Xposure Magazine Power & influence Issue

SPRING 2013

Robert Greene Talks Power, Controversy & Mastery

1st Annual Power + Influence Issue

XPOSURE MAGAZINE PRESENTS

XPOSURE Issue Number 14 In Every Issue Goldyn’s Touch 5 Next On Deck 8 Ciao Bella 10 Haute Plate 12 Jet Set 40 Visivo 41 Heavy Metal 42 Currency Matters 48

FEATURES Dawn Richard 22 Serge Durand 24 Tutan Reyes 26 Sue Tsai 28 Uche Nwaneri 30 Renaldo Nehemiah 32 Robert Greene 34

AN EVENING WITH ROBERT GREENE

Tickets on sale now HTTP:MASTERYATLANTA.EVENTBRITE.COM Rolls Royce Wraith

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Goldyn’s Touch

I want to thank everyone for their support and encouraging words. I hope the release of this issue will put to rest all the speculation. For those unaware, I haven’t published an issue since last September which was the 3 year anniversary issue. If you are a reader of my letters, you know I view all my readers as family. I will continue to be honest and give my readers insight into my mind through this letter each and every issue. I will confess, after the release of the last issue I had considered closing Xposure.

There wasn’t one specific thing that solidified my decision, there were many. After lots of thought, prayer and consideration, I’m happy to say Xposure is here to stay. With a renewed spirit, let me tell you who is featured in my first Power & Influence Issue and why.

Credits &Contributors Photos - Giovanni Gianonn Monica Feudi / FeudiGuaineri.Com, Susan Anderson For reprints or licensing please contact Wright’s Media at 877-652-5295 or mmcsorley@wrightsmedia.com.

@XposureMagazine @XposureMagazine Xposure Magazine is a quarterly magazine published on a quarterly basis. ISSN - 2158-0421. Copyright 2009-2013.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Views expressed by writers are not necessarily the views of Xposure Magazine. We welcome and accept unsolicited materials. Materials submitted to Xposure Magazine is the person’s guarantee that submitted items are not in violation of or infringing upon the rights of others and that said materials may be reviewed and subject to critique without any third party consent.

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I specifically chose the people featured solely because I believe in what they are doing, who they are and what they have to offer.

After speaking with each one of them one on one and reading the interviews back, I believe in them even more. You will see what I mean in the following pages. Dawn Richard is nothing short of an amazing artist with the most genuine, warm, inviting spirit. She’s very passionate about her music, fans, and life in general. Her new album Goldenheart is a must listen if you haven’t heard it already. Serge Durand is my walking encyclopedia, he knows everything there is to know about the music industry.

Tutan Reyes is a dynamic philanthropist with a heart bigger than his smile. Sue Tsai is one of the dopest artists of our generation.

The passion she places into her projects are unmatched, not to mention she’s one of the nicest women you will ever meet. Uche Nwaneri is an NFL player with a passion for the arts and its preservation which is in desperate need of saving. Finally Renaldo Nehemiah is the most down to earth man in the fashion/entertainment industry. Interviewing him was one of the highlights of putting this issue together.

I couldn’t imagine having a Power & Influence issue without having the man who wrote the book on the cover. There is a lot I can say about Robert Greene but I care about your vision. Here’s a fun fact just for my readers and something Robert doesn’t know: I had already decided to end Xposure when I reached out to him. I had no expectations that he would respond and want to be involved. I promised myself if he replied I would have no choice but to keep the magazine going. You can guess where this led me lol. The first conversation I had with Robert lasted 79 minutes which was the interview featured. There was so much information he shared with me that I want to share with you that I decided to break the interview into 2 parts. The first part of this interview gives you insight into who Robert is and the amazing life he has had so far. The first part ends with him discussing how we all can learn from failure. I thought it was important to end it there because the finale of the interview will focus on Robert giving you the keys and tips to achieving Mastery. Once our first conversation ended, I saw how special this interview really is, I hope it inspires and encourages you to be your best self. Lastly, I’m happy to announce Robert will be speaking here in Atlanta as a part of my 4 year anniversary celebratory events. Tickets and information are a couple of pages back.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue and get excited about the final part of Robert’s interview. Before I close this letter, I would like to dedicate this issue to my circle and most of all my mom and family. The best is yet to come!

Goldyn P. Smith Publisher/Editor in Chief goldyn@xposure365.com Twitter - @HoneyBFlyy IG: @GoldynRules

Next On Deck

When did you decide that music and being a singer and being in the industry was something that you wanted to do as a career instead of just a hobby?

Well, I never wanted to be in the industry. I just want to make music and so just the I guess hunger for wanting to just do that and have people hear it, not so much on the radio or every day or nothing like that. I just really wanted people to just hear and then it just kind of spread to wanting to get radio plays with it but not in that sense of wanting to be a star or anything like that.

Rich Homie Quan

How did you discover music and what was the defining moment that helped you decide to make music your career?

Been doing music since the 7th grade, but really got serious in 2012.

When I got out of jail and couldn’t get another job, I didn’t have another option.

For the people who may not have heard your music, how would you describe your sound?

Energetic, positive, fun, real.

What do you want your musical legacy to be and what’s the one thing you want people to know about you?

I want everybody to know I give my all on every song. I put my heart and soul on every song.

What future projects/ collaborations can we look forward to from you?

Your mixtape Still Going In has generated a lot of buzz, not only locally but nationwide. Why do you think people have responded so well to your music?

You can look forward to me and Lil King dropping a mixtape next month on the come up. I’m also working on an album as we speak.

Doing a lot of features and songs with Gucci Mane, Shwaty Lo and of course I have Still Going In.

Cause you can relate to it. It’s not fabricated. I’m not just taking about drugs, I’m talking about what people are going through in real life.

How can the readers find out more about your and your music?

You can stay updated through website and follow me on twitter @ What exactly is the Rich Homie Movement, how did it start and what are RichHomieQuan a few goals you want to reach with it?

Last words to readers?

I don’t consider it a movement, I consider it a family. I want to just be a positive movement, have a lot of positive stuff going on. Be a positive for Keep God first and you can do whatever you want to do. Anything is our peers, and set an example for a lot of the kids. Got to schools and possible. encourage kids to do better.

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Jona’s definitive moment - Well, a defining moment I would say, by putting my music on YouTube you just basically get a lot of feedback and a lot of opportunities from people and places that you’d never really have a chance to do. Before that I was in the military, I was in the Navy and I had a chief who heard me sing. He was just like, “Man, you don’t really need to be in the military. Once I got back into the states, I just started to record and just really just making music that it didn’t have a direction to it. It just was music and so after just some time had passed, I had my daughter and that was just more inspiration to really just not waste time with it.

Let’s talk about some of your songs that you have out, what inspired Girls Raised in the South or was it the actual conversation that you talk about in the intro that inspired it?

G.R.I.T.S., that’s just the ode to all the southern girls because when you travel so much you have scenarios like I described in the beginning intro.

Its just a description of what I prefer and the reason why I prefer it because I just hadn’t had any good experiences with women from other areas.

Now as I’ve matured passed that point I probably would change a lot of stuff about that song because my experiences changed but it wouldn’t be anything I would change for the worse.

Tell me about the projects you’ve worked on previously and some of the projects you’re working on right now.

Well, most of my projects in the past have not been music. It’s been more for a community give-back standpoint, my nonprofit, Better to Give, which is basically just my contribution to giving back. I’m from one of the roughest cities. That’s not nothing to be proud of. Birmingham which was known for unity and giving back and just the opposite of what it’s known for right now, some murders, a lot of crime, a lot of disparity.We’re blessed to, I say we, they put me on the front but it’s a group effort basically.

Jona Crooner

We won an NAACP award for outstanding young leaders and just basically it’s inspired me to just do more projects with kids. In the music realm it’s going to be a big campaign going through the Black & Sexy TV brand and that is a brand created by director Dennis Dortch who directed a movie awhile back called A Good Day to be Black & Sexy.

How do people find out more information about you and everything you have going on?

