Looks We Love Resort 2016
With so many of our favorite designers releasing their collections for the Resort 2016 season, it’s hard to pick our favorite looks. For those ready to travel and look exceptional while out and about - here are some of our favorite looks starting with all these looks from Versace.
Lela Rose
Victoria Beckham
Altuzarra
Donna Karan
Oscar De La Renta
Giorgio Armani
How did you got started in the entertainment industry.
So I’m originally from Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia, born and raised, 757. That’s where I’m from, home to greats like Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, Eddie Bradley, Timbaland, all those folks. So that’s where I’m from. Five years ago, January 2010, I had been working in Virginia as a call center manager and I lost my job. I was like, “Well, what should I do? What should I do?” And I’ve always, always, always wanted to be in entertainment. I decided I wanted to move to New York, So I was like I should be a stylist, and nobody, mother, grandmother, my best friends, we had been friends for at that point, 12, 13 years. They were like, “Why would you do it? Nobody’s there. You have no foundation.” You know what I’m saying? “There’s no support.” So I was like, “Well, that’s what I want to do. This is what I want to do.” So I moved to New York, I came to New York and I assisted one of my best friends and he’s a stylist. At the end of the shoot I was like, “I want to be stylist,” not with her because of what was involved. One, the personality, two, hem up the clothes, taking back the clothes. You know what I’m saying? I realized it wasn’t for me. So he knew about The Chamber Group and he knew that they were looking for interns, and then I had also got an interview with Zac Posen. So I went to my interview with Zac Posen in the morning. This is March 20th or the 15th. I went to my interview with The Chamber Group in the afternoon. So I didn’t get the job, the internship at Zac, but when I went to The Chamber Group, I loved the office. They hired me the next day, and I think I started the following Monday which was the 21st. So that was my first day as an intern, and I literally interned for a few months, from March to September, no pay. I was living off of my unemployment, and I just worked off of that for the first three months.
Chris asked me where I wanted to take my career, the first thought is that I didn’t really want to be a publicist or a media relations person in the conventional way, but then I was very good with business but also I was very creative. So he asked me to be his executive assistant, and I said yes and then I did that. I was the executive assistant for a year and a half, and then at that time I was really like, “Oh, what do I want to do next? I think I want to open a nonprofit and maybe I don’t want to do this anymore because I don’t want to be nobody’s assistant.” And then coincidently, this one day we were in the car traveling somewhere on business and Chris said, “So I don’t think you should be my assistant anymore. I think you could go beyond that. I’m going to make you the director of operations for the company.” Which this company has never had before, he’s never had before and that’s how I got to the point that I am now.
It happened very fast, but it’s just a testament to prayer, to faith, to growth, to hard work, to dedication because I guess I would say that I knew that I would be here but more of me didn’t really know. It was faith. I mean it really was just faith.
For those who may not know, let’s explain what The Chamber Group is, and what you all do and all of that for the readers who don’t know.
So The Chamber Group is a full-service PR and strategic marketing firm founded by Chris Chambers in 2006. Basically, kind of how we position ourselves is, we don’t do a la carte service. We don’t just work albums. We don’t just work singles. We don’t just work movies.
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Power Moves
I met Renaldo Vines last year while covering the Essence Music Fest, he’s is the Director of Operations for The Chamber Group. He’s working on amazing things. Take a look below.
We help build and create and continue brands. Our staying power is that we have our hands in a lot of different pots, and our fingers on the pulse as it relates to trends, what’s hot, what’s not when it comes to urban, hip hop, but indie fashion and entertainment space overall. Chris’ vision, how he just builds the company, and how he pushes everybody within the company to kind of go that extra mile and to just be creative and come up with things that are completely out of the box is why we’re so successful. In the past the labels, and other folks used to kind of handle everything. Now they just handle one thing and when you’ve got a single coming out, you’ve got an album coming out in 90 days, there’s really nothing else they can do, unless they’re doing your tour. So we build and we help continue brands, and then we do strategic marketing for clients, our clients that range from like Ford Lincoln to Versace to Belvedere to LVMH. We’ve done several different things with them. We’re now trying to extend to fashion and corporations.
I know in our industry, there’s no such thing as a regular day, as the Director of Operations what’s a day like for you?
The key point in my day, when I roll over the first thing I do, is login and check the company bank account and then see what came in, see what went out, make sure we’re not broke. So for my first definite, it’s an overall function from an HR perspective, from an overall financial and budget perspective, as far as the company and making sure that we’re running properly, payroll, rent, HR, healthcare but then on top of that, going after new business, whether it be in sports, music, TV, entertainment, brands, whatever and then just maintaining the culture and the atmosphere, the moral I should say here, managing the interns, managing the staff and then managing the expectations of all of our clients, and we have about 30, so managing the expectations of those, making sure that the contracts and things are appropriate, and that you know we’re in mind with what we set out to do and the client is happy.
