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WINTER 2013<br />
WWW.BOSSMAG.BIZ<br />
M a g a z i n e<br />
Grammy Award-<br />
Nominated<br />
Jamaican Recording<br />
Artist<br />
Cham<br />
beauty alert!<br />
6 steps to the perfect brow<br />
jamaican<br />
exclusive:<br />
mavado,<br />
gyptian, Beenie Man,<br />
vybz kartel & more...<br />
this issue’s boss man & woman:<br />
eugene jones jr. & shahina sayani<br />
top 4 runway trends<br />
BOSSMAGAZINE1304 $3.95
CalmCoolCollected<br />
Outside your life is crazy busy.<br />
Inside, it’s a serene oasis.<br />
You’re close to what’s important.<br />
And far from what isn’t.<br />
That’s why you chose a Greenwin<br />
building.<br />
Happy buildings. Happy renters.<br />
More than a slogan, it describes<br />
your life.<br />
M a g a z i n e<br />
Tamika Johnson<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
Fashion/Beauty<br />
Fashion/Beauty Editor & Stylist Awena Abala<br />
Fashion/Beauty Editor & Stylist Jayshawn Jones<br />
Fashion/Beauty Lead Photographer Cyril (CJ) Cromwell Simmonds<br />
Fashion/Beauty Lead Photo Retoucher Irving De Jong<br />
Arts/Entertainment<br />
Arts/Entertainment Editor Kern Carter<br />
Lifestyle editor Justina Opoku-Ware<br />
Copy Editor Kern Carter<br />
Graphic DesignerS Laura Metcalfe, Alan Joson, Vic Metcalfe<br />
Sales & Marketing DIRECTOR Amina Yassin Omar<br />
public relations & communications Idil Hassan<br />
Mentors<br />
Laura Metcalfe, Morris Beckford, Amina Yassin-Omar<br />
Features<br />
Cham, Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela, Eugene Jones Jr, Shahina Sayani,<br />
Julian Marley, Mavado, Gyptian, Vybz Kartel, Junior Reid, Beenie Man,<br />
I-Octane, Romaine Virgo, Don Dem, Mikki Ras, Eyesus, Camile Lauren,<br />
Exco Levi, Kiprich, Demarco, Bramma, Jordan Clarke, Sean Andre<br />
Contributing Photographers<br />
Cyril (CJ) Cromwell Simmonds, Jayshawn Jones, Dre Barrett, Shennel<br />
Photography, Martin Brown, Che Kothari, Northbridge Media Group,<br />
Martika Gregory, Ebony Photography, DNA Photography<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Domonique Morris, Kern Carter, Sasha Vella, Laura Metcalfe, Nicole<br />
Seck, Joesph Fava, Justina Opoku-Ware, Adam Ali, Jessica Alex, Fiana<br />
Andrews, Fiana Andrews, Max Greenwood, Jessica Alex, Shassha<br />
Loftman,, Andrew Williams, BCFAN Black Creek Financial Action<br />
Network, Shassha Loftman<br />
greenwin.ca
oss Contributors<br />
42<br />
winter 2013<br />
The Boss Team would like to say a special thank you to all our contributors. We have been<br />
blessed to find such individuals with creativity and determination, that fit so well with the<br />
direction of Boss Magazine.<br />
andrew williams<br />
Writer<br />
First I’d like to thank BOSS Magazine for giving me the opportunity to pursue my<br />
passion for journalism and photography. I’ve been writing for as long as I could<br />
remember. As a proficient daydreamer, I love channeling my thoughts and views<br />
into pros, whether they concern major issues that have a resonating impact across<br />
communities or simple things that fascinate proud nerds like myself. Digital<br />
photography has been a fun and engaging challenge I never shy away from, capturing<br />
a fragment of life before it disappears into time and space. Or maybe I’m just a big kid<br />
who likes to play with expensive DSLRs, lighting, and equipment.<br />
BOSS Beauty<br />
Must–Haves<br />
Contents<br />
jennifer christine darocha<br />
Hairstylist<br />
Jennifer Christine DaRocha’s first experience in the fashion editorial world was with<br />
Boss, which she describes as a wonderful opportunity that has led to more open doors<br />
than she ever imagined possible. Jennifer Christine is a recent graduate at the Canadian<br />
Beauty College with a diploma in Makeup Artistry and certificate in Airbrushing.<br />
6 Editor’s Letter Editor in Chief Tamika Johnson’s latest<br />
thoughts about this issues artist features, fashion trends<br />
and community features<br />
7 @thatsbossmag Be sure to check out the hottest street<br />
fashion looks from our readers Instagrams and Tweets<br />
10 Bosses of Our Own Domain Meet the people behind<br />
Boss Magazine<br />
Fashion<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
2<br />
irving de jong<br />
Photographer<br />
A self-taught photographer/retoucher/graphic designer born in France and raised in<br />
Toronto, who has spent countless hours since his childhood years on the computer<br />
learning about media arts. Currently working with different Toronto recording artists,<br />
magazines, clothing lines and media blogs. Has started working with Boss magazine as<br />
an event photographer and is now a retoucher for the editorial and enjoys the friendly<br />
BOSS environment.<br />
fiana andrews<br />
The Shy Advocate<br />
Just a shy girl breaking out of her cocoon into a social butterfly who creates approachable<br />
opportunities wherever she goes and shareshow to do it with other shy folks. She<br />
loves creating environments that make it a lot easier for people (especially shy ones) to<br />
initiate conversation with one another. So she plans events that encourages interaction<br />
through ice breakers, activities and discussions. She has a soft spot for shy people and<br />
advocates on their behalf.<br />
On the Cover<br />
Black blazer with faux leather<br />
appliqué. Zara $119.00, Black<br />
zipper sleeve sweater. Zara<br />
$59.90, Accessories, artist<br />
own on. Styled by Awena<br />
Abala & Jayshawn Jones<br />
Photographer: CJ Cromwell,<br />
Photo Editor: Irving De Jong<br />
14 Fashion Must Haves Stay trendy with this issues must<br />
haves fresh off the runway<br />
16 African Fashion Week Take a peek at Toronto’s very first<br />
African Fashion Week<br />