Definitely like I said, through the Black & Sexy TV brand. I’m promoting that hard and my Twitter. I’m just a normal person who’s really just trying to change the perceptions of what people think about music coming from Birmingham and as a whole. I’m just trying to keep it real and organic but Facebook, Twitter. I should have the website dropping this summer but I’m just letting the Black & Sexy brand basically carry me into the mainstream as far as with a large audience and we’ll see.

Last words - Whatever you can do or whatever you aim to do and it’s true to you, just do it and don’t detour from it. They say the sky’s the limit but I think you can ascend higher than that. It’s just all in your thinking.

Ciao Bella

Jasmine For Sephora Jasmine’s range includes fragrance, a nail polish set, compact mirror, eye shadow quad, a kohl liner trio, and scented body powder. All products under $55.

Rihanna For MAC

MAC and Rihanna announced they have collaborated on multiple collections of color cosmetics that will roll out later this year.

The first product set for release will be RiRi Woo, a lipstick inspired by her favorite MAC red, Ruby Woo. Its release will coincide with Rihanna’s Diamonds Tour concerts on May 4 and 5 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where MAC will open a pop-up shop on the first night to showcase the line.

RiRi Woo will be sold at the Rihanna concerts and online, and a summer collection will follow, which will also be sold online. A third will land in brick-and-mortar stores for fall, and there will be an on-counter holiday collection.

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Haute Plate

Frida Gianni, Salma Hayek Pinault, Beyonce KnowlesCarter Team up for Chime for Change to empower women around the globe. Hayek Pinault says ”I believe that by working together, we can change the course of history to ensure that girls and women are empowered to realize their potential and thrive.” There will be a t shirt for sale to benefit the cause. “None of us can move forward if half of us are held back.” Visit chimeforchange. org/join-in to get involved.

Zoë Kravitz Teams With Swarovski Crystallized for Capsule Collection- capsule collection of bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings incorporating her birthstones, turquoise and tanzanite, and other Swarovski Elements. The line, which ranges in price from $90 to $194, will launch at Swarovski Crystallized stores in New York, London and Austria as well as on swarovski-crystallized.com.

Zac Posen’s Everyday line launches this fall Top 5 Looks from Collection - complete with suits, separates, cocktail dresses, and evening wear. ZAC will be available in department stores, with pieces ranging from $490 (day dresses) to $1,690 (evening gowns)

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Dita Von Teese launches line with HSN - April 23 is the date, Dita will launch her lingerie and perfume in the United States for the first time!

The lines include vintage-inspired lingerie sets ($25 to $45). The perfume will be 75/bottle, log on to hsn.com for all the details.

Best of Fall RTW 2013

Hermes

Best of Paris/Milan RTW Fall 2013 Chanel

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Dior

The Fall 2013 runway shoes have come to an end, the collections were nothing short of amazing. These looks were some of the best from Milan and Paris.

Fendi

Haute Spot

News from Magic market week

Chinese Laundry by Kristin Cavallari, a capsule footwear collection composed of pumps, platforms, booties and flats.

Composed of styles that easily transition from daytime looks to evening ensembles, Cavallari designed her collection for the fashion-conscious young woman who leads an on-the-go lifestyle. The line will consist of classic pumps, studded flats, bold booties and fun platforms all offered in a number of colorways including but not limited to pink, green, paisley, purple, black and Kristin’s “new nude.”

Emmanuelle Chriqui for Charles David Emmanuelle will star in Charles David’s Spring/Summer 2013 campaign and mini movie, setting a precedent as the first celebrity frontwoman for the brand.

The ad campaign’s creative direction takes inspiration from the company’s Los Angeles heritage. It evokes a mood synonymous with effortless Hollywood glamour as well as a storied day in the life of the actress. A mini movie will debut this Spring. Charles David’s partnership with Emmanuelle will extend beyond Spring/ Summer 2013. She has also been tapped for the Fall/Winter 2013 ad campaign featuring a capsule collection she designed for Charles David: Charles David by Emmanuelle Chriqui.

1st Annual Power & Influence Issue Starring

Dawn Richard, Serge Durand, Tutan Reyes, Sue Tsai, Uche Nwaneri, Renaldo Nehemiah.

Introducing

Mr. 48 laws Robert Greene Curated By GPS

Features

of it is a lot like what we’re doing. My whole story is kind of whatever it takes with me being independent, the passion leads the entire story.

What Dawn wants you to know about Goldenheart - I don’t want the listeners to think I tried to make anything different, I want them to feel me and know they are not alone in their fight. I wanted to make a soundtrack for people who have to get up everyday and fight to prove you belong in the situation you’re in. Its a sad reality but its true. I don’t want it to be a negative thing, I want it to be a positive thing, I want people to have a soundtrack for their experiences. I want them to prepare for the world and go out and conquer that shit, instead of feeling like they are going to lose. Coming into this project, I didn’t have just one artist who had a collection of songs that guided me through the process. What I’m finding out through my movement is people are telling me this album is getting them through some things. It was the same thing with Armor On, it doesn’t make them sad but excited. That’s why I don’t want people to say “oh that was different.” We’re taking a risk that happens to be against the grain and its working.

Dawn Richard Album trilogy - If you were reading a novel, Armor On would be the preface; Goldenheart would be the body of work. People say Goldenheart is reminiscent of Armor On, its supposed to be. Armor On gave you a preview of the chapters of what Goldenheart is.

What inspired Dawn to start this musical series - The fashion part of what I’m doing was drawn from Joan of Arc with the armor and the metal. The message was she found something she wanted to do and nothing could hold her back. That’s the storyline with Goldenheart, I want people to fall in love with passion and hope again. I want to do it in a way that won’t be corny or preachy. I want it to be relatable, to still make you move, and can be on any top twenty chart. I want it to be progressive in a way where its moving forward. Its more like an ode to Joan of Arc in 2095, if she were to exist in 2095 the soundtrack to her life would be this. Her journey was more of a spiritual journey, her idea of whatever it takes and the fight 22

How she classifies the music she offers and her reaction to her music being compared to Prince’s music - Well first to have my music compared to Prince’s music is ridiculously awesome. I will take that, that’s so awesome its ridiculous, I could never be that amazing and I appreciate it. I feel you have to have more work to even be remotely close to that, I appreciate people for saying that. I don’t like to describe my sound because I don’t want to be limited - I call it world music. I think its World R&B, people want to add electro in it. I don’t think my music should be put into a box. I’ve been reading the reviews from Spin, Pitchfork and others and they say its cinematic, meaning its more like a movie than an album. I would agree, its not a musical sound its more like a cinematic experience. Its world music because its not just classified to one thing, I think its for the world.

Those glowing reviews - To be independent and get 5 out of 5 from The Guardian and all the other positive reviews have been incredible.

I never in a million years thought it would be possible, its everything I’ve prayed for. I’m very grateful people are getting the message I intended for them to have.

Overcoming challenges - Every artist has a struggle, when you first come out as an artist people want to compare you. With me coming from Danity Kane and Dirty Money, people didn’t know who I was as an artist. People only knew me from a show and from those groups, I had to separate myself and become a solo artist. Most people can’t crossover genres, Danity Kane was all Pop, Dirty Money was Rock, Hip-Hop/Soul, and now I’m a Progressive R&B artist.

That’s a lot of different sounds, and kind of hard for people to digest. When people asked what I was trying to do and I said a trilogy, they told me I was overly ambitious. I knew with Goldenheart, I couldn’t try to explain it - people needed to hear it for themselves. Armor On captured people’s attention and Goldenheart is the solidification I needed for people to take my music seriously.

86 is about letting go of your boundaries and the walls you put up so you can love the way you need to. 86 is an old slang term meaning to get rid of something. The song also has an 80’s type feel to it. You can’t move forward unless you put things behind you. Its taking things that may seem negative and turning them into positive so you can move forward. That’s what the song and video are about. I wanted to make a classic, timeless R&B record which is very difficult to do especially in a time where people just want to dance. 86 is a job well done by my team we managed to make timeless music. I love that R&B can be diverse and 86 is just that.