I saw that you started a new venture. What inspired you to branch out on your own and do your own thing?
Okay, so I love my job and it got to a point where it was it’s the same thing every day. I say this. I’m not a publicist. I just look like one or act like one, and so many people think I’m a publicist because I mean I get it. I do red carpets. I do events as a publicist but I work at a PR firm. I met this young lady by the name of Re’ Luise Williams she’s from Detroit, comes from a musical background. Her dad was Aretha Franklin’s musical director for 15 years.
She’s been writing since she was five. I met her in May of last year through one of my interns turned friends, and I heard her sing I felt like damn, this girl is good and it’s like if Jazmine Sullivan, Jill Scott and Adele could have a love child, I feel like she would be it. So I was blown away. So we kept in touch and we would call each other about things and advice about things, and she would send me songs and I would listen and it’s whatever. So over the past five years, I would say four years since I’ve been here, several people have asked me to manage them, and I’ve always said no. I don’t want to do management. I work with managers on the PR side and I understand their job, and I don’t know how they do it. So I was like I would never do it and towards October of last year, things just started happening organically for her and I. So I got her booked on the ASCAP Women in Music thing in Atlanta, their annual event and she performed there, and the response was a meeting. So I’ve been having this idea about having a company, and I want it to be not only music but I want do entertainment. I want to do lifestyle, fitness and I want to do hospitality because I want to open sneaker store. This is going to be a collective agency. We’re going to do music and if we find the actor or actors, we’ll do TV/film, whatever. We’ll get an agent for that but then this is lifestyle because I want to open the door. So myself and Santos Garcia started this company called The 82 Group and Re’ Luise, D King, they were our first signing. We kind of just brought our artists together under our umbrella, and then we also picked up DJ Quiana Parks who is a female DJ but also a philanthropist. She’s a cancer survivor and she just got diagnosed with MS maybe not too long ago. She’s only like 26 but an amazing spirit, and she’s an artist so amazing spirit and all of our artists under our umbrella, they have a story, but they’re also very talented and my thing is kind of getting back to real music and real artistry and giving them a platform to perform on. It’s not for me or for the company. It’s not about label deals and all of that stuff. It’s about building organically, grassroots campaigns with your artists and touring, being able to touch the artist and just make good music and put it out for the people who still have the opportunity to get it to the people that they want to.
You’re busy as always.
We’re doing a huge event on the 27th in L.A., and we’re honoring a few people. We’re honoring Chris. We’re honoring Karen Civil. We’re honoring Cortez Bryant, one, for what they’ve done in our lives personally but also what they do to contribute to the lives of so many others, and the title of that is Leaders of Tomorrow Honor Leaders of Today.
So Verizon Wireless partners as our presenting sponsor. We’re working exclusively with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and they’re donating two scholarships, one to each of our main title honorees they’ll able to present them with that scholarship, and that’s kind of our way of give back to help continue to create future leaders in, whether it’s music, entertainment, theater and business, whatever, there’s no exclusivity. I strongly, wholeheartedly believe in I know that was without a shadow of a doubt that I have been blessed beyond all measures from where I was five years ago, and the only way that one, I continue to be blessed is to bless those who are able or even aren’t able but just sometimes you just want to give something to somebody to get that reaction, and I think that to me, that that’s the big thing, being able to give something back in some way, shape, form or fashion. So starting to kind of like our upfront in our launch, now artists will perform for everybody who’s there but also to recognize those people who came before me and came before us really and open so many doors for so many other people and give so many people chances every day, such as continuing to give back. So I want to be a part of that number. So this is something that I want to do every year.
What’s the most important or valuable thing that you’ve learned that you would want to pass along?
I’ve learned so much, that anything is possible, and if you believe and if you have faith and if you work like anything is possible. Nobody ever got anything from not working for it. I mean even the rich. I mean somebody had to work to get to it. You know what I’m saying? And then others have to work to keep it. So you have to just keep going. You have to keep going and I think sometimes people, they get deterred because of rejection, and I’ve been rejected before by people, by jobs, by a bunch of things. When I was younger my grandmother, we used to always talk about money and bills and I’ve always been a cash person and she said something to me in such a way that I kind of had to decipher on my own what she really was telling me. I didn’t really find out what it meant until much, much, much later. We were talking about money and cars, money and credit cards she was telling me that I should get a credit card and I was telling her I didn’t want a credit card. she just kept saying credit beat cash any day, and I was like what are you talking about? I said, “If I go to dealership and you go to a dealership, and I had 15 thousand you want to use your credit, they’re going to give me the car.” And she was like, “No, they’re not. They’re going to give it to me.” And I was like, “Well, why wouldn’t they take my cash?” And she said, “Because credit beat cash any day. Pay your bills.”
