IMPORTS CAR MAGAZINE JULY 2021
NEW FEATURES NEW MODELS
M USIC
EDITION 21
Sp eci al D ou bl e Ed i t i on Feat u r i n g D u t ch ess O f I n k
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D o m i n i c Fi k e
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C y an ca
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Beau t y
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Cover Stor y D u t ch ess O f I n k
Ph ot ogr aph er : Lau r en ce Logan War dr obe: Ear r in gs Pr ovided : Mondavian Michquell ( House of Mikae'el) Pan t s: Five13 St u dios
" You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it. - Edith Head
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Shonie Written By Madison Stone in collaboration with Chequelle Brown
Singer-songwriter Shonie is ready to let the world know who she is. Her story, which she told in an exclusive Level21 interview, is one of pursuing your dreams no matter how crazy they might seem. With years of hard work under her belt and new music on the way, Shonie and her songs are a testament to how doing what you love, giving back to those who support you, and not being afraid to try can lead to incredible things. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Shonie said that her family traveled extensively because of her military father but that she would always find her roots in St. Louis. ?We would always end up back home,? she said. ?We were a part of the culture.? That culture? particularly the music? would be one of the main
influences on her future career path. Over the years, Shonie picked up techniques, style, and passion from the artists she loved to listen to, taking in their music while developing her own sense of style. ?I used to listen to a lot of Alicia Keys, and I love Jazmine Sullivan?s voice,? Shonie said. ?I also really like Rico Love. I was influenced a lot by his writing, and I got a lot of my techniques from him.? For all her love for music, though, Shonie didn?t start out as an artist. Her family was very traditional? Shonie is one of the oldest of 15 siblings, and that role came with certain expectations. ?My family wanted me to go to college, get a degree, get a job,? Shonie said. ?I did that, but I just wasn?t fulfilled.? Shonie said she simply couldn?t help but feel the call to write and sing? almost like the music was a force inside her she couldn?t quite dam. She felt she was meant to be an artist. ?It was something I had deep down in me,? she said, ?and I just cannot shake it.? It was not for lack of trying, though. Shonie did go down the more traditional route her family wanted for her, and she even got into nursing school. However, her artistic dreams couldn?t be held back forever.
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?I got to a point where I realized I just have to do what makes me happy, so I decided to go for it,? she said.
NEW MUSIC Making that decision? the one that would go on to change her life and pull her from the path she?d been on? is something Shonie said she?ll never forget. ?I remember the day,? she said. ?I?d moved to Texas with my sister because I was going to go to nursing school. I?d been accepted into the program, and my sister and I were going to the school to complete the paperwork. While we were driving, she turned and looked at me, and she said, ?Shonie, I think you will be a great nurse, and you?ll do a beautiful job at it, but that?s not what you want to do. You want to sing.?? Shonie?s sister then told her that no matter her decision, she would support Shonie in it. ?She said she?d have my back,? Shonie said. ?And I said, ?Okay, I?m going to do it.?? The two didn?t go to the school and instead drove straight to a music store, where her sister bought Shonie her first microphone. Shonie?s musical career had begun. ?After that, I was in my room for the entire summer, teaching myself how to write music,? she said. ?I forced myself to learn.? The two sisters set up Shonie?s social media accounts so that the up-and-coming singer could begin networking. She quickly connected with heavy hitters such as singer and producer Rico Love, who was one of her biggest influences and who helped mentor her through the early stages of her career.
DRIVE IN STYLE
?I was fortunate to get so much support early on in the process, and I don?t take that for granted,? Shonie said.
And she hasn?t taken it for granted. Shonie has been hard at work to make her dream come true, whether that be by working in the studio, teaching herself techniques, or ultimately just writing music that she loves and feels connected to? music that?s heartfelt, relatable, and real.