Frequency is the biggest favorite its sexy, its a vibe that people have never really heard from me. I have an interesting insight into that song that will make you laugh. I hated Frequency, as I was writing it I told Druski I didn’t like it and I wasn’t sure people were going to like it. He and I had a big debate about it, once it was done after playing for people they thought it was a smash. It reminded me of when I was in Danity Kane, I hated Damaged, Show Stopper and when I was in Dirty Money I hated Coming Home. I didn’t hate the writing they were just some of my least favorite songs and everyone loves them. So here we are and its my album and Frequency is the biggest song everyone loves and Dru makes fun of me. I think people like it because its relatable. Don’t get the wrong idea, its not my favorite I like records like Goliath, Return of The Queen, I love the odd and different songs. I like to challenge myself and I like things that make you uncomfortable. Its all about balance and I know certain songs are needed. Frequency is an amazing record, all the ones that I’m unsure about are the ones that are hugely successful. I’m not the only artist that has happened to I’m sure.

Goliath - I’ve had some situations where I faced the Puffs of the world, he’s my homie and I love him but he was also my boss. There were some moments being in Danity Kane where we wanted to shoot him with a slingshot. I wrote the song because I know what its like when your boss has an idea for you and you have to fight against it to fight for your cause.

What’s next for Dawn - I have a tour planned to start around May or June, I’m finishing up my promo tour now. The album is set for release in the UK, I want to touch every single one of my hearts.

When Dawn met Druski - I met him like a year ago, and that’s what makes it really cool. People don’t realize we did two projects in under a year. The chemistry makes you think we’ve known each other longer. I met him one day and literally the next day we were working.

I had an idea of what I wanted to do and he couldn’t believe the story I wanted to tell and wanted to contribute to it. We wanted to make music no one has heard before, when you let a producer grow they can show you things you never knew he could present. You get a new sound, a new lane when people are free to make the music their way.

See Dawn - I want you to see me as you, I’m telling a story that others may be scared or may not have the power to tell. I want to take risks and take R&B into a new direction and do it with love and passion.

When people hear my name, I want them to say she was one of those who changed the sound of R&B. I’ve always wanted to be apart of something monumental and change music. I said yes to Danity Kane because I thought Puff wanted to make something new with a girl group. I said yes to Dirty Money because I heard Puff was making a sound that had never been heard before, it was innovative and it was new. Here I am as a solo artist trying to do something innovative and new, I’ve always been consistent in that. I want to be a part of change, I hope people will say that about my music.

The final chapter in the trilogy - Blackheart will be amazing a little heavier, a more ethereal, ambient sound. I think people will like it, it will be dance worthy but a completely different sound than Goldenheart. People should stay tuned, expect the unexpected from me and get excited about what’s next. I think that’s what my fanbase loves is they never know what to expect, I want to make sure they have the best.

To keep up with Dawn - You can visit dawnrichardblog.com, you can find everything about the tour, my merchandise and more. I just did a collaboration with Coco & Breezy, I designed glasses that go with Goldenheart which is Goldenheart Eyewear. The glasses are available for purchase now. There are a lot more great things to come. You can also hit me up on Twitter @DawnRichard.

Last words - I just want to say thank you, I’m super humbled by the support of everyone, especially you guys who let me talk to you.

I’m really excited for what we have in store, hopefully you won’t be disappointed in what we have to offer. I’m thankful, humbled, and grateful for you making us number one.

What interested you in signing different producers and writers, what are key indicators for you?

Definitely just look for something different in a producer. With me, I like dealing with guys that understand melody. Melody is the most important thing in just music period. Melody is something that you can’t really teach someone. That’s what I look for in certain producers and mostly in songwriters, people that are strong in melody because you could kind of teach lyric and content. I’m not really into copycats or people that just basically create stuff that sounds like whoever else is out because that’s what the game is full of now. It’s a whole bunch of little producer copycats and that’s basically what they do. They make their beats based off of what’s out and that doesn’t really interest me. I look for people that’s innovative and that’s thinking about what’s next and try to create what’s next than someone that’s just trying ride the current wave.

Serge Durand I understand that you were a basketball player out of New York and you linked up with Mase, which was your first foray into the industry so how did that meeting come about? Did you all attend school together or was it just a chance meeting?

We were actually on the basketball team together, so we just kind of became cool. He was basically doing his church thing and he was pursuing that. He wasn’t doing music at the time and we were just really friends. I tried the church thing for awhile but I’m the freshman in college. Girls liked me so I was like, “Yo, man, it’s cool what you’re doing, my man but I’m going back to being a freshman.” So we kept in contact and when he decided to come back to music he basically called on me to be his assistant and that was my I guess entry into the music industry and basically learning how to make the dollar. I went to school for Computer Science and so I basically learned how to make money in the music industry, started meeting the right people through him and that was basically my start. It was after so this is during the Welcome Back album so the creation of the Welcome Back album, running around with him I start meeting different people and I start learning how certain things work. I started managing producers that would approach him that needed the representation, I basically learned from a management aspect of things through him how to make money in the industry.

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Meeting No ID - I was watching Kanye West’s Driven and I.D. spoke because I.D. was the guy who actually taught Kanye how to make beats and so he’s speaking. I always knew the name No I.D. through Common Sense. I just never knew how he looked because he’s a real low key guy so I watched the interview and I’m like, “Oh, okay, that’s how he looks.” The next day I get in the elevator. Guess who was in the elevator? No I.D. and I’m like, “Yo, I just saw you on the Kanye West’s Driven.” So I’m like, “What you doing down here?”

He was just like, “Aw, I’m down here working with Jermaine Dupri, and I’m working on Bow Wow right now.” So I’m like, “Okay, who’s managing you?” He was like, “I don’t have a manager. I’m doing everything on my own.” He’s like, “I need one.” So I was like, “Okay, I’m starting to manage people. I just came from working with Mase.” And actually he was like, “All right, let’s do it.” So basically that’s how that started so he was then working with J.D. and so I’m managing him. I’m moving him around and he starts bringing me around the studio with J.D. so J.D. took a liking to me, liked what I was doing with him and that led to me running Jermaine’s publishing company which was through EMI. For the readers who are seeking representation, when they’re looking for the management, are there any key indicators that they definitely should look for?

Somebody with a good reputation, that’s the most important thing, someone that keeps their name clean. They’re able to pick up the phone and get favors, call in favors from anybody, just someone that’s respected. You should definitely look for someone that has a good reputation and also has those strong relationships. My relationships are basically with the guy that’s usually my age, the guy that’s in their 30s, early 20s.

Misconceptions about Deb Antney - She’s a mom so when she curses people out it’s really just from a mom’s aspect. Deb is a really, really, really beautiful and great person. She loves doing things for charity. She’s a mom. She loves helping people out but when it comes to business she plays no games. I call her Sugar Knight. She Absolutely, there’s also a problem that’s going on now is that a plays no games. She’s gets it done so sometimes she might jump off lot of these guys that’s coming up, they think as producers that the rocker but it’s always with good intentions. She’s really a good their job is just to get their beats to such and such. Not really understanding before all of this beat shopping thing, it was actually person. She’s a mom to everybody. She just wants to help people about producing the artists and that’s essentially what this is and so get to whatever, where at the end of the day she understands business and she knows how to get money. now you have all these kids with these laptops. They think, “Hey, I’m just going to make a beat. I’m just going to email it. I’m going to hop on Twitter and ask everybody for their email and just email What’s the day to day for you as an A&R for Mizay? it.” They’re thinking that’s the process. When really as a producer So basically Mizay, it’s a management company but it’s also a record you’re actually supposed to produce someone and I know a lot of label now and my day to day is really just to get the songs, do them, they’re young. They might not have the money to be able to the paperwork for the songs to make sure everything is licensed do that but essentially that’s what this thing is. That’s what music is. and everything was approved so when it’s time to put the album together we’re not scrambling. They have a situation through Sony It’s about actually producing someone and putting them out.

