Owners Illustrated Issue XI

THE OFFICIAL GUIDE FOR THE URBAN ENTREPRENEUR

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PLUS UGK

JEEZY SNOOP COMMON JAMIE FOXX YOUNG BUCK LEBRON JAMES CHAMILLIONAIRE TOYZ PREVIEW

DAVID BANNER SPEAKS ON HIS PLANS FOR DOMINATION

NFL SPECTACULAR TEAM BY TEAM BREAKDOWNS & EXCLUSIVE PLAYER INTERVIEWS

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Toyz

CURTI$ 50 CENT JACK$ON THE RICH GET RICHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON EVERYTHING DOLLAR$ AND $EN$E

50 CentÕs new CD Curtis and the Pontiac G6 GXP Street Edition available now ©2007 GM Corp. All rights reserved. G6¨ GXP¨ Pontiac¨

there are two sides to every street.

50 82 CENT

Features

40 MERCEDES BENZ SLR ROADSTER

66 NFL SPECTACULAR Photography: Banks

Team by Team Midseason Breakdown

76 DAVID BANNER Exclusive Interview

36 Saleen S7

Sections LIFESTYLE EVENTS 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

Vibe Party with Jamie Foxx Vibe Party with Lebron James Young Jeezy Street Dreams After Party Snoop Dogg and Lanz Show Common Listening Party Chamillionaire Listening Party UGK “The Game Belongs To Me” Video Young Buck “Get Buck” Video Black Mens Model Search

TOYZ CARS 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52

Pontiac G6 GXP Street Jaguar XJR Spyker C12 Zegato Saleen S7 Bentley Brooklands Mercedes Benz SLR Roadster Pontiac G8 Test Drive: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Test Drive: 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Test Drive: 2007 Lexus GS 450h Test Drive: 2007 GMC Sierra Denali Test Drive: 2007 Yukon Denali

TOYZ GADGETS & GAMES 54 Gadgets: iPods and Verizon Voyager 55 Games: Madden NFL 08

GIVING BACK 56 Charles Grant Bayou Bling Charity Event 58 The Three Kings of Washington Give Back

SPORTS 60 62 63 64

Q&A: Washington Redskins Santana Moss Q&A: Houston Texans Andre Johnson Q&A: NY Giants Sinorice Moss Marshawn Evans: Giving Athletes a Sharper Edge

MONEY 74 NFL Team Values 75 Hip Hop Cash Kings

MODELING & ENDORSEMENTS 94 Angel

Toyz Coming Soon!

www.ownerstoyz.com www.myspace.com/ownerstoyz

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

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he old idiom you are only as good as who you surround yourself with is true. Those who are successful are so because of the right blend of people they have around them. I recently sat with Russell Simmons for our fourth anniversary issue cover and he explained the same. His success was largely, in part, to having the right energy and talented people around him. In Def Jam’s hay day, you had people such as Lyor Cohen, Kevin Lyles, and of course, 50 Cent’s manager, Chris Lighty.

50 Cent now benefits from that expertise and they have made incredible magic together in a short period of time. Their most notable achievement, however, is historic. 30 years ago, no one could have imagined a hip-hop artist at the table of www.ownerstoyz.com a $4.1 billion dollar acquisition by one of America’s most recognizable brands globally. Coca-Cola is probably America’s greatest export brand-wise. Yet, here goes this kid from Southside Queens at the table due to his contributions making Vitamin Water popular. That is the definition of Hustlenomics and the future of the game if others are willing to learn. David Banner is never scared to speak his mind and his courage in defense of the plight of others is admirable and shows that Hip-Hop also has humanity. Jay-Z has lunch with the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, and Lebron James is consulted financially by the greatest investor of all time, Warren Buffett. Who said Hip-Hop was in trouble? Who said the end is eminent for the culture? Respect, Money and Power. Jay-Z once said “all we got is sports and entertainment.” This issue, we bring you stories from the sports and entertainment world. Over 2000 world class athletes play the gladiator sport of football in the NFL every year and some don’t make it to opening day. Others get there just to be finished for the season due to career and life threatening injuries like Buffalo’s Kris Everett.

When they are not on the field, however, there are tons of stories of how athletes enrich their communities and give back to their fans. We give you a few and will continue in the future as we did in the past. One story hits us in the heart here at Owners Illustrated, because in 2004 we featured a shy and humble Mike Vick doing charity work in Atlanta with disadvantaged youth. Somewhere along the way, the poor characters he surrounded himself with became too much to manage and the flaws in his loyalty to them was evident when none ultimately proved loyal. The lesson after the resentment and pain subsides is that character takes strength and the true measure of a man is how he responds to adversity.

Anything is possible regardless of how dark it looks outside, because winners never quit. Redemption is always possible for Man doesn’t grant it; it comes from a higher power. So, however dark it looks, the Sun will always shine tomorrow and when it doesn’t, it won’t matter anymore. To the future!

Yours truly,

Issue XI Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Damola Idowu Design Travis Alford Copy Editor Keyla McNeely for Keywords Communications Photography RichardFlood.com Wil David Banks Damola Staff Writers Damola Da Great Deity Dah Andrea “Misery” Wilson Keyla McNeely Marketing & Promotions Damola Quincy Taylor Dawoud Shadeidu Brian Williams Reggie Mathews RW Collection Models Advertising Damola RichardFlood.com Quincy Taylor Jay Alexander Sales Damola Richard Flood Jalil (Southwest Rep.) College Representative Kunle Idowu Intern Chris Barnes Newsstand Consultant John Blassingame Legal Counsel Reginald E. Greene, Esq.

THE HUSTLENOMICS ACADEMY “I sponsored the movement.”

Damola “Da Great Deity Dah” Idowu Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Founder Owners Illustrated Magazine

www.myspace.com/ownersillustrated www.myspace.com/hustlenomicsceo 8 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

Owners Illustrated Magazine is published bi-monthly by Royal Alchemist Productions, LLC. © 2007 Royal Alchemist Productions, LLC P.O. Box 65484 Washington, D.C. 20035 Sub. rates: 1 year – $14.99, 2 years – $28.99 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.Visit us online: www.ownersillustrated.com Phone: 202.607.3629 Fax: 301.588.1011

THE OFFICIAL GUIDE FOR THE URBAN ENTREPRENEUR

Women S THEOLA OwnerS Illustrated Presents

ISSUE

ASHLEY PAIGE’S FASHIONS GO WILD 50 CENT PRESENTS G-UNIT WOMENS BEYONCE KELLY ROWLAND QUEEN LATIFAH NIA LONG COME OUT IN STYLE

BORDEN TYRESE J RECORDS EXEC SHAPES THE STARS

BARES HIS SOUL

Kelis

DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER 2007

Takes You To The Edge and Beyond

DOWNLOAD THE PREMIER ISSUE @ www.ownersillustrated.com/WomensIssue.pdf

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IN STORES NOW!

COMING UP NEXT OWNERS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE 4TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE The Godfather speaks along with the bosses •Russell Simmons• •Steve Rifkind• •Kevin Liles• •Forest Whitaker• •Nelly• •RZA•

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EVENTS — VIBE PARTY WITH JAMIE FOXX — LAS VEGAS, NV

Photography: RichardFlood.com

LIFESTYLE

Jamie Foxx

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Idris Elba

Hassan Johnson

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EVENTS — VIBE PARTY WITH LEBRON JAMES — LAS VEGAS, NV

Photography: RichardFlood.com

LIFESTYLE

LeBron James

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Tony Rock

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Young Jeezy

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Photography: RichardFlood.com

EVENTS — YOUNG JEEZY STREET DREAMZ AFTER PARTY — HOUSTON, TX

Photography: RichardFlood.com

LIFESTYLE

Big Bank Hank

Photography: Wil David

Slim Thug

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EVENTS — SNOOP DOGG AND LANZ SHOW — WASHINGTON, DC

Photography: Wil David

LIFESTYLE

Snoop Dogg

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Bishop Don Magic Juan

Lanz

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Common

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Photography: RichardFlood.com

EVENTS — COMMON LISTENING PARTY — NYC

Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE

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LIFESTYLE

EVENTS — CHAMILLIONAIRE LISTENING PARTY — NYC

Photography: Banks

Chamllionaire

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CoCo

Ice T Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 23

Photography: RichardFlood.com

LIFESTYLE

EVENTS — UGK “THE GAME BELONGS TO ME” VIDEO SHOOT — HOUSTON, TX

Pimp C

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Bun B

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Photography: RichardFlood.com

LIFESTYLE

EVENTS — YOUNG BUCK “GET BUCK” VIDEO SHOOT — ATLANTA, GA

Young Buck

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Jeezy

E-40

DJ Drama

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LIFESTYLE

EVENTS — BLACK MENS MAGAZINE MODEL SEARCH — WASHINGTON, DC

Photography: Wil David

Damola. 1st Winner Safaa Superstar, and Marcus Blassingame

John Blassingame and 1st Winner Safaa Superstar

Angel and Damola 28 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

DJ Kay Slay

TOYZ: CARS

PONTIAC G6 GXP STREET

Craig Bierley (left), Marketing Director for Pontiac, and Chris Hornberger, Ad Manager for Pontiac

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hings are new at Pontiac. Fresh off the success of the Solstice and the G6, Pontiac is now prepping up anticipation for the all-new rear wheel drive vehicle, the G8. We had an opportunity to meet two men who are responsible for the awareness and marketing efforts during an event they were sponsoring involving endorsee 50 Cent in New York. They have also tied into the marketing of the Hot Halo3 video game. With both 50 Cent and Halo 3, they are giving away Pontiac’s all new G6 GXP Street.

Please introduce yourselves and your job description for Pontiac?

CB: I’m Craig Bierley, the Marketing Director for Pontiac.

CH: Chris Hornberger, Ad Manager for Pontiac.

Alright. So we’re here at the 50 Cent show at the Hammerstein Ballroom. How did your relationship with Fifty actually develop?

CH: Our relationship with Fifty actually developed in January beginning at the Detroit North American International Auto Show. He really was attracted to the G6 Street that we were showcasing as a concept vehicle. He really liked it. He also had a lot of quotes out there saying, ‘you used to have to pimp your ride, now your ride already comes pimped.’ And again, Fifty’s whole marketing with Reebok invited a wider audience or things that are attainable, not necessarily the $100,000 car. And, with Pontiac, we have performance. We have design. Our cars are affordable and attainable for his fans. So that’s really where our relationship was built from.

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CB: It’s real important to him that the products he is involved with are attainable for his fans and the G6 GXP Street is a great example of that. It’s a hot car with great performance and an attractive price point.

Please tell us about the new revamped product line for Pontiact. The Grand Prix and the Grand Am are gone. It’s a whole new product line.

CB: The product renaissance started when we introduced the Solstice. Next, we brought out the G6 and there’s three versions of the G6. This fall, we’re introducing the G6 GXP Street which adds our performance nameplate to the G6 line. We have a Solstice GXP, a Torrent GXP and our ultimate performance car that’s coming out the beginning of next year- the G8 which is the V8 version of the G8. It’s going to have over 360 horsepower and produce 0-60 in a little over five seconds. It really is our flagship product.

Pontiac talks about affordability and when I think about the Solstice, even the Solstice GXP fully-loaded, that’s under $30,000, but the performance is like what you would get with a foreign luxury convertible. With this, what are you trying to communicate to the consumer-base now about Pontiac?

CB: What we’re really trying to communicate is really an aspirational performance that’s attainable. So, we have vehicles that are among the best in their class in terms of overall performance, vehicle dynamics, acceleration, but at the same time, a terrific value.

Of course. So now you have the G8 GXP at the top of the line. Are there any other things that we could expect from Pontiac?

CB: Well, we haven’t made an announcement about the G8 GXP, but we have a G8 that we’re introducing. And yeah, there’ll be some more news later this year.

So now…

CB: I can’t say anything more than that. (laughter) Now, what are some of the other things? Obviously, I saw the G8 in about three of his videos.

CB: The G6 CH: Yes, the G6 and the G8 Yeah, I saw the G8 in two of his videos actually, the new one with Robin Thicke and also…

CH: That was Follow My Lead and also Amusement Park.

Exactly. He had those in the video. What are some of the other ways you’re integrating his marketing ability with what you guys are trying to communicate about your products?

CB: We are really trying to do that very organically so we were trying to do it in music events. We really like sponsoring the 5 Burroughs Concert Tour like the event we just had in Las Vegas the night before the VMA’s. We also sponsored a concert that he put on at the Hard Rock Hotel; it was huge attendance the night before the VMA’s so that’s kind of the way we’re trying to approach it. We’re really going after the music audience.

What are some of the other things that we could expect as far as marketing and reaching audience bases from GM and especially Pontiac?

CH: Well, at Pontiac, we always are taking the lead on a lot of initiatives out there. We are always in the forefront in all of the marketing at General Motors. We have done things with Myspace, with Second Life and other avenues like that. We are always trying to be progressive and get in the forefront, in essence, we have a lot of things that we’re still working on. For us, digital is a huge component, you know. Our consumers are in their mid-twenties and so forth. So, we’re always thinking of the next level and the digital aspects. We are trying to work with a lot of music artists in our Pontiac Garage platform. We have all ranges of artists from Avril Lavigne, all the way to 50 Cent that performed on the Pontiac Garage. We are just tying to get the Pontiac brand awareness out there to the consumer about the all-new Pontiac that we were talking about. Craig’s already mentioned it with our product line with the Solstice and the upcoming G8. Pontiac has a lot of great things and products out there and we want to make consumers aware.

CB: It has a completely unique front clip, a unique hood. It has unique fascias. It has a unique grill, a lot of jewelry on the frontend of the car (a lot of bling), unique wheels, a ground effects package, a unique rear spoiler, some touches on the inside of the car, and then a big wing spoiler that comes off of that. So, the G6 GXP Street really is set apart from the other G6’s in the line.

Now, are they able to order that from any dealership across the country?

CB: Sure are.

So, basically, that’s like a package?

CB: Yeah.

CH: Like Craig said, it has the hood scoops, the chrome inserts on the lower fascia in the grill. You know, bigger rims…

It seemed lowered a little bit, too.

CH: With the ground effects…

CB: The ground effects help do that visually.

CH: …it does and the hammerhead spoiler too. So, it (CB: with the big wheels on it.) Definitely an aggressive look.

Please give our readers some of the details behind this contest you have with 50 Cent. I know that a lucky person can ultimately win a GXP Street. Is there a website that people can go to?

CH: Yes. First, you have to buy the CD. We have the blow-in in the CD insert and you login to www.IWant50sGXP.com and that’s where you get a chance to enter to win for a G6 GXP Street which Fifty will personally deliver to you at your home.

How long does that contest run and when will the vehicle be delivered?

CH: It runs, obviously, September 11 when the album started for approximately about a month. We figure that’s when the first million CDs will be sold. They appear in the first million inserts there. And roughly about a month or two, after six to eight weeks after we have the consumer that wins, we’ll deliver that G6 straight to him or her.

