Womens Issue II

THE OFFICIAL GUIDE FOR THE URBAN ENTREPRENEUR

Women S THEOLA OwnerS Illustrated Presents

ISSUE

BEYONCE KELLY ROWLAND QUEEN LATIFAH NIA LONG COME OUT IN STYLE

BORDEN TYRESE J RECORDS EXEC SHAPES THE STARS

BARES HIS SOUL

Kelis

Takes You To The Edge and Beyond

DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER 2007

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ASHLEY PAIGE’S FASHIONS GO WILD 50 CENT PRESENTS G-UNIT WOMENS

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* EPA estimated fuel economy is city/hwy. 18/25 FWD. ** Class is Medium Crossover Vehicles with 6-cylinder engines standard.

76 KELIS Bold & Beautiful

FEATURES 18 50 CENT PRESENTS G-UNIT

WOMENS COLLECTION

28 ASHLEY PAIGE

Has It All Sewn Up

68 THEOLA BORDEN

J Records Exec Shapes The Stars

74 TYRESE

Bares His Soul

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Toyz CARS GADGETS GAMES

The Rolls Royce

Phantom drophead coupe

The Boyz Shouldn’t Have All The Fun ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE CONTACT: PUB@OWNERSILLUSTRATED.COM

SECTIONS

FASHION

8 G-Unit, Azzure, Apple Bottoms, Akademiks Fashion Spread 22 Lifepop Founder Heather Breen 26 Mia Quinn 30 Fashions by Ashley Paige

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TYRESE

LIFESTYLE ACCESSORIES

20 Shoes by Akademiks 24 Lifepod Bags

EVENTS 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46

Queen Latifah Covergirl Event Joe Album Release Party Kelly Rowland Event John Legend Album Release Party NeYo Album Release Party Trey Songz Concert Today’s Black Woman Russell Simmons Art For Life Event

AUTOMOTIVE 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62

Fairuz Arabo Tracy Leipzig Ford/Microsoft Sync Toyota: Yaris vs Yaris Mazda CX-7 Test Drive Saturn Aura Greenline Test Drive Toyota Camry Hybrid Test Drive GMC Acadia Test Drive

ENTERTAINMENT 66 Bianca Mendez 70 Sasha Brookner

TECH

Photography: Banks

80 Nokia N95 81 Pioneer PDP-5080HD

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

— Womens Issue — Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Damola Idowu Design Travis A. Alford Copy Editor Keyla McNeely for Keywords Communications

Photography RichardFlood.com Banks Wil David Duane Johnson Lanre’ Damola

W

Photography: Banks

Staff Writers Damola Da Great Deity Dah Keyla McNeely

hen a 67 year old known bigot says hurtful and insulting words about women of color on national television, and in turn gets reprimanded, then suspended, then fired only to blame the words of young people 40 years his junior and sneaks back in to network television four months later to cash in on a rumored $20 million dollar settlement, plus a new job along side Sean Hannity and Rush Lambaugh, I need no further reminder for why we agonize and labor to put this magazine together.

Yet in all, there is no greater joy than to have had the chance to meet so many accomplished, strong and independent women. While the ‘good ole boys’ struggle to hold on to their stolen bounty in an ever diversifying world, we are pleased to be a part of the future.

Currently, a woman and a black man lead the polls and fund raising efforts for the next presidential election of the United States. This bears significance, for it is within our lifetime when both women and blacks were denied the right to vote. Change can be painful but it is an essential necessity to humanity. We are not perfect, I certainly will attest to that fact; but, we can all make an effort to make a difference and embrace the sacrifice it takes to achieve our inner greatness. The barriers that have recently resurfaced for women have been surpassed and the future bears hope for even greater change. I am glad Owners Illustrated can be a part of that change by documenting the achievements of enterprising, independent women. The only cure for ignorance is education and thus we hope we can enlighten others by what we do. Change is necessary people, so be prepared. I thank all who have supported us.

Marketing & Promotions Damola Quincy Taylor Reginald Matthews Dawoud Shadeidu Brian Williams RW Collection Models Advertising Damola RichardFlood.com Quincy Taylor Sales Damola College Representative Kunle Idowu Intern Chris Barnes Newsstand Consultant John Blassingame Legal Counsel Reginald A. Greene, Esq.

I thank the Uniworld Group and Ford for making this possible... this is only a beginning, the best is yet to come.

THE HUSTLENOMICS ACADEMY “I sponsored the movement.”

Damola Idowu Publisher/Editor-in-Chief/Founder Owners Illustrated Magazine

Owners Illustrated Magazine is published quarterly 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 Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 7

FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHY: WIL DAVID

Shirt & Jeans I G-Unit

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PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD PHOTOGRAPHY: WIL DAVIDFLOOD

FASHION

Shirt I Azzure Jeans I Apple Bottom

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FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHY: WIL DAVID

Dress I Azzure

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PHOTOGRAPHY: WIL DAVID

FASHION

Hooded Jacket I Apple Bottom Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 11

Shirt I G-Unit Pants I Apple Bottom

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PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD FLOOD.COM — STYLING: KAREN SLADE, ELITE IMAGES — MAKEUP: KEYA DELARGE

FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD FLOOD.COM — STYLING: KAREN SLADE, ELITE IMAGES — MAKEUP: KEYA DELARGE

FASHION

Tank Top and Pants I Akademics

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Top I Apple Bottoms Pants I Azzure Denim

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PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD FLOOD.COM — STYLING: KAREN SLADE, ELITE IMAGES — MAKEUP: KEYA DELARGE

FASHION

PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD FLOOD.COM — STYLING: KAREN SLADE, ELITE IMAGES — MAKEUP: KEYA DELARGE

FASHION

Top I G-Unit Skirt I Apple Bottoms

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 15

Heather Breen Founder, Lifepop

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ADVERTISE WITH US

CONTACT: PUB@OWNERSILLUSTRATED.COM Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 17

G-UNIT

WOMENS COLLECTION

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Photography: Banks

FASHION

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LIFESTYLE • ACCESSORIES • SHOES BY AKADEMIKS

Guilty Pleasure Shoes by Akademiks

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Guilty Pleasure Shoes by Akademiks

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LIFEPOP FOUNDER I HEATHER BREEN

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Photography: Banks

N

ecessity has been claimed to be the mother of invention so what do you do when you don’t want to lug around a radio but still want to play out your tunes out loud? How about Lifepod, a new fashion accessories line that features speakers on bags and purses and integrates with an mp3 player allowing you to play your music out loud. Created since 2003, Lifepod founded by Heather Breen in Brooklyn, NY now even has a licensing agreement with the NBA for backpacks that integrate MP3 players to turn into a mobile sound system. Inspiration comes from everywhere and as we caught up with Heather and her partner Jason at the Magic Fashion convention in Las Vegas, we got a gist of how this all came about.

Q&A HEATHER BREEN Interview by Damola

in charge around here and I’ll say, ‘I am.’ And the guy will step back as to say, ‘good for you.’

Tell our readers about what you have going on with Lifepod.

We started a company in 2003 in Brooklyn, NY. We were inspired by the old boom boxes and are tired of headphones, so we took vintage style gym bags from the 50’s, incorporated a stereo system with speakers and have a whole fashion line. It’s in the sports industry, fashion industry, street wear, urban... We sell them all over the world. It is a 3.5mm headphone jack so it hooks up to anything, any audio player.

Condescending, sort of?

You know, I’m not sure it’s not a generational thing. But, everybody loves the product. That’s why we have the product. People walk by the booth and just look at the stuff and they’re not sure what to think about it and then they hear the music and the vibe that we give out and they see the patterns and the colors. It all goes back to early hip-hop and bringing it into the future. We stay on top of the trends and keep it fresh.