And I was like, “Whatever.” So I didn’t understand it until I turned 30, and when I turned 30 that’s when I was like now my credit has to be right and in order for it to be right, I have to work, and you have to stay determined and you have to stay in it. You really, really have to be a part of that be your common goal, right? So even now I tell my friends that. I be like, “Credit beat cash any day.” And they be like, “What?” I be like, “Credit beat cash any day.” And I think it’s just for me, it applied to so many things that I had did wrong and so many things that I didn’t listen to, so many things I didn’t listen to. now I start remembering all these things that she told me, my mother told me, my grandfather told me just all those things and I’m like wait, everything that they said was right you know. It’s that aha moment.
How do the readers find out more information about you, the Chamber Group and all the great things you are working on and your company?
My Instagram is The Epitome 82, T-H-E, E-P-I-T-O-M-E 82 and then my company Instagram is The 82 Group, and my other Instagram is The Chamber Group PR. The Chamber Group’s Twitter is Chamber PR NY and our website is Chambergroup.com, and then my company’s website is The82group.com.
Are you currently looking for more people to sign with your company and your brand?
I keep saying no but it feels like it’s going to be yes. There are two people that I’m interested in right now, but D King, he has a project coming out. Re’ Luise’s project just came out in April. So we’re still kind of planning out for the summer touring and stuff and just seeing our options and initiatives, to continue to get them both up there.
What last words would you like to leave the readers with?
There’s a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and he says, “Don’t go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” And that’s what I want to do. I want to start our own trail. Everybody kind of has the same common goal, and we all get there differently. Some people, they are born into it. Some people have to work for it. Some people, it just falls in their lap because of how they look. You know what I’m saying but I want to build my success on hard work and determination and just believing that the unbelievable could happen. It makes me a better brother, a better friend, just a better person overall, and I want to continue to open up that trail and to have those people who are the future leaders of tomorrow come behind me and do it the same way I did it or take a little piece of my trail and then break off and make your own little one.
There are so many accolades attributed to the powerhouse that is Mali Hunter, its hard to pinpoint how she does it all. Mali currently serves as the General Manager at Tree Sounds Studios she is also a phenomenal chef, yogi, mentor and singer. She’s working on a new album and lifestyle website IamMali. com. Mali is also highly respected as a music industry insider and a host of the best invitation only dinner parties here in Atlanta. Mali also added a Grammy nomination to her resume with the production and publishing work on New Flame by Chris Brown and Usher. We’re excited to see what Mali does next and we can’t wait for her new album, website and our chance to eat more of her macaroni and cheese! Sign up for updates from Mali by visiting IamMali.com and Instagram @Iam_Mali.
When it comes exquisite timepieces, you will not find a more knowledgeable person than Anish Bhatt. I had the distinct pleasure of being invited to a private event with Hublot and Mr. Bhatt late last year. After learning the story of how Anish started and developed Watch Anish, I was even more honored when I finally met him. Watch Anish started in 2012 after Anish left his corporate job to start the luxury lifestyle website. His audience has significantly increased since then, he close to 1.25 million Instagram followers and one of the most devoted fan bases I’ve seen. He is also the best well dressed man in any room hands down. Anish is based in London and traveling the world hosting exclusive events be sure to check out his website watchanish.com and his Instagram @WatchAnish.
Mali Hunter
Anish Bhatt
Let’s get into it, I guess I need to get the obligatory question out of the way. What do you think about the comparisons between Power and Empire?
I’m glad that you phrased it as obligatory. I think that first and foremost, they are defendable. I don’t think that the shows compare at all. I definitely think that they are defendable in the sense that we don’t get an opportunity to see, these are two shows of the same genre and oftentimes, we’ve just not had two shows that are Brown in essence with people’s color and Latin people as well and for our show at least respectively, and the music for us to me, is kind of on the call sheet, almost like a character. New York is a character. The music is a character. Obviously with the executive producing person being that of Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, there’s going to be a natural thought that we’re in a music world but ironically, on paper maybe he would be the person that would be thought to create a show like Empire. Yet he’s created this critically acclaimed show that is not only sort of spun in his head before Courtney Kemp Agboh created more of it, but also he’s playing a character in the show and doing a hell of a job and making people forget that he’s 50 Cent. So when you take that and then you add to it, what Taraji and Terrence and Lee Daniels and Fox have created, I understand the comparison because there’s not enough of us on TV period. Let alone shows that one is about music and the business and the other one, music just plays a subtle part. There’s also that structure of having had nothing and making nothing turn into something. So Luscious as a character and Ghost as a character both come from sort of nothing, maybe taking some dirty money and cleaned it up and now are trying to live a life of luxury and wealth and that is a reality for Black people.