?I write my feelings,? she said. ?If I?m feeling a certain way, or if I feel like I didn?t say everything I wanted to in a conversation, I?ll write it down in my journal. Then, when I hear great music, or I have a track that touches me, I?ll go back to what I worte and play with the melodies and words until it pieces together.? This way of writing music? of making sure it?s something meaningful and true? is a big part of what Shonie said good singers and songwriters are meant to do. ?Artists are really heavy influencers in society, and that could be a great thing if you use it in the right way,? Shonie said. ?People are watching everything you do, so you have to be yourself. You have a voice, and you have a call. Use it to reach back out to your community. Just? stand for something positive. Be a good person.? Shonie said that one thing she wants people to know about her is that she?s trying to follow that philosophy? to be a good, true-to-self beacon in the community? in her pursuit of a musical career. ?I?m just trying to be myself,? she said, voice soft. ?I?m a person, and I?m trying to always be better. I operate out of love.? Shonie?s newest song, ?This 4U? featuring Jung Coasta, drops Oct. 29. It?s available for preorder now and can be requested on local radio stations. Its boppy melody and smooth lyrics have already earned it a spot in the top 10 requested songs on a local St. Louis station. Another of Shonie?s singles, ?Leave Me Alone,? is already available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and Amazon under the name Shan. You can find Shonie on Instagram @jusstshan, and on any other social media @JusstShonie.
NEW MUSIC Written By Sarah Hawkins
Behind The Unlikely Rise of Singer Songwriter Dominic Fike Dominic Fike is an intriguing and illustrious figure whose background
the officer to protect his brother, who was being pursued by the
nearly eclipses his immense talent. Long before he was being
police. Due to the charge, Fike was placed on house arrest--- which
scouted by record companies Dominic Fike was sitting in a jail cell in
ultimately became a blessing in disguise. Fike had nothing to do with
Florida. Long before he began recording his debut extended play
his time but work on his music, and it was then that Fike recorded
album (EP): ?Don?t Forget About Me?, he was bound to house arrest.
what became his debut EP, ?Don?t Forget About Me.?
When Dominic Fike was just 21 years old, it seemed as though his life was already over. Back in 2016, Dominic was charged with a house arrest for battery of a police officer. Barely old enough to drink, he was already labeled a felon. Little did he know in just a little over a year, Fike would soon be one of the most intriguing and up-and-coming music artists. Dominic Fike?s chaotic rise to stardom began long before his debut extended play album (EP) began charting internationally.
However, after failing a drug test, Fike was sent to jail in 2017. Determined for everyone to hear his music, Fike released the EP behind bars, and it quickly caught the attention of major record companies. After signing a $4 million dollar deal with Columbia Records while still in jail, Fike deleted all his music online, making him ostensibly a ghost. The entire industry waited for the young artist to finish his sentence. Hopefully, he would live up to the massive hype surrounding him.
Growing up in Naples, Florida, a city near the Gulf of Mexico, Dominic Fike had a troubled childhood. Both of his parents were in and out of jail, and his music became a form of escapism. Fike acquired his first guitar at the age of ten, and he has been playing nonstop ever since. Growing up, money was always tight. From a young age, Dominic had to provide for himself and his brother. At one point, he was so broke he had to sell his guitar to buy food, and he spent many nights sleeping in dingey hotel rooms.
Upon rereleasing the EP in 2018, Fike generated a massive amount of buzz, gaining international interest with hits such as, ?3-Nights? and ?King of Everything.? Fans enjoyed his fresh, genre-bending sound, fearless and unique like the artist himself. Fike?s life changed overnight and yet, at the same time, it hadn?t. While major stars such as DJ Khalid were tweeting about him, Fike found himself driving his mother to jail for her two-year prison sentence. He told Complex Magazine, ?Yeah, the day I released the
After he pushed an officer and was charged with a felony, things only got worse for Fike. Even though Fike swears he assaulted
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tape, I f* ckin?had to take my mom to jail for two years. So that's what
DRIVE IN STYLE happened that day.? The first thing he did after getting his paycheck from Columbia, was hire a lawyer to help reduce his mother ?s sentence. Now at 25, Dominic Fike has already been a huge success in the music industry, has collaborated with artists such as Halsey and Brockhampton, and has released numerous chart-topping singles, such as ?Acai Bowl? and ?Chicken Tenders?. Fike also branched out to the fashion industry and collaborated with Marc Jacobs, producing an exclusive tour hoodie back in 2019. In August of 2021, it was announced that he will be joining the cast of the HBO teen drama Euphoria for its second season. Even with this success, Fike remembers his roots. He continues to take care of family and the people who were there for him when he was a struggling artist in Naples. He relishes his ability to do so. ?I eat crazy foods, and I cover people?s rents,? he told the New York Times. ?I take care of people. Never done that? like people have always taken care of me.? Dominic Fike is genuine and doesn?t hide that scrappy kid from Naples. Maybe that?s what continues to make his music so unique and fresh.
