Urban Image Magazine July 2014 Issue by Urban Image Magazine

July 2014

A Hustler’s

Getting to

Mentality

the Root

Life’s Transi-

Fashion Vic-

tion

tims 60

Death of a

Cool Summer

Muse

Fashion Tips

Charles

5 Traits of a

French

Good Man

Urban

Sexual

Alter

Expression

76 Ask Aswanu Ask Aswanu

100 Ways to Build Wealth

The Little

Deszion’s

Princess

Star Design

102

SolFuzion Stuffed Peppers 86 UIM’s Round the Way Girl 88 NBA Champs

*Feature Story*

2014

H-Town

108

Did You Know?

94 The Dumbest

“E Quizzle”

Shit

122

*Cover Story* Olivia Longott… In Her Own Words 128

Still Shakin

What’s Goin on

137

TODAY This Month

144 UIM’s What ‘s

UIM’s Movie Reviews

Da Word Mix-Up

142

148

Todrick Hall 151

Dirty Red 157

Amaru Lewis 160

Poetic Justice Joint 168

Dear Readers, I’m very excited to present y’all with this month's issue. It’s hot!!! Y’all hear me? First we have Olivia Longott on the cover looking ab-solutely beautiful! Olivia discusses her future as she looks to distinguish herself from the way she was portrayed on Love and Hip Hop. She tells our very own Blessed Selling Author E.N.Joy, who she really is...in her own words. About three months ago, I noticed that the vast majority of our readership are still madly in love with the music released in the 90s. So, every month we take a trip down memory lane to reminisce on some of our favorite artists. This month is special– We did an exclusive interview with H-Town. It’s on page 108, make sure you check it out. I don’t know if you ladies have been payin attention or not, but we have our very own stylist who is dedicated to giving you the latest fashion tips month after month. In this addition, Cesar W. Sosa is putting you ladies up on how to look sexy while wearing less and how to stay cool while wearing more during the hot Summer months. As always, I will continue to remind you that we are a magazine for the people. We pride ourselves in being accessible. Don’t be shy, hit us up. Email us at info@UrbanImageMagazine.com or contact us on Facebook. Continue to visit our site everyday to view our blogs to stay up to date on the latest happenings in news

and entertainment. Lastly, we are looking for dedicated people to join our team. We are currently seeking active bloggers, video bloggers and writers, sale staff, social media associates and someone who is very upbeat and professional with networking skills who can assist with the day to day operations of the magazine. If interested contact us; info@UrbanImageMagazine.com. Peace and Love,

Meet our Staff

My name is Richarh Aswanu AKA Daddy Rich. I am the CEO and founder here at Urban Image Magazine and GangstatLit. Writing is not a phase in my life, it defines who I am. I’m a man on a mission. I want my freedom! This is why I write! I have been locked down for 8 years but have published 3 books thus far. I have my own style that separates me from other authors. I created Urban Image to serve as a publication you can be proud of. It is our aim to dissolve the negative stereotypes associated with the “Urban Community”. We will inform, educate, entertain and inspire our readers. In addition to providing you with thought provoking content, Urban Image Magazine will showcase talents who haven’t had the opportunity to reach mainstream media outlets. Urban Image Magazine was founded as a life changing movement for all that are involved in our mission. We are a stage for those without a platform to have a spotlight. Published to be accessible online, this magazine is designed to serve as a catalyst to success, a place where you can network with like-minded people who are in pursuit of their dreams.

Hello, my name is Denetra “Queen GangstaLit” Key better known as D Queen or Boss Ladii. I am the president here at Urban Image. I am a mother of three and also a 15 year nurse by profession. I also am our magazine layout designer… so I hope you enjoy my art. There are some topics that arise in life that strike a cord with me and I will write on those issues. My articles and blogs are to shed light on issues that are dear to my heart! I apologize in advance if I offend. But my pieces are based on my opinion. Our opinions reflect that we are individual children of God. One promise I can make is that I will report on the topics of my choice in as accurate fashion as I can. I welcome you to leave your comments good or bad in regards to my work. I actually appreciate it! Your views give me insight. Thank you for visiting our page. While your here please take the time to browse around and look at our past magazines and blogs. Thanks again and God Bless!

KIMBERLEY R. JASPER was raised in Jamaica Queens, New York and still describes herself as a true New Yorker through and through despite currently residing in Humble, Texas with her family.

Af-

ter self-publishing her first novel, she is now fulfilling her purpose and passion as a writer.

From horror fic-

tion with a mystical twist to erotic thrillers, this author can do it all with wellseasoned finesse.

Angela Williams is just now beginning to explore the possibilities opened to her. She is an avid reader who sometimes lets her imagination run wild. A lover of animals she shares living space with two dogs and a cantankerous cat. No stranger to being told what can’t be done she tries to empower those around her. She believes that you’re never late for your dream, you always arrive right on time. At the present time she is residing in Chesapeake, VA and working on a book of poetry.

BLESSEDselling Author E. N. Joy is the writer behind the five book series, “New Day Divas” and the “Still Divas” three book series, which have been coined “Soap Operas in Print.” She has written women’s lit and erotica under the name Joylynn M. Jossel and street lit under the name JOY. When she's not penning these addictive series for her adult Christian fiction readers, she's penning children's and tween's stories. Her children’s story, The Secret Olivia Told Me, received the American Library Association Coretta Scott King Honor. Book club rights were acquired by Scholastic Books and the book has sold almost 100,000 copies. Elementary and middle school children have fallen in love with reading and creative writing as a result of the readings and workshops Joy performs in schools nationwide.

Currently, Joy is the acquisition editor for Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books in which the titles are distributed by Kensington Publishing Corporation. In addition, Joy is the artistic developer for a young girl group named DJHK Gurls. Joy pens original songs for the group that deal with messages that affect today’s youth, such as bullying. You can visit Joy at www.enjoywrites.com. 17

SolFuzion was created by Chef Jonathan Ivy in 2012. Chef Ivy, a graduate of Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ecole Culinaire St. Louis, has blended Traditional Soul Food flavors with various other cuisines, while using a Classic French Presentation style. Chef Ivy is determined to unite cultures through the culinary experience.

Larrod Evans was born in Baltimore, MD but bounced around from state to state. He takes pride in his cultural diversity and his biggest influences are his mother, Hip-Hop and traveling. His interest consist of music, art, sports, reading, the outdoors and cooking. He also has a degree in culinary arts and makes a mean pizza! Despite being incarcerated, Larrod maintains selfdiscipline, is optimistic and works hard towards his goals. He is currently working on various T.V projects and will be launching his publishing company Chapter 34 later this year.

Jonathan Ivy is a personal chef that has a passion for cooking and takes that passion into his clients' home. He shares his love of food, simplifies the lives of his clients and improves and expands upon their nutrition and experience with food. Whether a lifestyle choice with a personal chef cooking for them regularly, or for special occasions or parties, Chef Ivy's clients enjoy the taste of the good life. 18

If you needed a license to be a comic, this guy has one! Get this… his father was a notorious and very volatile pimp and his mother was a Jehovah’s Witness… a schizophrenic Jehovah’s Witness. Which means, if she knocks on your door, she'll answer it too! If that doesn’t earn

him the right to do stand up, then nothing will! As a skilled and accomplished screenwriter Amaru can adapt to his environment and make any situation into a humorous story. His comedic story telling can be mesmerizing at times. The screenwriter in him makes him visual but the kid and the quick wit in him makes for a good time at any club. Amaru is the type of comedian who will the say things you didn't even know you wanted to say. The audience can be very diverse, black, white, in between. Amaru is able to connect with everyone in an attendance. It's more like listening to a friend telling you funny and relevant humorous stories about life, than simply listening to a "comedian" do "stand up". If Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor and Michael Duncan Clark decided to have a kid together, it would come out as Amaru. He's edgy without being crass, obviously loves his kids like crazy, and his smooth baritone delivery make him easy to listen to. 19

A Hustler's Mentality! By: P.J. Flemming Men born in the U.S. who are fortunate to live past the age of 18 are systematically conditioned to accept the inevitability of prison. With that being the case, choosing right from wrong in a system that is designed for young men to end up in prison at some point, isn't really a choice at all. Now is it?! Makes one think, how this same system can question the mentality of a hustler, when a hustler hustles to survive in an imperfect system. Maybe I am just pointing the finger, but hear me out. Today children grow up with families that are divided and on some occasions unfit. Now to say this is not to say there are no good homes out there for children to be raised in. However, most children that end up in prison are from broken and divided homes. A home that has one parent, usually a mother struggling to make ends meet. This same mother working two or more dead end jobs to provide for a full house. Only to have the electric turned off and rent over due in the end. Imagine That! To add to all of this, the work field is scarce and it's hard to obtain a job in today's workforce. Then the killing part is;the government and/or system (whatever you want to call them) say that it's about one's educational history.Now there can't be too much objec-

tion there, being that it is education that has provided and opened doors for so many. Yet one fact cannot be ignored, and that is there are many students who have graduated from Ivy League schools with Bachelors and Master Degrees and on some occasions PH.D's only to be standing in the same unemployment line as the uneducated and less fortunate. This same system that questions the mentality of a hustler is the same system that questions why there are so many single parent homes. Not wanting to acknowledge the fact, it being this imperfect system that results in these single parent homes. Let's have a quick change in direction and look at some numbers. Nearly 27 to 29 percent of Americans are incarcerated today. Out of that at least 65 percent of those individuals are black; which can be said that nearly 46 to 48 percent of 22

black Americans are incarcerated in prison facilities today; throughout State Institutions and Federal Penitentiaries, men and woman alike. Yet there is a considerably more amount of men incarcerated today than woman, most of whom are fathers. And out of the 27 to 29 percent of Americans incarcerated, 80 percent of them have children. And yes, a substantial amount of these incarcerated individuals have some type college educational history. Most people don't know what interpersonal skills are or how they are developed. Interpersonal skills are habits, mannerisms, attitudes, appearances, and behavior

that we learn from family, friends, and the world around use. television, movies, internet, and magazines). The development of our Interpersonal Skills begins early in life. We are not born knowing exactly what is right from wrong. Like most things in our lives we must be taught, must see, and must experience through trial and error throughout the course of our lives. However, most of these skills are passed along to us by our parents. Let's take a look at what children learn from their parents. They learn whatever tactics a parent allows them to observe and it gets grafted into the child's way of life, their way of doing things. Children watch their par-

ents do some legal and not so legal things to survive in today's system. They learn the way of survival based around the simplicity being...Survival by Any Means. What is Survival by Any Means?! Simple, its do whatever you must do to make it another day, whether it's the right or wrong way. With this mentality, right or wrong is never in question, it's all about survival. What do children pick up from the world around them? They pick up the same mentality that they learn at home, Survival by Any Means. Children see the cars, clothes, jewels and cash from drug dealers and rappers, and the ease that comes with it. They also observe the police, governors, and majors exuding the same mentality (doing whatever) to maintain positions, power, and prestige. For a child who was raised with next to nothing, of course ambition and desire takes root, how could it not. For a child who is raised constantly on the move, never having things he wanted growing up, and struggling with a single mother; the heart grows strong, not according to today's system of societal norm, but according to the ghetto of societal norm. Although at times they tend to be one in the same. The ghetto of societal norm teaches one not to cry over anything, realizing if you want it, go and get it. So vows get made in a child's heart as they grow up. Things like, having what they didn't have as an adolescent, or not being like the father they barely knew or didn't know at all,

and getting themselves to a position of never wanting for anything. This leads to those who were once kids to today's adults with one main goal to life,Survival by Any Means. Survival by any means is what the Hustler's Mentality is all about. This mentality is not just a way of thinking, it's a way of life, and it is rooted to the soul. A child who has built up this mentality growing up; it's simple to them: Don't wait for anyone to provide for you, provide it for yourself; This avenue is not open, find an alternative route;You have a family hungry and cold in the dark...go get food, buy them clothes and get those lights on; If this is what you want, go and get it; if this is what you need, make it happen. How?!...By Any Means! Now with the mentality survival by any means (A Hustler's Mentality) has both positive and negatives of the law. Basically it comes down to the individual who while growing up built this mentality and part of exactly what their eyes have seen along the

way. Some take this mentality and build up an unstoppable work ethic; constantly learning growing and advancing. Other's take this mentality to a certain extreme, and from this spawns drug dealers, pimps, burglars and robbers ( i.e. that 27 to 29 percent incarceration rate). Needless to say the system frowns down upon such antics; meaning, these drug dealers, pimps, burglars and robbers. But keeping it 100 and this may ruffle a few feathers, but the system is filled with the same type of people with the same mentality (i.e. politicians, law enforcement, judges, etc...). whether they are willing to admit it or not, it's the same mentality as the individuals they frown down upon. Their operations are based upon by any means necessary as well. What's the difference between them and civilians? Circumstance and Position! It can very well be narrowed down more to a specific entity, like a simple question. What would you do under the given circumstances? Hungry, broke, and homeless! Anyone past the age of 12 know very well it is s waste of time to point the finger for any circumstance towards our imperfect system and those that run it;although they may very well be the blame for some of it, if not most of it. Its funny how this completely broken system is viewed as viable, looking at it like it actually works. Now I am not pointing the finger at anyone, I am just making a revelatory statement. Like for a fact, government officials will never acknowledge the actuality, it being this broken system that results in these single parent homes, the way of

life that children learn from, and the part they play in A Hustler's Mentality; a mentality they so closely share. I say this and this in my own personal opinion of course; it is this broken system that results in a hustler hustling. Malcolm X said, "When a person places a certain value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he won't do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won't do to get it, or what he doesn't believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn't believe in freedom." Now I say this replace freedom with survival or to survival. So I will say it like this in the simplest of terms possible. The human race has been hustling for over 50,000 years; ever since the beginning of time. One could track hustling back to biblical times, ever since Satan tricked Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eve foolishly believed if she ate the forbidden fruit she would be like God. She traded in life for death, happiness for sorrow, pleasure for pain, and you know it has been said, fair exchange has never been robbery. Yet just the same my view it this; if Satan is real, it is only right to say he is the original hustler.

How far will you go? Hakeem Saddiq served three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Upon his release, he promised to go legit and leave the streets forever… But, his beautiful 5 year old daughter needs $127,000, and it’s a situation of life or death. Forced to choose between the streets and a straight path Hakeem chooses to get the money needed “by any means.” You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you read this compelling story about a father’s love for his daughter.

