Tru / Issue 14

TABLE OF CONTENT WWW.TRUENTMAGAZINE.COM 30

COOLIO, LIVE AND UNCENSORED!

38

42

54

FREEWAY RICK ROSS The Six Hundred Million dollar man talks tru.th.

MEET THE ‘KING OF CLUBS” BACHELOR BOY ENTERTAINMENT

MS. JUICY PRESENTS; SHORTY’S RUN THE RUNWAY ,IN ATL

49

“RUN AWAY WITH ME”, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

www.freewayprint.com

Realty IS Insanity!

My take on the "Bad Girls Tyra Hernandez Twitter: @RealityTvBlogr https://twitter.com/RealityTvBlogr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ insanityisreality08 Instagram: Proudmommie08 email: Insanity7612@gmail.com

All Star Battle

The words BATTLE and BAD GIRLS incorporated in one Show and in one house… this was destined to be great TV. As always we got to see some more crazy Bad Girls (old Seasons/Bad Girls some of the Baddest) as we await the Miami, their 11 high though, $100,000 to be able to BATTLE and WIN. We are close to Season End of BGC Battle and I have a lot to say about the Bad Girls and what has transpired in the House!

MANY of the (Newer) seasoned ladies were in that ‘Let’s see who we can kick out next’ era and it ruined the Show for many of those Seasons. The plus here was… you can vote off but there was no ‘kicking people out’ antics. The show was so cut throat as time went on, it was hilarious to watch. Many, as always showed their azzes to the full extent, but that IS the Bad Girls!! It was more than interesting to us all to watch the mesh of seasons, so it was a GREAT Show all around.

I feel like the alliances is what got most ‘Voted Off ’. You cannot trust anyone when it comes to MONEY! I get that people were friends in real life so it only made sense, but Paula getting kicked off with a PLOT was horrific to me. It completely back fired and she wasn’t given the opportunity to possibly MAKE IT! It can all get grimey when it comes to such a large lump sum of money and that is the case with ANY group of Women, but the antics, the drama and the back stabbing was at an all time high! It went from TEAMS and now every Bad Girl for themselves… it will only be MORE interesting from here on out!

Rocky & Shannon:

OK, I get it, Rocky’s father passed and they used the HOUSE as the excuse to leave. We all know Shannon was a competitor and she could have been the Winner if not very close to. Rocky runs her, clearly, so when Rocky said ‘let’s bounce’, Shannon followed. Rocky should have taken the first flight to be with her Family. No, she waited until they acted fools to leave! I have seen Interviews since and she claims her Father was more important, so with that being said; you should have left under those terms! They both went out like punks and I KNOW Rocky is NO PUNK. It was sad!

Danni & Gabi:

The infamous Twins of drama! They have both grown a bigger pair since their season and it is entertaining to say the least, but these two are over the top with dramatics!! Julie in the MIX certainly helped their strategy but when it came down to it they made sure to tell everyone, no matter what, if Julie leaves or the Twins were broke up or not, they were going to make life hell in that house! They like to say Flo turned on them but she was playing a Game, right? Separating the strongest alliance was maybe the most strategic move by far! I think they all knew that splitting them up would only help others to win! I cannot stand the Twins or Julie so I was definitely happy to see the plan played out by Flo did what I was meant to. One less of that threesome was good for MOST Viewers as well as the house/game. Although, one thing that happened is the Twins currently remain in the House. They are weak sauce for sure so I think it is safe to say that winning will NOT be on their Resume. Glad they got some more air time but I hope I don’t have to see any of these girls back on my TV. The Twins will most definitely cause some conflict, but their days must be numbered!

Paula:

She is now one of my Favorite Bad Girls! She set the bar high for all Bad Girls to come. She is now a representative for REAL Bad Girl’s and she also gave that battle all she had. I know strategy is the Game, but how many times did they want her to ‘take one for the Team’ before the girls realized it was a ploy and Paula was in fact competition?? She is one who should have been there as long as she DESERVED to be. I know she is so ‘over it’ now, but she knows it was ‘boagish’. The sacrificial Lamb was her role for this Game and that sucked for me! Not only do I enjoy watching her on my TV, I enjoy her personality. She brought a lot to BGC10 with her views as a person, so I just wish she was there longer to spread some more Bad Girl 101 Tips!! Everyone has their time to go, I would have respected a clean ‘vote off ’ more- is all I mean. Her team knew what they were doing !

Mehgan: LOL, I really do not have much to say because I cannot be too nice when speaking of her.

What I will say is, her being the 1 season was that of a Cheerleader who enjoys picking at the Geeks. Her problem was, that she was an undercover Geek with ten too many issues within herself. That house would have sucked 10 times worse had she been there any longer!! Yippee to the FIRST OUT, that was so terrific for me as a Viewer! That Boojie azz girl needs to get off her high horse, no more on my TV either please and thank you!

Erika:

Hmmm. Well I know she wanted the money so she can make love to her man right on top of it.

Perhaps her reason or personal motives weren’t enough to keep focused on that $100k? I adore her, always have. I enjoy her need to keep it 100 at all times. She is different from her hair to her piercings. She doesn’t fit the ‘typical’ Bad Girl, but she is. Her injury, I honestly believe, was completely exaggerated or her illnesses thrown in as well. Perhaps it was just TV time and never about the money. She withdrew respectively and she was confident she was not making it to the end. Maybe in general she realized she sucked at these challenges & concocted the injury/illness? She was defeated no matter what I think and I’m glad she was there for the time I did get to see her again!!

Nastasia (Stasi): I love this chick!!!

You never know what to expect her to do or say next. I loved her in her season on BGC and I was so glad she was there for the challenge.

She is not a favorite of mine, but I think she is sneaky, 2 faced and very conceited. With those three things that just screams WINNER! All of those things needed to win this Battle. She was voted off and it was her time for sure. She went out with a BANG like only Stasi can. She gave her speech, with tears and all, explaining her change of Bad Girl mentality… then ran up on Natalie & gave it to her. I know everyone’s mouth dropped when we saw that one!! Stasi is a bad ‘beoch’ for sure and you do not want to be on her bad side. Her whooping Natalie as a ‘goodbye’ to the Game was another great one for the BGC History Books!!

Jeniffer: Once again, I cannot say

much. She was irrelevant in her season just as much as she is irrelevant now. I have to give it to her though, she is a GREAT competitor.

She may just make it to the end. She plays hard, she plays a great game and even standing alone, she is holding her own. I wish her luck, but I do not want to see her face at the Finish Line! I respect her Hustle and Drive to Win!

Natalie: Lord help us all. We all know

she is the Ultimate Bad Girl. I do not care for her at all, but she has her name out there and she does what she does well. Her leaving in the First (possibly Second) Episode was such a prissy Natalie move, but I think she needed that ‘re-group’ time to focus on that Prize. She is going HARD in that house and in the Game.

I will not be surprised if she does win, but I doubt she wants the money for her reason given. She tells Flo ‘I want to settle and have Kids’, ok so why are you chumming it up with some dude at the Club? She was like a caged animal that was let out to run. I am still unsure why anyone would marry this Bad Girl, but if she does win… I do hope she Retires for good.

She needs to at this point. Her days are over, so take your Crown ma, and lay it down.

Amber (Am-

ber 1): SHESSS BACK! First, I MUST admit, I was SO glad it wasn’t Amber 2. I cannot stand Amber 1 but I adore her. I personally do not give her the ‘Badge of Bad Girl’, but she is a slimy one that chick. She will snake you without a question and not regret it. She is so very familiar with BGC Drama and she is great at playing it all up. She knows Bad Girls and how they operate. I wish she had stayed longer just to see what else she could snake up, but truth is, she was not Winner Status either. Her snaking Natalie like she did stirred shit up for days in that house.

She was sticking to her liesbut eventually it came to light. She was busted and she did not last much longer from there. She was good for the show for CERTAIN, but the Battle is a no brainer, she would not have made it.

Judi:

I am so disappointed in her game and actions in the house. I don’t know why she is so damn gullible all the time.

She IS one of my Favorite Bad Girls for sure, but once again, she is trying to make friends. She is such a people pleaser it makes me nuts! Sometimes I see her Interviews and think JUST MAYBE she knows what she is doing, but I am still unsure just HOW sure she may be. She absolutely SUCKS at the Game itself, but I feel like they keep her

around for their own motives and NOT because they are her new Buddy. Natalie, assuming Judi would just JUMP AT THE CHANCE to be her new ‘friend’ was hilarious.

Judi is naive but not that thirsty for friends. I enjoy seeing her again, so I am cool with the fact she is still there, but a winner by no means.

Flo: She is my all time favorite Bad Girl and

by the time this is published, you will have had the chance to view my Interview with her on my site.

What can I really say… she is a BEAST and she deserves to win! She does get a little emotional at times but I think that is just who she really is. She is sincere with anything she says and I am confident that she did take some elimination harder then she even leads on now. She likes the competing, she is good at it and I hope I see her win!!

As always a lot of personal opinions and although I am sure a majority of you will agree, I do know many may not. Most of the girls are actually PLAYING the Game, some are actually taking the concept of the word BATTLE seriously, but others are there with ulterior motives. We will never know what they are, but it is obvious who is there Mind, Heart, Body and Soul.