NEW MUSIC
Cyanc a
Written By Kimberly Yates In Collaboration with Raven Goodson
?Fr om t er r ible su f f er in g com es beau t if u l ar t ,? -an on ym ou s
Life is suffering, and Cyanca like some has had more than her share. After losing her mother at two-years-old, she spent most of her time in the churches, namely the Baptist Church. There she built the skill set that would later reveal her purpose and hope? music. From seven years old to twenty-six, music kept Cyanca goin?even when she
Count ry Root s
lived from floor-to-floor at her friend?s homes. Even though life was dark, filled with depression, and a ?little rough,? she said, she still played at the church, and that gave her hope. Cyanca?s sounds not
Before the first grade, from the small country city of Smithfield, North Carolina, the prodigious Queen of neo-soul fell in love with music and the art of making it. Raised by her beloved aged grandparents (born in the 30?s) and widowed father, Cyanca learned as she put it, ?the BEST of both worlds,? and it shines like gold in her poetic, vibe-filled art. With wisdom and pure positivity, Cyanca relayed an example of her frugal grandparents blessing on her life from hangin?clothes on the line to dry to experiencing how to ?use
only drop a soul soothing beat, but her lyrics are packed with pain, hope, wisdom, and courage. Like most poetry, her lyrics require pondering to measure the layers of meaning. She said of her music, ?I feel like a lot of my music is just healing music, it?s a lot of in depth it makes you think, but at the same time I?m going to give you a vibe under it. That?s also how I can connect with people.? And her tunes carry a beautiful blend of varying sounds like R&B, Funk, Pop, and a Jazzy-soul anyone can appreciate.
[the] minimal resources to survive.? Cyanca?s music like her upbringing is layered with lesson and depth.
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Passion and Purpose are Born
With no home to call her own, one of Cyanca?s friends posed the question, ?If you could produce for anybody right now even if they were a celebrity who would it be?? Cyanca?s first thought was her favorite artist, Erykah Badu. But her friend didn?t stop there, like a true friend they pushed her. ?What if [Erykah Badu] asked you to make something up on the spot?? Cyanca was taken back. She had no experience or know-how to record it. She blew it off, but fate wouldn?t let her. She said, ?That night when I went to sleep ? my spirit was just testing me, all night. [it was almost] Like ? God [was] pushing me around and kinda wrestling with me. I woke up the next morning and started Googling studios.? That was 2014. She found a guy who offered to work with her, and she recorded her first song, ?Badu.?
How Do You Creat e Your Unique Style? ?The majority of my life, I was a musician. ? I started playing the keys and the drums at a young age, ? but honestly most of my stuff comes from experiences ? I went through in my childhood, but the best way for me to get a sound is [to find] ? the right vibe.?
Muse of Her Vibe When Cyanca is lookin?to create her jazzy soulful sounds, she escapes the city and heads far away. Usually, to the mountains of North Carolina, specifically Ashville. She said, ?The mountains, the bonfires, just the whole aesthetic of it always inspires me, cause it reminds me of home.? That feeling of home unlocks the wealth of experiences she pours into her lyrics. Plain and simple her unique sound and style stems from her Baptist influence, the classic musical roots of her grandparents, and a father from the 70?s and 80?s who loved artists like Run-DMC.
DRIVE IN STYLE
St udy and Influence
Cyanca doesn?t just create from raw talent, although it?s clearly present. She majored in Music at USC Greensborough, where she studied jazz and percussion. She said of her education?s influence, ?My sound is cultivated ? [with] a lot of base. You?re gonna hear a lot of pocket music [a delayed beat with a laid-back feel] that we refer to in the church, a lot of corset-sound [the free spirit style] of jazz trumpets. But yeah, I have a lot of soul, and a lot of things embedded in my brain.?
?No Ceil ing s? Even though Cyanca?s music has that old soul feel to it, she says she lives and directs her music by Solange?s example of ?no ceiling,? meaning there are no limits to what she may explore, accomplish, and create. She expressed the no limit vision herself best, ?I see myself grow musically? and sometimes hard to believe. ? There?s a
lot of jazz in my music, and I always try to keep that element, but my sound is expanding.? In her latest project released only weeks ago (September 10th ?Fast Times? by Infinite Companion) Cyanca said, ?There?s pop in there there?s funk, and those were sounds I?d never explored before. And I was scared because I know that my fans, they love that vibe; they love that groove [of] old school R&B? , but I didn?t want to be boxed in because I know what I?m capable of.?