Life’s Transition By: Tiffany Jasper

Life is full of opportunity and sometimes it can create times of defeat. When you’ve raised your children to work hard, be kind to others, earn an education of their choice, give back to the community and how to become a model individual, going through a life transition can bring on skepticism. As physically and emotionally draining tough transitions can be for adults, it may be just as difficult (or even more) for children to go through. This is a time when questions are raised about why is this happening when we did seemed to be doing the right things, etc.

Healing and appropriate coping during this time is essential. That can include, finding positives in the situation, giving more support to your children, and creating times where they can talk about what they like and dislike about the transition. Their overall feelings are real and necessary to be known and discussed. How can you as a parent help give your children reassurance that the family’s situation is temporary and all will be well even when you may be in doubt? I will tell you what has worked for me:

1). Visiting “open house” events—This is a visual reminder that there are beautiful places to live in all communities. When you make the visits to the new homes, begin to talk about the setting as if it is already yours. Have your children talk about or even write down what they want in their perspective bedrooms, family room, and backyard. Remind your children (and yourself) that if you set goals, work towards them, and stay diligent, you can have anything that you desire; from the cutest outfit to the largest home that you design yourself. 28

2). Reminding your children of the silver lining. Pointing out all the good in the situation gives opportunity for hope. Allowing them to talk about the good times they miss or the differences the current situation contains eases anxiety.

3). Listen to and confirm their feelings. Tr ansition can be difficult and every person (child or adult) adjusts differently. So remember, there are many ways to adjust, however, if you notice your child’s adjustment has become negative, step in and help transfer that energy to positive.

4). Reading affirmations/self-help literature. For older youth and teens there are so many books with positive affirmations and self-help passages that will uplift and help with hope. My teen loves “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul” because it includes stories that speak to all emotions and most situations written about, ends on positive notes. Many times it helps her know that there are other situations worst than what she may think hers may be. Your younger child will love you to read or have those same positive affirmations read to them. Try books that speak about courage, change and love among family and friends. Telling your children how much they are loved and cared for will help to no end. Life’s transitions happen, it can be overcome; you will make it, and believe that each day will be just a bit better. You must believe and receive that you are doing well; more success and prosperity is where you are destined!

Death of a Muse By: Angela Williams

An icon is a graphic representation of something, a person or thing that is a symbolic or noted figure. A muse is a person who serves as an artist's inspiration. Wednesday May 28, 2014 the world lost both when Marguerite Annie Johnson, best known as Dr. Maya Angelou, ascended to the heavens. Many from all walks of life mourned her passing and many celebrated her life. The moment that I realized she was gone a hole in my heart was formed because for many years she was my muse and her life mentored to me.

viewed my mother differently. I began to see that life as a black female child wasn't easy. To be able to make it from childhood to adulthood was a battle that wasn't easily won. I looked at Maya Angelou and my mother, Ruth Williams, with eyes of wonder and a heart filled with love because not only did they make it, they reI never met her, but that never fused to let the negastopped her words and actions from shaping who I would become. I remem- tive circumstances control them. ber one Saturday night, many moons After the movie ended my mother said that I could overcome anything and ago, when my mother sat with me in front of the television to watch "I Know succeed. She tried to instill in me that my skin color and weight couldn't hold Why the Caged Bird Sings'. I was enme back. She pointed to the screen and thralled at what played out on the telesaid "If she can make it I know you can vision screen. I cried at the horrors she too!" That statement began my lifelong endured and smiled at her strength and tutelage with Maya Angelou. I read her intelligence. However, in that moment I 30

work and words and always came away renewed and inspired. She made me believe I could be a writer. She made me believe that my life mattered. She inspired me to be a better me. As I started writing this I became really quiet because I realized who my true muse was and is..... my Mother.

This woman who had adopted me, loved me, nurtured me and helped me bloom had always seen something in me that I never knew. She saw how some of my life's challenges held me back and she introduced me to those who had overcome some of the same challenges. She, along with my dad, took me to the library every Wednesday 31

to check out books. She never minded that I would spend two hours reading then checking out my books. She would look at my choices and suggest that I look at a different topic. As much as I loved mystery, mythology and horror she gently introduced me to poetry, romance and history. She endured my years of fascination with Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Native American mytholo-

gy. She watched me put on my own spin on Shakespeare and Gilbert and Sullivan. She was my original muse and mentor. Maya Angelou showed me how to put the words together and Ruth Williams gave me the courage to do so. It is with much gratitude that I say "THANK YOU!" to two phenomenally phenomenal women.

Charles French...Tied to the Community By: PJ Fleming

When I was younger I was always told I had an old soul. However that old soul did not transition into my outward appearance. The sagging jeans and baggy shirts have gotten played out. Urban Image introduces Mr. French, Founder/Executive director of Total Image 2 Inc., who specializes in transitioning that young boy to a grown man through fashion. He teaches them how to dress for the job they want, not the job they have. Through education and empowerment, Mr. French prepares these young men for the world;

P.J. Flemming: Hello Mr. French, how are you doing? Charles French: Greetings, I'am blessed and highly favored! P.J.: Well, the most obvious question would be; what intrigued you about fashion and at what age did you fal in love with it? CF: As a young child, I dressed differently than most of my friends. My mother and father worked extra hard to fit me in the latest trends and fashions while my friends wore handme-downs, and what we

called "second-hand" clothes. I wore those also but not as often. Not that my parents could afford them on a regular, they just wanted me happy. I remember in Junior High School, I adorned Jordash, Adidas sweatsuits with my name embroidered on them, colored espadrills, polo, etc. So I knew at young age that I wanted to be in fashion in some way. P.J.: Something that interest me personally is the 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization you formed for Total Image 2. What made 34

you choose that route for the company? CF: I choose Total Image 2, Inc. to be a non-profit organization because I wanted to be able to reach large corporations like Sean Jean, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, etc., to donate goods like accessories for kids and young men. I also wanted to be able provide professional courses, have professional speakers, do seminars and a non-profit gave me the ability to do all those and more as a creditable business entity. P.J.: Speaking further on Total Image 2, what is the process that goes into assisting the male gender create their Total Image? CF: Total Image 2 assists the male gender in improving their TOTAL IMAGE through

education and empowerment. When we speak of the Total Image, we mean all aspects of being a man. The mental, physical, and spiritual being. We want to educate in areas like etiquette (social, dining, communitive, and dress etiquette of course). We want our boys to know the importance of

an education, work ethics, and family. We want to empower our boys and men on being the best they can be. We want them to know people are generally concerned about them regardless of what the media shows. We want them to reach goals and aspirations in life through the proper channels. We like to empower them to recognize the differences in television, movies and reality. We want to see boys become MEN and MEN become gentlemen. P.J.: Would you elaborate more on your upcoming Kickstarter campaign? CF: As a personal stylist and clothier for men, I have sold other designer products for them. I have decided to start my own neckwear line. It is in part because of a personal journey. I lost my #1 fan, supporter and friend in 2011. My mother passed away of heart disease. She was my life and I lost that in a critical part of my journey in life. I was building business. She was always vibrant in spirit. Her smile was colorful and heart warming.

So I decided to start my own neckwear line in honor and memory of her. My Kickstarter Campaign will be used to generate funds for vibrant and colorful neckwear called "The Charles French". This neckwear line will have the likes of Verse9, Duchamp, or Robert Talbott. I'm believing God to raise $30K for manufacturing of neckwear (neckties and bow ties), handkerchiefs, labels, boxes, and other essentials that will make this neckwear line a luxury item for its buyers. The neckwear will be made from the finest silks spun in the mills of the UK. They will be vibrant in color and pattern. Made only for the bold and adventurous man looking to make a statement in life. Each donor to the campaign will recieve a reward for their donation. For those who want to donate in-kind donations toward this campaign before Kickstarter can do so at www.totalimage2.org websit e. P.J.: Did the Marine Corps have any influence on your dreams and aspirations today?

CF: I can't say the Marine Corps had any influence except the fact that as Marines we are taught the importance of image. From our Cammies to our Dress Uniforms, they were always kept on point. The Marines did have a hand in teaching discipline which is needed to do anything. P.J.: How long did you serve? CF: I dedicated a total of eight years to my country both active and inactive.

an only child. So I learned the importance of appreciation when I did get things. Both my parents believed in the power of prayer. It helped them through many tough situations. I grew up in a church era where we stayed in church all day on Sunday and more days in the week. As I grew older I slipped away but kept the importance of a spiritual upbringing.

P.J.: What inspired you to reach out and spend time with the P.J.: Tell us a little bit about youth? your upbringing? CF: Our youth are in a state CF: I was the only child of of emergency. What I mean two wonderful and loving is we are losing our youth in parents which both are demany ways. They are our fuceased now. They taught me ture bankers, lawyers, presithe importance of love and dents and care takers. But if appreciation. We didn't have we do save our youth, what much but we had nothing state does it leave us in? I but love for one another. I want to become that mentor was born 2 months premathat helps to steer our youth ture with some ailments that in a positive direction incaused doctors to believe I stead of giving them false wouldn't make it. My father hope. was a carpenter and my mother was a maide. I was- P.J.: What is your opinion on the n't spoiled with a lot of ma- state of our youth? terial things like other kids CF: I believe a lot of our or as some would believe as youth today are disengaged 38

from real society. They have been babysat by television, and video games. They are rarely taught the importance of appreciation in any form. The percentage of homes without a father figure is alarming. The single mother is forced to work multiple jobs to raise a family. Our youth and men are becoming incarcerated in droves. Our educational systems are designed and manipulated to predict future prisons. Our young boys and men need to be educated and empowered to overcome. They need time with someone who really cares. They need to interact with influential people who can mentor. I just want to do my part in helping them become successful and not a statistic. P.J.: The public labels today's

youth as "super predators". In light of what you see on the news, do you think the label is justified? CF: I do...The professor at Princeton University, who created and popularized the super predator concept. He coined the term super predator to call public attention to what he characterized as a “new breed” of offenders, “kids that have absolutely no respect for human life and no sense of the future. . . .These are stone-cold predators!”Sadly, it is becoming relevant. P.J.: Could you go into detail about the work you do with the youth? CF: One thing I do with youth is teach the importance of image. I teach that our image portrays a very important role in our success in life. They say that 30 seconds is how long it takes for a first impres 40

sion. In 30 seconds, you are judged on many attributes,including education, sophistication, trustworthiness, social standing, success and competence. The results are based almost entirely on visual signs. Appearance is also noted. And first impressions affect salaries, business deals, career advancement and the influ ence you will have on others. I aim to help make their first impression a lasting impression â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that will empower and motivate!

P.J.: What advice do you have for single mothers to keep their children occupied with positive things leaving them with less time for the streets? CF: My biggest advice would be to pray with your children. Teach them the importance of a higher being. Show them the power of faith through action. Then I would advise to spend more time with your children. Don't let the television or video games do their job. Enroll them in positive programs in school and after school, church programs and recreational programs. Attend as much as you can with them in support. It's P.J.: What steps do you take to tough being a single mothkeep the children on the right er, but our youth need you. path and out of trouble? I know first hand how the CF: I try to build reputable true love of a mother is imrelationships with business portant. A week before my owners, professionals, ath- mother passed she told letes, etc., who can assist in me...." I love you so much, I becoming positive role mod- don't want to leave you." els for our youth. And that means more to me 41

today than anything and why I want to carry on her legacy. P.J.: Before we go, is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you, Total Image Menswear or your non-profit organization? CF: My main goal now is to have my own neckwear label. I currently have the #2 video on YouTube on "How to tie a Bow Tie" I have made neckwear for some great people. The likes

of Gospel Recording Artist and Dove Award Nominee Ernest Pughe. Also, Grammy Award Winner and Jazz Vocalist Gregory Porter. I was recently named a winner of the "Real Father's Real Men" of the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Anyone reading this that is touched in anyway to help, I would greatly appreciate and wish God's blessings upon each of you.

The Urban Altar “And You Call Yourself a Christian” By: E.N.Joy

Not only is the title of this article the title of one of my books in my “New Day Divas” series, but it’s a line I’ve been hearing a lot here lately. Now more than ever Christian fiction authors are being held under a microscope. Not too long ago, wasn’t it the street lit authors who were like little ants under a magnifying glass while the sun beamed down on them? So called literary coinsurers were ready to set a blaze to pages of these authors’ works; kind of like the bra burning ceremonies back during the women’s lib movement. That’s just how serious this thing was.

Well just like those undeserving street lit authors were misjudged, prejudged and just judged period, Christian fiction authors are now being nailed to the cross, so to speak. Allow me to make my observation clear; we’re talking about Christian fiction authors here, not Christians who are writers. There is a difference you know-a big difference. But that’s a whole other trip to the altar.

We have this new wave of social media networking to thank for both my observations and the criticism against some of these Christian fiction authors. “Be who you say you are” is all most Surely those street lit authors-the people ask. And I think most would ones who were real about their art and agree that’s fair enough. But if you say are still out there banging the books you are a Christian doing God’s ministry out to a loyal readership now that the and assignment on your life, then why dust has settled-are thanking God that are you posting hot hunky pics of your the industry has found another group favorite celebrity as well as booty shots of unsuspecting authors to prey on. of yourself in the bathroom mirror, But who would have thought that the listing Jay Z as your favorite artist and authors of the Christian fiction genre Pimps and Hoes as your favorite read? would be the next target? Why they’re Hey, it’s not me doing the judging, just simply writing tales of love and rethe observation. And what’s so ironic is demption, right? What harm could that the secular authors and readers they possibly be doing? are the ones noticing this hypocritical behavior so to speak. 45

One minute the Christian fiction author’s status is thanking God for giving them the gift and the talent to minister His word through written word, and then the next minute they cussin’ out the cashier who forgot to put their fries in the bag. Okay, so I’ll give the critics that one. It is kind of odd that God would call you to glorify His word, but yet as soon as you put your pen down, your actions do everything but glorify God. Again, I’m not the critic, just the observer. Because hey, let’s face it, I’m a Christian fiction author, and I can honestly say that I don’t even go out and purchase secular books for myself to read. But the reason behind that is that as an editor of a Christian fiction imprint and writing my own Christian fiction works, I barely have time to read outside of my genre anyway. When I am reading anything other than Christian fiction, it’s non-fiction. Even then, I only have time to read that one on Wednesdays and Sundays…and its’ called the Bible. Okay, so I do manage to read a few scriptures every now and again at around four in the morning when the house is quiet. But again, that’s another trip to the altar.

starting a “Throwback Bookshelf” marketing campaign. The minute I sent out my first email blast, I received response emails with people just waiting to spread the word that I pulled a Mace and went back to my secular ways. Once I asked them to check out the copyright date on the books in the email, I was then questioned as to why I would still be promoting secular works if I now claim to be a Christian fiction writer. I didn’t get mad, nor was I offended. I didn’t even send out a waiver like I wanted to. I do, though, feel like when my readers support me as a Christian fiction author, then that’s who they expect me to be and that’s all they expect me to be. They don’t expect me to be a Christian fiction author by day and erotica author by night, writing under various names. Either my foot is in the word or it’s in the world. No teetering the fence. So this is where I think the criticism is starting to come in at.