At this point, I am only sad that Paula left and under those Terms, but I think everyone else deserved to go.

I am confident Rocky would have done super well and even Shannon, but they lost cool points for their exit.

I am super excited Stasi and Judi were back on my TV, they are always good entertainment. The Battle has been a blast to watch, I am so glad they did it, and I hope more Seasons are to come.

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Connect with Angel

www.helpingotherstransform.com www.facebook.com/hotcoaching www.twitter.com/hotcoaching www.youtube.com/hotcoaching www.instagram.com/hotcoaching

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Angel L. Richards Author, Teacher, Life Coach, Helping Others Transform, LLC 813-444-3414 www.helpingotherstransform.com

e love!

eeling to be in love, to be loved and to spread love with others who give it back. No matrelationships have looked like or why they ended,I never let one ruin the other. I start love mindset every time…you have to.

funny, ‘ a love mindset’, but just as you have to prepare your mind for many things in e just as prepared to love.

fect, People do dumb things, People make mistakes, People lie, People cheat, People People are human. SO LOVING PEOPLE AIN’T EASY!

ove someone, you will love them when they are up AND you’ll love them when they are and thin isn’t just for married folks. You’ve got to love your family, kids, friends, your f through it all!

ing put up with peoples BS and get played…HELL NO! But what I am saying is give people a break. Don’t be so e or ridicule someone for their wrong when you have OR are doing the same, or even worse!

y, really love someone, you have to forgive them whole hardheartedly and let the BS go. Don’t bring it up or hem weeks, months or years later. I believe we make good people bad and bad people worse when we beat them mistakes.

ow, I’ve made millions of mistakes. BIG mistakes, tiny mistakes and behind close door mistakes (we all have). d that those who love me don’t hold me hostage to each of those mistakes. Come on, if God forgave me…cut me

’t let you off the hook that easily, especially when they are guilty. It feels better to make the other person out to when it’s really not the case. So today I want you to reevaluate all your lovers- family, kids, friends, your man or o-workers, etc.

ove them? Do they really love you? Think about it and when you know the answer, act on it-with love! Through an sometimes be taken too far or not held up to a higher standard as it should. It may mean you have to sacgs and start spending more time with them or maybe you need to distance yourself and spend less around ess, it should always be the best decision for you first and then them. Most people tolerate, settle and deal with nships because they don’t put themselves first. To me, it’s non-negotiable! If loving someone hurts that bad, it’s ve.

re’s a difference between loving someone and loving the illusion their presence creates. Make sure it’s real and

Rickey Young,STILL... in the GAME!

I have been off for 3 months or so glad to be back with you guys.I have a good story to tell you.

It’s about a little boy growing in a small southern state, Mobile Alabama. The boys name is Rickey Young. If you close your eyes and make this journey with me, back to the 1960’s, and see that with hard work, against all odds, anything is possible. Its 1969, Salem Alabama Marching for Rights. That now seems like 100 years ago. I was there, “separate but equal”, through peaceful marching and good people helping the cause. Busing came about, and again I found myself in the middle of something new (& scary) Thank goodness I was with my best friend since Kindergarten, (NFL Alumni) Robert Brazil. He and I were the 2 bused to a formerly all white school. High school freshman & I can only say it was very hard to be there. I remember telling my grandmother that I wanted to go back to my all Black school. 2 go back to my black school, she calmly said, “No. People have been marching, getting beaten up and even lost their lives for equal rights. So you go there, work hard, and by the time you leave, they will love you as much as I do.” My first year in school was almost impossible,Football helped a little.

The next two years were in many ways what set my life into place.

Knowing who I was & where I was hoping to go in life was set into motion. By the time we left our high school my grandmother was right.

My High School was 50/50 black and white. And I had almost as many white friends as black friends. I was lucky to have had good teachers, four white teachers, one black teacher, pushing me & and helping me prepare for college. My Spanish teacher (I remember) as the best! Five foot tall little white lady Mrs. Riley,she inspired me. I made it to college where my dreams came true, and my practicing and hard work over the next 4 years made it possible for me to play in the NFL.

Recently, I had one of the greatest experiences in my fifty eight years on earth. I was elected into the 2013 Mobile Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. What a night!

Some of the greatest athletes in the world are from Mobile. And they are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Class acts like Hank Aaron, Billy Williams, Cleon Jones, Ozzie Smith, Willie Mays, Soon to be NFL Hall of Famer Robert Brazile, Kenny Stabler, Willie McCovey. And the best part of it all, is when you get to look back and your first thoughts are of all the good people who stop to help you along the way and help you get there. Thanks to all of you who helped me all along the way, I got there!

Love you all and thanks again! Rickey

SHARON FOX- I

www.goodcookin

IN THE KITCHEN

n4u2.webs.com

CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP 1 tablespoon extra virgin oil 4 tablespoons butter 4 tablespoons flour 1 quart half and half 1/2 cup celery, finely diced 1 cup onion, finely diced 2 minced garlic cloves 2 14 ounce cans of chicken broth if you enjoy thick soup, use one can 1 cup carrots, finely shredded 1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken) 1 package gnocchi, cooked 1 cup of fresh spinach coarsely chopped (or frozen creamed spinach, thawed) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon parsley 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional) Saute the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Add the flour and make a roux. Let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding chicken broth. Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Into the roux, add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick, add heavy cream. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasoning; simmer until soup is heated through but do not boil.

Before serving season to taste by adding additional salt. www.facebook.com/sharonfoxauthor

EASY STRAWBERRY SUMMER CAKE 1 package yellow or butter recipe cake mix (prepare according to package directions) 2 lbs. fresh strawberries (or half blueberries!)

1 8oz. container of Cool Whip or freshly sweetened whipped cream Strawberry Glaze Ingredients: 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 3 oz. box - strawberry gelatin 1 1/2 cups water 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1/2 tsp. strawberry extract (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the cake mix according to package directions. Spray 2 Tiara cake pans - because I only had one tiara cake pan I used half the cake batter for the cake and the other half of the batter for cupcakes. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.

While the cake is cooling prepare the Strawberry Glaze....combine the sugar, cornstarch, gelatin, lemon juice, strawberry extract and water in a medium size saucepan.

Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook until the mixture thickens, whisking often - it thickens quite quickly...so be careful!!

Remove glaze from heat and let mixture cool to room temperature.

Place strawberries (and other berries too if you wish) into the center of fully cooled cake and then drizzle glaze over fruit.

Serve with Cool Whip or freshly whipped cream, if desired.

SEAFOOD LASAGNA 1 green onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup butter, divided 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice 1 pound bay scallops 1 pound uncooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined 8 ounces lump crab OR imitation crabmeat, chopped 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, divided 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1-1/2 cups 2% milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided 9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained Directions In a large skillet, saute onion in oil and 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in broth and clam juice; bring to a boil. Add the scallops, shrimp, crab and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; return to a boil.

Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops are firm and opaque, stirring gently. Drain, reserving cooking liquid; set seafood mixture aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter; stir in flour until smooth. Combine milk and reserved cooking liquid; gradually add to the saucepan. Add salt and remaining pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from the heat; stir in cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Stir 3/4 cup white sauce into the seafood mixture.

Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Top with three noodles; spread with half of the seafood mixture and 1-1/4 cups sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350째 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Yield: 12 servings. *You can easily add spinach to this recipe if you like. I like adding fresh parsley and capers too!

Time to... ‘Kick it with Keith’, the Relationship Doctor

Some things in these areas are sometimes forgotten, neglected, taken for granted, or ignored. They are usually the ones that initiate failure of the relationship and ignite controversy when addressed. One example of this is the concept OR belief many have regarding the true foundation on which a relationship should be built.

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. ~ Proverbs 24:3-6 NASB Thank You God for the Encouraging Words, and yes so many are NOT getting the understanding and education they need AND for many reasons, but It’s there helping everyone. They just need to “see” it and not condemn it by their own lack of understanding. The Bible says, “... of all thy getting, get understanding.” Which tells me understanding is most important of “all”. It is not all encompassing in My life, but helping those that are willing to accept It is! It’s what I DO! Thank You Lord!

It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar, to figure out, when someone likes you, wants you, and may be serious about you! It does not take forever to see this in someone!! It astonishes me how so many so easily delude themselves!

SMH! Most of the time, 99.9% of the time their actions speak Volumes! And inaction just as loud! So when you say “I Thought she or he Was Serious” HURSH! You knew they were not all that serious about you. You just wanted them to be, and refused to accept that they weren’t.

We judge others by their actions, but judge ourselves by our intentions. We have to understand that what people say doesn’t always come out the way they intended. Nor does it represent what they present. It’s quite possible that you could be wrongly judging what you hear. Can you say discern?! Don’t be so easily offended. Stop taking things so personal. “Hearing” what a person says, and “feeling” what a person says isn’t the same thing, KNOW the difference! Stay on offense, not defense. Stop running from OR avoiding “difficult” people! This will only stunt your growth. You will never learn how to overcome or deal well with certain personality types if you refuse to face them. God’s Grace is sufficient...even in the face of a person you know doesn’t have the best intentions towards you. When you find out that they don’t? Cut ‘em!

NOT LITERALLY!!!

Learn to deal with people where they are. Not everyone is as emotionally mature as you. Expecting others to react in the way you would is a recipe for frustration. Mature people are able to make adjustments in the moment.