So, not just iPods but any MP3 player?

The new Zune. This thing hooks up to your PSP for if you wanted sound effects. It also hooks up to Game Boy. You can put a 2.5mm jack on it and play your cell phone out of it. You can plug it into your laptop and go back to your room or hotel or house. You can take it wherever you go.

How long have you been doing this line?

Two and a half years.

What got you into the industry?

These black microfiber laptop cases. (showing us) Right when the iPod first started coming out and laptops were becoming more accessible, the only option was to buy black micro fiber. My partner Jason and I felt like we needed to do something about that so we started with iPod cases, very colorful, funky. Our cases are an ode to funky, soul, R&B music and kind of reflect that in the designs of our bags…we just keep evolving.

That is real cool. I see that you have very vibrant colors, too.

These particular two, we do, but we also have plaids. We have cheetah prints. We have solids, black and white. We have preppy green and white. So we have a little bit for everyone and I gave the girls the flashiest, of course.

You also said you have something in street wear. Give us an overview of the entire line of products.

We have pet bags with built-in stereo speakers. We have gym bags, backpacks, cooler bags that fold open and have a built in AM/FM radio, plus you can hook it up to anything so you can listen to your iPod or Zune or MP3s when you’re on the beach. We have messenger bags that are really popular. We have hobo purses in tweeds and really nice, different materials. It takes from the current trends in the industry.

What were some of the challenges that you experienced as a woman in the industry building your company?

Hah! Well, Jason, my partner is a guy so anytime anybody comes into the booth they think he’s the designer. He invented it but we are a team. No one takes it serious that I’m the owner. Obviously, he couldn’t come up with something like this. So, particularly older gentlemen, will say, ‘I want to speak to the owner of the company. Who’s

I actually caught wind of the music playing and I was following down the elevator and hearing James Brown Big Payback and I was really excited having seen that.

Of course!

Heather, what is the next step? What’s your future vision for the whole product line?

We’re many years ahead. Before the consumers will really catch on, we just developed a line and introduced it this year. It is mini speakers and what we call the Atom Amp line. It runs off of nine volt batteries and they have little cases that are shaped like a mini boombox. It is on a keychain so you could hook your iPod or your cell phone up. Initially, we’re designing things with little speakers so you can listen to your MP3s from your cell phone because iPhone’s coming out to integrate your iPod, your internet, and mobile phone texting, so they’re going to come out with little earbugs, I’m sure. I describe it as having the best old records but if you don’t have the system that’ll play them so you can appreciate them, then what’s the point. We are designing really useful, easy-to-use, very inexpensive things for people to be able to carry their cell phone around. It also fits smaller MP3s so you can listen to your MP3s on your cell phone.

Nice. What word of advice do you have for other women who are trying to break the mold and develop their own fashion or have ideas. Because this is a very out-of-thebox idea, which is great; It’s an innovative approach.

Well, I think you have to be kind of born a certain way. You have to be very driven…You have to know what you want and there’s always the back door, no matter what. Like, I’ll walk around and just talk to people and show them my bags and talk about co-branding or if I think it’s a good fit. If a person is very driven, then you have the power to do anything. There are many obstacles when people won’t take you serious. On a financial tip, remember that every penny you make goes right back into the company and you just have to have fun and enjoy the ride because it is a bumpy one.

Is there a website or store that we could find your products?

We sell them on our website and in our stores. The website is lifepod.net. You can buy them there or they are sold in sports stores, surf stores, snowboarding stores, fashion boutiques, and in different countries. But they’re all specialized.

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Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • ACCESSORIES • LIFEPOD BAGS

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FASHION

MIA QUINN

Photography: RichardFlood.com

Many times when you see a celebrity that has a very trendy and fashionable appearance, odds are that style has been created by their stylist who has painstakingly created their unique look and image.

Rarely are stylists giving their just due as their work entails being behind the scenes and their objective is that their clients showcase their work. As 50 Cent and G-Unit’s fashion stylist, Mia Quinn has worked diligently to brand their image and ensure their look is distinctive and its own. Working at photo shoots, video sets, on tours or wherever duty calls, Mia is always on the go, yet nothing is promised. She is always putting in work and is reaping the rewards for her dedication to her craft. We caught up with Mia on the set of one of her clients, Young Buck at the set of his music video. Mia had some very interesting things to share with us. — Staff Writer

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Q&A MIA QUINN Interview by Damola Mia Quinn: I am the wardrobe stylist for Young Buck for the “Get Buck” video. I style everybody underneath the G Unit label… Fifty, Banks, Buck, Yayo, Hot Rod, Mobb Deep, Spider Loc, M.O.P… How did you get that position?

I’ve been doing this now for about seven years. I was assisting someone that worked for G-Unit for awhile and then through hard work, they moved on and I took over.

How did you get into the fashion industry, though?

I‘ve always been into fashion from an early age. I graduated from F.I.T. and I’ve just always been into fashion. Kids wanted to have parties at five years old and I wanted to go to the mall.

Did you ever work with a clothing line before this?

No, I never worked with a clothing line but just being a stylish person and being someone that’s really into fashion is kind of how I found myself in this place. Initially, I wanted to be a buyer, but my idea of what a buyer was and what it really is does not really suit what I want.

So define the responsibilities of a stylist. What is a stylist?

You’re basically responsible for the artist or whomever you’re working with; the image. I take care of everything, clothes for everything, videos, photo shoots, any public appearances, basically. That’s what I do.

So talk to us about your typical day. Like for example, describe what you had to do today on the set of Young Buck’s video.

Well, I got up this morning at three, got on the plane at six, got here at nine and I’ve been running since. He has five looks for this video. I basically, even though he has five looks, I have to bring more than enough options so I have about maybe twenty, thirty looks amongst all the stuff that I bought. And, basically we get him changed. As soon as they need him changed, we change up his wardrobe. That’s what I’ve been doing for most of the day.

And, we’re not even close to being done. We have to probably finish later on this evening and then we shoot again tomorrow.

You also styled the models on the set, too, right?

Yeah, most of the time. I style the extra girls and the principle girls. It’s not too many girls in this video. It’s actually only two girls and they have someone else actually doing it so that I could focus on Buck being that he has so many changes.

How do you find the right look from all the different clothing lines that are out?

I’m in stores. I’m in show rooms. I mean, each artist that I work

with kind of has their own personality. So, I fit the clothes to their personality. When I’m out shopping and looking through magazines and when I’m visiting showrooms is when I find different pieces and put them all together. When I’m out, I buy everything that I know this particular person would like and then I just put it together.

And they just trust you that whatever…

I’ve been working with them for awhile now, so I pretty much know everybody’s personalities… what they like, what they don’t like, what I know not even to waste my time buying and it pretty much works out. They trust me.

Alright, so ultimately, what would you aspire to do? What’s the ultimate vision for you?

Right now, this is my ultimate vision. I like working with G Unit.

I like working with Fifty. I just like working with them. They’re a good group. They stay working and busy. But ultimately, I want to move into movies, doing wardrobe for movies, costume design.

But, if I could stick to doing costume design for Fifty being that he does more in movies, that would be great because he is such a good person to work with. To work in costume design and still work with someone that you’re real comfortable with and you know… that would be my ultimate thing.

For women trying to get into styling, what steps do they need to take to get into what you are doing and be good at it? I know a lot of women that say they want to be fashion stylists.

Most people that I run into tell me they want to be a stylist because they can dress themselves, you know. I dress myself, but I don’t dress any of my artists how I dress myself. I would never dress any of the artists that I work with like me. I dress them according to their personalities, what I feel that they like, not what I like necessarily. But, the steps in becoming a stylist are, networking and meeting people. For me, my mother happened to know somebody that knew somebody that introduced me to somebody.