Passion, Purpose, and Poise Cyanca is one determined lady of talent. She knows where she comes from, where?s she headed, and what she aims to inspire. Check her out at, cyanca.is and her old soul vibes with Infinite Companion. Check out her albums: The Isle of Queens, I?m Staying Home, and her latest project Fast Times, or download some of her favs:
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?Fast Times? Patti Mayonnaise ?Eat? ?Badu? ?Katina Brother ? ?Recipe?
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The Secret Life Of
Dutchess Of Ink Written By Sarah Hawkins
F
ormer Black Ink Crew star, Dutchess Lattimore, has been very
busy since she left the VH1 show. In fact, she describes her departure from Black Ink Crew as, ?the beginning of [her] real life.? Since leaving, she has found success with her production company in connection with Hudson Valley, shooting the likes of Lil Baby, 42 Dugg, Future, and even NBA Youngboy?s ?Outside Today? music
The rest were all white. So for me, I felt [like] How can somebody white tell our story, the way that it should be told??? This frustration catalyzed her journey into production. She understood that people like her needed to be in control of telling their own stories. ?I want to be able to tell black stories the way that black people understand them and black people appreciate them,? she explained.
video which has since garnered over 206 million views. ?I don?t talk about it enough,? she told us. ?It?s something that I hold close to my
So for Dutchess, her foray into production was a lot more than just
heart. It's business for me. As long as we put out good work I don?t
a business decision. It was a deeply personal commitment to
care if the world knows that it's me or my company. I just want my
changing a system from the inside out. However, with that being
clients to be happy.?
said, music had always been in her roots. And thus, music production became a natural next step in her career. Her entire
Indeed, since the inception of her production company back in 2018, Dutchess has been working nonstop paving a distinct path for herself within the industry. She co-wrote her first movie, False Advertisement, which was featured in the American Black Film Festival back in 2019. She has also forayed into radio, joining the
family is musically inclined. Her grandfather was a founding member of the Southern Crusaders, a very well known gospel quartet based in North Carolina. All of her brothers and sisters are musically inclined as well. Her aunt plays the bass, and her uncle plays ?every kind of guitar that you can think of.?
show 92.7 The Block. There she broadcasts every Sunday. When asked how she feels about making the transition from reality TV to
But much like other aspects of her career, Dutchess?foray into
radio, she describes radio as a more intimate medium. ?When
music has been unconventional. When asked about her thoughts on
you're on TV you're watched all over the world,? she explained.
the biggest misperception about music, she explained, ?They put me
?When you're on the radio it's pretty much [just the] people...you
in a box.? No disrespect to any of the women in music, but I don?t fit
see at the grocery store, the people that interact with my brand. So I
in any of their boxes.? Dutchess vehemently works to remain
actually appreciate radio a little bit more. I like being in touch with
outside of the box, and is dedicated to carving out a career that
people in my community.?
doesn?t abide by contemporary trends in music. ?I don?t oversexualize myself. I dont talk about sex in my music. I just talk
Since her departure from Black Ink Crew, Dutchess has been very vocal about her hopes for the industry and the path she continues to pave for other black artists. She felt dismayed about her time working for Big Fish Productions the production company behind Black Ink Crew. She explained, ?I did 152 episodes on VH1 and none of the people who work for Big Fish look like us except for like one.
about the things that women will appreciate, and [the things] men will appreciate in women,? she explained. ?So it's different from the trends that we have in music now, but it's something that I feel? is necessary.?
L I FE BEYOND BL ACK I NK
When she?s not putting work into her company, Dutchess works on building up her charity, Beat Yourself Beautiful, which was founded so women and men can combat their insecurities. She also is looking forward to several upcoming projects in the works, including a new show she will begin shooting next August. While she couldn?t share too many details about the project, she did tell us it will be
Con t in u ed..
