Twenty4Seven Magazine: Issue #61 by Twenty4Seven Magazine

ISSUE #61 2019

RAPSODY

Wesley Wiley. Pastor Mitch Summerfield. + Bishop Ashley Lee. Kalonji Changa. Cyrus. DJ Waffles. Derek Blanks. Ronny Tekk. The Polished Lady. AZ.

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Contributing Photography: Divine Influencer PR Corletha Norman, MSW, LCSW Alima Industries LaTroya Brooks Jose Gongora Nathan Pearcy Drea Nicole Photography Tailiah Breon Marketing/Sales: Jus Mi Luck Promotions Contributing Writers: Corletha Norman, MSW, LCSW Lucky Smith Contact: twenty4sevenmagazine.com twenty4sevenmagazine@gmail.com youtube.com/twenty4sevenmagazine Twitter: @twenty4sevenmag Instagram: @twenty4sevenmagazine Facebook: Twenty4Seven Magazine Editor Contact: brightwoodentertainment@gmail.com Facebook: Tyrone Brightwood Davis Phone: 404-409-6553

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PASTOR MITCH SUMMERFIELD ASHLEY LEE KALONJI CHANGA CYRUS DJ WAFFLES RAPSODY BEAUTY OF THE MONTH PICS: ON LOCATION BISHOP WESLEY WILEY DEREK BLANKS RONNY TEKK THE POLISHED LADY AZ

5 6-7 8 9 10-11 12 13 14-15 16-17 18 19

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WHO AM I AND WHAT I STAND FOR

DIGITAL DOPE PASTOR MITCH SUMMERFIELD | RALEIGH, NC Raleigh North Carolina’s own pastor and serial entrepreneur, Mitch Summerfield, is passionate about transparency in mental health in the church and beyond. For 15 years, Mitch ran and operated an inpatient and outpatient Mental health agency along with a longtime friend in Raleigh NC that served the community working with over 25,000 residents with 50% successful discharges. In his 15 years operating his mental health facility, Mitch and his team got exposed to many in the community that were struggling with illnesses such as PTSD, ADD, ADHD, and Schizophrenia. It was at this time his compassion for supporting others through mental health became a passion. Mitch experienced the test of a lifetime and found his own mental health being tested when his megachurch parents, Bishop Frank and Pastor JoeNell Summerfield of Word of God Fellowship Church and Academy died unexpectedly of cancer only 2 months apart.

Corletha Norman, MSW, LCSW, Owner and Clinical Director of Bonhomie, LLC.

It was at this time the once shy-tattoo-wearing, Bike-riding successful entrepreneur assumed the role as senior pastor of his parent’s megachurch, with no time to grieve. He had to tap into his mental health experience to propel his success forward. Pastor Mitch experienced his own internal battle and grief after the loss of his parents, and is focused on being a part of the evolution of how mental health is addressed in our faith communities and beyond.

We are certified to provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist in your healing from trauma. PHOTO COURTESY OF DIVINE INFLUENCER PR WORDS BY DIVINE INFLUENCER PR

To view our interview with Pastor Mitch Summerfield, visit us on our website at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com or on our YouTube channel. Also, follow Pastor Summerfield on Instagram @mitchsummerfield.

ASHLEY LEE | GOLDSBORO, NC Ashley Lee, founder of Canvas Colors, was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, a small town in the southeastern portion of the state. Ashley went directly into the military after high school. In the military she sharpened her discipline and determination. But, after leaving the service, she was unsure of her next step...she had to readjust to being a civilian. So, Ashley decided to enroll in college to further her education, graduating with degrees in Religious Studies and Education. Initially, she wanted to explore other cultures and become a missionary. However, after her mother’s passing in 2014, she decided to go back to school to receive her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her goal was and is to help those who are suffering from grief and those whom society has written off. During Ashley’s time in school, she was diagnosed with endometriosis.

WOMEN

MEN

Canvas Colors was born out of Ashley’s desire to create lipsticks that would be free of toxins and unnatural ingredients. She began seeking natural remedies in her everyday life to help alleviate some of the symptoms of her diagnosis. As she became aware of how certain ingredients in our everyday diets, toiletries, and cosmetics affect our health, Ashley decided to do something about it. She knew she needed to create lip colors that were only not harmful but were also beautiful and flattering. With this intention in mind, Canvas Colors was created. Ashley hopes that with Canvas Colors you’ll not only find lip colors that are gorgeous on you. But you’ll confidently wear the colors knowing that you’re not causing any harm to your body nor to the environment, for that matter. All the products are also gluten and soy free.