So around SEMA time.

CH: Exactly. (laughter) CH: We have something coming in SEMA as well. So, stay tuned.

Were you involved with Ludacris and the Solstice campaign?

CH: Yeah, we worked with him as well. We had Luda also perform with us at CBS. We had the Road to the Final Four show and had Luda on the Pontiac Garage here at Times Square and a concert with him in Atlanta where we had almost 75,000 people in attendance. So, right now, everyone is just trying to see the new Pontiac. Music is one of the platforms that we’re using to get that word out.

Now obviously, after-market business is like a 29 billion dollar business in itself. So, give us a little clue-in as to the Pontiac Street and what consumers could expect and what are some of the features on the vehicle?

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TOYZ: CARS

Jaguar XKR Portfolio

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aving met great success with the Portfolio edition of the XJ, Jaguar has now extended the option package to the XKR and the results are breathtaking. With only an exclusive 255 customers having the privilege to claim ownership, this feline is sure to be a collector’s item. Both the coupe and convertible enjoy the portfolio treatment packages including: a Celestial Metallic Black Paint, 20inch polished Cremona five-spoke alloy wheels, a Bowers & Wilkens 525 Watt premium audio sound system, aluminum grill, chrome quad exhaust tips, and of course a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds. Powered with the same 4.2L supercharged V8 that develops 420hp in the XKR, the Portfolio also boasts a new high-performance Alcon® braking system with 15.75-inch (400mm) front discs and 13.78-inch (350mm) rear discs – the largest ever fitted to a production Jaguar. Visit www.jaguar.com for more information and remember…while supplies last.

— Damola

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TOYZ: CARS

Spyker C12 Zegato

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abled Netherlands manufacturer Spyker has partnered with legendary Italian design studio Zagato to create a stunning coach built masterpiece for the most discerning of customers. Based on the Spyker C12 Spyder, the C12 Zagato bears the VWAG W12 engine and develops 500hp and reaches 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. Top speed on the Zagato is 195mph and transmission options include a six speed manual or an automatic gearbox with F1 shifters. With a design language legend of Italy, the C12 Zagato is yet another marvel of shape and form and the interior is equally inviting with brushed aluminum finishes and chronoswiss. Pricing for the C12 Zagato is 495,000 Euros. For more information visit, www.spykercars.com or www.zagato.it — Damola

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TOYZ: CARS

Saleen S7

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aving the distinction of being the only street legal sports car with 500hp and 500 lb-ft of torque upon its debut in 2002, the upgraded 2005 Saleen Twin Turbo version boasts a whopping 750hp and 700 lb-ft of torque! The design of the Saleen S7 is sleek as seen in 50 Cent’s video “Candy Shop” and the unique doors are a personal favorite. One of the most impressive features is the production obtained out of the 7L V8. A 0-60 performance is reported in the sub three seconds range. With a performance house known for its stellar work on Ford Mustangs, the S7 Twin Turbo joins the classics such as the S281 Mustang in American built performance icons. Price is $555,000 for the S7 Twin Turbo. — Damola

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TOYZ: CARS

Bentley Brooklands

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ith approximately 10,000 Bentleys manufactured per year, Bentley is no longer just a performance oriented exclusive motorcar manufacturer but more the most popular exotic motor car manufacturer by far. With the smashing success of the Continental GT series which includes the Continental Flying Spur sedan, the GTC convertible, the GT coupe, and the GT Speed Performance Series, the need for an even more exclusive vehicle for their most discerning customers became apparent. With a total of only 550 to be made in its lifespan, the Brooklands coupe is just the motorcar. Named after the famed Brooklands race course of the 1920’s, the Brooklands boasts the most powerful V8 Bentley has ever produced with a 6.75L engine that develops 530hp and a mind numbing 775lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic manages the power and standard 20in wheels wrapped with Pirelli P Zeros ensure it hugs the asphalt. Pricing is to exceed $350,000 but with only a firm 550 to be made, price is not an object for this instant collector’s item. www.bentleymotors.com — Damola

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TOYZ: CARS

Mercedes Benz SLR Roadster

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aptivating the soul with its breathtaking beauty, the SLR McLaren roadster is the third offering in the paring of Mercedes and McLaren teams. Sharing the same powertrain as the coupe, the roadster has the same AMG V8 that develops 626hp and reaches 0-60mph in a mere 3.8 seconds. A five speed automatic is fitted with this beast along with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. With a retractable cloth top and gullwing doors (doors are hinged at the front of the door rather than at the roof), the design character of the roadster is one to have. As usual, you can also expect the same audio appointments like a Bose Premium sound system, a CD changer and, of course, navigation which should come in handy as you motor along the coastline allowing the wind to blow.

This limited roadster is now available. For more information, visit www.mbusa.com — Damola

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TOYZ: CARS

Pontiac G8

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ollowing the heels of Chrysler Group’s success with the rear wheel drive LX platform, the 300, Charger, and Magnum, GM is introducing a new menace to replace the Grand Prix and also reign supreme in the sports sedan segment. The rear wheel drive G8 which will share platform mechanics with the all-new Camaro and Australia’s Holden has been making cameo appearances in several of media mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s music videos and has garnered good responses from automotive journalists alike. The G8 boasts a 6.0L V8 and generates 362 hp/391lf\lb-ft of torque and will feature an optional six speed manual transmission. The base V6 is no slouch and generates 261hp/250lb-ft of torque from a 3.6L engine. Interior materials are tight and premium and boast a sporty character in the cockpit. The exterior is aggressive with side vents, optional 19inch wheels, functional hood scoops, quad exhausts and fog lamps. Performance figures are yet to be determined, as is price, but expect pricing to be competitive with the Dodge Charger and to begin in the mid range of $20k. Rumors of an even more powerful V8 exist, but have yet to be confirmed. For more information visit www. pontiac.com — Damola

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TOYZ: CARS Test Drive: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Overview:

Pontiac is back to its roots as the performance oriented model in the GM lineup. The already successful Solstice now gets the GXP treatment via a turbo to the 2.0L V4 and the results are amazing. A worthy competitor to the Mazda Miata, yet it has already distanced the Miata in terms of power, function, performance, styling and sales of the Solstice has proven that consumers agree. Built in Delaware, the Solstice is just the kind of success America needs in an environment where many manufacturers are shutting down plants.

Driver Impressions: I love driving the Solstice GXP. It compares to the normally aspirated Solstice, in that, the turbo of the GXP undoubtedly multiplies the pleasure of the driving experience. Adding a second and a half to the 0 to 60 time, you can feel the increase in quickness. While driving in Washington, DC, the automatic is more palatable with the traffic conditions atypical to a dense urban city. Sitting on chrome 18in wheels, the handling is great and steering response is quick. The GXP also features a six-disc in-dash changer along with XM radio and Onstar. I received a lot of raves from the Solstice which has to be one of the best designs I have ever seen in a compact sports car. GM proves with the Solstice that a big market for this car exists and sales will come if you build a great affordable sports car that is both breathtaking to drive and to look at. — Damola Base Price: $27,875 Engine: 2.0 L V4 Transmission: 5-speed auto Horsepower: 260 Torque: 260 lb-ft Curb Weight: 2976 lb 0-60 Time: 5.5 secs Drive train: RWD Fuel Economy (C/H): 22/31

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TOYZ: CARS

Supersportsedans Test Drive: 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Overview:

Contrary to the belief of the advisory board, the pairing of Daimler and Chrysler did bear great rewards. With the invention of the rear wheel drive LX platform, the classic American muscle sedan was reborn. Early next year the coupe finally arrives in the form of the Challenger, but for now, people can feast on the Charger as it was meant to subsist with a 6.1L V8 425 hp and exert a sub-five second 0-60mph time. The SRT-8 Charger is simply a beast and the Mopar performance team did an excellent job tuning the Hemi to gain an additional 85 horses, and with standard Brembo brakes, they ensure you stop in time. Goodyear F1 tires are wrapped around the standard 20in forged aluminum wheels and the SRT-8 has its own unique body kit. There is also a functional hood scoop to boot. The SRT-8 Charger is definitely throttle for the soul.

Driver Impressions: From the moment I heard the exhaust, I knew this was going to be one of my best weeks yet. It is a challenge to not open the motor with the SRT-8 but when I got my opportunity all I can say is WOW. Nothing can replace the thrill and exhilaration you feel when you grip that leather wrapped steering wheel with nothing but asphalt ahead of you. The “American Muscle Car” is back and I can’t wait for the Challenger, needless to say. — Damola Base Price: $38,820 Engine: 6.1L V8 Transmission: 5-speed automatic Horsepower: 425 Torque: 420 lb-ft Curb Weight: 4160lb 0-60 Time: 4.9 secs Drive train: RWD Fuel Economy (C/H): 12/18

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TOYZ: CARS

Supersportsedans Test Drive: 2007 Lexus GS 450H Overview:

Toyota Motor Company is not angling to become the world’s number one manufacturer by following, they lead by example. Over a million hybrids have been sold and subsequently Toyota has gained valuable expertise with variants of the engine system and is now able to offer the powertrain as a performance option. With this technological development, one can have their cake and eat it too. You can be environmentally conscious yet still enjoy a premium luxury sports sedan. The electric power comes from what Toyota calls a high output permanent magnet electric drive motor. Combined power output from the electric and gasoline engines is 340hp and it reaches 0-60mph in an outstanding 5.2 seconds. What is most surprising is that you get 25mpg in city driving with this sports sedan. Unbelievable! As usual, you also get all the technological and luxury appointments you expect from Lexus.

Driver Impressions: This is a real sweet sedan and is a standard of automotive engineering. I was shocked at the power this hybrid had. The pickup is amazing, yet Lexus gives you all the luxury appointments you could desire from a premium audio system from Bluetooth technology to an info center that can tell you about your maintenance schedule, to heated and cooled seats to the option to shift from Hybrid to sport mode. In fact, there are so many great options it would take a whole page just listing them. I loved the instrument panel and also was enamored by the feature that lets you see how much power is being consumed by the hybrid versus the gasoline engine. The model I drove ran on 18in alloys with runflat tires. It also had the ability to play a DVD in the navigation monitor while the car was in park. It even had a cassette player so I was able to go analog and digital. If you are in the market for a luxury sports sedan, I suggest you take a test drive with the Lexus GS 450h. You will truly be amazed by this hybrid. Visit www.lexus.com. — Damola Base Price: $54,900 Engine: 3.5 L V6 plus front electric drive motor Transmission: Electrically controlled continuous valve timing Horsepower: 340 Torque: 267 lb-ft Curb Weight: 4134lb 0-60 Time: 5.2 secs Drive train: RWD Fuel Economy (C/H): 25/28

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TOYZ: CARS Test Drive: 2007 GMC Sierra Denali Overview:

The Sierra Denali is billed as the most powerful half-ton pickup ever and it doesn’t disappoint. The Denali is a luxurious yet capable full-size pick-up that has a class leading Vortec V8 which develops 403hp and 417lb-ft of torque. With a crew cab option, this pickup is also functional and capable.

Driver Impressions: With a full array of luxury appointments such as the burl wood treatment in the cabin, a leather and wood wrapped steering wheel, touch screen DVD navigation, lots of chrome, and optional 20-inch wheels, along with its own unique billet grille, the Sierra Denali was a head turner during our time together. The power in the Sierra even surpasses the Yukon Denali. The Sierra Denali’s powertrain actually surpasses that of the outgoing Corvette C6 LS1. There is also a six-speed transmission that has a manual shift mode which makes this pick-up’s get up amazingly fast. There are also heated seats and a heated steering wheel, plus a superior Bose Sound System. A rear DVD package was also a great option with the ability to watch videos in the navigation screen when the truck is in park. If you are in the market for the most luxurious and powerful pickup on the market, the Sierra Denali is perfect for you. www.gmc.com — Damola Base Price: $39,020 Engine: 6.2L V8 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 403 Torque: 417 lb-ft Curb Weight: 5383lb Max Seating: 5 Towing Capacity: 8600lb Fuel Economy (C/H): 12/18

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DENALI BROS.

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TOYZ: CARS

DENALI BROS.

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Test Drive: 2007 Yukon Denali 4WD Overview:

A total redesign of the previous model, the Yukon shares the same GMT900 platform but has its own driving dynamics and different characteristics as the “Professional Grade” model of the bunch. Now with its own grille, chrome finishes, tail light treatment, optional 20-inch wheels, burl wood interior and a unique front end and rear, the Denali is now more luxurious than ever.

Driver Impressions: The Denali is a truly awesome SUV with considerable power. The 417lb-ft of torque is evident at cruising speeds through the hills on I-70. Fully appointed, the Denali can serve as a daily limo complete with a rear entertainment system and bucket seats. The ride was firmer than the Escalade, yet the Yukon Denali was quite impressive. I enjoyed the luxury and the upscale feel. The rear entertainment was popular among my occupants as they were able to enjoy their own movie with their own separate headphones. The ride was smooth and I loved riding on the highway. There is a lot of chrome on the Denali, yet it’s not as ostentatious as the Escalade, so for those who crave the luxury but not the attention, the Yukon Denali is perfect. www.gmc.com.

— Damola Base Price: $48,750 Engine: 6.2L V8 Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 380 Torque: 417 lb-ft Curb Weight: 5635lb Max Seating: 8 Towing Capacity: 7900lb Fuel Economy (C/H): 13/19

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 53

TOYZ: GADGETS Meet the iPod Family

Availability: Now www.apple.com

3.5-inch widescreen display Multi-touch interface Wi-Fi Safari web browser Cover Flow™ • 8GB $299 • 16GB $399

iPod Classic

Cover Flow™ Enhanced Interface Sleeker Design • 80GB (silver and black) $249 • 160GB (silver and black) $349

iPod Nano

iPod Shuffle

Enhanced Interface • 1GB (silver, Video Playback blue, pink, green, • 4GB (silver) $149 orange) $79 • 8GB (silver, black, blue, green and (PRODUCT) RED special edition) $199

Image courtesy of Apple

iPod Touch

Verizon Voyager™ by LG

• Built-in stereo speakers • 2.0 megapixel camera • Expandable microSD memory slot of up to 8 GB Availability: Soon www.vzw.com www.us.lge.com

Image courtesy of LG

Carrier: Verizon Wireless • Large external touch screen • HTML Browser • V-Cast • Speakerphone • VZ Navigator • Picture, text, video and instant messaging •B luetooth stereo for headsets and speakers

54 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

TOYZ: GAMES

Madden is back for its 18th season and is better than ever with all-new features including a new Superstar Challenge mode where you can reenact plays from the past season.

Players are also designated by their attributes. The feature is called read and react player weapons and designates everything from Cannon arm to deep threat, to heavy hitter and containment corner on defense.

There are more plays in this edition including more motion. There is also a new Hit stick 2.0 feature.