When I was introduced to the stylist, Wendell Haskins, I basically worked my butt off and just kept the relationships with people.

It’s not really a type of job that you could get into looking the job descriptions in a newspaper. You just have to meet somebody and hopefully they’ll be able to guide you on. Assisting is the best thing. Find somebody who is an assistant or intern. Those are the best ways to get the information to learn how the business goes. That is how I started, assisting. Once I started there, I just busted my butt and learned everything I could learn, soaked up everything. You have to lose your ego. I mean, you’re someone’s assistant…you have to make sure you do everything. And, you have to be a strong person. You have to lose your ego and just work hard for someone before you can get to where you want to be. That is the best way to get into it.

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FASHION

Ashley Paige Has It All Sewn Up

A

shley Paige had a concept in the mid 90’s and decided to develop it. Ms. Paige worked hard on a hand-knit bikini fashion line. Circa 2007, Ashley has just opened a boutique at 1616 Cahuenga in Hollywood showcasing the name of Studio 1616. Actresses from Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson have worn her collectable pieces and you can find her line featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue with a suggested retail price of $1000 and beyond. Over sixty boutiques currently sell her line including the exclusive Saks Fifth Avenue and Henri Bendels. A Pensacola Florida native, Ashley has a B.A degree in marketing and fashion design and we were fortunate enough to catch up with her in Vegas while she was promoting her new venture as designer for the Girls Gone Wild Line.

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Q&A ASHLEY PAIGE Currently, what is your best seller?

A bikini I call Love Joe, Angel and Wild.

Photos courtesy of Ashley Paige

You also were featured on some covers…

Sports Illustrated launched my career so I owe a lot of thanks to them… 944Magazine sponsored my last party and fashion show which is actually where Joe and I sat down, had a cocktail together and joked about it. I said, ‘I should do your bikinis,’ and that’s how we got started with that.

Ashley how did you get started in the fashion industry?

I started my business six years ago in Brooklyn, New York in a brownstone basement apartment. I walked the streets of Manhattan doing my R&D (research and development), figuring out how to make knit bikinis water-friendly, wearable. I also wanted to take a vintage 70’s look into a modern, sexy look. It wasn’t easy.

Where did you get your inspiration to even get started?

My inspiration comes from my memories of growing up on the beach with my mom, dad and family. I’m a 70’s girl, so the knit bikinis are 70’s inspired. I wanted my niche to be only knit bikinis.

What is your new venture?

Well, with this collaboration with Girls Gone Wild®, I just signed a licensing deal with Joe Francis of Girls Gone Wild®. He’s a brilliant business man and I’m a brilliant business woman. We collaborated to design a lycra bikini line with a contemporary price point for Girls Gone Wild®.

It will be sold in department stores such as Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Nordi’s…virtually everywhere. But for today, for this Vegas event, I’m here to tell everybody about my new collaboration with GGW. We’re doing it with the high-end, expensive bikinis- one time only.

What are some of the goals you wish or have accomplished with your line?

When I started, one of my goals was to get press in Paper magazine. I’ve done that and we are featured in there with Dog Rescue because we love animals and love to give back. Now, I’m featured in Vogue, Elle, L.A. Confidential, Maxim, Stuff, TV Guide, etc. Jessica Alba, Carmen Electra, Tara Reid, Kelis, Kate Bosworth, Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, Mena Suvari…they all have modeled my line. I have everybody pretty much, even J. Lo. I’m spoiled when it comes to press. Every trailer park across America will have my bikini on their table…I think that’s cool. With Girls Gone Wild, we’re going to be a household name with the clothing. Also, a lot of times, I’m featured in Teen Vogue and I have a big teen base. And, I’ve been featured in Sports Illustrated for six years in a row including covers, their calendar and their DVDs. Your bikinis are definitely gorgeous and have a nice fit. How are you able to get these people to wear your clothing?

Well, because the knit bikini was so different when it came out six years ago, it caught attention. The style caught on and transforms people. Stylists start trends and when you are a nobody and first beginning in fashion with no money, just an idea, but you have an interesting product, you put it in front of the stylists and they in-turn get your product into magazines. This way, you get free publicity. Next thing you know, you have a name and that’s the only way to do it. That means you have to be good, actually different and the best to make it in anything- that’s what I believe. So, I’m the best and the first in the knit bikinis. I love this.

What advice or comments do you have for women who are trying to get into the design profession?

Don’t believe anything that anybody tells you. Do your research. Never give up and don’t stop; whatever you do.

On the worst of the worst days- I mean, if the IRS comes in and flashes a badge like they did with me; if the landlord comes and tries to throw you out, he’s going to have to drag you out, do not quit. Hang with the right people, the real people. Hang with money people and work like a dog and you will make it.

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Photos courtesy of Ashley Paige

ASHLEY PAIGE

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Queen Latifah 32 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

Photography: RichardFlood.com PHOTOGRAPHY: BANKS

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • QUEEN LATIFAH COVERGIRL EVENT

Aria Wright Frontline Marketing

Mya

Mona Scott Violator Management Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 33

Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • JOE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY • THE MANOR NYC

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Kelly Rowland 36 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • KELLY ROWLAND EVENT

Beyonce Knowles

Tina Knowles

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Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • JOHN JOE ALBUM LEGEND RELEASE RELEASE PARTY PARTY • THE GARDEN NYC

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Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • NEYO ALBUM RELEASE PARTY • NYC

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LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • BOBBY VALENTINO ALBUM RELEASE PARTY • NYC

Sean Kingston

Photography: Banks

Bobby Valentino and Harve Pierre

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Photography: Banks

LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • TREY SONGZ CONCERT • BRONX, NY

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LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • TODAY’S BLACK WOMAN 11th ANNIVERSARY • NEW JERSEY

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LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • MAGIC FASHION CONFERENCE • LAS VEGAS, NV

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LIFESTYLE • EVENTS • RUSSELL SIMMONS ART FOR LIFE EVENT • E. HAMPTONS, NY

Russell Simmons

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Forest Whitaker

Photography: Banks

Kevin Liles

Danny Simmons

Deborah Cox

Nia Long

Babyface

Photography: Johnny Nunez

Angelo Taylor

Photography: Johnny Nunez

The Simmons Family

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE

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FAIRUZ ARABO

A HABIT OF EXCELLENCE Words Staff Writer Photography Duane Johnson

I

Fairuz Arabo, Strategic and Advanced Color & Materials Designer for Ford Motor Company with the Ford Interceptor concept.

t was once said genius is 90 percent perspiration and 10 percent inspiration. Well, it is hard not to be inspired when you view the work of Ford Motor Company’s Strategic and Advanced Color & Materials Designer, Fairuz Jane Arabo. Not convinced to allow being a minority and a woman deter her from succeeding in the ultra competitive automotive design industry, Fairuz got to where she is by hard work and sacrifice. “I started out as a junior in high school. I did a drawing and my art teacher thought it was cool.

I went to the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit (www.ccscad. edu). I took high school classes, extension classes, built my portfolio and I ended up staying in it and eight years later, here I am, loving it.

