*...the at home edition.
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SEPTEMBER 2020
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A college student and editor in chief of Taurus Magazine takes us on his view of the world.
photographs by CHRISTOPHER HORNE
THE NEW CULTURE
PAND 20
#BLACKLIVESMATTER
EMIC 20
#DONTFORGETTOVOTE
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CONTENTS The Zodiac
07
BACK 2 SCHOOL QUARANTINE Ready for some good desk quarantine tips?
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OPENING STYLE Freddie B. designs an amazing suit.
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NO PAIN NO GAIN Kristen J. Moffett a nola gym trainer.
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MUSIC IS KEY Someone new ready to break in the music world..
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NATURAL BORN HUSTLER Everyone should shop Accessories Matter.
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THE GALLERY The ArtHustlr, Jermaine Robinson has talent.
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PG. 6
COOKING WITH A TAURUS Taylor gives out the recipe to a organic home cooked dish of Shrimp Creole.
CHRISTOPHER MALIK photograph by CHRISTOPHER HORNE; pants by SHANE JUSTIN; fedora by @accessories.matter
AIR MAIL
"...I don't really care about what people have to say about what I do." - Kareem Nyke', PG. 11
2 | TAURUS
Its September Birthday Month PG. 21
Painting with me!
Features & Columns
- JR, PG. 16
05
POWER BOOK 2 The wait is over 50 cent confirms the return of Power Sundays are back. POWER BOOK 2: GHOST will be out this September on the Starz App, starting Michael Rainey Jr.
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13
P-VALLEY
THE CHI
The Pynk is a popular strip club in Mississippi, where intrigue abounds when the mysterious Autumn is welcomed by Mercedes, the dancer, and Uncle Clifford, the club's discreet owner.
The South Side of Chicago carries daily danger, and the smallest and simplest of decisions can have life or death consequences for the residents. Life continues as the kids prep for school and their parents shuffle off to work.
"The things we know, we learned, because we paid attention." - Christopher Malik
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 3
TAURUS EDITOR AND CHIEF CHRISTOPHER MALIK CO-EDITOR AND CHIEF DALEVIN
EDITOR NYA WOODS-STEWARD EDITOR ANTONIO P. ARTIST JERMAINE ROBINSON BUSINESS OWNER MONEY CHEF TAYLOR B. DESIGNER FREDDIE B. DESIGNER SHANE JUSTIN MODEL KAREEM NYKE' PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTOPHER HORNE PHOTOGRAPHER BROOKE RECORDING ARTIST DAVEY LITT TRAINER KRISTEN J. MOFFETT
4 | TAURUS
SEPTEMBER 2020
E d i t o r ' s
L e t t e r
hese droughtful eight months has been marked by anger, business, and protest; by destorying stores; by wearing a mask everywhere we go. We all knew how hard America could get, we just did not know that we would experience so much in just one shortterm. In the beginning of March we had an uncanny visit from COVID-19 (Coronavirus), not being allowed to attend school face-to-face, some losing their jobs, and raising everyone nerves to an all time high. I found myself thinking about how is this transition going to happen? How did your team come about with the cover of this month's issue? At first as we started to work on the magazine itself dealing with the cover was going to be the last thing we decide on. However, I was playing around with pictures and I stumbled on putting that picture right there for space and it became the actual cover. I thought of others but I was told to leave it alone laughing out loud. Why the name "Taurus" for a magazine company? I was ready for that question, I chose Taurus because before wanting to launch a magazine company I was always going to just do blogs and let people understand the opinion from a Taurus. Taurus is my zodiac sign and after hearing someone tell me with the exact zodiac sign as me "You give us Taurus's a bad look" made me not let go of embracing my sign and around that time everyone was always talking about their zodiac sign. The name was to prove a point? No it was to embrace myself and others! You know lemons into lemonade. Where do you see this magazine going for you and your partner? I would like it to go up their with names of other Magazine companies like Vanity Fair (my favorite), Essence, and Vogue.