RED which is distribution and basically my job is just to come up with My job running J.D.’s publishing company was basically to pitch the the singles for them to be able to push. Basically taking artists that’s songs off the people that were signed to his publishing company to not known and turning them into stars and I’m learning everything all the different labels and just try to get placements basically. Mike about that process and I love it. We’re really at the grassroots of this Caren basically took a liking to me and he gave me a three month so I’m learning basically how that happens and this is something that they just don’t know how to do. With Deb, she’s known for trial for me to prove that I can actually work on specific Atlantic taking artists that’s not known and turning them into stars. She did projects and he liked what I was doing and being that a lot of the it with Nicki. She did it with Gucci. She did it with OJ. She did it Atlantic artists lived in Atlanta he was like, “Hey, why don’t you just be our Atlanta guy?” And so he gave me an A&R gig basically with French Montana so this is what she’s known for doing. doing that. I was basically the main A&R in Atlanta.

How do people find out more information about you and What are some of the top misconceptions people have about A&Rs? everything, all the good stuff that you’re doing and working on?

Instagram is the best way to keep up with what I have going on.

That we’re powerful. They’re not understanding we have people Serge’s best advice - You have to get a team together. A team is on top of us that’s really the decision-makers so there is different levels of A&R. The A&R has the power to change your life but not everything. Everyone that’s successful now, it’s not because of them. I know it looks like that but it’s always that secret person that’s really because if it’s a new artist or something that we believe in we still have to sell that. We’re not the guy that actually hires you. in the back of them basically making those plays happen, whether We’re the guy that takes you to someone else and tries to convince it’s the management, whether it’s the attorney. It’s always someone that person, “Yo, this is it.” So we’re basically middle men and a lot in back of them. It looks like Jay Z is the guy that’s making all these of people think that the A&R is the guy that actually just signs you. smart decisions. It’s not actually Jay Z, it’s the guy behind him called We have of course some top A&Rs that have that power but most Jay Brown. Acquiring a team is real important so study the greats A&Rs are guys that they have to take you to the head person of the and find a winning team. record label and then convince that person that you’re the shit.

What last words would you like to offer the readers?

The definition of success is when opportunity meets preparation You left Atlantic and then you transitioned. Where did you land? basically so always be prepared because you never know when You landed then at Mizay or you took a break for a little while? you’re going to get that shot so the definition of success is when preparation meets opportunity. Just be prepared. That’ll be the last I took some time off for a little while, I was getting money. My old roommate was working for Mizay and told me Deb needed A&Rs. words.

See, a lot of people I’m finding are into trying to find shortcuts and I always say it’s not really a shortcut because this is your career, you have to take it seriously.

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In your years of being a serial entrepreneur, what’s a typical day like for you?

A typical day for me is waking up at 7:15, seeing my 14 yr old son off to school, getting my 4 yr old daughter ready and taking her to school. I then come back home check my emails and follow up on any conference calls I may have for Reyes & Wolf Network, Beyond The Boroughs, or Cloud IX. By early afternoon I box to relieve stress since football is over. That’s my outlet. I then either get my daughter from school or take her to gymnastics. Take my son to his baseball games. We come back home and eat dinner, finish up any homework then get the kids ready for bed. If I have to then go into Cloud IX, my mother will watch the kids for me. If I get 4 hours of sleep that’s a good night...No complaints though.

Tutan Reyes You’ve held many titles over the last few years - NFL star, philanthropist, entrepreneur. Which role do you cherish most and why?

I would have to say reaching the NFL is what I cherish the most. I was able to see a childhood dream all the way through. I had some great experiences, met some incredible people, and was able to take care of my family in the process.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given and why was it the best?

I’ve gotten a lot of good advice so it’s hard to say what’s best. I think what sticks with me is to continue to go after my dreams or desires regardless of who said I can’t do it. Whether it was pursuing a career in the NFL, reconnecting with my Brother or getting custody of my Son. My Mother and Grandmother instilled that in me as a child and I live by that today.

How can people find out more information about all of the great For those unaware, you have your own foundation Beyond The Burroughs. Please share with the readers what Beyond The Burroughs is things you are doing? and how they can contribute.

You can keep up with all I’m doing by following me on Twitter@TutanReyes Facebook & LinkedIn are Tutan Reyes as well.

Beyond The Boroughs actually is a public charity and it’s my national scholarship fund. We raise funds for students that don’t have enough For information and ways to support Beyond The Boroughs you can visit us atwww.BeyondTheBoroughs.org. Twitter- @ money to attend college. The students have their college acceptance BTBScholarship and Like us on Facebook- Beyond The Boroughs. letter, grades, ambition, and the final hurdle to a college education is To see our menu, hours of operation, or book a party visit www. finances. Well we help knock that final hurdle out of the way. People CloudIXlounge.com. Twitter-@cloudIXlounge Instagram- @ can support, donate, apply, and learn more about our work at www.

BeyondTheBoroughs.org follow us on Twitter @BTBScholarship or Like CloudIXlounge. Our website for Reyes And Wolf Network is currently being done and you can follow our Twitter @ us on Facebook at Beyond The Boroughs. All support is appreciated.

ReyesAndWolf.

Please give details about all of the other great ventures you’re involved What last words would you like to leave with the readers? in. What can we expect from you in the near future?

I also co own Cloud IX Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Atlanta GA. 177 Peters St Atlanta. We have great Caribbean and Soul food and a great atmosphere that will make any customer pleased with their experience. I’m a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Reyes & Wolf Network. With my business partner, Lisa Wolf, we provide marketing, branding, & endorsement opportunities to our clients which include entertainers and athletes.

You can catch me on a recent episode of Dr. Steve Perry’s show “Save My Son” on TVONE. Thank you for the opportunity to share with you and to all the readers feel free to give us your feedback. Continue support our youth, Beyond The Boroughs, and Cloud IX Restaurant and Lounge. Reach out to me on any of these social media outlets and I will reply. Thanks again. Peace and Love.

my life. I was in and out of love and still finding myself. The lady in the pieces represented someone I wanted to be. She is strong and fearless built from tough times. I have definitely grown since my first paintings, and it’s helped me to shape who I am today.

You partnered with the American Cancer Society with your Life bracelet, how did that partnership originate and are you working on any more designs to compliment the Life bracelet?

I wanted to put out a bracelet that was for charity and influenced the younger generation using fashion. At the time, my aunt was battling stomach cancer, and it was a big part of my life. The American Cancer Society is one of the most reputable charities in the world so it was easy to pick them. Together our goal was to raise awareness of cancer and to raise money towards finding a cure. I am not working on anything right now besides the Life bracelet, but there is possibilities for the future.

What do you want people to walk away knowing about you and your work?

Sue Tsai

I want them to know that my work and my art comes from a genuine place. Everything I put out is 100% me, it’s just raw art. I want to influence my generation and change their views on art. I create relatable art for people and I think that is why it touches so many people.

What exciting things do you have planned for this year and will you have any more gallery showings?

You have quite the list of titles - fashion and jewelry designer, illustrator, art director and more. When was the defining moment where you decided you wanted to make a career out of it and start your own company?

My many titles sort of built up as I went along. I started with illustration and graphic design, to jewelry design and to artist.

Most of my work started as freelance, especially the graphic design and illustration. As soon as I started doing jewelry I knew I wanted to start my own company and build a brand to share with the world my creative talents.

I am working on my debut art showing. There’s no set date for it yet but I am hoping for early summer if I have enough pieces I am happy with. We just released Wale’s new single cover art “Bad” and that was a huge deal for me, definitely more album covers coming this year. I am also working on expanding the clothing line and all in all just continuing to build the brand that is Sue Tsai.

How can people find out more information about you and all of the great things you are doing?

Can you describe some of the challenges you faced starting out and how you overcame them?

They can follow me on my instagram and twitter, @SueTsai, and visit my website www.SueTsai.com for new releases and collaborations.

