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Aug, 2009- Issue 1
Contents: Urban Community 7. Inspirational Tymes : Unleash Your Greatness 8. Interviews with: Hassa Nash, Beauty from Ashes 9. Love & Relationships: Statik & Flo: Relationships from both sides!
NEWS & ENTERTAINEMNT 10. Diamond of the Month: Kim Luong 12. Spotlight on: Mo Stegall, Local Boy Makes Good by Living His Dream.
Inside Money Tymes 13.
Financial Information you can “bank” on!
Arts & Culture 14.
Urban Music: Soul Mello: Bringing You More than what you expected- good music! 17. Spoken Word: Christopher K.P. Brown - Loving Life and Living His Dream 19. Urban Flava: The Bohemian Café, Those Living the Dream!
The Good Life 20. Fashion & Swagger- 2010, Men’s Scents to grab!! 21. Good Eats: Amelie’s 22. Gallery
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COFOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER
CAREY W.DIGSBY cdigs@urbantymes.com
SALES AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
STEPHAN JACKSON sdjackson@urbantymes.com
EDITOR
MR. URBAN editor@urbantymes.com
MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
DANA SIDBERRY MOTIVATION MARKETING dana@motivationmktg.net
CONTRIBUTING CREATIVE EDITOR
KEYSHA J. HALL kjhall@urbantymes.com
To Subscribe to Urban Tymes Magazine Contact us at: subscriptions@urbantymes.com URBAN TYMES MAGAZINE Charlotte, North Carolina 28213 www.urbantymes.com
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANANE THABITI
Poet/Speaker His works have spanned in various outlets, from the play “Leeds of Magnolia” with UNCC Southern Oral History Project, to published works in the NC Humanitarian Council, The News & Observer, and Urban Tymes. Recently he performed open mic at the well know Happy Hour receiving rave reviews. ananethabiti@yahoo.com
Anthony Tillman
Poet/Writer “ living my todays, better that my yesterdays, in order to have a better tomorrow.......” Alum of the Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York studying fine arts, Anthony, or Aayantee” as he is referred to, brings a fresh perspective to the lyrical world.
Katherine Waddell
Writer “It's in my veins flowing freely into the universe; I have the power to change my situation. The words I write are etchings of the road I have traveled.” An English graduate of Belmont Abbey College, and educator, Katherine is also a freelance writer whose works can be seen in many social networks. Stay tuned for major interviews with celebs!
Keysha J. Hall
CEO TAO Entertainment “Words give birth to inspiration, motivation, causing joy and elation as unprotected poetry will be the death of me because I can’t fathom living without poetic words alive in me.” Kj ©2009 Educator, writer and businesswoman. KJ Hall brings art and culture to our readers with a unique perspective! kjhall@urbantymes.com
Pervis Nash
Inspirational Tymes featured writer. Bringing a fresh, positive outlook via the Word itself!
A Letter from the Founder
From top: At Author Spencer L. Barnett’s Launch party @ Bentley’s RSVP Johnathan Cuevas , Urban Tymes & Motivation Marketing’s monthly networking event. In a discussion with Black Diamond Co and Brother to Brother Mentor J. Potts
When I first developed this magazine, its inception was just a blog, devised to answer the many questions that I would receive from others about the best places to eat, places to go, and businesses to deal with. Many believed as I did, that the key for us to grow is to enjoy the diversity that this city has. Many times we are so mired by the negativity that is around us, we forget to stop and enjoy the beauty that is around us, and those that help create it! Created to highlight our community's gifts, resources, knowledge, people, and goals, our staff is inspired and blessed to have this opportunity come to fruition. Urban Tymes pledges to continue to bring content for information and inspiration to our broad audience. As we embark on a new decade, with a new leader, and new vision, so too must our thoughts and abilities change to run parallel with these goals. Our printed publication embraces these ideals, and inspired by those pioneers in media that blazed a trail so many of us now follow, this too shall be a forum for all to participate in….. Peace and Blessings, Enjoy our first printed issue!
Urban’s Gospel Picks!!!
nspirational Tymes UNLEASH YOUR GREATNESS We are destined to reign
We all have the gift of creative power. The Bible says; Call those things that are not as though they were." We have the ability to walk in greatness in whatever area that we are called to. God has called each and every one of us to do great things for His purpose and Kingdom, all the while; we will reap the dream life now as well as throughout all eternity. In the beginning God the Father spoke into existence the things we now call the heavens. We are created in His image and according to His likeness; Genesis 2:7. He has placed in us the very ability to create the life around. Remember life and death is in the power of the tongue. Want a dream life? Speak it and it will be so! Jesus words Himself, "If you say a thing and believe in your heart that you have it and not doubt you shall have what you say." Mark 11:23.