CHILDREN

BONHOMIELLC.COM OFFICE: 2375 Wall Street SE Ste. 240, Ofc 34 Conyers, GA 30013

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info@bonhomiellc.com Ph: 404-402-0650 Fax: 404-341-9834

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Canvas Colors represents those who don’t ascribe to society’s views of beauty. With Canvas Colors you will look in the mirror and see beauty. Ashley is very interested in health and wellness and focuses on what she puts on and in her body. She’s also a fitness enthusiast and works out daily. She’s a lover of life and encourages others to work hard and believe in themselves. With self-confidence and determination, Ashley believes she can accomplish anything. To view our interview with Ashley Lee, visit us on our website at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com or on our YouTube channel. Also, follow Ashley on Instagram @mycanvascolors and her website at www.canvascolors.co. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

tongue, killing himself. That is what we were doing. We were byproducts of our own demise. Again, I don’t regret the experience of being locked up because I can speak on it and understand what value we have there. So, paint a picture for me. What was the first major circumstance or situation that you organized around? I don’t know if I’d say major, but I’d say important. I think one of the most important cases for me was probably in 2006 with the police murder of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston who was gunned down within a couple miles of where we sit now. That is a very important case because of the fact that folks in Atlanta had the opportunity to see and relate. Back in the day it was all about you had to be “doing something”. “The police ain’t just going to shoot you.” “What were you doing?” That was the whole thing before social media; before anybody had a cell phone it was blame the victim. So, here is this 92-year-old woman, who never had a traffic ticket, who was murdered inside her own home by police. Then they planted marijuana in the basement. They handcuffed her after they gunned her down. So she’s dead; leaking, bleeding and she’s lying in handcuffs. Across the news they talk about this violent woman, this rogue individual who fired shots at police officers. They didn’t mention the fact that they ripped her burglar bars off her door and came in unannounced with hoodies and Timb boots on. No sign of being police. You’re in the middle of the hood. That was one of the most important cases.

PHOTO: CORLETHA NORMAN, MSW, LCSW

KALONJI CHANGA THE COMMUNITY’S MOVEMENT BUILDER Words + Interview By Corletha Norman, MSW, LCSW Kalonji Changa is a “black man first and foremost,” that is putting forth action to create revolutionary movement in his community. Read on to find out about programs in your local area and how you can become involved. The following is an excerpt.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. I’m a black man, first and foremost. I’m also an author, filmmaker and podcast host who is most known for being a community activist and organizer. I’m from Bridgeport Connecticut and I’ve been in Atlanta for fifteen years, working. Before we get into a little bit more about what it is that you do, tell me a little bit about growing up in Bridgeport. Bridgeport, Connecticut is a small dark space. I grew up in the hood, the south end of Bridgeport which was at that point a community full of different projects and apartment complexes. Bridgeport is 45 minutes away from Harlem and another 35 minutes away from the Bronx. We had the same TV, radio, crime, etc. and like most inner cities. It is a place where I grit my teeth, a place where you have to fight to get out of. Did you find yourself mixed up in the violence growing up? Absolutely. I grew up in the eighties during Reaganomics and the whole crack era. I was the “white sheep” of the family, you know what I mean? If my pop said “Go left”, I would go right. If he said “Do this”, I was doing the opposite. Basically, I fell into a trap like many folks during that era and ended up an entrepreneur dealing in the “unlicensed pharmaceuticals” business. That took me on a journey that cost me a little of my freedom and almost cost me 36 years of my life. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

I found myself in a jam at age 17 in the state of South Carolina. For the first time, I began to understand what my mother, father, elders and some others were speaking on when they were talking about racism, white supremacy and slavery. I understood at that particular point that it was almost like that Malcolm moment. I began to understand what America was truly about and that America was a euphemism for prison. I definitely came up in that era. I wouldn’t say I was proud of it but I say that it was one of my greatest life lessons. Would you say that it was life-changing for you? Also, did it take you from one path to another? Absolutely. I think that at that particular moment I began to see life for what it’s worth. I began to understand freedom and captivity and how I and others played into the game of being entrapped and shuffled into this capitalist system. It was absolutely the greatest learning experience. Again, I can say I regret selling plantation poison being on the wrong side of history. At the time when that whole drug game was in full throttle, we didn’t know that we were actually destroying our people trying to build ourselves up. So, it was kind of like Omali Yeshitela’s piece on Dead Prez’s first album when he talked about how hunters hunted wolves in some indigenous cultures. Hunters would put blood on the blade and the wolf would smell the blood and would lick the blade thinking they had a meal but really slitting his own

