Issue 18

No. 18

Contents Arts & culture 2 Thomas Struth The Art of Ronald Lockett If/Then the Musical

4 7 8

Beauty 10 3 Uses For Activated Charcoal Replacing Your Favorite Moisturizer With Oils

10 12

Events 13 Bill Burr Dragon Con 2016 Jeffrey Fashion Cares

14 15 19

*Photo: Backstage in the Bad Boy South dressing room. Pictured from L to R: Big Block, Kris Kelli (Block ENT artist), Christian Combs, and KJay (Block ENT artist).

Credit: Anna Lira

*Cover: Big Block, CEO of Bad Boy South and Block ENT, on stage at the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour. Full story on pg. 34

Credit: Anna Lira

Movies 21 The Birth of a Nation Queen of Katwe The Storks War Dogs Suicide Squad

21 24 25 27 29

Music 33 Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour Beyoncé Formation Tour Pilgrimage Music Festival Red Bull Music Academy

34 40 45 47

Sports 50 Atlanta United Football Club Georgia Tech Football TOUR Championship U.S. Women’s Soccer BB&T Atlanta Open

*Photo: A group of cosplayers at the Dragon Con parade dressed as Boba Fett (Star Wars)

Credit: Yoh Phillips

51 58 60 68 74

High Museum of Art Presents Works

by Photographer Thomas Struth The High is the first U.S. museum to present a new body of work by celebrated German artist Thomas Struth in the touring exhibition “Thomas Struth: Nature & Politics” (Oct. 16, 2016, through Jan. 8, 2017), which is co-organized by the High, the Museum Folkwang (Essen, Germany), and Martin-Gropius-Bau (Berlin), in collaboration with the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Struth is renowned for his innovations in large-scale color photography that span subjects including cityscapes, architecture, portraits, landscapes, museums and technology systems.

“Nature & Politics” combines various strands of Struth’s oeuvre in the more than 30 works on view—placing particular focus on technology and the manufactured landscape as overarching themes. The works are global in nature, drawn from Struth’s travels in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America over the past 10 years, and they include three photographs made in Atlanta in 2013.

“Struth is one of the defining artists of contemporary photography, and his work is striking both for its scale and complexity,” said Gregory Harris, the High’s assistant curator of photography.

“This exhibition aligns with the High’s ongoing commitment to presenting photography that is simultaneously internationally significant and regionally relevant.

Arts & Culture

Thomas Struth (German, born 1954), Space Shuttle 1, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, 2008, chromogenic print, 78.5 x 148.3inches.© Thomas Struth

‘Nature & Politics’ will resonate particularly well with our audiences because it features photographs that Struth created right here in our Atlanta community.”

“Nature & Politics” features works that examine how human ambition and imagination physically manifest in the highly complex constructions that shape our world. Many of the photographs record the structural complexities of remote techno-industrial and scientific research spaces, such as physics institutes, pharmaceutical plants, space stations, dockyards, nuclear facilities and other edifices of technological production. These photographs uncover sites of scientific development—typically kept from public view—where the heights of human knowledge are enacted, debated and advanced. Struth’s images also reveal the layers of politics and the influences of the past and present often found in human-crafted environments.

Thomas Struth (German, born 1954), Mountain, Anaheim, 2013, chromogenic print,83.5 x 130.9 inches.© Thomas Struth

The works on display include a series of panoramic views of Disneyland that Struth produced to examine the constructed imagination—in this case how Walt Disney’s memories of Europe were manifested in a fantastic yet physical reality. Also featured are images of the contested landscape of Israel and the West Bank, one of Struth’s most recent projects.

The Atlanta works in the exhibition include a photograph from the High’s permanent collection that Struth captured in the Georgia Aquarium. The monumental print, depicting a group of adults and children set against the background of a tank of underwater sea creatures, allows the viewer to feel a part of the scene and emphasizes the wonders of scientific advances and their effect on the way we experience the world. Two other photographs depict robotics workrooms at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines.

“Struth is one of the defining artists of contemporary photography” -Gregory Harris

Thomas Struth (German, born 1954), Tokamak Asdex Upgrade Interior 2, Max Planck IPP, Garching, 2009, chromogenic print, 55.7 x 69.3inches.© Thomas Struth

Additional works on view include: ▪ “Tokamak Asdex Upgrade Interior 2, Max Planck IPP, Garching” (2009): This image features the interior of tokamak, a device that confines plasma in the shape of a torus through the use of a magnetic field. The photograph was captured at the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics in Garching, Germany.

▪ “Space Shuttle 1, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral” (2008): This photograph is among the earlier works featured in the exhibition and examines the confluence of politics and science in NASA’s space program.

▪ “Figure, Charité, Berlin” (2012): In this image, Struth captures the scene during a surgical operation that was accomplished with the help of the da Vinci Robot.

“Nature & Politics” premiered in March 2016 at the Museum Folkwang and previously traveled to Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (June 11 – Sept. 18, 2016). Following its presentation at the High, the exhibition will be on view at the Saint Louis Art Museum (fall 2017).

The exhibition is curated by Museum Folkwang Director Tobia Bezzola and the High’s former Keough Family Curator of Photography Brett Abbott.

Fever Within: The Art of Ronald Lockett

The art of Ronald Lockett (American, 1965–1998) is both deeply connected to his life in the American South and transcendently resonant with broader human experience. In visually arresting works assembled from found materials, Lockett used a symbolic cast of animal avatars to address themes of struggle, survival, and injustice that are powerfully resonant today. Lockett took on issues such as the unfulfilled promises of the civil rights movement, environmental degradation, the trauma of war, and acts of domestic terrorism in works whose beauty and weight testify to the resilience of the human spirit.

Revealing one of the South’s bestkept secrets, this exhibition is the first retrospective dedicated to Lockett, whose career was cut short when the artist died of AIDS-related pneumonia at the age of thirty-two.

Sarah Lockett’s Roses, 1997 Tin and paint on wood Collection of Souls Grown Deep Foundation, L2015.2.22

Fever Within features more than fifty of Lockett’s paintings, sculptures, and assemblages—including works from the High’s collection—that embody the stunning evolution of his artistic practice.

Raised in Bessemer, Alabama, Lockett was heavily influenced by other self-taught African American artists in his close-knit community, including his cousin Thornton Dial, Sr. (American, 1928–2016), who mentored and encouraged him. Fever Within is accompanied by Forging Connections: Ronald Lockett’s Alabama Contemporaries, a companion exhibition of large-scale sculptures that links Lockett to key artists who emerged from the African American steel communities of Birmingham and Bessemer, Alabama, in the late twentieth century. This exhibition, which is exclusive to the High Museum, includes artworks by Lockett; Thornton Dial, Sr.; Thornton Dial, Jr.; Richard Dial; Lonnie Holley; and Joe Minter, much of which is on view publicly for the first time.

If/Then the Musical

Photo: Tamyra Gray & Anthony Rapp. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Broadway in Atlanta has been blessing Atlanta with copious amounts of awesome in the form of musicals, theatre pieces both old and new, and a healthy range of works on tour.

This go-round, they delivered a fairly new broadway project in If/Then the Musical.

Socially identified as the “Idina Menzel Musical” (she played the lead on broadway and part of the tour) we were there front and center at The Fox Theatre opening night. It was good to see such a nice crowd for this barely two year old musical. One thing you’ll notice is The Fox Theatre just recently started using metal detectors, so consider that as you’re factoring your arrival times for the show.

The story begins with 38 year-old Elizabeth (Jackie Burns replaced Menzel as the lead as of January 27, 2016) who moves back to New York City from Phoenix after a bad marriage.

Two friends of hers meet by chance at Madison Square Park, both awaiting her arrival; Kate (Tamyra Gray), a kindergarten teacher and Lucas (Anthony Rapp), a community organizer.

Everything that takes place after this opening scene leads to an up-close analyzation of choice, fate, and happenstance.

One thing I’ll give the production is that the singing was great. I enjoyed Jackie Burns in the lead role and her voice was powerful. At certain points, I thought Tamyra Gray carried the show when the story fell flat as her singing and comedy was a hit with those in attendance.

The set design was very creative as the cast took us from Madison Square Park to an office building and even onboard a trans-atlantic flight from London to New York City.

The only thing working against the If/Then team was the aforementioned themes in a region like the South and unfortunately time. With a start-time of 7:30pm the first intermission wasn’t until around 8:50pm. I remember texting a friend onboard her flight back to Atlanta and responding with “Ok, intermission is over” at approximately 9:12pm.

Act I definitely felt like it was way too long and although Act II felt shorter, the damage had already been done. I noticed a small number of people here and there leaving during the first Act, but after Act II began, I saw people all over the place heading towards the exit. While the story was one of relevance, it just took entirely too long to execute.

I give If/Then the Musical a 7 out of 10. There’s laughter, there’s great singing, there’s real-life, relatable questions and content, but all of that is overshadowed by the three hours of show-time. If you truly want to enjoy the show I suggest a daytime showing.

-Jon J.

Photo: Tamyra Gray & Anthony Rapp. (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Beauty Three Uses for Activated Charcoal Many of us are big fans of charcoal masks because of the purifying qualities it provides during use. What if I told you that you could make your own for less than half the cost of some of the top brands? Many skincare products have excess ingredients that if used alone, wouldn’t be the best for your skin. Many realize that creating your own skincare products not only saves you money but is better for your skin. Below I will list some of the most popular uses for activated charcoal.