in this life as well as to sit as kings, and queens in the next. The Bible says we are the head and not the tail. If you are a business man, God wants you to have a prosperous business. If you are a homemaker, you are anointed to bring up wonderful children in the Lord. If you are a student, God wants you to excel in all of your studies and examinations. And if you are trusting Him for a new career, He doesn't just want you to have a job; No! The Lord wants you to have a position of influence so that you can be a blessing to your organization. Whatever your vocation is, you are destined to reign in life. And when you reign, you have rule over the enemy and all of his tricks as well as any circumstances that are contrary to God's word and His destiny for you. That destiny is that you live the dream life; walk in your destiny; Unleash your greatness!! God bless you all who read this, with an abundance of joy and happiness as you reign in life.
Urban Interviews: On a chilly Wednesday evening I met Hassa Nash and her husband Pervis at an intimate coffee shop in Charlotte. I noticed that with this young sister a bit of uneasiness so I immediately explained to her not to think of this as an interview, but as friends just getting together to talk and catch up. With that she began to open up about the writing of her book, “Beauty from Ashes” and what motivated her to do such a book.
Beauty from Ashes A woman’s story of being different, being unloved, and coming to a land where she was finally able to embrace both.
A young Hassa with mother and sisters
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“What prompted me to do the book? It is more of a release for me” she states, “as well as a way to help others that are going through similar challenges.” Her bio is an incredible story indeed, a child born of an African American father who was in the service and a Thai mother, she tells in an excerpt from her book of her mother’s thoughts of aborting her: “My mom got pregnant with me in late 1976, despite the fact that she went through this before, again she found herself in the same predicament. Being pregnant by a foreigner and not having the means to take care of her unborn child. Her family was not going to support her because Thai people looked down on girls getting pregnant out of wedlock, and if that wasn't bad enough she had to be pregnant by a black man. This time though she was determined not to go through with this pregnancy, she was not going to be forced to give up another child; she was not going to be abandoned by another man. The only other thing she could do was try to abort me. She tried several times by taking some type of concoction that she knew was supposed to kill the unborn child but of course it didn't work. She finally decided to tell my dad a few months later, his reaction was not at all what she had expected. My dad was elated! He was so excited about having a child he didn’t know what to do with himself. The first thing he decided to do was to marry my mom, he was going to make sure that his child would have his name, he was not going to allow me to be one of the countless, nameless children on the streets of Bangkok.”
I had to ask Hassa where did the title “Beauty from Ashes” comes from. She notes that in a sermon she was watching on T.V. did the term, beauty from ashes was mentioned. “It spoke to my spirit” she says “and I found myself asking the question, Lord, why did you bring me over 12,000 miles to this place?” “It is then I was told, you may see a woman without, I see a woman that can be used in a great way, beauty from ashes!” We then talk about what influenced her to do the book, and was a turning point in her life. “My husband” she says with tears in her eyes. “When he met me, I didn’t have a clue on how to do anything, and my self-esteem was so low. But he has been my rock, my support, encouraging me and telling me how beautiful I am after all the years of negative things I heard.” “She is that queen” he states “and she deserves no less than the best that life can be.” “ I can truly be myself around him” she quickly adds. “If I just want to be relaxed and comfortable, he lets me. Or if I need some time to rest, he is right there taking care of everything.” “He is my support!”
“I found myself asking the question, Lord, why did you bring me over 12,000 miles to this place?” “It is then I was told, you may see a woman without, I see a woman that can be used in a great way, beauty from ashes!”
During the first third of her life, she reflects back on how she was primarily an outcast, not being fully Black, and not being fully Thai. “Because of my mixed heritage, I didn’t go to school until I was in the 5th grade. I would be at home with my grandmother, and was told to stay out of her way and quiet while she watched T.V.” “If my father had not made the decision to come back and take care of us, I could’ve been among the number of young Thai girls sold into prostitution at a young age” an all too common occurrence in the country. In her book, she tells of these and other points in her life, that she states “molded her to the woman she is today.” One excerpt, “The Quiet Game” tells of molestation by a family member and how she had to live with that secret until recently. She hoped that by telling others of this, that young women out there with such a secret can release and tell someone and get the help needed. She states that her writings are not “mapped out” as she wants her readers to feel just how real it is. This is why Pervis gives her time to sit and write by herself. “I want it to truly be my story “she says. “Through it I want to give a part of my healing and strength to someone that is in need of it.” “To be Black is hard, but to be a black woman it is almost two fold!” Next, developing a column to help encourage and advise young women!
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Spoken Word Entertainment The Arts & More WWW.TAOENTERTAINMENT.COM
This Month, Statik and Flo take on the subject of a woman whose man has recently lost his job, and feeling depressed and not worthy of his woman’s encouragement!