18 Boss Woman Boss reaches out to Art Reach for this issues<br />
Boss Woman, Shahina Sayani<br />
20 Designer Profile: Malaika Lue Boss catches up with<br />
Malaika Lue and finds out how she caters to every party<br />
girl’s needs<br />
28 Getting Lawless With Cham Boss gets up close and lawless<br />
with the one and only Cham<br />
Beauty<br />
42 Beauty Must Haves find your go-to beauty products wit<br />
this seasons must haves<br />
43 Eyebrow Contouring Attention Ladies! This is a need to<br />
know you do not want to miss!<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
3
28<br />
Cham<br />
Arts & Entertainment<br />
48 Voice of a Generation Mavado has crossed musical<br />
boundaries not many of his time have seen<br />
48 Talking Sex, Love & Reggae Gyptian opens up to Boss<br />
about it all...<br />
52 Beyond a Legend Legendary artist Junior Reid discusses<br />
three decades of musical success<br />
54 The Best Reggae Group in Canada Don Dem tells Boss<br />
about their inspiration and how they inspire each other<br />
57 Rhythm Education Mikki Ras educates the people with<br />
real life music<br />
58 In the Eyes of Music Reggae artist Eyesus sees his future<br />
clearly<br />
60 Boss Was There The Boss team covers Reggae or Die<br />
featuring Cham, stops at Toronto’s largest outdoor arts<br />
display at Nuit Blanch, and celebrates the birthday of the<br />
King of reggae music Bob Marley in his hometown Kingston<br />
Jamaica<br />
63 Art of Ceil DJ Artist Camille Lauren takes us on a visual<br />
journey<br />
66 Real Music, Real Results Two-time Juno award winning<br />
reggae sensation Exco Levi educates Boss about his place in<br />
reggae music<br />
67 Hit Maker The dancehall hit-maker let’s Boss know about<br />
what it takes to what it takes big tunes for himself and for<br />
other artists<br />
68 Tribute to a Legend The would-be Nobel laureate Bob<br />
Marley and his resounding drum that never stops beating<br />
70 Cream of the Crop From performing to producing,<br />
Demarco might very well be the most versatile talent in<br />
reggae music<br />
72 Early Success Bramma discusses his early successes both<br />
inside and outside of Jamaica<br />
74 No Boundaries Jordan Clarke refuses any limits to her art<br />
76 Madness The eccentric and explosive Vybz Kartel<br />
78 Images of Inspiration Sean Andre takes a unique journey<br />
through art<br />
80 Cry to the Nation I-Octane tells Boss how he uses his<br />
sweet voice and clean lyrics to command both Reggae and<br />
Dancehall audiences all over the world<br />
88<br />
If I Ruled<br />
TO<br />
82 Boss Live From Jamaica The Boss team goes to Jamaica<br />
and covers the Annual Bob Marley Concert in Kingston.<br />
Check out exclusive interviews from Dancehall & Reggae<br />
headliners such as Julian Marley, Beenie Man, Romaine Virgo<br />
and much more...<br />
Lifestyle<br />
88 If I Ruled TO Boss was there to capture this amazing<br />
youthful event organized by Toronto Community Housing<br />
90 Boss Man Boss catches up with CEO of TCH Eugene<br />
Jones Jr. who is shaking things up by advocating for youth<br />
92 Boss Scholars Boss profiles Kwaku Agyemang and Christina<br />
Watson-Williams, two young students at the top of their<br />
game<br />
94 Saying F-You To It All The Forgiveness Project shows Boss<br />
how one person affected by trauma can take a simple oneword<br />
idea and use it to instill change and progress within the<br />
youth of Toronto<br />
96 Superhero Tasheka Mason is making noise in her Toronto<br />
east end neighbourhood<br />
98 I’m Bossy! Thinking of becoming your own boss?<br />
Author Jessica Alex provides some helpful tips on how to<br />
get started<br />
100 Use Eye Contact to Get the Contact Fiana Andrews<br />
explains how to use eye contact to show interest<br />
102 Born “Troublemaker” Nelson Mandela Personal trainer<br />
Adam Ali provides advice on how to be a healthier you<br />
106 Boss of Education Boss gets you tips on how to take<br />
charge of your education<br />
108 Hidden Gem: Belleeny’s Restaurant Check out this family<br />
run West Indian/Italian fusion cuisine restaurant located in<br />
the Northwest end of Toronto<br />
109 Financial Independence Are you ready to go at it on<br />
your own? Black Creek Financial Action Network will help you<br />
find out<br />
110 Horoscopes Interested to know what fortunes this season<br />
brings? Then check out Nadiya Zodiac Starcast<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
5
Editor’s<br />
Letter<br />
twitter<br />
INSTAGRAM<br />
@ThatsBossMag<br />
@feistytima<br />
can’t go wrong<br />
with a little<br />
black dress<br />
@champagnepapi<br />
Our Drizzy sports a sharp<br />
tailored dark navy blue suit,<br />
has him looking oh so GQ.<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
Toronto is famous for our cold and long winters, but the<br />
Boss team has devoted this issue to warming you up. We<br />
feature sizzling talents straight from Jamaica starting with<br />
our Grammy Award Nominated Dancehall artist Cham on the<br />
cover. Our fashion spreads will give the ladies street fashion<br />
and fresh off the runway looks; choose the style that best<br />
fits your occasion. Men, we haven’t forgotten about you. We<br />
have page to page spreads of men’s fashion that will be sure<br />
to have the ladies screaming Lights, Camera, Action when you<br />
pass by. Congratulations! Toronto has witnessed its first African<br />
Fashion Week. What a classy fashionable event. If you missed it<br />
please check out the pieces we’ve captured. Tired of drawing<br />
in your eyebrows? Well draw no more! We have unlocked the<br />
secret of how to achieve the perfect eyebrow. Check out our<br />
beauty section while you are there and take a look at our Boss<br />