Teeth Whitening I have recently seen some companies offering this product but be sure there are no added ingredients and check your local market as you may find a better deal. To use this product simply apply the powder to your toothbrush and start brushing. The foam will be grey color so don’t fret! For a more intense clean you can use the charcoal by itself instead of using it with toothpaste. The taste may take some getting used to but the results will be worth it.

Face Mask Many skincare products contain activated charcoal so imagine the results when using the actual without a ton of additives. I only make as much as I need seeing as I don’t need to do a mask everyday. Taking equal parts of charcoal, water, aloe vera gel, and your favorite natural oil mix in a small container. I use glass so that the charcoal doesn’t stain any plastic containers I have. Also, despite many disclaimers, plastic containers tend to contain many chemicals that aren’t good for you. You should end up with a paste like consistency. Apply the mask, let sit until completely dry, then rinse and moisturize! You will be able to tell a difference immediately.

Body Scrub We often forget that just like our face, our body needs to detox every once in a while. Creating a body scrub not only acts as a good exfoliant but a great detox.

The best thing is these are very customizable and easy to make. Using dry ingredients like sugar, oatmeal, and almonds act as great exfoliators. Liquid options range from honey, milk, yogurt, and olive oil just to name a few. Using only charcoal and a liquid ingredient you could make a simple mask. Adding other ingredients improves how well the scrub works for you.

These are just a few of the many uses for activated charcoal pertaining to beauty. There are several other health uses as well. If none of these interest you, you are bound to find something that works for you. I encourage you to explore the world of natural products that can be added to your beauty regimen.

You may end up replacing you favorite products.

-Keisha Campbell

Be sure to visit my new YouTube Channel and check out my latest video.

Replacing Your Favorite Moisturizer with Oils While using black soap and shea butter on my skin, I’ve noticed that my regular moisturizers just don’t work for me anymore.

As I have stated many times before, I have oily skin but it has recently experienced some dryness in the past couple of months with me being out in the sun more than ever. I knew I needed more moisture on my skin and I decided to research oils that work with oily skin. I always thought I couldn’t use oils until I used Josie Maran Argan Oil in a set that I purchased from Sephora.

Being that my skin has been on the dry side I have been leaning towards my Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift and Firm Mask. That mask has always left my skin feeling moisturized and leaves me with a glow. The best part is it doesn’t leave my skin feeling oily at all. To keep the moisturizer locked in I decided to try the argan oil before I went to bed. When I woke up in the morning my skin was feeling youthful and had a subtle radiance.

After doing some research and trying different oils I realized that I could get some of the same benefits from oils as I do from the moisturizers I use. Jojoba oil is considered a light oil that mimics skin’s sebum. It is a great for oily skin as it tricks the skin to produce less oil. It does give the face a slight sheen so I wouldn’t recommend using it while wearing makeup. I find that using oils at night after I cleanse my face allow my skin to still be moisturized in the morning and I can use a small amount of shea butter if I need it.

Some creams tend to sit on top of the skin without fully penetrating to the deeper layers of the skin. This causes you not to receive the full benefits of the product due to all of the other ingredients that may be stopping the full penetration. The other great thing about oils is that they are customizable and work very well together. You could easily research what works best for your skin and create your own mixture. This saves money and is a more natural approach to taking care of your skin. I encourage you to look up all the benefits of using oils and I guarantee you will be surprised by what you find.

-Keisha Campbell

Sources: http://www.michellephan.com

EVENTS

Bill Burr You’ve heard his voice on The Simpsons, Grand Theft Auto, and his Netflix series “F is for Family.” You’ve seen him on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Chappelle Show, and Breaking Bad. He’s Bill Burr, and his rage-fueled comedy isn’t going anywhere!

He was most recently in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre as part of his current tour.

The sold out show was worth every, single, penny.

The biggest thing that stood out to me was the fact that he had two openers that didn’t last more than 20 minutes combined. So picture this; you’ve already mentally prepared yourself to see openers the first hour of the show (because that’s how it “normally” goes). Then, you see the first opener bid farewell after 10 minutes, then the second after another 10 minutes, and you start thinking, “Wait a minute, is he coming on now? So soon?” And before you know it, boom, Bill Burr took the stage. And once he took the stage, he didn’t leave it… For two solid hours.

It really felt like I was given a special gift. Not only because of my view, but because it felt like he was recording one of his cable specials.

He had so much energy and the crowd fed off of it the entire time. There are angry rants, and then there are angry, rage-fueled rants by Bill Burr.

It tickles me that people still don’t know comedy show etiquette. The basic rules when you attend a comedy show. Those rules are there are no rules and if you attend one, you never sit in the front. I repeat, you never, ever, ever sit in the front.

That night, a beautiful array of noobs and first-timers learned the hard way. I laughed far too hard at their expense, but the most important thing is, they learned their lesson.

As he continues his rise in TV and film, he still makes time for his podcast and touring (thank goodness). If you ever get a chance to see him live, take it. You will be more than satisfied by the end of the night. Learn more about Bill Burr HERE -Jon J.

Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the king of all comic cons in the South. It’s the biggest con that Atlanta has and every year it tends to get even better. Dragon Con takes place every Labor Day weekend from Thursday until Monday (it’s usually going on at the same time as college football). So the streets of Atlanta are filled with football heads, awesome nerds, and geeks of all types.

One of the big things about Dragon Con is the parade.

That’s when everyone will wake up early, jump on Marta, and head downtown. You will see almost everyone in costume on Marta heading to the parade, from toddlers to the elderly, in full costume. Once you reach downtown, the streets are packed with tourists and residents to view the parade. During the parade, you’ll see everything, from Deadpools to Harley Quinns, Iron Mans, Storm Troopers, Hip Hop Trooper, Ghost Busters, Steven Universe characters, Zombies from Netherworld and more. If you see someone you recognize in the parade don’t be afraid to call them, they will stop and take a picture with you.

Every year they have a huge celebrity roster during the parade as well and the majority of the celebrities you can also see in the hall of fame where they hang out.

David Yost the Blue Power Ranger was there along with Austin St. John the Red Power Ranger. I also ran into Ciara Renee who plays Hawk Girl from the CW Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. I spoke with the cast of Sponge Bob and they were hilarious. I did not know the voice actress who plays ‘Pearl’ on Sponge Bob is also The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3. That totally blew my mind.

I also attended a panel about Marvel in The 80’s (it was a pretty cool panel). It was a panel of writers who told us how marvel was in the 80’s and what took place behind the scenes. One of the writers who wrote for The Incredible Hulk took the blame for having Wolverine’s adamantium ripped out. There was one question from the audience, “What are your thoughts on Batman vs.

Superman?” and all three writers said it sucked. The audience cried laughing and applauded (we see that everyone is a Marvel fan). Even one of the writers who also wrote for DC said the movie sucked.

I ventured off into the dealer’s room and man… All I have to say is that I felt like I was in the merchant area in Legend of Zelda, or Aladdin. There were a lot of things to buy, from weapons to shirts, action figures, props, anime, old school video games, and so much more. The dealer’s room was mind blowing! The gaming room was pretty awesome too. I played a Japanese flip table game, that was awesome, and there were tons of other games available.

At the end of the night, the con doesn’t end because they have parties and raves where you can dance all night (You will literally dance until the sun comes up and do it again the next night). Overall Dragon Con is really fun. You get to see all of your friends, make new friends, and see famous cosplayers too (even the kids dress up in costumes). I spoke to some first-timers that attended this year, and they said they had a blast and would attend next year and on.

Dragon Con is by far, one of the biggest events held in Atlanta. If you live here and have never attended or if you’re from out-of-town and always wanted to come, you should. You will really enjoy yourself. Everyone is friendly and I guarantee you’ll be joining the Dragon Con family.

-TBZ

Photo: Yoh Phillips & Kent Foster

Attendees mixed and mingled at pre-show cocktail reception while they bid on an array of luxury items including timeless jewelry, watches and must-have handbags. After guests took their seats, a high-energy live auction featuring once in a lifetime experiences led up to a stunning runway show featuring Kalinsky’s style selections from high-end designers such as Lanvin, Celine, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Gucci, Valentino, Dries van Noten, Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik.

JEFFREY FASHION CARES

Arbiter of style and acclaimed retailer Jeffrey Kalinsky kicked off Atlanta’s fall social season on a stylish note at the 24th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares on Monday, August 29, 2016. One of the largest combined AIDS and breast cancer benefits in the country; the philanthropic affair featured a pre-show cocktail reception, silent and live auction, and a dazzling runway show — giving fashion lovers an intimate look at Fall’s hottest runway trends. For the second year in a row, Jeffrey Fashion Cares returned to the recently renovated Phipps Plaza in the heart of Buckhead where attendees slipped into a completely transformed and private environment in the Monarch Court as Kalinsky and his team once again embarked on their mission to raise as much awareness and funds as possible for the event’s beneficiaries, Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF).

Fall 2016 will be an over the top season, literally. From New York, London, Paris and Milan, we are bringing you an oversized, puffed up, perfect selection to lift your look for autumn. We have the biggest trends of the season, suitable for every occasion.

We’re showcasing cashmere, leather, glossy brocades, and liquid silks--producing silhouettes that reflect a powerful, yet refined attitude. Fall will be portrayed through a monochromatic palette with color blocks to set the mood; including lemon yellow, royal blue, and shades of red.

Elegance is an attitude as well as an appearance. This year, however, the theme mirrors more casual lifestyles, relevant for today’s busy women. The selection has been carefully chosen from our favorite designers of the coming season.

The basic look will be an oversized street style. It will be highlighted by designers Vetements and Marques Almeida. We continue to see the exaggeration in fit and tailoring to complement the puffiness of this comfortable trend.