Secular readers and authors expect certain behaviors from someone whose dedication and acknowledgement pages thanking the Lord are longer than the chapters in their books. As a matter of fact, it can be a complete let And even though we aren’t necessarily down for someone who has read their talking about me here, we could be. A very first Christian fiction book and has former secular author myself, I’ve been a new found love for God, prayer and/or recently questioned and criticize for my the church. They go to the author’s Faattempts to earn my advance back on cebook page to tell them how much some of my older secular works by their story touched their lives and there 46

are pics of the author at the Kappa Wine Sip twerking. Again, I guess I can see where the criticism might come into play. But again, I’m not the critic, just the observer.

in general want you to live it … all the time. So be mindful of that the next time you are engaging in the enthralling social media or even the next time you sit down to write the story I guess I’ve mentioned all this just to God gave you. Just ask yourself, did say that whether the person is a street He give you that story just to write, or lit author or a Christian fiction author, did He give you that story to live? people just expect you to be who you This is BLESSEDselling Author E.N. Joy say you are or who you present your- sounding off and reminding you to self to be. I’ve even witnessed street “Stay blessed…because you already lit authors get criticized for not being are!” If you have any comments rethe grimy thug they write about. Be- garding this article or any of my past lieve it or not, if you write it, there are Urban Altar columns, please feel free readers out there who expect you to to email me at enjoywrites@aol.com at one point in your life to have lived and visit me at www.enjoywrites.com. it. For Christian fiction authors, You can also find me on Facebook at though, your readers, and just people Author E N Joy.

100 Ways to Build Wealth Part 2 By: Clifton Cook

The early summer of each year re- trends your friends and jump in to verberates with the approach of save yourself. As the ratio of a several major holidays. Like the country's middle age rises, so do rising and setting of the sun, you stocks. As people age, they start can look forward to to save more for the fourth of July. Diversified Portfolio - creating retirement, Families come towhich is god for an investment portfolio that gether for Bar-B-Que the market. The contains investment instru- aging of the milribs, baked beans, potato salad and firelennial group is ments that cover a varied works. Without fail currently upon amount of industries and peoeach year this ritual us. The Chinese graphical locations. takes place. Yet very have eased their few in the family will one child policy. pay for the festivities. Think about In most cases, someone jumps in what that means for the demand within days of the holiday and of infant formula, food education takes on the burden of the cost. and housing. The world's largest Not planning for something that consumer market is poised to you know is coming is irrational change the balance of supply and and unwise. demand. Less than ten percent of Americans plan adequately to have savings or investments to secure their financial future. Many aimlessly go about their lives with the expectation that someone will just jump in and save them from falling through their cracked and ill prepared sub-floor. If you have laid a solid foundation make these

In the constantly changing world of business, the key to investing success isn't identifying companies that are growing the absolute fastest. It is far more important to determine the durability of the advantage the company brings to the market. Remember, it is best to invest in industries that have good returns - but not spectacular 51

returns if you plan on staying rich Beware." Don't overpay for your as opposed to getting rich. I high- planner. New internet based advisly recommend utilities if your goal ers such as Wealth front or Betteris to stay rich. Business owners ment charge annual fees of 0.15% account for 6% of seven-figure to 0.35%. Don't be afraid to negotihouseholds. This is triple that of ate if the advisers fee's reach near doctors and lawyers. It is okay to the 1.00% mark. be impatient for profits when owning a business. However, don't The old saying; "If you are not in make the mistake of focusing too the game, you can't win" also much on future growth. Try to be holds true in regards to profitable within Capital Gains - tax paid on stocks. Don't be fearful of three years. the sale of investment in- calculated risks. After a Long term exfive year bull run, risk takstruments where profit pansion ing is back. This is preis enticing, but was made from the resultcisely the time not to get growing too ing sale. too exuberant. The last fast increase thing that you think of your chance of when stocks are rocking and rollfailure. ing is pulling back your exposure to the winners. The smart investor There are some basic rules of builds a safeguard. The past is a thumb that you should try to follow even though no two finances good indicator to the future. So are the same. Keep your business when things are looking good, reaccount separate from your perbalance your portfolio and book sonal ones. Your overall stake in profits along the way. Congress the socks should be 110 minus permanently extended the zero your age. Be very critical of your percent tax on long term capital adviser. Ask questions to detergains for those in lower income mine the financial planner's area tax brackets. Yet most people of expertise, typical customers, aren't aware how high the income average account balance and pay threshold is for the zero rate tax. structure. You can use Brightscope.com financial adviser The capital gains zero percent rate applies when selling a long-term directory to help you in your investment if your ordinary inscreening. Fees for financial advisers are not regulated so "Buyer come is below $73,800 for couples 52

and $36,900 for singles. Seek out investment funds that (over the past decade) have lost less than the broad market in months when stocks have tumbled. According to Morningstar, this includes Mairs % Power Growth (MPGFX) and Vanguard Dividend Growth (VDGX). Both have beaten more than 90% of their peers since 2004. Diversifying your portfolio with global investments can help you reach the 4% rule. The 4% limits how much you can tap from your nest egg each year during retirement. Recent studies found that this strategy works 66% of the time. Assuming you create a re-

tirement nest egg with 50% stock and a 50% bond domestic portfolio. Diversify globally and your chance for success increases to 785. There is a 17% chance an actively managed portfolio which contains one for U.S. stocks, one for foreign equities and one for domestic bonds will beat an all index approach. Change the asset allocation to three funds per asset class and your chance of success will drop to 9%. Bottom line, don't over diversify your portfolio. If you have any questions related to solving financial issues or find yourself lost in the maze of the world of financial planning drop me a line at info@UrbanImageMagazine.com

GETTING TO THE ROOT WITH MISS VEE By: Deszion A.Nasir

As most of you may know by now, I'm a HUGE natural hair fanatic. I love being a naturalista and while I'm BY NO MEANS a hair Nazi (A natural hair girl who spends WAAAYY to much free time judging nonnaturals and naturals who don't follow my tips and tricks or ideals on what a natural should do) I HAVE found some hair regimens that seem to be more helpful and consistent than others. One of these -the one I follow, actuallyis The Coily Queens method, created by hair guru Miss Vee. Her method incorporates common sense into science, thus giving hair a very beneficial edge over other regimens. One of the best things about her methods is that it removes the need for hair typing, the need to know if your hair is 3a, 4b, etc. If

you follow the oodles and oodles of info on her site, no matter your hair type, the results will be positive. Miss Vee constantly states that clean hair grows from a clean scalp, and while many naturals like to co-wash, co-washing doesn't efficiently cleanse the scalp, and while your hair may be clean, your scalp isn't and that may be harboring the 6 inches of growth a year your hair can naturally grow when maintained properly. There are stimulation techniques, porosity corrections (most women don't know that your hair's porosity is a condition, not something you have to deal with), even trimming methods that best suit your hair for growing efficiency. Let's chat with Miss Vee: 56

Deszion: As you know, I'm an avid fan of your Coily Queen Regimen, and even though I've been natural for several years, I've gotten the best, most consistent results in an amazingly short amount of time using your tips and tricks. A lot of what you suggest is science mixed with good old common sense. I'm honored that you took the time to answer a few questions for me and the Urban Image readers. Can you start off by telling us about yourself and why you decided to start the Coily Queen Regimen? Miss Vee: I have always had a love for hair since I was a small child, I went natural in the 90’s way before it was the popular thing to do. Having worked in the beauty industry for over 20 years from hair to skin care, I have acquired a wealth of knowledge from working with different clients and dealing with my own tightly coily fine hair. D:What is the main complaint you seem to hear from a lot of naturals and how do you respond to it? V:Top two complaints: Slow hair growth and dry hair issues. For the dry hair issue I have a checklist that ladies can go over to see if they are making any of the common mistakes with their regimen and to also see what they are not doing that they should be doing. Sometimes women are using the wrong type of cleanser or not using a cleanser at all. In some cases simply adding apple cider vinegar rinses after their deep conditioner will eliminate their dry hair issues. It is all about a healthy hair cuticle…..Dealing with the issue of slow hair growth, one must try to pinpoint the cause of their slow hair growth. Is it truly slow hair growth or a retention issue. If it is a slow hair growth then I have several stimulation techniques which help women to reach at least the normal rate of hair growth per month, which is ½ an inch. There are a large majority of women who only receive ⅛ to ¼

of an inch growth increase per every 5 weeks. Slow hair growth can be from a fungus issue to a circulation problem. Pinpoint the cause of the slow hair growth then address that issue and your hair will transform. D:What makes your regimen different than the others naturals are trying? V: The Coily Queens Regimen does a fantastic job of covering 3 important areas of hair care which greatly contribute to increase hair growth and healthy hair. Moisturize, stimulation and protection. D:What's your opinion on hair typing? V:Hair typing as far as the number letter system does not help anyone with their hair care or creating a regimen. Hair typing for many satisfies their curiosity as to what their curl pattern may be. It is a mental thing, many women are glad to find they have 4A hair instead of 4C. It makes no difference in the products you should or should not use, but many people feel that it does. D: What's the most valuable lesson you've learned on your own hair journey? V: ½ of this journey is your mindset. Once your mindset gets right concerning AFRO hair your journey will be so much easier. Change your mindset change your journey. D:What are some misconceptions you've heard about natural afro hair? V:That it has no curl pattern. Afro hair is curly hair point, blank period. D:Why do you encourage other naturals to embrace the Coily Queen way? V:Because it is the best way to grow your hair longer and stronger. It is cost effective and easy to follow. I love God, people and hair. I grew up with very short so called hard to manage hair, so I can relate when a woman is frustrated with her hair. The Coily Queens Regimen will help you grow your hair regardless as to whether it is in your genetic make up or not. No one in my immediate family has hair longer than their shoulders, but I do. Ge-

netics may play a part but it does not override a good hair care regimen and consistency. If you want long healthy hair the Coily Queens Regimen will get you there. D:How can other naturals and transitioners get in contact with you/follow you/become a Coily Queen?

V:Visit the website CoilyQueensrock.com and subscribe so you can receive all the great articles and information. I also offer free one on one hair coaching to a small amount of people each month. www.coilyqueensrock.com FACEBOOK: MissVee Holistichaircare

Fashion Victims By: Cesar Sosa

This month, we present to you the worst dressed ever, made by Prada, which is far from being a dress, it looks more like a Christmas Tree.

Lupita Nyong'o: Simply bad taste from Lupita. This is an insult to the fashion world. This look is beyond ridiculous, and what about the green feathers? I wonder how many exotic birds were sacrificed to adorn this Christmas Tree costume, Oh, wait, it's a dress, by Prada, really? At least her shoes match her green feathers, her green clutch and her weird green head accessory. I almost thought she was a super hero, one with bad taste. At least I have one positive thing to say about this outfit; if you're goin fishing and need a net to catch your fish, simply ask Lupita to let you borrow her dress.

Our next fashion victim is the beautiful

BeyoncĂŠ: If she

A huge frowny face for BeyoncĂŠ this month.

was going for a sleazy look, she succeeded. Her whole look is a huge mess. It is out of proportion. Looks like she has no waist, way too much sheer fabric and from the back you can see her buttocks hanging out, perhaps she is going to a funeral, to try to seduce the recently rich widower.

Gabrielle Union: Another fashion victim, gasp, WTF! Why does she have dead crows hanging from her waist? Oh, it is her skirt, Yikes! She tried to go for a crop top outfit, but instead she got a cropped crow look. There is a lesson to learn from Gabrielle, please do not wear anything that looks this weird, unless you want to be known for having bad taste and no sense of style. 61

Fashion Hero

Rihanna: Fabulous! Her crop top dress is elegant and majestic.

This look is

the definition of true style. I love it! This color makes her skin glow. Her hair do compliments her elongated figure. Simply perfect. Rihanna saves the day with her marvelous look. This concludes our fashion victims section for this month. Have a happy fashion day and beware you could become another fashion victim.

Cool Fashion Tips for Summer By: Cesar Sosa

Fashion rules apply in summer just as they do in any other season. Find summer clothing that accentuates your attributes while camouflaging anything you don't want to show. Keeping cool in the summer doesn't mean you have to wear less clothing. You just have to be smart about the fabrics you select. Natural fibers like cotton, rayon, and linen are better for hot weather than manmade fabrics like polyester because natural fibers allow your skin to breathe. Your skin -the human body's largest organ -keeps you cool by sweating. As sweat on your skin evaporates, it removes heat. Clothes that promote the free flow of air allow sweat to evaporate more easily. Summer clothes should be not only lightweight and made of fabrics that breathe, but also loose so that the air can get under the material and aid in evaporation. 1) Summer time: Looking good when you're wearing less. Don't throw out the fashion rules for your body type just because it's hot out. Everyone should be able to pull off an outfit with white pants or jeans. If you're apple shaped and love to wear white, pair some white linen slacks with a longer tunictype blouse, which elongates our upper body. And if you're pear shaped, belt your top to draw attention to your waist. 64

2) "Cool Colors for Summer." In addition to the fabric fiber and weight, another factor to consider is the color. Darker colors absorb light and heat, while lighter colors reflect light and heat. One of the most popular pieces of summer apparel is a pair of white pants or jeans. You can wear whit on the bottom and look and feel fabulous if you follow these pointers: White pants reveal everything (panty lines, the tucked in parts of your blouse, and more), so be careful! Make sure you look at yourself from every angle. If you look only at your front, you'll miss the view that everybody else has as you walk away. If you wear less-expensive white pants, be careful of the pockets (both front and back). If you can see them through the pants, the distract from

the clean look you want. A great idea is to have them removed altogether. You really aren't going to use them to hold anything (that's what your great purse is for), and the look will be much cleaner and more flattering. Having pockets in white jeans, however, is totally acceptable. Denim is a heavy fabric, and often the pockets are part of the design.