beauty must haves, hand-picked by our fashion editors. This<br />
issue’s Entertainment section is jam packed with dancehall<br />
and reggae favourites such as Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Vybz<br />
Kartel, Mavado, I-Octane, Mikki Ras and many more. Their music<br />
is guaranteed to heat you up by moving your waistline and<br />
their stories to success will inspire you. Our Lifestyle section<br />
highlights members of the community who are shaking things<br />
up and advocating for change, such as our Boss Man Eugene<br />
Jones Jr., and our Community Superhero Tasheka Mason.<br />
Having trouble dating? Well our relationship specialist Fiana<br />
Andrews tells you how important it is to make eye contact.<br />
Make sure you are keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions<br />
of healthy eating and exercise, if not Adam Ali will whip you into<br />
shape. Last but not least, Boss pays tribute to the late great<br />
Nelson Mandela by sharing his story to freedom.<br />
There you have it. Our issue 6. I wish I could tell you everything<br />
that’s in store but you’ll have to read on to find out more. I’d<br />
like to thank my Boss Team and all our contributors for another<br />
banging issue. Stay tuned to see the next chapter. Have a<br />
blessed season. Let us pray for an early summer Toronto.<br />
Please email me I’d love to hear from you<br />
Tamika Johnson<br />
tamikaj@bossmag.biz<br />
Ascend @AscendYen Tis’ the season to shop<br />
local with your friends @ThatsBossMag<br />
You’ve tweeted us @thatsbossmag and you’ve tagged us<br />
@thebossmagazine on Instagram. Thank you readers! We<br />
are always excited to see what latest trends TorontoNians<br />
are showcasing.<br />
Please take a look at some of Toronto’s street fashion<br />
trends and our Torontonian celebrities hottest fashion<br />
trends.<br />
@iamjenniferle &<br />
@bow2urleader<br />
both individuals<br />
take risks and<br />
think outside the<br />
box when it comes<br />
to fashion. Playing<br />
with metallic isn’t<br />
for everyone and<br />
both rocked it<br />
right.<br />
@justinbieber<br />
wears a<br />
rebillious red<br />
suit to his movie<br />
premier Believe.<br />
Stacey<br />
McKenzie @<br />
StaceyMcKenzie1<br />
BIG Christmas<br />
hugs to<br />
@ThatsBossMag<br />
The beautiful<br />
@mymflife wears<br />
a white oversized<br />
blazer with<br />
black patchwork<br />
collar. Black<br />
and white colour<br />
block is so in for<br />
this season.<br />
Please tweet us @ThatsBossMag for any questions, concerns<br />
or story ideas you would like to see in the next issue of<br />
Boss Magazine and your tweet maybe featured.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
6<br />
7
Bosses of our own domain<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
From left to right: Awena, Amina, Morris,<br />
Tamika, Kern, Justina, Laura, Idil, Jayshawn<br />
Location: Artreach Toronto Headquarters<br />
Photographer: DNA Photography<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
10<br />
11
VOLUNTEER WITH<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE!<br />
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BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
12<br />
BOSS IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR<br />
HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS<br />
LOOKING TO GAIN • HANDS ON EXPERIENCE<br />
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?<br />
EMAIL: BOSSMAG01@GMAIL.COM<br />
%+,)-(./012<br />
!"#$%&'"($)*<br />
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“People will stare. Make it worth<br />
their while.”<br />
- Harry Winston<br />
So don’t caught off gaurd this<br />
winter, check out Boss’ candid look<br />
at this season’s fashions.<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
13
Fashion must haves<br />
Oversized Coat<br />
Balmain F/W 2013 Saint Laurent S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci F/W 2013<br />
leather<br />
Tom Ford S/S 2014<br />
Leather is the new denim. From the fall runways<br />
to spring, this trend doesn’t seem to be going away<br />
anytime soon, so you might as well embrace it!<br />
Christopher Kane F/W 2013 Haider Ackerman S/S 2014 Lanvin F/W 2013<br />
Proenza Schouler F/W 2013<br />
As the weather drops, keep your inner fashionista warm with winter’s<br />
top trend. Oversized coats give you the room to layer, because bigger is<br />
always better.<br />
Keep it sexy and elegant with one of this season’s hottest<br />
trends. Whether you want to keep it subtle or sexy, in lace<br />
you’ll have a confident strut.<br />
lace<br />
Thigh Boots<br />
Stand apart from everyone this season with the ‘It’ Boot. Thigh high<br />
boots accentuate your legs, and reveals enough skin to grab attention.<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
Tom Ford S/S 2014 Chloe S/S 2014 Elie Saab S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci S/S 2014<br />
Prabal Gurung F/W 2013 Tom Ford S/S 2014 Tom Ford S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci F/W 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
15
African fashion week<br />
This past year Toronto celebrated Africa’s unique and diverse<br />
cultural heritage by throwing its first annual African Fashion<br />
Week. The event showcased a group of talented designers with<br />
a keen eye for elaborate textiles, flamboyant prints, and<br />
creating unique contemporary garments.<br />
With the fashion industry now a days, taking a very safe<br />
and narrow approach towards representing African culture,<br />
these skilled group of individuals went outside the box and<br />
showcased a unique perspective on Africa’s rich ethnic culture.<br />
Take a look at our top picks from the runways.