Along with this new image, we have a found a velvet goldmine, showcased by designers using this rich fabric as a revival of a revered fabric chosen by royalty.

Celine impresses us with wearable garments, conceptual shapes, tunics worn over flared pants, with variations of outerwear as well. Brandon Maxwell empowers women with striking sexy, sculpted silhouettes that accent today’s evening wear.

Photos: Ben Rose

Movies

The Birth of a Nation was released at an interesting time in our country. Just within the past few months, the United States has had to deal with a series of police brutality incidents, unrest over silent protests, and the raising of social awareness which has rocked our nation to the core.

I find it odd that things that seem simple to comprehend are being made into divisive issues that people take part with. If women have been complaining for decades about unfair treatment in the workplace or not being paid as much, why don’t we listen? If black people have spoken out against police brutality for over 150 years, why don’t we listen? It’s a shame that common sense and simply having the patience to listen are precious commodities these days.

That barely scratches the surface with all of the issues in the limelight of our nation. Then a movie about a slave revolt releases in theaters. What should’ve been celebrated as a film that America needs to see, was seen as a flop its opening weekend.

Everything this film stands for was overshadowed by a past rape charge by director Nate Parker. I’ve read about everything from boycotts by women to people upset by historical inaccuracies in the film. All that withstanding, you should still see this film.

Nat Turner was a slave who at a young age, was privileged enough to live inside the house of his masters (The Turners) and was taught how to read. The only book Elizabeth Turner (Penelope Ann Miller) would introduce to him would be the bible. As the years pass, his knowledge of the bible grew and everyone on the plantation would come to listen to his preaching. Once local farmers get word of unrest in the county, Nat’s owner Sam Turner (Armie Hammer) is convinced he could make money by having Nat preach the gospel to nearby plantations to dispel the thought of an uprising.

Now the thing about Nat’s situation was he really hadn’t seen any true atrocities take place. He had been sheltered to a certain degree. It wasn’t until he started visiting nearby plantations that he saw their awful living conditions, mutilation, unspeakable treatment, and the torture they experienced on a daily basis. Then finally, the day came when he outsmarted a white preacher and he faced punishment for the first time.

After weeks of praying and reading his bible in its entirety, he devised a plan. After secretly meeting with the male leads of each of the plantations he visited, he explained, “For every verse I was reading about being a good slave to your master, I discovered there was two more speaking against slavery and punishment to those masters.” He was alluding to the fact that he, and many others, were taught only the portions of the bible that white people wanted them to learn. All of these meetings and events that take place lead up to a rebellion.

The direction and vision by Parker to impose this 1800s timeframe on top of biblical events was amazing. (Spoiler Alert) When it was time for him to be executed publicly (like Jesus), the person who snitched on him was riddled with guilt (like Judas), and moments away from taking his last breath, Turner looked up to the sky as if to accept his fate (like Jesus). Not to mention, when Nat was punished for talking over a white preacher, he was whipped in the same manner it was written about Jesus.

The line of the movie was so appropriate and so relevant that it should resonate to everyone that what’s happening in today’s society is “history repeating itself.” While in hiding, Nat goes to see his wife Cherry (Aja Naomi King) and she whispers, “They killing everyone for no reason, just for being black.”

I give The Birth of a Nation an 8.5 out of 10. There were more than a few slow moments which I wasn’t expecting after watching the epic trailer, and if your squeamish around blood or torture, you’ll find yourself looking away on several occasions (in one seen a disobedient slave had every single one of his teeth knocked out with a hammer).

While it only brought in $7M its opening weekend and was brushed aside by ‘Girl on the Train’ with its $24M numbers, you should still put this on your list of movies to see this month. Politics and outside influences aside, it’s a movie set in the 1800s that reflects today’s race problems biases in a manner that’s so impactful, it should be a requirement to watch in history classes nationwide.

-Jon J.

Nate Parker as “Nat Turner” and Armie Hammer as “Samuel Turner” in THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game.

Mutesi is a strong child with a budding intellect that’s just waiting to be discovered. When watching the film she reminded me a lot of Malala (the girl shot by Taliban because she wanted to go to school) just because of her inner strength. It was not easy living in these slums as her mother struggled to sell vegetables in the market while parenting three children. It also didn’t help the situation when we discover that the radical child Night (Taryn Kyaze) was also the oldest and had zero interest in watching her younger siblings (and often found herself in trouble).

With a mountain to climb, the story of this little girl is incredible, as she not only has to overcome her living situation (they get evicted at one point), her younger brother gets in a car accident and has to go to the hospital, she has to earn the respect of the male players in her village, then Coach Robert has to deal with pushback from the private school where the big chess tournament is hosted (because the school didn’t want children from the slums to participate), and the mountain just continued to grow. Coach Robert was so committed to her and the rest of the players in their village that when it came time to compete nationally and internationally he raised the money himself, often times gambling on soccer games.

This was Disney’s first time filming in Africa and they chose quite a story to make history with.To add to its authenticity, my guest from Togo saw this with me and confirmed the legitimacy of the film’s location by pointing out the different villages and markets in the film that she herself have seen. Phiona mutesi is an inspiration to all and especially young girls across the globe. This film further proves that the most important asset we have around us are the children. We must nurture, support, and protect that asset.

Queen of Katwe gets a 9 out of 10. It’s a great and motivational “feel good” story that everyone can enjoy and learn from.

-Jon J.

Everyone knows the old story of babies being delivered by “the stork.” But imagine a time where the storks have become so advanced that they move from delivering babies to packages. But when an order for a baby appears, the company’s best employee has to secretly find a solution to avoid losing his upcoming promotion.

Tulip (Katie Crown) was a baby that was never delivered and ended up staying at the stork’s factory until she was 18, when they could legally make her leave. Known for her clumsiness, they attempt to keep her away from operations, but somehow she manages to fill an order for a baby.

The company’s best employee is Junior (Andy Samberg), the best, brightest, and fastest stork on Stork Mountain, who had a birthday and a promotion forthcoming. That promotion would be granted by the CEO Hunter (Kelsey Grammer), who cared only about profit margins, growth, and takes audiences on a psychedelic trip every time he utters the word “Boss!”

Down on the ground we track the daily life of Sarah and Henry Gardner (Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell) and their son Nate (Anton Starkman). Because the parents are so busy with their real estate business, Nate is often lonely and desires a baby brother.

The Storks is a hilarious adventure about family, what it is to be family, and how people can get the sense of family without being related by blood (or species). Kelsey Grammer plays the perfect overbearing, greedy boss in this film. When you hear how and why he runs the business like he does, he sounds more like a troll than a stork (Knowing that storks can’t see glass, he makes an entire multi-story office in the shape of a cube made of pure glass. Storks fly into it daily to his amusement).

Other notable voice actors in the film include Key & Peele, Danny Trejo, Amanda Lund, and Stephen Kramer Glickman.

I give The Storks a 8.5 out of 10. There’s a solid balance of kid-friendly/adult comedy and there are a slew of life lessons that can be learned during the film.

-Jon J.

From director Todd Phillips comes “War Dogs,” a comedic drama based on true events, starring Oscar nominee Jonah Hill and Miles Teller.

Imagine being in your early 20s and getting approached by your childhood best friend to do business. This is what happened with David Packouz (Miles Teller) while attending a funeral. While conversing with a friend he sees Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) off in the distance, his best friend while growing up. Once Efraim explains to David how he was making money selling guns in San Diego and the ease of it all, David becomes intrigued and wants to learn more.

Once he officially signs on as a partner with Efraim, a series of events take place that immediately affect David and eventually changes their lives.

As arms dealers under the name AEY, the new duo set forth on a massive search, scouring the gov’t web portal for contract jobs. Efraim’s specialty was finding the smaller jobs that people often look over for the bigger ones. While most companies would go for the $100 million jobs, AEY focused on what Efraim called “crumbs,” which were the jobs that offered a million here and there.

Bradley Cooper plays Henry Girard, a legendary arms dealer who allegedly was part of Saddam Hussein’s death. The ever longing desire for more money led the guys of AEY to Henry Girard for the deal of a lifetime. But greed comes with a price, and in this case, the price was far too high for the boys to handle.

If your opinion has been formed solely from hearsay and short clips on TV, you’d think this was just some skimp comedy where Jonah Hill entertains for two hours. Not only is that incorrect, but the film is based on a true story with an ending you have to see to believe.

You see a bit of Gordon Gecko (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) in Ephraim in this film and there are constant referrals to “Scarface” throughout. This film, like the two aforementioned, have an all too familiar theme: Greed and arrogance leads to their downfall.

“War Dogs” gets a 7 out of 10. The film relies heavily on the shock-and-awe in the storyline and often times Hill has to carry the scenes, which he can’t always do. While I don’t have a problem with Miles Teller, his character is such a non-factor in this movie that literally anybody could’ve played his role.

-Jon J.

Suicide Squad: Continued Woe in The DC Universe I have a question. Have you ever let one of your friends do something for you, they did a terrible job, you felt bad and let them try again, and they did another terrible job? Now take that scenario and identify yourself as DC Universe and your friend as Zack Snyder.

To give you an appetizing sample of what’s to come, take a look at these headlines: Forbes: “Worse Than ‘Green Lantern,’ Worse Than ‘Fantastic Four'” New York Times: “Suicide Squad Chases Nihilistic Swagger but Trips Over Its Own Feet” Variety: “No Love for DC Super-Villains” Telegraph: “Crushingly Puerile Comic-Book Pornography” Now clearly, my favorite of all those was the headline from Telegraph (that’s just wild). But unlike my defense of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, I can honestly say this film is going to get trashed this weekend.