When it comes to other white items like tops, skirts, and dresses, draw people's attention away from your problem areas by adding splashes of color. You can wear colorful scarves in a variety of different ways to spice up any outfit; you can even tie a brightly colored scarf around your waist or tie your hair in one.

In addition to color, black is a great accent with summer white. A black patent leather belt can brighten up a white outfit, and a bold black-and-white floral or geometric pattern on a dress or skirt serves to dazzle the eye and keep whatever's underneath camouflaged. For further help, use the right undergarments. Flesh colored body shapers will hold you in and smooth you out, and won't allow anything you don't want seen to show through. 66

3)Summer Styles Sure, Summer wear is more casual than that of other times of the year, but that can lead some people to forget all sense of fashion. You can still be very fashionable, even with the least amount of clothing. Who wears Short Shorts? Shorts come in a variety of lengths. Find a pair that look good on your body type. Short Shorts: Very short shorts belong on young teens or women with really skinny legs. If you're an apple shape and have great legs, short shorts can be a great way to draw attention to your assets. But if you don't have very thin thighs, short shorts can cut you at just the wrong place.

Mid-Thigh Shorts: These shorts are less revealing and more appropriate for women who are no longer in their teens or twenties.

An Example of What Not To Look Like

Bermuda Shorts: These very fashionable shorts come to just above your knee and work on women of all ages.

Skirts and Dresses: Skirts and dresses are a way to keep cool and fashionable in the warm weather. They are lighter and cooler than pants and give you the opportunity to really express your personal style. So many options are available, from the structured pencil skirt to a flowy dress.

Capris: Three-quarter length capri pants are another great option for summer. You can mix and match them with tops and shoes to your heart's content. Just be careful about what is most flattering to your legs. If you want to make your legs appear longer, capris may not be right for you. 68

Summer Tops: T-Shirts aren't the only summer tops. You can find so many types of blouses in a wide variety of materials that are cool and great looking, from peasant tops to silk blouses to longer tunic tops. Another popular look these days are babydoll tops with an empire waist. They're very youthful- looking and go well with jeans.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is: Being born a woman, you're already beautiful, and your best accessory is your confidence, so make the best of it. Have a fashion day and dress happy.

FIVE TRAITS OF A GOOD MAN By Kimberley Jasper

Many men believe that if they maintain this â&#x20AC;&#x153;whateverâ&#x20AC;? attitude that women will sudden-

ly fall in love with them. This is completely bogus. Would you like to spend time with a guy that dodges direct questions and moves his shoulders instead of giving an answer? A good man should look straight into your eyes when he is talking to you, he needs to be engaged and genuinely interested in what you have to say. A good man is also the kind of guy you can rely on, knowing that he will always be there for you. There are many traits that make a good man stand out from the crowd, here are just a few.

1. HE KEEPS HIS WORD A man’s word is his currency. A respectable man is a man of his word. He says what he means and means what he says, his word is his bond. A good man will keep his promises to his woman. He won’t break dates and be a no call and no show. He will not play with your emotions. He always remembers to call you just because he said he would. A man who values his woman keeps his promises, that is the way he shows he cares and why she values him.

2. INTIMACY Into me you see. Intimacy is something that is natural to human nature. However, pressuring a woman for sex is not of a good man’s nature. A man who has any intentions of being a good mate to you does not pressure you for sex when he meets you. A woman is not a vehicle to be test-driven. If you meet a man who wants to test drive your body, emotions and feelings, it’s best to point him to a car dealership, bid him goodbye and don’t look back! Know that you deserve a good man who will respect you. 72

3. THERE’S A PLACE FOR YOU IN HIS LIFE A good man will let a woman know what place she has in his life. He will give you a title, whether that title be friend, girlfriend, boo, woman, lady, or wife, he will introduce you as such. He will introduce you according to how he feels about you, no surprises. Good men in general tend to be very protective, marking their territory. If a good man loves you, he is willing to profess it to others. There will be no jockeying for position either; a good man will reserve a place for you in his life…and in his heart.

4. HE’S GIVING A good man is not a selfish man. He puts his woman first and is always sure to address any issues or concerns that she may have. A good man desires to do things that make his woman happy. The opinions of his lady count to him and he understands that a happy wife means a happy life without feeling like a punk about it. He knows if he puts in that work, his lady will return that tenfold and honor him for it. That’s the only currency he’s looking for from her. 73

5. TAKES CARE OF YOU When a good man wakes up in the morning, his mission is to make sure that his family is taken care of in every way, to the best of his ability. He wants to make sure his woman is happy and satisfied. Providing for the people he loves and cares about, whether it’s financially or with sweat equity, it’s all a part of a good man’s DNA. A good man has a desire to protect and provide for his woman. Even if he may currently not have the financial ability to provide, he still has a deep desire to. If he doesn’t want to see his mother working tirelessly chances are he does not want to see his woman working like that either.

SEXUAL EXPRESSIONS With Deszion

HER: It's barely been 6 weeks since I had the baby. I know he's been anxious to get back to sex, but honestly, I'm not feeling it. I'm tired. The baby has me worn out. My body is still tired. This is my first child, and I thought I'd bounce back faster than this, but I didn't. He's not thinking about how I feel. This is hard for me. I'm frustrated, and I just don't feel sexual. I'm still hurting.

HIM: Man, she's not even trying. She won't let me touch her. No hugs, kisses, nothing. I help out with the baby, too. I'm tired, too. But I miss my woman. She's pissed all the time, she's fussing all the time, it's like she don't want to be bothered. When I try to kiss her she gets pissed. I ask her what's wrong, she says “Nothing!” which clearly ain't true. If she won't tell me nothing what do she expect me to do?

You know, a baby can be one of the most joyful, scary, stressful, happy times of your life. I call it one of life's “Bipolar Moments.” Babies can take all your focus off the love that created them and redirect it toward the new person causing all the ruckus in the house. However, this is the time you two have to link together more than ever. So many couples break up when the baby is still small because they can't survive under the weight of the changes and stress of a newborn and the ultimate lifestyle change they bring. A newborn can drain all the energy out a couple's love life, as well. The baby isn't even 2 months yet. I know you miss each other, but perhaps more adjustment time is needed. You've got to give mom's body and mind time to adjust to new life. She's not ready yet. Mom, I know you're going through a new experience, but don't shut dad out. Don't totally leave him out, especially when it comes to affection. Sometimes dad may not know what else to do with our still adjusting hormones BUT be physical. Don't be angry with him. Communicate with him. Don't expect him to know what's going on and what you're feeling. The two of you can do this. Just remember that you're a team...And you're on the same one. <3, Deszion 76

Ask Aswanu By: Richarh Aswanu

Hey everybody, how ya'll doin'? I'm Richarh Aswanu and I'll be filling in for Emiaj this month and next month too. She's taking a break from Urban Image to embark on some other ventures. We wish her the best and we expect her return in our September issue just in time to give ya'll some tips on cuffin' season. Until then, I will give you relationship advice from a man's point-of-view. Hopefully you'll gain some helpful insight into the male brain and how we think.

does. However, I struggled with the urge to comment because I disagree with her sources. I believe the men she asked were dishonest. For what reasons, I don't know. Maybe they had ulterior motives or was trying to protect the code. I'm unsure, but my responsibility is to keep it one hundred with the readers at all times. As harsh as this may sound, ladies, if you are stuck in the friend zone; homie just don't find you attractive. Point-blank-period. That's it. I wish I had more information, like if sex is or was involved. Because if sex came I'd like to begin with a letter that was into the picture, you've been unknowpublished in our anniversary issue last ingly placed into the position of the month. You can read the letter and Emi- "side chick". aj response on the following pages. "Stuck in the friend zone" wrote in for First, there's something you all of you some advice on how to get past her po- need to understand. Women are in desition as a friend and become the girlnial of what I am about to say and Emiaj friend. Emiaj replied and gave sound and I have playfully debated over this and thoughtful advice as she always topic on several occasions. There is no 78

such thing as "Friends" between a man and a woman. I blogged about this over a year ago and I asked for volunteers but none of the ladies stepped up to the challenge. The dare was; take your "friend" out for a night of drinking and dancing. Take him back to your place and tell him friends don't let friends drink and drive. Remove all of your clothing and lay down in front of him then, tell me if ya'll are still "just friends". If nothing happens, maybe dude is interested in men or you have told him too much of your business. See, God created man and woman to be attracted to one another. It's unnatural for a man and a woman to spend time around each other without one of the parties becoming attracted to the other. My point is proven by the young lady's question. She wants to move out of the friend zone.

sexy. But at the end of the day, we all want a nice woman we can come home to. 2)...too much like one of the guys. Now this has different levels. Every man wants that lady that he can just kick back and chill with, that he can take anywhere. Like a game, a concert or even fishing. Those are the best women. However, if you answer your door in some baggy ass jeans, a jersey, a pair of Jordan's and your hat to the back talkin' 'bout "Yo what's up?" That's a problem. As long as you maintain your femininity -you're good. This is just another bogus excuse. 3)Something missing or too much added like kids.

Ladies, let me tell ya'll somethin'. If a man is attracted to you, he'll overlook all kinds of stuff. You can have an ugly So, if a man is telling you that he only see's you as a friend, baby girl, he's just past and dude will be runnin around telnot attracted to you. Let's take a second lin his homeboy's, "I don't care what she did in her past. That was before me. It's look at the reason the group of men all about what she's doin now." If he is gave: attracted to you, he will wake your kids up, feed them breakfast and take them to school. While you're in the bed sleep! 1)...just too nice. Again, this is just a bogus ass excuse. I wish I had a buzzer to hit. WRONG! There is no such thing. We all want a sweetheart. Don't no man want to be in 4)...being way too accessible and not a relationship with no evil ass woman. becoming just a piece. Yes, a lil attitude every now and then is 79

Okay, let me rephrase this; Always being there for him and becoming more than just a sex partner.

mean that he thinks youre crazy.

Now see, sounds like to me, you are trying to be his woman. That's what a woman does, hold her man down. But in his mind, you're not good enough for this position. So, he politely puts you in your place. Ladies, a man loves a woman he can always count on. If we need you, for anything, and you're not there? We're calling someone else. Just another excuse. 5)Being way too much of a friend. What, there to listen to his problems? There to loan him a lil money cause his check was short this week? What, you've known him too long and he knows he can trust you with his pin number and the key to his apartment? Again, just not true. Every man wants that close intimate friendship that he can share with a woman. A woman he can share his dreams with, his fears with. That woman he can absolutely trust in every aspect of the word.

Just because he's not attracted to you doesn't mean you're not attractive. I'm pretty sure you have some dude somewhere who worships the ground you walk on. But he's not good enough for you, huh? Think about all the guys you have stuck in the friend zone, and all of the bogus excuses you've given him. It works both ways. I'm going to say something I ain't never heard a relationship "expert" say; We're all crazy! All of us men and women. We all want what we can't have and we don't know how to treat that one person right under our noses who loves our dirty draws. I'm outta here. Grab somebody and tell em' you love em. If anyone, man or woman, has any issues or questions you need answered hit me up; Info@UrbanImageMagazine.com and I'll give it to you straight. Peace and Love, Richarh Aswanu

6) Right personality/ Wrong body type. That's it right there. This is the only honest answer on this list. 7) Just wouldn't work out. This is just a blanket, cover all, I've ran out of excuses -excuse. It could also 80

zone. Why is it so hard to get out of this socalled friend zone? What gets us placed I do not know how I got here. I am in this zone anyway? I am speaking from very interested in this guy but it seems a woman's point of view but I still asked as if I am stuck in some kind of friend a group of men this question. From their zone. We do everything together but we point of view this is what they had to haven’t gone but so far. He even somesay. The following is the 7 reasons times talks to me as if I am one the guys. women end up in the friend zone. I am not one of them, even if I do love 1) We are too nice. sports. I am still a woman and I have feelings for him. I am so frustrated with 2) We are too much like one of the guys. the entire situation. How do I get past 3) There is something missing or too this and become the girlfriend? much added like kids. “Stuck in the Friend Zone” 4) Being way too accessible and not be Dear Stuck in the Friend Zone, coming just a piece. I was just sitting and talking to some of 5) Being way too much of a friend. my girlfriends about this very subject. 6) Right Personality type/wrong body One of them asked me "How can a man type. claim to love everything about you but 7) Just wouldn’t work out. not want to be with you and just be friends. The friend zone sucks." We all Now look at this list. Someone means to quickly agree with her because we all tell me that people want nothing but have been there and done that or still mean girls, girls who are dumb to sports, there. We then began to share with one and a woman who is shallow. Can you another our issues but that all managed see why we are confused and wonder to have the same outcome and the same how we make into this so called friend dumb line. “I love everything about you zone. Here we are trying to be the best and you are a great person. I see myself possible woman and we get discarded with you, but I don’t want to mess up for the one who lacks our qualities. How our friendship.” In the words of my much sense does that make? Then we friend Keshia “What the what?” Aren’t are the ones who have to deal with we supposed to be friends first in order shoulda, coulda, woulda type of the situto have a great relationship or am I ation. Or we have to deal with the jealwrong? No I can’t be wrong, there are ous man who can’t take us being with too many women stuck in the friend someone else because of their selfish Dear Emiaj ,

ways. Again how much sense does that make?

friends helped. Emiaj***

I sat back and thought some more about this friend zone thing. I spoke with another friend Yvonne. I value her opinion what she has to say about life. She stated the following to me, “Women are like investment accounts with high interest. The man has to invest something before he gains the high interest (the "too nice", "too accessible", "too much of a friend", etc.).” I thought about this statement and took so much from it. We as women do tend to go above and beyond our call of duty. It is actually a part of our nature. The value we place on ourselves is minimal and we need to set our stakes higher. Let’s ask ourselves this question this and Yvonne asked this as well, “Why would a man want to move pass the friend zone when he is getting everything that they need.” Realistically when a man is ready to be more than just that friend he will be willing to move pass that zone. I simply suggest that men and women be honest with one another from the beginning. If I am not everything that you want then be just my friend. Don’t get jealous if I have a date or if someone is more into me. Play your role and be my friend. And speaking of jealousy would a real friend get jealous if you have friends outside of them. Have other friends even go on other dates as well. ***I hope my conversation with my 82

The Little Princess - 5 cl Greenfield Organic Gin - 2 cl DeKuyper Cherry Liqueur - fill up with Tonic Russchian Shake the spirits and then double strained into the glass. Fill it up with the tonic water...