Headliner
Power star Omari Hardwick is known as an actor, philanthropist, songwriter, poet and more. So honored to have him as the cover story for this year’s Power & Influence issue, be sure to watch him in Season 2 of Power on Starz starting on 6/6.
We are not just people that are middle class or impoverished. We got people that are wealthy and so I understand the comparisons and I think they’re defendable, but at the same token, they are equally not at all coexisting next to each other. We can say and do a gamut of things that they can’t and one is about a drug lord kingpin, who having all the things of monstrosity that comes with it and everything surrounding this guy. You know he’s cutthroat and a father at the same time and very doting as a father, and not that that show doesn’t have the family dynamic to it but they’re very, very different shows, that of something that’s on Fox and this being on Starz but I get it.
The average human in life is just that, average. They think averagely. So if you see something that basically looks the same, I mean you know how Black people are. You could have my dark skinned father look just like Omari Hardwick with lighter skin, and because the skin color’s not the same color, somebody doesn’t want to associate us together. So I think the shows perhaps in their complexion, if I can use that as an analogy in their skin color, the shows look the same but are very, very different in the features that are on their face, very different.
So let’s talk about Season 2. Does it pick up immediately where season 1 left off or where are we in the story of Power?
It absolutely picks up exactly where it left off. You have I would say maybe in minutes after the shooting in the club obviously and Ghost is smart enough to know at this point that he believes that he was a good target, and all the paranoia and the fear and he’s trying to figure out now who did this. Who wanted me dead? Then we know that Tommy has taken out one of Angela’s CI Tommy played by Joe Sikora, Joseph Sikora and Lela Loren plays Angela from CI basically who shouldn’t have been snooping or doing whatever he was doing, of course gets taken out by Tommy. So literally, the episode 201, that being the first episode of Season 2, man, that’s exactly within minutes where we left off, and I hadn’t necessarily seen that on TV before that, that look of like oh, hell, we’re still in it. We’re still in it, basically the last episode of the first season and then without giving too much away, the view will play out for nine episodes after that, now it’s ten this year, will play out where those loyalties lie, who’s done what wrong to that person and this person. Then there’s so much corruption and more violence this season I would say because we pick up exactly where we left off. There’s way more violence.
Oh, yeah, absolutely. Lela for sure in every interview, she has basically spoken more specifically about her character and that it’s a season for her on consequences, but yes, piggybacking her point, I would say generally speaking for all the characters I’ll say everybody gets their Ghost on a little bit this year. They’re all hiding, not only from the characters that matter most to them, but to their storyline, the people that matter most to them but also they’re hiding from themselves. When they brush their teeth and look in the mirror, they’re all sort of not being honest at times with themselves. So there’s a lot of consequences that you know as an adult, as a grown woman, when you’re not real honest with yourself or you’re not self-professing, of being as self-aware as possible, you go through a lot of stuff, whether that shows up in the affairs of the heart, in a relationship, or whether it shows up at your job with your boss or your family members, those that you really jive with and those that you don’t. When you’re not first and foremost, making sure that home is good, and I don’t mean your family but more so you as an person, then there’s consequences at play. Now add all of what I just said, add to that, that you’re hurting people along the way, you’re hurting these people that matter most to you and actually, hurting them and then walking away like I think I’ll get away with that. There’s no way. I think what’s great is that Courtney has created not just a show that has sex for sex sake or violence for violence sake or this concept of Power and who has power for power sake. I think it’s truly a creation of okay, you can do that. You can push that button if you want but there will be a consequence to pay. Even for somebody as large as life as Ghost is, there’s still consequences to be paid in Season 2 definitely. We lose the sexiness of escapism, to escape the oh, I almost got caught. There’s a sexiness to that. Season 1 is about the sexiness of escaping and getting away with murder, figuratively and literally and Season 2, that is not necessarily going to play out the same way. It catches up with you for sure.
How many shocking moments are there going to be this season?
While researching Season 2 is that this season is about consequences. So can you elaborate on that a little bit for me?
There’s ten episodes, I would say at least five, I would say at least half the number of episodes, there’ll be moments of and I mean this, even for the viewer that’s watched Season 1 more than once. I’ve seen or been privy to hearing about so many people that will watch it again and watch it again. I am so flattered and humbled to our fan base, even though they have seen it, most of the times I would say that there are going to be scenes that will take you back or make you go oh, man, but that I would not even necessarily call shocking. I would say that there will be scenes that will not even make you go oh, man. The show really definitely speaks to the viewership and the individual viewer, where that viewer is in their respective lives and I mean that. I mean at that moment, if its a scene and somebody is going through a particular thing that year and happened to be addicted to the show Power, once 2020 comes in they play the show back on and we are so lucky to have
a season that extends to 2020 and they are watching it then, and they are at a better place in their life or a different place, they might have a different definition of what is shocking as you say. I would say at least half the number of episodes, there will be those number of shocks that just knocks you out of your seat watching.