It is in my blood, it’s a passion of mine,” says Fairuz. But enjoying that passion did not come easy, “instead of partying in high school my junior and senior year, I spent my nights driving to the Center for Creative Studies taking classes. I spent my weekends and summers there building up my portfolio because it was so competitive. I spent six years there and I spent those six years working on my scholarships,” proclaims Fairuz. “I worked as hard as I could to be number one in my class; not as a woman. I put gender aside. I didn’t want to be known as a woman designer or a woman student. I just wanted to be known as a good talented designer. I worked as hard as I could until 5 o’clock in the morning while some of my classmates were coming home from partying.” It is evident Fairuz’s hard work has paid off. “I have been doing concepts now for about two years and I love it,” says Fairuz. In the automotive industry, concepts are a very critical component to manufacturing. It is within concepts that design language is developed for new products and new engineering ideas are developed. It also is where excitement is created for new products. We caught up with Fairuz in Detroit where Ford debuted two concepts she worked on- the muscle car V8 Interceptor, and the people mover, Airstream. Of her role, she stated, “I work with an awesome team of unbelievably talented designers… my role is to design the colors, all the colors, all the materials, the interior leather, finishes, exterior color finishes, under coat finishes, graphics, and anything in the interior you can see, feel, and touch.” The Detroit native now works out of Ford’s design studio in Irvine, California, yet her Detroit principle still stays with her till this day. “I still have that work ethic today. This is not a 9 to 5 job. Sometimes it’s seven in the morning to seven in the morning just to get it right.” Those principles showed in her highly praised work on the Interceptor which featured, “belting leather, boss black,” and according to her, “just a basic pearl- anybody can do this in their garage.” While she makes her job seem so easy, her results are hard to duplicate, yet Fairuz offers some words of wisdom, “It’s a passion. It doesn’t matter if you are working at Home Depot or McDonalds, it’s your passion; it’s your drive. Do whatever it takes to get it done right.”

And, doing it right hasn’t been foreign to Fairuz, “I had it at a young age and kept going because I knew where I wanted to be.” Mums the word about future projects, but expect to see Fairuz’s work at a showroom near you.

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE

Q&A Tracy Leipzig Interview I Damola

Photography I Banks

When you seek to acquire the finest in German automotive engineering, money no longer can be an object. In the interests of those who desire rare hand crafted marvels such as the hand-built engines in the Mercedes AMG series or the limited production SLR’s McLaren and Maybach, customer service is key and no one tends those clients better than Tracy Leipzig, who works for the largest Mercedez Benz dealership on the entire east coast. Having realized the growing demographic of affluent people in the multi-cultural sector, Tracy who first began in the business development office at national Mercedes Benz sales leader, Ray Catena, forged valuable relationships with people in the business and entertainment sectors. Her relationships with leasing companies and movers and shakers have bore fruit in form of healthy sales numbers despite her novice in the sales arena. A single mother of three children, Tracy has learned to balance her home life and work putting in 13 hour days and six day schedules to meet the demands of her position. We recently caught up with Tracy at her outpost at the Edison, NJ location of US Rt. 1. We learned a lot and grew to appreciate the effort that goes into closing a sale on vehicles that cost more than twice the average person’s home.

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Tracy can you tell us exactly what it is you do?

I work for Ray Catena Mercedes Benz. It is the largest Mercedes Benz dealership on this entire east coast. We are second largest in the country and have the largest inventory….I have the SLR McLaren. Then we have our Maybach 62 here. And, then of course, Mercedes has had a very outstanding year on the 2007 S-Class and S550.

How many of those were sold?

Thousands and thousands and thousands of S550s. It’s a fabulous vehicle.

What were you doing the first time we met?

I was in the business development center at the time when I met you, Damola. I was doing a Funk Flex Car show over here in Edison at the Raritan Center. The business development center was where I started and followed up with every customer that came through the showroom. Whether it be through a phone-up, a walkin, or release retention (a customer that is a previous Mercedes Benz owner), I would constantly follow up to find out what I need to do to keep them a part of our family here. I would do contracts.

I did everything and then I always take it an extra step. That is when I started doing car shows for Flex. I have a lot of endeavors that I’m looking into so the BDC [Business Development Center] is what probably set this in motion for me.

And now you’ve moved on to actually directly selling to the customers. Please talk about that transition.

I was very lucky to have Mr. Ray Catena to think that I would be able to sell his product. To work for Ray you have to be in the top one hundred sales people to sell a Mercedes Benz. He’s very supportive of me. I’ve been doing very well. If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. So I just have a lot of exciting things going on. I’ve been meeting a lot of exciting people and learning a lot about probably the best vehicle in the world, safest vehicle.

It’s been amazing…great actually.

Can you tell us about Ray Catena and premium brands.

Yes. Ray is what they call the legend in luxury. I believe his Mercedes Benz dealership was the first one. He’s been here for over forty years. He also sells Porsche. We sell Jaguars, Aston Martins, Infinitis, Lexus… He is the legend in luxury and he always will be; and he wants nothing but the best. When you buy the best you should get it from the best.

What are some of the things that you are trying to develop at Ray Catena?

I’m trying to attack the urban market which is something that I felt that Ray was lacking not because he may have wanted to, but he didn’t have someone who represented the people the way I feel like I do from my urban community. I’m looking to make relationships with record labels, and other industries, whether it is fashion, etc.

Obviously, when you’re selling premium cars, this is a customer service business, you have to provide a service to your clients and make them understand the value of what you have.

Yes, it is very important not only to Ray, but it’s very important to me. Personally for my customers, I want them to know and feel that they have someone they can reach out to for their Mercedes or any other car that is a part of our family. My background

is customer service, so making sure people get what they need is very important to me and when you are spending this kind of money you want to make sure that the person you are dealing with is someone who is responsible. People have emotional ties to these cars. Some of these cars are not just bought off of nickel and diming…It’s an emotional purchase, so you have to be able to deal with people when they’re going through their things. You have to be able to understand them, what they’re looking for. You have to be available for them. Yes, and just stay happy. They don’t want to come here and spend $200,000 and, you know, deal with someone who’s not happy to be where they are. I’m very happy where I am. And I’m very happy to provide this service to my customers.

What was your employment before you started with Ray? I come from the hotel industry. I was manager-on-duty for Embassy Suites Hotels. Before that, I worked for banks. I think that I’ve always been in a situation or in a work environment where hospitality was important. Customer service is important, understanding one’s personality is important and I just make sure that I listen. Listening is probably most important because you find out who it is that you’re working with and find out what they like so you can give them exactly what they want. Following through is also important. I just want my customers to know that they have support.

It’s very rare, from my experience purchasing luxurious things to even see a black woman or even women in general in the sales positions. Tell us about how difficult it was from that perspective, being a woman selling luxury cars.

It’s challenging because men probably think that I’m not capable of conversing or able to give them any kind of knowledge on what kind of vehicle they’re actually looking into when they’re looking for a Mercedes. I know that people may look at me and as a woman you may be looked at as weak, but I always make sure that I’m heard. I believe that I’m a strong woman, so I haven’t really come across anything here where I can really say I have any conflict. I’m very comfortable really. I’ve made a very smooth transition. It’s a lot to learn coming from business development to selling cars but those are the kind of things that I need to overcome. There are many models to a Mercedes Benz and many options, many accessories. That’s probably my most challenging thing is learning that; and it’s always changing. They are always coming out with new things. As far as dealing with people, I haven’t had any issues at this time. I actually come across people who can appreciate me as a woman in sales because they don’t feel like I’m giving them tactics.

In conclusion, just advice to other women who would love to sell very luxury, very premium automobiles like you.

It’s more than possible. One thing I would like to say is that you have to be patient. If you want something, you have to work at it. I work hard. I work thirteen hours a day. I work probably six days a week and I work doing side things on my seventh day, you know. I have children and it’s just something you have to want, especially in this business. You have to want to talk to every person. You want to have to see every person. You want to have to smile at every single person that you meet. And you have to know that in the end, there’s a payoff. It takes time and it takes work but you can do it. If I can do it, believe me, anybody can do it.