SolFuzion Stuffed Peppers 4 to 6 large green bell peppers

1oz Worcestershire Sauce

2 lbs ground beef

1oz Olive Oil

Â˝ cup of bacon crumbles

1 pack of Meatloaf Seasoning

1 large egg

4oz canned diced tomato

1 Â˝ cups Italian bread crumbs

Dry Parsley

4oz whole green, yellow and red peppers

Salt and Pepper tt

4oz diced onion

Ketchup

1oz minced garlic

Brown Sugar

4oz minced celery

Worcestershire Sauce

2oz minced carrots

Salt & Pepper tt

Sauce

8oz shredded cheddar cheese Sauce: In a small sauce pot, combine ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper together and heat to a low simmer. The sauce ca be finished with butter if desired. Directions: Cut the bell peppers in to halves, removing the core and trimming the stems. Rub lightly with olive oil. Mix meat, peppers, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, eggs, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, diced tomato, and seasonings until well blended. Stuff each pepper half with meat mixture and place on a sheet tray in a 350 degree oven for 1 hr or until inner temperature reaches 165 degrees. Top with sauce, cheese and parsley and place back in oven until the cheese has melted. Enjoy!! 87

UIM’s Round the Way Girl By: Richarh Aswanu

you bushy down there? P: I got a mound that’s by invitation, only. So that’s gonna remain a secret for now. Let’s just say, it’s a fan fave. R: I notice that you write urban fiction and you're a bestselling author on Amazon.com. Congratulations on that, real talk. Write us a short lil sex scene real quick. We're all men in here, so it can be real quick. P: I actually don’t write urban fiction, per se. I can really only be categorized in a chic lit category because it’s kinda out the box. That was my goal comin on the scene – to not be grouped, necessarily. R: When you write sex scenes in your novels, umm do you get a little Richarh: Hey cutie, what's up wit moist down there? P:I don’t get moist from that. It takes a 'cha? Perri: Not too much, just the usual of lot to get me moist and writing a sex playing stories out in my head… scene won’t do it. I do write some of my best shit though when I’ve been in a R: I'm sorry, please excuse me, but it's just the way my mind works. Your drought for a while. It kinda puts me in a zone to write the scenes I want to be in. name, Perri Forrest. Every time I hear it, I can't help but wonder; are 88

R: Where is the favorite spot you love for your mate to put their mouth? P: I like a face first approach…down South R: Do you like to be licked, kissed or sucked? P:I ain’t gonna lie, I’m not really into lickin’. Not my thing. Sucked, and kissed. In that order. R: Pick one: Hard against the wall, slippery in the shower, or slow and passionate in the bedroom? P:See, let me just say this. I think sometimes people get so into bein fucked hard against a wall that a lot of men get passes on what they really working with. That’s on some animalistic shit. You tend to find me there when I had a lot to drink, then it only really matters how good the pound is. But in my normal life where I like to study whether my dude knows what he’s doing and can seduce my body and treat my body the way it should be treated, I’m about that shower as foreplay, with a good solid door to hold onto, then take it to the bedroom where we can get slow and passionate.

Name: Perri Forrest Sign: Leo

Personal Facebook page: www.facebook.com /perriforrest Fan page: facebook.com/pages/ Pandoras-BoxSeries/137900638570 7234? ref_type=bookmark Twitter: twitter.com/ PerriForrest Website: www.perriforrest.c om

R:Check it out, we got H-Town in the magazine this month. So, in honor of their smash single from back in the day; when was the last time somebody Rocked and Knocked your boots? P:Rocked…like really rocked, I would say further back than I care to remember. We had a vibe though, me and him. It was on some full body shit. I felt his mental and his physical so when we came together, it wasn’t on nothing basic. I married him when he was in San Quentin and we divorced about two years after he got out. R: Speaking of boots; would you prefer to strut around your bedroom in a sexy negligee and some pumps, or would you rather entice your lover by

wearing nothing except a Stetson and a pair of cowboy boots, with the lil spurs on the back? P:Ha! You talking full outfits to get the dick. I ain’t into gimmicks. We naked up in this thang. Why put it on when it’s coming off so quick? I’m all for some cute and classy thongs and a chemise, but I’m a exhibitionist in the bedroom, so I can pretty much pass on all that there. R: If we spoke to your ex; what would he say was the reason ya'll broke up? P:He would say that he couldn’t hold my attention the way I needed him to. He would also tell you that he’s tryin to make his way back in, but so far been unsuccessful.

R: Are you currently looking for a man? P:Nah. Right now, my focus is on my writing. I’m finishing up something now and then going into hibernation while I research so I can pull off a Harry Potter/Avatar type blockbuster. R: What kind of fella strikes your lil fancy? P:A full package type of dude. He needs to be intelligent. And when I say that, I mean he has a balance of street smarts, as well as book smart. I’m a conversationalist, so he needs to have that and be able to carry a conversation with me. He gotta be funny because I’m silly. Laughter is everything to me. I like a thick dude. Not really into skinny, but I don’t judge just that. I’m looking at his heart and through his eyes to his soul before I go that shallow. He needs to be okay with an alpha female. I’m a Leo and everything you read about us…it’s true. R: Now, are your books based around sex and relationships? P:For the most part, yes. I like to explore the emotional aspect before putting them on their backs though. I like to see stuff evolve. I like to show how they came to be before they come together so that when the audience reads about their sexscapade, it’s something they can relate to, and even aspire to have. I treat it

like in real life. I think there’s a language to it all and to be successful, you gotta be fluent in it. R: Where can we find em'? I’m on Amazon. Just type in Perri Forrest and you’ll see me there. Have you ever dated anyone who's read your books? I sure have. Hey Perri, I had fun. Thanks for kickin it wit us, you make sure to keep in touch.

Congrats to the Spurs: 2014 NBA Champs By: Lonnie Hall

First, I will congratulate the San Antonio Spurs for winning their 5th NBA title. Their wining average was 15 plus points per game and that is outstanding. Last season the Miami Heat were able to come back after being down in the series and win their 2nd NBA Finals in a row. For LeBron James it was a rematch from the time he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and they had lost to the Spurs in 2007. When this series began, many

were expecting another 6 to 7 game series and there was alot of hype about the Miami Heat going for their 3rd straight title. In game 5 the Miami Heat came out aggressively and led the Spurs 22 to 6 in the 1st quarter and it seemed like they were going to cruise to another blow out win to extend the series. The Spurs managed a comeback and ultimately won another championship 104 to Miami's 87 points. I was im-

much better than the Eastern Conference at this time and the Spurs will have a tougher road to reach the finals, they will be a force to reckon with for years to come. Kawhi Leonard is an up coming star in the NBA and is the 3rd youngest player to win the Bill Russell MVP at 22 years old. By the way, the last youngest player to win this award was 22 year old Tim Duncan in 1999. It's great to see a team come together after the way they lost in last year's finals. Instead of rebuilding, they refocused. The Spurs behave like a humbled, blue-collar team, they place the team first. Not the individual players. As this NBA season comes to a close. All teams will be looking back to see how they will move forward. The NBA draft and free agency is just around the corner. James, Wade, and Bosh can opt out of their contracts. What will the Miami Heat look like next season? What will the Indiana Pacers do after their collapse? Soon we will see many pieces being moved around as NBA teams look to improve. What will your favorite team do this off season?

pressed with the way the Miami Heat handled their loss, it was classy with much respect for their opponents, they showed great sportsmanship. Greg Popovich became the 5th head coach to win a 5th NBA title. It's amazing how he has been able to manage and develop players. He had no problem resting his starters and taking criticism for it. His course of action helped his players perform well in the post season. After this series, Tim Duncan, 38 years old, Tony Parker 32 years old, and Manu Ginobli 36 years old have become the winningest trio with a total of 117 wins. The Spurs have managed to keep their core group together because of players like Tim Duncan who takes less money so the franchise can maintain high players on the team. Even though the Western Conference is Hit us up at: uimsthemensroom@gmail.com 93

Did You Know... By: Richarh Aswanu

at any given time, 25% of people are daydreaming about sex?

over half of American adults have used the phone, email or text message to have sex?

the average woman can reach orgasm in about four minutes through masturbation, while through intercourse it can take 10-20 minutes?

every year 11,000 Americans are injured while trying out wild sexual positions?

sex makes a woman's hair shinier and their skin glow because of the extra oestrogen it causes them to produce?

white women with college degrees are most likely to have anal sex?

women who read romance novels have a tendency to have twice as many lovers as those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t?

half of single women have sex by the third date?

during sex black women are 50% more likely to reach orgasm than white women?

woman have sex 17% more than the average male?

a study of plus sized women revealed that those that have accepted their bodies reported having better sex then those who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t?

85% of women are satisfied with their lovers penis size?

A'ight ya'll, check this out; I was in tears. Damon Tobias Exum 37, of Dunwoody, Georgia was driving drunk and sideswiped a police car. Damn near ripped the door off. Now dig this, when the copper caught up with him and pulled him over. Tobias handed the officer his can of beer and asked him to hold it while he looks for his license. Hell Naw!

A'ight. Now these dudes here. 3 men run up in a Hess Station in South Philly. They shoot the clerk and make him lay in the bathroom for two hours. They weren't satisfied with the amount of money in the store. So, they decide to operate the filling station and pocket the money. As a deterrent from using credit or debit. They offered the customers discounts for using cash. Hell naw. The only reason why they didn't go down in history as "The Dumbest Shit in the History of Dumb Shit" is; they haven't been caught yet. I guess they ain't too dumb. Ya'll know what, next month we're going to try to reah out to our winners and ask them what the hell they was thinking about. I don't know if we'll get any response. But shoot, its worth a try. Hey ya'll, I'm gone. Until next month... 98

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AIRES Dealing with others in a straightforward manner has been difficult recently with Mars retrograde in your partnership sector. Support for your personal endeavors hasn't been very forthcoming, but from the 19th forward, relationship dynamics smooth over and your confidence improves. You feel that you can truly begin to move forward. After a few months of some confusion or lack of clarity in your love life, relationships begin to regain momentum. A conflict in a close relationship can reach a head around the 10-11, but can push you to make important changes that will ultimately lead to more peace and contentment. Home life should be especially pleasant, productive, and rewarding this month. Focus is

on beautifying your surroundings and bringing harmony to family relationships, but also on structure and organization. TAURUS If you've been neglecting your own personal needs, this is a time for pursuing them, as well as for renewing goals that you've left on a shelf. People are definitely paying attention. Around the Full Moon on the 14th, however, you're forced to take others' needs and wants a little more seriously. An epiphany or important discovery can be made now. Your powers of attraction and your confidence are strong in May, but love will improve considerably from the 29th and into June when Venus

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enters your sign. For now, have some inner work to do. You are cleaning out the deadwood and staying in the background when it comes to your affections and love relationships. Private affairs hold a strong appeal, particularly around the 15th. GEMINI Your desire to express yourself is strong, but you may need to be careful that you don't jump ahead of yourself by promising or revealing too much, too soon. Friendship complications tend to iron themselves out this month, and especially after the 19th. Where there may have been some coolness, you're now experiencing warmth as well as clarity.

You remain quite busy, but in a far more straightforward way - in other words, you are able to make measurable progress instead of focusing mainly on fixing problems before moving ahead. Daily affairs become less muddled and overwhelming, and this frees you up to tend to more worldly goals. VIRGO Be open to spontaneity in love or with friends at this time. You might experience very unusual desires and attractions and can be especially intrigued with breaking taboos or pushing your boundaries, even if there is some discomfort involved at first. Keep an open mind and heart, and see where they lead you. From the 19th, you begin to see progress with finances and money-making endeavors. Intimate matters can improve considerably as well. Career matters push forward suddenly from the 21st. You're taking charge and others are following your lead.

