• There are many exemptions to the individual mandate to obtain insurance, including a “short coverage gap” exemption which allows anyone to go without coverage for up to three months in a row without being responsible for the fee. Make sure to sign up by March 15 to avoid the fee in 2014.

The health insurance marketplace (also known as an exchange) is an online price comparison website where Americans can shop for affordable quality insurance and receive cost assistance for lower premiums, reduced out-of-pocket costs, or even qualify for Medicaid. Each State has their own health insurance marketplace.

Those making under 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) may qualify for cost assistance through the marketplace. 400% of the federal poverty level is roughly $46,000 for individuals and $93,500 for families. Cost assistance is only available through your State’s marketplace.

Open enrollment for the ObamaCare Health Insurance Marketplace is from October 1st, 2013 to March 31st, 2014. You can apply today at healthcare.gov and see if you are eligible for financial assistance for lower premiums, reduced out-of-pocket costs, or even Medi-

caid (Medicaid eligibility is expanded in many States). Insurance purchased before mid-month starts on the 1st of the following month after the premium has been paid.

• ObamaCare improves the quality of care that Americans receive by providing better preventative and wellness services and raising the standards of basic health care coverage.

• ObamaCare eliminates pre-existing conditions and gender discrimination meaning no one can be charged more or be dropped from their health insurance coverage for health or gender related reasons.

• ObamaCare gives tens of millions of low-income and middle-income Americans access to quality health care by providing discounts through the Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as a Health Insurance Exchange). Find out exactly what the Health Insurance Marketplace is, and how it works.

• Although the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was signed into law in 2010, the health care reforms it enacts roll out year by year until 2022. Many of the biggest reforms don’t kick in until 2014.

• ObamaCare helps to ensure that health care coverage is available to any legal U.S. resident who cannot otherwise obtain “quality” healthcare through their employer. Your access to health care is no longer in the hands of health insurance companies.

• ObamaCare gives American employers with over 50 full-time equivalent employees the choice between providing insurance that meets the standards of ObamaCare or paying a penalty. This penalty helps to offset the cost of employees who aren’t covered through their employer to purchase insurance through the public health insurance exchanges instead of using emergency services.

• ObamaCare requires that all Americans have health insurance either through a private provider or through a state or federally assisted program. If you don’t have insurance you must pay a tax equal to 1% of your income in 2014 and 2.5% in 2016.

• ObamaCare expands Medicaid to over 15 million uninsured low-income Americans.

• The new health care law aims to reform the health care industry by cutting out waste, reallocating where government funding goes, fixing what doesn’t work, and most of all ensuring health care for Americans.

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Due to a three month coverage gap exemption you can go up to three months in 2014 without health insurance and still avoid the per month fee for not having insurance. Sign up before March 15th to avoid the fee.

Now that we know what ObamaCare is, it’s time to find out what the new Health Care Reform Bill does beyond the key aspects of the law explained above. Here are some other important aspects of the law:

• Employers with less than the equivalent of 25 full-time equivalent employees may qualify for tax credits, tax breaks and other assistance for insuring employees through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

• ObamaCare increases consumer protections. These help to protect you from being dropped while sick, denied care due to lifetime limits, denied care for pre-existing conditions, and offers Americans a better legal standing against health insurance companies.

• Unless you make over $200,000 individual / $250,000 as a family or small business you are exempt from almost every tax ObamaCare levies aside from the mandate to obtain insurance.

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| ON THE

RADAR | S P O R T S

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‘’RUN DON’T WALK ‘’ ‘’We Run Towards The Finish Line, We run towards our Dreams’’!

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his is a campaign forum to focus on the youth from all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Also a platform to promote unity and growth within communities locally and abroad. The Run Don’t Walk Campaign is driven by a Uniquely talented individual by the name of D.J David Johnson.

Over his life span he managed to thrive and stay motivated in some of the most difficult circumstances and never stopped pushing himself to persevere and work hard and never gave up on his dreams. At the highlight of his track and field career D.J will be hosting various events around the country to help raise awareness and also fundraise for various causes to provide much needed resources and outlets to support children and their families with valuable outlets to sustain themselves in times of need. One of the most important things in life is to be healthy mentally and physically with that in mind the Run don’t walk campaign is looking to Coordinate various workshops and clinics to help educate and empower individuals to work together. No relay was ever won by one individual and in life learning how to have a since of urgency to help others will help us all reach the finish line.

D.J David Johnson USA.TF 200m, 400m Philanthropist

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