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Alan Mulally, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company speaks with Microsoft’s Bill Gates at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit regarding the joint venture between the two companies called Ford Sync(TM) is an exclusive technology based on Microsoft Auto software, that is designed to change the way consumers use digital media portable music players and mobile phones in their vehicles.

Sync provides consumers the convenience and flexibility to bring into their vehicle nearly any mobile phone or digital media player and operate it using voice commands or the vehicle’s steering wheel or radio controls.

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n what is a landmark agreement, Microsoft and Ford Motor Company have entered into an agreement to provide Microsoft’s Automotive technology exclusive in (12) 2008 models of Ford Lincoln and Mercury.

SYNC is the ultimate driving companion operating MP3 and phone devices through voice commands and steering wheel controls. IPod’s and Zune players are both compatible with this technology as are many others (the software is upgradeable to technology not currently available on the market). I had the pleasure of a personal demonstration in Las Vegas during CES and was able to tell the car to play Beyonce with the technology responding and playing the song. With SYNC you can also specify song. MP3 players are connected through a USB 2.0 port, but phones operate via Bluetooth and I was able to give voice commands to make calls.

This technology also adds safety to the driving experience as you no longer have to fidget with your devices while driving. In fact, it can even reply to emails though not with detailed messages yet. The SYNC is not going to be for only high premium vehicles. The 2008 Ford Focus will feature the SYNC along with the Fusion, Five Hundred, Edge, Freestyle, Explorer and Sport Trac. Mercury’s Milan, Montego and Mountaineer; and Lincoln MKX and MKZ will also feature SYNC. Thus the technology will be on all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the near future. A full listing of the SYNC features includes: 52 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company/Lincoln

LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE

Ford Edge

Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company Executive Vice President and President of the Americas. Ford Sync(TM) is an exclusive technology based on Microsoft Auto software, that is designed to change the way consumers use digital media portable music players and mobile phones in their vehicles.

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Voice-activated, hands-free calling: Simply press the “Push to Talk” button on the steering wheel, and then say the name of the person you wish to call. SYNC will automatically connect with the names in the mobile phone’s contact list.

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Uninterrupted connections: No need to hang up in the middle of a cell phone call as you enter your vehicle, simply touch the Telephone Button on the steering wheel, and SYNC will instantly connect to a Bluetooth phone.

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Advanced calling features: SYNC includes the same features offered on mobile phones, including caller ID, call waiting, conference calling, a caller log, a list of contacts, a signal strength icon, and a phone battery charge icon – all conveniently located on the radio’s display screen.

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Voice-activated music: Browse the music collection on your digital media player, mobile phone or USB drive by genre, album, artist and song title using simple voice commands, such as “Play genre Rock,” “Play” or “Play Track.”

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Instant voice recognition: SYNC’s advanced voice recognition technology means when you’re ready to use your phone or digital music player, just speak simple voice commands.

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Ring tone support: For supported phones, SYNC will play personal ring tones. If you’ve configured unique ring tones to identify specific callers, SYNC will automatically play those, too.

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Automatic phonebook transfer: SYNC will automatically and wirelessly transfer all the names and numbers in a mobile phonebook.

Multilingual intelligence: SYNC is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

For more information visit www.syncmyride.com, www.microsoft.com, www.ford.com

Ford Focus

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE

54 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

YARISVSYARIS

Photos courtesy of Burrell

Determined to show affordable can also be fun, Toyota and their ad agency Burrell Communications put together a fabulous fashion and nightlife concept to publicize its campaign titled: Yaris vs. Yaris. Staged in metropolitan cities such as Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Atlanta, GA; Washington D.C., and others, the events featured the Yaris Liftback against the Yaris Sedan on display. The event also brought journalists together to “pimp” their sneakers by painting them however their heart desired. From this, the winner got a chance to spend some quality time with the Yaris of their choice. The nightlife events were a success and featured prominent DJ’s like Kid Kapri, and platinum selling artists like Mario. They also had DJ Battles, B-boy and B-girl battles and MC battles each representing the Liftback or Sedan. Building an integrated campaign utilizing the founding aspects of the hip-hop culture (emceeing, B-boying, djing, and graffiti), Toyota and Burrell succeeded in getting their message across to the target consumers that the Yaris, though affordable, can be cool, fun, and an exciting part of anyone’s lifestyle. For more information, visit www. yarisversusyaris.com

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE • TEST DRIVE

MAZDA CX-7

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till sticking true to its Zoom Zoom Zoom mantra, the CX7 is truly a sports car in a Crossover SUV body. Boasting a turbo four-cylinder engine, the CX-7 has V6 power at 244hp with V-4 fuel economy. It uses 19 city/24hwy miles to the gallon. The interior of the CX-7 is gorgeous with an available black liquor finish you would expect on a more expensive vehicle.

There is a DVD based voice activated touch screen navigation system along with an available nine-speaker Bose sound system.

An all-wheel drive vehicle, the CX-7 is also safe with strategically placed air bags, including side curtains that protect the occupants in an untimely event that a rollover occurs. The CX-7 is a fun, stylish and zippy crossover that offers a lot in comfort and value starting under $23,700 and just over $28,000 fully equipped. For more information visit www.mazdausa.com

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE • TEST DRIVE

SATURN AURA GREENLINE

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ruly boasting a European designed heritage, the all-new Saturn Aura has been breathtaking and winning over journalists across the globe. Related to European Opel, the Aura represents a departure from the Saturn’s of yesteryear. Winning the North America Car of the year, the Aura’s best iteration is the XR which has a sweet six-speed automatic V6. The Aura XR is a fully appointed full size sedan. The Aura Greenline, however, is a decent first attempt that is sure to improve in the design cycle. The Aura Greenline offers a 30 percent increase in fuel economy for a 28mpg city and 35mpg highway rating. The Greenline, rather, is a great value and the mechanics of the Aura remain the same and the ride dynamics are great. It starts at $22,695 and there is also an additional $1300 tax credit currently for this vehicle. So, for around $21K you cannot find a better value on the market. At 20mpg city and 30mpg hwy, you can get the Aura XE which starts at $20,995. An award winning marvel, the Aura is a great new direction for full-size American sedans.

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE • TEST DRIVE

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

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ith the astronomical rise of fuel prices bringing the fill-up of an average tank above $50, it was a relief to get behind the wheel of the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. As a best selling car for so many years, the Camry has succeeded in being functional for many. For 2007, Toyota redesigned the Camry and infused some sexier curves to the design, while maintaining reserve to satisfy its customers that have made it the best selling car in America. Having sold over 1 million hybrids thus far, Toyota has refined the technology better than any other manufacturer and the Camry represents its introduction to the everyday car. With a 40 mpg city and a 38 mpg highway average, driving the Camry hybrid certainly is worth the premium over the base Camry. The hybrid starts somewhere north of $26K. Options on the Camry Hybrid include a moon roof, Bluetooth phone capabilities and voice activation, a voice activated DVD navigation system, a premium JBL sound system with eight speakers, and a sand color leather package. The hybrid uses the four cylinder engine with a separate electric powered engine providing additional power. The Camry Hybrid can be outfitted with either Sirius Satellite Radio or XM radio which is great depending on your preference; Oprah is on XM and Martha Stewart is on Sirius. A very comfortable, stylish and capable daily hauler, plus almost twice the fuel efficiency in city driving than the V6 model, the Camry Hybrid is the only Camry to have.