EA still owns the exclusive license rights from both the NFL and the NFLPA Madden 08 is available on the most platforms in its history.

Madden 08 will be available on 11 platforms including a new Mac OS X option. For more information visit www.ea.com.

Images courtesy of EA Sports

Publisher: EA Sports Platforms: XBox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, Mac OSX

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 55

GIVING BACK

Charles Grant’s Bayou Bling Charity Event

Unique Whips’ Will Castro

Charles Grant

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Georgia Native, Charles Grant who recently signed a $63 million contract does not easily forget the less fortunate citizens of New Orleans where he plays. With the help of Marshawn Evans of 3M Sports & Entertainment and the sponsorship of Rolls Royce, Grant put together a first class weekend this past summer in Atlanta with several of his colleagues throughout the NFL along with Basketball players like Denver Nugget’s Allen Iverson and Miami Heat’s Antoine Walker. The annual fundraiser is named Bayou Bling and sponsored by Charles Grant’s S.A.C.K. Success Foundation from June 22 through June 24. Enjoyments include a football camp and clinic for the youth at the Atlanta Boys and Girls club, a celebrity basketball game and silent auction, along with a VIP affair called the Players Ball at Justin’s Restaurant. Music producer Mannie Fresh was also on hand as several celebrities participated in a weekend of fun for the kids along with fundraising for the still displaced residents of New Orleans due to hurricane Katrina. Other charles Grant S.A.C.K. Success Foundation projects include Hurricane Katrina Playground Builds, Access GRANTed Scholarships, the Grant Go-Getters Youth Recognition program, and the signature Charles Grant Kids Day Out. For more information visit www.edge3m. com

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Mannie Fresh

Q&A with Charles Grant Talk about the off-season regimen you do to get ready for the next season.

Man, I trained at my spot in Orlando for about six weeks. I’ll be going there when I leave here. It’s a wonderful thing, though. This is the most important, me giving back to the kids. I think the kids are the best thing that could ever happen to us and every year, it’s going to be somebody else new coming up. I have a daughter and she is going to help somebody else when she grows up. So, we are just trying to make sure the kids understand that it is more than one way to get out there. You could be in sports, you could be a lawyer, doctor, all that. There are different ways to succeed in life.

Let me ask you one more question because you are a Georgia boy… you don’t even live in the soil of N.O., but you are out here bringing a lot of your colleagues and you are doing all this for a land that you just adopted because you work there. Tell our readers about the importance of taking a view beyond just you.

I have been living in New Orleans for six years. The people of New Orleans showed me love. I can go from the gulliest (toughest) hood spot to the best glamorous spot and everybody in Louisiana takes care of me wherever I go. They show me a lot of love, so, I show them love back and that is the thing that I want to tell a lot of people that are in the same situation as me… Always be willing to give back and stay humble. A lot of people will respect you for that. You should always respect people.

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 57

GIVING BACK

The Three Kings of Washington Give Back

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hat was simply a collection of teammates and alumni of the University of Miami has turned into a charity endeavor which provided young fans fun and games along with an opportunity to meet their favorite NFL players in the off-season. The Washington Redskins stars Santana Moss, Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor, also dubbed the Three Kings of Washington, brought several of their fellow players to Washington this past summer to interact with fans, especially the youth who look up to them as heroes. Both Santana Moss and Clinton Portis have registered their foundations as 501(c)(3) non- profits with an office in Gainesville, Florida since 2004 for Portis and 2002 in South Florida for Moss. Both of their foundations have an emphasis on the youth. They held autograph signings along with carnival rides and games as all pro’s such as Andre Johnson, Chad Johnson, Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee and others descended upon the nations capitol. This was the second annual event and it was a success. For more information visit: www.myspace.com/3kingsofwashington.

58 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

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Lil Wayne Subscribe online @ www.ownersillustrated.com Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 59

SPORTS

Q&A:SANTANA MOSS WASHINGTON REDSKINS WR

Talk about the U because Andre, Clinton and your brother are here. But I heard Chad [Johnson] came down too.

All of us from Miami have a big bond. We have a big brothership.

Any guy from Miami that plays a sport or plays ball, we pretty much go above and beyond just to do something for each other at anytime. If they have something going on, I’m there and they heard about what I was having and they came to show their support.

Talk about your career a little bit, man. You started off in New York…

Yeah, I started off in New York. Everybody knows I got drafted in NY and I started off with a little bump, but I got my feet back under me and then I took off. Then, it was time for a change and the good ol’ Lord blessed me to come to DC. From there, it’s been lovely. It’s just the best place for us; you can see it in my play. When I go out there, I’m playing for the city. I’m playing for the team. I’m also enjoying it and being out there on the field.

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Miami native who came into the league as a first round draft pick of the New York Jets in the 2001 draft, Santana Moss has always been a playmaker whose combination of speed and exceptional hands has made him a threat to score every time he touches the football. A seven year veteran this year is critical as the Redskins seemed poised to finally make a run with second year quarterback Jason Campbell finally taking over the reigns. We got an opportunity to chat with Santana during his annual Three Kings charity event with fellow University of Miami alum Clinton Portis in Washington, DC this past spring.

So, is this the first year?

Second year, actually.

What made you begin that?

Me and Clinton [Portis] were talking one day and he said we needed to do something in DC and I was like, ‘let’s do it.’ Clinton came up with the idea as far as the name and we went from there except we have all of our friends from the U (as University of Miami is affectionately called) and everywhere else to come up in. And, we’ll tie in some things for the kids and make sure they enjoy themselves, but the main thing is for us to come up in here to show we appreciate what they do for us.

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You’re a game breaker man and you make spectacular plays but why is it difficult for wide receivers and quarterbacks to be able to reach their potential early on in their first and second years.

Well, you can but it’s all about the system. It’s all about how many opportunities you are offered. When you are receiving, you’ve got to depend on a lot of other people. You’ve got to depend on the line blocker. You’ve got to depend on the quarterback getting you the ball and you’ve got to depend on the play called going your way. So people don’t realize when you’re on the team and you’re not being yourself, it’s not that you can’t, its just that the system might be a little different and when your number gets called, you have to be the best at it and that’s why I was out there doing my thing- working like everybody else.

I see. You had about 20 yards a catch one season.

It was just that the system wasn’t made up around me so I had to do with what was given.

Tell our readers about the Al Saunders system. What was unique in that system than the system you played in your pro-bowl year, the year before?

I think the key thing about last year was the system; a new coach, a couple of new guys. It’s never going to jump off how you want it to jump off, you know, you have a good system where a lot of guys have gone to a lot of pro-bowls. I think we

have a year up under us and all we can do is to look forward to something better coming out of this year. We’re kind of learning it now still but we got to take at least a year just to learn. You know, guys who’ve been in that system for years told me it takes at least a year.

where when everybody’s tired and you’ve got that game on the line, I want to be called just like that guy who shoots that last shot, you know, in a basketball game. I want to be that guy that you say when my team needs something done and when a play is made, let’s give him the ball.

Talk about what’s so difficult about it because that’s the same system St. Louis had but they had the most amount of points…

It’s not difficult. It’s a different kind…It’s the same system but it’s ran different, you know what I mean. St. Louis had the fun and gun. We’re not a funny and gun team. We have a good running back and St. Louis had a good running back. But you know we’re not doing the same amount of passes and plays…it all comes down to who’s the quarterback, you know, what type of quarterback you have, what type of line you have. You have to know how to pretty much work with what you have across the field.

How have you been able to help your younger brother, Sinorice, because he had a tough first year in New York.

I just let him know whatever happens, happens for a reason.

Don’t take it as if you are let down by it. When you’re a great guy and you have a good heart, you want to go out there and do what’s right and I think what he did was rest himself ‘til he got better. I think, right now, he’s got it behind him so when it comes to what you do on the field and what you didn’t get a chance to do, all you can do is show up when it’s time.

How is it playing with Campbell?

Great. I think last year, he got his feet wet. I’m looking for bigger and bigger things from him. I think we all are…I’m just excited to be out there with him.

You had a lot of great games even just last year and the year before the Dallas game last play, the Jacksonville game. What is it about that late stage in the game that allows you to just find that one killer play that just wins the game against the opposition?

It’s all about what you do, you know, during off season this time.

You know what I do man, I work so hard in the off season to

Well,this is definitely a great event you have going on here, man. The kids are out at the carnival, you’re signing balls…

A lot of these people are very excited because you’re a hero to them and they don’t get a chance to see you. But this side of it doesn’t get covered.

You know, it comes with the territory, man. I think that if you’re out here doing this because you want to be in the paper then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. I think we do it because we love to do it. We do it because we love to give back and because we didn’t have this growing up when it came to guys that we looked up to doing this for us. So, if we can do it for these kids, if you can touch just one kid today and make a difference in his life, then you did something. And I think that’s all it’s about just showing these kids that you’re out here for them.

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 61

SPORTS

Q&A: ANDRE JOHNSON HOUSTON TEXANS WR

Tell us about your relationship with Moss and Portis.

All of us went to school together at the U. , man.

Why do you call the University of Miami, Florida the U? It’s like a fraternity, man. Words can’t describe it. You know, we are like brothers. We all came in together and we just gelled.

We have been friends since.

You had a pretty good season last year. Tell our readers about it.

I led the league in catches. I had a pretty good season and a Pro Bowl year again. So, hopefully next year I’ll get back.

And you have Matt Shaub coming too. How is the OTA’s going with you and Matt? How [is] that chemistry starting to work?

It’s going pretty well right now. I’m just starting to catch passes from him. Hopefully, it will get better.

You and David Carr have always had a good connection.

Why do you think it didn’t work with him out there in Houston?

Things happen, man. It just didn’t work out for Carr in Houston.

He’s in Carolina now. He is a great talent, so maybe things will work out for him.

Who’s your favorite cornerback to go up against in the league? Who’s your favorite match up?

The best, man, Champ Bailey.

Champ Bailey?

You have to get better every time you go against him. He is the best thing out there, so you are going to get better every time you go up against him.

Do you have any of your own charities that you orchestrate or participate in?

I have a weekend in Houston every year. I won’t be having it this year but I also have something down in Miami.

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national champion during his illustrious career at the University of Miami, Andre Johnson has been a phenomenal talent and a highly productive receiver since his rookie season in 2003. Having a lot of turnover with coaching during his young career, Andre now has offensive guru Gary Kubiak and talented quarterback Matt Schaub providing him with an environment to flourish and the results have been spectacular. Andre has already led the league in receptions for the 2006 season, and though injuries have held him out of some competition, he still is among league leaders nonetheless. Twice a pro-bowler, the Houston Texans appreciated his efforts and rewarded him with a $60 million contract extension with $15 million in guarantees. We caught up with Andre at the 3 King Charity Event with fellow university Alums Clinton Portis and Santana Moss. The pleasure was truly ours.

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Tell us about players conduct. What is your impression on that because I think they are giving everybody so much scrutiny, but what is your impression about what they are saying right now?

You know, sometimes we just get caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t think everybody is a bad person. They try to make it seem like we are bad people, but sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What do you forecast for your season out there in Texas this year?

Hopefully, man, we get in the playoffs and obtain a winning record. I’ve been there four years going on five. We haven’t had one yet, so that’s my big thing. I want to get into the playoffs.

Now, they just re’d you up too. How is that?

Winning, man. It’s great. I’m just living my dream. That’s it.

SPORTS

Q&A: SINORICE MOSS NY GIANTS WR

came in, they weren’t acting like I was a rookie that was trying to come in and take their spot, you know. They brought me in and taught me different things, so now I really appreciate that. They are really good dudes, man.

What is the major difference from college ball and the pro game that you have observed?

I really don’t see a difference except that a lot of the guys are a lot faster. Defense is faster. But, its football; you go out there and you catch the ball. You’re going to be able to do whatever you did in college. I think you’ll be able to make it in the NFL if you have that right mindset and you go out there with a positive attitude. You will do what you have to do.

What are some of the things that you learned from your brother that has helped you this year in your training and preparation for this upcoming season?

Always give a hundred percent. That is one of the main things he always told me when I was younger. Do you. I can’t go out there and do somebody else because that is not me. So, go out there and do the best that I can.

How is it playing for Coach Coughlin?

It’s good. A lot of people in town talk about Coach Coughlin but he is a hard-nosed coach. He wants to win football games and who doesn’t want to win football games. They can’t do anything but respect that. So, as long as he is my coach and he wants to win football games, I’m down for it.

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he life of an NFL Rookie can be difficult, especially one who comes from the Moss family pedigree. Senorice’s brother Santana who also attended the University of Miami, has been a pro-bowl player and a standout for division rival, the Washington Redskins. Yet, Senorice’s rookie season with the Giants was interrupted by injuries. Resilient and determined to validate the Giants’ high draft selection of him in the 2006 draft, we caught up with Senorice at his charity event in Washington, DC. Please tell us about your experiences playing football for the New York Giants.

My first year went by pretty fast, man. It was tough. It was a new scheme and just everything was new. The NFL is a different ballgame. It started off real good. You know I got drafted. I went in there, made a couple of plays in practice and things were looking real good, but unfortunately in the middle of the season, I got a little injury but I bounced back from that and finished the season off strong. But, my entire first year experience was really good.

How is it playing with Eli? Both of you have very talented pro-bowl brothers that have already played in the league and they kind of set the path.

Oh, it was good. You know, there are a lot of different other guys on the team that have brothers that play in the NFL. So, it’s a great experience. It is great to be on the team and to say that I play for the New York Giants.

How is it playing with Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer?

Plax and Amani are really good friends and teammates. When I

Now obviously this is your second year in the league and there is talk about the conduct policy. What’s your viewpoint on all that?

There are a lot of different things that are going on with a lot of different players. A lot of different guys have different on how they handle [themselves] on the field. I just don’t have much to say about the whole conduct policy thing.

What are your goals for this year and how are you working toward achieving those goals?

I plan to stay healthy. That is the main thing, you know, taking care of my body and working out hard everyday. If I stay healthy, I can take care of everything else.

Give us an idea of OTAs (organized team activities) work.

Well, we go through basic schemes from the quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, etc. We go out certain days and the whole defense line goes out separate days. You never really come together as a whole offense of defense. You just go out there and run through your plays, run through your routes and just get down to basics.

Are you working out also with Eli? How do you two work to develop some chemistry?

We work on certain timing routes, catching passes and stuff.

Is there any advice for younger players coming in trying to be a wide receiver like you?

Get on your grind, man. It’s just you. Just go out there and do the best you can. Go out there and run your routes, catch your passes and just stay humble. That is the best thing you can do.

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 63

SPORTS

Marshawn Evans Giving Athletes a Sharper Edge INTERVIEW: DAMOLA The reason why I even say that is because as NFL players they play behind a mask so to speak…

They do.

It’s kind of difficult to brand the awareness. How do you overcome those difficulties?

Well, I think you do events like this. It’s not everyday that Rolls Royce chooses to partner with a professional athlete.