Practice maturity and become wise! You may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, (AND NEITHER AM I) but

Keith V. Murphy

Author, Motivational speaker and Relationship Counselor Contact: http:// www.keithvmurphy.com or itskvm@facebook.com

don’t be the dumbest! Believe the best for them until you see the worst. Always give the benefit of the doubt, until all doubt has been removed.

Even then, people can still change. If not, cut ‘em. Treat others the way you want to be treated, not the way they treat you. Better still; treat them the way they want to be treated. God judges us according to how we treat others not how they treat us. Walking in love brings God on the scene. Choose love above all else. If they clearly do not love you, love ‘em anyway, from afar and away, then cut ‘em!

People are going to disappoint you, accept it. It’s going to happen, not because people are inconsiderate or don’t care about you...but because they aren’t God. Extend the same amount of grace to others as you yourself need at times.

Just like people push our buttons, we’ve pressed a few ourselves. If people dismissed you as quickly as you dismiss them how would you feel? How could you grow? Did they cut you???!

Respond instead of react. Responding requires a thought process. Reacting doesn’t. It’s impulsive impetuous and reactive. Being quick to hear and slow to speak is a response. Fussing, retaliating, cutting others off, over-talking someone or allowing emotions to lead are reactions. Only one of these ways will result in peace. Respond. The change needed may be in you not them. Is that person really aggravating you, or is the friction and heat you’re feeling merely a case of “iron sharpening iron”?

Sometimes the truth about YOU hurts!

SIDEBAR: (Ladies: Don’t take off your panties because he called you beautiful; take them off because he loves you. Actively! Don’t open your legs because he said you’d make a good mother, open them when he’s ready to be a father.

Don’t take him home because he gave you a ride but because he treats you like a queen. And ladies don’t push him away because he has no money, hold him close because to another woman he’s honey. And don’t go punishing him because another man hurt you, he’s only trying to help you heal. Don’t stay up at night wondering where to find a good man because good men are not found they find you.)

Tru. Concert Review: Coolio, Live a Live and Unc

The crowd chanted, “Coolio, Coolio, Coolio!” as Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. aka “Coolio” shot up the stairs, jumped onto the stage and got the party started.

He opened with “From the Bottom 2 the Top,” Pigtail braids present and accounted for, atop each side of his green baseball cap. Throughout the show, he stopped and commanded the audience to “Put yo middle fingers up and say, Fuck yeah!”

Showing a sentimental side, he dedicated “C U When U Get There” to the memory of Aliyah, Michael Clarke Duncan, Tupac, and Michael Jackson. Coolio’s sidekick, whom he described as his financial advisor, contributed on vocals and also played the saxophone.

At one point my man even downed a 24-ounce Red Stripe then proceeded to expose his tummy, sharing with the audience that something he ate before the show just wasn’t agreeing with him now. “I’m bout to take an Ex-Lax after this mutha fucker”, he joked!

With the start of “1, 2, 3, 4,” everyone joined in and clapped their hands. Making a slight adjustment to the lyrics which got the crowd hyped even more, Coolio spit, “Ain’t no party like a Minnesota party cause a Minnesota party don’t stop.” And, after a few more songs, the show was closed out “Gangsta’s Paradise” style which Coolio performed effortlessly, pausing only to smoke a blunt in-between verses.

The crowd was turnt up with the fairly short yet fan packed Coolio favorites performed. It was a blast. One thing’s for certain: at the seasoned age of 49, Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. can still put on one hell of a show!

I was granted the honor of sitting down with Coolio after the show for a one-on-one exclusive Tru. Interview. Read on to learn more about the Renaissance Rapper behind the mic

The Exc an

***

TM: You are a man o with Coolio’ in addit Coolio: You know I w theif...

TM: (laughing)... Ok Coolio: My upcomin this. I’m not sure tho

TM: Why ‘Old Man Coolio: Coz I’m an o muthafuck’in toothp

TM: In your opinion Coolio: Things have know, it’s all about ho you can pretend to h

TM: We hear that yo

at the Cabooze in Minneapolis censored!

clusive TRU. Interview beetween Coolio, nd Tru. Reporter, Karen J. Larson

********Warning, this interview contains graphic and explicit language***************

of many talents; You sell beats and books on your website, not to mention have your own show ‘Cooking tion to touring. Tell us about some of your other upcoming projects? was married before. I used to collect snow globes. My ‘ex-theif ’ stole all them muthafukas. Yeah i said it, ex-

kay, but let’s stay focused. What are some of your upcoming projects? ng projects? I’m finna do another record. It’s gonna be close to my last record. I might do two more after ough, but you know I’m gonna call it ‘Old Man River’.

River’? old man swimming in a river of muthafuck’in sharks. Muthafuckas life raft made of plastic straws and picks and I’m just tryna float.

n, how has hip hop changed since you started in the game? changed drastically in hip hop. It’s no longer considered important to be intelligent or knowledgeable. You ow it started. About how much shit you can talk and how much shit you can pretend to be, how much shit have. And it’s okay coz I did that too. I’ve had my moments.

ou’re headed off to Austrailia in a couple of weeks. What is your favorite country to perform in, and why?

COOLIO

Coolio: South Africa. Coz muthafuckas be coming to the show with no shoes on and shit. You go to the grocery store and you see muthafuck’in not dimes, not 12’s, you see like 15’s grocery shopping and they don’t be having on no shoes and shit. They’ve seen tv like 2 times ! Places like Italy where you go to the club and you see the baddest bitch, you be like “Damn, she fine as a muthafucka!” Then when the club over with, she jump on the back of a niggas bike with a bike rack and that nigga ride off and shit, pedal off and shit. You never see that shit happen in Los Angeles. You never see that shit happen in Vegas. You never see that shit happen in Minnesota. It’s too cold. Taxi? And not saying that that makes them any better. But you know sometimes a niggas ride up on a bike in some deck shoes with no socks on and some cut-off shorts and they could have like 180 million in the bank. I don’t know what muthafuckas be doing! I like the simple things and shit. I don’t really need too much. I like having the opportunity and chance to have a lot but on a regular day I don’t expect too much. On a regular day, I try to be normal and regular as possible.

TM: It seems that big name celebs like yourself are always a ‘target’ for the tabloids.

A couple months back, TMZ put you on blast for some alleged baby mama drama and you didn’t get to make a statement on your own behalf. Would you care to make one now?

Coolio: My baby mama was living downstairs in another room with my son, my nigga. Coz I want to be around my son. She wasn’t paying no muthafuck’in rent, paying no bills, she didn’t have to cook, she didn’t have to clean up, she didn’t have to do shit but be there and take care of my son, my nigga.

I brought a girl over (pausing).... more than once, and this particular time she happened to be up, be awake. It’s kinda like my girl and shit and she took offense to that like we fuck’in. And that’s real talk.

Now I ain’t saying after me and some of my baby mamas broke up that I didn’t go back and fuck some of ‘em. But this particular time, sometimes you got a crazy bitch around and you can’t do nothing. Like ‘Hello, how you doing?’ You aiight?

Okay I’ll be back.’ So that’s pretty much what our relationship was. That and dealing with my son. And she couldn’t accept that.

She attacked me, my nigga! I still didn’t hit her!! I mean, c’mon I can fight! My shit went up instantly and she ran into that muthafucka. Seriously, real talk. It was a bunch of people there. It was a woman there that got her ass whooped for many years by nigga. So ain’t no muthafuck’in way she gon lie and say if I put my hands on her, she ain’t the type of person who would lie about that shit. And another thing: My mama got her ass whooped for many years. I used to be in my room crying and shit while my stepdaddy whooped my mama’s ass. I ain’t no woman beater.

I never will be.

C’mon, I’m almost 50. I got no domestic violence on my record. And I got 4 baby mamas, 25 bitches, thousands of hoes that I’ve had sex with and spent time with and they ain’t never said that I put my hands on them.

I’m the type of nigga that I hate woman beaters. I don’t like that type of shit. I think niggas that hit women are cowards. There you go, So I said it, and so it shall be written! Real talk. I ain’t never hit a woman in anger in my life. I will protect myself but the most I’ve ever done is grabbed a woman and like held her down. That ain’t my style. I’ll leave. I got a car. When I was broke I had a car. Keep me some wheels.

Rubber wheels beat rubber heels any day. Let me tell you another thing; TMZ gave that bitch like some money nigga, I know, shit happens! Ain’t nothing I can do about it. I gotta deal with it.

I’ll tell you what I won’t do though.

TM: What’s that?

Coolio: Be like the rest of them 60 niggas we seen in Court waiving their muthafuck’in rights. Talking bout ‘Yeah, I’ll take my first domestic violence even though I didn’t do nothing. Yeah I just want this to be over. I don’t wanna go to court.’ Fuck that!

TM: So you’re not gonna plead guilty to something you didn’t do?