From my recollection, your work with cases like that have been covered in your documentary, “Organizing is the New Cool.” Tell me about this project. Okay, Organizing is the New Cool is a film that we started working on 13 years ago. We began taping to document the community efforts of our organization (The FTP Movement). We wanted to give an example of some of the community activity; some of the programs that exist. We often hear our people talk about what needs to be done. “Black folks need to do this/ that,” as if they themselves are exempt like, “I’m not black. I’m thinking about what you niggas need to do.” you know what I mean? Not only did we document our work and efforts but we also highlighted many of the efforts of OGs and elders who existed before us. There are so many different brothers and sisters who put in the work. We hear about the Malcolm’s and the Martin’s but Martin had the SCLC. Malcolm had Muslim Mosque Incorporated as well as The Organization of Afro-American Unity. There’s never been a man or woman in history who didn’t have a team. So, they had a couple different brothers and sisters who worked directly with him in organizing those particular organizations or entities. Aside from that, you had founders of the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army as well as the Revolutionary Action Movement who are still around. I don’t want to give away the film, but we have a number of different activists, hip-hop artists and some who transitioned since our tapings and interviews and aren’t here with us now. So, we wanted to show the world some of their efforts and work. That is what happens with our organization, the importance we want to highlight which are the brothers, sisters and comrades whose names are unknown. Those who don’t get that recognition, because they’re the most important parts of it. That’s kind of what organizing and recruiting is about. I understand. With all this work that you’ve done, all the individuals that you have come across over the years, what role have you seen mental health played in the lives of just the black community overall? I think that mental health is of paramount importance. In the black community we need healing more than anyone else because we experience all types of trauma. We’ve experienced posttraumatic slave disorder. I read a report about a woman who was talking about the Jewish folks during the Holocaust; how many of their offspring were suffering different traumas. We already know what that’s like. We are suffering from post-traumatic slave

disorder from our experience. We still have that in our DNA. The pain, the hurt, the lack of love and the disregard; all of that is embedded within our DNA and in our melanin. It’s just like America. Violence is embedded inside of the fibers of America. This trauma is embedded within us just like our mother. So, I think that it’s important; but unfortunately, we’ve been taught that when you go seek help it’s looked at as a sign of weakness. Folks are embarrassed. We’re so damaged and Americanized that we laugh when our people are in pain. We see somebody get shot on TV, and are entertained. You see somebody walking down the street talking to themselves, “oh that fool crazy jumbling down the street”. Someone who is a victim of chemical biological warfare, quote unquote crackhead or dope fiend, we laughing because they trying to sell a broken TV or something like that. In a sense, they’re victims you know? So, I think that it this is very important for us all to seek some type of therapy. A friend of mine Ekundayo, he’s a rap artist out here. He had a song and in the song, he said, “The world is sick we need therapy.” We all need therapy. If you’re not getting therapy, some type of therapy, then to a great extent you’re a detriment. At this point, what else can we look out for? What else can you look out for? Revolution! [laughs] I think that you can look for us to continue to purchase land, continue to grow food, continue to build black families, continue to build institutions, educate ourselves. We’re about nation building. The term nation building is one of those terms that has been thrown around so loosely. We don’t have time for empty rhetoric. Our thing is being proactive, showing proof as they say. So, what you can look out for is some intelligent Afrikans who are building and striving. Whether it’s on local politics, because we’re running brothers and sisters for office on a local level. We don’t believe in electoral politics but if we had our sister sitting on a City Council board, we can make that phone call and cut thru the red tape. So, all of the things I mentioned is what we talk about when we say black power. But many of our people don’t understand power. That’s what we are building. So, any last words, any words encouragement or anything in particular that you would like to leave our reader’s with? Yes. You have to get prepared. We’re in a crisis. You know white supremacy is at an all-time high. We’ve been at war for 400 years. We’ve been victims of white supremacy. We’ve been victims of mass murders and mass shootings and all that for 400 years. So, we are hip to that, but we have to prepare ourselves. Learn how to grow food. I’m not going to say get “unified” because that’s such a loose word. Everybody is saying, “We need to stick together.” You be sticking together in the cemeteries, you sticking together in the clubs, you’re sticking together in a jail cell. So, it’s more than us just “sticking together”. We have to join an organization. If you’re not a part of some type of organization; I don’t care what you want to call it, I don’t care who the leader is none of that type of stuff. That’s your own personal business but you have to at least be a part of something that you can purchase food together. If you can’t do nothing but buy toilet paper together. Everybody got to wipe their tail. Can you support black folks that support you? Not just buy black but buy black from folks who are supporting black. Survival preparedness which includes martial arts, firearm training etc. We’re in the south. Gun laws are lax. Go to the range. Instead of taking a girl to the club, take her to the range. Teach her how to shoot or teach your man how to shoot in some cases. So, it’s about those things. We got to get the finances up. We’ve been taught to be poor righteous teachers for so long and taught about how we in “the struggle”. I’m not interested in struggling. To watch Kalonji Changa’s full interview, visit us on YouTube or on our website at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com. Follow Kalonji Changa on IG @Whohetalkingto and on Twitter @KalonjiChanga. Also, check out his websites at www.siafumovement.org, www.renegadeculture.org (podcast) and www.organizingisthenewcool.com (film). TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