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
shahina sayani Boss Woman<br />
By Andrew Williams<br />
Toronto. Our city brims with a vibrant<br />
culture of artistic fervor. It is a place<br />
where young people from all corners<br />
of the globe and from all walks of life<br />
converge to live and create. Wading<br />
deep in this maelstrom is Shahina Sayani.<br />
Since 2006 she has been the director of<br />
ArtReach Toronto, using this platform<br />
to ignite the passions of artistic youth<br />
across the city.<br />
A native to Windsor Ontario, Sayani’s<br />
parents were among the 80,000 Asians<br />
forced to leave their home of Uganda<br />
in 1972. When then president Idi Amin<br />
assumed power over the central Africa<br />
nation, his poor decision making and<br />
paranoia led to him using Asian ethnic<br />
groups as a scapegoat, resulting in many<br />
having to flee the country at the threat<br />
of violence.<br />
However, Canada was not the end of the<br />
hardships for Sayani’s family.<br />
“Growing up in small towns, our family<br />
was often in the minority,” says Sayani.<br />
She speaks about how racism and bullying<br />
were common fixtures throughout her<br />
childhood, as she was only one of three<br />
South Asian kids in school. Among the<br />
things that stand out for her was the<br />
persecution she received for things as<br />
simple as going to prayer with her family.<br />
Nevertheless, adversity builds character,<br />
and Sayani attributes these tribulations<br />
as what drove her to help others through<br />
the arts. From a personal stand point,<br />
she refrains from identifying with one<br />
particular facet of art, although she’s<br />
keen on dance and has dabbled in henna.<br />
“All art forms inspire me,” she says. “I love<br />
the feeling of getting goose-bumps when<br />
I watch a dance theatre performance or<br />
hear a powerful spoken word piece.”<br />
After studying at Brock University where<br />
she received her BSc and BA, she moved<br />
to Toronto where she delved into the<br />
non-profit sector to work with individuals<br />
directly. Among the organizations Sayani<br />
first broke into was the For Youth Initiative<br />
(FYI), which aimed to groom young<br />
leaders for tackling issues head-on that<br />
are facing the community. Throughout<br />
her time in FYI, her roles ranged from a<br />
coordinator to Executive Director. She<br />
helped spearhead a breakfast program<br />
that fed 800 elementary students each<br />
day.<br />
“It was one of the most challenging<br />
projects I ever worked on, and one of the<br />
most fulfilling,” she says.<br />
With gun violence being an ongoing<br />
struggle in Toronto’s marginalized<br />
communities, Sayani worked tirelessly to<br />
obtain charitable donations from groups<br />
like the United Way. The aim was to<br />
develop a scholarship that would provide<br />
disenfranchised youth with better access<br />
to education and skills for employment.<br />
Of course one of the things standing in<br />
the way of her efforts was the negative<br />
stigma attached to these comminutes, in<br />
particular people of colour.<br />
“One of my first priorities was also<br />
to engage the media in profiling the<br />
positive work of local youth,” Sayani<br />
explains. “This was done to strategically<br />
address the fact that coverage tends to<br />
be very negative and generalizes young<br />
black men.” The FYI Scholarship Program<br />
was itself created in memory of two<br />
teens lost to gun violence.<br />
Another group Sayani worked closely<br />
with was the Grassroots Youth<br />
Collaborative (GYC), which she helped<br />
get off the ground. Consisting of various<br />
organizations led by young people within<br />
the city, they found a common cause in<br />
addressing the issues affecting their<br />
communities, and formed the GYC in an<br />
effort to raise funds.<br />
“GYC members united to promote and<br />
legitimize the model of ‘youth–led’ as<br />
an effective way to engage, empower,<br />
and reach excluded youth,” she says.<br />
To elaborate further, the group was<br />
concerned with education, resisting<br />
conventional perspective and practices,<br />
encouraging unity and solidarity, and<br />
funding.<br />
“I am privileged to experience the<br />
raw, innovative and boundary-pushing<br />
artistry of Toronto’s finest young artists,”<br />
explains Sayani when asked about her<br />
devotion to the arts. She is a staunch<br />
believer that art is a powerful way to<br />
connect with the youth, imbuing them<br />
with the hope and inspiration to uplift<br />
not only themselves but also their<br />
communities. This is the fundamental<br />
principle behind ArtReach Toronto.<br />
ArtReach seeks to support art initiatives<br />
aimed at building young leaders<br />
in underprivileged areas through<br />
fundraising and mentorship. According<br />
to Sayani, art can achieve the following in<br />
young people when thoroughly applied:<br />
· increase in self-esteem<br />
· healing<br />
· personal transformation<br />
· becoming adept in the arts<br />
· increased sense of identity<br />
· heightened sense of social/political<br />
awareness and involvement<br />
This is the overall goal of ArtReach<br />
Toronto.<br />
As you would think, putting together<br />
such an ambitious endeavour came with<br />
its challenges. Among them was working<br />