Coolio: No, I’ll be my own lawyer, shit. I’ll be like ‘Your Honor, That nigga didn’t do it.” I’m gonna plead not guilty. And I’m gonna beat that shit, nigga. Or I’m gonna go to jail for nothing. Ain’t no muthafuck’in way I’m gonna say I did it! I ain’t taking no deal. None of that shit!! I mean, unless they start talking about you gonna get 10 years and some shit. If that happen, I’m gonna tell ‘em just arrest me, shit. Actually the outcome, I think they gonna throw it out. Because there was 4 people there. They made a statement that said all I did was defend myself. I never threw a punch. Hold on...then, some shit about I tried to run her over, right. How you gonna try to run somebody over?! If I tried to run somebody over, I’m gonna run they muthafuck’in ass over. She grabbed the back of my car! Something wrong with her ass!! She didn’t let go. Now if something weighs 2 tons and you holding onto it and it’s moving, what’s gonna happen? It’s gonna pull your dumbass to the ground! She used to be cool when I was fuckin her. But now, shit! That’s fucked up. I really feel bad about that. My feelings hurt, my nigga. Coz there’s hella people that believe I did that shit, my nigga. I pride myself on having hella more restraint and hella more control over my emotions than that (coolio starting to tear up). You getting all personal and shit...

TM: I’m glad we got YOUR side of the story. I know it’s been a long night so just a couple more questions for you. A lot of fans are curious whether you wrote Gangsta’s Paradise for yourself or for the Dangerous Minds soundtrack?

Coolio: I didn’t know nothing about Dangerous Minds. On some real shit, I never heard Pastime Paradise before that, either. I’m a Stevie Wonder fan. My first record I ever bought was Superwoman. I never heard Pastime Paradise. I’ll be honest. I didn’t even write Gangsta’s Paradise.

TM: Who wrote it?

Coolio: Gangsta’s Paradise wrote me!

TM:(laughing) Okay. Last question: What advice do you have for young aspiring rappers looking to get into the game?

Coolio: Real talk. My advice to anybody that rap. Save your money. Make you some money. Do something to get a lot of money. Hook up with a few muthafuckas and pull your money together.

Keep your shit your own. Keep your shit independent. If you keep your shit independent, you can be like Wiz Khalifa. You can be like Tech N9ne. You could be like muthafuck’in E-40.

Stay independent. Make them deal with you. Don’t make yourself deal with them.

Look, Tech N9ne they ain’t got no commercials. You ain’t never really seen a niggas videos on MTV. Niggas ain’t did no videos with Jay-Z. Dre didn’t do none of his beats.

Niggas worth like 90 million though. I’m so proud of that nigga.

I love to see niggas doing good. Sometimes though, and I ain’t no hater but when niggas can’t rap and they ain’t shit, and they don’t deserve shit, nigga I’ll say it. I don’t give a fuck... Gucci Mane. I’m just say’in, some muthafuckas weren’t supposed to rap. Them niggas supposed to go to school.

TM: Can I get you to do one more thing for me?

Coolio: Wait, hold on. Hold on. (gets up and turns backside toward bathroom door) Listen, Listen, Listen...

TM: (laughing) Now that was a silent but deadly one!

Coolio: If I had stayed right here, it would’ve sounded like uhh Chris Brown was dancing up in this muthafucka!

TM: LOL. Can I get you to give a shout out to Tru. Magazine?

Coolio: Yo what’s up? This is Coolio with the flow. Thank you Tru. Magazine for being TRU! Next time send someone a lil younger with less respect for themselves. So maybe they’ll take their shirt off and show me they titties! Naw, I’m just fuckin with you. LOL. I’m gonna be a comedian one day. I can’t rap forever, my nigga. My stomach keep being bloated like dis on stage, I’m fuck’in gonna have to quit.

TM:(laughing). Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure talking with you.And that’s a rap!

Y’all. Keep up with Coolio and get all the latest deets on his upcoming album releases, current and future projects, and updates on his tummy bloat: Follow him on Twitter @ coolio and check out his website at coolioworld.com. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of his highly acclaimed cookbook ‘Cook’in With Coolio’ (5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price)!

Editors note; Shout out to my man Cooliio for keepin it TOO TRU! Our appologies to those who may have been offended by the language, but, we have to live by our motto and We MUST keep it TRU.

Meet the... ’King of Clubs Andre “Debonaire” McNeal has

over 23 years experience managing, booking, executing national /local promotions, events and concert promotions. He’s also well versed in event coordination, contract negotiations and PR sponsorship and acquisition. McNeal has been President & CEO of Bachelor Boy Entertainment Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1990. He was also

Promotions Director and Radio personality at Radio Station, KMOJ FM 89.9 in Minneapolis.

He has worked with music icons like; Rose Royce, SOS Band, Atlantic Starr, Keith Sweat, After-7, Anthony Hamil-

ton, Kem, Freddie Jackson, Angie Stone,Alexander O’Neal, Mint Condition, Musiq SoulChild, Charlie Wilson, and with Gospel greats like; Karen Clark Sheard, Kiki Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, J. Moss, Sounds of Blackness, Donnie McClurkinas as well as comedians; Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Ricky Smiley, D.L. Hughley and more. In the world of hip-hop the man fondly known around town as “ Debonaire” rubs elbows with members of the hip hops elite such as; Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Twista, Akon, Lloyd Banks, Usher, Dougie Fresh, Ginuwine, Tyrese, R. Kelly and the list goes on and on. In addition to his concerts he does a variety of “theme” nights at clubs around the city on a weekly basis.

Known as the “go to” guy when it comes to promotions we wondered what he does when he isn’t “on”...

THE INTERVIEW

Tru.- What made you get into the promotions game?

Debonaire-I used to Dj sock hops and classroom parties in grade school. My first BIG party was at the age of 14 yrs old and my softball team won the P.A.L. championship our first year. I worked at Greer’s Food and Liquor which was also our team sponsor. The owner let me put together a championship party themed “Let’s Go Crazy”(by Prince). I

made $2000.00 as a 14-year old kid and it was love at first sight! I was always around the scene. My Aunt owned a restaurant and bar. My mom was a Manager/ Bartender. My brothers and I would have to sit at the restaurant when there was no sitter and sometimes help out as well.

Tru.- Name a celebrity you have loved working with and tell us why.

Debonaire-Kindred The Family Soul. The time they spent here in Minneapolis when I booked them was quality time. We got to know each other and we still stay connected. They were REAL, Fatin and Aja ... real people.

Tru.-Name one you didn’t enjoy so much and describe the challenge Debonaire-There are a few and in each genre from Hip hop, to R&B to Gospel but I’ll go w/comedian Aj

Johnson(Ezell from “Friday”) He got so drunk before a comedy show, then- everyone decides to tell me he has drinking issues at the time. After stumbling back stage and knocking down chairs like dominoes, He was insulting and just verbally abusing our audience especially one female in particuliar with undeserved profanity. I had to remove him off stage in front of over a 1000 people. It wasn’t pretty.

Tru.- How do you balance work and family?

Debonaire-At first it was ALL work. After missing out on some things, and not being at important events involving the people I cared about I had to take a second look at what was MORE important, THE people or MY people, my family and kids. Now I know how to say the word NO Thank you. I now know how to turn down some things. It came after a major health scare and my kids thinking I care more about entertainment than them. It also came with the love, communication and understanding of a great woman. She will shut me down when I’m going one hundred miles a minute, (laughing)!

Tru.- Where’s a favorite family friendly destination you’d recommend to a friend?

Debonaire-Navy Pier in Chicago, IL. The food, the sights and Lake Michigan. So much to do and see. Fun, yet teachable moments as well. Something for everyone in the family.

Tru.- What about when you want to get romantic with that special one. Where’s your ideal trip?

Debonaire-Two cities actually, New York and Miami. We fell in love with both cities and have talked about making those our ‘go to’ spots each year.

Tru.-What do you feel makes you successful at what you do?

Debonaire-My love for seeing people have a good time and my level of integrity is what makes me successful I think. It’s NOT all about the money with me. Some of my BEST events were not the best in the financial column, but the artist, the people, the vibe and the ‘thanks’ I’ve received from it was worth every penny spent.

Tru.- If you had to pick a profession other than promotions what would it be and why?

Debonaire-Working with kids, I love to mentor. It is my civic duty as a man to pass on what I have learned, good or bad.

The easy way or the hard way. To play some small role in another young man’s life as many have in mine is a legacy I will leave behind.

Tru.- Who do you look up to in the promotions game and what can you say you have learned and applied to your own business operations?

Debonaire-I look up to anyone who has a wish, and a dream coupled with the determination to make it happen the right way. I’ve learned over the years that NO one venue or artist is bigger than my event. Put the people first. A loss is worth taking as long as your integrity remains in tact.

Tru.- What advice do you have for up and coming Promoters?

Debonaire-First, I’d say, think about how much money can you afford to waste? Put ego aside. Dreams of making millions are extremely exaggerated. Network with others, support without any intent or expectation behind the act. Think selflessly. Remember, WE are in the people pleasing business. Customer service is key, so check your ego. Respect what the next man or woman is doing and be willing to listen and learn. Think outside the box and last but not least, ALWAYS remember the people the audience... they come first.

Tru.- What’s next for you Once you’ve had enough of the

promotions industry, would you try another profession?

Debonaire-How do you get enough of your FIRST Love? I am looking into working in the Minneapolis Public Schools system. I love kids, I love people. Our young men are in need of mentors and since I had the luxury of having that from family, family friends, church members,scout leaders and teachers it’s my duty and honor to pay it forward.

Spoken like a Tru. Entrepreneur! And that’s the deal on Mr. Debonaire, CEO of Bachelor Boy Entertainment.