CYRUS LOVE, ME

Q&A BY TYRONE DAVIS

What made you decide to both pursue music and continue your education? My definition of an artist is an all around person. Not only do they do music but they could also play sports or be something in business. I’m going to Georgia State for Business Administration to learn more how to manage my money and I think it’ll be good for me because I’m still a kid inside and I really don’t know how to manage my money that well. It’ll be good for me.

Break down how you became a DJ. I was working with Debra Antney (Waka Flocka’s mom) over there at BE100 Radio (in Atlanta) as an engineer for about 5 years. When I came on as an engineer, I started playing the music for everybody and as I would play the music, I knew what to play for all the shows because I would sit there engineering them. Within a day’s time, I was probably doing like 8 to 12 shows and I would be there from morning to night. My love was always for music because I had managed an artist at that time but as I learned music more, I wanted to be a DJ. One of my homeboys was over my house on New Year’s Eve and suggested it to me since I already knew how to play the music, engineer, etc. I took it, did it and was out of there.

Who would you say influenced you most as an artist? I would definitely say the rock band Paramore because Hayley Williams (lead vocalist) was my favorite growing up and she really taught me how to be different and is one of the reasons why I dye my hair different colors and be myself, no matter what other people say. I was in the second or third grade when I first got introduced to them by my friend and they are really good. I really grew attached to the band. You’ve opened up for a few notable acts, correct? Yes. I’ve opened up for The Migos, Cardi B and Jacquees. I really like Jacquees. He is a cool guy. That was one of my favorite shows too! That show was hype. After the show in Rochester, I met him backstage. He is really chill and he said he liked my chain so that was pretty cool. I hope to work with him soon. As a younger artist, how do you feel about the older generation’s critique of you and your peer’s music? I am saying this in the most respectful way possible. A lot of older artists grew up listening to a certain type of music and it is just hard for them to hear something different like someone else trying to start a new wave, for example. It just sounds like gibberish to them which is understandable at times. It is just something new that is coming up. It can be hard to accept but it is here. Tell us something about yourself that most don’t know. I speak French pretty fluently. What do you have coming up next? I have a project I’m working on called, Love, Me. It is going to probably be an EP. I am still thinking about it but I have already done a few songs for it. It is going to be a love tape. My last mix tape was about partying but this one is going to be directed towards the female fan base. Yeah. Working on it has been really cool. To view his full interview, visit us on YouTube or on our website www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com. Follow Cyrus on Instagram @cyrussmithmusic. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

LIVE FROM THE PADDED ROOM

Q&A BY TYRONE DAVIS

As an artist, how would you describe your style? Ooh, I think that is the hardest question for me because I don’t really stick to a specific style. I like to go all around, especially when it comes to different genres. I don’t just stay in one lane. Yea, that’s a tough question for me. I guess I would say being fun and relatable plays a major role in it.

PHOTO: TAILIAH BREON

DJ WAFFLES

You’re originally from NYC, right? Did that connection have anything to do with Deb being from up that way? Yes, I’m from Brookyn, NYC but the connection came when I was managing an artist and brought the artist down to her radio station and the artist had become a personality. Then, I became the engineer. So, it started to work and became a match made in heaven. She (Deb) became my manager and I just started doing what it is that I was doing. That is how a lot of things started coming my way but I had to put the work in to actually get in those positions that I’ve been in. Currently, we’re at Rolling Out headquarters (Atlanta, GA) and you’ve just finished interviewing some artists. Tell us about “The Padded Room”. Man. This is a great platform. Shout out to Romeo International. He plugged me in with Rolling Out a couple of months ago and they let me create the podcast platform where I interview a lot of dope independent artists. I’m the guy that’s for the people like baby Jesus. If I can help you all, this is what I do. I just interviewed She Real. She is dope and from New York. Then I had Trey Cash. He is from 45 minutes out of Atlanta. He is super dope. I’ve also interviewed Johnny Blaze, Tiffany Evans, Yusef that runs A3C and more. I’ve had so many different people. I sit down with them and talk to them about their story just like you’re talking to me about mine. Now, another artist you’re working with currently is Cyrus and you have that affiliation and are A&R for Young Millennium Records. Tell us a little bit about that. So listen man, that was a blessing. Shout out to Lena J. over there. I interviewed Cyrus on radio and he felt like I gave him the best interview ever. So, she called me and it was hard for her to chase me down to DJ. She asked me to do an event I wasn’t available for and the next time she called me, Cyrus was opening up for the Migos, Cardi B and Moneybagg Yo. It was crazy. So, she flew me out and made sure that I did what I was supposed to do. We turned up. It was an amazing show and then she started building the roster even more. I told her I’d help her because I was down for the cause. She made me A&R and I just started helping all the artists that she has on the label, putting the projects together. Cyrus and I just did a mixtape not too long ago. To view his full interview, visit us on YouTube or on our website www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com.