I think that raises awareness about the quality this is making in the community.

Charles brought a ton of people here. Talk about the logistics…

Actually we didn’t bring it. They came on their on which says a lot as well because a lot of players have to fly people in so they can have a nice event. We didn’t have any problem getting people to get on the plane on their own.

Can you tell us about the cause that he’s supporting.

Charles plays for the New Orleans Saints. One of the reasons why he has Bayou Bling here in Atlanta is because he’s from Georgia. He benefits programs that certain people in the community here and also New Orleans need. It is really important to speak about the challenges that people in New Orleans are still having.

www.marshawnevans.com

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s CEO of EDGE Media and Marketing, Marshawn Evans has worked with numerous Athletes on building their brands.

Marshawn has had plenty experience herself in her 26 years on this planet. She is a distinguished entrepreneur, an accomplished scholar and a renowned motivational speaker. Having appeared in Season Four of the apprentice and also a finishing 3rd runner up in a Miss District of Columbia contest, you can also add that she graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University with honors and distinction, and was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar, a USA Today’s All-Academic First Team member, an ambassador to the International Summit of Achievement in Dublin, Ireland, and one of Glamour Magazine’s “Top Ten College Women.” She received her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. In fact, you can almost write a book on her accomplishments but those that are most rewarding are her efforts with athletes and the charitable endeavors.

We caught up with Marshawn as she was working diligently coordinating Charles Grant’s Bayou Bling event.

You’re a quite accomplished young woman. Tell our readers about you being on The Apprentice. Also, tell us about your company and what you do.

Well, I’m President of H3M Sports and Entertainment. I’m an entertainment attorney here in Atlanta and I have the pleasure of managing professional athletes primarily in the NFL and the NBA. You get them tied in with endorsers. How does that work?

Well, I think for players their career on the field is just as important as their career off the field. In order to have a successful career off the field you have to brand yourself appropriately and that’s what our firm puts emphasis on, is player branding. So it’s PR, it’s appearances, endorsements and also foundation management.

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Right. What challenges do you face as a woman in a maledominated field?

Well, that’s a good question, Damola. I think it’s a challenge that all women face. The challenge is just being taken seriously in your craft.

You know I worked in a large law firm that was a multi-million dollar company. I left to pursue sports full-time. My firm’s very good at what we do and you know we’ve grown pretty quickly in a short period of time and this is a testament to that. So being a woman, you know, its’ a challenge; but it’s a challenge I accept.

Now, obviously there are opportunities for a lot of women behind the scenes. Tell us about those opportunities because a lot of young women aren’t aware or as conscious that if you learn and are talented behind the scenes you can make a very decent living for yourself.

Oh sure, there’s opportunities in entertainment and sports across the board. It’s important to raise awareness about that. I’ve been in front of the camera and I’ve been behind the camera. I’ve been in the spirit of competition on the Apprentice. You know, I think it’s good if you can see both sides. But I think getting your education, even if nobody knows exactly for what, the camera or the big screen is valuable. I have to say it’s better to be rich than to be famous. So, you can be rich and still work behind the scenes.

Tell our readers about The Apprentice experience. How did that help you?

I did learn from Trump that branding is extremely important. I’d never hear him say anything negative about himself or anything negative about anything that he touches. So, learning to just be positive about the endeavors that we were involved in I think is one of the best lessons I learned from that experience.

In the future, what can we expect?

In the future, you can expect one of the largest female-owned sports management and marketing companies.

SPORTS

NFL Spectacular

Jets. This figures to be a down year for the Jets who, however, have shown promise. Also promising, Oregon product Kellen Clemens has shown flashes of a very brilliant future.

Expect the Jets to remain competitive, but the playoffs don’t seem to be in the cards.

AFC East New England Patriots The dominance of the New England Patriots over the rest of the league is undeniable.

In spite of “Videogate,” Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaching minds in league history. With or without video there is no way to defend a team that can go five wide with Moss, Walker, Graham, Stallworth, and Gaffney (their second option last year who now is the fifth option in this formation).

This formation creates miss matches and makes it difficult to double Moss or blitz Brady. Lawrence Maroney has also been able to find effective lanes to run due to the effectiveness of the passing game. Brady has never had a receiver the caliber of Moss and their chemistry has created an advantage that forces teams to play the already superior Patriots at a disadvantage. Moss and Brady set teams up with a lot of short, quick routes then look for the blown coverage opportunity to blow open games with touchdowns or big plays. The results of this potent offense forces teams to have to throw against the Patriots and with the front seven, the Pats can apply pressure because of the talent they have in the secondary with Hobbs and Samuels. What is scary about the Pats is that Rodney Harrison was unavailable for the first four games along with their best defensive lineman, Richard Seymour.

Their linebacking core with veterans like Vrabel and Bruschi, and free agent pickup Adalius Thomas are superior at stopping the run and can also drop back in coverage. In a weak AFC East, the Patriots are assured another division title and with a schedule that has the teams playing top contenders from the Colts, to Steelers, to Ravens, to the Bengals, et. all… home field advantage in the AFC is highly probable.

The New York Jets Under the leadership of Eric Mangini, the former Patriots defensive coordinator and longtime Belichick assistant, the Jets were able to out-scheme and gamemanage better than their opponents to the tune of 10 wins last season. Their offense was ranked near the bottom of the league along with their defense even though they have talented players like Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, and Quarterback Chad Pennington who has been injury prone this season. With the acquisition of Thomas Jones from the Chicago Bears, the running attack that failed to produce a 1000 yard rusher in 2006 should be better, though the loss of guard Pete Kendall is evident, as he mentored last year rookies Mangold and Ferguson. On defense, the talents of Jonathan Vilma and Dewayne Roberson will have to lead a unit that ranked 20th last year. Coming from New England, the coaching emphasis on situational game management was effective last year. However, this year, it will be harder to out-scheme teams that have had all off-season to study the 66 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

Buffalo Bills It has been a long time since the Bills have had a competitive team in Western New York. We would have to go back to the times of Flutie Flakes to field a competitive team and to Jim Kelley to field a contender. With the drafting of J.P. Losman three years ago from Tulane, hope began to rise though his progress has been uneven. Buffalo is a young team with a lot of talent in their shill positions. Marshawn Lynch is a stud of a prospect at running back and Lee Evans has the gifts to be one of the best receivers in the league. Roscoe Parrish, a burner at wideout, still has to develop; but, he has been a dynamic returner who has contributed marvelously to the special teams game. Even though the Bills felt a loss with tight-end Kevin Everett, his resilience and progress has been motivational to his teammates as doctors have deemed him to be able to walk again and one day live a normal life- though not on the football field.

Dick Jauron has a tough task managing the youth on this squad but Buffalo, at best, seems to be at least a season or two away from contention though in the difficult AFC East, ascension would be hard.

Miami Dolphins Since Dan Marino retired in 1999, several prospects have tried to stand above his shadow as quarterback.

From the most successful, Jay Fielder others such as past MVP candidate Dante Culpepper to Joey Harrington, A.J. Feely and now with 37 year-old veteran, Trent Green, the results have been the same with every signal caller.

With the drafting of John Beck, gamers can expect another change in the position within the next two years. Former Chargers Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron takes over from the abruptly departed Nick Saban- whose tenure as head coach could be considered mediocre at best.

With a new coach, star tight-end Randy McMichael was cut and his loss is evident in the passing game. Leading receiver Wes Welker also has gone to greener pastures to New England. Randy and Wes’ combined production accounted for 127 receptions. They were the leading receivers on the team last year. Chris Chambers has had chemistry with Trent Green, but rookie Ted Ginn Jr., still has to learn the NFL game and understand coverages and route running to better utilize his world-class speed and his playmaking ability. Ronnie Brown has yet to prove to be the bell-cow running back he was drafted to be and with backup Morris’ departure to New England, a lot more is asked than he can currently deliver.

With the massive offensive woes, it is a shame the defense has to share in the disgrace. A leading unit year after year, the defense is of championship caliber with potential hall of famers like Jason Taylor (last year’s Defensive Player of the Year) and Zach Thomas providing leadership along with new acquisition, Joey Porter who has won a championship with the Pittsburg Steelers. The question with the Dolphins is: Can the offense catch up to the defense; and do so before the eminent retirement of their leadership on defense? The Dolphins don’t seem to be well on the way and rebuilding seems to be in their cards for the tenable future.

MIDSEASON WRAP UP: This NFL season promises to be one to remember for all ages, but as usual, parity is key. A lot of usual suspects are not the contenders they were assumed to be, and yet, a lot of teams expected to be bottom feeders are leaders of their division. That is why they play the game. Here is our division by division analysis. Also, we provide you with a team by team breakdown along with our midseason Super Bowl and playoff predictions.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers With changes to their coaching staff from the icon Bill Cowher to first-time coach Mike Tomlin, one would assume that Pittsburgh would take a step back in the adjustment period but that has not proven to be the case. Following longtime Pittsburgh mantra’s of a great defense and a power running game, Pittsburgh has looked dominant thus far this year with “Big Ben” Roethlisberger now healthy and playing more disciplined in the passing game. Second year Santonio Holmes has proven effective at stretching the defense and veteran Hines Ward has been ever stable at the underneath routes. The reliable running of Willie Parker has allowed the ball control offense to work to perfection. Troy Polamalu is simply the best safety in the game and his range and speed are unmatched in the entire league. With a highly disciplined team, strong leadership and management, one can be assured to see Pittsburgh yet again in the playoffs and a contender to make a run for the Lombardi Trophy.

Baltimore Ravens Though Brian Billick was a noted offensive coordinator while in Minnesota with the Vikings, his personnel in Baltimore has always been dominant on the defensive side of the field. With the acquisition of Steve McNair last year, the plan in the off-season was to acquire more talent on offense to allow the team to progress further than the 13-3 record of last year and make a serious run for the title this year with a more balanced team. With the addition of Willis McGahee to an offense that includes tight-end Todd Heap, veteran receiver Derrick Mason, talented playmaker Mark Clayton, there now appears to be pieces in place to create a more dynamic offense. Signs of promise are strong as Willis’ outside running style contrast the inside power game of Jamal Lewis, however, injuries have created difficulties jelling their pieces. The veterans and leadership on the team however, would eventually right the ship over the long season as the defense with Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, Lee Suggs, Bart Scott, McAlister, et all is simply too dominant for opponents. Also, with Rex Ryan’s scheme and the offenses, they are due to face this season another strong run. The title is well within reach as long as McNair can remain healthy.

Geathers are talented defensive linemen but the secondary is young with rookie Leon Hall and second year player Jonathan Joseph anchoring the unit. Deltha O’Neal had ten picks in their last playoff season in 2005, but thus far, the unit has proven ineffective and it’s difficult to win when you allow 51 points, five touchdown passes and over 200 yards to a single rusher in the same game. To the Bengals benefit, however, they have a very favorable schedule and should win at least ten games and make the playoffs, where as The Colts showed last year a defense can find its identity and win it all.

Cleveland Browns With the drafting of hometown hero Quarterback Brady Quinn, excitement was once again high in Cleveland but a holdout lost him the starting position and with Derek Anderson’s five touchdown performance against the Bengals there is no rush to “throw him to the wolves” just yet. Cleveland has a lot of talent albeit young talent, but if Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and JR continue to develop, they have the ability to make Cleveland competitive in what is shaping to be the most difficult division in the conference. Jamal Lewis has seemingly regained his past form and has found the game breaking ability that brought him a 2000 yard rushing season in 2003. With former Patriot Willie McGinest providing leadership to a young defense, they are still years away. Young players like Kamerion Wembley, D’Quell Jackson, and Leon Wiliams show promise but their division is simply too competitive and without a first round draft pick next year due to trade that brought Brady Quinn, you can expect more difficult years ahead.

Cincinnati Bengals When lined up, there is simply no team New England and Indianapolis included that can match the overall talent Cincy has on offense. When you have Carlson Palmer, Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry, Rudy Johnson, and a line anchored by Willie Anderson, and Levi Jones, there is no defense that can contain the Bengals for four quarters. Cincy’s problems as exposed in a 45-51 loss to Cleveland is the defense and though Head Coach Marvin Lewis was the defensive coordination during Baltimore’s record breaking Super Bowl run save for a turnover creating scheme, little has worked with the defensive side of the ball. Justin Smith and Robert Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 67

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NFL Spectacular AFC South

Indianapolis Colts As defending Super Bowl champs, the Colts have finally fulfilled the promise all of Indiana had when Payton Manning was drafted in 1998. Little doubt existed to the assumption that he would posses all quarterback records before his career ends, but the knock on his performance in big games could now be silenced. Much was made about the defensive losses of Harper, Doss, June, Brown, Simon, Reagor, and offensive players Dominic Rhodes and Brandon Stokley. But, GM Bill Polian has long since planned for this day and he has replenished the cupboard with gifted young players making the Colts one of the youngest teams in the league. Thus far this season, the Defense has been fast and effective especially with the play of safety of Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney. Marvin Harrison has been as reliable as ever and Reggie Wayne is truly a dominant receiver. Rookie Tony Gonzales has been effective but what has been most surprising is the play of second year back, Joseph Addai. His running has made the play action as very effective as the Colts have scored at will over their opponents. The Colts most definitely are in play to defend their title and the showdown with the Pats should be one for the ages. Tony Dungy’s coaching style has been a perfect compliment to Payton Manning and the pair should hoist more trophies in the years to come.

Tennessee Titans There is no way to describe it. There is something special about Vince Young. It hasn’t been pretty on offense thus far, but rest assured, the Titans have been competitive even without any wideouts of note. Vince simply wins games and Jacksonville can attest to that fact. The Colts nearly fell prey and the Saints were vanquished as Vince won his duel with Drew Brees.

Lendell White and Chris Brown have been effective in the run game. Bo Scaife, VY’s old teammate from Texas, has been a good safety valve, but the strength of this team has been on defense. With DE’s Kyle Vander Bosch and Albert Haynesworth reeking havoc, linebacker Keith Bulluck has been free to roam and make plays. Though the loss of CB Pacman Jones and his special team wizardry, it seems the team has been able to be effective in pass defense with Nick Harper who came over from the Colts in the off-season. The scheme of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has created turnover opportunities and made the Titans competitive.

Jeff Fisher has recently extended his contract and with his guidance it would not be a surprise to see the Titans in the playoffs.

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Houston Texans Matt Schaub has been dazzling in his games thus far, proving the flashes seen while backing up Mike Vick were no fluke. With Pro Bowl wideout André Johnson who is better than anyone that has ever played the position in the recent era for Atlanta, he has a dominant playmaker which causes fits for defenses and creates space for the running game. The Texans draft was also successful as Jacoby Jones has shown he will be a force in the league. Amobi Okoye, the 20 year-old DT from Louisville, has also showed tremendous promise and when paired with last year’s number one pick, he has been simply devastating. DeMeco Ryans is a pure tackling machine and with Matt at help, the team seems to have a great energy and finally a new identity. Coach Gary Kubiak finally has a quarterback he can place his hopes upon.