?reality based, but not a reality show [and it will] shine light
In keeping with her own personal philosophy, Dutchess
on things that Melanin kings and queens will appreciate.?
continues to vocally support other artists that are going
She is also gearing up to release the film, False
against the grain, shouting out in particular artists such as
Advertisement on streaming platforms; however, she hasn?t
Rhapsody and Mumu Fresh. Rhapsody is a Grammy
decided which platform it will drop on yet. Overall,
nominated rapper out of Snow Hill North Carolina. Mumu
Dutchess, though extremely busy, is creating much needed
Fresh is an award winning rapper whose songs discuss her
ripples within the entertainment industries. No doubt, her
Native American heritage her ancestral lineage?s
ripples will grow into waves to affect the much needed
connection to modern day struggles. Both women have
change.
paved their careers apart from the beaten path, a quality which Dutchess respects immensely. ?Those are the women that I kinda draw my inspiration from because I love the underdog.? She continued, ?I?ve been the underdog. So, I love the person who?s completely against what mainstream thinks is mainstream.?
Photography: Laurence Logan Hair: Felicia Brown Hudson Wardrobe: Top: Five13 Studio, Ripped Jeans: Nira Loves Fashion Boutique, Shop MGH ( Jewelry), Levi ( Jewelry) , Shoe & Bag: Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton MUA: April Hill Earrings: Provided By Mr. D. Stylist and Creative Director : Tempestt Harris
St ylist - JT's Kloset ( Jer r y Th om pson ) Ph ot ogr aph er : Lau r en ce Logan War dr obe: Zu ew ay -w w w.zeu w ay.com Jack et :M ach in e 56- Pat r ick - Leon
Photography:Michael Lopez Hair: Felicia Brown Hudson Wardrobe: Top: Five13 Studio, Nira Loves Fashion Boutique, Shop MGH ( Jewelry), Levi ( Jewelry) , Shoe & Bag: Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton MUA: April Hill Earrings: Provided By Mr. D. Stylist and Creative Director : Tempestt Harris
ON
TREND
Written By Sarah Hawkins in collaboration with Chequelle Brown
CURT KEYZ For Charlotte-based pianist and singer-songwriter Curtis Hayes, aka
my fans and to me.? The album feels particularly raw and personal
Curt Keyz, his music is an outlet for him to be who he wants to be.
and even features his grandmother ?s voice in an interlude? a candid
Maybe that?s why all of his albums feel so vulnerable and raw. Curt
recording in which she describes the racism and white supremacy
Keyz fell in love with music at a young age and began playing the
she experienced at an all black school. ?I like those candid moments,?
drums at 5 and the piano at 16. He found his passion for music even
Curt Keyz told us. ?It's super important for me to immortalize the
in a place he described as a ?culture desert.?He grew up in Great Falls,
people who I love the most.?
South Carolina? which he describes as, ?A really small, one-stoplight town. ?It?s like a culture desert with not really a lot of cultural outlets? specifically music? he told us. ?I had a graduating class of 75.? Even in that environment, Curt Keyz gravitated towards music and
But Curt Keyz?s music is more than just self-reflective. Last December he released an EP entitled Black Heart, which was inspired by police brutality and so many other things. He says that the EP started in a place of anger and disappointment, but that changed. He said, ?These days I?m not really angry, I just want to bring awareness. I
found a passion for the piano at a young age. ?I fell in love with the
always have hope and that's how it feels. I hope that it won't always
piano, it?s my favorite instrument,? he told us. ?Piano is my baby.?
be this way.? With his latest album, CURT(IS) Curt Keyz has decided to
While he played piano throughout his adolescence, it wasn?t until he
step away from the piano and focus more on his vocals and engaging
went through a tough breakup that Curt Keyz decided to start writing
with the audience. ?I think my artistry especially on this album, I
his own songs, which catalyzed his debut album, Love or Lack Thereof
started to explore what it meant for me to be an arranger, a
(released in 2018). He produced that album to show people who he
composer, a producer, a songwriter, and even a performer,? he told
was and what he could do. ?The album didn?t have any features on it
us. ? I like not playing but really singing and engaging with the
because I really wanted to show that I could do it by myself.? Even
audience.? Thus, this album symbolizes a shift for Curt Keyz both
more impressive, producing the album in a storage unit while
personally and professionally, as he explores new sides of his artistry
homeless. ?[Because] I made that album in a storage unit when I was
and personality. Indeed, in this latest album, CURT(IS), Curt Keyz really
homeless...it holds a special place in my heart,? he told us.
is ?being instead of doing.? When we asked how you ?be? instead of
Today, three years since his debut album, Curt Keyz can reflect on how far he has come both personally and professionally. Now, he goes into the studio with zero expectations. Instead, he focuses on the moment and the experience. This process, he believes, makes his music more potent and vulnerable. His latest project, entitled CURT(IS), is Curt Keyz?s attempt to really tap into who he is. ?This project came from me actually just wanting to reintroduce myself. I felt as though I had been kind of diluted. I wasn?t giving my full self to
?do? he said, ?Get out of everyone else?s lives and get into your own. Tap into who you really are and how you?re really feeling.? And how is Curt Keyz feeling right now? ?Courageous, honest, and heartfelt,? he told us. Curt?s latest album, CURT(IS), is now streaming on all music platforms including: Spotify, Youtube Music, Pandora, and Apple Music.