So what is your favorite episode of Season 2 so far?
I do not want to give you the spoiler.
Okay, okay, all right, fine. [laughs]
I mean I can say to you that Ghost has unraveled more this season. He was more calm, cool and very collected and gathered as a character. I think that is part of what allows the fans to be so into the story and Courtney definitely, decisively named all of these characters, from Kanan and the land of the Kananites, to Tommy Gunn, to Tasha just being grounded as one of the round of the way sister gal names. So she named her Tasha and Angela is supposed to portray that of being the angel, at least for Ghost or the light of what he sees his life becoming. Then there is Ghost who slips through the cracks, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson had a lot to do with that in terms of naming or championing Courtney at naming him Ghost once she ran that by him. So I think part of what is so interesting about the dude is that Season 1 he does slip through the cracks, and part of that is not just his charm or his smile but its also his beguiling nature. He is very manipulative and he can not only manipulate but to hold it all together after manipulating. So Season 2 I found it more interesting and more fun that I am not as calm and cool and collected and I am unraveled this year.
So I would say Episode 6 was really exciting for me without telling you too much. He definitely becomes a little bit more unraveled and doing things that you would not necessarily see Ghost do, going to places emotionally that in Season 1 as you know, we only really saw them go there when he has to kill Rolla, who is sort of a brother. Outside of Tommy, Rolla is like a real little brother to him, that when Ghost has to pull the trigger on Rolla and you see that teardrop from Ghosts eye, that was a different kind of Ghost because killing oesn’t usually affect him that way, even though he’s a doting father. This season those moments of emotion and seeing his armor crack more and not be so Ghostlike exemplified a lot more, exposed a lot more in Episode 6 than probably any other one.
What’s your favorite thing about Ghost? What’s one of the favorite attributes you have of your character?
Probably that he is that calm, cool and collected, a lot more than Omari. I’m definitely a behind the scenes person. I’m pretty decisive and pretty laid back and obviously, I couldn’t play this guy’s temper or where he can go if I didn’t have the ability to go to those same places, but what I like about him is I think he is superhero of nature, even though he is definitely the detriment of a lot of people that have partaken in his narcotics and no different from a Nicky Barnes or Frank Lucas or Pablo Escobar. This guy is responsible for the fall of communities and then he goes home and tries to get his Bill Cosby on as much as possible. So I would say that was a concerted effort and to make sure that Courtney and I were on the same page with that and make sure that this guy came across as this doting father. I really wanted to bring that to the table and we were able to successfully do that but I would say probably the fact that he is so calm and cool at all different scenarios, and that he can sort of play in all of those scenarios.
I don’t feel any moment of him feeling like he can’t exist in an environment, whether that be speaking to Victor Garber’s character, Simon Stern, and him really reading him his rights or whether it be talking to a young lad from the streets of Southside Jamaica Queens or speaking to Tasha, who speaks extremely different in certain ways, then Angela and speaking to Angela and still go toe to toe with her being a lawyer. He knows she’s a lawyer but he doesn’t know that she’s an AUSA and go toe to toe with her. Because he’s so criminally-minded, can navigate all of those environments in ways that some of our most criminally-minded individuals, who’s serving a lot of time now in prison, haven’t been able to do. They’re extremely bright, high IQ’s, even if they didn’t finish tenth grade. So that’s the part I like about him and I think that’s the reason that Courtney has pinned him to be so cool and collected is because she knows four steps ahead what everybody else does not know.
What don’t you like about your character? Is there anything you don’t like about him?
That he is so manipulative. I mean Omari’s not that. I get your point. It’s a very good question. I get your point because obviously, I haven’t murdered anybody. So those things are not the things that I would answer that I don’t like because I do like that. As much as acting is not acting, it’s still an opportunity to play that which you don’t actually practice in your real life and I don’t practice that. So what I don’t like as a person outside looking in, is his level of manipulation. I wish that as a person, he wasn’t as manipulative. I would say that I have to equally embrace that he’s manipulative because if I ever get to the moment where I’m kind of judging this character, I can’t properly play him but if you’re asking Omari, I would say he’s a little bit too manipulative for my taste. I wouldn’t necessarily jive with a guy that that’s level of manipulative.
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I know we all have it in us, but his level of manipulation is the reason that we have a series that’s so highly addictive because everybody wishes they could be that manipulative and get away with it.
We’re all interested to see how you interact with Kanan now that Kanan has been released and out on the streets, and we’re worried about Pink Boots. I was just telling my best friend. I was like, “Girl, I’m always looking out for Pink Boots when I get in an elevator.”