For more info on this Entrepreneur extraordinaire be sure to check him out at;www.bachelorboyent.com

SHORTYS RUNWAY

By Keith King

Tru Magazine had the opportunity to catch up to Atlanta’s own Shirlene Ms. “Juicy ing career with playwright and producer Mr. Shelley Garrett, where she sho Me Love Somebody Else” and “Doing The Right Thing With The Wrong M “Christmas...Who Needs It”. Her talent shined so much it landed her a leadi From the theatre to the radio she is currently a part of a National Syndicated Juicy. Since moving to Atlanta GA, with the show she has also worked on the dea Big Happy Family”. Playwright T.Y. Martin recognized her talent and skill only did she show up and show out, he challenged her to take on dual roles. Cu

Show , the sitcom. When she is not showcasing her talent on the TV screen or d

Keith King: How you doing Mz Juicy?

Ms. Juicy: Doing Great and you?

Keith King: So Tell me about the upcoming event that you are throwing in July. I beleive it’s Jul Ms. Juicy: (Yeah) it’s called “Shorty’s Run the Runway.”

Keith King: OK. can you tell us a little bit more about the Shorty’s Run the Runway and how Ms. Juicy: I do love children and the reason why I created Shorty’s Run the Runway is by wor never have too many for the children. So since the events are so big and so enormous for the where I got my idea from because the only thing you really hear is really about the kids doin I would say, “What other way can I get these kids excited about going back to school?” Then school fashion show. So what I did, I took that and I said, “I only want kids to participate ag These children, they host from a ten and a half year co-host, a 12-year-old DJ, a 16-year-ol reward the kids by giving them an opportunity to perform in front of the world. So we also those parents that are less fortunate and this year, we will also add to the school supplies by Keith King: And so where’s the event going to be held at this year?

Ms. Juicy: This year will be July the 20th at the Georgia International Convention Cente working my way up. I’m crawling but we’re almost there. We are Georgia International C Florida, Philadelphia, from all over just to participate in this show.

Keith King: Oh, that’s very good to hear. So where do you see this show – because I notice each year, it’s getting bigger and bigger now that it’s at the Georgia Convention Center. Do progressing years from now? It’s become a MAJOR event in ATL! Ms. Juicy: Well, actually I’m glad you asked that because for the last two years, I’ve held it at

Kids on the Left From Top to Bottom: (1)Cerenity Gordon Likes Swimming, Dance , & Baseball (2) Brandon Haywood Jr. Hobbies: modeling, fashion, baseball, soccer, basketball, acting contact email: Bhjcapitalmanagement@gmail.com . (3) Destiny Soto Hobbies: Riding Bike, Play (4) Maximus Pearson Age: 9 Hobbies: Karate, Track, Basketball, Dance, Reading Comics

RUN THE

S

Ms Juicy talks to Tru. Magazine

y” Pearson, who is a lady with many talents. She started her actowed off her acting skills in his stage plays: “You Gonna Make Man”. She also starred as the Mayor in Fred Hammond’s movie ing role in the world renowned stage production “Beauty Shop”. d Radio Experience: The Rickey Smiley Morning Show as Ms. e set of “Meet The Browns” the sitcom, Tyler Perry movie “Mals and offered her a part in his production “Lord Why Me?”. Not urrently Ms. Juicy is working on Season 2 of The Rickey Smiley

doing public speaking, Shirlene is in the community.

ly 20th to be exact. Am I right?

you got started with this fashion show? rking for the radio station. They have a lot of events for the adults but e adults, I said let’s do something big and enormous for the kids. So that’s ng something bad but nothing about them doing something positive. n to have a back to school event centered around the kids in a back to ges 3 to 18.” They are the models as well as the performers in the show. ld videographer. These kids run the entire show. It’s all about them and we o give away 2000 book bags stuffed with school supplies, also to help out y giving away clothing as well.

er. It has gotten so big for the last – this is my third year doing it. So I’m Convention Center in Atlanta, Georgia and it’s children traveling from

ed that you said this is your third year doing this. So I’m pretty sure that you kind of do this on an annual basis and where do you see the show

t BEST Academy which is over off of Donald Lee Hollowell . This year contact email: Julia.70@live.com

ying w/ Babies, Acting, Dancing contact: Email: Tamika_bur@yahoo.com

we’ve had so many people to attend, over 2000 people each year. So we moved up to the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park and so we can have a place big enough to have vendors as well as children that teach us exercising. I have The Workout Kid. It’s going to be one of those special guests there.

My goal is to get it as big as Atlanta Hot 107 now on Birthday Bash which is held at Philips Arena. So I feel like I’m on my way because I got to Georgia International Convention Center this year.

We’re in one of the ballrooms this year but my goal is to get up to one of the exhibit halls like they have at the downtown convention center.

They have one also there. So I can still stay at Georgia International Convention Center but I want to go up to the exhibit hall so Shorty’s Run the Runway will be HUGE one day.

Keith King: I mean I commend you on doing this for the Atlanta children. bws

Are any proceeds going towards the education, school programs or lunch programs for the children?

Ms. Juicy: The proceeds as far as the supplies as well as the clothing that will clothe some of the ones that are less fortunate and will be donated to all the children. I’m also teamed up with “Share the Blessing “,which is a nonprofit organization that uses the avenues that we have as knowing celebrities, knowing artists, that the kids look up to, to go into the schools and talk to the kids and that’s what they do to try to keep the kids in school, encourage them, and let them know how important their education is, how important it is for you to learn how to read, and to write, so you can read your contract. How are you going to be a rapper and you can’t read your contract? You need to know what you’re getting paid. You need to be able to count your money, so this is what the organization I teamed up with does, so that it will go back to the nonprofit organization as well.

Keith King: Excellent. How do we get in touch with you? How do we find out about upcoming show? Is it posted on Facebook or if somebody wanted to get their children involved [Indiscernible] very good thing for children to get into. So for next year’s show for our readers, how would someone go about it?

Ms. Juicy: We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and website. Our website is ShortysRuntheRunway. com. Again it’s ShortysRuntheRunway.com. Instagram is Msjuicyrsms. The Twitter is MsJuicyJ and Facebook is Ms. Juicy Baby.

Also you can find it on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, my website, Instagram and Facebook and Twitter is connected to that website which is RickeySmileyMorningShow.com or anywhere that we are, whatever city or whatever state that the Rickey Smiley Morning Show is on. We are on the website, which is also linked to my page as well. Wherever they can find me, they can find that information.

Ms. Juicy: I’ve got one more thing to add... this show is not just a fashion show. It’s an event for the children. We have a free health screening as well as a vision screening. Colgate will also be on hand to teach the kids about dental hygiene. We have The Workout Kid (aged 13) who has been on Fox 5 and channel two, 11 Alive. He teaches the kids how to stay healthy and have fun and exercise. So we have lot of other things going on. It’s an all-day event. That will be on July the 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Keith King: I really do appreciate you taking this time to talk to Tru Magazine about theis wonderful event. Tru wishes you much continued success!

THANK YOU MS JUICY FOR ALL YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY

www.shortysruntherunway.com/

Tru Magazine Travel Coorespondant,

Andrea Ashmore

TRU. TRA VEL

RUN AWAY WITH ME

www. facebook.com/andrea.ashmore2

Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta,Vietnam

B

efore you ask, no, my father wasn’t a G.I. in the Vietnam war! My desire to visit Vietnam was born out of my love of Asian cuisine, as well as my quest for visiting places that are exotic and quite different from Western and European cultures. With a population of over 7 million people and 7 million motor bikes, my goal of experiencing a unique location was certainly met!

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is a large bustling metropolis in South Vietnam. Known as the Paris of the Orient or Pearl of the Far East, the city is dotted with historic French colonial buildings and fairly wide boulevards. Two of the most interesting tourist attractions are the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The Reunification Palace was home to the President of South Vietnam during the war, as well as a site commemorating the end of the war during the fall of Saigon in 1975. I found the War Remnants Museum quite gripping since it showcases a very real view of the war via a captured Huey helicopter, bombs, tanks, bomber planes, prisoner cages, and descriptions of the war from a Vietnamese perspective. I took a half-day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels as well, which is an immense underground network of Vietnam Cong operations during the war.

My two day cruise through the Mekong Delta provided a glimpse

into everyday rural life of people who live on or near the river. Morning tai chi rituals, laundry and bathing in the river, and children diving and swimming were daily sights. The floating markets were groupings of boats along the river that sold fruits, vegetables, and other items. As a result of the very fresh food, I ate some of the best meals on the trip in Can Tho and Cai Be along the river. Elephant ear fish, shrimp spring rolls, seafood hot-pots, and unusual looking fruit for dessert. And yes, many Vietnamese eat snakes, cats, dogs and nutria, all of which can be purchased in local markets.

I even drank a shot glass of snake wine (local wine that is steeped in a container of dead snakes!), which is supposedly medicinal!

The temperature remains hot in Ho Chi Minh City yearround, and the best time to visit is during the dry season (November through March).

The national festival of Tet is in late January/early February where the streets erupt with parties and festivities for at least a week. Hotel rooms, tours and meals were relatively inexpensive compared to other international cities, so Ho Chi Minh City was a worthwhile trip!