together with different organization and<br />
11 different partners, each with their<br />
own objectives.<br />
“It was like having 11 different bosses!”<br />
says Sayani. However, there’s the old<br />
law of how cash rules everything around<br />
us, and thus the biggest challenge was<br />
procuring the funds to continue their<br />
efforts. Luckily, the Toronto Arts Council<br />
stepped in and pledged $300,000 per<br />
year, a significant milestone for ArtReach.<br />
Sayani has been with ArtReach for the<br />
past seven years. Within the program,<br />
her responsibilities as director involve<br />
research, managing staff, building<br />
partnerships, and of course financial<br />
management, which includes grants.<br />
Through the innovative art initiatives<br />
that the program supports, she hopes to<br />
teach young people how to set realistic<br />
goals and utilize their own skills and<br />
talents in working towards a career as<br />
well as a more inclusive society.<br />
“Racism, poverty, unemployment and<br />
access to education are issues that I am<br />
passionate about, and they need to be<br />
addressed on a systemic level to truly<br />
better our communities.”<br />
One of the key events hosted by<br />
ArtReach is its annual Youth Arts Pitch.<br />
This presentation gives local young<br />
artists the opportunity to obtain the<br />
crucial funding necessary to bring their<br />
artistic visions to fruition. Prizes include<br />
$15,000 in cash winnings and $4,000 in<br />
supplementary prize packs.<br />
“It’s an alternative to the traditional<br />
funding systems that involve grant<br />
applications, months of waiting [for a<br />
reply], and all the restrictions on the use<br />
of funds,” Sayani explains. Past prizes<br />
have also included web design services,<br />
access to studios, and support for<br />
promotional materials, things that would<br />
launch a serious career.<br />
Like any contest, there are several factors<br />
that determine which participants would<br />
be final prize winners. Things the judges<br />
pay particular attention to include<br />
creativity, the live performance, and<br />
motivation. What the judges don’t want<br />
to see is an uninspired pitch that lacks<br />
energy or doesn’t engage the audience.<br />
Those coming from under-served<br />
or at risk areas of Toronto may have<br />
found themselves further disillusioned<br />
following the dysfunction at city hall and a<br />
headline-making mayor. However, Sayani<br />
stresses the importance in maintaining a<br />
strong relationship with our city officials<br />
in order to achieve growth.<br />
“In my opinion, the most effective<br />
approach is to attack from all angles,”<br />
she says. “Taking immediate action,<br />
mobilizing and bringing awareness to<br />
your cause is crucial in addressing issues<br />
and making change in your community.”<br />
She names the Beautiful City Billboard<br />
Fee (BCBF) as an example of what the<br />
camaraderie between city hall and the<br />
people can accomplish. The BCBF allows<br />
for a levy paid by billboard companies to<br />
go towards public art and programs that<br />
would enrich the city.<br />
Whether support comes from city<br />
council, private funders, or non-profit<br />
organizations, it ultimately falls to<br />
young individuals who have observed<br />
or experienced hardships to stand up<br />
and become leaders. Sayani has seen<br />
firsthand how the arts can transform<br />
lives and unlock the hidden potential<br />
that lies in all of us. And she has seen<br />
how our creative energy can ripple out<br />
to touch others.<br />
“I feel privileged to have witnessed the transformation of so<br />
many young people into youth organizers who are mobilizing<br />
and addressing social justice issues in their communities.”<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
18<br />
19
Malaika Lue<br />
By Domonique Morris<br />
Designer Profile<br />
Toronto native, Malaika<br />
Lue, is the master key<br />
to any party woman’s<br />
salacious wardrobe.<br />
With a zest for fashion,<br />
Lue stepped out of her<br />
comfort zone of self<br />
doubt and scepticism<br />
and created pieces that<br />
became revealing,<br />
neck breaking, show<br />
stoppers.<br />
“Fashion is what it is, right?” asks Lue<br />
with a coy undertone.<br />
On her 21st birthday, Lue had an<br />
answer. That answer was to physically<br />
step into the club with her very first<br />
piece, her birthday outfit: a sequenced<br />
pinkish bluish dress that glistened<br />
stylishly with or without the lights on.<br />
“I make my own stuff. I don’t follow<br />
trends. I do what I want to do and I<br />
make what I want to make! Whatever<br />
I feel that day is what I am going to<br />
make. Whatever colour I feel, that is<br />
what I am doing.” All eyes were on<br />
her as she enjoyed herself that night.<br />
She received countless amounts of<br />
compliments and vast support from a<br />
close friend of hers who pushed her<br />
into launching her self-titled pieces.<br />
Malaika Lue’s education in sewing<br />
began with her foster mother and that<br />
gift of learning assisted in the mastering<br />
of her first collection. Leaving college<br />
to pursue her fashion dreams was “the<br />
best thing that could ever happen<br />
to me” Lue happily exclaimed. While<br />
conceptualizing a design, her aim is to<br />