CANCER Meeting personal health goals comes quite naturally now with fewer people and circumstances competing for your time. The 14-15 can be very romantic and creative. From the 19th, recent complications, confusion, or coolness in the family, with career, and with LIBRA your reputation begin to clear. While family life remains busy, it's a straightforward kind Recent relationship challenges and personal frustrations will begin to dissipate this of "busy" that you can handle. When probmonth, dear Libra, and you can more confilems exist, it's far easier to deal with them when you know exactly what they are than it dently move your plans forward. Mars, curis when you can't pinpoint the true problem. rently your sign, ends its retrograde cycle on If you need support or help, your warm per- the 19th. A partnership, or your own needs from a relationship, become clearer. Energy sonality will win the day. levels increase. Finances are a big focus and LEO possibly a concern, as you face problems and While some people could be feeling left out find ways to improve your spending and borof your life as you tend to your responsibili- rowing habits. You might receive good advice ties and personal need for space, the month or come up with novel new ideas on how to is nevertheless strong for your personal life. do so. The 14-15 can bring a surprise or boEasier energy is with you from the 19th fornus. This is also a time for romance and ward. Pressures ease with less attention paid pleasure, as well as sudden attractions. to what others are saying and doing, as well as fewer complications with transportation, commuting, communications, and education. 103

SCORPIO

CAPRICORN Finding a balance by dividing your time more It's a relationship-centered month for you, evenly is important now. From the 19th, redear Scorpio. Personal energy levels remain cent complications both in your professional on the low side, but your outlook improves and personal lives are likely to decrease. Caconsiderably, and life is steadier in general. reer picks up pace, and it becomes easier to It's easier to turn to others, if needed, as they get straight answers from bosses and cotend to be there for you. From the 19th for- workers. While responsibilities and work conward, work matters move forward, health imtinue to keep you on your toes, there is a proves, and you are less inclined to nurse stronger focus on moving forward now and your wounds and hold on to resentments. less on straightening out problems. Where This is due to Mars turning direct after there was emotional distance or coolness in months of retrograde motion. Mars continues family and business recently, there is now to "hide out" in your privacy sector, behind more warmth and directness. Smoothing out the scenes, however, until mid-July, so that rocky areas with family comes naturally. there is more inner work to do, but it's now AQUARIUS easier to know exactly what needs extra There can be a lot of pleasure found in tendeffort. ing to home and family matters this month, SAGITTARIUS dear Aquarius. This could be a time when you It's a good month for solving problems, reor- pursue a bit of a home "makeover". You take ganizing, and tending to the practical details pleasure in lending a hand to others and orof your daily existence. Both physical and ganizing your home and work space. While mental resistance are on the increase this you may not be as sociable now, you're buildmonth. Emphasis should be on getting a han- ing your confidence and taking extra, muchdle on the "little things" that make your life needed personal time. If you're overdoing it, run more smoothly. Friendships and romance circumstances around the 14th will beg for begin to straighten out from the 19th after a balance. Work responsibilities make themperiod of some confusion of boundaries or selves known. In fact, a balanced approach to emotional complications. You're learning who work and practical matters can be especially is truly in your corner, and your own desires rewarding now with your houses of Substance and affections become clearer. Your social cir- in great form this month. You may be recogcle is considerably warmer towards you now. nized for the work you do, the effort you put Your ruler, Jupiter, is in great form this forth, and your natural talents. There is inmonth, and this improves your general out- creased motivation for tackling tasks that you look as well as your personal magnetism. You previously felt were monotonous or uninterare both optimistic and realistic now, and this esting. Health and healing methods can be can benefit many different life discovered or implemented with more suc"departments". Good energy is with you for cess. healing, stabilizing, and improving family and other intimate relationships. 104

PISCES moves. Be patient and take things one step at You are expressing yourself with charm. Your a time. As well, on the 10-11, a conflict over eagerness, flexibility, and willingness to tag money or sharing and power dynamics can along with others just for the company encome to a head. This is a good time in your dear you to friends and family. Financial comlife for expanding your horizons and your plexities begin to unravel this month after the reach, in pleasing moderation. In fact, moder19th. Dealings with a partner and with finan- ation is the major key to success this month cial institutions become more straightforward with your co-ruler, Jupiter, cooperating with after a feeling of treading water. Even so, it's Saturn. You can be a mentor of sorts, or a not yet the time for quick settlements or bold source of inspiration for others.

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Catchin Up with H-Town By: Richarh Aswanu

Hey y'all, I go back, you here me? Every time I hear that grindin, whinin -like sound accompanied by the seductive melodies of those bells, I flash back to the summer of 93. I remember the intoxicating combination of Little Sid's, malt liquor and some of the most erotic sex I've ever experienced. I was just coming into my manhood and I had a chick that absolutely blew my mind! "Knockin the Boots" pumped through the 6x9s in my Riviera as we made love on the hood of the car while the rain was pouring down. Then fast forward to 96 and HTown's remake of the Persuaders classic "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" got me through a traumatic break up with a fatal attraction. The 90's era of music will always spark fond memories. That was the period when I transitioned from my teens into adulthood. So without further introduction I am honored to bring y'all one of the hottest groups that provided the soundtrack for that period of my life, H-Town... Richarh: What's goin on fellas, how ya'll doin' today? GI: Great blessed to still be doin what we love which is music. Shazam: We doin fine, just keeping our heads up, and stayin positive and making new music. 108

R: Ok, off the rip. Our Facebook friend, No Nonsense wants to know, "Where have ya'll been?" GI: Flying under the radar still touring here in the states and overseas. S: Actually we've been doin alot of touring, we had our latest single out with Jodeci. Constantly touring all over the world. R: From what I understand, ya'll are longtime friends. What made ya'll decide to take music seriously and form H -Town? GI: We grew up in the same projects and had a favorite thing in common which is the love of music. From there we were all in the school band and the singing and rapping in the hallways and at lunch times. Doin talent shows and goin on auditions for producers and managers lookin for local talent. S: This something we knew we wanted to do from the age 5. We all came from a musical back ground and knew each other because we all came from the same complex. So we decided to form a group and call it H-Town. 109

R: From what I understand, ya'll are longtime friends. What made ya'll decide to take music seriously and form HTown? GI: We grew up in the same projects and had a favorite thing in common which is the love of music. From there we were all in the school band and the singing and rapping in the hallways and at lunch times. Doin talent shows and goin on auditions for producers and managers lookin for local talent. S: This something we knew we wanted to do from the age 5. We all came from a musical back ground and knew each other be-

cause we all came from the same complex. So we decided to form a group and call it H-Town. R: I understand that ya'll are from Houston and the group's name was adopted from your home town. What made ya'll choose to strap H-Town on your backs and run with it? GI: We wanted to rep our city to fullest and let it be known where we came from. What better way to do that than to name ourselves after our hometown Houston. "H-Town" S: Basically we are the reason why the call the city H-Town. We wanted to put our city on the

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map and let everyone know that Houston Texas had some real talent so we decided to take the nickname H-Town to put our city on the map. R: For real, do ya'll realize, do ya'll ever just kick back and think about the effects your music has had on millions of people? GI: Not really even thou we've been in the music biz for 21yrs now. But it comes to mind when we see the love the fans give us on stage in every city. I guess that's just the humble side in us. S: Alot of times our fans let us

know how much they appreciate our music. Alot of people say they made alot of babies off our music. I just feel honored to be able to put music to the world that people still love to this day. R: I just want to personally tell ya'll, "Thanks." Do ya'll understand how much lovin ya'll helped me get? For real, I didn't have to hardly out any work in. "Lick you up" would come on and my girl would get HOT! GI: Thank you. Lol Appreciate the love I don't think we knew what we were doin at the time

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but trying to make good music. We're glad everyone approves and are still taking this music ride with us. Thank ya'll!! S: Well, you welcome.

tinue. It was a great loss for us. We had to take 2 1/2 years off to get our mental state back to performing again. But we appreciate our friends for showing us love R: Let's switch gears up a little bit. Alot and writing us and emailing us of fans want to know about the effect and telling us to keep our heads Dino's passing had on the group. On beup. half of your fans, and myself; condolences, we all feel his death was very unfortunate and untimely. I mean, ya'll just R: One of our Facebook fans, Jerrona Campbell wants to know; why did ya'll came off of 3 successful albums. How choose to keep making music after Dino did ya'll pull through it? GI: Yes at times it still feels un- passed? GI: We hesitated for a minute to real to me like I'm stuck in a dream. But I know it's a reality get back up but what spark the that he's no longer here. I was fire in us to keep it goin was the fans. I set up Myspace, Facein denial for almost 2 yrs after his passing. It was like dream- book and twitter accounts for ing and reliving the good times the group. And just seeing how we shared on stage and waking up over and over again realizing he's not here anymore. But we knew we couldn't let our legacy die and had to keep it alive in his memory and for the fans. Every show we've done a tribute to him for the past 10yrs makin sure he's not forgotten. S: Losing Dino really did effect our group alot. It took me and GI two years to really start back singing because we were confused about if we wanted to con112

fast people were liking and following and leaving us messages of encouragement wanting more H-Town. That gave us the strength to pull it back together and give some more H-Town. S: The fans really encouraged us to keep goin and they really still wanted to hear from me and GI so we just kept it goin. R: Was the decision to keep HTown original with just the founding members an unspoken understanding, or was it something the two of you had to discuss and put alot of thought into? GI: yes we decided to keep it just the 2.We even put out a post asking the fans if they thought we should add a new member in Dino's place.95% of the response was no. S: We just decided to keep it two. We asked our fans and they really didn't want to see anybody else in that spot so we decided to keep it

two. We still got our sound. We still get the same response so we decided to just keep it us two. R: The fans miss him, and I know ya'll miss him. What's one of those feel good moments that puts a smile on ya'lls face every time you think about it? S: When we won our Soul Train award. That was a great moment and a great accomplishment for us. R: Fame, money, creative differences and many other factors tear groups apart. The fact that you two are still making music together speaks volumes of your character. After all these years as friends and bandmates, how have ya'll kept everything tight between ya'll? GI: Our love for music, each other and for the brand that we've created are the common denominators. If we were in it just for the money we would have broken up a long time ago. As far as creative differences we all have those. That's how our

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best songs were created with everyone bringing a different idea to the table. At times yes we do clash but that comes with the territory of wanting to bring out the best in each other. S: General respect...we respect each other in what we do. At the end of the day we know no matter what we do outside of HTown we are always still gonna be H-Town. R: How do ya'll feel about R&B today? Personally I don't like too much of it. It confuses the hell out of me. As I've said before, I don't know whether to grab my girl of grab my gun. I don't know if they're going to rap or if they're going to sing. I love the way R&B artist and rappers collaborate. But some of these acts can't make up their minds if they want to be in the bedroom or be in the streets. I understand some artist sing about what

they go through. Matter of fact, August Alsina makes good music. I'm diggin that. But, back in the 90's it was simple. Love and sex, that's it. Have the drinks chillin' and get ready to make love to your woman. I miss baby makin music, as my uncle called it. What do ya'll think about the direction R&B has taken? GI: I agree I'm feelin August Alsina as well. He's created his

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own lane and theirs nobody in his way. We need a hundred more like him to get in their own lane and bring something different and unique. I do hear them tryin to bring it back to real content in songs a little bit. S: I guess it's the new generation but I think they need to bring real R&B back and that it's enough

Bottles" and stuff like that. I think that in the concept and content of the songs they aren't really talkin about alot today. Back in the 90's we talked about more of the stuff that was real R&B. I feel like the state of R&B is a little watered down.

room for all of us. I think in alot of R&B they really don't have anything to talk about anymore. All they do is talk about "Poppin

R: With all due respect to Motown and what was laid down before us. I believe the 90's was the best era for R&B, hands down. Do ya'll think the soul of 90s R&B will ever be restored? GI: The industry will not allow it to do a

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preventing that from happening. So until they fix the BS that's goin on at the top with the C.E.O's, presidents and owners at major labels, radio, internet and TV, we're goin to continue to see a downward spiral in quality music today. S: I think it's gonna come back around again. We are getting ready to drop a new single and put "Baby Makin" music back into the market. Groups like ourselves Jagged Edge and Jodeci everybody's working on new material. So I think it will eventuour Facebook page wants to know; When are ya'll droppin'? ally come back with all of us GI: Soon we're trying to pick a dropping new music back into the single right now. So get ready market. for some new H-Town music this year. R: A'ight fellas, one last question. I can't S: We have a new single that getlet ya'll go without asking. Our readers will be upset with me. Miko Minaj from ting ready to come out. It's called 118

drop our album. So you'll have two new single out from H-Town this year.

"Green Light". We'll actually be dropping it in a month in a half. And our album called "Child Support" will be out next year sometime because we are gonna drop two single before we

R: Hey ya'll thanks for the interview. It has been an honor and a pleasure. Is there anything else ya'll would like to say? GI: Just want everyone to know that we are on social media.. Facebook: Htown4ever , Twitter & IG Htown4life ,Official website htown4ever.com and get ready for our new music and make sure to request it on your radio station over and over. We appreciate all of you from staying and takin this music ride with us for 21yrs now. S: We just want to tell all our fans we love them and thank them for all their support and to make sure they down load our new single "Green Light" when it comes out and to support our new album "Child Support" when it comes out.

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Answer Key 1)A 2)C 3)D 4) B 5) B 6) D 7) A 8) A 9) B 10) B

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Olivia Longott…In Her Own Words By. E.N.Joy

Olivia Longott entered the music scene as the First Lady of J Records. She made her mark as the First Lady of G-Unit. We know one thing for sure; Olivia is never second best. She was the industry’s top choice and the same remains for her fans today as they eagerly await what Olivia has in store for them…music wise and more. Author E.

N. Joy sits down to talk with Olivia on her past, present and future projects. E.N.Joy: Hi, Olivia. Thank you so much for agreeing to give us an inter-

view. It’s an honor to feature you on the cover of Urban Image Magazine’s July 2014 issue. How did your interest in writing originate (songs and books)? 126

Olivia: I first started writing poetry at

and feel like they can visually see every-

about ten years old. My mom always

thing I describe in my own words.

wrote songs because she sang in the church choir and I guess it just got

E.N.Joy: Introduce us to the Olivia

passed down to me. I would turn my po- Longott readers will find in your book ems into songs when I first started song writing. My first

poem got published in the book, Shadows and Light, when I was around sixteen/ seventeen years old, and I was inducted into the national Library of Congress. I still have the certificate somewhere. E.N.Joy: Most entertainers turn authors hire ghostwriters to pen their books for them. You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Why is that? Olivia: I didn't want a ghostwriter because I am a born hustler and I love to do the

Photographer :Al Rodriguez

work myself. I want people

Styling by : Pe'a Monique

to understand the way I talk

Dresses Custom made by Sandros Masmanidi 127

verses the one theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen on television and on stage: Olivia: I assure you that what you read in my book will definitely shock a lot of people. I am a private person and a quiet person to those I do not know. So for readers who

assume that it will be a snooze fest...boy are they in for a surprise. E.N.Joy: Why did you choose to write this book now? Olivia: I actually started to pen a little bit of this book about two years ago. Tony Gaskins Jr. and I talked about how dope it would be for me to let people into my world. Everyone swore they knew the "real me" just from watching Love and Hip Hop. I am the furthest thing from how that show portrayed me. The only true thing is that I am a confident person. E.N.Joy: What do you want readers to understand about you and your journey after reading your book? 128

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Olivia: I just want readers to understand that everything isn't really what it seems. Stop taking these blogs and papers for face value and listen to what the artist/person truly has to say for themselves. E.N.Joy: What are your goals as a writer? Do you plan on penning other books? If so, fiction,

non-fiction, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś? Olivia: I plan on writing more books, especially children's books. I do not have a preference; I just want to write and inspire. E.N.Joy: We know that you added acting to your repertoire. Run that resume down for us:

Olivia: Ah my acting coach, Tracey Moore, has been amazing with helping me build my craft. I am an entertainer period. I have done three movies to date and just landed myself a very huge role on a new series called "The Family Business." Every day I study scripts and send out audition

tapes. I aspire to be great at anything I put my mind to. E.N.Joy: What can we expect to see/read from you during the next stage of your career? Olivia: I don't like to answer the question when 130

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people ask, ‘What do you expect to see

be dropping June 24, 2014 called Re-

from yourself in the future?’. I do not

lease me. I am so proud of myself. I am

know what the future holds for me, but I also working on perfecting my album so do know I better have on my sunglasses I can give the public what they have and scarf because it’s going to be a

been waiting on from me. There will be

bright and windy future! You never

plenty more things to come from me. I

know which way the wind is going to

would rather show you than tell you.

blow. E.N.Joy: Share your latest news and upcoming projects:

E.N.Joy: Now you know this is the world of social media and Internet. Where can your fans find you online?