Her perspective: My man has lost his job and has been looking for some time with no success. I see his shoulders sink as he appears overwhelmed with what he believes to be failure. Without saying a word I wrap my arms around his shoulders letting him know I am there. Because he is my man I understand his temperament. I understand what would be a sucker punch to his pride and what wouldn’t. At this time, because I know all my man wants is to be the provider and protector of his family; I do not consider how I am not able to do things I once was when he had a job. Rather I consider his needs for me to build him up. What does that look like? Some men have no problem with you bringing home an application or a job lead for them; that may not be your man. Some men may see not having a job as an opportunity to start a business with the equipment out in his garage. Either way your man needs you to approach him with respect. If he doesn’t mind you bringing him an application, do not bring him something beneath his skill set. Do not minimize him by telling him things like, “You are in no position to turn down anything right now, so you need to fill out this application.” What you could say is, “It does not matter what job you decide to apply for, I still recognize you as the head of this household.” If starting a business is what he decides to do ask him, “What would you like your flyers or business cards to look like?” Support him by letting him know you see him trying. This will encourage him, letting him know he is valued in his position in the family. In fact doing this will encourage him to help with the duties that have been your responsibility primarily until he finds another means to provide. This is an opportunity to bring the family closer together, allowing time to refocus on what’s important so a strategy can be developed as you all move to the next phase in your life. His perspective: I can only tell you of course from a “man’s” point of view. Society for so long has always emphasized that the man should be the provider, the leader, and never seen as weak. Many times though, if a situation like this comes up, instead of getting understanding, we get in. If we are seen doing anything else, we are deemed lazy! There are some brothers out there that would take advantage of this situation, and chill for a while. But there are those that are not of that mold, who desire to provide the best for their family or their lady and only want in turn that understanding by them. Sis you gotta remember and stress to him that this is a partnership. Break it down to him like expectations. Expectations to have a job in the next few days, in spite of the recession we are this, if he was on the court with his brush playing a game, its not up to just him to score all the points, his team is there as well. You and he make up that team, so you both can work it out. Encourage him that things will be better, listen to him when he expresses frustrations, and the both of you don’t make that your only focus. Find time to do other things so that the partnership is strengthened, and his mind and spirit doesn’t become despondent. Just a little of my “flo.”
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NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kim Luong President of 2 Worlds Entertainment in Charlotte, NC. A graduate from Fairvale High School, in 1993, Kim attended The Hospitality and Tourism College. She then worked as a Social Security officer from 2003 to present where she took on the duties of 2 Worlds Entertainment. She is a spirited soul, who is committed to helping those in need. Her generosity towards charities and dedication to all causes personifies her commitment to what she believes in. Always striving to the best of her ability to achieve outstanding results, she will be someone to watch in 2010! Urban Tymes 10
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SPOTLIGHTon Mo Stegall call it “poetic language” at The Wine Up, which has a poetry open mic night on Tuesdays and
Local Boy Fulfills His Dream When one hears the name Mo Stegall, you’re instantly reminded of celebrity interviews, tours, and the lifestyle some would kill to have. However, like any great success story, the material trappings tend to overshadow the struggles that paved the road to success. Who is Mo Stegall? Simply put, he’s a man who is living his dream and loving life while doing it. The Atlanta native is known just as much for his quick wit and inspirational messages (on an off the air), as he is for his business savvy. But one thing is evident within spending minutes in his presence is his passion for his purpose. Although Mo is an Atlanta resident, he spent twelve years in Charlotte, NC. During those years, he held various positions and fostered key relationships that would continue long after he left the Cone of those key alliances was with Jaycee Cowan, Barber, Poet, Producer and CEO of Touch One Productions. Mo would frequently perform his poetry, or as he likes to What began as a seed in Mo’s heart to inspire, encourage and motivate the youth to make changes in their lives forthe better, has grown into a passion to do the same for people of all ages. As part of HBCU Empower Me Tour with Hill Harper, Mo had an opportunity to do what he does best: use his words as a call to action! With personal stories, witty anecdotes, inspirational quotes, and the humorous persona people have grown to love, he used his gifts to effect change in the lives of people across the country. Mo is the epitome of the
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Thursday nights. Mo parlayed his gift of gab and play on words to create opportunities that would change his life. Mo not only featured at various clubs in Charlotte, but toured and was part of a traveling poetry team. This opened doors for him, which enabled him to get into the different arenas he’s into now. Once a former Teacher’s Assistant who worked with troubled teens in the public school system, Mo used his humor and poetry skills not to appease the students, but to educate and bond with them. Once you’ve developed a rapport with students, then you’re more likely to ascertain what’s wrong and formulate a strategy to help them overcome the issues in their lives that hinder their growth and development. Out of this desire to help the youth and his natural poetic talent, The Fly High Poetic Language Enrichment Program was created. This program provided workshops using poetry in various art forms to get young people to learn how to express themselves. The program catered to students Pre-K through 12th grade. It was outcomes based and custom designed because the needs of the students vary from school to school. As a result of the program’s success, Charlotte University Times featured him with the headline Mo Stegall: Poet or Prophet. That exposure and desire to not only connect with, but help teens deal with the issues they face, led to the creation of the Operation S.E.L.F Show. This teen open discussion forum started in Charlotte, and was filmed as a means to spread the message and share it indifferent markets. There were countless teens and adults whose lives were changed as a result of the show.