create comfortable fitting outfits for<br />
women that like to party, want to be<br />
bold and stand out, be sexy and who<br />
are simply tired of shopping at the mall.<br />
Months into her fashion career, a very<br />
shy Lue, began to market her pieces on<br />
various social networks like Facebook<br />
and Instagram. Although she was not<br />
sure if people were going to like her<br />
21
By Nicole Seck<br />
GETTING LAWLESS WITH<br />
cham<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
22<br />
pieces, she posted them anyway and<br />
sure enough, 90% of her followers fell<br />
in love with her sense of style. When<br />
asked what her inspiration was she said,<br />
“Everything inspires me...I look at other<br />
people in the same industry, see what<br />
they’re up to,<br />
and [wonder]<br />
how I can do<br />
better than<br />
them.”<br />
Knowing<br />
that her<br />
“bright and<br />
tight” outfits<br />
were too<br />
much for her<br />
city as she felt that Toronto’s style was<br />
earthier than desired, Lue took a leap<br />
of faith and moved to Miami, Florida.<br />
Ironically enough, the theme of her<br />
latest collection is Miami: fun, crazy<br />
and wild - it seems fitting. The hard<br />
work, dedication, and stick-to-itiveness<br />
seen in her growing collection paid off<br />
as her attire caught the eyes of many<br />
people all over the world including<br />
reality TV show stars as well as actors<br />
who she later created outfits for. To<br />
keep up with demand, Lue says, “is a<br />
lot of work; but it is a work in progress.”<br />
Malaika Lue is currently working on<br />
opening up a boutique in South Beach,<br />
Miami then later gracing major cities<br />
within the United States with more<br />
boutiques. Malaika Lue encourages the<br />
up and coming designers and those<br />
pursuing their dreams to never give up<br />
and don’t be a quitter, “When things<br />
get tough, you keep going. Don’t be<br />
afraid because [once upon a time] that<br />
was me.”<br />
Knowing that her “bright and tight” outfits were too much<br />
for her city as she felt that Toronto’s style was earthier<br />
than desired, Lue took a leap of faith and moved to Miami,<br />
Florida. Ironically enough, the theme of her latest collection is<br />
Miami: fun, crazy and wild - it seems fitting.<br />
Now at the<br />
age of 22,<br />
and with<br />
one year of<br />
experience<br />
under her<br />
belt, Lue<br />
has proven<br />
herself to<br />
be more<br />
than just the average young fashion<br />
designer. She has created a collection<br />
that not only represents her party girl<br />
persona of being edgy, chic, and extra,<br />
but her pieces allow her clientele to<br />
feel the same way.<br />
cham tells boss readers that he wants the world to know:<br />
“I love love.”
In the case of Cham versus the rest<br />
of the world -- insofar as our general<br />
impression of him is concerned – it<br />
seems the seasoned reggae artist has<br />
been keeping a little known about<br />
secret: the man behind the raspy voice,<br />
exuberant performances, glamour and<br />
notoriety is not quite the boisterous<br />
personality that one may otherwise<br />
believe him to be. Upon entering<br />
Cham’s dimly lit sixth floor suite of<br />
the Sheraton hotel, I am immediately<br />
drawn by his laidback, soft-spoken<br />
down-to-earth charm and pleasant<br />
demeanor.<br />
The world over has been privy<br />
to both the fire and fury that<br />
has been the alchemical forces<br />
of Cham’s one-of-a-kind,<br />
youthful yet coarse vocals,<br />
alongside longtime producer<br />
Dave Kelly’s impeccable<br />
sounds. The artist formerly<br />
known as Baby Cham revoked<br />
the “Baby” moniker back in<br />
2005, five years into the game<br />
and following the release of<br />
his debut album, Wow…The<br />
Story. After the name change<br />
came the release of Cham’s<br />
sophomore album, Ghetto<br />
Story, under the direction of<br />
Atlantic Records/Madhouse,<br />
which proved to be more of<br />
a heavyweight record and<br />
arguably put the budding<br />
artist on the map.<br />
It’s been quite some time<br />
since the artist formerly<br />
known as “Baby Cham” has<br />
been in the glaring spotlight; seven<br />
years since his enchanting “Ghetto<br />
Story” collaboration with songstress<br />
Alicia Keys. Over the years we have<br />
witnessed and heard Cham on<br />
numerous tracks in collaboration with<br />
Toronto’s own Jully Black, Brooklynite<br />
Foxy Brown, iconic pop singer Rihanna,<br />
and universal Hip Hop heavy hitter,<br />
Akon. Even with a lengthy hiatus (in the<br />
eyes of the public),Cham’s been toiling<br />
away in the studio alongside his wife O.<br />
Together the duo has produced such<br />
blazing tracks as “Tun Up” (2012) and<br />
“Wine” (2012). 2013 witnessed Cham<br />
hit the studio with dynamic producer<br />
Dave Kelly and highly-lauded reggae<br />
star Damian “Junior Gong” Marley with<br />
the release of “Fighter.”<br />
Though only in Toronto for a<br />
performance as part of the Scotiabank<br />
Caribbean Carnival festivities (at the<br />
time of our interview), Cham has<br />
frequented the streets of Toronto in<br />
recent years, claiming that the city<br />
“got something that nowhere else<br />
has.” Many would venture to say that<br />
Cham’s onto something with respect<br />
to his views about our beloved city,<br />