Suicide Squad is a movie that had everyone excited. Literally everyone, but especially DC fans. But that was part of the problem. The excitement behind it helped carry the promo, but the tanking of Batman vs. Superman set the expectations through the roof for this movie, and that’s the main problem.

No matter how you feel about Jared Leto, Will Smith, or even Zack Snyder, all you need to know is that there isn’t a pair of boy shorts on earth small enough to throw on Margot Robbie that would’ve saved this film.

As some of you may remember, years ago I wrote a review on ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ and I knew right then, she was a star in the making. I’m glad she’s getting work and she did a great job as Harley Quinn. I love the onscreen chemistry between her and Will Smith (which I first saw in ‘Focus’). At many points during the movie she carries the scenes, which is a heavy weight to bear around a cast of mostly men.

Unfortunately I can’t finish this review without shaking my head. What started out with glorious potential took too long to take flight and fell short in the ‘wow’ category. Fans will not be excited about all the CGI that was used either. I know DC is going to catch all kinds of hell for that.

The problem is every film is missing its mark. It’s like “this film is bad, oh well the next one will be better,” then “Ok Dawn of Justice could’ve been better… But thank God Suicide Squad is coming out this summer!” But now it’s like, “Ok, they didn’t get it right with Suicide Squad… But they’ll get it right with Justice League.”

I mean the hope and potential just gets passed off to every movie. Why can’t they get it right?

One thing I thought was interesting was this was written and directed by David Ayer but Zack Snyder was a co-producer. I’m sure you remember the shellacking he took this past spring because of BvS. After this, he might be finished with DC. The storyline in a nutshell, a secret government agency decides to use captured meta-humans to fight their battles for them. This secret mission is a lose-lose for the super villains; if they succeed, they stay in jail and if they fail, they take the blame.

The team that takes shape consists of Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Boomerang, Diablo, and Killer Croc. Because Killer Croc has scales all over his body and doesn’t look human, DC took it upon themselves to let you know he was black by using street jargon, deepening his voice to Barry White levels, and my favorite, having him request BET in his prison cell (good job Warner Bros. good job).

I honestly have no problem with Will Smith in this film (even though I heard groans nationwide when they announced it) and one of the bright spots was the girl who played his daughter, Shailyn Pierre-Dixon. She has very few lines but her performance really makes you feel the pain of a girl who aches at the thought of losing her father.

They made Viola Davis a stone-cold b*** in this movie. She did a good job of making you hate her character Amanda Waller, who works for the covert government agency. Jared Leto is not Heath Ledger but does justice to The Joker.

You’ll see Common for all of 50 seconds so be sure to enjoy that, and you’ll see microseconds of two meta-humans you were introduced to in BvS (See? No spoilers).

With all things considered, there is no possible way I can give this higher than a 6.5 out of 10. Margot Robbie’s shorts seemed smaller with every scene, way too many cheesy scenes, Cara Delevingne was bad as Enchantress, at too many points you’ll drown in CGI, and the PG-13 rating didn’t help.

Most people want to see this because of The Joker and Harley Quinn, and for that, you won’t be disappointed (or with all the posters and artwork, they’re awesome). Did I like it? In its most basic form, I thought it was OK. But with everything that happened with BvS I thought the studio and DC would’ve taken serious notes with this.

Go ahead Marvel Fanboys. Fly my pretties, fly!

-Jon J.

MUSIC

There are only a few labels that come to mind when you think of longevity. Specifically, if you think of decadesplus worth of classics and trendsetting, you have to think Bad Boy Records. Sean Combs aka Diddy, has created a musical dynasty in Bad Boy, and that was celebrated in extreme fashion Thursday night.

We were behind the scenes to see all the artists, the reunions, and all the love that was shared amongst this very large family. One of the best gifts ATL could’ve been given was the return of Boyz n da Hood. The Bad Boy South reunion performance was not only well received, but a much-needed reminder that ATL artists are not a fly by night phenomenon, they’ve been setting trends for years.

The BLOCK ENT (Block Entertainment) family was definitely in the building as Block himself established the label as a formidable opponent in the South. Those present for the reunion include Jody Breeze, Big Gee, Big Duke, Gorilla Zoe, Rico Brooks, J-Rell, Kris Kelli, Young Joc and more. The closeness of this family could be felt as copious laughs as well as stories were shared; nostalgia of the past, positive reflections, and talks of the future.

Many artists and friends stopped by the dressing room to show love and appreciation for their presence. Everyone from Lil Scrappy and Clifton Powell to T.I. and 2 Chainz stopped by the Bad Boy South corner to check on old friends and make new ones.

After listening to a few of the group’s favorite Bad Boy South moments, I spoke to Jody Breeze and asked how important this reunion was. “This is very special, we haven’t done this in a minute,” he says. “It’s always good when you get together with family that you’ve made history with.”

Behind the scenes in the Bad Boy South dressing room. Friends from L to R: Young Joc, Big Block, DJ Infamous, DJ Holiday, Jody Breeze, Gorilla Zoe, Rico Brooks, Roger Bonds.

That sentiment was echoed throughout the group. Bad Boy was celebrating a culmination of hits, but it was also reuniting friends, some of which hadn’t been seen in decades.

Notable producer J-Rell stated, “This is a definite blessing to see. This is my first goround on this demonstration here. I get to see all the people I look up to: Puff, Block, Big Gee, you know… Shanti Das… There’s a lot of different people out here! I’m just elated to be amongst such greatness man. Shouts out to Puff, Bad Boy, Block ENT my Inkwell team, and shouts to you TPR fam!” The love amongst the group was clear and could be felt all throughout the dressing rooms.

Then there’s the ‘always ready to work’ orchestrator of the Block ENT/Bad Boy South family, Russ “Big Block” Spencer. Those who know him refer to him simply as “Block.” His presence brings accomplishment, respect, and a high level of admiration for those who know his résumé. He’s a hard man to miss as his sheer size supports his aptly titled nickname (‘Big’ Block) but what’s most impressive about him is his work ethic. The man is the living epitome of Diddy’s famous slogan: “We can’t stop, we won’t stop, we don’t even know how to stop!”

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Seeing as he’s ‘the man’ around here and played a pivotal role in Bad Boy’s rise in the South, I had to get his view on the history being made last night: “You know, truthfully…. I don’t want to sound big-headed but… But THIS is what I built the whole family for, this is what I built Block ENT for. It’s so we can come back down the line, generation [break] You know when I first built Boyz n da Hood, when I first signed Joc, Zoe, Young Jeezy, I built it to be to generation to generation. And now I’m seeing how all the generations are coming back and looking…. And they look great!’

The show itself will go down as the concert of the year. Just a few weeks ago I heralded Pitbull as “the best concert I’ve ever seen!” Just like that, in a matter of weeks, he has been replaced by the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour. What makes this so historical is when you actually think about the lineup; will there ever be an array of artists like this for one concert, ever again? In life? Ever?!

6 If you missed this concert, you missed history last night in the form of: Ma$e, Total, Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, 112, Gorilla Zoe, Boyz n da Hood, Young Jeezy, Young Joc, Black Rob, The Lox, French Montana, 2 Chainz, Lil Kim, Gucci Mane, Jodeci, Tyrese, Christian (Diddy’s son), Mario Winans and more!

With so many artists and so many tracks to go through, it was only right that Atlanta was given the proper send-off to a historic night; the Bad Boy family, in its totality, performing “I’ll Be Missing You.” You want to talk about powerful? There was applause, cheer, and a continuous stream of tears flowing from the sold-out crowd.

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2 Chainz, Big Gee, Big Block Clifton Powell and KJay Music Big Gee, T.I., Big Block Big Block, Kris Kelli, Christian Combs Signage in the dressing room Jeezy and Big Block on stage

Will there ever again, be a lineup such as this? A culmination of the familial embrace, high energy, great music, and sensory overload made this trip down nostalgia lane more than worth it.

“Can’t stop, won’t stop” clearly is not just a slogan, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a calling for one to live their life. Like Block and his assembling of Boyz n da Hood, Diddy has put together a prodigious number of artists and tunes that span generations. So many generations in fact, that it’s clear to see that it truly is “Bad Boy for life.”

-Jon J. Photo: Anna Lira

Top: Diddy and Young Joc Left: Faith Evans and Diddy

(Next Page) Left: Big Block and Diddy Right: Lil Kim Bottom Diddy

BEYONCÉ THE

FORMATION TOUR

Atlanta was gifted with a second show of The Formation World Tour once the announcement was made during Beyoncé’s first visit a few months back. She received rave reviews after her first visit and if you thought her second show would be the same as the first, you thought wrong.

There were a few components to this show that made it not only different, but better than the first. First off, DJ Khaled was added for this portion. The man is a genius, and if you follow him on Snapchat you know he thinks you’re a genius too. Seeing his snaps during her tour stops is one thing, but seeing him live in a city like Atlanta is a totally different experience. DJ Khaled is the best hype man I’ve ever witnessed and should open every concert. Not just because of his energy or his catalog of music, but the surprises he brings on each one of the tour stops. He’s been saying since he left New Orleans, “ATL I got a lot of surprises for you. Formation Tour, Atlanta, get there early!” 15 minutes would pass and he’d hint again, “Atlanta…. Trust me… Get there early!”

The second component goes back to DJ Khaled. This show had openers and lots of them thanks to Khaled. He was not lying when he said, “Get there early!”