Renaissance man. He’s a writer, producer, motivational speaker, workshop leader, TV/Radio, host, and all around cool dude. In addition to being a serious multi-tasker and consummate businessman, he’s also extremely humble and seriously committed to giving back to the community and helping those in need. That’s where his upcoming I Can Be…Tour comes into play. The tour, which will hit major cities in the country, will focus on the following four basic principles:
* Educate - information will be shared and distributed to attendees to make them aware of financial resources and other means of assistance that may be available to help them achieve their dream. There will be job fairs as well as workshops on various skills necessary for achieving success, such as the resume preparation, interview strategies, etc. * Encourage – participants and the community will be inspired to deal with the chance in the pursuit of their dream. The focus will be on fostering personal growth and development. * Empower – participants will take part in breakout sessions geared towards developing a focused, success driven mindset. This will entail learning how to be more effective and how to take control of their destiny. * Entertain – participants will be amused and take part in various stimulating activities fostering laughter and movement. The tour will include The Power Hour, where Mo will interview guests about their journey along the road to succeed. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear from people who are successful, and learn and the struggles and perseverance that are part of the journey. The goal of the tour is to inform, inspire and ignite people as a means to transform them from I Can Be… to I Am Becoming…They will walk away with viable sources to help them achieve their dream, and a changed mindset so they’ll know the necessary action to take towards that passion that has laid dormant in their life, but remained alive in their heart. As a person who is passionately living his life with purpose, I wondered why this is so important to him. Mo states, “When you live your dream, you’re more inclined to put more into it. You’re willing to do work without an invoice attached because you’re doing what God called you to do. You’re also creating avenues for other people to live their dream as well.” When asked what advice Mo would give to someone who wants to live their dream, has realistic expectations and was honest about not doing their part in the past, but is ready to take their vision to the next level, he takes a moment to reflect and says, “Everything starts with a plan because that’s your strategic roadmap to success. It forces you to set boundaries and create expectations in line with your vision.” Whenever you think of living the dream, you’re reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His infamous I Have a Dream speech, along with
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Check out “The Mo Stegall Show” on WTLK on Monday-Friday 2-4pm
MONEY TYMES 7 tips for a Preapproved Mortgage Having a letter of pre-approval can remove a lot of obstacles to home buying, but the process isn't as simple as it used to be. Preparation and caution are advised. By SmartMoney/ MSN During the height of the real estate boom, getting a mortgage was as easy as picking out a new coffee table for the living room. Now, homebuyers have to jump through rings of fire before they can sign on the dotted line. Today, the first step in landing a home loan is obtaining a letter of pre-approval. This means a mortgage lender has verified that you're approved for a mortgage of a certain amount over a fixed time frame. Pre-approval letters are prepared even before you've picked out your home. They remove some of the uncertainty in the home buying process. In the current housing market, real estate agents and sellers won't want to work with buyers unless they have one. "Before you even get in my car, you want to get pre-approved," says Gerry Bourgeois, a real estate broker and president of Towne & Country Realtors in Leominster, Mass. With a letter in hand, buyers know exactly how much they can borrow -- and therefore how much house they can afford. A preapproval letter shows the seller and the seller's agent that the buyer is capable of buying their house. "For most sellers, the issue is not whether they can get an offer, but whether they can close the deal," says Tara-Nicholle Nelson, a real estate broker in Oakland, Calif. Here's what homebuyers need to know about the new rules of mortgage preapproval. Shop around, and shop early: When seeking pre-approval, talk to a few mortgage lenders to find the best mortgage package that suits
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your needs. Two or three lenders is customary, says Brad Blackwell, a national sales manager at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Danville, Calif. More aren't necessary to get a good deal because loan packages are generally very similar and pricing tends to be comparable, he says. Get quotes from lenders And consult with lenders before you start house-hunting. This way, you'll know how much you can borrow -- and which houses are in your price range, says Ann Stickel, vice president of affiliated services at Michael Saunders and Co., a real estate brokerage in Sarasota, Fla. Prepare your financial biography: Getting pre-approved means a lender must review and verify your income, credit and assets to ensure you could make the necessary monthly payments on a house. In the wake of the housing bust, borrowers must be more forthcoming when it comes to their finances, Stickel says. Your lender should tell you precisely what you need, but be prepared to include: • • • • •
W2 statements (or 1099 income statements) for the last two years. Federal tax returns for the last two years. Bank statements for the last few months. Recent pay stubs and proof of other income. Proof of investment income.