PHOTO: DREA NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Follow DJ Waffles on Instagram @DJ_Waffles or on his website www.iamdjwaffles.com. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

RAPSODY A BLACK WOMAN CREATED THIS Words + Interview By Tyrone Davis While traveling with Big K.R.I.T. on his “From the South with Love” tour, Rapsody and I spoke about connecting with her audience on stage, her creative process, women empowerment and the importance of women working together as well as her goals for the upcoming year. Rapsody recently announced the “A Black Woman Created This” tour, which begins in February of 2020. How do you prepare for touring? The creative process is just you and your team coming up with these ideas and telling these stories. The fun thing about touring is that once the music has traveled, you get to see how it resonates with the people and you get to give and receive the energy, making it an experience. That is what I love about shows. It is an intimate experience, whether you are performing in front of 10 people or 500 people, it is between you and a bunch of people which I like to call, “The Village” at a show.

PHOTO: JOSE GONGORA

At every show I’ve been doing things differently to see how people connect with different music. It is always fun for the setup of songs too. I like to talk to the crowd so I have two or three intermission or interlude parts where I get to have a conversation with the crowd and perform songs that hit them emotionally. We’re going through a roller coaster of all these different emotions and vibes for one night. Do you still get butterflies at this point in your career? I always get butterflies but I welcome it. Getting them is healthy for me. I am more worried when I don’t feel butterflies or I am not just a little bit nervous because when I have them, I really care. I really want to go out and get the best show that I can. I find when I don’t, I am just too overconfident. Butterflies mean I am still in the moment. As soon as the music starts and I hit that stage, all of that is out of the window and I’m in it, which makes it a beautiful experience. It is just you. You take it and the crowd wherever you want it to go. So, I am always mastering and learning more. I have toured and done a plethora of shows but as I grow in my career and my notoriety and celebrity gets bigger, I come to learn more things about how to maintain and do bigger shows and how to make it a real story and experience whether I have a screen or pyro or it is just me and the DJ. I’d say I am well versed for sure but always trying to learn more. How do you feel about the controversy surrounding women who rap and their art being referred to as “Stripper Rap”? I think the music should reflect the world we live in. We are all different. I’m going to be different than Megan (thee Stallion). Megan is different than Cardi B. Cardi is different than Nicki. Nicki is different than Leikeli47, etc. That is what I love about music. Guys can make all types of music whether they grew up in the church, on the street, in college or wherever they have. Women should be able to display our differences in the same way but again; our differences are just a reflection of the world and who we are as individuals. So, I think it’s healthy and dope. We need a variety of women and I’m excited that we have so many different women coming up. If anything, I would want to see more balance on a mainstream level but I love the sisterhood and camaraderie. I want to see it continue to grow and welcome more women. There have always been a plethora of women in Hip Hop whether you see them on a mainstream level or not. We have