Olivia: As you know my first book will

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Olivia: My social media pages are as follows: Instagram is : @only1olivia Twitter is: @1andonlyolivia Facebook fan page is: Olivia Worldwide

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E.N.Joy: Thank you, Olivia, for sharing with Urban Image Magazine. It has truly been an honor and we wish you much success on all your future endeavors!

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"STILL SHAKIN" By:Larrod Evans

On October 17, 1989, the Bay Area shook violently for 13 seconds. Bridges collapsed, buildings toppled, and fires broke out in what would eventually be categorized as the second most devastating earthquake in U.S. history. When the quake hit, I was just an ashy kneed 10 year old kid. I was riding my bike in the middle of the street only to be swept away and rushed to safety by a neighbor. Not too far away in Vallejo, a flamboyant rapper by the name of E-40 was also shaking up the streets. With his cartoonish voice, undeniable charisma, and signature lingo, he put the "Yay-Area" on his shoulders and carried it to the fullest. In 1990, he made his rap debut with the E-P "Let's Side" as a member of the click. The group consisted of his brother D-shot, his cousin B-legit and his sister Suga-T. At the time, Southern California heavyweights NWA, South Central Cartel, DJ Quick and Compton's Most Wanted had a gorilla grip on West Coat rap music. However, 6 hours north, a movement was taking place. Along with Too-Short, Spice-1 and a young 2Pac; E-40 was cultivating a thriving rap scene that

would soon grow beyond the East-Bay. In 1993, E-40 made his solo debut. Federal, a 14 track album released on his label "Sick Wid It Records produced his first radio hit, Captain Save a Hoe."I wanna be saved..." was all over KMEL, SanFrans # radio station and it became a regional hit. This was the era of Raider Starter jackets, Dickies and Dope Man's. Gangsta Rap was in full effect and I had an early education on its ills. For one, I was hard headed and didn't like taking orders from anyone. So, what would I look like following B.D.C. (Beat Down Committe)? They were a group of Crips at my school who loved ruckus.

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They chased me, robbed me and jumped until my man hit me with a .38. Let's just say I didn't have too many problems after that. Meanwhile, E-40 mania was undeniable. Vallejo's finest had the streets bobbing their heads to his mob music and soon they adopted his lingo. The use of slang is often criticized, yet widely used by a multitude of cultures. In the U.S., every region has its own way of saying things. E-40 took it a step further and changed the phonetics...literally! He removed the "S", replacing it with a "Z", common words such as real became "rizeal", shit became "shiznit". And most recognizable, For sure became "Fashizzle." Pretty soon it seemed as if everyone had a few words in which they switched the "S" with a "Z". In 6th grade, my woodshop teacher Mr. Washington was an old school player with a single gold front and a toupee! One day, he snapped off and said, "Bring ya'll lil asses out the 'Shzop' and have a 'sizzeat', we doin book work today!" We all erupted in laughter until we were in tears. It was only right that E-40 publish his "Book of Slang" after so many years of innovative words. 138

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Capitalizing off of the buzz that "Captain Save a Hoe" created, he penned a deal with Jive Records in 1994. By Now, I'm residing in New York, but I didn't hesitate to cop "In a Major Way" which dropped early 1995. Though well received regionally, 40 lacked a mainstream audience, so only

two of his songs ("1-Luv" and "Things'll Never Change") released under Jive Records cracked the Bill Board Hot 100. Nobody was feelin' 40 back East, but I still bumped his joints faithfully. In 1997, he released the double disc compilation "Southwest Riders" featuring exclusive rap acts from the Bay and the 140

From 2003-2008, he hosted "E-Feezy" Radio, a weekly program at KMEL which showcased the Bay Area's hottest artists. Soon after, he signed with Lil John and appeared on the single "Snap Your Fingers" which reached the Top Ten of the Bill Board Hot 100. Finally, E -40 was getting the shine he deserved.

South. This trend continued as he appeared on "Lost" by Eight ball and "Da Last Don" by Master P in 1998. To this day, both regions have a solid relationship due to 40's musical fusion. Though he was a household name, the credit he deserved was still missing.

In addition to his music career, other ventures and investment deals have sparked his interest. Microsoft, Wing Stop inc., and the launch of his own wine collection are just a few of the opportunities he has taken advantage of. Earl Selections has released two varietals, a Mango Moscoto and a Red Blend. This couldn't be a more perfect investment from a man whose nickname derived from the ability to guzzle malt liquor! To this day, E-40 still drops good music and has adapted his style to the "Hyphy" movement that has taken over the Bay Area. 24 years later, I'm still a big E-40 fan. Though still underrated and underappreciated, the YaY Area legend continues to expand the "English Slanguage" and his relevance is never shaken in an ever changing game.

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UIMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Movie Reviews By: Jeff Russell

Lone Survivor Starring Mark WahlburgThe story of 4 Navy Seals embarking on a deadly mission to Afghanistan to assassinate a terrorist leader. Based on a true story. 5 stars, don't miss this movie. RoboCop Starring Michael Keaton and Samuel L. Jackson. Remake of the 80's classic. The computer generated images are out of this world! The story line is actually believable. It is definitely worth the price of admission. 3 1/2 stars. Non-Stop Starring Liam Neeson and Juliann Moore. Liam is a Federal Air Marshall, who is being framed and accused of hi-jacking the plane. This action packed movie is one to watch. 3 1/2 Stars.

Jack Ryan Jack Ryan, who is a CIA agent get trapped in Russia, snagged in a cat and mouse game of espionage. Action, Suspense, great story line. Another one you don't wanna miss. 4 Stars!

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What’s Goin On Today This Month By: Richarh Aswanu

Well, I guess the biggest head line this month featured the big homie Jigga and his sister in law Solange. Everyone saw the three minute video of the assault inside an elevator of the now infamous Standard Hotel. Our own Deszion Amani Nasir reported that tempers were brewing between and his erratic sister in law earlier in the evening. A source told The News that a group of Solange's friends crashed the party pretending to be guests of JayZ's. Reports say that Beyoncé's younger sister was very irate at

idea of Jay Z wanting to attend Rihanna's party with Beyoncé (it's been long rumored that Jay Z and Rihanna have been getting it on). The way we heard it at Urban Image is that Solange was pissed, and she waited until she was behind closed doors to "flip" out. Soon as the elevator slid shut it was on. Regardless of all the speculation of what went down that lead to Solange's outburst, we'll never know what happened. To keep it all the way real, I respect that. They instantly went into damage control

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by refusing to comment and making public appearances together. Jay and BeyoncĂŠ at a Nets game and Jay and Solange looking at jewelry. Then, you have Instagram pics of the families get together down in New Orleans. Appearances are everything. Whenever it's all done with, I wish them the best. The second headline that had the blogs jumpin was the scuffle between Floyd "Money" Mayweather and TI. As y'all know, it was over some pics of Floyd and Tiny lookin awful comfy together. I don't know what's up and I'm not goin to speculate too much. There's always been a cloud of speculation following TI, lots of insinuation of him cheating on Tiny, but we

haven't seen anything solid. If you ask me I think Baby Girl had enough and was just tryin to make her man jealous. There's been whispers circulating around the media for months that the Harris's marriage was on the rocks.

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Then this? I don't know what to say. I can't even watch Family Hustle anymore. TI and Tiny were the example that young urban couple looked up to. They were the two that gave everybody "in the hood" hope that love exists. TI is a player to the fullest and I mean that in a good way, the way he interacts with people, and the way he handles his business. I really felt proud as I watched him groom his son on his hit realty show. TIP is like a new aged Bill Cosby and I think he knows that. Hence the

Cosby show intro to this season of the

show. I'm really pullin for them to make it. It's been pretty quiet, we'll see what happens.

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One of the most recent attention getters has been the Aaliyah movie being produced by Lifetime. I guess it was kind of quiet at first. But, since Zendaya announced on 106 & Park that she would be starring as Aaliyah, all hell broke loose! Fans are protesting, I'm talkin online petitions and the whole nine. Aaliyah fans are very upset about Zendaya playing Aaliyah. Personally, I don't see what's wrong with it. She's young, talented and beautiful. I haven't seen any other production company step up to produce a film on the late songstress's life. I think it should have been done a long time ago.

The only people who should have a say so is Aaliyah's family. Obviously, they weren't consulted about the film and they're pretty upset. Rightfully so, I figured they'll want a piece of the pie. Reports issued Thursday June 19th says the family feels the movie should go to the big screen instead of a television network. They have retained a lawyer and vow to take action. Stay tuned to our blogs. Denetra and Talia will keep you posted. Sadly, on May 29th we lost a literary great. Maya Angelou, writer, poet, actress and community activist moved on from this world leaving behind a deep void and a trail of sadness. However, she will forever live in our hearts through the words of wisdom she so eloquently articulated on paper and the works she's done in the community...

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UIM’s What’s Da Word Mix-Up Why did George Bush really jump out of that plane?

Crack Oil

Rangers SkyDive

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ENCCIAO __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 2 14

AUKTIAW __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 15 13

NUBELCRAIP __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 16

ELTHAH 8

18 1

__ __ __ __ __ __

LEFIS

__ __ __ __ __

3 4

NSUHSIE

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 3

___ ___ ___ 9

10 11

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___

12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21

Answer:

___ ___

To Finish His Bucket List

11 20

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

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TODRICK HALL: IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU by: Deszion A. Nasir

Do you remember this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgaN2C_mfH8 151

Yeah, that's the guy who sang his order in McDonald's drive thru and started a whole wave of people followed suit. That was back in 2010, and that, my friends, was a relatively unknown Todrick Hall. Now, in 2014, Hall is known for his flashmobs, wildly creative videos, and is a much soght-after genius that has been named in Forbes top 30 Under 30 list. This is the video that sent him viral, not, believe it or not, his stint on American Idol. Let's backtrack a bit... Todrick Hall was born on a farm in Plainview, Texas, and raised by a single mother. Today he lives in a 4-bedroom house in the Hollywood Hills with a trainer/chef, an assistant and a full-time photographer. He has a pink dog and murals of his favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz, painted on the walls. But chances are, if you’re over a certain age, you’ve never heard of Hall. That’s because he’s built his fame, and a quickly growing fortune, on YouTube. Hall creates elaborate mini musicals based on fairy tales but with modern tunes. One of his most popular videos (4.9 million views) is The Wizard of Ahhs, a six-minute version of the classic story of Dorothy — if it had been made by the producers of Glee.

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Then there’s the Virgin America safety video which has become a massive viral hit. Featuring contestants from So You Think You Can Dance, the video turns the boring old airline safety talk into a Broadway-style musical number. Hall not only wrote the song but Virgin tapped him to star in the video.

The latest feather in his cap: Beyonce. Hall helped choreograph the video for Blow off of the star’s recent all-video album.

Hall is a new kind of star. Instead of waiting for Hollywood to discover him through traditional venues, like movie auditions or playing in clubs, he has paved his own way. For years he spent every dime he earned to produce more elaborate videos that highlighted his unique vision and skills. He remembers creating a viral hit called Beauty and the Beat, only to have his car repossessed the next day. Now Hall is repped by Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun and Hollywood talent agency UTA, and he’s well on his way to serious fame and money. He’s creating videos for Marlon Wayans’ new website, What The Funny, and pitching a movie around town. Braun believes the sky is the limit for Hall.

“We didn’t reach out Beyonce, she reached out to us,” says Braun. “She saw this creative force and wanted to tap into it. I think he’s one of the most creative people I’ve ever met.”

“I want to EGOT,” says Hall, hair dyed blue and wearing a colorful long sleeved-shirt featuring what can only be described as a cosmic cat. (To EGOT is to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.) “It’s so cool that I don’t have to prove myself anymore.” Hall’s first shot of fame was down what now seems like an old fashioned road: A merican

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Idol. He wrote an original song for his audition (something almost no one does) and made it to the semi-finals in 2010 before being voted off. But Idol fame quickly wore off. No agents came calling.

loves McDonalds. A video of Hall singing the order at of drive-through window went viral. Hall had found his medium.

Hall started making more corporate-themed videos, including one where he sings “Everyone on those shows wishes they could a Starbucks order and a flash mob at Walgo back. There were so many things I would Mart. Any money he earned he plowed right back into the next video project. Nearly broke, have done differently,” says Hall. “But getting Hall decided to put his all into a sort of urban eliminated from that show was probably the spoof on Beauty and the Beast called Beauty best thing that ever happened to me.” and the Beat. The five-minute musical number features a white Belle navigating life in the urHall headed back to Texas where one day, on ban ‘hood. a whim, he wrote a song about how much he

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzds6fRfjM

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Because the video had the same name as Justin Bieber song that was about to drop, Hall caught the attention of Braun. He quickly signed Hall and changed his life. Hall now estimates he has earned $500,000 just since singing with Braun. In addition to the money he made with the Virgin video, Hall earns big from his deal with Wayans. He happily endorses products from up and coming brands like Ginge London and OnePiece from Norway. His fans snap up his Toddy Tees. Hall says that no matter how big he gets, he suspects he’ll keep making YouTube videos,

though maybe not quite as many. “I will always come back to YouTube because that’s where I started,” says Hall during an interview at UTA headquarters in Los Angeles. “YouTube is the only reason I’m sitting in this room talking to you.” Todrick's video Disney Dudez stays in heavy rotation in my house, and I've noticed he has a heavy adult fan base on FB as well. He's come a long way from singing fast food orders. This guy is def one to watch.