Know you're not obligated to one lender: Pre-approval doesn't bind you to a particular lender; it's just a promise -- albeit, a conditional one -- that the lender is willing to make the loan. The buyer isn't obligated to borrow from that lender. Don't expect a rate quote: A pre-approval will stipulate the loan amount or monthly payment but not necessarily the loan type or rate. When you apply, lenders use that day's mortgage rates to estimate costs and payments. "Just don't expect them to keep the same rate they pre-approved you with as
the actual rate that will be available when you find a property and sign a purchase contract," says Danny Valentini, a senior vice president and regional manager at Homeservices Lending, a mortgage lender in San Diego. Keep an eye on your credit score: Usually, a loan inquiry can ding your credit score. If you applied for a bunch of credit cards within a short period of time, for example, your FICO score might fall. (Most lenders use some version of the FICO score to determine your eligibility for credit and what interest rates and other terms they should extend to you.) But the credit-scoring models are designed to allow for mortgage loans. The score ignores mortgage, auto and student loan inquiries made during the 30 days prior to scoring. So if you find a loan within 30 days, the inquiries won't affect your score while you're rate shopping, according to MyFico.com. Also, the score looks at your credit report for mortgage, auto and student loan inquiries more than 30 days old. If it finds some, it counts those inquiries that fall in a typical shopping period as just one inquiry when determining your score. Deal only with a reputable lender: Sellers now are looking much more closely at who the buyer's lender is. To avoid instances in which the lender might not be able to deliver
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on the loan, they want to see that any prospective buyer is working with a financially sound and reputable lender, says Blackwell. Most national brokerages and banks have local branches, so buyers should ask a local real estate agent (and the buyer's agent who is representing them) for recommendations. To satisfy any doubts you might have about a particular lender, visit the Better Business Bureau's Web site to find out what kind of reputation they have. Watch the clock: Pre-approval letters -- and the documents they verify -- have expiration dates. Those dates vary by lender, but the letters are typically valid for 90 days, Blackwell says. If you're still house-hunting after, say, 60 days, and you're concerned, ask your lender to revalidate the preapproval letter. Sellers want to be sure the buyer's financial situation hasn't changed since the time the lender initially checked them out. If any part of your financial picture has changed -- your credit, job status, income or assets, for example -- you should notify the lender so your pre-approval can be adjusted. This article was reported by Lisa Scherzer for SmartMoney.
Soul Mello Entertainment in 2007, which is a full fledge production company that provides promotion, production, recording, vocal coaching and various aspects of the music industry to clients. They also provide graphic design services for business cards, flyers, logos, etc. It may seem like their success has happened overnight, but it’s been the result of consistent hard work over the years to get them to where they are today. After sharing the stage with talented artists like Tank, Rome and Patti Labelle it’s no wonder their soulful sounds and work ethic is strong.
A defining moment occurred while performing as one of the acts for the Women’s Empowerment Expo in 2008. During the show, Michael Bivin’s of New Editionfame commented on the group’s performance, stating their vocal ability was strong. That was a blessing in disguise because that’s something the group has worked hard to improve upon over the years.