He took full responsibility for the duties that came with being the “opener.” He played lots of old school rap, R&B, 90’s classics, and a few ATL tunes as well.

But the surprises he had in store lit up the dome from start to finish. I thought he’d start off small and gradually go bigger when bringing out ATL artists, but he went straight for the jugular and brought out Jeezy as his first guest. The crowd went crazy.

When Jeezy belted out his most recognized ad-lib, “Yeaaaah” I saw people jump out of their seats, run to get friends, and some fans even screamed out of pure shock. Like I said, most times when a touring artist brings out local artists, they build a type of crescendo by starting small and ending with a huge household name. But Jeezy was his first surprise artist of the night. Khaled had the building at the edge of their seats in anticipation and he did not disappoint.

Jeezy’s performance was followed by that of The Migos, The Dream, Young Thug, T.I., Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Usher, and 2 Chainz.

The Dream’s presence was welcomed but his performance was a little disappointing. I never thought in a million years he’d be outdone by Young Thug, but I witnessed it with my own eyes. His performance totally made up for The Dreams’. T.I. made the best of his time on stage and addressed social injustices and asked the crowd to hold their fists in the air if they opposed them.

COVER Photo: ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 26: Beyonce performs during the Formation World Tour at the Georgia Dome on Monday, September 26, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniela Vesco/Parkwood Entertainment)

In an instant, I saw thousands of fists, raised congruent, in various shades and colors. It was a powerful moment.

After DJ Khaled energized the masses there was a 30 minute break. During this time we were shown visuals on two large screens on opposite sides of the stage and a massive four-story, rotating cubed projector screen. During this time they promoted different artists on Tidal and played music videos. It was pretty anticlimactic coming off the heels of an Usher, Ludacris, and 2 Chainz performance (although I did enjoy Chloe x Halle).

Once 9:30pm struck, the Dome went black and various images of Beyoncé were projected on stage. The crowd exploded with screams and applause as they anxiously awaited the queen to take the stage. Minutes later, the woman of the hour took the stage and made her entrance to “Formation.”

Her outfit was a see-through number that only the queen herself could pull off.

With the crowd eating out of her hand, she kept the high energy going with “Kitty Kat” “Bow Down” and “Run The World.”

As she took a break we were shown more visuals, this time from her ‘Lemonade’ album. “Ashes to ashes, dust to side chicks,” was received to a roaring applause.

When she performed, “Mine” it looked like a cirque du soleil performance with dancers in front and acrobats in the back.

There was a strong Caribbean/African influence in their dance moves and it all came together nicely.

The hits continued with “Baby Boy” “Hold Up” and “Countdown.”

After that she took the time to thank her fans for supporting her and gave a short synopsis on her life as an artist and the obstacles she overcame. Her motivational speech about empowering yourself and achieving success was the perfect segue to her next track “Me, Myself, And I.” ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 26: Beyonce performs during the Formation World Tour at the Georgia Dome on Monday, September 26, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniela Vesco/Parkwood Entertainment)

“Redemption” was a special performance because she left a space in between each sentence so the crowd could repeat each line of lyrics. It was a nice moment she shared with the crowd.

Aside from the crowd singing along with her to “Redemption,” there were two other epic moments that will be remembered at this show: The Shawty Lo and Prince tributes.

After “Don’t Hurt Yourself” “Ring The Alarm” and “I’m A Diva” the latter of the three songs was getting mixed before our eyes. Within seconds you were hearing the lyrics to “I’m A Diva” but the track being played was “Dey Know” by Shawty Lo. The crowd erupted.

For the second tribute she left the stage and the projector cube turned purple.

The very second it started changing to purple, you could see cell phone flashes appear throughout the audience. In a massive kumbaya moment, Prince’s “Purple Rain” began blaring through the speakers and everyone sang along. It wasn’t as hype as Shawty Lo’s tribute but it was another standout moment where everyone banded together to share the same purpose: honoring Prince.

The show was loaded with tons of visuals, epic wardrobe changes, and even a performance in a stage-wide pool of water.

She continued with tracks “Daddy” “Partition” “Flawless” “Drunk in Love” “Love On Top” and “Crazy in Love.”

On top of the visuals from her ‘Lemonade’ album, there were fireworks, pyro, sing along moments, and to kickoff “We Like To Party,” the crowd was showered by confetti cannons.

Beyoncé closed her show by thanking the crowd multiple times, asking everyone to show love to her team, dancers, and live band, and concluded with a solo performance (no band or dancers) of “Halo.”

She sang, she danced, she used killer visuals, she had a four-story projector which gave a view to everyone in the Georgia Dome regardless of their seating, she hit a home-run adding DJ Khaled to her tour, she did a dedication to Prince, remixed one of her hit songs to honor Shawty Lo, and last but not least, she slayed.

To see Beyoncé live is to experience greatness with a sprinkle of sensory overload. The Formation World Tour has three stops left before it concludes so you still have a chance for the #FWT experience.

Trust me when I say you’ll get your moneys worth. She is well on her way to Tina Turner type notoriety if not there already.

-Jon J.

COVER Photo: ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 26: Beyonce performs during the Formation World Tour at the Georgia Dome on Monday, September 26, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniela Vesco/Parkwood Entertainment)

#MakeThePilgrimage On September 24, the gates of the Park at Harlinsdale in Franklin, Tennessee, opened for the second annual two-day Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival. After the festival’s successful first year in 2015, Justin Timberlake jumped on board to partner and co-produce this year’s festival with founder Kevin Griffin, front man for the band Better Than Ezra. The lineup was stacked with bands ranging from emerging local status all the way up to Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

Festival founder Kevin Griffin, playing a set with his band Better Than Ezra, donning a shirt that appropriately says, “Support Local Music, Hire Live Musicians.” Photo: Jason Myers

Headlining Saturday and Sunday were legends Beck and Hall & Oates.

Both headlining sets naturally saw the fullest crowds of each day, with guests filling the grassy knolls of the main stage. Other set highlights included Jason Isbell and Kacey Musgraves’ sets at the Fender Gold Record Road stage and Kaleo, Violent Femmes and Grace Potter’s sets at the main Frye Midnight Sun Stage.

Daryl Hall & John Oates reuniting for their headlining set on Sunday, photo: Jason Myers

In addition to a stacked lineup, this year’s festival featured a new 5th stage: the ASCAP/City Winery Shady Grove. As one of the only shady areas on the entire Franklin farm, the Shady Grove stage was full all day on both Saturday and Sunday. Festival-goers were desperate to escape the sun and catch some tunes from local artists while sipping on some Centennial Chardonnay.

On top of the incredible bands, the center of the festival grounds was filled with food trucks, artisan booths, and a fantastic new beverage tent where you could find shade and watch football on one of several big screen TVs. Overall, the festival was a great improvement from last year’s festival, which was already a success. This will likely be a staple festival in the Southeast for years to come. There are already talks of a bigger, better third year, possibly featuring a performance from the legendary Justin Timberlake himself! Only time will tell what greatness is in store for next year’s festival, so be sure to keep an eye out for the date and lineup announcements!

-Lauren Brumley

Red Bull Music Academy’s RBMA Radio arrived in Atlanta for a week of live broadcasts. RBMA Radio brings local music scenes from across the world to you, with programming from six continents and original shows from a global contingent of artists, producers and journalists. RBMA Radio: Live from Atlanta follows recent pop-ups in New York, Detroit and Los Angeles celebrating each city’s local music scene and the station’s relaunch as a 24/7 streaming platform.

From the Dungeon Family’s charttopping R&B hits and underground rap classics of the ’90s to the prolific mixtape production of The Aphilliates in the 2000s and the explosion of producers such as Zaytoven and Metro Boomin, Atlanta has continually shaped the sound of popular music.

RBMA Radio: Live from Atlanta offers a deep examination of the city’s storied past and the artists pushing Atlanta forward. The custom-built studio will be set up at Patchwerk Studios, where many of the most essential hip hop and R&B albums of the last 20 years – from the likes of Outkast, Usher and T.I. – originated.

RBMA Radio: Live from Atlanta included Atlanta-focused episodes of current programming, plus live interviews, DJ mixes and special performances from Metro Boomin’, Awful Records’ first lady Abra, DJ Drama, Big Freedia, Sleepy Brown, Janelle Monae producer Chuck Lightning and many more. Listeners took advantage of new episodes of the monthly show Cruisin’ in the ATL hosted by Atlanta DJ Speakerfoxxx, who discusses the city’s music scene with its most important artists while showcasing the newest in Southern rap. Other shows that will focus on Atlanta include RBMA Radio staples like All The Raps, Choice Mix, The Vortex, Fireside Chat and Headphone Highlights. Tune in live on http:// www.rbmaradio.com.

Sleepy Brown: The Vinyl Room Live

No discussion about the sound of Atlanta would be complete without a mention of Sleepy Brown. As part of production trio Organized Noize, the Savannah, Georgia native helped produce a significant portion of the Outkast and Goodie Mob catalogs while also crafting hits for TLC, Ludacris, Bubba Sparxxx, Brandy, Killer Mike and more – putting Atlanta firmly on the map in the process. Brown’s songwriting prowess and satin touch as a vocalist has also led to a successful solo career, including collaborations with Beyoncé, Future, Danny Brown and Vince Staples. RBMA hosted a public conversation with Brown and a live performance of The Vinyl Room, Organized Noize’s oft-overlooked 1998 album as Sleepy’s Theme.