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always been there and we’ve always been different. I support all my sisters. For the record, we (men) do complain about there being a lack of balance, even amongst male artists. Just wanted to throw that out there. I’m with you 100 percent but the most important thing is to remember that in that conversation of wanting and needing more balance, it’s important to not degrade the other women to do that or put down what they do, if that makes sense. I think that has been the biggest issue where we can have that conversation without having to dim the light of others. So yeah, I agree with you otherwise, 100 percent. I personally love to see women succeed but I also feel that because women are getting their shine as a whole, an unnecessary gender war seems to be happening. What say you? I agree. It doesn’t have to be a gender war. There is room for us all. Like I said before, you don’t have to dim somebody else’s light to shine yours. When you have people at the forefront like Cardi who takes the time and is secure in what she does and knows that she has her lane and nobody else can do her like she can do her, she doesn’t mind giving a shout out to a Chika, Tiara Whack, myself or Kamaiyah. I never have a problem shouting out anyone either, like Megan, Tokyo Jetz, etc. When the media or society are the ones that try to pit us against each other, we are understanding more and more that we have the power to take control of that narrative, tell the stories, support and work with each other to show that we’re not going to fall into the trap of what you’re trying to create. We can work and make music together and champion each other. It only helps us, especially the ones that are coming up after us for easier path. It is definitely getting better and it is not like it was five years ago. Now, being that your latest project, “Eve” has a track listing where the song titles are named after women that inspired you, do you have a “Top 5” when it comes to female MCs? I mean, I have my favorites but I just hate to group us as “The Top Five Women”. I’m not really a fan of doing that. I think women can be in a complete conversation and the women that can be in a conversation that I’m a fan of are just MCs, whether male or female like Lauren Hill, Missy Elliott, Jean Gray, Queen Latifah and Rah Digga. Moving forward, what is next for Rapsody in 2020? I plan on getting back in the studio. Creatively, I’m inspired again so I want to get in and work. Also, I have other goals outside of music like getting behind the camera. Those are the things on my short goal list for the next year and a half. Follow Rapsody on Instagram @rapsody. Also, check out her tour schedule on www.genesis320.com. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

BEAUTY OF THE MONTH

MORGAN WOODS

>> ON LOCATION

HOMETOWN: ATLANTA, GA MORGAN WOODS IS A DANCER AND MODEL SIGNED WITH TALENT AGENCY, ALIMA INDUSTRIES. SHE GRADUATED FROM NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WITH HONORS AND CURRENTLY TEACHES AT “I AM ARTS PERFORMING COMPANY” IN ATLANTA UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF DR. TIFFANY MINGO AND THERESA MINGO. HER GOAL IS TO BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME WITHIN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND TO OPEN HER OWN DANCE AND ACTING COMPANY THAT WOULD ALLOW KIDS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR DREAMS. MORGAN’S CONTACT: INSTAGRAM: @CARINGWOODS_ PHOTO: ALIMA INDUSTRIES

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BISHOP WESLEY WILEY I MADE IT ON BROKEN PIECES Words + Interview By Tyrone Davis First off, I’d like to say that speaking with Brooklyn, NYC’s Bishop Wesley Wiley has to be one of my favorite interviews to date. We had a great conversation and although we spoke about a wide range of topics including social media, his love for music, the conscious community vs. the religious community, millennials and more, this particular excerpt will focus on Bishop Wiley’s book, “I Made it on Broken Pieces”. Enjoy! Explain your background. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. My father was a preacher before his passing in the AME church. I grew up in the Flatbush area of New York City, which is a very interesting area because it had a lot of challenges back in the sixties and seventies, going into the eighties. It was fairly good. You learn a lot, concerning the arts. A lot of the performers come out of Flatbush like Barbara Streisand. So, it was a very interesting area where I grew up. NYC is one of my favorite places of all time. I love going there because of the culture and it feels like it is one of the only places where you can see the world without actually being in the entire world, you know? How did you maintain being in a church family with all of the stuff that happened there, especially from the sixties on up? Also, Hip Hop was booming. How did your family feel about that? Lol, I was just thinking about Biggie. My family was pretty much even keel. Even though we had the church environment, my dad and my mom were pretty much easy going. Not “Do what you want to do” but dude, they weren’t hardcore. I’m a musician also, Ty so they didn’t hold me back from listening to other music because they knew I could just hear some music and play it, whether it was secular or gospel. So, I didn’t grew up in a house where they withheld that part from me because they knew my love for music. They kept a balance. You just had to grow up in it, keep yourself around positive people by staying in the right environments and knowing what and who to avoid. That really helped me a lot. What made you want to become an author? Our experiences help to build our story; past, present and future. With everything we go through in life, a lot of us could be authors if we just sit down and think. I am a thinker but I am also a writer. I love writing. A publisher came to me and she said, “Why don’t you just write a book?”, you know? It took me four or five years to write one book because I would put it down and be busy doing other stuff, back and forth. Just writing in my mind, I’m taking it from a story in the Bible and then coinciding it with what I went through.