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LIFESTYLE • AUTOMOTIVE • TEST DRIVE

GMC ACADIA

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ith the Acadia, GMC has definitely brought a class leader into the marketplace while capitalizing on the explosive trend of crossover vehicles (meshing 4X4 functionality with a car like ride). Starting just north of $29K, the Acadia is truly a luxury crossover that can suit any family’s lifestyle. It features more interior room than a full-size Tahoe, yet with 18mpg city gas mileage/ 26hwy, the Acadia reaches 275hp out of its 3.6L V6 engine. The Acadia has cup holders throughout the cabin including the third row seating. There are three separate climate zone controls for each row and it options a panoramic roof option that is gorgeous. However, this option is not available if you prefer to have the DVD entertainment package. There is an available 10-speaker Bose Sound System in addition to a six disc, in-dash CD changer along with a DVD based navigation system. There are power features for everything from the tailgate to passenger seats. The SLT model I drove had a six-speed transmission that also had a manual shift option which was fun driving on the highway. The Acadia should be on the must-see list of anyone in the market for an SUV. For more info visit www.gmc.com

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Photography: Wil David

ENTERTAINMENT

Bianca “Bibi Gunz” Mendez Is Fighting For Position

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hough it is perceived to be a man’s world, that adage is consistently being proven false as many women are breaking down barriers and making their mark. As the force behind one of the most promising young talents in the recording industry, Bianca “BiBi Gunz” Mendez has diligently fought to establish her client Rich Boy as a rising star. Her efforts to get her clients single, “Throw Some D’s” to be featured as the theme song for HBO’s Entourage has created an additional awareness for him beyond just the hip-hop arena. Bianca “BiBi Gunz” Mendez has also worked to gain endorsements with wheel company “Lexani” and Jay-Z’s fashion house Rocawear for her client whose hit single, “Throw some D’s” was one of the biggest of the year and even spawned a remake by Kanye West. It hasn’t been easy for Bianca as she constantly has to fight for respect in the machismo based Hip-Hop industry. Results, however, cannot be denied and BiBi Gunz as she is known, has done an excellent job fighting for her client and forging one of the most promising careers in the genre. We had an opportunity to sit down with her as she discussed her approach in making Rich Boy an artist to watch for the foreseeable future.

— Staff Writer

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Q&A BIANCA “BIBI GUNZ” MENDEZ Interview by Damola Please introduce yourself. What do you do?

My name is Bianca Mendez. Some people know me as Bibi Gunz and I have a record promotions company called Bibi Gunz. I also have a job at Grand Hustle (T.I.’s music recording company) working with promotion.

You work with Jason Geter (co-CEO with T.I. at Grand Hustle)?

Yes and Jason and I manage Rich Boy- which is my passion right now.

You have three jobs? That’s very interesting. T.I. was on our second cover. We did a piece with Jason, too in that same issue and Doug (VP of Grand Hustle). How did you get into the business?

I started doing street promotions about ten, eleven years ago in the Bay area. I interned for a local street promotions company when I was about 18. I moved to New York and I worked more street promotions out there. I was like one of the only girls, me and this other girl named Michelle, working street promotions just like the guys…

You said this was around ten years ago.

Yes, I worked for O.J. He ran Loud Street Promotions at the time, but we had a bunch of different accounts so I’d do all the reports. I lived in LeFrak City, Queens, NY. I used to take the train to the Bronx and I’d take the train to the clubs with my little cart full of all my products. I just worked really hard and people always knew me as somebody that worked hard, so I worked street promotions for about a year, really hard. I wasn’t making any money but I just was really hungry and thirsty. So, I did that for a while then I became acquainted with Jacob York from the Bay area because I worked with Lil Kim’s project in the Bay area.

Jacob York is very heavy, too.

He gave me my first job at Untertainment doing mix shows, running the street team while making very little money. I was making the same thing I was paying people but it was a learning experience. Cam’ron was my first mix show project. So that’s like my family.

But what made you want to jump in it?

Let me tell you. Shock G from Digital Underground, his house burned down and he moved into my apartment complex when I was fifteen and...

How old are you now?

Twenty-nine…and they were having Tupac’s album release party or something and they let us go to the soundcheck.

They used to tell us about different stuff and we were like little kids. We were not groupies excited to be around artists.

I was at the Brenda’s Got a Baby video shoot, the Gavin (a now defunct college and mix show radio conference)…

When I was there, I saw Nas and DJ Quik and all these people and I was like I want to be a producer when I grow up but I didn’t even know that producers actually made the records. So, obviously I’m not a producer. I basically got community radio programs and just different things when I was eighteen. I graduated from high school and that was the first time I started doing street promotions. I always knew that I wanted to do it; I just didn’t know I was going to be this much into it, I guess.

But, you had to have a passion because now there are like eighty different labels in the Bay Area.

I always wanted to move to New York because I’m Puerto Rican and there are no Puerto Ricans in the Bay… People used to think that I wanted to be black but I didn’t want to be black. I’m proud of what I am. Like in New York, Puerto Ricans and blacks are all the same.

Of course!

But in the Bay area, like Mexicans, they expected me to be Mexican because I speak Spanish. I don’t know why but I just always wanted to go to New York. I was going to move there anyway because of an internship. But when I met OJ at the Gavin in New Orleans, I was carrying like ten boxes of records and I had on fatigues and wallabies (Clarks brand of shoes), they would crank call my room saying, ‘wallabee chick.’ They were teasing me and so they hired me on the spot. I told him I was moving to New York so I had a job.

I was only making like $500 a month. I survived on that. I rented a room in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn for $480 and I had to share a bathroom and a kitchen and everything with people, so I definitely struggled for a long time. I have to say that Cam was the first person to give me my first real check which was like $900. That went to making $1500 a monthhe gave me a check. Chris Lighty was managing him at the time and I was actually working as his road manger, his liason…

Catch up with part two of our interview with BiBi Gunz in the next issue of Owners Women’s Issue.

“I lived in LeFrak City, Queens, NY. I used to take the train to the Bronx and I’d take the train to the clubs with my little cart full of all my products. I just worked really hard and people always knew me as somebody that worked hard…” — Bianca “BiBi Gunz” Mendez Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 67

Phhotography: Banks

ENTERTAINMENT

THEOLA BORDEN

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heola Borden is not new to a career in music, she is true to the game having started as an intern, then moved on to an assistant on the Apollo show, then venturing to Jive Records to her current post of Vice President of Publicity at J Records. Ensuring Oscar winners like Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson get proper exposure for their musical talents is just the icing on the cake, the challenges are plenty as 68 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

new talents like Hurricane Chris, or Emily King begin to surface.

We were honored to get the opportunity to enter her working environment at J Records and speak about everything from Old School hip-hop to what exactly it is that she does and making trips to Home Depot while she waits on a new job opportunity. Our exciting dialogue follows:

— Staff Writer

Q&A THEOLA BORDEN Interview by Damola My name is Theola Borden and I am the Vice President of Urban Publicity for Arista/ J Records.

Explain what that entails.

That entails me handling the print and syndicated radio interviews for all of the urban artists on our roster.

Who are some of these artists?

Ooh, it’s a lot. It ranges from Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Cassidy, Smitty, Rhymefest, new artists like Emily King, etc…

So, how did you get your start?

You want to know why I got in the game? I went to a city college and I worked on the radio station. It is so interesting to see how everything comes full circle. They had a press day one day with Columbia Records and they had an artist on the label, and brought him down to the radio station… to a roundtable with all of us there reading the bio. I was getting my questions together and something stood out. It said the album is full of whatever noises and then other black noises, so I said to myself I was going to ask what that meant exactly. Maybe there is something called black noise. When it was time for the Q&A session and I asked him what black noise was and he didn’t know. It said the album was full of XYZ of black noises. His manager or publicist didn’t know. So, they had to stop in the middle of the roundtable. At the time, I didn’t know if he got offended or felt like he was caught off guard because he didn’t know what was stated in his own bio about himself. They went to the back and, I guess, collected themselves and came back out. I can’t remember if the question was ever answered but that was the one thing that triggered me to think that artists need to know what’s being stated about them within their own company and how they are being presented. I said then that in whatever capacity I work, artists need to know everything negative, positive, good, indifferent or whatever it is they need to know. They need to be aware of how they carry themselves and how they are being perceived. That stuck in my mind ever since 1990.