Jacksonville Jaguars With David Garrard now the sole option at quarterback, the season thus far has been up and down for Jacksonville but they simply have too much talent not to be considered playoff contenders.

Jacksonville is the most physically dominant team in the NFL with their running game that features Fred Taylor and the elusive Maurice Jones-Drew. The biggest problem on offense has been the wideout position where Reggie Williams and Matt Jones have yet to become the Pro Bowl contenders they were drafted to be. On defense, the interior of their line with Marcus Stroud and John Henderson remain two of the largest forces in the league. The lose of Grant and Darius in the secondary could prove costly as they brought a tough identity and leadership to the group and with the offense of Houston and the Colts featuring pass heavy schemes, it could bear a long season with the youth at the position. The team is certainly younger but this could be a make or break season for Jack Del Rio, as he must now deliver on the promise shown over past seasons and a 12-4 record just two years ago.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers To a man, the San Diego Chargers had the most talented team in 2006. League MVP LaDainian Tomlinson broke the TD scoring record and Phillip Rivers proved smart with the decision to let go of Drew Brees and to trade the reluctant Eli Manning for him three years ago. Antonio Gates is flat out the best tight end in the NFL and the offensive line anchored by Marcus McNeil and Kris Dielman is young yet stout. Lorenzo Neal has been paving lanes for thousand yard rushers his entire career. From top to bottom, it is hard to match San Diego’s talent save for the wideout position which got help from LSU’s Craig Davis, but lost the veteran leadership of Keenan McCardell. GM A.J. Smith has assembled amazing talent, yet, the results of his disputes with then coach Marty Shottenhiemer would define this season. The Chargers had a league best 14-2 record but a divisional round loss to the New England Patriots and defections of both the offensive and defensive coordinators ultimately cost Marty his job as he and AJ could agree on their replacements. Norv Turner steps in as coach and brings in Ted Cottrell to coach a defense that stars: Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Luis Castilo, Marlon McCree and others. The stakes are high and the transition hasn’t been easy as they struggled to defeat Chicago, and was embarrassed by New England. However, with a weaker division lead by young quarterbacks and a schedule where their talent far surpasses their opponents, the true test would be the playoffs where Norv Turner has only won one game and would be charged with a title run.

Denver Broncos With the season still in balance, last year head coach Mike Shanahan replaces crafty veteran Jake “the snake” Plummer with Vanderbilt alum Jay Cutler at Quarterback. With an eye on this season, the plan was to groom the young stud and get him prepared for game situations and a 2007 Super Bowl run. Already talented at wideout with Brandon Marshall complementing Javon Walker, the additions of Daniel Graham, Travis Henry and Brandon Stokley while potent by the first half of the season they have yet to reach potential.

What is scary about the Broncos, however, is their ability to win games when it’s down to the wire with special teams and with a defense that features Champ Bailey and new addition Dry Bly in the deceased’s Darrent Williams position, the possibilities for this team are high. No foreigners to tragedy, the death of Williams and running back Damien Nash has galvanized a team and given them toughness that will help during the stretch run of the season as they gear up for the playoffs.

Oakland Raiders For the Oakland Raiders, 2006 was one of the worst seasons any team has had in NFL history. With a dominant defense complimented by an offense derived from a Bed and Breakfast manager who hadn’t coached in the NFL since 1994; to say the results were putrid is an understatement. For 2007, gone are both underwhelming quarterbacks along with Coach Art Shell and Walsh, plus Randy Moss has now found his mojo in New England. The Raiders, though, have been competitive as Monte’s son Lane Kiffin has brought a new energy to the organization and they have been able to score points.

Rookie JaMarcus Russell was a holdout into the football season and most likely wouldn’t see any playing time this season. Dante Culpeper, however, can be a great mentor as he is the standard Russell would want to achieve having been to a conference title game and contended for league MVP while in Minnesota. Josh McCown has been tough but isn’t as gifted as Daunte Culpepper and his new injury (a broken big left toe), springs hope for Culpepper’s start in a series of games. With Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter still in the receiver corps and Lamont Jordan back to form the offense, the team should continue to perform and aide in stealing games late in the season. Rob Ryan’s defense still boasts Warren Sapp, Derrick Burgess, Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington. The strength of this defense on the line and in the secondary and over the course of the season with the offense taking away pressure, they will continue to be a force to be reckoned with though a playoff run may be a season away.

Kansas City With a focus on getting younger, Trent Green who provided excellence at the quarterback position over the year was jettisoned to Miami.

His replacement Damon Huard has had experience in the role having played several games in relief last year after Trent’s concussion injuries. Tony Gonzales has been an elite tight-end for years but with inconsistent wide receiver plays, it will be challenging for him to continue to dominate the seam where he has made his living. Larry Johnson was late getting to camp over a contract dispute and with the loss of Will Shields to the offensive line, holes haven’t been as open as in the past.

The addition of Dwayne Bowe should help open some, but he is a young receiver and has to learn the position so now teams are just keying in on Johnson with eight defenders in the box and daring Huard to beat them on the outside.

The defense in Kansas City features accomplished veterans like Donnie Edwards and Ty Law and young players like Jared Allen and Tamba Hali. Overall, the team just has been inconsistent and not very competitive. Herm Edwards has been a great motivator through his career but this team simply is outmatched in the talent department and looks like it’s headed for a long season.

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NFL Spectacular the top ten with the play of the terrifying twosome of Sean Taylor and rookie LaRon Landry at safety; and the addition of London Fletcher who knows Williams scheme as well as anyone, has been stabilizing for the linebacker position. This year appears to be the one when the Redskins make a playoff run and with the youth at the skill position, the team could be poised to be a contender for years to come.

NFC East Dallas Cowboys Once regarded as the toughest division in football, the NFC East seems up for grabs this year and Dallas is clearly the front runner. Tony Romo has been having an MVP type season, thus far, with the Cowboy offense proving unstoppable. Terrell Owens has welcomed the caching of Head Coach Wade Phillips and Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett, and is having one of his most productive seasons ever. The combination of Julius Jones and Marion Barber has been very effective in the passing game and tight end Witten has taken up nicely for the loss of Terry Glenn. Also, Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd have matured and contributed nicely in passing. The concerns remain with the defense, but with the return of Greg Ellis to pair with DeMarcus Ware, the defense should be effective in applying pressure. In the wide open NFC, the Cowboys seem to be the class of the division so far scoring 35 points or more in each of their first four contests.

Washington Redskins Hall of fame Coach Joe Gibbs was brought in to restore the winning ways of a franchise that went to four Super Bowls and won three of them during his initial stint as coach in the 80’s and early 90’s. The results have been mixed thus far, but this year seems to bear promise. Quarterback Jason Campbell has been special and with his poise in the pocket ability to find a talented corps of receivers including Santana Moss and Randle El. Gibbs, emphasis has always been with a power rushing attack. Also, the combination of Ladell Betts and Clinton Portis has been essential to their success. Defensive coordinator Greg Williams appears to have the defensive back performing in

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New York Giants Say what you may about him but Tom Couglin simply wants to win; and with the Giants, he has a very talented team to do so. Their offense has been highly productive with Plaxico Burress having a career year and Eli benefiting from a healthy Armani Toomer.

They have a running back by committee combo to replace Tiki Barber and players Ward, Jacobs, and Droughns have all delivered when called upon. The defense remains the strength of this team and their defensive line could be the best in the league. Proven evidence is a record tying 12 sack performance staring Osi Umenenyiora and Michael Strahan. It is hard to predict the Giants because they have the talent to be a force, but often lack the chemistry to deliver.

Philadelphia Eagles For a stretch, the Eagles had a run of four conference championship game appearances with a trip in 2004 to the Super Bowl where they lost to the New England Patriots. The start of the season has been rough for the Eagles, but with the leadership of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb, the team always is competitive and in the running. McNabb hasn’t been healthy as of recent, but he appears to be getting back to the form that makes him a top five quarterback in the league. New receiver Kevin Curtis has shown flashes of a dynamic pairing with McNabb including a three touchdown; 11 reception; 221 yard game. Injuries, however, have made the team inconsistent and Brian Westbrook is truly the team MVP. The Eagles would only go as far as his legs can take them as he creates mismatches in space and is a great safety valve for McNabb because currently, the Eagles don’t have a lot of speed at the receiver position. The defense with Brian Dawkins, Lito Shepard and Takeo Spikes has always been formidable, but injuries have plagued this team’s start and though they are highly talented, they may run out of time to catch up in their difficult division.

NFC North Green Bay Brett Favre now has added the most completions and the most touchdowns to his NFL record, and with a perfect early start, the Packers, though young, seem to be giving him a chance to retire on top. The defense has been suffocating and young receivers like Greg Jennings are complementing Donald Driver giving Brett targets to find on slant routes. A lack of a reliable running game may be their undoing however, as rookie Brandon Jackson seems to be the best option out of a very young bunch. Hopefully, they will withstand their strength over division rivals and this should give them the division and remember in the playoffs anything is possible with Brett behind center. Coach Mike McCarthy has proven an ability to get Brett to play more disciplined in this stage of his career. With young defensive talent like linebacker A.J. Hawk and veterans who have been to Super Bowls like cornerback Charles Woodson, it may be a magical season in title town.

Chicago After a failed Super Bowl run, the proverbial let down is typical among the loosing team in the big contest and the Bears seem to be showing the effects. Injuries have decimated their vaunted defense; and the tea clearly misses the running of Thomas Jones who ran for 1200 yards last year.

The quarterback position has been uneven with Rex Grossman and Brian Greise both being ineffective.

Kick returner Devin Hester has proven that last year wasn’t an aberration. He has been able to get great field position for the Bears but the offense has been simply ineffective without a reliable running game, which opens up the play action with Bernard Berrian. The defense still boasts Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher so they figure to be competitive as the season goes on, but not making the playoffs wouldn’t be surprising.

Detroit When Jon Kitna predicted the Lions would win 10 games or more, many looked with disbelief but their start has proven the possibility more likely than none. The addition of Calvin Johnson and ex-Rams receiver Shaun McDonald to an offense that already includes Roy Williams and conference leader in receptions Mike Furrey under offensive guru Mike Martz attacking system has been devastating for defenses, even the vaunted Bears. The running game has been serviceable also, but the offensive explosion like the 35 points they put up against the Bears in the fourth quarter of their first contest show the potential of this offense. Head Coach Rod Marinelli has worked with his young studs on defense like Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding to be more productive like his Super Bowl winning unit in Tampa Bay. The Lions are markedly different from last year and are a factor to consider in the playoffs.

Minnesota With first year starter Tavaris Jackson leading the Vikings, it’s obvious they are a young team. Adrian Peterson is a true stud and he has also displayed the ability to catch out the backfield that wasn’t evident during his career at Oklahoma. Sidney Rice has shown flashes of an amazing talent and the offensive line with Hutchinson is solid. The defense, however, is where the bones are made and with veterans like Sharper, Pat, Kevin Williams and youth like Chad Greenway, the Vikings have been competitive in all their contests. Although a lack of a consistent offense does prove to be their undoing. Head coach Brad Childress sees the same promise in Jackson as he saw in McNabb in Philadelphia, so they have the makings of a talented young team in the future.

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NFL Spectacular NFC South

Tampa Bay The NFC South this year has been filed with mediocre teams but thus far, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown the most consistency. Head Coach Jon Gruden sought out and signed 37 year-old Jeff Garcia and he has been more than effective leading the team. Jeff has found great chemistry with wideout Joey Galloway and they have been able to connect on some very big plays. Cadillac Williams was having a great season until he unfortunately blew out his knee and thus ended his season. That loss to the Buccaneers running game may bring the Bucs back to the pack. The defense still has veterans Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber, who are also joined by veterans Cato June and Kevin Carter. The Bucs figure to win the division, but there is doubt they can challenge for the title game.

Carolina The Pathers have been predicted to go to the Super Bowl every year since they lost by a field goal to the Patriots in 2003.

The Panthers have Steve Smith and he is arguably the best receiver in the conference and some might argue to say he is the best receiver in the league. Jake Delhomme has been inconsistent and also plagued by injuries and David Carr hasn’t been able to get Smith the ball. The running game has been inconsistent without a 1000 yard rusher on the roster. The defense should be an impactful line with Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, and Michael Rucker forming the most talented defensive line in the league.

Head Coach John Fox has a talented team and now must find ways to motivate them to play up to their potential New Orleans Last year, the Saints were everyone’s darling. They were the big success story following their remarkable run to the conference championship game. What a difference a year makes! With Deuce McAllister injured and gone for the year, the burden falls on Reggie Bush who has yet

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to show tough between the tackles style that forces eight defenders in the box and opens up the passing game. Marques Colston is having a difficult second year, as is Drew Brees, but they are figured to bounce back because they have too much talent at the skill positions, especially wide receiver where veteran David Patten and rookie Robert Meecham join a Henderson to form a gifted unit. The defense line with Charles Grant and Will Smith has been making plays, but the secondary has been torched especially in their primetime contests.

Head Coach Sean Payton is an innovative offensive mind, so they figure to bounce back and with an up and down division, they may still factor in the race at the end.

Atlanta Seeing Joey Harrington’s improvement under Bobby Patrino’s system only makes you wonder what could have been with Michael Vick. His playmaking ability would certainly have added another dimension to the passing offense and would have helped the non-existent running game that has defined the Falcons and made them successful in the past. Without a running game, the team will consistently lose contests because they would make every game a high scoring affair and teams have always came back in every contest they carried a lead because of this. The trade of Matt Schaub did yield Chris Houston and Jamaal Anderson to a defensive unit that already boasts John Abraham, DeAngelo Hall, Keith Brookings and Rod Coleman who is out with an injury.

Joe Horn has had an influence on their young group of receivers as has offensive coordinator Hue Jackson who worked with Chad Johnson in Cincinnati. Roddy White and Michael Jenkins are now showing promise.

The Falcons would never be the same in the house Deion Sanders built and Mike Vick filled, but head coach Bobby Patrino is determined to make them competitive in every contest.

NFC West

San Francisco The 49ers made the most changes during the offseason to their roster including signing Nate Clements from the Buffalo Bills and signing Darrell Jackson from division rival, the Seahawks and the results have been mixed. Head Coach Mike Nolan has the defense performing admirably, but the offense under the leadership of Alex Smith hasn’t shown firepower. Frank Gore has shown that last year was no fluke and continues to be a devastating runner. Vernon Davis has shown world class athleticism, but has yet to prove an ability to remain healthy. Rookie Patrick Willis is a tackling machine at the linebacker position and has just the type of tenacity Nolan likes at this position. The 49ers figure to be competitive all season and may be able to hang in the playoff picture through out the season. If the offense is able to produce points and continue to be effective in the running game and Alex Smith can find his receivers of the play action, they can sneak into the post season this year though they seem to be a year away.