PHOTO: NATHAN PEARCY

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So, the book is called, “I Made it on Broken Pieces”. What does it mean to be made on broken pieces? Biblically, in Acts, the 20th chapter, it talks about a man named Paul. I begin to compare my life to Paul’s life and our lives. First of all, Paul wasn’t a Christian. He was actually one of the assassins of Christians. He used to kill Christians and his life got turned around. I’m kind of on a level as a cutting edge

Bishop. They call me “The Hip Hop Bishop” or whatever because I always use music in my sermons or when I talk. I look at Paul who had an experience where he was going down this road, the Holy Spirit knocked him out and when he got up, he got up under a new name. His name was changed to Saul and he had become a preacher. So, he went from an assassin of Christians to a leader of the Christians. He went from that area preaching up until the point where his preaching got him imprisoned because many were saying what he was preaching was false doctrine. They were trying to kill his character like it happens with us. They imprisoned him so in Acts 28, he is in this prison but he is still ministering. This particular story starts with Paul is in this prison and the prison was kind of overloaded. So they’re taking the prisoners out to move them to Italy, well Malita first and then Italy to bring them to a bigger facility. When I read the Bible, I get all of this like a story so I like to tell it like that. This is where I compare our lives to Paul, step by step. I compare our lives to us being changed, not being “religious” but being changed by the renewing of our mindset. So Paul’s life was changed. One minute you could be in one place and the next minute you can be in another place all through the hands of God. A lot of people don’t like to say this, but I do believe that God can change anybody. I do believe that God can use anybody. I do believe that it is not a religion. It is a relationship of all of us. I don’t believe in judging people for where they are or what they are dealing with because we all have issues. We’ve all come from somewhere and are still dealing with stuff. So, I compare Paul’s life from that point into the point where he is now in prison and being forced to deal with people that are not on his level. That is for a lot of us preachers who think that everyone that we deal with has to be in church. No, that is not what our mission is supposed to be. We’re easy to compare our lives to people that have not been where we have been. So basically that’s how I start going into the book about Paul. My book was written 10 years ago so I’m releasing it again as a 10th Anniversary Edition with a fresh cover and everything. The first 5,000 copies sold out. That was years ago. God just led me to bring it back out cause people need to hear it now. To watch our full interview with Bishop Wesley Wiley, visit us at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com or on our YouTube channel. Also, follow Bishop Wiley on IG @wesjwiley and order his book at www.wesleyjwiley.org. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

DEREK BLANKS CREATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE Words + Interview By Tyrone Davis Derek Blanks is a celebrity photographer, illustrator, creative director and more, most known for his “Alter-Ego” photoshoots and other high profile works with clients ranging from Missy Elliot to Fantasia to Nicki Minaj. In this interview, we discussed his big break, how to stand out, work ethic and more. The following is an excerpt. Break down your background. I’m originally from Jackson, Mississippi and I grew up in a family of five consisting of my mom, dad, (fraternal) twin brother and oldest brother. I’ve always had an interest in and love for art so growing up I was drawing even before I could write. I went to school for academic and I went to a performance art school where my focus was illustration, drawing and painting. I used to create art as a hobby then for extra cash like doing portraits for people, painting on jeans, etc. I’ve always had that entrepreneur spirit where I made money from my talent. When did you get your big break? Which project was that? I think my first big project...... one of them was photography for Ludacris’ energy drink called Tantra and red carpet work for the Ludacris Foundation. I had just moved to Atlanta and I met the chair of his foundation, showed her my word and she actually asked me to shoot the promo shots for Ludacris. I was extremely happy for that. At the time, I was working a full time job doing graphic design for a corporate company called Scientific Gains. They designed lottery tickets and my account was with the Illinois PHOTO: Lottery. So, I took my background TAILIAH BREON as far as drawing and did the graphics for the lottery tickets and I was shooting part time as well. I met this young lady by the name of Rachel Vassel and I did her family portraits and at that time she asked me about working on her book project. I told her I’d love to do it and long story short, she hit me back and was like, “I got a publishing deal. They want to include some celebrities to market it accordingly and to get more publicity for it”. So I’m just like, “Great!” Next thing I know, we’re in LA and we’re shooting the likes of Tracey Edmonds, Lisa Ray, Melinda Williams, Tisha Campbell....all these women. PHOTO: DREA NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY

The book was called, Daughters of Men. It opened up doors for me and because I was so proficient and fast in photography, that was a bonus to me getting the shots that they needed and then me working with them long-term. So, from that project alone, a lot of those women ended up being my clients. That has kind of been the reputation that I’ve built as far as being creative and fast. A lot of them don’t want to be on sets all day. I plan out my