“R

icky Donnell Ross, better known as “Freeway” Rick Ross, is one of those rare figures whose experience as a drug kingpin has lead him to a life of rebuilding the community in which he once helped destroy. According to the Oakland Tribune” In the course of his rise, prosecutors estimate that Ross exported several tons of cocaine nationally, and made more than $600 million in the process. Counting inflation its 1.6 billion dollars comparing 1986 to 2010. Now, he has applied the passion that helped him build an empire to helping the youth, Ross has been given a second chance to uplift his community by giving back through mentoring and sharing his story. He plans to inspire many of today’s youths to achieve their greatest successes without following in his footsteps”. *excerpt from Rick’s bio on his website.

Admittedly, I didn’t even KNOW who Freeway Rick Ross was when I received a call out of the blue from Phyllis Bell, Rick’s Personal Assistant and CEO of a budding entertainment company; Network Entertainment Resources. She said that she works with a man who has an incredible story to tell and urged me to Google him as soon as possible. I’m accustomed to getting calls like this so I didn’t get excited or truly motivated until I entered the words “Freeway Rick Ross” into my Google search. My God, here I was about to make a decision to speak with one of our country’s top ten drug dealers about who he was, is and where he’s going. “We can get him on the phone right now, she said anxiously”! My palms began to sweat and my heart raced a bit. THIS would be the most controversial story and interview I had ever done, I was certain. My Christian followers, friends and family members might even question my decision to write anything about a person coming from a background like Rick’s, but, I was intrigued and there was no stopping my at least “investigating” whatthis man had to say and what he was all about. I took the challenge picked up the phone and called who I now refer to as one of the most interesting and alluring people I have ever met in my life. Before we get into his interview allow me to share what the world, the facts; Ricky Donnell Ross, also known as “Freeway” Ricky Ross, is an American convicted drug trafficker best known for the “drug empire” that he presided over in Los Angeles, California, in the early 1980s.

The nickname “Freeway” came from Ross’ ownership of several properties along the Los Angeles-area Harbor Freeway as well as the existence of a freeway near his childhood home. During the height of his drug dealing, Ross claims to have sold “$3 million in one day. “According to the Oakland Tribune, “In the course of his rise, prosecutors estimate that Ross exported several tons of cocaine to New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, and made more than $600 million in the process.”

In 1996, Ross was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of trying to purchase more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent. While in Texarkana prison, Ricky Ross became the first federal inmate to create a social networking website.

Later that year, a series of articles by journalist Gary Webb in the San Jose Mercury News

brought to light a connection between one of Ross’s cocaine sources, Danilo Blandon, and the CIA as part of the Iran-Contra scandal. The decision in Ross’s case was brought to a federal court of appeals where his sentence was reduced to 20 years. His sentence was then reduced further due to being a model prisoner, and he was moved to a halfway house in California in March 2009. Ross was released from prison on September 29, 2009.

It was through a friend that Ross was introduced to a connection to purchase cheap Nicaraguan cocaine: two Nicaraguan exiles, Oscar Danilo Blandon and Norwin Meneses Cantarero.

Ross began distributing cocaine around $10,000 less per kilo than the average street price, his point of distribution being the Bloods and Crips street gangs. Eventually, Ross purchased his cocaine directly from Blandn and Meneses. One of Ross’ main dealers was his childhood friend Billy Moulton.

With thousands of employees, Ross claimed he operated drug sales not only in Los Angeles but in places across the country including St. Louis, New Orleans, Texas, Kansas City, Oklahoma, Indiana, Cincinnati, North Carolina, South Carolina, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Seattle. He has said that his most lucrative sales came from the Ohio area.

Ross’s capture was facilitated by his career-long dealer Oscar Danilo Blandon, who “set up” Ross. Blandón had close ties with the Contras, and had met with Contra leader Enrique Bermdez on several occasions. Blandón was the link between the CIA and Contras during the Iran-Contra affair.

Gary Webb interviewed Ross several times before breaking the story in 1996. Ross claims that the reason he was unfairly tried initially was because of his involvement in the scandal. Blandón received a 24-month sentence for his drug trafficking charges, and following his release, was hired by the Drug Enforcement Administration where he was salaried at $42,000. Blandn was not a U.S. citizen/national, and is the only known foreigner not to be deported following conviction on drug trafficking charges in U.S. history. The INS was ordered to grant Blandón a green card, despite the criminal convictions, to allow him to work for the DEA. The DEA has claimed they no longer employ Blandn, and his whereabouts are unknown.

On June 18, 2010, Ross sued rapper Rick Ross (real name William L. Roberts) for using his name. Freeway Ricky Ross filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Ross in a California Federal Court. Jay-Z had been called to testify in the lawsuit, as he was CEO of Def Jam when Ross was signed to the label. The reformed drug kingpin was looking for $10 million in compensation in the lawsuit.

Also, the release of rapper Rick Ross’ album, Teflon Don, was threatened to be blocked by Freeway Ricky Ross. A week after the lawsuit was filed, the rapper responded to the charges: “It’s like owning a restaurant; you’re gonna have a few slip and falls.

You get lawsuits, you deal with them, and get them out of your way ... sometimes you lose.”He then denied rumors that he would change his name to “Ricky Rozay” as a consequence of the lawsuit.

After the lawsuit was dismissed on July 3, 2010,the album Teflon Don was released as scheduled on July 20, 2010. A federal judge ruled that the case should be refiled in California state court because it fell under California state law. Ross refiled the case with the State of California and the federal case is on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The federal case was appealed to higher court, state case was filed in 2011 in California.

Since then, Freeway Ricky Ross has refiled in Los Angeles superior court with several publicity rights claims. Depositions have been ongoing. Trial was set for early May 2012. The case has been since dismissed by a judge in the Los Angeles superior court.

The California State case was updated with a motion in Freeway Rick Ross’ favor as to Warner Brothers Records and their use of the name and image Rick Ross in July 2012.

Rick tell us that a trial has been set for Los Angeles Superior Court August 27, 2013 against Rick Ross & Warner Music Group.

Having been the topic of several important documentaries and TV specials Rick is working on his bio pic, a film about his life, starring Nick Cannon (as Rick). He’s been the highly talked about ‘buzz’ throughout the media circuit and was a key figure in filmmaker Kevin Booth’s documentary, American Drug War: The Last White Hope. Additionally, the second episode of the first season of BET’s American Gangster documentary series was focused on the story of Ricky Ross and his connection to the Iran-Contra scandal. Ross is played by actor Glenn Plummer in the film, 100 Kilos. Ross was recently featured in VH1’s critically acclaimed Planet Rock History of Crack and Hip Hop Documentary. The documentary was a look into the interconnection between top hip hop talents such as Jay Z, Snoop and Wu Tang and the growth of the Crack Epidemic. Freeway Rick Ross was an integral part of the show, along with the prior listed talents. Ross is featured in the 2013 documentary

The Six hundred dollar man talks tru.th

BY LYDIA KING

How To Make Money Selling Drugs, which details the various levels of the drug trade as well as law enforcement’s involvement.

In the song “My Favorite Mutiny” by The Coup, rapper Boots claims the Central Intelligence Agency directed Ross to distribute crack: “before the CIA told Ricky Ross to put crack in the sack. “The song

“Mathematics” by Mos Def contains a reference to the link between Ross and the CIA: “Nearly half of America’s largest cities is one-quarter black/ That’s why they gave Ricky Ross all the crack.” In the Murs song “The Science” (from his 2008 release Murs for President) the rapper says “...and they gave us dope (Crack)/From the CIA by the way of Nicaragua/Shipped to Rick Ross/He’s the Black Godfather.” He continues to rap about conspiracies surrounding the CIA’s dealings with Ross throughout the song.

There is no doubt that Freeway Rick Ross story is by far one of the most interesting and compelling reads of our time. We hope for the book, the movie and everything in between! Here’s what he had to say when we sat down with him to discuss not only who HE is but where he’s going now. *Additional sources Wikipedia,Freeway Rick.com

THE INTERVIEW

Lydia King: Good morning, Mr. Ross. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today.

Rick Ross: No problem. Sorry I’m late.

Lydia King: No worries at all. Is it OK if I call you Rick?

Rick Ross: Yes, you can. I prefer Rick.

Lydia King: OK Rick, . We’re honored to have this opportunity to be interviewing with you this morning. Tru fans have been buzzing for the past couple of days about your interviews that seem to be popping up all over the place. Our readers are excited to hear from the man himself. Are you ready to get started?

Rick Ross: I’m ready. Let’s go.

Lydia King: OK, let’s begin with how you got your nickname “Freeway” Rick Ross?

Rick Ross: Well, it’s a long story and I guess you have to start from the beginning. When I grew up, I grew up on the side of the freeway and we played football there and we did all types of things and it just became a nickname for me, Freeway Rick, and as I grew in the underworld, the name grew with me.So that’s pretty much how it started. As for who I am, I’m a lot of things. I’m a guy who did things right. I’m a guy who has done things wrong.But overall I hope when it’s all said and done, that I’ve done more right things than I’ve done wrong. I’m a father. I’m a brother. I’m a cousin. I’m an uncle. I’m

“I think that we’ve been stereotyped to be the problems of America” just so many things. You really can’t define who anybody really is. I mean because we’re all so multi-faceted and it just matters how you take that and use it.