The conversation took place at Patchwerk Studios in Atlanta. Sleepy was a very approachable, very honest person when he arrived, to the thrill of those in attendance. It was a small, intimate affair (maybe 20 people), which added to how special it was that he came to speak. After the RBMA host finished with her questions, he took close to 10 questions from the audience. He spoke on how the group initially started and how Atlanta was back in the day when nobody took the city seriously.

He answered questions about other Dungeon Family artists as well; Outkast, Andre 3000, Big Boi, Future (who drew lots of eyebrows as many people were unaware of his Dungeon Family ties), Killer Mike, and many others.

The next day, fans were blessed to hear Organized Noize’s first album from 1998 as “Sleepy’s Theme.” This was the first time the album was played live, cover to cover. The performance took place at Terminal West which was turned into a Red Bull concert hall almost overnight.

The vibe from the packed venue changed the minute they started playing. The energy went from laid back and exciting to all out Players Ball. Every tune was funky and had a sense of fur coats and feathered hats.

But it wasn’t just the vibe of funky tunes and Cadillacs, it truly felt like we were transported from August 17, 2016 to the middle of the summer in 1995. A time where vogue tires and wire rims ruled the season along with country rap tunes.

In true smooth, player fashion, Sleepy Brown passed out roses to all the ladies that were by the stage. The microphone was laced with flowers, bright pink, and the lights on stage kept a nice hue of pinks and purples throughout the night.

Although there was an entire weeks’ worth of events from RBMA, our favorite by far was the performance at Terminal West that night. Old fans were able to enjoy a great period in music once again and those unfamiliar with Organized Noize became new fans and were able to witness greatness.

Red Bull is much more than an energy drink.

-Jon J Photo: Anna Lira

SPORTS

The 2017 MLS Season is right around the corner and we have new updates about Atlanta’s new expansion team Atlanta United FC. From draft information to new signings, we’ve kept track of their progress this summer.

Atlanta United won the coin toss at the MLS Expansion Priority Draft on Sunday and elected to pick first in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft, to be held on Dec. 13.

The MLS Expansion Priority Draft was held to determine the selection ranking in six-player acquisition methods for 2017 MLS expansion teams Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC. A coin toss determined which team would be able to select from those mechanisms first.

Below are the results, in order by selection, from the 2016 MLS Expansion Priority Draft:

▪ 2016 MLS Expansion Draft – Atlanta No. 1, Minnesota No. 2 ▪ 2017 MLS SuperDraft – Minnesota No. 1, Atlanta No. 2 ▪ Allocation Ranking Order – Atlanta No. 1, Minnesota No. 2 ▪ USL/NASL Player Priority Ranking – Minnesota No. 1, Atlanta No. 2 ▪ 2016 Waiver Draft and Re-Entry Draft Ranking – Atlanta No. 21, Minnesota No. 22 ▪ Discovery Player Ranking – Minnesota No. 21, Atlanta No. 22

The 2016 MLS Expansion Draft will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Both Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC will have five selections. Atlanta will select No. 1 overall and will alternate selections with Minnesota until the conclusion of the draft.

Atlanta United, Soccer in the Streets and MARTA announced a community project to help develop grassroots soccer and provide life skills programs to Atlanta’s underserved urban communities. The project, officially named ‘Station Soccer – Five Points MARTA Station,’ represents the first soccer field to be built inside the perimeter of a major urban transit station in the world.

The strategic location of the field in the heart of downtown Atlanta will remove the primary barrier,that prevents many of the city’s youth from playing soccer: lack of access and poor transportation options. The Five Points station is the hub of the MARTA metro system, making the field an ideal location for kids from across the city to come together in one place to play soccer.

Funded through a grant by Atlanta United, Soccer in the Streets will lead programming of Station Soccer initiating in late fall of this year.

Programming will include establishing mentoring programs, promoting employability among young people and creating a sustainable, competitive format through adult leagues.

Atlanta United announced it has signed 16-year-old midfielder Chris Goslin as a Homegrown Player. A member of Atlanta United Academy and native of Locust Grove, Ga., Goslin becomes the second Homegrown player in club history.

“This is another proud signing in the history of Atlanta United,” said Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra. “Chris’s progression through the youth system has been particularly impressive and he’s shown that he’s ready for the next level in his development. It’s our priority to cultivate a pathway that consistently progresses the best youth players in the area to the next level.”

Currently in residency with the U17 U.S. National Team, Goslin has been a mainstay on the youth circuit since making his debut with the U14s in 2012.

He’s been an integral part of head coach John Hackworth’s team that is preparing for the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup next year in India. This past calendar year alone, he’s been a factor in every tournament the team has participated in, including key tournaments such as the Nike Friendlies, Aegean Cup, Montaigu (France) and the All India Football Federation Youth Cup. At Montaigu, Goslin played in four games and started three to help lead the U.S. to beating host France in the championship.

Goslin joined Atlanta United Academy from Georgia United. During the 2015-16 USSDA season, he played at the U18 level, playing in 11 games while splitting time with national team duties. He started nine games, scored three goals and helped lead Georgia United into the playoffs with a 17-11-5 record.

Atlanta United made its best move yet by agreeing to terms with Gerardo “Tata” Martino to become the club’s inaugural head coach. A former professional player and coach at the highest levels of international football, Martino has most notably led the Argentina National Team, Paraguay National Team and La Liga’s FC Barcelona during his prestigious 20-year coaching career.

“We are delighted that a manager of Gerardo’s caliber and pedigree will be leading our team into our inaugural season,” said Atlanta United President Darren Eales. “His deep experience and success at both the club and international levels speak for itself, and his vision and approach aligns very well with our club philosophy. We’re confident in his ability to help build a winning culture both on and off the pitch.”

Martino, 53, most recently managed the Argentina National Team from 2014 to 2016, leading Argentina back to the No. 1 FIFA World ranking in July 2015.

Under Martino’s leadership, Argentina appeared in the Copa America final in back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016, while finishing with a 20-4-5 overall record. Martino also managed Paraguay from 2006 to 2011, where he led La Albirroja to their best World Cup finish, advancing past the Round of 16 for the first time ever in South Africa in 2010. At the club level, Martino has most notably managed FC Barcelona (2013-14) and Newell’s Old Boys (2011-13).

“This is an incredibly exciting and historic day for our club,” said Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank. “Gerardo brings an unprecedented level of international experience to our head coaching position that will be a valuable asset to our players and demonstrates the continuing growth of Major League Soccer.

We’re thrilled he’s chosen to join our club and look forward to welcoming him to Atlanta.”

Photo: Atlanta United’s new manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino

Photo: Darren Eales with newly signed Gerardo “Tata” Martino

“I’m very happy to join Atlanta United as the first head coach in club history” Martino said. “This is an exciting time for MLS and I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading a team in an evolving league. Atlanta United is a first-rate organization, and I’m very eager to get working and build one of the top clubs in MLS.” Martino also starred at Newell’s Old Boys as a player, where he still holds the club record for games played. During his time, Martino helped guide the club to three Argentine Primera Division titles before the attacking midfielder was eventually moved to CD Tenerife, of Spain’s La Liga.

I could not be more pleased with this move. Atlanta United is putting all the proper pieces together to make a standout football club. We have an American Technical Director in Bocanegra with international experience, Darren Eales from England with international experience, a solid set of notable signings so far including Kenwyne Jones and Tito, and now this move making Tata our first club manager?

Atlanta United is doing everything right!

Atlanta United Starts Season March 2017 at Bobby Dodd Stadium Citing the franchise’s promise to be as competitive as possible from Day 1, Atlanta United announced today the team will begin its inaugural campaign in 2017 playing a normalized schedule with a balanced slate of home games across the MLS season. To that end, the club will open play in the spring of 2017 at Georgia Tech’s historic Bobby Dodd Stadium, with home matches played there until Mercedes-Benz Stadium is ready for play next summer. Previously, the club had planned to play its first three months entirely on the road.

“Our aim is to build a championship caliber soccer club and to be as competitive as we can from the start,” said Darren Eales, president of Atlanta United. “With the amount of excitement we’ve seen for the club, especially over the past few months as our season ticket sales have continued to rise, it was evident that playing at home for the first part of the season was in the best interest of our fans and our players. We’re very pleased that we are able to open the 2017 MLS season at Bobby Dodd Stadium.”

Record-setting interest in the team from fans across metro Atlanta was a key factor in the decision. The club recently announced MLS-record ticket sales for an expansion team when it crossed the 22,000 threshold. Atlanta United has also staked claim to having one of the largest supporters sections in MLS, with just over 3,000 tickets sold to date.

“The support for our team has been nothing short of phenomenal and we’re thrilled to play in front of our passionate supporters three months earlier than we had planned to,” continued Eales. “Our fans will now see our team early in the MLS season and enjoy two home openers – our first-ever game in Atlanta at Bobby Dodd Stadium in the spring and the first game in the spectacular Mercedes-Benz Stadium next summer.”

Construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium continues to progress rapidly, with completion of the highly-complex roof steel structure scheduled for completion on October 14. Removal of several cranes and work on the lower bowl will accelerate shortly thereafter and several other areas of the stadium are already in completion stages.

“The excitement and anticipation for Atlanta United to begin play in Atlanta is evident every time we interact with the supporters so we are very pleased to partner with Georgia Tech to get our home schedule started,” said Cannon. “We’re equally pleased with the on-going progress at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is going to be an outstanding venue for our team and an incredible customer experience for the supporters. We look forward to announcing more in regards to the grand opening events schedule early next year.”

Atlanta United supporters can learn more about the team’s plans at Bobby Dodd Stadium and the team’s opening season by visiting their website. The team will announce more details about its inaugural season over the next several months in the lead up to taking the pitch for the first time in March 2017.