Interviewed by KJ HALL When I first heard about Soul Mello, I was intrigued by the group name. After all we live in a time when neo soul music is resurging thanks to artists like Maxwell, Musiq Soulchild, and Anthony Hamilton. However, with songs like Lollipop, Put a Ring on It, and The Stanky Leg flooding the airwaves and garnering record numbers in downloads, it makes you wonder whether there’s a place for soul music in the digital divide. Soul Mello’s presence in the industry makes you hopeful that soul music will return to its rightful throne. Soul Mello is the brainchild of Lee Blake, who formed the group in 1997. Originally an Army quartet, Soul Mello was restructured in 2002 to its current form now comprised of Lee Blake and Rediscka Pinkney. The two met through Daniel Ward, Lee’s best friend and Rediscka’s cousin while serving in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was a great match professionally because collectively, they have nineteen years of experience in different areas of music, which enable them to not only sing songs, but do the back end work to produce them as well. Prior to combining their musical talents, they enjoyed success working on solo projects. But collectively is where their power lies as two men joined together to form one soulful voice. The natural progression of their artistic talent led them to form
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When you think of Soul Mello, three words come to come: perfectionist, soulful, and hardworking. These guys have been grinding and continuously honing their craft. It is that go-getter mindset that has caused the industry to take notice of the group resulting in them being nominated Best New Artist by the Queen City Awards and The Carolina Music Awards. Working constantly in 2009 with performances throughout North Carolina, the group has caused a buzz in the industry and made people take notice. They participated in the annual Summer Soul Music Festival in Fayetteville, NC sponsored by 104.5FM, and opened for K’Jon in October. Their music has reached the Los Angeles, California area and is being is syndicated in the UK and Spain. While 2009 was a year of success, there were many lessons learned to improve their business endeavors. The following four are critical for continued success: Never take no for an answer!! This is Soul Mello’s personal moniker. Reach beyond your own expectations. Have no fear. Lee says, “To fear trying is to fear your own success.” Know God is with you. According to Lee, “When times are the roughest, God is there. The struggles help to strengthen your faith so you can see the vision. When doors are closed, God opens windows.” Listen because God is always talking.
Don’t second guess yourself because if you have doubts, so will others. When asked why is living the dream important, Lee states simply “because I get to do what I love every day.” With so many people chained to their desks in misery daily, it’s wonderful to spend each day pursuing your passion and living your dream. There is a place of power, passion, energy and drive when you’re focused and doing what you love. It’s that sentiment that propels the group forward into 2010 with renewed strength and vigor as they prepare to release their forthcoming album, Mixed Emotions. This will be as Lee says, “Eargasm. When it drops, it’s going to be wet wherever we go”. With up tempo tracks, like Bring A Friend that you can bump in your ride, or enjoy at a party, and mello tracks like Heavensent, that will have you locked in a lover’s embrace, this album will have something for everyone. They are opening for Jagged Edge on January 22, and are in negotiations to be a featured act on the Bringing the Heat Comedy Jam. Soul Mello is a group not only living the dream through their music, but also in sound business practices as well. Oftentimes in the industry, the business end is overlooked in pursuit of the art. However, this tends to leave artists trusting their financial future to someone, and wind up getting ripped off as a result. Lee states, “If you don’t have your business straight, you’re going to stay broke.” It’s as humorous as it is sage advice. A lot of people don’t understand music is a business and artists are people, but also products that produce revenue. To ensure they don’t meet the same untimely fate as many famous musicians, they spent
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six years learning the business side. According to Lee, “If you don’t know business, you get run over by people who know it.” That’s why it’s imperative to not only hone your craft, but learn the business side so you don’t get taken advantage of. For aspiring musicians, Lee offers the following advice: “Take yourself seriously. It you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else will.” There’s an old saying, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. If all begins with the business card. If you’re trying to conduct business, and your card does not reflect that, it’s a poor reflection on you and you won’t be taken seriously. Lee says, “Grind, grind, grind!!! Don’t let anyone or anything discourage you. You don’t want to be 50 years old wallowing in regret.” Don’t put off what’s in your heart because it will eat away at you daily like a virus until you do something about it. We’ve all heard the stories of people who had brilliant ideas or were extremely talented, but never did anything with it. You have the power to achieve your goals if you quit listening to the naysayers (can be friends, family, colleagues, spouses, etc) who don’t believe in your dream. It all begins with a decision to move forward when everyone says stop because you can’t do it. You must believe in yourself and allow that drive to push you when things aren’t going well. Instead of thinking of excuses why you can’t live your dream, let the one reason that matters: you love what you do, propel you to action. When people say you can’t, think, believe and know in your heart: YES I CAN!!!