Lydia King: Well Rick, Tru Magazine is known for being the magazine that allows artists to truly express themselves without being censored or edited. For allowing those perceived by the public one way to finally be able to speak their piece and tell their story their way. What can you tell us about Rick Ross that the world doesn’t already know?

Rick Ross: Well, one of the most important things is that I really love people. I like to be around people. I like to help people. I think that people are beautiful. I think they’re the most creative being in the world.Maybe there’s somebody else out here that’s better than us but right now, I don’t think that there’s nothing better than we are.I just like to help people explore themselves and find out, “How can I be the best that I can be?” by me helping other people be the best that they can be.

You know, me and my artist, C. Carter, we were riding in the car yesterday and we were just talking and she was like, “Rick, you try to make everybody better,” and I said, “Yeah, because when I make them better, that makes me just a little better.”

What I notice about a lot of people is that they feel big by knocking other people down. When you look at the TV shows right now, everything you see on TV, it’s all about knocking the other person down to make themselves look big. Me, I believe in totally the opposite.

Lydia King: Right.That has been a major complaint of a lot of the artists that we speak with in terms of the mainstream media. They twist your words and that’s why we pride ourselves on allowing you to speak your piece and tell your story your way.What would you say is the biggest misconception the general public has about Rick Ross?

Rick Ross: Well, I think the biggest – and not just about me, but that more about the black male in America in general. I think that we’ve been stereotyped to be the problems of America. We’re the most incarcerated, the most hated.You see a young, black man with a hoodie on and automatically pull your gun out and start shooting, strictly because he’s black and he has on a hoodie.So I think that a lot of those things stem from the perception that American media has made us to be. I mean right now, I’ve been gambling with my story and my documentary because neither one makes me an animal because I’m not an animal. I’m a human being. I think I have passion for people. I mean

I think I may have more passion than most of the people doing business out here. I see other companies selling stuff that’s worse than crack but because they have money and they have the politicians on their side, they’re allowed to do it.They’re allowed to kill our people and nobody says anything about it and then a young black kid, he sells $500 worth of crack and they want to put him in jail for life, for 20 years.I know a couple of guys that went to jail. They were 22 years old and it’s 26, 27 years later and they’re still in prison.

Lydia King: It’s alleged that back in your day, you had involvement in the Iran-Contra affair. How do you respond to that?

Rick Ross: Well, it’s the guy that I got my drugs from. He was a fundraiser for the Contras. He was directly connected to Oliver North and Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Not that I knew about it though.

Lydia King: How do you feel that politics play into that controversy? Was it your belief that former president George Bush did in fact allow drugs to come into the country in exchange for weapons? What’s your take on that whole deal?

Rick Ross: Absolutely, without a doubt! He and President Reagan had felt that if the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua, it would put America in danger. It would allow the Russians to be so close to America soil that they felt that Russians will be marching down America’s streets and basically taking over America. So they felt that it was better to sacrifice the black community and allow these guys to win a war over Nicaragua.

Lydia King: It’s been said that you once ran a drug empire that stretched from LA to Ohio, making your net worth at a certain period in your life $600 million. You were a made man, Rick. That’s obvious. What happened to all that money and are you still that guy?

Rick Ross: Well, I’m still that guy. I just don’t have the money anymore. I started off with $125 and I knew absolutely nothing about drugs when I started. So I basically was turned out. I basically was a guy who wanted to do good. It’s funny how the guy who stole my name, the rapper, have made it. In my eyes from when I was a kid, he had the job that would never send you to jail, that he never had to go through the things that we went through.So

that’s the life that I wanted at one time. I wanted a life without crime. But after there were so many doors slammed in my face, then I turned back to the streets. I was a tennis player and I had dreams of becoming a tennis pro.But after those doors were slammed in my face, then I turned to criminality. I went back to the streets.

Lydia King: How has life changed for you now? Do you still have any of the businesses that you started back in the 90s?

Rick Ross: No. I’m starting totally over right now. I did 20 years in prison and they took everything that I had. So I’m totally starting over right now from scratch.

Lydia King: You went from being sentenced to life imprisonment to only serving 20 years. How did that come about?

Did you have to become an informant?

Rick Ross: No, I became a lawyer. I was illiterate when I went to prison. I was illiterate until I was 28 years old. I started learning how to read when I was 28 years old and I literally became a lawyer while I was incarcerated. I became obsessed with the law because I knew that the only way that I would be sitting and talking to you right now, sitting on my couch, is if I got out of prison and that’s what I did.

Lydia King: Would you say that prison changed you?

Rick Ross: No, I wouldn’t necessarily say that because I’m still the same guy. Prison helped me find myself in some respects. Prison showed me who I was in some respects. It allowed me the opportunity to sit down and conquer some of my fears because one of my greatest fears was that I was dumb and stupid and that I was a thug.Well, prison taught me that I was none of that, that what happened is that I had let myself fall into somebody else’s idea of what I was and who I was.

Lydia King: It makes a lot of sense. OK. What’s the deal with your lawsuit against Rick Ross? How did it come about and what’s the current status?

Rick Ross: Right now, we’re scheduled to go to trial August the 27th. It has been a long, drawn out battle. But I’m used to fighting uphill, meaning that I’m used to being the underdog. I have pretty much been the underdog most of my

life. Only a few short years in the drug business that I wasn’t necessarily an underdog, that I was on top. But most of my life, I’ve been an underdog and my drug career was really short too. When you look at the drug career, it’s even shorter than a football and a basketball career. I think I lasted in the drug game about eight years.So it was really short and the first years, I wasn’t successful. I didn’t become successful until I basically learned the business and I found out that with anything that you do, you can’t become successful until you learn what you’re doing because people don’t pay people who are not experts. They don’t pay people who are not the best.So it serves you in whatever field you’re going in, to become an expert, to learn what you’re doing, and work at being the best.

Lydia King: And what does Jay-Z have to do with the whole thing regarding the lawsuit?

Rick Ross: Well, my first attorney felt that Jay-Z was the guy that signed William Roberts, that he held some liability as well.

Lydia King: Have any of the artists from the rap/hip-hop world reached out to you in support of your lawsuit and if so, who?

Rick Ross: Well, one of them is Scarface. Scarface has been on my side since I got out. He has reached out and tried to help me as much as he could. But most of my support comes from the underground, the guys who haven’t had records out. It has been more than just Scarface and I’m not going to say that he’s the only one but there has been more.

But the biggest of my support comes from the street.Right now people say that I am the street president, that I’m the guy. Before my PO and my judge stopped me, I used to get like 200 to 300 phone calls a month from prisoners around the country, from all the guys that support me and give me their blessings. So when you got that kind of pull from the streets what I found out is that most of the guys that are in prison was pretty powerful in their communities.And I can’t wait until I get off of parole to where I could really start networking with these guys and not only teaching them but allowing them to teach me some of the things that they know as well.

Lydia King: When does that happen? When do you get off of parole?

Rick Ross: I have about three and a half more years.

Lydia King: Switching gears for a moment,we’re aware that there’s a movie about your life story in the works with Nick Cannon who has to play you. Are Nick and Mariah backing the film financially? Who else is behind this?

AboutWild N Out www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-N-Out

TV Show Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out is an American sketch comedy and improv television series that debuted on July 28, 2005 on MTV with Nick Cannon as the host.

In November 2012, MTV2 announced the reincarnation of the series. The series will follow Nick Cannon as he searches high and low for the newest upcoming comedy stars, along with bringing back familiar faces from previous seasons of the series. It will also feature the show’s original cast. Season 5 is scheduled to debut on July 9, 2013. Celebrity team captains in the upcoming season include: Kevin Hart, Lil DuVal, professional basketball player Amar’e Stoudemire, Mac Miller, 2 Chainz, Machine Gun Kelly, ASAP Rocky and Joe Budden.

THE CAST

Nick Cannon Anthony “Chico” Bean Carlos “Spanky” Hayes Chaunt Wayans Conceited Corey Holcomb DeRay Davis DoBoy Emmanuel Hudson Jacob Williams James Davis Karlous Miller Lauren Flans Michael William “Mikey” Day Pete Davidson Rasika Mathur Timothy DeLaGhetto Will “Spank” Horton

Rick Ross: We have a few people just talking about financing it, who I had already previously started deals with before Nick came in. But Nick has assured me that he’s going to see the film through and whatever it takes to get it done, it will be getting done. I think what Nick did was courageous, I would say.I mean he basically put his arms around a guy that all the big record labels don’t like and a lot of the studios don’t like. I met with the president of Sony. I met with the president of Universal and because I didn’t roll over and bark like a dog, they didn’t want to work with me. For Nick to step up, so many other people backed away from me. I really think what he’s doing is really courageous.

Lydia King: How did Nick become involved in your project?

Rick Ross: A mutual friend of ours had told me four years ago that he was going to introduce me to Nick and he kept his word.

It took him a while but eventual

ly he came through.

crew, even bought a few of the Lydia King: What other business shirts myself, one of my favorventures are you involved in cur- ite pieces of apparel to date! rently and what is in Rick Ross’s future?

Rick Ross: Well, right now, I have a T-shirt that’s going crazy.