Arizona Talent has not been the problem for the Cardinals. The larger issue is the deep-rooted culture of losing and the lack of even an 8-8 season since 1998 when Jake Plummer took them to the playoffs. Things are changing, as they have been very competitive and have been able to win some difficult contests.

New coach Ken Whisenhunt brought old Redskin hog Russ Grimm with him from the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they both won a championship against the Seahawks two years ago. Matt Lienart has struggled at the quarterback position but former two-time MVP Kurt Warner has been rotating with him to some success. On the offensive side of the ball, the Cardinals are loaded, especially with their trio of young receivers: Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson. Edgerrin James is not ready to pack it in yet and the new toughness of the offensive line has created holes for him to return to the form which had him among the best in the league while with the Colts. Bertrand Berry has Michigan standout Alan Branch joining him on the line, and they have the makings of an intimidating force if the new culture of toughness can stick.

St Louis With a core of veterans like Terry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Marc Bulger and Orlando Pace, you would expect the Rams to be at least competitive, but they have been seemingly outmatched as injuries have plagued the team.

Orlando Pace is lost for the season and Marc Bulger is playing with two broken ribs. All pro running back Steven Jackson also has missed games due to injury. The defense hasn’t made any mark either. This bears to be a long season for the St. Louis Rams.

Seattle Two years removed from a trip to the Super Bowl, the Seahawks are gunning to make a second trip to division rival Arizona’s home stadium this February. To get there, the team would have to build on a solid start that has them playing solid defense and running a balanced offense with wideouts Nate Burleson and Deion Branch playing up to their massive contracts. Matt Hasselbeck has flourished under Head Coach Mike Holmgren and the twelfth man at Qwest field has proven an additional factor for opponents who undergo the tough travel to face a good dose of former MVP Shaun Alexander’s running and a defense that adds former Falcons coach Jim Mora to help the secondary capitalize off pressure provided by Julian Peterson and another former Falcon Pat Kearney. The Seahawks figure to win the division, but their hold over the other NFC West teams seems to be slipping

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NFL TEAM VALUES The NFL is the richest sports league in the world. Where does your favorite team rank?

1. Dallas Cowboys - $1.5 billion 2. Washington Redskins - $1.5 billion 3. New England Patriots - $1.2 billion 4. Houston Texans - $1.1 billion 5. Philadelphia Eagles - $1.1 billion 6. Denver Broncos - $994 million 7. Chicago Bears - $984 million 8. New York Giants - $974 million 9. Cleveland Browns - $969 million 10. New York Jets - $967 million 11. Baltimore Ravens - $965 million 12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - $963 million 13. Kansas City Chiefs - $960 million 14. Carolina Panthers - $956 million 15. Miami Dolphins - $942 million 16. Pittsburgh Steelers - $929 million 17. Green Bay Packers - $927 million 18. Tennessee Titans - $922 million 19. Seattle Seahawks - $921 million 20. Cincinnati Bengals - $912 million 21. Indianapolis Colts - $911 million 22. St Louis Rams - $908 million 23. Arizona Cardinals - $888 million 24. Detroit Lions - $870 million 25. New Orleans Saints - $854 million 26. San Diego Chargers - $826 million 27. Buffalo Bills - $821 million 28. Oakland Raiders - $812 million 29. Jacksonville Jaguars - $811 million 30. San Francisco 49ers - $799 million 31. Atlanta Falcons - $796 million 32. Minnesota Vikings - $782 million Source: Forbes.com

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Images courtesy of NFL

MONEY

HIP HOP CASH KINGS Estimated 2006 Earnings 1. Jay Z - $34 million 2. 50 Cent - $32 million 3. Diddy - $28 million 4. Timbaland - $21 million 5. Dr. Dre - $20 million 6. Eminem - $18 million 7. Snoop Dogg - $17 million 8. Kanye West - $17 million 9. Pharrell Williams - $17 million 10. Scott Storch - $17 million 11. Ludacris - $16 million 12. T.I. - $16 million 13. Outkast - $14 million 14. Lil Jon - $14 million 15. Ice Cube - $13 million 16. Jermaine Dupri - $12 million 17. Swizz Beatz - $12 million 18. Chamillionaire - $11 million 19. The Game - $11 million 20. Yung Joc - $10 million Source: Forbes.com

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David Banner WORDS KEYLA MCKNEELY PHOTOGRAPHY RICHARDFLOOD.COM

I

t is easy for society to group all rap artists into one judgmental category and say they are all the same; but it’s not so easy to prove it, especially when you fix your attention to one artist, in-particular, who screams to make a difference within the Black community with his music and his philanthropic efforts. Getting to know Mississippi bred rap artist, David Banner should not be taken for granted and is as easy as listening to the lyrics of any of his soon to be five albums. Each album name signifies time, a specific time in his life and what he has gone through. When talking to him, it only takes one glance into his eyes to tell there is deep rooted knowledge hiding behind his pupils. Even though life for him has been very rough at times, he appreciates the path he has taken so much so that he spends time informing and mentoring his audience on his mistakes hoping they will not do the same. Banner is not afraid to tell the truth; and there is nothing stronger than a man with a spirit – a spirit to do better, achieve greatness and a spirit to provide. It is because of this spirit, Banner has been able to succeed through many adversities such as being homeless and living in his van when he was trying to get his music heard.

In some cases, I would say ignorance truly is bliss, but is not when ignorance is holding you back from learning and appreciating a real, talented person with a good, genuine heart.

Banner has a new, much-anticipated album set for release in October called, The Greatest Story Ever Told. With this album, listeners can expect a wide collaboration with great artists and great stories told to you by Banner himself. He credits this album as being a musical documentary. For Banner, this past year has been extremely tough and he even discloses his bouts with depression. However, over the past few months, there is a new horizon for Banner, even a new love and he wants to share this journey with all. Many times introduced to us as David Banner the Rapper, allow yourself to become familiar with David Banner, The Actor. I had the great opportunity to sit with Banner while he was in LA auditioning for new roles and putting the finishing touches on his new album. He opened himself up for me and now I want to share it with you. Get to know him as a person, you won’t be disappointed.

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“We give kids a false interpretation of what a man is supposed to be. Sometimes you have to let the kids see you fall or not succeed so they won’t give up when the same thing happens to them.”

— David Banner Tell me about this new album coming out.

It’s called, The Greatest Story Ever Told. I can say it is one of the best repped albums in the last three years. The first single is called, “9mm.” The second will be, “Get Like Me.” I know you have a few collaborations on this album.

Yeah, I have a song with Chris Brown, UGK, Snoop Dog, Akon, Yung Joc, T.I., Carl Thomas, Jim Jones, etc… This album is documenting my life from when I first started out and I was homeless, struggling to who I am now. I went from sleeping in my van to having a house in New York, LA, Atlanta and Mississippi.

It’s like a story, being that it comes from the perspective that I didn’t have any major labels behind me, and when I did get signed to a major label it was when SRC [SRC/Universal Motown] first started. I was the first act, so I didn’t have that power structure around me and if anything, I helped them get off their feet. I didn’t end up signing to anyone who could mentor me and put me in the faces of their fans. Every piece of success I had, I scrounge it up myself and I think if people want to see a person come from a non-popular place and put it on his back and walk up the hill, this album will show them, no matter where you are from, if you believe in God and you’re ready to put in the work that is called upon, then you will make it.

So, from the beginning of you being a musician and rapping, how long did it take you before you were signed the first time? Can you actually put a year on it?

It was about 10 years. I’ve been doing this since I was in the 78 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

sixth grade.

That’s a long time to wait when you have a dream…

But I think that struggle was a blessing because if I would have gotten on anytime before then, I probably would be somewhere high on crack or something like that. A lot of times when our success does not come or that job that we want doesn’t come, we think that it is the devil or God not listening to our pleas and cries; sometimes God knows that his child is not prepared. I wasn’t ready. I hadn’t learned all the things I needed to learn in order to be the leader that God has allowed me to be. It’s funny, I see all the stuff that I do now, all the adversities and all the trials and tribulations, how those lessons prepared me for the stuff that I am doing now. It is amazing and I am very happy for the process. I went through a major depression last year.

Rappers don’t talk about that kind of sh*t man.

Our race generally doesn’t like to talk about that.

Right. We give kids a false interpretation of what a man is supposed to be. Sometimes you have to let the kids see you fall or not succeed so they won’t give up when the same thing happens to them. One of the biggest problems in the world is when you think you’re the only one that’s going through something. So, I try to allow this album, The Greatest Story Ever Told, to be an open book to my life, so kids maybe won’t have to go through the same things I did and if they did, they’ll know that they can get through it. Look at me I’m stunning. (He smiles and I chuckle).

Can you tell me more about your depression and what provoked it.

I wouldn’t wish depression on my enemy. To be trapped in your own body, I couldn’t sleep for days at a time. When I think about it now, I don’t deal with any bull or levels of stress. Any relationship that I had with a friend, girlfriend or whatever… if at anytime it starts to get stressful, I cut it off. I don’t even want to get close to going back there. I have never been depressed before and maybe because I was such an alcoholic before, I was close to a depression and didn’t know it. Now, I don’t really mess around like that anymore and as I become a man, hopefully my stories will help others. If there is one problem in the black community it is that we don’t mentor or have mentors. That is why people don’t mind giving athletes $80 million because they don’t know what to do with it anyway. They just go buy shoes and cars; basically, they give the money right back. So, as far as understanding that, I want to hopefully be one of those people that kids can come back to.

Wow. That is very admirable. With your new life, has your work ethic changed?

Actually after I came out of my depression, I don’t work like I used to. God revealed to me that he is my God – not rap music.

I use to do 18-20 hour days. Now, I go in the studio and do what I have to do and if I don’t feel it, I go home. I work hard but I don’t overwork myself and I don’t kill myself. I go home and now I’m going to take off a couple of days- go ride my motorcyclego running or jogging and when I come back to the studio, I’m recharged. I would rather work four hours a day at 100 percent.

I get a whole lot more done. My work ethic is still there but it’s a little bit smarter and I’m starting to learn, it’s crazy. I said this a couple days ago in an interview and I never really thought about it, but it’s true… I really didn’t start loving myself until about four months ago. I dropped down in weight and started training and I stopped letting people treat me any kind of way – I mean business-wise. If I come and do your interview and my sh*t isn’t right, I’m not going to do it. If my dressing room isn’t right, I’m not doing the show. I tell people all the time, treat me like you would want your kids to be treated because I don’t ask for more than what I’ve earned or what I deserve. People are not ready when they say they are going to be ready. We come to shows and sit around two or three hours, man, you could have been in the bed sleep. It’s definitely been a revelation. It has been a travel and a journey that affected me as a man because now, for the first time in my life, I’m happy with just being Lavelle Crump, not David Banner. I’m happy with being myself, by myself living in that big ole’ house alone; if the music works, I know it’s within Gods will.

You have to work hard…

It isn’t just left up to God. You have to work for it too and meet him half way. He takes over when you can’t do anymore. That is what faith is about- you doing all that you can and right before you are just ready to give up, God steps in and says, “Okay, I got you. Let me take care of this for you.” Why should God help you and you’re not helping yourself. You wouldn’t help anybody that is not helping themselves. Why should you? In essence, as long as I do what I am supposed to do and I am in line with him, there is nothing that I can’t do. In the end, I just want to go to heaven. I would love to have a triple platinum album but I would much rather be here as a martyr- with people knowing that I helped other people; knowing that I had an influence and an affect on somebody’s life and more than just a hot record.

How did you get out of your depression?

The only way to get out of it is to keep living and the only way to deal with depression is to recognize it, then deal with the

problem. If your girlfriend or boyfriend is stressing you out that bad, get them out of your life. Depression is easier than people give it credit for. The only thing that people have to understand is if it took you seven months of bull to depress you, then it’s going to take, at the least, half of that to get it off of you. People think like me; I was looking for the overnight solution and then I realized maybe it’s something that God wants me to learn.

Let me sit in this valley for a minute. Let me see what it is he is trying to tell me. I had a nice house, a Bentley, from the outside, I was straight, inside I wasn’t about sh*t. I was overweight and 21 points away from diabetes, unhealthy, drinking too much, too many leaches. The title of my second album was “Baptized in Dirty Water.” That’s what it meant; No matter what your intentions are if you are in dirty water, nine times out of 10, you are going to come out filthy, even if you are trying to get better.

What are you doing here in LA? Training. I’m trying to become a movie star. I want to be an actor. (He smiles joyfully) That is what I want to do with the rest of my life.

Are you still going to make music?

I might. I’ve found a new girlfriend, a new love. She’s prettier and makes more money.

Meaning acting… (laughter) Yeah, Music doesn’t allow me to be somebody different than David Banner. I tried to expand my music horizons and do different types of music, but people just really want me to be the “Like a Pimp” David Banner. When I make the most money, it’s when I make music like my songs, “Play” and “Like a Pimp.”

So, I tried the Cadillac on 22’s, I tried the Crank it Up’s. I tried to push the envelope.

Do you think people expect that from you because you’re from Mississippi?

I don’t know. But what they do get is an intelligent, articulate black man and people can’t stand that.

And they are surprised, I’m sure!

They are very surprised and I love it. So, also since they think I’m stupid they reveal their true selves to me.

I saw you in Black Snake Moan and your breakout performance was nice. Are there any other projects you are working on or auditioning for?

I recently shot This Christmas with Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Delroy Lindo, Regina King, Columbus Short, Laz Alonso and other great respected actors. Also, I have Days of Wrath coming out. Me, Laurence Fishburne, Slim Thug, Rick Ross; It’s going to be hot. You’re going to be proud of it.

How was your experience working with Laurence Fishburne?

Wonderful. We actually weren’t in the same scene but I had an opportunity to spend some time with him. It was almost like sitting by King [Martin Luther King] in that, he was very regal.

Even with the way he talks (Banner beginning to imitate him as he raises his chin). He talks this way (following with a smooth voice), “Hahaha David, I really like your work there.”

So, he didn’t have any problems with you as an artist coming from music?

Oh no, man. When people see that you’re serious and you stand like a man, and you’re actually studying the craft they respect that. I flew back and forth from Mississippi every week for a Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 79

year taking acting classes before I took my first movie because I didn’t want people to say the same thing about me.

What classes did you take?

She is still my acting coach now. Her name is Warner Loughlin.

She’s beautiful, awesome.

How did you go about getting your role in Black Snake Moan?