www.soulmelloentertainment.com www.myspace.com/soulmello www.facebook.com/pages/SoulMello/100473690816
Christopher K.P. Brown – Loving Life and Living His Dream KJ Hall When you first see Christopher KP Brown, you’re blown away by his energy, presence and passion for his art. He is equivocally a man living his dream, who has earned battle scars along the road to success. Whether grinding as a solo artist or being the visionary behind his company, Two Pens and Lint, he exemplifies loving what you do and working hard while doing it. The journey to getting what you want isn’t easy, but when you’re driven by purpose, it makes the process easier to endure. KP was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. As a man who has had a passion for writing since the age of fourteen, his grasp of the ills of society far exceeds his years. Always armed with a pen because you never know when the inspiration will hit you, he would write on paper, napkins and anything he could find to jot down his thoughts. At the age of fifteen, he purchased a $500 printer to print his books. He started sending manuscripts to companies in the hopes of getting a book deal, but to no avail. He never lost heart and decided at the tender of sixteen to publish his own book entitled Content, which had 100 poems and 12 pieces of artwork. This book sold 200 copies
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at $20 a piece. This was a huge success and fostered his love with poetry and self publishing. In 2002, KP left Arkansas to attend Mercer University in Macon, Georgia where he met Henry Duncan, his roommate, who would not only become his close friend, but business partner as well. While KP’s geographical location changed, his passion for poetry remained the same. However, college students couldn’t afford to spend $20 per book and he didn’t have the resources to print books anymore. He needed a way to not only remain in contact with his friends and fans in Arkansas, but also a means to spread the message in his poetry. In 2003 the Two Pens and Lint vision was born and the website was created by KP and his brother. The company name was created by KP, who always had two pens and lint in his right pocket. The company was created as a means forge a new direction in poetry, moving away from the notion of the starving artist by enabling poets to take charge of their financial future by selling their art. It’s a way to enable poets to live their dream of becoming published authors at an affordable price, with the support and marketing of a fellow poet who shares the same vision. Since its inception, Two Pens and Lint has had seven releases for KP: four albums, including the latest entitled POETRY: a hip hop album, and three chapbooks: Harlem 65, New Day and Twenty Five to Life. They have also released chapbooks for Tanesha J. Douglas, Joey Tucker and Candice D. Iloh. After graduating from Mercer in 2007 with a degree in African American studies, KP continued to attend open mics and study the business side of poetry. In 2008 he attended Graduate School at Temple University. Although he continued his writing, something wasn’t the same. He wondered if he stopped writing, would he lose the gift. So he took a break and didn’t write for three months. The first piece written after the self imposed hiatus was Harlem 65. This is significant because Malcolm X heavily influenced KP, and in 1965 lived in Harlem and was the spokesperson for the Nation of Islam. This piece is KP’s favorite and mine for the message of unity amongst African Americans. It describes feelings about being Black in America, the struggle that exists in our communities to have a better life despite
poverty and the political issues that face us daily. This is a powerful piece written by a young man who is putting the ills of society on paper for all to see and discuss. His poetry is not to entertain, rather to educate foster dialogue and propel people to take action to be better for themselves and their communities. This was a resurgence of energy and emotion for KP, and he started to assess where he is, verses where he wanted to go. He was headed in a new direction, and wondered in college would be helpful or a hindrance to the vision. After praying about it, he sent a ten page plan to his family and close friends of his poetic vision. That plan included him leaving school and pursuing poetry full time. Although he was certain about pursuing his passion, he wanted and needed the support of those he loved to bring it to fruition. Once he had that, he left school two weeks later. That decision, as difficult as it was, proved to be the correct one for him because he invested in himself and decided to live his dream, not someone else’s. As he began to devote more time to Two Pens and Lint and sharing his poetry with the world, he received much needed encouragement, support and direction from Henry Duncan, who was kind of the silent partner. He was always around to help via email since he worked in different states as a truck driver. He enjoyed being the one to get KP to stay focused on living his dream. When KP decided to release the Straight, No Chaser mixtape, Henry welcomed the opportunity to support his friend, so he financed the production of 500 copies of the mixtape, which was well received by the poetic community. It was a fitting end to 2008 as he left school and embraced his destiny with bigger and better things on the horizon. Riding off the success of the mixtape, KP released Harlem 65, Part 1 in a 3 part series in January 2009. Inspired by friend Brandon Ware, who held sidewalk talks to foster dialogue and help people share their feelings of frustration about the acquittal of three officers in the Sean Bell shootings, KP needed an outlet of his own. This Chapbook was written as his response to the issues plaguing society, with police brutality high on the list. KP continued to pound the pavement with shows until the second