It’s called; “The Real Rick Ross Is Not a Rapper” and this T-shirt is selling all over the world. I mean it is like I can’t even keep up with orders. I started a little T-shirt processing plant myself and it’s just working my little machine. So I’m really, really excited about that and the shirt is doing so well. I got a call from Ice-T yesterday and he’s interested in doing something with me on his T-shirts as well. So that has been going really well. I also have my music group, Freeway Music Group.

Rick Ross: Two of my artists got accepted to perform at South by Southwest, getting ready to send them out there this week. I got a documentary that’s coming out, a lot going on now! My documentary is being edited right now. It should be ready in about 30 days.

Lydia King: What’s the name of your bio pic?

Rick Ross: It’s called “Crack in the System”. One of my goals is to change these drug laws because we have 600,000 young men in prison for selling drugs, non-violent offenses and I don’t think that you *Editors side note; I was actually should give a kid for three in Rick’s T-shirt design warerocks, $100 worth of drugs, five house a month ago while filmyears and a felony conviction ing with him and I saw his set up because once you do this, you and how he worked with his now take away his vote. You

take away his ability to get a job. It’s already tough for a black man to get a job and now you got to check the box. You check that and then now, it’s almost impossible for him to get employment.

Lydia King: Yeah, it seems that the system is unfortunately designed to promote failure, or at least to promote the failure of some. I agree wholeheartedly with you on that.

Rick has a lot more in store for the world. With all that he has in the works it’ll be very interesting to see what his 2014 will look like!

To follow Rick get at him on Twitter @FreewayRicky or visit his website at FreewayRick.com

TRU. TEEN

”Just Justin”,Writer,Athlete, Musician, Jr. High School Student, Contact; truentmagazine@gmail.com

Question; What do you guys think of Meek Mill having to go to etiquette classes?

Well here’s MY Ten Cents...

According to TMZ, multi- millionaire Meek Mill is on probation for a 2008 conviction for drug possession and illegal gun possession. and it’s the ruling of a Philadelphia area Judge, that Meek Mill take etiquette classes. I’ll tell you what i think of this ridiculousness.-- its ridiculous! I don’t understand why etiquette even comes into play. That’s basically telling this man he can’t be himself. And, even more to my point that is WHY he has fans that is WHY he makes money, for being HIMSELF! It’s demeaning really. It’s telling him that he’s not well enough educated to be in society, which is aggravating because who is anybody including any judge, to tell anybody being himself is not good enough? It’s preposterous. Hopefully the judge finds it in herself to realize this is not okay to do and should NOT be allowed in any way.

Write to me at; truentmagazine@gmail.com and speak YOUR mind. I just gave you My TEN cents, now give me yours!

And remember, these are just my thoughts, dont hate me for it~jj

Tru. Teen Sports Reporter

let's talk baseball, Haley Smilow’s

Interview w/Casey Janssen Casey Janssen has spent his summers north of the border for the last seven years with the Toronto Blue Jays. Moving to into the closers role last season he managed 22 saves with an era of 2.54. Janseen was born in Orange, California and played college baseball at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was selected by the Blue Jays out of UCLA in the fourth round of the 2004 draft. Before a Yankee game I had the opportunity to sit with Casey and talk about his favorite Ball Parks to play in, who he doesn’t like to face, what he does for pre and post game rituals and what he does on the road. I pulled no punches in asking about his life in this candid interview. Other topics we discussed were: What he does for charity work, what his favorite animal is. Also whether or not he has forgotten his passport ever when going through International Customs and his favorite sports teams. Find out what Casey answered as I put him in the hot seat.

HALEY: Do you have a favorite ballpark other then Roger’s Center ?

CASEY: Seattle Safeco Field is one of my favorites. I like the design and how it maintains its newness. Also, it has a retractable roof, so you can play in all weather conditions.

HALEY: Is there ballpark you feel you play well in?

CASEY: I feel like I play very well at Rogers Center because it’s my home ballpark and I know it so well. I also like to play in my hometown of Anaheim because my family and friends can come and see me play, but that also adds a lot of pressure!

HALEY: Do you prefer when the roof at Rogers Center is open or closed?

CASEY: I prefer closed because I don’t have to contend with the outside environment such as wind and rain.

HALEY: What brand of gear do you use?

CASEY: Mizuno Baseball Glove, Nike Shoes.

HALEY: Do the Blue Jays have any hazing rituals for rookie pitchers?

CASEY: Not for pitchers, but in September we make all the rookies dress in some ridicules outfit to remind them that they are still rookies and need to be humble.

HALEY: What is your favorite restaurant in Toronto?

CASEY:Jacob’s Steakhouse on Brant Street. They have really good steaks!!

HALEY:Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?

CASEY:Miguel Cabrera because he is a probably the best player in the league right now and a tough out.

HALEY:Is there a player you really don’t like to face?

CASEY:No not really. I may occasionally struggle against a player, but no one really scares me.

HALEY:What do you do for fun when you are not playing baseball?

CASEY:I love to spend time with my dog. I miss him during the season. I also love to go to the beach.

HALEY:What type of dog do you have?

CASEY:A Yellow Lab that looks just like Marley in “Marley and Me”.

HALEY: Haley asks how often do you go to the beach?

CASEY: When I am in California, I try and go often but I haven’t been in a while.

HALEY: Haley asks how about in Toronto?

CASEY: It’s all concrete. There is a small beach, but I’ve not been there this season.

HALEY: You’re playing in your 6th season as professional baseball player. What is life like playing ball as your job? Is there anything bad about being a professional player?

CASEY: It is more than I could have ever dreamed. The time has been flying by since I have been in the majors.

It’s not a job, it’s just a wonderful thing that I get to do. I feel blessed to be playing professional baseball. If there is anything bad about it, I haven’t found it yet. It’s the best job in the world.

HALEY: Funniest prank you ever saw in a clubhouse?

CASEY: Someone took the cream out of Oreo’s and replaced it with toothpaste. Then they put the Oreo’s out for everyone to eat.

HALEY:Haley asks have you ever been pranked?

CASEY:Yes. Someone put eye black around the rim of my cap, so when I took it off I had a black line around my forehead.

HALEY:What is your favorite tourist thing to do in Toronto?

CASEY:Shop and eat.

HALEY: Have you ever forgotten your passport traveling back and forth between USA and Canada?

CASEY:My passport is my life, so no. But some of my teammates have forgotten theirs, which is a big headache at customs and it holds up the whole team.

HALEY: know your favorite professional football team is The Raiders, who is your all time favorite Raiders player?

CASEY:Tim Brown, a wide receiver. He seemed to always be in a Raider’s uniform for as long as I can remember.

HALEY:What type of community service and charity work are you involved in?

CASEY:The Jays Care Foundation. We try and create opportunities for children and youth in need by providing access to programs that promote regular physical activity, encourage the pursuit of higher education and impart fundamental life skills. This is done in Toronto area schools, and I also get involved in different camps and teach/share my love of baseball.

HALEY:How old where you when you started playing baseball?

CASEY:I started plying T- Ball at 5, but my mother started playing wiffle ball with me at age 3.

HALEY:What age did you figure out you might have the chance a going pro?

CASEY:During my sophomore year in college when the scouts started showing up a games HALEY:Favorite Ballpark food?

CASEY:Nacho’s HALEY:Favorite Kids Movie?

CASEY:I need to check you back on that HALEY:Favorite Baseball Movie?

CASEY:Major League HALEY: Favorite kids book?

CASEY: Curious George HALEY: Favorite thing to Cook?

CASEY: Chicken or Steak on the BBQ. HALEY: What advice would you give kids my age?

CASEY: Follow your dreams, have fun, and work hard chasing your dream.

Just Justin”, Writer,Athlete, Musician, Jr. High School Student, Contact; truentmagazine@ gmail.com

Tru. Teen

How to handle a bad situation Let’s face it, bad situations can be intense sometimes and often seem unavoidable, but with my new-found advise you’re sure to escape any gut-wrenching experience. lets begin...

The first thing you should observe is what type of bad situation it is. There is the physical situation, which is the situation where if something doesn’t cool down in that instant a torrent of bad repercussions will follow. And, the most popular one; the verbal situation. This is usually most typical between friends and exfriends. The verbal situation is where a participant in the argument says something they usually regret later because they cant back up their words or they say that one thing to a friend that pushes them to the brink of never speaking to them again. The next one is called the internal conflict situation. This is where fears come into play. An internal conflict for example is; the fear of flying. There isn’t really a logical explanation behind this fear other than crashing, but statistics show that flying is a lot safer than driving, In fact safer by a little over 52%. I have come to find that people aren’t scared by the thought of crashing but are merely terrified of being thousands of feet in the air in an enclosed capsule, which is merely the mind over-thinking the situation.

Now that you know what the situations are, its time to finally go on to talk about how to address them: The physical situation and the verbal situation we will handle together because the solution is the same.

The solution to these two situations is just to stop and think about the after effect. Is that joke about his mom worth a black eye? Answer that! Was that comment about that time your friend got rejected by a girl he asked out worth never speaking to your friend again? I don’t think so! And then remind yourself what it would feel like if somebody said those hurtful things to you.

The next situation is the internal conflict situation, the solution to this my friends is in fact very simple. You have to face your fears head on and I promise, you will prevail.

Try those on for size, and remember, ‘im not an physiologist, but i try.~jj

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