I will start blogging on there soon,

One of the biggest challenges I faced was definitely being a woman coming up in the industry. As a woman I feel like you have to be twice as great just to be taken seriously and respected. You have to work so hard that they can’t ignore your greatness.

What advice would you want to pass along to anyone inspired by your story and work?

How would you describe your design aesthetic and a classic Sue Tsai design?

My design aesthetic would definitely be bold and colorful, clean as well. I love bright vivid colors, especially gold because it’s so rich. I incorporate gold into everything I do whether it be jewelry, my website, business cards, and paintings.

Can you share the inspiration behind Heartbreak on Canvass and who is the lady you use for the pieces?

The heartbreak on canvas collection started from a rough time in

I would tell them to find what makes them happy and to follow that dream, you never know when it’s going to fall into place but it will.

I didn’t find my true happiness in what I was doing until last year at 25 years old. I’ve never felt more fulfilled in doing what I love on a daily basis.

What last words would you like to offer the readers?

Embrace who you are and what makes you happy. It’s so easy to lose yourself in today’s world, and it’s a struggle within yourself to step away from the crowd sometimes. Just know that is what’s going to make you great. Sacrifice what you think might make you happy short term for what you know would make you happy in the long run, it’s worth the risk.

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Uche Nwaneri

Tupac Shakur is my favorite rap artist. I was inspired to get tattoos featuring him because I felt like he had a significant impact on me creatively and his music was easy to relate to as a young black male in 1996. The crazy thing is that in 2012 I still listen to Tupac with the same adoration now as I did back then. The impact he had on my generation is one that is still visible today. Murals around the world have been made in his honor, movies, unreleased music, poetry and much more. Our own government and the Vatican have even recognized some of his music as works of art worthy of being archived with some of the greatest musicians in history.

These are the reasons for the kind of respect and love he has always commanded from his peers and has received from his fans even 16 years after his death.

After being in the league for 5 years, why did you feel now was the time to become an entrepreneur?

What can we expect from you in the near future?

Inkaholiks Luxury Tattoos is the evolution of the culture of tattooing, the experience of tattooing, and the perception of this culture as a whole. A one stop shop for those who are not only part of the tattoo culture but for those who are curious as well. We are making tattoos accessible to that client who thinks that tattoo parlors are very edgy and underground, and worries about how they will be treated , or if they will be comfortable in such a setting. We have created an experience unlike any other in Atlanta. A place that screams luxury and polish yet is hip, trendy and progressive. Attached to Inkaholiks Luxury Tattoos is The Ink Lounge. A very trendy and hip lounge and bar/ decked out in flat screen TVs, lounge booths and a full bar. We offer a variety of events that are held daily in the lounge.

Drink specials, karaoke, live music, private parties, location filming for network TV shows and much more.

What has been the best piece of advice you’ve gotten since starting on your journey as an entrepreneur?

In the future I think you can expect to see a lot more coming from Inkaholiks. We are creating a brand that will include Inkaholiks Ever since I can remember I have always had the entrepreneur’s clothing and we are in the works now for a reality show which spirit. I think it is something that I picked up from my parents. They will allow viewers a look at what happens in Inkaholiks and the came to this country as immigrants and were able to raise 4 kids at the same time. ultimately my parents began their own Home health Ink Lounge on a daily basis. Its crazy stuff that I think people will absolutely love!I am currently working on my foundation that I care businesses and have been very successful creating their own path in the United States. They prove that the American dream is real. started called The House of Ambrose foundation. It was named after my late grandfather and focuses on raising money for the Arts.

With the NFL lockout a few years ago I really sat back and thought to myself, if football ended tomorrow what plan do I have in place to As we all know The arts, which includes all forms of art from music to theater to drawing and painting; is a dying breed in our schools help support myself financially? These were things that I needed to across the country. In Jacksonville Florida where I reside, funding have answers for. for art programs has virtually vanished and teachers are footing a lot of the bills to provide their students with, materials that will help Inkaholiks opened this past summer here in Atlanta, how would them grow artistically across all platforms. describe Inkaholiks to those who are unaware?

Be patient. I think it’s the most valuable thing you can do as a business owner. You have to be realistic about expectations for a new business, and you have to understand that you cannot build Rome over night. Or even in six months, or a year. There will be failures and there will be setbacks. But finding the right people and having the right business plan and budget are paramount to creating consistent growth. All of these factors require one to be patient with the process that is required to meet goals and have a successful business.

How can people find out more information about all of the great things you are doing?

You have a couple of tattoos in remembrance of Tupac Shakur. What You can visit our website at www.Inkaholiks.com, Facebook as was the inspiration for them and if he was still alive, what impact do Inkaholiks Luxury Tattoos. Instagram is InkaholiksLLC d Twitter is Inkaholiks_LT. 30 you think he would have on the world now?

The definitive moment - I have done so many dope styling jobs that I forget. I have been blessed to do so much and to be a part of so many amazing things. I’ve styled so many people I’ve looked up to, of course working with Ludacris, Musiq Soulchild, and more. I think the video where I really knew I was meant to do this was the I’m So Hood Remix video.

It was something random that showed me how God works, I met someone from Greedy Genius and they gave me a sample of a Bengals jacket. The jacket was the perfect fit for Chris, he wore it in the video and that was one of the moments for me.

You may turn on the TV and see my work and never know it was me.

I styled The Ricky Smiley TV show also.

Renaldo Nehemiah How he got his start - My mentor, godfather John Monopoly was managing Kanye West and Common had a company called Hustle.

He managed everyone on G.O.O.D Music; I created a college rep program for him where I oversaw all the promotions and marketing for all the artists. When John had artists in town, and I helped create their looks and things took off from there. Through word of mouth, my client list grew. It took my dream of being an A&R out of the picture. Sometimes you just have to find your niche in the music industry, whether it’s A&R or being a stylist. At the time I didn’t know anything about being a stylist, so I picked it up and taught myself the business and been doing it since.

I was an athlete back in college; this stylist thing became trendy in the last 3 years. If you go back 5 years ago, nobody was saying they wanted to be a stylist. When people meet me, it throws them off because I don’t look like what you would expect. I walk around wearing basketball shorts and sweats; I don’t get all dressed up. I don’t try to do all that extra stuff, I have gold teeth, and I am covered in tattoos. I think that’s why God blessed me to prevail in this because I am a genuine person; I’ve been the same way all my life. I was an All American wide receiver and once I got hurt, I knew I had to make a decision. I decided I didn’t want to do football anymore so I focused on working with my godfather. I got a check for $5,000 for doing a little work and that’s when I said I’m doing this and been doing it for 9 years.

Most important lessons learned - Building relationships is key, keep your word and make sure you do your job. Ninety percent of my business has come by word of mouth. I don’t promote myself, I don’t advertise my services. It’s all networking because one styling job can lead to the next. I’m not even a social networking person; Instagram is all I do because it’s easy to put a picture up.

Working with new clients - I do my research, I listen to the song or whatever I need to do to make sure the look matches up. If they say certain things in the songs, if its clothing I make sure I have it.

You have to be in tune with the artist and understand who they are because they have fans that pay attention. I like to make sure all of my work is diverse from Yelawolf to Kem to Ludacris to Trinadad James.

None of my clients look the same and they don’t look like me. A lot of stylists they make their work look dated, to where all their clients look alike.

Documentary - I decided to do it because I’m always honest about myself. A friend told me if I wanted to gain more clients, you have to let people know who you are. I’m not famous enough to want privacy. In order to reach my goals, people have to see you. I figured the best way for people to see my work and know who I am, I figured I would film a day in my life. You see how I work, the car I drive, it also shows how my clients are really my friends. I really do have personal relationships with my clients. You see in the documentary how Ludacris came when I told him where I was, we had just spoken about the place days before that. I wanted to show people how I live my life, and who I really am. It was some footage combined over time, but 90% of it was shot in one day.