-Jon J.

Georgia Tech Football Georgia Tech got off to a grand 3-0 start this season but the excitement didn’t last long. To the chagrin of Georgia Tech and its fans, the Yellow Jackets lost 3 games after that, with their first loss coming from the hands of Clemson. Their record is currently (4-3). You can buy your tickets HERE

Photo: Hakim Wright

The TOUR Championship at East Lake

The TOUR Championship is the culmination of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Season and the final event of the FedExCup Playoffs. The road to the TOUR Championship began with the top 125 players qualifying for The Barclays (won

by Patrick Reed), followed by the top 100 players at the Deutsche Bank Championship (won by Rory McIlroy) and the top 70 players at the BMW Championship (won by Dustin Johnson). Each playoff event, including this week’s TOUR Championship, offers 2,000 FedExCup points to the winner.

First-Round Leaderboard Hideki Matsuyama 66 (-4) Kevin Chappell 66 (-4) Dustin Johnson 66 (-4) Kevin Kisner 67 (-3) Si Woo Kim 67 (-3) Jason Day 67 (-3) First Timers at the TOUR Championship Seven players are making their first appearance at the TOUR Championship this week, including Russell Knox, Emiliano Grillo, Justin Thomas, Kevin Chappell, Si Woo Kim, William McGirt and Jhonattan Vegas. With a victory, they would join Chad Campbell (2003), Bart Bryant (2005), Bill Haas (2011) and Henrik Stenson (2013) as players to win the TOUR Championship in their first appearance (not including Tom Watson’s win at the first TOUR Championship in 1987).

The TOUR Championship has not been kind to its participants this year. With 2nd Round scores ranging from -3 to +4, it was definitely a day to forget for most players.

The pairings for today went as follows: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

William McGirt – Kevin Na Phil Mickelson – Jimmy Walker Sean O’Hair – Daniel Berger Patrick Reed – Charl Schwartzel Emiliano Grillo – Russell Knox J.B. Holmes – Roberto Castro Brandt Snedeker – Jason Dufner Bubba Watson – Gary Woodland Jhonattan Vegas – Ryan Moore Matt Kuchar – Adam Scott Paul Casey – Rory McIlroy Justin Thomas – Jordan Spieth Si Woo Kim – Jason Day Dustin Johnson – Kevin Kisner Hideki Matsuyama – Kevin Chappell

The story of the day was Jason Day withdrawing from the tournament.

After the 8th Hole he shook hands with Si Woo Kim (which is what you do once play is finished) I knew his something was wrong and his day was finished. We received comment from Day’s management: “Jason has a strained ligament in his lower right back with muscle spasm. He withdrew as a precautionary measure. Jason should be fine with some rest after a long break in the offseason.”

This is the second consecutive event in which Jason Day has been forced to WD after also withdrawing during the final round of the BMW Championship. Day will receive last-place/unofficial money and no FedExCup points for the TOUR Championship.

Phil Mickelson finished +2 on the day for a total score of +6 (He’s currently tied for 25th). He was asked why he felt the course was so difficult: “Well, the rough is the hardest we’ve played in years. But the bunkers are difficult. If you play perfect golf, like you hit the fairway, you hit the green, it’s in pristine shape, you can shoot low scores, reasonable scores, but you can’t play — you can’t miss it here. There’s no recovery.”

Rory McIlroy shot even today for a total of -2 and is tied for 5th. He was happy with how he’s putted the past few days but needs to work on his iron play. “I need to go and figure out — I’ve sort of got it going both ways with the irons.” When asked about the difficulty of the course he said, “It’s been difficult. I feel like I’ve left a lot of shots out there this week. I’m still up there in terms of position, six shots off the leader (Dustin Johnson), but I feel like I can go out there and shoot a good one tomorrow and at least give myself a chance for Sunday.”

Second-Round Leaderboard Dustin Johnson 66-67—133 (-7) Kevin Chappell 66-68—134 (-6) Kevin Kisner 67-70—137 (-3) Hideki Matsuyama 66-71—137 (-3) Ryan Moore 70-68—138 (-2) Paul Casey 68-70—138 (-2) Rory McIlroy 68-70—138 (-2)

TOUR Championship player Si Woo Kim is setting up to take a put.

TOUR Championship Day 3 Day 3 Leaderboard Kevin Chappell 66-68-68—202 (-8) Dustin Johnson 66-67-69—202 (-8) Rory McIlroy 68-70-66—204 (-6) Ryan Moore 70-68-66—204 (-6) Hideki Matsuyama 66-71-68—205 (-5) Jason Dufner 73-67-66—206 (-4) Charl Schwartzel 74-67-66—207 (-3) Paul Casey 68-70-69—203 (-3)

The top-five players in the FedExCup standings entering the TOUR Championship control their own destiny and will win the FedExCup title should they go on to victory at East Lake.

FEC Name Position FedExCup Projection 1 Dustin Johnson 1 1 2 Patrick Reed T20 3 3 Adam Scott T14 4 4 Jason Day WD 7 5 Paul Casey T7 6

Final Round Rory McIlroy defeated Ryan Moore on the fourth hole of sudden death to win the 2016 Tour Championship. Kevin Chappell was eliminated on the first playoff hole. McIlroy also wins the 2016 FedExCup and the $10 million season-long bonus.

Final-Round Leaderboard *Rory McIlroy 68-70-66-64 —268 (-12) Ryan Moore 70-68-66-64 —268 (-12) Kevin Chappell 66-68-68-66 —268 (-12) Paul Casey 68-70-69-64 —271 (-9) Hideki Matsuyama 66-71-68-69 —274 (-6) Justin Thomas 68-71-69-67 —275 (-5) Dustin Johnson 66-67-69-73 —275 (-5) Adam Scott 69-71-71-65 —276 (-4) Jason Dufner 73-67-66-73 —276 (-4) *won playoff with birdie at fourth extra hole What a finish to the 4th and final round of play in the TOUR Championship. A 4-hole playoff to win it all for Rory, Dustin Johnson falls apart to lose the tournament and the FedEx Cup, Kevin Na runs the full 18 and finishes in 1hr and 59mins. and Kevin Chappell’s early round domination just wasn’t enough to win it.

“Finishing with a 5, I’m not going to win any golf tournaments. Have to learn from it. I’ll be better next time,” Chappell said afterwards. “The two lies I drew on 17 and 18 were bad… But I got some good breaks up to that point. Play again in Malaysia and hopefully get in the mix again, and we’ll see what happens.”

Then there’s Dustin Johnson, who had been dominant all week and ended up letting the lead (and a few million dollars) slip away. He talked about that and how he became Ryan Moore’s biggest fan: “Yeah, obviously, since I had a chance — if Ryan would have beat Rory in the playoff, I would have had a chance to win the FedExCup, which obviously would have been really cool. Like I was saying, it didn’t feel right because I didn’t win the TOUR Championship. That’s why I was here to win. I knew I controlled my own destiny. You know what, I had a great year. I’m very pleased with how I played.

Obviously, we’ve got our big week next week with the Ryder Cup. So I’m looking forward to that and looking forward to getting back here next year and get it done.”

It was a great weekend for golf. The TOUR Championship couldn’t have asked for a better unscripted, dramatic finish. Rory McIlroy won the TOUR Championship as well as the FedEx Cup so as you can imagine, he was in high spirits: “It means an awful lot (to win the FedEx Cup). I’ve made it no secret that it’s one of the last things I feel like I had left on my golfing CV, and I made it a big goal of mine especially after the summer had gone, to win it. So to be here and to win the FedExCup, especially where I came in the mid-30s somewhere, to play the way I have in the last few weeks to get it done is very special.”

Rory McIlroy’s 13 PGA TOUR titles: 2010 – Wells Fargo Championship 2011 – U.S. Open 2012 – The Honda Classic, PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship 2014 – The Open Championship, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship 2015 – World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, Wells Fargo Championship 2016 – Deutsche Bank Championship, TOUR Championship

Statistics on Rory McIlroy:

• McIlroy now has four wins in FedExCup Playoffs events in his career, the most of any player in FedExCup Playoffs history.

• McIlroy has now won multiple World Golf Championships events, multiple Major Championships, four Playoff events and the FedExCup in his career.

• With two victories this season (Deutsche bank Championship, TOUR Championship), McIlroy is joined by Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and Russell Knox as one of the six players to capture multiple victories this season.

• He also became the seventh international player, and first from Northern Ireland, to win the TOUR Championship: Mike Weir (2001, Canada); Vijay Singh (2002, Fiji); Retief Goosen (2004, South Africa); Adam Scott (2006, Australia); Camilo Villegas (2008, Colombia); and Henrik Stenson (2013, Sweden). He also joins Henrik Stenson (2013, Sweden) and Vijay Singh (2008, Fiji) as the third international winner of the FedExCup. And with a finish like this, we’re certainly looking forward to next year!

-Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright

TOUR Championship & FedEx Cup Champion Rory McIlroy

The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) arrived in Atlanta off a 9-0 win against Thailand just days ago. The great thing about being a fan of the women’s side is that no matter who they play, you automatically expect them to win. Let’s face it, our girls are the best in the world for a reason. What happened in Brazil (losing to Sweden in penalties) was extremely unfortunate and losing the world’s best goalkeeper afterward was pretty bad as well. During the next round of friendlies, it will be interesting to see how the U.S. handles their new challenges.

People have been making a huge deal about Midfielder Megan Rapinoe kneeling during the anthem. But today, she did so without a comment, or reaction from the audience (which is what should happen anyway, but that would soon change).