given Toronto’s multiplicitous cultures<br />
and large Jamaican population,<br />
which makes for celebrations around<br />
dancehall music to be that much more<br />
special for the reggae artist, as well as<br />
others.<br />
Recognized for his musical talents,<br />
Cham’s artistry has also spread into<br />
the domain of fashion. At 34 years<br />
of age, this ever-evolving singer/<br />
songwriter/entrepreneur, whose<br />
clothing line, aptly named Lawless,<br />
describes the inspiration behind the<br />
company’s name. The artist, who was<br />
raised in the heart of Waterhouse in St.<br />
Andrew’s Parish, Jamaica, has come to<br />
realize that he and his fellow fashionconscious<br />
Jamaicans simply reject<br />
most conventional rules of fashion and<br />
never seem to follow the trends; hence<br />
the name Lawless. Cham’s laissez-faire<br />
attitude toward fashion could easily<br />
be related to his views about life as a<br />
musician, in that he has “never been<br />
one that watches someone else.” Much<br />
in the similar way that he would not<br />
dare instruct an artist about the way<br />
in which they choose to go about their<br />
uniquely tailored creative process,<br />
so too would he hesitate to criticize<br />
another’s style of dress.<br />
Cham’s rebellious views on life, music<br />
and fashion make it of little surprise<br />
that he envisions himself someday<br />
collaborating with the colourful and<br />
effervescent rapper Nicki Minaj.<br />
For the time being, Cham remains a<br />
staunch supporter of producer Dave<br />
Kelly, whom the singer has<br />
worked alongside to produce<br />
countless tracks. A mutual<br />
bond was formed between<br />
the two, as Cham fondly<br />
recounts, when Kelly took it<br />
upon himself to give a young<br />
Cham a chance. He was fresh<br />
out of High School, and even<br />
though other producers<br />
shunned him due to sinus<br />
troubles that produced an<br />
often coarse sound coming<br />
from his diaphragm, Kelly held<br />
on to the belief that Cham was<br />
destined to bring something<br />
great to the world of music.<br />
Cham has in turn repaid Kelly<br />
with his undying loyalty. As a<br />
youngster, his predecessors<br />
included bigwigs such as<br />
Supercat, Shabba Ranks,<br />
and Buju Banton, whom<br />
Cham never falls short of<br />
acknowledging for having set<br />
the stage for contemporary<br />
reggae artists such as himself.<br />
Cham’s “live and let live” frame of<br />
mind serves him well, as it grounds<br />
his approach to all of his endeavours,<br />
whether business or personal. On the<br />
road to fame and popularity, Cham<br />
carries with him the belief that it is<br />
easy for one to lose their soul, and<br />
thus cherishes the long-held notion<br />
of being paid handsomely in return<br />
for the fruits of one’s hard work. As<br />
for the one thing Cham would like the<br />
world to know about him, he coyly<br />
states: “I love love.”<br />
For more information about Cham’s<br />
t-shirt line, visit: www.chamworld.com.<br />
“The artist... has come to realize that he and his fellow fashionconscious<br />
Jamaicans simply reject most conventional rules of fashion<br />
and never seem to follow the trends...”
cham<br />
Up close<br />
& personal.<br />
Seen like<br />
never<br />
before!<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
26
Fall into<br />
center stage...<br />
Lights, Camera<br />
& Action<br />
Photographer: CJ Cromwell<br />
Photo Retoucher: Irving De Jong<br />
Stylists: Awena Abala &<br />
Tamika Johnson
Black trousers with ripped details, Zara $79.90;<br />
Black sweater with printed sleeves, Zara $59.90;<br />
Black trench with leather sleeves, Zara $179.90;<br />
Black Combat Boot, models own<br />
Roots varsity jacket, models own; Harem pant,<br />
Zara $59.90; Black Converse $59.99
Green chinos, Zara $59.90; Printed slim fit dress shirt,<br />
H&M $34.90; Wool Sweater, Top Shop $49.99; Combat<br />
Boots, Models own; Glasses, Stylists own<br />
Plaid Trousers, Zara $59.90; Black slim fit dress<br />
shirt, H&M $17.95; Blue Velvet Blazer & Blue Velvet<br />
Loafers, Models own
Single Breasted Dinner Jacket, H&M $99.95;<br />
Dinner pant, H&M $69.95; White slim fit dress<br />
shirt, H&M $17.95; Black bow tie, H&M $14.95<br />
Black suit jacket, H&M $69.95; Black suit pant, H&M<br />
$49.95; White dress shirt with leather details, H&M<br />
$17.95; Waist coat, H&M $49.95
With Love...<br />
XOXO<br />
Photographer: Jayshawn Jones<br />
Stylists: Awena Abala & Jayshawn Jones<br />
On prev page, Leather crop top, Stylists own; On<br />
this Page leather crop top, stylists own; Leather<br />
Skirt, H&M 49.95$; Shoes, Aldo 69.95$; Silver<br />
choker necklace, Models own
Gold sequins blazer; UrbanOutfitters 129.99$, Black leather<br />
pant, H&M 29.95$, Gold chain sandal, Top Shop 90$; Black crop<br />
top shirt, Stylists own.<br />
”Make up is art,<br />
beauty is passion”<br />
- Unknown<br />
Boss<br />
beauty
Boss<br />
Beauty Must-Haves<br />
Keeping you covered this winter with our<br />
Boss Beauty must haves.....<br />
eyebrow contouring<br />
By Sasha Vella<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
42<br />
Protect your<br />
skin from<br />
the extreme<br />
coldness of<br />
winter with,<br />
Olay Complete<br />
All day<br />
Moisturizer<br />
.This nongreasy,<br />
oil free<br />
moisturizer will<br />
leave you with<br />