Documentary soundtrack - That’s just my personality, I love old school Growing up with style- My mother was fly, she always made sure I had music. The music gives you a feeling; I really wanted to touch people the gold on, the four fingered rings and I was like that at a young age. spiritually. That’s the only way people can be in tune wit what you’re 32

doing. You get to see the people I genuinely deal with on a daily basis.

Response to the film - People tell me everyday how much it inspired them.

Deion Sanders is someone I have looked up to for years, he tweeted me to say it was dope. With the film, I have 11 minutes of your life and you love it - what more could I ask for?

Why he chose to share his criminal past in the film. - People always see the glamorous side of styling but I’m a real person going through real life shit. I wanted to let people know, I almost most my career, God gave me a second chance. When you get it, you have to mash the gas. I didn’t want to keep anything from anybody, when you see me it is what it is. Nothing was handed to me, it’s not like most people who date famous and call themselves a stylist.

I wanted to show people how fast life could change, it could happen to anyone. That same day I had just done one of the best photo shoots of my life, a couple hours later I was sitting in jail. I could’ve gotten five years and a felony charge behind that. That’s why I chose to share that.

Working with Trinidad James - I’m with him everyday, with my clients we try to make statements. It’s not flashy or in your face, it’s supposed to catch your eye. The Fendi suitcase right by the stripper’s locker was all about creative placement of the items.

What’s next - Not sure about another documentary, if I do another one it will be in 5 years or maybe not ever. Certain things don’t need to be repeated.

Trinidad and I have a shoe coming out; it’s a dope shoe that we designed.

That’s an honor for me as a young black male to say I have my own shoe. I’m inspired by everyday life and that’s what fuels my creativity.

Misconceptions about stylists - Every stylist is not gay, I’m like the only young one who is not gay. No disrespect to gay people at all, but I love women. I have more women than rappers do, who knows what would happen if I was one. All stylists do not need to be over the top, I like to kill people softly. Its one thing to be trendy and another to be a stylist.

What you should know - I love what I do, I’m grateful I can inspire and give people confidence to enhance their look. I really want my work to inspire people and that’s it.

For more info - Follow me on Instagram or check out my website.

Last words - Stay focused and whatever dreams you do have just do it. Don’t be content with what you what you do even if you have a little success.

Someone always has it better than you. Jay-Z told me personally I was someone special and to continue to do what I do. Give me a check cause I don’t do nothing for free.

Renaldo Nehemiah

What inspired you to become a writer? I understand that you were working a series of different jobs while you were trying to become a writer so can you tell me about that?

MASTERY

Well, I’ve always wanted to be a writer ever since I was a kid and then after graduating college I had many different jobs but I worked in journalism as an editor and as a writer and then I got later on into sort of television and sales in this sort of writing capacity so I always knew that that’s what I wanted to do. I even tried my hand at writing novels, plays and things like that, screenplays but I just couldn’t figure out what was the right medium for me and how I could make a living doing something that I loved. It was in 1995, I was about 36 years old, I met a man who was a book packager, somebody who kind of produces books and he asked me if I had an idea for a book but I never really thought seriously about doing a book before. His question sort of sparked me and I kind of improvised an idea that would later turn into The 48 Laws of Power and then everything sort of changed after that. It was mostly trying to find the right niche for me where I could express some of my own peculiar nature, my own ideas and once the opportunity came across my path I just worked like a fiend to make it happen.

Once you began to work through the idea of The 48 Laws of Power how did that originate in your mind and were you overwhelmed at the opportunity to write this book?

Robert Greene

Mastery: A 2 Part Conversation With The One & Only Robert Greene

Well, if I can remember back that far I was a little bit depressed because you’re getting 36 and you don’t really know what the future holds. I wasn’t feeling very happy in Hollywood so when I met this man first of all, we had a nice connection. He’s really smart, actually brilliant guy and when we discussed ideas, the one that I mentioned that turned into The 48 Laws was the one that I mentioned that turned into The 48 Laws was the one that he was interested in. It was an idea that intrigued me as well; which is about Machiavelli and how timeless a phenomenon power is.

It took me about six months before I finally decided to kind of attempt to write the treatment that would turn into the book and the reason it took me awhile was I wasn’t exactly sure. I didn’t have the money to quit my jobs and just spend three months writing this and I didn’t know whether I could do it. Finally after six months of sort of pondering the idea, I got more and more excited about it and I borrowed some money from my parents so that I didn’t have to worry about getting another job. I spent three months and I wrote a treatment that got him really so excited about it that he said he would pay me to live while I wrote the first half of the book. Once I started going on the treatment and got some momentum I started to get increasingly excited because I could see that there was something there and I just worked so hard. I don’t think I’ve ever worked that hard in my life. Well, I probably have but I worked really, really hard because I knew that this was my one big opportunity to sort of find myself and do something that could really change my life.

I didn’t expect you to say that you were in a depression but I could definitely relate to that, to getting to a point in your life where you’re like, “Okay, what’s next and what am I really doing with my time?”

And are you spending it the best way or the way you actually really want to doing something that you’re passionate about? So I can understand that.

Well, I’m an ambitious person and I like work but not being able to express something and not being able to do what I knew what I could do, was very frustrating and a bit depressing. I’m not saying that I was horribly depressed. I had some good things happening in my life but I think in general, I wasn’t in the best frame of mind so this definitely was the major turning point in my life.

48 Laws impacted our generation tremendously so how did it feel to first of all, get your bestseller status and then to realize that so many people could relate and responded so well to it? What was that feeling like?

It’s a gradual thing so the book did pretty well in the beginning. It got a fair amount of press and we could see that it would probably be a success but it was the kind of book that took off slowly. I mean it now sells more copies per week than it ever did when it first came out and so it was a slow, gradual process where I began to hear about filtering into this community. It wasn’t really until for instance, 2001 that I began to realize that it had infiltrated into the Hip Hop community and I had seen an interview with Jay Z in Playboy Magazine in which he quoted The 48 Laws so it might have been 2000, 2001, somewhere around then and then I started getting anecdotal information from people that this person was reading it.

That person was quoting it and it sort of built gradually and I was very, very excited obviously about that. I mean I knew early on that the book had success on Wall Street and among businessmen and that didn’t excite me nearly as much as it excited me to hear about rappers and because I’m a little bit of a slightly unconventional person. I don’t have a business background. I mean since then I’ve been involved in a lot of things and I now serve on the board of directors of a publicly traded company and all that but deep down inside I’m kind of an artist at heart or a writer at heart and so I was really excited about connecting with people like that and getting to meet 50 and then I got to meet a lot of artists and then I get a lot of emails. The 48 Laws really, really helped them in their lives and I just love getting those emails. It does make me feel very satisfied that I’ve helped a lot of people.

What was your reaction the first time you heard 48 Laws of Power was the number one requested book in the prison system?

What was your reaction the first time you heard 48 Laws of Power was the number one requested book in the prison system?

Well, I thought it obviously very interesting, very intriguing. I had been getting mail back in the early days. It wasn’t email. I was getting mail from people in prison and they would sort of explain to me why the book was very helpful. Then I met somebody who worked with 50 who had been in prison prior to that for almost 20 years and he’s one of those people in New York who was put in prison for just the most ridiculous drug offense. But, it was the third time and they just threw him in prison for 20 years, and he’s the nicest guy you’d ever meet and he would tell me about the book and how helpful it could be. Also how people were using it, and how people were stealing it and everything and I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for people in the American prison system. I mean some people don’t deserve sympathy but a lot of people in the prison system do. It’s just an inhumane, awful world that makes people worse and a lot of journalists try and make me feel guilty about that. They try and make it seem guilt by association that that means that this is a book for criminal minds and I don’t see that at all. I see the prison system as just a brutal environment where the power game is just very naked and obvious and the book helps them and these are human beings.

They’re not animals and so I do plan on eventually doing a tour of prisons and kind of a book tour so I’m very understanding of their dilemma and how the book could be in some ways helpful to them.