What was your first job?

My first job was Apollo Theater. That is where I got my start. I interned there and I volunteered. I’m from Harlem so it meant more to me to start at something so legendary as the Apollo Theater. I also worked in the box office then I became a P.A. And, backstage in the Apollo there are no stairs, so if you have to got to the fifth floor, you must hike up five flights of stairs. I had to hike up five flights of stairs with coolers full of ice and sodas for all the dressing rooms. I did everything just to learn how it all worked out. Then, I became a postage assistant and finally moved into the office to become a production assistant. I helped promote shows. When I think about it, I did so many things. I was an audience coordinator for the TV show; then I became a talent coordinator, then onto one of the talent executives. A talent executive moved to Seattle and it was great at the time because she was older and her thing was R&B. She relied on me to find that hip-hop artists should be on the show to create that balance. So, I would find some of the most known and some unknown artist. I put Black Moon on. Apollo changed their career and they became gold-selling, platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artists. Those are the moments that kind of help me realize what I am doing and why I am doing it.

That’s very interesting. Where did you go from there or how did you segue out of Apollo?

From there as a talent coordinator and/or executive you book the talent through the publicist and because the show only taped four times throughout the year, I needed something else to do in the off season. So, I inquired with a person who worked with La Face Records if I could come by and see how their machine operated.

Sometime after, I became her intern. I was booking acts. That person, then, left La Face to start working at Jive Records and needed an assistant. So, she hired me full-time at Jive to be her assistant based off of the La Face internship.

What year were you at Jive?

From ‘93 to maybe ‘99 or 2000.

Aw, man, so you worked with E-40, Spice 1, KRS-1…

A Tribe Called Quest, Too Short…

Wow! Everything in between and it was the best time in music overall.

Tell us about being her assistant.

At Jive Records, she was Leslie Pitt. She has passed away now, bless her. She was the head of department and I was her assistant.

And as the revolving doors change in the music industry, she left at one point and someone else came in and I moved up in the ranks continuously from the assistant to coordinator to manager to director to senior director. It was that senior director period when I left to work at Elektra Records with Sylvia Rhone.

How was that experience?

This one was so endearing. It was very special because she’s from Harlem. I’m from Harlem. So certain things you just know off the bat.

She was the first black CEO of a major recording company Besides the basics and the known facts, it’s like all the small things you don’t know. Just her swagger overall and just watching how she maneuvers through meetings and handled certain things and just handled her own day-in and day-out business. I learned a lot watching her quietly during meetings. I’m very observant and don’t talk for the sake of having my voice heard if I don’t have anything meaningful to say. So, I just sit back and observe.

Like a sponge?

Yes, so I just caught on to how she operated and I could not have wished for a better experience in my whole career and it was right in the middle of it all.

What year were you at Elektra?

Elektra was 2000 to when they merge into Atlantic in 2005 Wow, so you missed Busta Rhymes?

I came in at the tail end of Busta. I worked more and that was the other phase. I worked with R&B acts such as Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, Yolanda Adams, Tamia, etc… and I did one of Fab’s projects like seven years ago.

Look for part two of our exciting interview with Theola Borden in the next Owners Women’s Issue. Visit www.ownersillustrated.com to view video of this interview.

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 69

HPR IS BURNING LIKE THE SUN Although it’s this company’s job to publicize their talented roster of musicians, thespians, painters, choreographers & fashion stylists, Helio Public Relations has garnered quite a buzz of its own over the past decade and it’s easy to see why. At the helm is Sasha Brookner, who brilliantly fuses her fresh, bold, creative and unique style to develop the visual careers of clients ranging from Multi-platinum producer Jazze Pha and Comedian Katt Williams to Fashionista Tameka Foster to Gnarls Barkley member Cee-Lo. She also works with soul singers Goapele, Joi and N’Dambi. For more information on Helio PR, please visit www.heliopr.com. � — Staff Writer

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Photography courtesy Sasha Brookner, HPR

ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT

Deborah cox is forging her own path

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Photography: Banks

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aptivating our hearts and souls with her smashing debut single from 1998, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” Deborah Cox has long since displayed a vocal brilliance that has only been barely tapped as an R&B vocalist. Cox expanded her range by performing on Broadway in the Elton John-Tim Rice musical, Aida. Furthering her performance abilities as a vocalist, Deborah’s latest album, Destination Moon is Jazz influenced and is actually distributed by famed jazz label, Decca through an agreement with Universal Records. The album is a tribute to jazz singer Dinah Washington and has received critical acclaim and may be a sign of things to come as Deborah is in the process of creating her own record label so she can take more charge of her talents and better control her destiny. We caught up with Ms. Deborah Cox at the Rush Foundation ‘Art for Life’ Charity event in the Hampton’s. Forever gracious, our encounter was enlightening. — Staff Writer

Q&A DEBORAH COX Interview by Damola Please talk about what’s new with you at this present time.

Well, right now, I just finished recording a jazz album, a tribute to the great Dinah Washington. The project is called Destination Moon and it’s all the music of the late great Dinah Washington.

What inspired you to go jazz from traditional R&B? Well I wanted to switch it up a bit. I wanted to do something different and I wanted to expand musically.

R&B is still in my heart but jazz is the music that I grew up listening to and loving. I wanted to show that side of me musically.

Performing-wise and opportunities-wise, what are some of the opportunities you’re noticing in the jazz arena as opposed to what’s in the urban R&B arena?

Well, when you expand yourself to the jazz realm, you can do very intimate performances in a very intimate club. You can perform with a huge symphony; or you can do Broadway or Las Vegas.

But, you’re looking for Las Vegas. Talk about that opportunity, too.

Well, Dinah Washington was the first black woman to perform in Vegas and I plan on taking this show there as well.

Now, with your project, are you doing that independently or is there a recording company that’s helping you distribute it?

Well, the company is Decca/Universal for this…but I plan on working towards being like Ray Charles and the greats, you know, owning my own masters. So, I’m working towards that. I have an R&B album that’s coming out in the spring of next year and another remix album as well that’ll probably be on my own label with the help of some distribution, as well.

What are some of the names you’re thinking about for your own label?

I mean, I have my own company, Deco Entertainment. But, I think that is sort of the last part of getting it all in place. It’s about getting the business straight first.

Can you tell us about your involvement with Russell and the Arts here. How did you get involved with this?

I actually just got invited this year. I’ve been a big supporter of Russell’s vision and for this project, as well, so I just wanted to lend my support. Also, because I am a product of funding in the schools for the arts, you know. I went to a school that had funding; since I’m a product of this same vision, I wanted to lend my support.

Nice. What is the best way your fans can keep track of some of the things that you have going on right now?

Absolutely. Deborahcox.com or myspace/deborahcox. Always online…

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 73

the era of

BLACK TY

tyrese is in demand and loving it

A

words keyla mcneely — photography banks

s if Tyrese Gibson hasn’t already melted the hearts of female fans and garnered the respect of the male audience, he’s back and coming harder this time to forever emboss his likeness in the music industry with the moniker, Black Ty. Currently, we know him as Tyrese and women first fell in love with his smile and melodic, raspy voice in a 90s Coca-Cola commercial and he has since shined on the big screen in various roles. We recently can see him in Transformers, in which movie icon Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay reached out to tell him about a role they had him in mind for. Circa 2007, Tyrese wants us to become acquainted with Black Ty as he works strategically and makes great strides to make his name known as a rap artist.