T
Christopher Malik CEO & EDITOR IN CHIEF
6 | TAURUS
WRITTEN BY DALEVIN, CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
hat are your plans for this magazine and other magazine you will publish release? I look to operating a full W and magazine company with my partner where we help launch others dream and just supporting not only Black Business but others as well this magazine; it's fun, it's from the community for the community. If we didn't have anything to promote or support my magazine would have no purpose. I fell in love with the process of building a magazine company. Your a college student, correct? What are you going to school for and how a magazine company can impact that? Yes, I attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I am majoring in Strategic Communication with a minor in management and marketing. I wantÂ
in a different way but because of Covid I had to take safety measures. How you get started with Taurus? Since 2015 I had a dream of being a fashion designer; at the time I was a business major at Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO) I thought I was headed in the right direction but I let things stop me from taking the route of what I wanted to do so I was basically going to college and forgot about everything I had planned for myself or even what I wanted to do anymore. Then finally I was at Delgado Community finishing up my marketing degree and realized I wanted to be a publicist; around that time there was beef between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B in the music industry and my opinion on that was there were two female rappers who genuinely didn't have an issue with each but
" At this point giving up because I don't have that big support that I would like is not a concern, I will continue to put the time and effort into what I wanna do." to be a celebrity publicist; have you ever heard of someone wanting to start a magazine company especially at a young age? I know I haven't. It contributes to my communication level and just because I'm getting a degree in one thing does not mean I can't do any or everything. I like to get my hands and knowledge on many of talents. What can you say about the people that you have in the magazine? The people that we ask to be apart of our very first magazine were people I either been knew or others I've just met, but I can say they have my full support because I believe in them and I am here for their skills. I asked these fellow business people to be in the magazine because I like success, I like seeing people passionate and believe in themselves and those are people I wanna be around and get to know. They also will be featured again under better circumstances; they all will be interviewed
I blamed their publicist. A publicist is "the truth through the fire" I like to say they are the information and the way out of situations, I say they failed at their job. And being told that I was a bad version of a Taurus it was time to put the communication to work. Communication was something I struggled with at the time so it was perfect for me I found my calling. How can anyone get in touch with Taurus about being part of the magazine? Anyone can be apart of Taurus Magazine weather it's to work with or be featured on. Reach out to prchristophermalik@gmail.com and all the information will be sent to you. We are always planning for the next step so reach out we don't bite.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 7
THE ZODIAC inspired by SAWEETIE Off-White look; suit made by FREDDIE B.
TAURUS: THE ZODIAC
When FREDDIE B. isn't in school studying premed at Xavier University of Louisiana, he's turning fabric into designs.
TAURUS
I AM A GEMINI
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 9
T h e
Z o d i a c
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B u s i n e s s
K
risten J. Moffett wanted more then anything to help others feel that power. 23 year old Kristen J. was an athlete all her life so the motivation was there and the motto was clear. NO PAIN NO GAIN; if your not feeling the pain then your not gaining anything. Inspired by none other than Jennifer Hudson, "watching her weight loss journey made me cry, also push me even more." says Kristen J. No Pain No Gain is the beginning, the middle, and the end. "It brought out a different side in me, and not just results..." said Moffett "but I was able to understand what I can do." If your in need of a trainer look no feature we have a amazing suggestion a Aquarius Kristen J. Moffett trainer and CEO of No Pain No Gain. $15 a hour and available at the call of her clients. " My workout time is my clients time as well."
10 | TAURUS
WRITTEN BY ANTONIO P., EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPH & STYLED BY KAREEM
WE TRAVEL NOT TO ESCAPE LIFE. BUT FOR LIFE NOT TO ESCAPE US. SEPTEMBER 2020 | 11
DENIM BLUES Blazer and Pants by BOOHOOMAN; The Stranger Things shirt from Urban Outfitters; shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue; belt from ASOS photograph by BROOKE
12 | TAURUS
SEPTEMBER 2020
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M u s i c
How would you describe yourself? I’m very goofy, I play all day until it’s time to get serious. I like to consider myself the jack of all trades, I can literally do anything that I put effort to weather its music, doing hair, dancing, fashion, and cooking. I say that about myself because if something doesn’t work out for me, I have multiple talents and back up plans that's good enough to fall back on.
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apricorn Style
How did you get the stage name "Davey Litt"?
I got my stage name from my childhood nickname which is Davey and everybody since highschool used to call me Litt because when I use to go out and have fun at parties. I used to be very fun in other words Lit, so Davey Litt became a common name when others would see me out and about. I put it together and made it me Davey Litt.
Who were your musical influences growing up and what is your favorite song that you keep on repeat? I love Jorja Smith, Flo Milli, Megan Thee Stallion and the Queen Nicki Minaj. Those are artist that musically influences me because they are the people that got me into wanting to rap. Their flows are hard and they just have that sound that grasp you in, also I like their word play and confidence. My favorite song out right now is May I by Flo Milli. 14 | TAURUS
You recently released a EP! What is your favorite song off "Poppin' Out"? Yes I have! That's tough LOL because all my songs are my favorites, but if I had to pick it would have to be D.A.V.E.Y or In The Party Remix. I show different sides of me when I rap in both. Sometimes I feel like the baddest b*tch walking so my lyrics would come off as a bad b*tch in the first half of In The Party, also the original version by Flo Milli my favorite song for the longest so I had to remix it to show some love. In D.A.V.E.Y, I was feeling like a very disrespectful gangsta and I love that side of me when it comes to my lyrics, they become more harsh and offensive but I also feel like it hit because I’m really talking that talk that I like. Where can others find your music? You can find my new EP "Poppin' Out" on soundcloud and my new visual for "Bully" which is also a song on my EP. That visual was directed by 16PROD.