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Meet the Funny Man from the Midwest Dirty Red By: Richarh Aswanu & Denetra Key

It’s always great to know home town talent. Well this brutha is making big moves right outta lil ole Mayberry (Marion) Indiana; hosting comedy shows and bringing nationally recognized comedians here; making folks bust a gut all the way from north to south and from east to west. UIM proudly introduces Dirty Red... What's hap'nin Homie? Tell everybody where you're from.

I was on stage and my gold teeth fell out and I am from Down Central (18th S. Washington) bounced on stage, I caught it, put it back in, Marion, IN and continued doing my set. Some people still bring that up whenever they see me. How long have you been doin' stand-up? I started doing comedy November 25, 2002 (12 ½ years).

They say the best comedy comes from pain. Where do you pull your material from?

When did you realize that you're a funny dude and you belong on stage?

I pull my material from everyday life, with a little exaggeration.

Well since high school, I was one of the best joner's in Marion. I should have went to LA right after high school, but it wasn't until Florence (Flemmons) Pearson said at a cookout, “I had missed my calling.” That is when I decided to get on stage.

How would you describe your comedy?

Tell us about a hilarious experience you've encountered while doing your routine?

Richard Pryor, he did what he wanted to on stage.

Tricky at times. I will take you somewhere that you wouldn't expect. Who do you think is the greatest comedian of all time?

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funny. People always do stupid shit. If you pay attention you'll catch it. What's the funniest thing Yes, Eddie Murphy tried to follow his style, as you saw somebody do recently? well as Eddie Griffon. Even though they had great careers, there is only one Richard Pryor. I seen a women with a six month old baby girl and the baby had micro braids. She looked like Is stand up is as popular today as the days of she was in a cocoon. Poor baby will be 3 years Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy? old before she can walk. Do you feel like he has a lasting effect on comedy today?

In a since it is, but everybody thinks they can be a comedian now. Back when Richard Pryor was doing it, there wasn't that many black comedians or should I say wanna be comedians. Comedy will always be popular as long as people wanna laugh, but everybody cannot be a comedian. It seems easy but it is hard. Now a days it's a lot of comedians, not everyone is

Tell us what you got coming up or about any projects in the works. I am supposed to go on a college tour in the fall. Also I wrote a movie, if I can get some investors, it will be in production soon.

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UIM Celebrates Our Own Amaru Lewis By: Richarh Aswanu & Denetra Key

It’s not everyday that someone on our team is presented with a prestigious award. When we got wind of our in house comedian’s accomplishment, we had to give the spotlight to acknowledge and celebrate his hard work. We at Urban Image take pride in what all of our team members do. Congratulations to Amaru for receiving a 2014 Telly award for his work in “Annie was a Liar”! Richarh: What's Hap'nin Bruh, how ya doin'? Amaru: I’m good. Working and trying to make the dream happen for myself and my brothers and sisters. (Not just black folk) R: How long have you been directing, producing and editing films? A: I have been writing screen and teleplays for 20 years. Dabbled in producing and directing here and there throughout the years but nothing real until 3 years ago. I am selftaught on everything. I was tired of the failed promises and deals. Wait-

ing on someone to fulfill your dreams is the wrong way to go. I learned the hard way through trial and error. R: I notice that you are multitalented and you're an accomplished comedian as well. When did you get into Stand-Up? A: I got into stand up when I was living in Los Angeles trying to get on at a studio somewhere as a writer. I was always known as a dude who told it like it was which I found to be an asset in Hollywood. Outside of Hollywood I’m an asshole. People realize the distinction only when they

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go to NY or CA. Being that way, my boy took me to see some live stand up with the intention of setting up a meeting with a young lady stand up. I had no idea. I thought I was there to see stand up. It was cool. Doug Williams was performing and some others. After the show, in the car, my boy was like, “So, what did you think?” I was like, “About what?” He said, “The show.” “Oh, well it was cool. Doug was funny.” “What did you think about the white girl?” I immediately said what I always say, “Do you want me to sugar coat it or do you want me to tell you the truth?” He responded with that look, lips to the side, “Nigga, please. Tell me the truth!” “I said immediately, “I thought she sucked!” Followed by, “But I thought of some shit she could do that would be funny.” He says, “Well, you have a meeting with her tomorrow.” I was floored. The rest was history and another story for later. LOL R: You also write novels and screenplays. What inspires you to push your pen, so to speak? A: It is in me. Been writing crazy stories since the 1st grade at Arcadia Elementary in Michigan. I had a rough life which provided 161

the backdrop for my writing. Especially for my stand-up. Tragedy is humor unfortunately. If it is in my head, I write it down. In 20 years, I have written 8 screenplays and a few sitcoms. In the last 2 years I have written 4 books and working on my 5th. I will write a total of 10 when all is said and done. I have enough content to be working for the next 20 years. R: Do you find it best to shoot your own work instead of trusting your vision to someone else? A: I was forced to shoot my own work! As I mentioned before, I was tired of the failed deals and promises. I have had at least 3 deals, totaling almost 20 mil, and they all fell through for one reason or another. A producer at a wrap party in Cali once told me, “No just means, not today.” R: What was it that pulled you into the film industry? A: It is my first love. It is what I always wanted. I wanted to be an actor and famous. I was always a class clown and successful in drama classes. It’s in me. I was born to do this. A cliche’ but very true. R: Have you had any formal training? Tell us about your background behind the lens. A: I used to live with a very successful, platinum producing, music producer in California. I was sleeping on his couch waiting to get put on as a writer. In the meantime, I learned how to make music, got on the show,

“The Parkers,” from a spec script I wrote for the show, “Moesha”. I was hungry and paid attention to everything around me. I am able to watch something and pick it up. I taught myself how to write scripts via reading and research. I taught myself how to make the type of music I wanted to make. I used to work for, “No Limit Films” aka Master P. From that, I learned the basics on making a film. I taught myself how to produce, direct, shoot, and edit by just doing it. R: How many films have you produced in your career? A: One (1) to date and currently working on a web series. I just recently won 2 Telly Awards for my first film, “Annie Was A Liar! the TRUTH about being in foster care.” I had made many attempts in the past to produce small projects, and I did but not without depending on others to do their part. I have done a few things to build my resume in the early days. Trying to pull a dedicated team is next to impossible without money. Everyone wants to be famous but no one wants to put in the work! I learned that the hard way as well. I was always the guy with the ideas but never had the money nor equipment to pull it off. R: Annie was a Liar!, is a documentary about the harsh realities of foster care. What made your crew decide that was the story

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that needed to be shot? A: In show business I was always taught to talk about what you know. I was a foster kid so it was an easy pick. Therefore, putting it together was easy. Especially since we went out and bought the equipment needed to make it happen. No more waiting on someone else to make the dream! It paid off! R: How long did it take you and

man like myself at the time. Those were his words. (Paraphrasing) He said, “I am calling you to let you know that I read your script and thought it was fantastic! Unfortunately, this is the last season of the show. If it wasn’t, I would have been offering you a staff writing position.” Word for word at this point, “The main purpose of this call is to tell you, you are not an impostor.” Man I needed that

your crew to shoot the film? A: It took us 7 or 8 months to deliver. R: The result was a Double Telly. Congratulations to you and your crew on that. Could you enlighten us as to what the award is? A: VALIDATION!!! Even when you know what you know, you still question your validity in the game. For instance, when I wrote the Moesha script, I got a call from the Executive Producer of the show, Fred Johnson. He called me specifically to validate me as a writer because he knew how important that was to a young

at the time. I was depressed. I was 3 or 4 screenplays in and nothing was happening for me. Then I get his call. The rest was history! R: “The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.” A: I look at it as a step below the Oscars and an opportunity and stepping stone to the Oscars. R: What was the first thing that

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ran through your mind when you were notified that Annie was a Liar! Won the Double Telly? A: It was a mistake. Excitement. Denial. Finally! Vindication. Joy. Sadness because my parents will never see, know, or care about it. R: What do you have coming up next? A: http:// www.usethewebseries.com/ U.S.E. Ultimate Social Experiment A scifi web series. It is going to be huge! When Hollywood opens the door, the first question they ask you is, “What else do ya got?” We are going to be ready! R:Do you feel like there is a void waiting to be filled in Black Independent Films? A: Abso-fucking-lutely!!!! I am so tired of seeing the same complexion via NBC, ABC, and CBS! Even Fox and

the other networks. It does not reflect the real world. That is why Shonda Rhimes is winning right now. Diversity is what makes people feel good about the world when watching television or movies. Disney sucks ass cause all there is is white programming. They doin’ the hip-hop and excluding the creators of it. Using our slang but leaving us out. We buy right into it. “That was a good show!” How? It had one color in it! Oh, and the token is always around. Smh I plan to adopt the Shonda way. Been had that mind frame but she beat me to it. R:Is there some sort of organization aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters can join to network and brainstorm with like-minded individuals? A: Although it is very helpful, I don’t brainstorm with anyone. I have learned my lesson. Most people brainstorm and that’s it. I brainstorm and go make it 165

happen! I will stick with my small team for now until I can afford to hire and pay a salary. Then you can hold people accountable! People talk a good game but most fall short because I call their bluff. I would love the calabo but as soon as they drop the ball in the first few weeks I’m done. I don’t have time to play games! I am on a mission! You say you gonna do it, write me a check! You wanna do business, write me a check first and then we will talk! I have found if you have a stake in the game then you pay attention to detail a lil bit more. Plus, you tend to get the job done. I was in the middle of a no budget film shoot one time and the camera man said this under his breath,

“Awe, these niggas tryin’ to be professional”. He didn’t show up the next day. Ended the shoot just like that! True story!!!! R: Again congratulations on your success, keep doing what you're doing. We are most definitely proud of you. Is there any other comments or advice you'd like to add? A: Thank you! It is only impossible, until you do it! Don’t be a talker! Go make it happen like our counterparts do. The Fresh Prince television show was put together in the middle of the night! Lawyers on the phone and all… in the middle of the night! So you can never tell me you can’t get the deal done because it’s a Saturday night after the club!

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QUEEN to queen - Part I By: Angela Williams

Sit down. I want to talk to you. There's no need to be nervous, I know what you said. I don't like it, but I'm not going To hurt you. Every lie you told got back to me. All the talk about how you'd put me In my place came at me like a Constant taunt. For the most part I was going to Ignore whatever you were saying Because I didn't see the point of Buying into your drama However, I thought it was time for Us to have a discussion.

I don't know how you were raised and Honestly, it doesn't matter because all That matters to me is how I was raised. 169

A King and a Queen raised me Because of them is why I'm not Calling you out of your name. I'm going to the Queen in me Speak to the queen in you. Let's get this straight ... a true Queen Never has to put anyone down to Build herself up. This constant name calling, instigating, Posturing for dominance is uncalled for. Truth is you can't take from me what Is truly mine. You can boast about taking my man, but if You can take him then he was just a man And not my true King. You can put me down and drag my name Through the mud, but that won't stop Me from holding my head up and Doing my thing because that's what A real Queen does. Please understand that no matter How much you try to break me, No matter what you try to take from me, No matter how much you hurt me 170

I'm still going to find a way to Rise above because that's what A real Queen does.

So, the way I see it you have a decision To make .... you can continue to keep Drama alive, continue to down your Sisters and squander your true Potential...OR... You can accept that you're a Queen, Walk in your purpose and Encourage your sisters. Why? Because that's what a real Queen does. The decision is yours.

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"Sunny Nights" By: Kerry B

I am the One... That they call the Sun... A blazing light within the skies For all to see... Which is me... Smiling with my rays that could reach The ends of the Earth Or the deepest of the Seas I am the light that wakes you alive Careful for I might blind you With my strongest light if you'd try To stare into me. I am the center of the universe... Embraced by the orbits of floating planets As they all rotate to make sure each part of their skin Has witnessed my warmth... My light burns eternally... Causing plants to open more... Setting the standards of mortals' days While they count the number of times They've seen me peek through their window To determine how much life they have. I am the One... The signal for good mornings And happy days... Your best friend during a vacation As you sit back with pina coladas, bahama mamas, Or any drink of your choice to celebrate summer. Bright I am... Too far for any human to hold Yet whenever they get cold 172

I am the one to reach so they can close their eyes While their body gets warm. I am the One... That they call Sun... I am the One... That lights your days.

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Brick House By: K.S. Oliver

I’m a pain in the but this is very true Hey it’s me being real is all I know how to do I’ve waited what seems like forever to wake up in minimum pain To feel a bit of normality, a little more sane

The old folks say never forget where you come from, but I’ll never forget where I’ve been Lupus is so unpredictable you could end up there again I’m unlike others I appreciate the smaller things that they seem to overlook Waking up and not being able to get off the pillow was all it took Barely able to even open my eyes, face throbbing from pain Not able to open my mouth without a cringe or strain I have an invisible disease you wouldn’t know unless you were told I’m built of bricks not even SLE can make me fold Pills and shots may get me through the day But I live life like a CEO my way From a petite perfect size three To the new double digit me

I’m a small on Monday by Friday a large That’s just my physical appearance my personality is in charge Living my life requires faith and a large amount of guts Trusting the Lord to cover me no ifs ands or buts I have a big mouth and if you know me it’s true Like you I have a purpose and it’s to inform you (© 2013 K.S.Oliver) 174

I Never Said I Was Your Man By: Eartha Watts-Hicks

You and me were only having fun. Girl, you knew that was the way it was supposed to be. Then you decided fun wasn't enough. That it was love for you, when it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love for me I never try to lead you on. I didn't do anything wrong. You were at the one who fell for me. If someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to blame the girl. It isn't me. You say that you gave me your all. Crying, how I did you wrong. But girl, don't you understand I never said I was your man. You wanted more than I could give and you felt more than I did it's not my fault you're feeling bad I never said I was your man The sex was good. But in your mind You thought you were making love to me I never lied or said you were the one 175

Now, I wonder just what did you expect from me Did you think you'd get what you want? Did you think I would grow to love you? It takes two no matter what you think. Think what you want but don't you blame me. You thought what you wanted to think I never promised anything Do you understand? Now that you're hurt You wanna put it all on me. You took that chance. What did you expect? I never said I was your man

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