For the last two years, Black Ty has been working a lot in the studio on his double album and has purposely been featured in many music videos such as Chingy’s Pulling Me Back, Keyshia Cole’s Love video, and the Games new video One Blood. “I’m just trying to let people know that I am back,” says Tyrese. “Making those appearances allows my music fans to feel the presence of me coming back. I’ve been on what they call a Tupac schedulein the studio recording five to six songs a day.” From this double decked album, fans have already gotten a taste of two hot R&B singles titled One and the most popular song with remix featuring R. Kelly, the Signs of Love Making. Tyrese is excited about this double album especially because it is being sold at the price of one. “The underdogs produced my first single, One and about five other joints. They also did a lot of vocal production on the album too,” boasts Tyrese. “I also worked with Bryan-Michael Cox and Lil Jon on the R&B side.” The premier of Black Ty promises to be a real awakening for the country. Tyrese knows that “the whole world is anticipating this and I feel real comfortable with the whole process of this new album because I don’t feel like I’ve been selling it to people.” Tyrese explains his marketing as making rounds and making people aware of what’s on the waywhich will be a different approach. “I feel like I have so much support and so many people are backing my movement,” claims Tyrese. “I feel like I can ease up on how I have to go out and oversell the album to folks.” Because Tyrese has proven himself

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as a rap artist and on the hip-hop side, fans will hear Black Ty featuring Snoop twice, the Game, Mannie Fresh, David Banner, Lil Scrappy, Kurupt, Method Method and Too Short. It’s amazing that without selling one record as an emcee, Tyrese has this many noted rappers on his first album. “The whole hip-hop game has embraced me and taken me under their wing and looked at me as someone that could possibly be the future,” explains Tyrese. “I’ve been validated as an emcee because I’ve worked with emcees and they respect me as an emcee. They don’t just look at me and claim they work with me because I sing; they believe in Black Ty.” This belief in Black Ty is definitely not a fluke. To know him is to know that Tyrese is a real man and an avid supporter of his community. He eats at Soul Food Spots and visits record stores, hood shops and mom and pop stores to approach his market. This down-to-earth quality also helps to keep him on top of his game in acting and music. Tyrese aka Black Ty truly believes that “you can’t get points today for yesterday’s game. What I accomplished yesterday is over. My grind is everyday. I’m already rich so I’m not doing this for money and I’m not doing this for extra screams because if I wanted that I would keep doing R&B. I’m doing this out of passion. I am also blessed.” If you can’t wait for this album to come out, Black Ty has a mix tape called Ghetto Royalty that is already up to 400 downloads on the net. It is definitely worth taking the time to listen to since he brought Erik Sermon out of retirement with his appearance on the album. Stevie Wonder, Maino of Brooklyn, Curtains and Cassidy are also featured on this mixtape to name a few. To download this mixtape go to his website at headquarterentertainment.com. Headquarter Entertainment is a stand alone multi-media empire located on Hollywood in Los Angeles. Under the umbrella is HQ Pictures, a film division; HQ Artworks, artist management; HQ Management; a few studios and a printing company. “We print letterhead, business cards, snipes, magazines, etc for a low, low price,” says Tyrese. Genuine in his approach and business, Tyrese invites all our readers “if you have some film ideas or any artist ideas, my information is on the site.

Just get at me, I’m here.” And with that said, it is no denying that Tyrese aka Black Ty is a necessary force to recognize in this industry. If you don’t already, believing in this multi-talented artist is definitely the way to go because he will be around for a long time. Stay tuned for more of his well earned success!

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 75

Photo courtesy of Jive Records

COVER FEATURE

76 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

KELIS BOLD &Beautiful

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78 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

Photography: Duane Johnson

S

ince her introduction on the late great ODB’s climate in the music recording single, “I got your Money,” to her breakout industry, artists are under pressure empowerment single, “I hate you so much to find new avenues to garner more right now,” Kelis has been a trendsetter with a revenue as CD sales are rapidly style and cultural impact all unto her own. Her declining and digital music sales are “Milkshake” brought all the boys to the yard more geared to selling jingles than and took her Tasty album to gold selling status, complete albums. Partnerships with yet the “Bossy” Harlem native, a product of corporations are crucial especially multicultural parents with ancestry in China, Puerto Rico, for tour support and enhancing and African American, Kelis has always boldly gone her own artists profiles. Kelis enjoys a great direction and has been acclaimed for it. Kelis married Hip-Hop relationship with Ford who has royalty, Nasir Jones a.k.a Nas and they soon have a reality show allowed her to be herself in their set to debut on MTV with a working title, Mr. & Mrs. Jones. lucrative partnership, “Ford has been An avid cooking fan, she is also working on a cookbook, along really supportive of the stuff that I’m with a clothing line, and several other creative endeavors. doing... the other thing I appreciated However, one endeavor close to her heart is her partnership is that they didn’t ask me to change.” with Ford Motor Company in the promotion of their new Some of the things Ford supported crossover SUV, the EDGE. A car lover, Kelis stated “I think included the release party for her it is great to associate women with cars…we drive too and husband’s album, Hip-Hop is Dead,, what I want is important. I drive my own cars.” Speaking for along with her tours. Always busy, a lot of women, marketing of automobiles have generally been Kelis informed us, “I’m starting geared toward the Alpha male but Ford with the Edge made to work on a new record and I’m the bold move and dared to be different. “I got involved with the Edge and I liked what they were saying and what they wanted to do, and what they were marketing towards. I like something that looks good, drives well and fits my lifestyle and I do a lot of stuff. I also travel a lot and I always have luggage and bags,” enlightens Kelis.

As a Grammy nominated artist who has topped charts globally, Kelis is also a mother to her husbands’ daughter, Destiny who spends time with them in their home in Atlanta. The EDGE has been a successful vehicle for Ford introducing a new design language for the company that invented the assembly line production.

A company founded on the principle that every man should be able to afford a quality motor vehicle, Kelis was also impressed by the chances they took with the Edge. “There are still things about it that is sexy,” says Kelis. “They made a lot of Kelis with the Ford Edge at the bold choices with it.”

2007 NAIAS Auto Show in Detroit Currently, with the new

Kelis with the Ford Interceptor Concept at the 2007 NAIAS Auto Show in Detroit

going to be touring,” but she also cautions young women on the difficulties and disappointments to be expected in the current climate in the music industry… “It’s something you do if you can’t do anything else. It’s not something I would say to go for.” Many opportunities exist behind the scenes however, as several women find employment in Marketing and Publicity, and even in senior executive positions with legendary Sylvia Rhone heading the Motown legacy. With a style true to her own and beauty and grace unparalleled, Kelis remains bold and keeps an edge over the competition by simply being herself. To keep up with Kelis visit www.kelisonline.com

“I THINK IT IS GREAT TO ASSOCIATE WOMEN WITH CARS…WE DRIVE TOO AND WHAT I WANT IS IMPORTANT, I DRIVE MY OWN CARS.” — Kelis Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 79

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80 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

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Sound Technology New 17 Watt Stereo Digital Amplifier w/TruBass 2-way Stereo Speakers SRS® WOW / FOCUS / TruBass Surround Sound Audio www.pioneerelectronics.com

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 81

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82 • OwnerS Illustrated • Womens Issue

HUSTLENOMICS WOMEN

OF POWER

Jerri Ward

Kelis

Deborah Cox

Sylvia Rhone

Mona Scott

Zane

Judy Brunson

Womens Issue • OwnerS Illustrated • 83

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