Ch a r l e s D. Cl a r k , a n A c t o r , a F a t h e r , a n d Sa g e o f W i s d o m Written By Kimberly Yates
O T
he Show that launched him on the trajectory to stardom. Empire is a classic
drama about a wealthy family but with a twist and is a Fox?s most watched
series. In season one, from first to last show, the premier captivated 10 million viewers growing to the finale, which counted 17 million. So what is it that draws people? A powerful hip-hop mogul, Lucious Lyon (diagnosed with a terminal illness) is forced to choose a successor among his three sons. While that is not your average family drama, those three brothers have been battling for their father ?s attention and control over his multi-million-dollar company, somewhat normal. More relevant, Lucious?ex-wife (who took the fall for his previous drug
martial arts, still playing, sports baseball, football. My mom, you know, came to most of my stuff, but [I wanted] to hear [my] dad?s voice. You hear other kids [dads shoutin?] that?s my son. Go get ?em, boy? I didn't get that. I didn't hear that. It took a toll on me, every Christmas, every birthday. I wanted my dad, and you know when you get older, you start hanging out [with your dad]? [My mom] she was just going through so much, you know, dealing with the pain.? Like a normal human, he sought out something to fill that void. As an early teen, he found the satisfaction to fill that fatherly void in the brotherhood of gangs.
career and landed a 17-year prison sentence) is out of jail and scheming to reclaim what is hers. Empire is a Shakespearean soup of human foibles in the
Within the gang?s violent atmosphere, his ambitious nature opened doors, and
modern world, and Clark is a distinguishable ingredient in that stew.
he excelled. With success came more encouragement, honor, and power. The simple, ?Good job, son,? and proud reciprocation of men and brothers hooked
Where does Charles D. Clark fall in this star-studded cast? Charles Clark is the main goon for Shyne Johnson (played by Xzibit). Shyne is Lucious Lyon?s longtime friend on the show. When Shyne is slighted, tension builds. Shyne
him line and sinker. In a short time, he became a high-ranking gang man in a world of guns, bullets, and bloodshed. Success in that dark world, however, landed him behind bars for drug and gang charges? seven long years.
must decide whether to use information that could take down the entire empire or not, and Clark is the thug caught between the two most powerful people. Who is this man behind Shyne?s goon?
Behind bars, he was surprised. He again found similar bonding brotherhood and mentorship. This time from men who urged Charles in a positive direction. Clark passionately emphasized, what people believe all prisoners are like is simply not true. He said, ?[People] wrote me off a long time ago, and look at me now. I am the same guy just with a different heart.? There are the few who if
Part of Charles Clark?s story ironically doesn?t fall far from is role on Empire.
they were released would tirelessly be trouble, but for the most part, most
Clark served seven years in prison for living a life much like that of his casted
prisoners have good hearts. Clark said of his fellow prisoners, ?a lot of [them
character and the main character Lucious. But, how on earth did a man of
were] good brothers? intelligent brothers who would put Harvard to shame
Clark?s talent, kindness, inspiration, and charisma end up there? As a small boy, Clark?s father died while serving our country. He was even awarded the Purple Heart for his valiant sacrifice. His father ?s death (understandably so) left a huge hole in young Charles. Even though his mother did all she could to provide him with his every need from extracurricular activities to keep young Charles?active, ambitious nature out of trouble, she could not be his father. ?I remember and growing up, you know, I was doing
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with extensive vocabularies and? articulate [speech].? These brilliant men encouraged Clark to use his gifts and talents to make positive changes in the world. They would say things like, ??Young blood you can change the world. You are that guy.?These are ex-gangsters, big time kingpins, [and] big time millionaire?s telling me, ?[Clark,] take what you know and do it the right way, and you will change this world.?I kept hearing [that] every day.? Sometimes all people need is for someone to believe in them especially after
they?ve made a few, a dozen, or numerous wrong turns. These men did this for
probably knew him best? his father ?s mother) that he was in fact her son, or it
Clark.