You better look out for Pink Boots. I mean Kanan is somebody that we can’t forget. Ghost is completely always, and this is another level of his arrogance, he’s always in a very cocky way, believe that he’s smarter which he is. He’s not as limited or as regional thinking. He wants to go to Miami as we know. If he goes to Miami, he would eventually open plugs that would usurp or surpass even Simon Stern and Victor Garber’s character in terms of forget Miami. I’ll go international if I can. All he needs is a moment of tutelage or a moment of even of teaching himself that which somebody gives a hint to or this could be even bigger than Miami and we can do this in Italy. All he would need is just a moment to figure that out, and he could do it. So Kanan’s level of ego is not that of Ghost because the most intelligent human beings in life are definitely going to be more arrogant than the person that’s all muscle, and if you can outthink somebody you’re going to think more of yourself. So Kanan’s ego is relegated to I’ll just destroy you. So what you were telling your girlfriend is true. There’s going to be a battle of the physicality and the ominous, monstrous nature of Kanan of I’ll just rip you apart because I gave you all of this. Then there’s that never wavering ability. even if a person is as sick or as bedridden at times as some people in life that have found themselves, that they’re really bright. Muhammad Ali for example, he’s not the way that we knew him to once be but you know what? That man ain’t lost none of that ability to think, even if he can’t express it. He is still really, really bright and so Ghost is confident, and if you rip me apart you better kill me because if I’m still living, I will always win because I know more than you. Education is power so if he’s self-educated himself the way that Ghost has, then he’s got the upper hand. So that fight, that battle, that struggle in Season 2 is going to be real David and Goliath, so David and Goliath, and David figured out how to be smarter. So Kanan is Goliath and so that’s what makes it great.
We usually get our cover stories to share advice and tips for people who may be struggling on their way to like success. So my question to you is what has failure taught you about success?
That’s awesome. That’s a great question. What’s failing taught me about success? You know what? I’ll utter the words given to me by one Isaiah Washington when I was freshly cut from my long attempt in the NFL. I stayed in New York for awhile and then was in L.A. after theater in New York, and I did an independent film with Isaiah Washington. I’ll never forget him because a guy that he referenced is a very good friend of mine and definitely a brother figure and it was Michael Beach. He said, “You know never forget that in any business really, but especially in this business, where two percent of the people put food on the table, particularly those that are Black or Brown or Asian.” And it was a really interesting point. He said, “As quick as you’re hot is as quick as you’re not.” So what failure has taught me, what being a middle son who’s been overlooked at times has taught me, what rejection, what countless auditions has taught me, being an athlete, not necessarily become what Champ Bailey or what my teammate Hines Ward, throughout those plays with the University of Georgia with or excuse me, both play at the University of Georgia with. That didn’t work out for me. Success is so sweet because I remember that moment that Isaiah said that, and he’s right. It’s made me always realize that don’t let this thing ever go to your head. I had a director once tell me, “Stay low.” And he didn’t mean confident when I say low. He just meant stay low. Don’t speak too much about it. Just smile. It’s a blessing where you’re at. You’re in a great position. So I’ve failed enough and I’ve lived in cars enough to really enjoy this moment and to make it just what that is which is a moment. If those moments extend to a thousand some odd moments and I get to do this at the age that Paul Newman, rest in peace, got to do it or the likes of Sidney Poitier got to do, for people that look like me or James Earl Jones, then I’m all the better and all the wiser that I stayed low and remembered that. As quick as you’re hot is as quick as you’re not.
Right, wow. That’s powerful. I know you’re involved with different community projects, so are you still doing the afterschool program for the poetry students?
Yes, I sure am. Oh, I’ve very active. I’m as active as Curtis has been on this show. I was only not there this year because of conflict with press and everything, but they did most recently Louder Than a Bomb, and you had all of these teenagers from different cities come in and did a huge eleven-day festival, slam poetry for teenagers. We started out with thirteen, me and Seth Levitt from Jason Taylor’s foundation. That’s a ballplayer friend of mine from my days of football. Under his umbrella of the JT Foundation is the Omari
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Hardwick Bluapple Poetry Network humbly named after me, which Seth created and decided to name after me. So these kids started out with just a group of thirteen that we had in Broward County which is in Fort Lauderdale and Dade County extended in some of the schools that we now touched in different parts of Florida. We went from thirteen kids to two hundred and thirty some plus schools that are all in their curriculum now. They all have all built-in the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network and I’m extremely active in it and that was the point. As quick as you’re hot is as soon as you’re not. So those are the things that really are the purpose of why you’re in this position as an actor and as an artist, and as somebody that our own people can look at and go I don’t mind following Omari into wherever we’re going in life. He seems to be one of our Black leaders and so I can only be that, not through these characters, but through whatever I’m trying to figure out by getting a shot at playing these characters. Folks will listen to you just because you play Ghost. So I’m trying to take advantage of it.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking for motivation while trying to become the next Omari Hardwick?