I tried out for the movie and this is something people don’t know, I actually sucked the first time. I did really badly. First of all, I didn’t have an agency backing me. I found out about the movie on my own and right before I walked in to audition, I found out my daddy had cancer. I was just about to walk through the door. So, I had that to deal with and then, at the time, my album wasn’t doing so well and Hurricane Katrina happened. All of that was going on at the same time and that was sort of like the beginning of me going into my depression. It was a terrible time and when I auditioned, I felt so bad. Afterwards, I went to Kim, the casting director, and I told her I know I can do this but everything is f*cked up for me right now. I asked her to please give me another chance because I knew I was the person for the role. She gave me two weeks. I canceled all of my shows and I locked myself up. At that time, that is the only thing I did was live that character. I came back and I wrecked it so hard that they said they weren’t supposed to tell me, but I had the role. And that was history.

How was that feeling? I know you felt great afterwards.

No, not really. I have a theory. I was also SGA president at Southern University in Baton Rouge. I was a thug off of the street who just happened to be smart. I never wanted to be SGA president. It was actually a challenge. We were sitting in a poetry reading and I don’t like to hear people complaining and not do anything about it, so I told them if they all shut up, I will run for president myself. They said – well if you run, we will support you. I was like well I’ll go sign up, not thinking that they were really going to be behind me. So, I signed up and they said we’re behind you. Well when I won, I realized it’s easy to lose, but not to get the part. If you lose, you just go back to being who you are everyday anyway. The problem and when the responsibility starts is when you make it. That is when the pressure starts.

Do you think your fans are expecting more of you now?

I think I really confuse my fans and I really do apologize to them.

I’ve always tried to please me and what I was going through mood wise and musicly. In part, my fans don’t know what to expect. Is he going to be a revolutionary, is he going to be on some sex, is he going to be on God, is he going to be on some pimping, is he going to be killing people or is he going to be saving the world? Who is David Banner?

I’ve had so many of my fans tell me that and ask me who I am because they are confused. It is going to be a great definition of who I am with this record, the Greatest Story Ever Told. I know who I am and more than that, I know what my fans want to hear from me and I’m just going to consistently give them what they want. When you go to McDonald’s, you know you want a number one. Get out of the way and let somebody else order; you know you want a Big Mac, fries and a coke product. When you come to David Banner, I know what you want. You want some street, but you want streets with a little bit of revolutionary edge and some God. That is all people want from David Banner.

They’re saying, “Let me think about something – just a little bitthen, go back to jamming.

• OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

And, you have a new project coming up soon with the Cartoon Network.

That Crook’d Sip. I am an executive producer as well as a voice and I do the soundtrack.

I heard it will be very interesting, to say the least. Tell me all about it.

It is a revolutionary cartoon and deeply rooted in race relations.

I honestly can’t believe they are letting me do this cartoon. It is more controversial than any record I have put out. But, the thing I learned as I got older is that revolution doesn’t always have to be mean or mad. If you can make people think about stuff and make them smile and laugh at the same time, it is more powerful than any gun or punch that you can throw and with the success of Dave Chappelle and the Boondocks, they have put black people in the position to do whatever we want to. So I am pushing the envelope.

What is the show about?

It’s about this white family who is mentally trapped in the 1800’s but they are in Mississippi present time. So, imagine if white folks talked the way that they used to talk in the 1800’s to us today. It’s crazy. My character, Virgil owns the hottest restaurant in Miss. He is young, black and successful so you know he is getting hated on by other black folks. But his family still stays with the white folks on the plantation. So, he is dealing with that.

It is silly and far off, but the stuff that we talk about is really real.

And, it makes people think.

How did that deal come about for you?

My homeboy Nick Weidenfeld from the cartoon network was a really big fan of David Banner. He actually wrote the cartoon and didn’t know me- never thinking he would meet me. But, he was so heavily influenced by my first album, then he met me at Ludacris’ Red Light District Party and we have been homies ever since.

I was at that party.

Yeah, that was the greatest party I’ve ever been to. But it’s crazy because I love cartoons. One thing I tell people is everybody says they are gangsta rappers but they won’t tell the truth. If you’re gangsta, you’re gangsta regardless of what you do. I like the Powerpuff Girls, The Avatar, I like Dexter’s Laboratory. The only thing I watch is Cartoons and ESPN because my life is gangsta. I don’t want to sit up and look at Belly and Scarface, etc. I live that life and I see that stuff in my neighborhoods all the time.

I want to be happy and cartoons make me happy.

I’m hooked on Justice League and Smallville. I watched five years of Smallville in three months. One of my most gangsta homeboys told me to watch it, then next thing you know I’m saying f*ck Lex Luther!

What was your favorite game growing up as a child?

Basketball. I loved Shaq and Baron Davis.

I know you are a man for giving back and have hosted some really great efforts to earn money for Hurricane Katrina. Do you have any philanthropic endeavors going on now?

Man that is all I did for a while. It hurts me that I do as much as I do in the community and people don’t support the good guy. I’m the person who does all the drops and Katrina work for years.

I stand up for the people and the people don’t stand up for me.

It’s time for people to stand up for me. Go buy The Greatest Story Ever Told – my album – if you want me to continue to do the work that I do, because if I keep doing, I’m going to mess around and be broke.

“It is going to be a great definition of who I am with this record, the Greatest Story Ever Told. I know who I am and more than that, I know what my fans want to hear from me and I’m just going to consistently give them what they want. “ — david banner Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 81

82 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

h u s t l e WORDS Damola

“I take quarter water sold it in bottles for 2 bucks, Coca-Cola came and bought it for billions, that’s what’s up”

50 CENT

$

n o m i c $

Image courtesy of Interscope Records

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 83

Photography: Banks 84 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

Y

ou really cannot speak about someone until you have had a chance to walk in their shoes. While the culture and art form of hip-hop globally prospers, the origins and environments that inspire the culture are often overlooked, ignored and discarded in any logical discussion about the negative impacts of the culture. When talking heads and pundits railed with the assertions of Don Imus that his racially charged comments were derived from hip-hop, they simply were endorsing ignorance and ignorance is a disease not an excuse. In a world where people still hang nooses on trees, and ride around with nooses on their pickups in hopes of a return to an era of slavery and racial injustice, the fact remains that the deck is stacked against black youth like you can never fathom. The art and science of these hustlers/ entrepreneurs who come from the most down trodden, impoverished, violent neighborhoods could make them the darlings of Wall Street and enterprise if properly applied. In the 80’s during the Ronald Regan Era the narcotics trade reached an all-time high and its byproduct are disenfranchised youth who had little options for survival. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is one such product who was essentially orphaned at age eight in Southside Queens, NY home of notorious drug kingpins Pappy Mason, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, Montana, et all, and he actually went head-up against Preme who has been suspected of ordering the infamous “hit” on his life in front of 50 Cent’s grandmothers house and his son on May 24, 2000.

When you are young in the blighted urban environments, your best hope for success is either through sports or entertainment, otherwise your employment is on the corner in the enterprise of narcotics and your dream is to go from a G ($1,000) to a key (one kilo of substance) to fulfill fantasies of living like Al Pacino’s character Scarface. 50 Cent had these dreams but refined them. Sports didn’t work as he had golden glove aspirations, narcotics was no longer an option after the attempt on his life, and entertainment was a long shot due to his feud with then powerful Supreme affiliated Murder Inc. “I’m a be bigger than Cat, bigger than Preme, I’m a be the last one standing, know what I mean,” he chimes on a recent street opus “Southside”. He has fulfilled his claims as he has surpassed all the “OG’s” by applying the mentality the environment fostered into legitimate enterprise. Every negative he bore on his shoulders, he has turned into strength. From his crafty approach to move his mixtapes on the same streets where narcotics was no longer an option, garnering himself the opportunity to enter an agreement with Dr Dre and Eminem as a recording artist, to his upcoming book the 50th Law with Robert Greene, where he’s adding his own survival philosophies to the best selling 48 Laws of Power. 50 Cent is an empire unto himself and his management Violator and him have carefully crafted highly lucrative agreements that reward him from the over $6 billion in revenue he has earned for his partners since his debut in 2003. To date, his biggest deal has been with Glaceau, the makers of Vitamin Water, which was acquired

by Coca-Cola this year for $4.1 billion. In 2005 I asked him, “how did you decide to buy a piece of it? (Vitamin Water). His response was, “It’s always better to have a bigger piece of a pie- especially when there are a lot of opportunities there

for you. Vitamin Water is a privately-owned company and it’s based in Queens. You know how companies give stock options? Well they had stocks and they freed up enough for me to buy enough to make it a priority.” That answer was good enough to understand his take estimated from $100,000,000 to over $400,000,000 was substantial and the move in itself shrewd. Yet without the partnership with 50 Cent, the sale wouldn’t have net anywhere close to the final amount. 50 Cent is the best endorser there is, period, because he integrates the campaigns into his lifestyle and at the height of his popularity, the small company from Queens enjoyed year over year profits in excess of 100% as they integrated their brand into 50 Cent’s tours and marketing.

50 Cent’s relationship with Reebok is still vibrant as a new shoe, The Trilla, will debut this fall after over 4 million pairs of G-Unit’s have been sold along with boots, jackets, hats and accessories. Marc Echo recently renewed 50 Cent’s clothing deal which also includes a women and kids line, and also gave him new digs in his building in Midtown New York. The 1500 sq-ft penthouse includes a gym, studio, shower and anything a mogul could desire; small, however, compared to a 50,000 sq estate in Connecticut which is currently on the market for $18.5 million. 50 Cent recently partnered with General Motors, Pontiac division and already has been showcasing their all-new rear wheel drive vehicle the G8 in video’s with Ciara and Robin Thicke. He has even given away one of the G6 GXP Streets. They also sponsored his legendary Five Borough Tour of New York City. At his shows, he brought out affiliates of his enemies in their own borough.

His book venture with MTV has flourished and production on a film based on Ski Mask Way has already begun. That production however isn’t 50 Cent’s only film venture; he is currently filming Righteous Kill with Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro, who also plan to film New Orleans with 50 Cent.

Nicolas Cage is also in pairings with him in the boxing movie The Dance, and he and manager Chris Lighty are working on a film about an underground car ring called Live Bet. This of course is in addition to Home of the Brave about the Iraq war filmed with Jessica Biel and Samuel Jackson, which is expected to be released nationwide soon. He also has a line of condoms he is planning to call Magic Stick, along with another foray into the Video Game world where his Bulletproof was a smashing success selling over 2 million copies. To date, he has also been active with his G-Unity Foundation; In fact, 50 cents of each G-Unit sneaker sale was donated to charity. These other ventures make moot his recent charts battle with Kanye West. Their friendly competition brought consumers to the registers with Kanye selling 960,000 to 50 Cent’s 691,000- both the highest first week debuts of the year. Kanye’s total actually was the best debut since 50 Cent’s last album The Massacre.

Sales reached 1.14 million when released in March of 2005.

Worldwide sales for 50 Cent’s Curtis album approached 2 million in the first week according to parent company Vivendi, so his popularity is as strong as ever. This year, he also plans to release a group album with G-Unit and you can forecast his involvement as Executive Producer on other albums such as Rocafella’s Freeway and the legendary L.L. Cool J. According to Forbes, 50 earned $32 million last year and was second to only Jay-Z among hip-hop Cash Kings.

In a historic move, him, Jay-Z and Diddy, the top three on the Forbes list, made a remix to his smash single I Get Money and titled it Forbes 1-2-3, the billionaire remix. Love

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 85

“I think the only thing missing from hip-hop is an IQ test.

You have a lot of idiots involved and a lot of people who really are not learning.

Like, a lot of sh*t that I’ll make comment to and the reason why people have interest in me as an artist is because they see me give them the game.”

86 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

him or hate him, he is an American Icon, a Horatio Alger story of where a determination to get rich or die trying could land you. I spoke with him as he prepped his new album and was awaiting the impending sale of Vitamin Water.

The final figure is undisclosed but his response then of his interest was very interesting. We also spoke about a lot of other things as it is always an interesting interview with him. Our dialogue went as follows.

So basically man start off with the evolution of where you at right now because initially, it was the promotion of the G-Unit brand and now it’s sort of the Curtis Jackson thing It’s still G-Unit. I was content financially on the sales of Get Rich. I did what really great rappers do in their whole career on my first record, right after Get Rich, of course, Interscope wanted another solo record. Instead, I gave them GUnit Beg for Mercy. Following Beg for Mercy, scanned 3 million records worldwide; Lloyd Banks, 2 millions records, Hunger for More; Straight Outta Cashville (Young Buck) ,1.5 million; and Tony Yayo sold 800,000 copies. I actually cut his legs off because I came out a week after him (with a DVD packaged version of Massacre). That was a lesson to me because I didn’t realize only one train could run down the track…

At the time you had the DVD the week after…

The momentum shifted off of Yayo back to 50 Cent and he wasn’t physically able to travel to different markets to keep people interested in Yayo. I just feel like Yayo’s project would have done a lot better if he had the same time span that Banks and Buck’s records had. I believe he would have sold a million records, you know. And based on the success that I’ve been having as a solo artist, the standards are raised higher as far as the general public is concerned with G-Unit material. So, when you have Cam’ron for instance, when we were having that conversation on the radio, he makes references to Banks selling the same amount of records as Jim Jones like, ‘How many records did Banks sell? But Banks’ worst performance is Jimmy’s best performance…

Exactly.

Do you understand what I’m saying? I didn’t even understand why he would point that out because it just made him look bad. I think the only thing missing from hip-hop is an IQ test. You have a lot of idiots involved and a lot of people who really are not learning. Like, a lot of sh*t that I’ll make comment to and the reason why people have interest in me as an artist is because they see me give them the game.

Right after I use it, I give it to them and they can do what they want with it…and I’ll move to the next situation. I’ll have things that I won’t expose to the public because I haven’t done it yet. While I’m in negotiations or in conversations with other companies, I don’t make reference to a deal that I haven’t signed.

To be honest, you kind of set the blueprint with the mixtape game for Jeezy and T.I.. At the time when you were coming out was when T.I. got down with Drama and he had In the Streets:Part Three and then the

single 24’s.

Puffy brought the remix. He took the music that his mom was playing and turned it into his music; see what I’m saying. He took that hit music from back then. That is why Big had the Juicy and all of those other joints that he rocked until it was crazy at that point and they made it new and young again and fresh and you can credit that to Puff. Irv followed him trying to create that same thing with remixes Do I Do with K-Ci singing over Stevie Wonder. He did a lot of records over and my contribution was evolving because I’m conditioned to song write. I wrote in song format even when I was performing as a freestyle artist because it had been beaten into my head that the most important component in the song, the repetitive portion of it, is the chorus. People decide whether they like it. You have 15 seconds before they skip to the next one. If I give you a CD of someone you have never heard and you give it a shot, that first couple records you play it about 15 seconds and you hear the beat playing, if this person isn’t saying something that you enjoy, you skip to the next one.

I kind of think that the music game now is kind of tailormade for your skill set because it’s a songwriter’s market. Like Akon, he’s a great songwriter and if you look at the charts he has a lot of top tens.