would stress her system and kill her. With poise, unselfish love and raw talent, Clark pulled himself together and convinced his grandmother he was his
Paying it Forward
father. Ironically the lessons Clark learned in prison not only helped him find his
ON TREND worth, but also later (in action) earned him an honorary Doctorate title. Years after his release, during the peak of Baltimore?s riots, several people he was connected to on social media asked him to go to Baltimore. Because of his
violent background he didn?t flinch for fear but pondered, ?What is it about me
that they [want]?? Being a man of God, he answered the call but prayerfully
approached how he could help. He said he ultimately decided to go because he
After she left, the correction officer pulled Clark to the side. Clark, expecting to be body checked for contraband, was taken back when the officer looked at
him and said in awe, ?Charles whatever you plan on doing when you get out of
here, you need to be an actor. For you to sacrifice that moment for your
grandmother 's condition and for her sake was an Oscar moment, and that?s
something you can?t be trained. Man? that was powerful.?
felt reflecting on his dark time in the streets, ?Why not go and be in the street
NEON FOR FALL???
and help bring peace and bring God's love in the most devastating moment.?
He continued, ?So I was down there during the riot talking to the youth because ? [they were] tearing the city down.?
Over time, he pondered the officer ?s words and tossed the idea around, but it wasn?t until after he was released the gravity of that moment sank in. A couple of weeks later his grandmother died. The day he was released it started to sink in. He first went to a halfway house for 6 months and when he was finally
When he approached the troubled youth, instead of lecturing them or chastising their poor behavior, he listened. He asked simply why they were destroying the city. He said there response was, ?We've tried everything, [we] could to get them to hear our voice. So we figured this is the last resort.? Clark sat with these kids and looked at them not as troublemakers but as people in pain and in need. He listened without judgment, sat with them in their hurt, hugged a few, and fed even more. Even after the riot had ceased he was part of the Empowerment Baltimore Movement with Pastor Jamal Bryant and Jeff
released for good. The first place he went to was his grandmother ?s house. He went back into her room and sat quietly. Her familiar peppermint and lavender still permeated the room. In the quiet, he replayed his last moment with her in that visiting room, and he realized, ?I didn?t really sacrifice myself, [or] my last moment with my grandmother? my grandmother sacrificed her last moments to show me [acting] was my purpose.? His grandmother gave him his first audition. Clark said of this tender moment, ?My grandmother is [the] passion that drives me.?
Johnson. Thus, for his service and work, he was honored with the title Doctor of Divinity from one of the New Jersey Bible colleges. Hence he is known as Dr. Charles D. Clark, but in truth, he prefers just plain old Charles D. Clark.
Sacrifice begets Blessings When others released from prison felt they had not option, they went back to
His Oscar Moment and Inspirations
crime. For Clark, his purpose and passion propelled him forward. When he heard Empire was being filmed, he thought it was in New York, but really it was
From prisoner, to public speaker, and now Doctor, Clark clearly is a testament
in Chicago. Even the distance didn?t stop him. He decided, even though it was
of hope and possibility. But how did he end up in the acting world?
almost fourteen hours away and he would only be cast as a background
Near the end of his sentence, his beloved grandmother (one of three people
season three, Clark leapt into the darkness with his dream and passion to guide
chosen to pick him up when he finished his time) came to visit him in the
him.
person, he knew he wanted to go. With no agent and the show entering
prison. She came with Clark?s aunt and uncle. He hadn?t seen her in over six years, so you can imagine he missed her terribly and couldn?t wait to speak with her, but when she came to the visiting room, Clark?s uncle was feeding her and his aunt hurried over to him. She said, ?Look at me, look at me.? She needed his full attention, and he focused on her message as heart breaking as it was. His grandmother had dementia and three brain tumors, she was dying. The anticipated comfort he was looking for, possibly an explanation of why he was there, anything he?d imagined or hoped was all out the window. His aunt told Clark, his grandmother thought Clark was her son (Clark?s dad). She had no idea she was in a prison-visiting center. He had to pretend to be his father, a man he only knew till he was just about six years old. With little personal information, he acted based on stories and information shared with him throughout the years. It was imperative he convince her (the one person who
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" One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. -Bob Marley
"
NEW MUSIC Written By Mary Ann Baber
JU N G C O A ST A Beh in d t h e Gr in d: A Level Tw en t yOn e Exclu sive Wit h Em er gin g Rapper Ju n g Coast a
Getting to that next level as a musician and rapper is anything but an overnight ordeal, no matter what you may have heard from Twista. SmartRapper.com claims that it takes an average of 10 years of hustle for a rapper to really blow up. Staying focused through years of albums, traveling, interviews and shows is anything but easy. Emerging Rapper, Jung Coasta, gave us here at Level21 an exclusive glimpse of what he has learned along the grind.