I would say two things - one is to not try to be the next Omari Hardwick. There’s the natural comparison that me and every contemporary of mine got when we were starting out as actors. Then once we proved that we were kind of good at this, the natural comparisons to people that if we’re cursing that looks like us. It could be Denzel. It could be Courtney B. Vance. It could be Laurence Fishburne. It could be Andre Braugher. It could Don Cheadle, Will Smith. It could Terrence Howard, whomever we were all compared to because that’s what people do. They have natural comparison first to people that look like you because we live in a society where people aren’t readily thinking that Omari could become the next Harrison Ford. So I would say first to be who you are. If you are a person that’s really kind of questioning who you are, I would say secondly, figure that out. I would definitely say that the entertainment business is not for the meek or for the weak. So you must really, really believe that God has called you to this because I often say I wouldn’t be doing this, that it’s very, very hard to expose yourself on a daily level and obviously, Denzel and them didn’t go through this. Social media didn’t exist early in his career. So you’ve got to really feel like you’re called to this to tell a story and to tell the way you make love and to tell the way you feel. So I do it via poetry. I do it via songwriting and it’s true. It’s one of the secret things about me that a lot of people don’t know. I’ve written for extremely powerful musicians and I tell it through acting. So I will just say figure out you. Really learn how to be you and not to try to be whoever that is that you’re really excited about. Meet them, learn from them. I would simply say be cool with you.
Recently there have been a few new companies offering cocktails by delivery. Needless to say we were interested and immediately started to “research” all the options out there. With Cocktail Courier each delivery contains all the spirits, liqueurs, mixers and fresh garnishes for four to six drinks designed by a bartender at one of the city’s hip and trendy bars and restaurants. The company’s cocktails-in-a-box concept makes the mixology process easy by giving serving recommendations, instructions for measurements and details on how to mix and shake the ingredients in the proper order. Cocktail Courier delivers on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the company promises next-day delivery for orders placed before 9 p.m. The service currently offers no same-day delivery. At this time, Cocktail Courier is only available in New York and Chicago, there is talk about expanding to California. Price per serving ranges from $8.99 to $12.99. For more information log on to https://www.cocktailcourier.com/
Savor
Give a Little TENDERNESS® and Save 69% on World-Famous Omaha Steaks is holiday season give a gift that brings people together... send world-famous, exquisitely tender Omaha Steaks® Filet Mignons, Top Sirloins and more. Aged to perfection and ash-frozen at the peak of avor, Omaha Steaks are 100% Guaranteed and delivered to their door. You’ll save 69% when you send e Favorite Gift. $49 99 The Favorite Gift Reg $16 4.00 | No w Only....... 49377WSG 2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins 4 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers 4 Stu ed Baked Potatoes 4 Caramel Apple Tartlets Call 1-800-976-8781 and ask for 49377WSG or order online at www.OmahaSteaks.com/mb27 ©2014 OCG | 411B120 | Omaha Steaks, Inc. Limit 2 pkgs. at this price. Your 4 free burgers will be included to each shipping address that includes The Favorite Gift 49377. Limit of 1 free box of 4 (4 oz.) Burgers per in-store purchase and/or per shipment. Standard S&H will be added per address. Not valid with other o ers. Expires 12/31/14. Perfect Gifts GUARANTEED PLUS, 4 More Burgers FREE!
Apple’s vision to create a “smart home” begins with the HomeKit, and although these beginning devices are still simple, the potential for innovation is endless. As technology advances, developers will begin creating more products aimed at enhancing our homes and lives, but only time will tell what the next revolutionary product will be. HomeKit is a certification program that requires device makers to go through rigorous testing methods to make sure that the products live up to Apple’s high standards. So far, five products have been given the Apple HomeKit green light. The Apple MFi (made for iPhone/ iPod/iPad) program and HomeKit certification ensures that the product works seamlessly with iOS devices, from easy connection to a perfectly working complementing app.
Ecobee, a WiFi connected thermostat Elgato, a line of sensors that detect and collect air quality, humidity, air pressure and temperature levels.
iHOME’s SmartPlug, a device that lets you turn on/off appliances through your iOS device.
Lutron, a bridge device that connect the HomeKit device with a lighting system Insteon, a bridge device that connects home automation devices with HomeKit
That’s just to name a few, as the rollout continues, there will be more devices added. Expect Google and Amazon to enter the market to offer you products to make your home a smart home
Abode
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The French fashion house announced it will be opening its first spa at the Ritz Paris Hotel. Aptly called Chanel au Ritz Paris, it will offer customers “a unique sensorial and customized experience,” using Chanel skincare products. When the Ritz Paris reopens later this year—the property’s largest renovation project in its 117-year history—the hotel will boast refurbished guest rooms and suites, updated restaurants, bars and leisure areas, in addition to the Chanel au Ritz Paris spa. Also, the hotel will house the Ritz Escoffier cooking school and the property’s gardens. “The strong bond that unites CHANEL and the Ritz Paris was initiated by Mademoiselle Chanel who lived 34 years at the Ritz. Located in the Ritz Club, ‘CHANEL au Ritz Paris’ will provide women with a unique sensorial and customized experience.”