I was surprised when I was doing my research on you that a lot of people had that negative reaction to The 48 Laws of Power because me myself, I’m like, “Okay, I read the book. I read it multiple times a year depending on situations that I go through.” And to me, I didn’t receive it as a negative thing and power and influence, it’s not always negative so what do you feel about that?

Well, that’s a great question. I mean I think it’s weird. After now 14 years that the book’s out I can say that people bring their own kind of weirdness and prejudices to the book and they kind of project onto it. So if you come from a home or an environment where things are pretty easy and nice, let’s say a privileged background, you might find it, “Wow. That’s talking about concealing your intentions and all these other things. That’s really awful and evil. That’s not what’s going on in the world.” But then if you come from an urban, inner city environment where life isn’t so easy and you’re on the other end of the gun so to speak you say, “This is just the real world. This is how things are.” This is how things are.” And then if you’ve lived and if you’ve worked in a lot of places like I have and in offices and there are a lot of people like that, black and white and whoever, you say,

“Well, yeah, that’s the world. I see that all the time. I see people using these laws.” And so it really is a reflection of your experience.

If you know and have felt these things going on around you then you just read the book and you go, “That’s reality.” And when you read a chapter that might seem a little bit harsher like crush your enemy totally, you understand that the writer is being maybe slightly ironic or that is dealing with something a little more extreme and if you don’t, I’m from an environment where you feel guilty about this and it’s not something you know so well, then you think, “That’s just an evil book.” And I don’t think it is evil at all. I think what I’ve done is reveal what really happens in the world. You go behind the scenes in Hollywood, you go behind the scenes in business or in politics people are using these laws left, right and center 24 hours a day and I’m showing you this is how the power game operates and you can do with it what you want, treating you like an adult but I do think some people it just makes them uncomfortable because they feel guilty or it’s not something they’ve ever experienced in their lives.

You can use power and influence for good. You have a choice basically.

Well, the quote I always like is the quote of Malcolm X. There’s a famous quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and he said, “Absolute powerlessness corrupts even more.” And the feeling of having no power, of feeling powerless politically or in your career is the worst feeling and it twists you and it really wounds you psychologically and morally. It’s a terrible feeling that you have no control over your destiny and so the idea that power is ugly is just absolutely absurd. It’s people who define power in a very narrow stance. Power is something that the U.S. government does but no, power is something that you experience in your daily life. If you can’t get your children to listen to you at all or your wife or husband then that feeling is powerlessness and it’s a terrible feeling and you want to be able to have some influence.

You want to be able to direct and control your career to some degree. That’s power and it’s not a negative thing at all.

I’ve heard different CEOs or whatever use The 48 Laws of Power in particular in their daily business settings. I think it was someone with American Apparel or something that was firing people and giving people the copies of your book. When you heard that what did you think about that?

Well, the person that you’re talking about, I know personally. He put me on the board of directors of the company and basically, he’s a huge believer in The 48 Laws and he would give it to

a lot of employees and tell them, “This is how you have to operate.”

And some people felt it really helped them. I know because I know the people who he gave it to and they would talk to me and most people, they found it very interesting and helpful. Some people were annoyed and never read it or found it ridiculous but the War book, the Strategy book is probably the one that if you’re in business in some level is perhaps the most helpful of all because business is real pure strategy and competition and your life is at stake, your livelihood and I think a lot of the ideas in the book could be very helpful. It sold very well. It sold over 200,000 copies so far which for most books is very successful but of all the three of those books, it’s the one that sold less so it’s sort of a select audience of people who are really into strategy and hardcore thinking about strategy and I think to them it’s even more helpful than The 48 Laws.

The 50th Law - they kind of approached me for the book idea. I didn’t go to him. I didn’t have to convince him to do the book. They were actually coming to me and I was a little bit reluctant because I like to write my own books and I didn’t know what he would be like and then if you’ve ever met him he’s an extremely open, pleasant, friendly person, not really what you would expect and so from day one he gave me everything I wanted. You couldn’t imagine. Let’s say if I had to do a book on Bill Gates for instance, he would never talk to me about the things that he did in his past to make Microsoft such a powerful company. 50 told me everything. He had no secrets and I just loved that. He revealed to me everything about his childhood growing up. We went and hung out where he grew up in Southside Queens and then he let me hang out with him and hear him on phone conversations with his girlfriend so I could hear how he would use the art of seduction on the phone. The only barriers really were from his managers who were sometimes protective of his time but he himself was just unbelievably open and I would go hang out with him in his hotel room in Vegas and travel with him or go hang out in his house in Connecticut, go to parties with him or hang out with him in L.A. and he never ever gave me the feeling like I was in his way. Sometimes he’d have moods. I could see where something was bothering him and I could see he could have a dark mood but when it came to talking and opening up about the book he was just a dream.

I couldn’t imagine a better relationship.

Would you be interested in collaborating again with someone else?

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Well, it’d have to be someone like that. It would have to be someone who was open and interesting. I mean the thing about 50 and the reason I did it is he’s such a living embodiment of The 48 Laws and the other things that I’ve written that he was fascinating to be around, to see him in action. If Barack Obama suddenly called me up and said he wants to do a book with me, I think I’d accept that but there are not

While you were finishing up on The 50th Law you got the inspiration from Mastery. Was there a certain moment or a certain conversation that took place to inspire it?

For this book it’s Leonardo da Vinci. It’s mostly because this is a man who when you look at it from a little bit of a distance and you compile all of the things that he did it almost seems like the man’s from another planet. What he accomplished, how his mind worked Well, it was a process. You never just wake up suddenly one morning seems so mysterious, so unbelievable that it’s really hard to imagine and go, “Ah, I’ve got it. This is my idea.” It happened where I had this how a human being could have done that so for instance, he’s not idea brewing over the years about these people I’d been researching only an amazing artist but he was an incredible scientist and he and sort of when they get to a point of so much experience that they foreshadowed many of the great advances in science by 300 years. have a feel for what they’re doing, their minds are operating at a He was thinking of evolution well before Darwin. His drawings different level. That idea had been brewing in my mind for awhile and of the human anatomy were hundreds of years ahead of his time.

I actually would talk to 50 about it because I was thinking about the He invented the flying machine that some think he actually used. book while I was working on The 50th Law and he actually inspired He had other amazing inventions. He was an engineer. He was some of it. We would discuss it at length and so it was in my head for everything and I just thought, “Well, a mind like that, that’s maybe awhile. I decided to research it and see what a book like that would be like the end point. This is the highest thing that a human could like and I could see the idea sort of changing and becoming stronger possibly reach. He’s the ultimate master.” And the word mastery is and more interesting and it certainly did the further I got into the originally in English; its roots have to do with the word magic. research. I knew once the book had been accepted as an idea by the A master almost seems like they’ve got magical powers and he publisher that it would be a really, really hard book to pull off. Any exemplifies that so I wanted to take someone like da Vinci that has amount of research would be a lot. I mean I would have to read so much aura around him where people go, “My God, who was books on science about the brain, how it evolved, how we learn. I’d this guy?” And I wanted to humanize him. I wanted to show you have to read books about all of these great masters in history. I would that it isn’t a mystery, that he went through a process, that he is interview contemporary masters which is very time consuming, the very much like you or I and he wasn’t born with an enormous brain travel, the wooing them to do it, the going over transcripts, turning or anything. In fact he was an illegitimate son who couldn’t go to that into notes. I just knew in my bones having written already four university and who would probably have had a very unfortunate books, that this was going to be a difficult one and so I was worried life but he definitely had incredible willpower and persistence and I that I would physically wear down. I’m not in my 20s anymore and wanted to show the reader a human being so that you could now I do exercise every single day but every time I reach near the end of feel that this is something that we can all aspire to. writing a book I get so exhausted that I often want to go, “I don’t even know how long I can live like this.” It’s such a terrible feeling In Mastery, you address failure and a lot of people, myself included, and I was worried about it so I decided I would prepare myself and have encountered a fear of failure. In your book you explain why treat it like an endurance, like it’s a marathon and I would increase failure is important and how to treat it as a learning experience. For my exercise routine just ever so slightly, and then I would start a a lot of people it’s hard for them to grasp, so can you explain a little meditation routine so that I could keep my mind a little fresher and bit why failure is so important and how to use that as a positive and feel like occasionally I could think of other things. I wouldn’t become not necessarily a negative? so obsessed. I just wanted to keep my mind at a better state and it was an exercise and from the beginning of writing the book I kept to Well, I go into that quite a bit also in The 50th Law in which it’s the it, didn’t miss a day. I did everything I said I would and by the end of chapter called Turn Shit into Sugar and it’s a sense of life often really the process I could see that it really worked. I had reserves of energy depends on how you interpret it, how you interpret events that that I would never have had before and I had a kind of calmness that occur to you. Nothing is inherently bad or good. It’s how you see it the meditation had given me so I treated it as an exercise to see what that kind of will determine that and you can always look at failures would happen and I think it worked. I think it was successful. or setbacks as a positive. They teach you what you’re not good at. They show you your limitations or they teach you what other I understand that you have an icon per book so with this particular people have done to hurt you and how you can be not so naïve book, with Mastery, you said that Leo da Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci was next time. It shows you how you have to become tougher and your icon for this book so why da Vinci? Why was he the icon? handle adversity and criticism, on and on and on. If you told me right now on the phone this happened to me, I could come up and Well, first I think for power I would say historical icon would probably tell you, “Well, you have to see that as actually a benefit because it’s be Louis XIV and then for Seduction I would say it was Cleopatra and going to open your eyes and make you a better person.” then for the 33 Strategies it would be Napoleon Bonaparte.