Let?s take it back to the beginning where the man got his name. Who really is Jung Coasta? Well he started out as a 14 year old boy that loved to be behind the wheel of a car.
?I used to jump on the highway, go out on the town, and just drive ?coast to coast?? Coasta laughed as he explained how his friends started calling him by his now stage name. He may not be 14 years old anymore but the St. Louis native is still representing his city down South in one of the biggest hip hop capitals in the world - the ATL. ?I?ve lived in Atlanta for about a year and a half now, so it?s most definitely a second home for me,? he explained when we asked about a recent show he had just wrapped up. It wasn?t long ago that he was down in Miami performing on stage with the ?Uncle? and renowned rapper, Nelly.
The inside scoop straight from the source is all about his fresh mixtape with a drop date of October 8th called with Just in Time. These thirteen tracks are ready to bring you all the real vibes. ?Oh it?s amazing. It?s amazing. It?s about the ladies, it?s about the struggle. Like I said, it's about me. I got a story to tell, and I just need people that want to listen,? Coasta said.
Coasta is currently signed to the Derrty Entertainment record label , founded by Nelly who is the CEO and led by President and rapper, Ali. The Label based out of St. Louis also features artists like Murphy Lee and R&B singer Avery Storm.
One thing we can say without a doubt is that Jung Coasta?s music is just about as real as it gets, and his process tells it all.
?I?ll be sitting in front of the microphone, sitting in front of the computer and just let it all out. Sometimes I make six, seven songs in one night and only two of them be bangers, but other ones I build ideas off of,? Coasta explained as he walked us through his creative process, ?I haven?t written down a lyric in I don?t know how long. I go straight in on the mic and express my feelings into the microphone.?
And that?s just a glimpse into how the studio magic happens, but you know it wouldn?t be a music feature without us sharing some of our favorites- new and old from Jung Coasta himself.
It?s moments like these that motivate Coasta to keep pushing forward.
?I always have moments like that. Music never gets old to me, and that made my passion for music be way more just to see that crowd. I wasn?t even scared or nothing,? he laughed. ?I was just like I?m here now, let?s go.?
That passion began all the way back in St. Louis through friends, family, and artists that inspired him along the way like Nelly, Yo Gotti, Rich Homie Quan and Meek Mill. The first time that his industry big brothers let him in the studio was another big moment for Coasta, but it didn?t come easy.
?They used to be hard on me though. They?d be like, man you ain?t ready to be on the song,? he reminisced, ?I always believed in myself, but seeing people?s reaction to my records motivates me to keep going,? he shared.
There are different moods he takes us through, but if you?re ready to just have a good time our go to?s are Yeah Yeah or I just Might. If you?re looking for more of a chill vibe we?ve got that for you too. You can tune into Over and Over or Flex ft.Jung Tru.
Ready to get your grind on and need some tunes to take it to the next level? Better listen to Boss ft. Yo Gotti, or No Days Off. Finally, if you?re looking for the latest and the greatest you are just in time to tune into his Coasta?s Just in Time mixtape.
You can listen to these and more if you give Jung Coasta a follow on Spotify, and you can see even more behind the scenes and live content through Instagram @JungCoasta_ right now. He?s on the rise, he?s taking No Days Off and you heard it here first at Level TwentyOne. Make sure to show your love and support the grind to one of the realest in the rap game as he takes his story from coast to coast.
MILAN ? Forget the summer of love; welcome to the season of sex. It has been bubbling up ever since New York Fashion Week began (ever since thenaked summer, really). But on Friday it moved to the center of the catwalk conversation. When Versace and Prada ? the id and the ego of the Italian industry ? both start getting fleshy, something is going on. By Van essa Fr iedm an