Jet Set
Above: Coco Chanel inside her suite at the Ritz in Paris
Nelson Mandela’s former home on Shambala Private Game Reserve is now open to the public for the first time. The property welcomes guests looking for an authentically African retreat experience steeped in history. The Nelson Mandela Centre for Reconciliation has been a private home since 2001 and was closed as a mark of respect since the former President’s passing in 2013. The house was originally built for Mandela by a close friend Douw Steyn. It was opened in 2001 as a retreat, a place where the President could receive guests, parties could meet in the spirit of friendship, against the backdrop of secluded natural beauty that is Shambala. It was also a place where Mandela and his family would come to rest. Visitors would stay in the honeycomb-shaped chalets of the nearby Zulu Camp, and come up to the Centre for Reconciliation to meet and talk.
A guest book from Mr. Mandela’s time of residency is signed by the notable politicians and celebrities and is available for travelers to read. Prices, from $8,240 for a night’s rental for up to 12 people, include meals made by a private chef, guided bush walks and a sundown cruise on the Douw Steyn Dam.
From now to August 23, 2015 you can head to the Brooklyn Museum - to see the exhibit featuring JeanMichel Basquiat Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat filled numerous notebooks with poetry fragments, word play, sketches, and personal observations ranging from street life and popular culture to themes of race, class, and world history. The first major exhibition of the artist’s notebooks, Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks features 160 pages of these rarely seen documents, along with related works on paper and large-scale paintings. Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks is organized by the Brooklyn Museum and is curated by Dieter Buchhart, guest curator, with Tricia Laughlin Bloom, former Associate Curator of Exhibitions, Brooklyn Museum. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition. For tickets and more information visit https:// www.brooklynmuseum.org/ exhibitions/basquiat_notebooks/
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Heavy Metal
Aston Martin has announced that a German collector by the name of Markus Storck has commissioned a series of seven bespoke Vanquish sports cars for himself and presumably six of his friends. The automaker says that Storck, the founder of bicycle manufacturer Storck Bikes, has taken delivery of the first example and that the six other cars in the collection will go to six “fellow sports car aficionados.” “I’m absolutely thrilled to see my vision for a series of bespoke Aston Martin Vanquish come to life like this,” Storck said after taking delivery of the car. “The attention to detail, service and dedication I have seen from the Q team has been exceptional—and the result is outstanding.” The car features a 6.0-liter V-12 dishing out 568 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This is enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 4.0 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200 mph. The bespoke Vanquish also includes an array of luxurious and custom-made additions such as diamond quilting on the seats, “One of Seven” logos perforated into the head restraints, gloss black highlights around the cabin, and the signature Aston Martin wing logo machined out of pure carbon.
Aston Martin Vanquish
After lots of buzz, spy videos and lots of speculation and anticipation the production of the Lamborghini Urus has been confirmed. Expected to be launched in global markets in 2017, the Urus will join the Bentley Bentayga, and the Jaguar F Pace in a competition to be the number one luxury SUV. Of course as details of the Urus continue to be released, we do have some great intel on what we could see. The engine may likely be An Audi-derived 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 is probable; a hybrid variation and a diesel V-8. Lots of power to help you arrive in style. One of the main questions we have is with all the luxury SUVs entering production who has the best chance of offering the best specs? Price range for the Urus will be somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000 which SUV are you most excited about?
2018 Lamborghini Urus
Heavy Metal
After making its debut in 2009, the California T has now been revamped and ready for the road Now the California has a 3.8-liter V-8 with twin turbochargers that whistle out a cool 552 horsepower, that prowess marked by a touch-sensitive gauge on the dash that toggles between boost and efficiency. comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and it’s fantastic to paddle through the gears. Pair it with the vigorously re tuned powertrain, and the California T arrows its way to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds by Ferrari estimates,The California T is one of the first vehicles be outfitted with Apple Car Play. It mirrors your phone’s screen, and in theory makes it a little safer to use your phone on the go.The pricing point for this masterpiece starts at just about $200,000.
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Ferrari California T
Giving a new meaning to limited edition this 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster has an F1-inspired six-speed transmission with paddle shifters and 650 horsepower. What makes it so special? This is 1 of only 6 in the world and it only has 5 miles on the odometer. Set to be auctioned off on June 25 via Bonhams auction house, it’s expected to sell for approx $2.5 million USD.
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1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster
Ciao Bella