Just a minute and a half into the game, the OranjeLeeuwinnen (The Orange Lionesses) found a once in a lifetime opportunity against the USA; a 1 v 1 with the Keeper. Dutch striker Shanice van de Sanden curled a beautiful ball into the side netting under pressure.

Not even two minutes in and U.S. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher failed her first test. But thus are the growing pains when your legendary GK (Hope Solo) gets kicked off the team.

It was just two minutes later that Dutch Forward Lieke Martens received a beautifully placed ball in the box but chipped it just over the net.

The U.S. finally saw their chance when Carli Lloyd fired a rocket towards goal but van Veenendaal was there to block it and cover the ball. This was already shaping up to be a beautiful game since the U.S. were playing down a goal so early.

In the 14’ Anouk Dekker clipped Carli Lloyd from behind for the first warning of the game. Aside from that, the ladies on both sides had been playing very clean (very physical, but clean).

Holland’s Stefanie van der Gragt took a pretty big hit and stayed down for about a minute, which allowed the USWNT to collect themselves.

In the 18’ a long ball was sent towards van de Sanden in an open area. It was clear Becky Sauerbrunn was no match for the Dutch striker as she was constantly being outran. This time, van de Sanden outran her, dribbled by her, and delivered a stiff arm that Emmitt Smith would’ve been proud of.

Fortunately, it didn’t translate into a goal but it was another solid chance for the Dutch.

In the 28’ Lieke Martens found her way on a counter attack and attempted to curl a ball in to van de Sanden but the U.S. defense was able to clear it.

The Dutch had two things working to their advantage in the first half: size and speed.

Van de Sanden (7) and Lieke Martens (11) were pushing the U.S. defense to the brink of destruction. Never have I seen the opposition look so slow. But then the 35’ happened, and when a Dutch defender whiffed on a clearance, Tobin Heath took the ball and found Carli Lloyd for the easy tap in to tie the game at 1-1.

I wasn’t the only one that noticed our D being put to the test, as Coach Jill Ellis subbed out Whitney Engen to bring in Ali Krieger in the 36’.

Alex Morgan attempted to take the girls up 2-1 but on a questionable no-call, was pulled down while shooting in the box, which whipped straight passed the face of goal to go out-of-bounds. This was by far the most I’ve seen our girls work in a first half in a long time.

Christen Press and Emily Sonnett were subbed in during halftime for Alex Morgan and Julie Johnston.

The U.S. side came out flying in the second half and found an opportunity early when two shots hit the side bar and finally went out-of-bounds. Soon after that another controversial call occurred. Two U.S. players were in the Dutch box and a shot deflected off the back of a Dutch player on the ground. It was called an Own Goal on Holland’s Mandy van den Berg, the team captain. Noticeably frustrated she pleaded with the referee along with teammates (hoping for a offside call) but it was all for naught.

The second half looked like a completely different U.S. team. They turned up the intensity a few notches and it really made a difference.

It took 61 total minutes but the first yellow card was finally given to Holland’s Vivianne Miedema.

In the 64’ minute Crystal Dunn and Megan Rapinoe came in for the U.S. Once Rapinoe stepped on the field you heard a mix of boos and applause (the boos are really uncalled for).

Whether the crowd was in full support or not, Megan Rapinoe served a beautiful ball in to Carli Lloyd who flicked it to Allie Long for the goal. The USWNT now led 3-1.

In the 78’ the flying duchess van de Sanden flew up the right flank and put in a low shot across goal but Naeher was able to swat away. In a move that raised eyebrows the Oranje subbed out their main weapon in van de Sanden and replaced her with Lineth Beerensteyn.

The match was pretty uneventful after that. Without the Oranjeleeuwinnen’s main threat (van de Sanden) their offense was pretty dull. I questioned USA Manager Jill Ellis about The Netherlands’ main threat and the changes she made to contain her: “Tell Kling to pick it up! (sarcastic laughter) She’s got a lot of pace. We anticipated her on the left side and they played her on the right. During halftime I talked about two people challenging her because not only does she have pace but she’s good on the ball. Whether it’s a center mid or a wide player or another center back, somebody needed to come out and support the wide player. So I think we saw that and dealt with her a lot better in the second half.”

I spoke with the speedy forward to ask her how it felt to score the first goal against the #1 team in the world and in the opening minutes of the match: “It was amazing! In the first minutes I scored a nice goal, but it was so quick! I needed to recover quickly because we’re in a game and a new moment comes really fast. Now I can think about my goal but in a game, you need to go!”

I couldn’t let the day end without getting Megan Rapinoe to myself. So I asked her, “With that massive booing that took place when you came in, how did you move on from that to making that huge assist for USA’s third goal?”

“I’d be lying if I said that I don’t hear the crowds and the noise but I do. I do and yeah it stinks that it happens but it happens. But I’m used to it whether we’re playing an away match or a match like this, I can deal with it. That’s when professionalism kicks in and I just play my game. It was a mix of boos and cheers but it’s just part of the game.”

The match ended USA 3, The Netherlands 1. Things were looking scarce for the girls in the opening part of the match, but they were able to pull through in the second half and pull out the win. The crowd was measured at 15,652 in the Georgia Dome.

USA’s Jill Ellis was asked what she thought about their opponents. Her answer was three simple words: “Man they’re big!” USA have two more friendlies next month while The Netherlands prepare for Germany in October on their path to EURO 2017.

-Jon J. Photo: Hakim Wright

This year’s BB&T Atlanta Open in Atlantic Station is going to be very exciting. The buzz and activity surrounded around downtown Atlanta is not only contagious but just inspiring. First round main draw action begins today at 12 noon.

The tournament already has stirred a great deal of local attention due to Georgia Tech Sophomore tennis phenom Chris Eubanks winning two rounds in qualifying to advance to the main draw. What an amazing opportunity for an Atlanta-based tennis player who grew up playing USTA and ALTA matches to see his dream not only come true on the ATP World Tour stage but to be winning. Epic! The singles tournament top seed is defending champion American John Isner, followed by second seed Australian Nick Kyrgios, third seed South African Kevin Anderson and fourth seed Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov. Other Americans in the tournament include Atlantabased players Donald Young and Zack Kennedy.

The tournament is also celebrating the 20 year Anniversary of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta with an Exhibit presented by Coca Cola from July 30 – August 7.

During this time fans will have the opportunity to see featured Olympic Games memorabilia and have the chance to meet with current and past medalists everyday from 2 to 3 pm. The list includes the following: Sunday July 31 from 2-3pm Kayla Harrison (Judo) Monday August 1 from 2-3pm Nancy Kerrigan (skating) Tuesday August 2 from 2-3pm Gigi Fernandez (Tennis) Wednesday August 3 from 2-3pm Kent Steffes (Beach Volleyball) Thursday August 4 from 2-3pm Brooke Bennett (Swimming) Friday August 5 from 2-3pm Gail Devers (Track and Field)

This year’s BB&T Atlanta Open has been a great success every day and the tournament concluded with a “Dream Final” that pit 3-time defending Champion and Top seed American John Isner taking on Next Generation phenom 2nd seed Nick Kyrgios from Australia. The final was in front of a sold out crowd in Atlantic Station.

Both players won semi final matches the day before in 3 sets and many are anticipating a long hard fought battle today.

For the second time in the history of the BB&T Atlanta Open, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds played for the championship. The first time the top two seeds met in the final was in 2013, when No. 1 John Isner defeated No. 2 Kevin Anderson. This year, No. 1 Isner again finds himself in the same situation, but this time against No. 2 seed Nick Kyrgios. A three-time defending champion, Isner holds a 23-3 record in Atlanta and is bidding for his fourth consecutive Atlanta title and a chance to extend his ATP World Tour title streak for a seventh consecutive year (since 2010).

Sunday’s meeting is also the eighth time this season that a No. 1 seed meets the No. 2 seed in an ATP World Tour final, with the top seed holding the advantage 6-1.

Overall, No. 1 seeds are 16-2 in finals this season, while No. 2 seeds are 5-8.

Isner entered with a 15-match winning streak in Atlanta, with victories this week over Adrian Mannarino, Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka. He was playing his sixth Atlanta final and Kyrgios playing his first.

This is #NextGen star Kyrgios’ third career ATP World Tour final (1-1), and he is looking to win his second title of the season. In February, Kyrgios, then 20, became the youngest ATP World Tour winner of the season, with his maiden title in Marseille.

En route to the final in his Atlanta debut, Kyrgios defeated Jared Donaldson, Fernando Verdasco and Yoshihito Nishioka.

-Desmond Mclennon

Editor-in-Chief Jon Jones Beauty Contributor Keisha Campbell Music Contributions Lauren Brumley YoAngie! Caquias KJ Sports Esli Lara Mike Brown Jon Jones Tony Stanford Jr.

Editor KJ Videography Malcolm “X” Lewis Art/Graphics Bob Jeffreys Fashion Team Joy Larkins Keisha Campbell

We hope you enjoyed issue 18 of The Peach Review®. If you’d like to see more content (pictures/ videos) or keep up-to-date on events around ATL you can:

Photography Hakim Wright Malcolm “X” Lewis Yoh Phillips Anna Lira Jonathan Davis Kent Foster Event Contributions Khaleah Evelyn Desmond Mclennon Erica “EDB” Bizzell Doug Bryant Consultant Desmond Mclennon Video Games Titus “TBZ” Rowell Alana Clarke

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Atlanta Concours d’Elegance

Here’s a few things to look forward to in our next issue!