For instance, when I was writing the Mastery book I had written the first four of the six chapters and I had two more to go which were the longest chapters and the publisher suddenly said, “Robert, you’re way late in delivering the book. If you can’t deliver the last two chapters in eleven weeks we’re going to postpone it.”

Now this postponement of the book would have been devastating but on the other hand, I was exhausted. I couldn’t possibly pull off doing that in eleven weeks. It was ridiculous. I was angry and burned out and then I just woke and I said, “Look, I have no choice.

I’ve got to do it. I don’t want the book to be postponed. I’m just going to find it.” And I ended up doing it and it ended up, I think it made the book better because I worked so hard and as I’m writing about creativity and intuition ideas were just coming to me from my unconscious without any effort.

I was living what I was writing about and so that negative circumstance which could’ve defeated me, could’ve been a wall that I just didn’t get past, ended up being an incredible benefit and you can do that with anything that happens in life, and I have this story in the book of Henry Ford, the great automobile and entrepreneur, and he thought of it this way, “It’s through failure of my first two businesses that I learned what I needed to do to make the third one successful and I would have never gotten to that point if I gave up or if I didn’t have failure.” People who have too much success in life when they’re young don’t understand the lessons that you need to learn in life, that sometimes luck in involved. It’s better to fail earlier in your life and learn why you failed than to have too much smooth sailing. It’s really, really important.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out the next issue for the finale of Robert’s interview where he gives keys to achieving Mastery, gives more advice on how to apply his tips to your life. He also will talk more about 50, his obsessions with sports ,partying with Floyd Mayweather, and his upcoming appearance in Atlanta to celebrate Xposure’s anniversary.

38

Jet Set

Visivo OpenTable - Great for finding restaurant menus and reviews and reservations. The locator feature is especially helpful if you are not familiar with the area. Once your reservation is made, you can invite guest, order flowers and more.

The Trials of Muhummad Ali - Directed by Bill Siegel, the film makes its world premiere at the festival. The film highlights Mr. Ali’s days in the early 60s before the civil rights movement. The film also details his spiritual journey and the controversy surrounding his decision not to serve in the Vietnam war.

Bon Voyage - Great for - managing traveling finance. Keeps track of budget and expenses while on your trip. allows you to customize a budget for each trip, then add different costs (hotel, flight, clothes, entertainment, and many more), and see how you are sticking to (or totally breaking) your budget.

5

Travel Apps You’re Not Using

Free WiFi Finder - Great For keeping in touch while on the go. This app finds hotspots located near you to connect while on the go. Filter Wi-FI hotspot search results by free vs. paid, provider or location type.

View Wi-Fi hotspot search results as a list or on a map without leaving the app.

Tribeca Film Festival Will Honor Legends Gate Guru - Great for - when you need something to eat or you forgot your toothbrush and need to buy one before boarding. The only info you need is your airport and gate number to find out which restaurants, services and shops are close to you. A definite time and life saver especially if you’re unfamiliar with the airport.

Marina Zenovich’s revealing and entertaining film lays bare the demons with which he struggled and reminds us just how daring and dangerous artistic freedom can be. Includes interviews with Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Quincy Jones, Lily Tomlin, Jesse Jackson.

Hotel Tonight - Great for Last minute reservations. -This app helps you find a place to sleep if your plans fall through while en route to your destination.

Discounts can be significant, you can find deals for up to 50% off the regular rate.

41

Heavy Metal

La Ferrari The 6.3-liter V-12 makes 789 at 9000 rpm—and revs another 250 rpm beyond that—as well as 516 pound-feet at 6750.

Inside, the driver sits behind a 12.3-inch digital display offering the choice of a traditional Ferrari layout with the tach in the center or a “competition-style” layout. There are no seats in the traditional sense. Both driver and passenger sit in padded carbon-fiber forms incorporated into the rear bulkhead. The pedals and steering wheel adjust to the driver. It will almost certainly be more comfortable than it sounds.No pricing has been announced yet, but figure on at least $1.2 million— so more than the $1.15 million P1—and it selling to a very discerning customer base. If that sounds reasonable, you’d better act quickly. Ferrari will build only 499 LaFerraris, but you can dream with these photos.

The Rolls Royce Wraith luxury coupe based on the Ghost Sedan, made its highly anticipated debut at the Geneva Auto Show. “When Wraith is present, for that fleeting moment, the world will stand still,” the press release announces.

Powered by a V12 engine, Wraith goes 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. The reported price is lurking around selling at approximately $300,000, details are still being released frequently, for now we’ll just admire all the photos.

42

Heavy Metal

● 2014 Mclaren P1 903 HP The supercar has an electronically limited 218-mph top speed. All of this speed and acceleration is handled by bespoke Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires designed specifically for the P1. $1.15 million, but they had better hurry—McLaren also revealed it will build just 375 P1s for global consumption.

Brabus installs a new twin-turbo system with custom highperformance manifolds and four water-to-air intercoolers. That tech is housed under the Brabus carbon-fiber hood scoop. Peak power comes at 5,500 rpm while max torque kicks in low at 2,100 rpm. The exhaust is reworked with a free-flowing catalytic converter and ceramic-coated tailpipes. A butterfly valve switches between “hi baby” noise and “move b!tch, get out the way” noise.

Cost $212,640 base. 0-60 in 3.2 seconds 44

45

Lamborghini knows how to celebrate their 50th anniversary in style. Miami International Airport was the setting for the unveiling of the new 2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 roadseter.

There were 5 r0adsters who sped down a closed runway at a speed of 210 mph. According to reports, Lamborghini chose Miami to start a 10 day launch and dealer education. The cost for the base model starts around $397,000. The Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster comes equipped with a 691 horsepower 6.5 V12 engine which will get you to from the tarmac to South Beach pretty fast. I don’t even want to think of process you have to go through to ask for permission from the FAA to shut down a runway.

46

Currency Matters

VantageScore will now use any available cell phone, rent and utility payment records found in the consumer’s credit file to develop a score. Vamtage Score changed its scoring scale to 300 to 850 “Consumers who have a zero-dollar balance on collections and no other negative information on their credit reports should see their VantageScore’s increase significantly.” VantageScore will now be the only credit score that doesn’t track debt collection accounts that have been paid in full. People who have suffered from natural disasters will not have their scores affected. Experian is one agency who has already announced VantageScore as their scoring model. No word yet on if FICO will adopt some of the features that VantageScore is offering.