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vision before and I execute what I’m, what I’m fair to accomplish. So, that project made me realize I wanted to do my own coffee table book and that is where the alter egos (shoots) were birthed. I decided to do that using some of those clientele and reaching out to other people about being on the project. It blew up overnight. I did an art opening and everybody came out there from Janel Monae to T.I. and Tiny, Cee-Lo, etc. At the same time, I had been working with Nene from Housewives of Atlanta and I propositioned her to do the same thing on the show. Most people don’t know that I was doing the alter ego shoots before Housewives but that just opened up the flood gates for international exposure. From there I worked with magazines like Ebony and Essence, shot covers, worked with major record labels and branded myself as kind of like the Alter Ego King. With all of the technology today and with every industry that does well, they often become oversaturated. How do you feel about there being so many “creatives” today? You know what? It is a little humbling. I think whatever you do, if your intent is pure, you’re going to prosper from it. So, I’m not really worried about other photographers that are coming on the scene if they are just doing it just because it is hot right now. You turn on Instagram and you see countless models, makeup artists, photographers, etc. The one thing that I learned from just working with assistants and interns is that you have to have the drive and dedication to do this. When I started, we wanted it. Now, millennials have all the opportunity in front of them. I tell my assistants all the time that they have to have more than talent. I also tell them not to worry about competition because most of them won’t have the work ethic. Okay. Lastly, how would you like to be remembered? You know what? Honestly, I want my work to live on longer than me for generations. I want to be this generation’s Gordon Parks. I would love for my son and my great grand kids to be in their house and have one of my photos be in their home as art. To watch our full interview with Derek Blanks, visit us at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com or on our YouTube channel. Also, Follow Derek on Instagram @mrdblanks. His website is www.dblanks.com. TWENTY4SEVEN MAGAZINE

CHECK ME OUT RONNY TEKK GARY, IN

THE POLISHED LADY INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Hailing from Atlanta, GA the 21 year old R&B phenom, AZ, grew up surrounded by music her whole life, so it was only natural that she would follow in suit. Her new single “MORE”, available on all streaming platforms, is just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone who has seen AZ perform understands that it is no game. Her shows leave one feeling impressed by her dance moves and the calculated professionalism with which she handles the stage. She has appeared on Life Time Network, WE TV’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta and opened for: Miami Heat, TLC, SWV, Guy, Baby Face and New Edition (to name a few). AZ has been working with some of the music industry’s most talented and qualified professionals to develop a R&B project that fuses music history into a lane of her own! Follow AZ on Instagram and Twitter @azofficially and on Facebook @Azofficiallyy.

Interview By Lucky Smith

How did you get into music? I started producing beats around age 7 on a PlayStation2 on a game called, Ejay Club World that I used to play and the basis of the game was to use pre made loops to create music. My aunt gave me an old Sony receiver for Christmas that I would hook the game up to and on the receiver there was a tape deck and an EQ so it was possible for me to record my beats. I would go to Family Dollar and buy tapes for $5, make beat tapes and let my friends hear them.

When did you decide on what career path to take? When I was young and in school, I was very shy and timid but when I was at one of the many youth groups that my mom kept me in, I was a superstar. When I got older, I recognized the power of having a voice and it being able to change someone’s life. I decided that media was for me when I found my voice and purpose.

What has been your biggest placement thus far? In 2016, I thought I had my biggest placement with Desiigner. I made this track called, Moon People which consisted of his acapella Tim Westwood freestyle arranged into a song. That was everywhere but it didn’t quite go how I wanted it to. So, as of now my biggest placement has been in the film Lazarus where I have a song with rapper, Rico Reckless. If you had the chance to produce for anybody in the music business, who would it be and why? I want to produce for Jay Z on some Timbaland Black Album type stuff.

Read Ronny Tekk’s full interview at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com. Follow him on social media @ronnytekk.

Contact: Alima Albari Alima Industries Talent Management www.alimaindustries.com Photo: Alima Industries

What all do you actually do? Which is your favorite? I do interviews via my YouTube channel. I also do commercial drops, event recaps, provide social media consulting, hosting and I am a brand ambassador. My favorite is doing interviews because you are sharing what molds you and makes you go further. What have you learned from working at radio? I’ve learned a lot from having non disclosure agreements and contracts on file at all times to knowing one’s target audience. What would you say makes you so polished? I keep trying to make a way. I always say, “Stay Polished”. To me that means keep establishing yourself. Read The Polished Lady’s full interview at www.twenty4sevenmagazine.com. Follow her on social media @thepolishedlady.

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23 19

ISSUE #61 2019

BISHOP WESLEY WILEY Rapsody. Pastor Mitch Summerfield. + Ashley Lee. Kalonji Changa. Cyrus. DJ Waffles.

Derek Blanks. Ronny Tekk. The Polished Lady. AZ.