At the same time what Akon does that a lot of artists don’t is that he’s a producer at the same time. He’ll take his production, put his chorus over it while he’s hot and everybody’s going to buy it because it sounds like a hit that’s playing on the radio. I didn’t compromise myself in any way and that’s why when I came, it was a lane for me that is not there for the rest of them. You’ll see your 50 Cent renditions going on like crazy. There are artists that do their version of 50 Cent and now they might be able to do some things and be really talented artists, but what they can’t do better than me is be me. You know, it’s just built in.

I feel that.

If there are four things that make a star, I’d say its quality material, performance, appearance, and personality and if you lack in one of those areas you’ve got to pick up the slack in one of those areas. I just think that me being who I am and being comfortable enough to be who I am, allows me to place myself on a level that they can’t get to right now. There are artists that believe the concept of faking it until you make it. That’s cool but damn; you don’t want to put yourself out there in a space where you’re making comparisons that are visibly wrong. For instance, I’ll use Cam’ron again. He’ll say he runs Dipset and Fifty runs G Unit- it’s just two people being competitive…

Yeah…

Yeah, but when you say that, what is the comparison?

My last album sold 9.8 million. I’m twenty million on two projects, thirty million if you add it all up and this guy sold 200,000 on his last album. Do you understand what I’m saying? What you see is like the response Jay-Z gave when Cam was trying to attack him. It’s a reflection of his character. Jay-Z said I’m not even going to respond to this; he’s just looking for attention. When Nas did it, he just fell back from it. That’s not his real thing; he doesn’t really like

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 87

the confrontation like that and when he did something he was not supposed to do with me, me jumping on his ass is a direct reflection of my character. (laughter) You see what I’m saying. Then it’s like it is just who we are away from the actual art, the music…

The personality, the character…

But the personality of a person that cuts through into the actual art form. So, even though I know it’s cool for you to get the attention, I’m going to give you more attention than you can bear. He didn’t realize when my album cycle’s come it is two albums, two full years of me on your ass before I start to fade away. The only reason my album is cut off is because I cut them off. I could still be selling The Massacre. I still had I’ll Build You Up with Jamie Foxx when he was winning Oscars. I still had Trick Get In My Car, Out of Control, the original one. I did the remix to set Mobb Deep up. I constantly make sacrifices for people around me, because the way I was raised is you take care of your crew and altercations and other situations, they’ll take care of you. People say things about me, right, but you know what you’ll never hear them say, ‘that I beat them for their money.’

I have so much of my own, why would I be looking to beat them for their money? I’ve heard artists complain that Puffy did it. I’ve heard artists complain Master P did it. I’ve heard artists complain Baby did it. See, my concept is a simple concept… If you don’t feed the players, they’re not going to be strong enough to win championships.

Yes, tell us about that because in Vegas, there is a shot everybody saw on the web with you, Jermaine, Steve, Diddy, Jay, Jeezy, Nelly, Ashanti; that’s a lot of money sitting in one place. But to me, when I see that, it’s like the reason why I even started our magazine as far as the urban entrepreneurial lifestyle. All of you did not come from a traditional background. Now you have net worth’s of at least fifty million and up.

I think from time to time we use each other for energy. We see one of us will be hot and our attitude is like, man we have to get my sh*t right. We don’t have any direct issues, particularly like Nelly. I’m alright with Nelly. We don’t have any differences. I’ll stop my car if I see him somewhere and say, “what up yo, what are you doing.” He’ll say, “yo, I’m going to the studio.” (I’ll say) alright. I’m going back to the Beverly Hills Hotel.” Something is wrong with you if you don’t like to see someone else do good. That concept lives in the hood for real. A ni**a’ll blow your head off for having a nice car, man, and it’s just because they’ll start to count your money for you. Then you’ll start looking like something to eat. They’ll see a person getting money and then they are like trying to see how they can get some of that money.

Now, do you see yourself doing any investments or partnerships with the people that you saw on stage?

What’s ill is that I wouldn’t turn away from an opportunity to be a part of a good business deal based on the other people involved. I would provide an opportunity for them to make money if it was a situation that they could already get involved with. I’m comfortable in my skin. Nobody can change the opportunities that are going to come my way, you know. Because if it was up to other people, I’m sure I wouldn’t have or be where I’m at today. Everybody on that stage is aware. They know good music when they hear it and 88 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

everybody on that stage heard 50 Cent before he was signed and didn’t provide an opportunity…because everybody on that stage was pretty much there before I got there, everybody except maybe Jeezy. And it’s understandable.

They just couldn’t bear the circumstances of the situation that was going on with me. You know what I mean? But that comes from the environment, even in the music. What I rap about is the harsh reality. That’s what actually goes on, on different levels. And it might, I might repeat myself trying to capture it in a perfect way, but it’s about the real content and the real experiences. When I do it perfectly, I’ll leave it alone.

I don’t make remixes to records that were done right the first time. In Da Club, the record was the way I wrote it and when I put Snoop on P.I.M.P., I said my original verse. I never changed what I was saying. I just added a little flavor to it because Snoop’s verse was hot already. I used that as an opportunity to set up Beg for Mercy putting Banks and Buck at the end.

That was also good for the tour, too, because he opened up for…

He was right there with us. It was a good move. I just look at every opportunity and option that opens up for me and I feel that I can go somewhere and accomplish things that people didn’t think was possible. They asked me am I’m a role model and I said I’m not sure if I’m a role model, but I’m sure I’m inspiring.

You are definitely inspiring.

I make people believe it’s possible where I’m from. The ni**a in the hood right now that hears me is saying, ‘damn we think alike.’ They ID with me. That’s why they love me.

That’s why they enjoy what I’m actually doing. Oprah Winfrey does the same thing but she’s doing it to a demographic of middle-aged white women that ID with her and say, ‘wow me and Oprah think alike.’

If you don’t have a frame of reference, you can’t relate.

There’s no connecting point of a 50-year-old black woman to…

Hip-hop…

People in their twenties and thirties making music.

Yes, but outside of that, again, the music embodies a harsh reality that she’s not been subjected to for how many years.

We’re writing about something that they don’t want people to even acknowledge exists. So, if you’ll say music is so influential that we should censor it, how about how influential Scarface was to a demographic of people.

Shoot, Sopranos.

How about Goodfellas? How about Godfather? How about The Casino? The Untouchables? All of these movies are in consistent rotation with people that may be incarcerated right now. They watched this content. I mean, it might have helped them have the aggression that it takes to survive in their environment, but they watch those images repeatedly.

Now, let’s go into your movies. Have you began shooting the DeNiro movie yet, New Orleans?

We haven’t actually shot it yet. That will be at the end of this year and the Dance Box.

Photography: Banks

“I make people believe it’s possible where I’m from... They ID with me.

That’s why they love me.”

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The Dance Box and then you have another movie about the races, right, in New York?

Live Bet. Chris is co-producing that one, too, right? Then, Home of the Brave.

Home of the Brave is about the Iraq war. Actually, I think they are sensitive to releasing it, considering we’re still at war.

Yeah, I saw it. It’s deep.

I play a character in the joint, Jamal Aiken. It’s a 23-year old 90 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

character that comes home altered from the experience. How are you going to tell a person not to kill, ‘it’s not the right thing to do;’ kill only when it’s for your country. And when you come back, you realize that nobody else was at war while you were at war. Everybody around you is living normal lives. Like we are living our regular lives right now while they’re at war. To have that much death around you, I believe it changes your spirit. It changes who you are as a person. For instance, if you have 40 people in your platoon and you come back and there is 37, and then you have 32, and so forth, you begin to think, Oh sh*t, they are writing death notes. If-if-if I pass away, mail this off for me.’

the newspaper sells and why the news constantly promotes something that happened and put a crazy spin on it. For instance, if a kid shoots another kid; the news will say this big kid shot a little kid over a quarter.

It’s alarming.

Dramatic. But, what they are not telling you is that this kid was stealing the other kid’s Jordans that took him a long time to earn. Well, the kid keeps taking it from this other kid until finally, the kid say’s “this is how I’m going to stop him” and pops him. I’m not saying that it’s right, but ask me if I understand.

I’ll tell you yes because of the circumstances I came up in. The news just always has a way of painting this negative or not-so-true picture.

Right. I’m always thinking, who puts them in a position to judge somebody when you don’t have the background or know what was going on that made...

You know what it is? Them being in a public position, you have to acknowledge you’re public property.

Once you get into a public position, everybody has a right to their opinion of you. While people have a right to their opinion of me, my skin gets super thick because I accept that. I use every situation strategically for something else that I need it for.

So true. So, about your movie roles, did you actually read for American Gangster, the one with Denzel?

I did.

Photography: Banks

But you didn’t want it?

[Ridley] Scott thought I was too popular for the actual role that I was reading for. He thought they would just see 50 Cent and not the actual character and it was such a small role that it didn’t make sense for me to do it.

That’s real.

So you can’t be the same person after being in that type of mind frame for months and months at a time. You’re feeling like you can die any day now. I really think that death is a large form of entertainment. I think there is interest that is built in with any living being.

Yeah, every time something tragic happens, it’s on the news cycle at all times.

People generally are conditioned to love tragedy. That’s why

Yeah, they ended up using Common and T.I. for that.

I didn’t understand that, though, when he said that to me. They felt like maybe I might be too popular?

What are you talking about? It is just people’s perception of me. When the role is not big enough for you to see a different character, you just see 50 Cent.

Okay.

He thought the role was not a role that would make me stand out. So, I was like, “aw, it’s cool.”

I also heard you were producing The Ski Mask Way. I’m actually converting the book The Ski Mask Way through G Unit books into a film.

Okay. When we talked last, you talked about adapting and learning a lot from hustles. When I heard about your book company, I knew where you were going with that.

We’ll only do straight to DVD series if the picture isn’t good enough for the screen. But, if it’s good enough for the big screen, you already own the property. You already own the story, you know. You buy the rights to the books before it hits the store.

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It’s a joint situation. It is me and the actual writers involved; we create a synopsis to create the treatment for the actual book and then they kind of develop it. I don’t stand over their shoulders because I don’t want to make it less than it can actually be. If you write books for a living, the graphic content in a book, there are things that a writer can do to make you see certain specific colors, objects, things.

They can take you to a different time period.

Right. Like, we might both read it and see something similar and just based on the way it’s actually structured in the story; it’ll give you a vision.

So, now, what is going on with Vitamin Water?

We just did the very first television commercial campaign for Vitamin Water.

And you still have ownership there?

I own 30 percent of it. I can’t wait till it sells.

Oh, man I was hearing three billion and four billion.

But you see how much the brand has grown.

Since you came on board.

Everybody’s aware of it. Before I first got wind of it, it was only in one actual workout place that I was in that I would have seen it in. I came across it and I bought it and then I did the research. It was a private-owned company based in Queens and I investigated the possibility of doing business with them.

Yeah, you set up a lot of people, man. Tell our readers about the video game. You did like two million?

The video game money is different. That is $59.99. $59.99!

It isn’t like the CD. You sell two million of them and you’re going to be smiling.

Are you going to do another one?

Yeah, I already started. I have two new video games coming.

With Universal, too?

Yeah, Universal and G Unit and another joint.

So, are they going to be similar?

New games. One is a total new game. The other one is Bulletproof: Part Two. How about the clothing?

The clothing is good. I actually renegotiated my deal.

Nice. Well, before we wrap, everyone is going to want to know what’s going on with the Unit. Buck, Banks, Sha, Hot Rod… There is a point that every artist, I think, wants the people that’s screaming and putting their hands up to be there for them. I want that too. Like, Em, he has a luxury that I don’t have. He has 50 Cent. Do you understand what I’m saying?

He can go home and just say, “I’m not going to put an album out next year.” He will still make money the same way he

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would if he was putting his album out because the year he is not coming out, I am. He makes the same money that following year. His cut is 25 percent. Like, as a joint venture, Aftermath has 25 percent, Shady has 25 percent, Interscope has 50 percent on 50 Cent.

And you get whatever they…

No, with my deal, I get what’s been contractually agreed to in the deal. They have the label money on 50 Cent so that those chunks are big chunks when you start doing 9.812 and 9.8 million on your CD sales. So it’s cool, Eminem makes great money when he’s working and then he makes great money when he’s not. I can’t say I’m going to go sit down right now when my artist wants to. I have to continue to do what I have to do because I am not going to settle on good when I can do great. That is just not the way I was brought up. The guy that is content with his three hundred or so and say’s I’m good while customers are still coming- he is supposed to be working for somebody.

Exactly.

So, I think they are just at a point where they want it to be for them. I’ve done everything possible to support them. I have made sacrifices constantly. How about, I turned off my album to start the G-Unit album when I could of still been doing If I Can’t and this is the Get Rich era If I Can’t and Poor Little Rich. I stopped to do Beg For Mercy and then when it came time for The Massacre, I did the Out of Control remix to set up Mobb Deep. And then, when it was The Massacre, I said, ‘I’m good if I can make a hit record by myself. I’m great if I can make a hit record that sets up another artist. So I went with Candy Shop first to bring Olivia to light and then when it didn’t work, at that point, I said I have to do something to get her out again, so I came back on the soundtrack with Best Friend, again. When I was doing Best Friend, I, in my heart, wanted to be doing I Whup Your Head Boy. That would have set up M.O.P, though.

But you know what, that deal wasn’t solid. It was done but M.O.P. was still recording their record.

So what’s up with their project now?

They are a horse with three legs. I’m not betting on them.

You have to have everything right…in this climate anyway.

You have to come all the way right. I committed to working with them based on them being talented vocally, but with the content that’s in the music, they have to be able to present themselves a certain way because with the energy that’s on the music, you have to have that energy to display on stage and if they don’t work themselves into a good physical position to get themselves together to go present it, what am I going to do? It’s just certain things that…

They have to be in shape and have a visual image.

Right. If your lyrical contents is “I’ll whip your ass,” I don’t believe you if you can’t run up three stairs. It’s just the honest to God truth and they’ll have whatever it is, their perception to be different. I’m not considering doing anything that feels like it’s in a losing effort right now.

You placed a good bet on Mayweather, though.

Yeah.

“I’m not considering doing anything that feels like it’s in a losing effort right now.”

How about the foundation?

G-Unity. Well, I do a lot of different charitable stuff that they don’t talk about because it doesn’t coincide with the picture they’ve painted to the public about who I am. You know what I mean? And, if I wasn’t doing it from my heart, I’d have to be publicizing myself and saying tell everybody I did this.’ But it’s not necessary for that. In G-Unit Clothing, when you buy them, it is an additional 50 cent on the price tag that adds up and it is donated to existing charitable organizations as opposed to creating a notfor-profit organization because that would be running another business, having to delegate responsibilities and having office space to do that.

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AKA “LOLA LUV”

Angel 94 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

Issue XI • OwnerS Illustrated • 95

Photography: Banks - Photo Editing: Destiny of Dgtal Image - Hair & Makeup: Mila Thomas - Styling: RW Collection

Photography: Banks 96 • OwnerS Illustrated • Issue XI

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