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W o m a n
Natural Born Hustler
T
he Natural Born Hustler herself also know as Money, Accessories Matter owner. Money either raise the bar for upcoming business owners or maybe she is just what we call a business woman. Realizing that she been noticing how the people she has previously worked for was the reason they made any profit, it motivated her to know that she can do it on her own. "Not wanting to work for the white man, I worked in hospitality for i think 5 years and I made them so much money. And before then I worked for Koreans for 5 years while in high school going into college and i made them so much money as well." Said, Money. Sunday, July 19, 2020 evening Accessories Matter had a grand opening for its second location right on 116 Terry Pkwy, Terrytown, Louisiana. To celebrates its next level of accomplishment, while still running her first location: in The Esplanade Mall Kenner, Louisiana, 1401 W Esplanade Ave.
How would you describe yourself? I’m a beautiful black queen, self driven, self motivated, self made, self paid. I’m a born hustler, it’s pretty much in my blood I been making my own money since the age of six. Super down to earth, I’m half city girl half Lauryn Hill, I’m the whole package. How did you get started with Accessories Matter? I started with an online store and didn’t take it seriously and then I did a pop up shop for 7 months straight and said it was time for my own location. Bc the amount of money I would spend on vending and popups I would add it together and I figured I could just pay rent for my own location. Why you chose the name Accessories Matter for a business? From my name being money and there’s a movie called “Money Matters” so I felt like accessories matter it’s perfect but you know they do. What's your next goal for Accessories Matter? What's next for Accessories Matter- to have more locations and self branding clothes.
SETEPMBER 2020 | 15
@ACCESSORIES.MATTER
T h e
Z o d i a c
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T h e
G a l l e r y
"H$TLWLD"
I
don't know but I know I love it..
I'm trying this new thing of just letting my mind go and trying not to think too much into the simplest things like a sketch.
Laughing out loud I don't know if it's because I want everything to be perfect or I am afraid of messing up.
WRITTEN & PAINTED BY JERMAINE ROBINSON, ARTIST
16 | TAURUS
@ARTBYJROBINSON
SEPTEMBER 2020
The SAINTS official schedule
T h e
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C o o k i n g
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Instructions:
1. HEAT OLIVE OIL IN A HEAVY BOTTOM POT OR DUTCH OVEN
2. ADD IN ONIONS, BELL PEPPERS, AND CELERY
3. SAUTE UNTIL TRANSLUCENT
4. ADD IN THE MINCED GARLIC AND SAUTE FOR 30 SECS.
5. SPRINKLE IN FLOUR AND STIR FOR 1 MIN
6. POUR IN THE WINE AND STOCK
7. SIMMER FOR 5 MINS
8. ADD IN ALL REMAINING INGREDIENTS EXCEPT FOR THE SHRIMP, LIQUID CRAB BOIL, AND CREOLE SEASONING
9. STIR, COVER, AND SIMMER ON LOW FOR 30 MINS
10. SEASON TO TASTE
11. TOSS THE SHRIMP IN THE CRAB BOIL AND ADD THEM INTO THE POT
12. STIR UNTIL THE SHRIMP ARE PINK AND FULLY COOKED; ABOUT 5 MINS
13. SERVE OVER WARM RICE AND GARNISH WITH GREEN ONIONS
18 | TAURUS
@TAYLORBCOOKINGCATERING
IT'S BUSINESS Blazer by BOOHOO; pants from ASOS; shoes by Christian Louboutins photograph by CHRISTOPHER HORNE
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 19
TIPS FOR A
BACKAT2HOME CLASS 1.
SET UP YOUR SPACE AT HOME.
Find an area in your home that's conducive to working, whether it's a desk or the couch. Just make sure it allows you to stay focused.
2.
STICK TO YOUR ROUTINE.
Wake up early, take a shower, have breakfast or a cup of coffee, or juice. This helps prepare your mind and body for a productive day of working.
3
HAVE A TO-DO LIST (UNLESS ITS ZOOM CLASSES)
Before you start, list down your priorities for the day. Set pockets of time to complete your assignments and make sure you stick to your schedule.
4
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE BREAKS.
The key is balance. Give yourself enough time during the day to walk away from your computer screen and phone. Move around, take a step back, and have lunch. Don't fry yourself by trying to complete all the work in that one day.
20 | TAURUS
WRITTEN BY NYA WOODS-STEWARD, EDITOR
IT'S A LIBRA BIRTHDAY
23 Happy Birthday
D
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E
V
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!
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020 | 21
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WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED :)
@THETAURUSMAG
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