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chapbook in the series; New Day was released in May. This Chapbook contained a set of Rules to follow for those in the business of holding open mics to provide a sense of structure and accountability to the poets, hosts and event organizers. The last installment in the series was 25 to Life. This is his most personal writing to date because it not only celebrates his birthday, but also his pride and success in living his dream as a full time poet. With strategic marketing and performing, the chapbooks have sold many copies. The next natural progression of living his dream was for KP to embark on a tour. In September 2009, he began the Straight, No Chaser Tour, which covered ten cities and enabled him to perform in places he has never visited as a means to increase his fan base and sell products to the public. The tour was a huge success and provided lots of food for thought as the planning began for 2010. As a man who stepped out on faith and is actively living his dream, I wondered why his poetry is his passion. KP states, “You are supposed to live your dream. Reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is important to help you understand living your dream. Once you’ve made your mind up, everything in the universe will conspire and push you towards the goal.” The man knows what he speaks because he has lived it. That one decision has drawn all the elements he’s needed towards him to facilitate him living the dream. So many people have dreams and don’t live them, only to wind up wallowing in regret years later. Is it the fear of failure what keeps us chained to a job we hate out of some false sense of security? Do we believe the voices of the dream killers, also known as unbelieving friends, family and colleagues who tell us repeatedly why we can’t pursue our passion? According to KP, “To do less than what you’re capably of is to deny God. To go the safe route instead of pursuing your passion and following God will only hurt you in the end.” When you pursue your passion, you’re in the zone. You’re doing what you love and utilizing all of your resources to make the dream a reality. In addition performing, and growing the Two Pens and Lint Company as a means to provide publishing opportunities to other poets, KP and Henry are also very civic
minded. It’s just as important to serve the community, as it is to educate and share a message with the poetry. KP manages the poetry and Henry manages the various activities to serve the community. In addition to volunteering, these guys have a servant’s heart and desire to do more work with the youth. They plan to go into to schools to use poetry to foster dialogue about important issues facing teens and inspire them to perform community service. Their
community service also takes the written form with The Seed, a monthly newsletter focusing on issues within the African American community and providing viable solutions. What’s next on the horizon for KP is to continue marketing his chapbooks, performing, and working on a forthcoming cd. He will be performing in Fayetteville, North Carolina on January 26th, in Atlanta, Georgia in February and in Charlotte, North Carolina in March. He also plans to acquire more clients who want to release chapbooks to enable poet to publish their work. Living the dream is more than a catch phrase that you relate to Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s the epitome of operating from a position of power. It’s doing what you love every day, not just for a paycheck, but because the passion is resident in your heart. With the current state of the economy, it has forced people to take stock in themselves and reevaluate their priorities. The recession has given way to the creation of many new businesses. Whether done out of necessity or a conscious choice, it’s never too late to start living your dream. The passion in your heart won’t die, so instead of killing it softly with words of doubt, step out on faith and allow your vision to grow. For more information on KP and Two Pens and Lint visit the following websites:
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/twopensandlint Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ChristopherKP The Exchange (Our Blog) http://twopensandlint.blogspot.com/ Facebook: Christopher K.P. Brown or Henry Duncan If you’re interested in chapbooks, email KP at: ckpb02@gmail.com or contact@twopensandlint.com
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2 Pens & Lint website http://www.twopensandlint.com Myspace http://www.myspace.com/2pens
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Renee Michele Breeden Renee Michele (Mother Metaphor) is an actress, playwright, author, poet, workshop instructor, makeup artist and photographer. Born and raised in Harlem, she epitomizes the renaissance woman of the new millennium. Her debut book entitled Lock, Stock & Smoking Metaphors was published in 2007 by Poetea Publishing, her own publishing company. This book used metaphors to tell the author's story about life and love. In 2008 The Living Room, a virtual classroom on BlogTalkRadio on Saturdays from 9-11pm was created. It's a means for poets to not only share their work, but to develop their artistry through collaborative exercises, homework and feedback to improve their writing. The goal is to encourage poets to delve within themselves to pull out hidden creativity.
Ashley Franklin Ashley Franklin is a visual artist who has been drawing since she was nine years old. Inspired by her mother, Lynette Franklin Robinson, who not only exposed her daughter to creative arts, but taught her how to draw as well. As a student attending Bishop State Community College pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, Ashley started painting to relieve boredom. Then courses required as part of her studies forced her to spend more time developing her craft. As a result, what began as something fun to do, has grown into her creative passion. She paints as a means of therapy to relieve stress and to escape everyday life. Ashley has her own unique style, which is woven into each piece through the brush strokes. From the title of each piece to the artistry on canvas, you can tell she put her heart and soul into expressing herself through her art. Check out her art on Ebay and Facebook. This is a young woman pursuing her passion and helping others gain an appreciation for the arts as well. LeJuane El'Ja Bowens Copies of Long Time Coming are available for sale at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/eljabowens For the first time in Fayetteville's history there will be a poetry slam to determine who will become one of five poets selected for Fayetteville's first ever Slam team. The winners will represent Fayetteville at this year's Southern Fried Poetry Competition, which will be held June 2-5 in Knoxville, Kentucky. Admission is free to all to watch and $10 admission for those who want to slam. The slam will go three rounds and the four to make final stage will become part of the slam team. The finalists will also slam for the grand slam winner amongst the four poets. Food and beverages will be available, so spread the word and please support the arts.
Lester “Spoken Sylence” Howard Lester Howard’s book “THIS TIME: The Rebirth of Fire” Is a collection of poems and short stories that allows a look into a man that has been through the fire, tempered, and made new. Powerful words mixed with raw from the heart emotion is given from this artist. Prepare as he visits a city near you! Spoken Serenity, Inc. Location:Greenville, NC, 27834 Phone:252-367-9200 http://www.spokensylence.com/
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