healthy looking,<br />
beautiful skin.<br />
Start everyday off<br />
right with, La Roche<br />
Posay Dermo-<br />
Cleanser. Its keeps<br />
your face hydrated<br />
and free of irritation.<br />
This is perfect for<br />
combination skin<br />
types too!<br />
Armani Si, is all about<br />
sophistication. The<br />
scent has floral,with<br />
hints of wood and musk<br />
undertones to it that<br />
makes it an uber sexy<br />
scent. Be sure to check<br />
it out!<br />
Looking for a<br />
perfume that’s<br />
uplifting and girlie<br />
? Well, Miss Dior<br />
has it in for you!<br />
with enduring hints<br />
of mandarin and<br />
jasmine, it will keep<br />
you feeling grown<br />
and sexy.<br />
Hydration is the name<br />
of the game this<br />
season, and Laura<br />
Mercier’s Lip Balm<br />
is sure to do just that!<br />
The balm is enriched<br />
with vitamins A, C<br />
and E and contains<br />
antioxidants to protect<br />
against the harshness<br />
of the environment.<br />
Stila: Portrait of a Perfect<br />
Pout! Need I say more?<br />
This vibrant lip stainer comes with 6 luxe shades to<br />
choose from. Perfect for what ever portrait that you<br />
want to create this season.<br />
Want to channel you<br />
inner bad girl? Riri<br />
has the go to red<br />
lipstick by Mac for<br />
you! with its bold<br />
and dramatic matte<br />
finish its guaranteed<br />
to last you from day<br />
to night!<br />
Get into the latest nail trend this<br />
season with Chanel’s Matte Top<br />
Coat! doesn’t matter if you pick<br />
light or dark colours, with its long<br />
lasting and durable formula it<br />
transitions limitless matte colour<br />
options with just one product.<br />
Give your eye lashes<br />
a fuller false eyelash<br />
effect with Loreal’s<br />
top selling Volumous<br />
Million Lashes mascara!<br />
With its multitude of<br />
bristles and amazing<br />
formula, it creates that<br />
perfect curl and leaves a<br />
dramatic effect with no<br />
clumps.<br />
Keep your lips moisturized this season with Lise Watier’s<br />
Sensational Lips exfoliating lip balm. With its sugar crystal<br />
formula it exfoilates your lips by getting rid of dead skin and<br />
leaves your lips silky smooth.<br />
They say your eyes are the window to<br />
your soul, so how better to frame them<br />
than with a beautiful eyebrow. A little<br />
effort in grooming your brows goes<br />
a long way for your appearance no<br />
matter your age, gender or degree of<br />
maintenance.<br />
Shape is key! Though you want to<br />
achieve that perfect arch to widen<br />
the appearance of the eye, you also<br />
want to follow your natural silhouette.<br />
Avoid a stern arch that will make your<br />
eye look smaller and give you that<br />
permanent ‘mad face’ look. If you<br />
consider your facial features to be<br />
strong and dominate, go for a fuller<br />
brow. If you would say you have smaller<br />
softer features, aim for a thinner brow.<br />
It doesn’t take much work to maintain<br />
your eyebrow shape once achieved.<br />
Don’t shy away from seeing a<br />
professional upon your first attempt<br />
to shape and define your eyebrows.<br />
Eyebrow specialists can see shapes<br />
within brows you may not and be able<br />
to frame your features you may be<br />
unaware of.<br />
Depending on the rate your hair grows,<br />
you may need to tweeze/wax/thread<br />
every other week or even once a month<br />
with minimal plucking in between.<br />
Over-plucking can become something<br />
like a bad habit. Try to pluck hairs one at<br />
a time and be cautious around the top<br />
and front of the brow, those hairs can<br />
be sparse and are known to sometimes<br />
not grow back.<br />
There is nothing wrong with enhancing<br />
or filling in your look with eyebrow<br />
pencils or powders. When choosing a<br />
color, aim for a shade or two lighter than<br />
your hair color - too dark can appear too<br />
harsh and unnatural. You don’t want<br />
the same darkness throughout when<br />
filling in the brow either, lighter to<br />
darker, from the front to the arch and<br />
out is best. Using these simple steps<br />
and no more than three tools you too<br />
can polish your look with the perfect<br />
eyebrow.<br />
Tools<br />
• Annabelle Brow Pencil – 040<br />
Medium Brown<br />
• Mac Concealer - NC35<br />
• Spooley and Concealer Brush<br />
Steps<br />
1. Brush brows up and outward from<br />
the inner brow to the arch using a<br />
spooley brush.<br />
2. Using light strokes outline the<br />
bottom and top of the brow with an<br />
eyebrow pencil.<br />
3. When you have the desired shape<br />
outlined, go in and fill in the brow<br />
leaving the front end unfilled to avoid<br />
harsh lines. (If you have less hair to<br />
work with you can try this step using<br />
a powder similar to the colour of your<br />
brows).<br />
4. Highlight the brow bone for a<br />
defined look using a concealer a couple<br />
shades lighter than your skin tone. (If<br />
you prefer a non-highlighted look, use a<br />
concealer the colour of your skin tone).<br />
5. Take your brush and start blending<br />
the concealer downward with the rest<br />
of your eyelid. For a more clean look,<br />
using the same technique, apply the<br />
concealer at the top tail of your brow<br />
and proceed to blend.<br />
6. Using your spooley, fade the inner<br />
brow getting rid of any blunt box shape<br />
that was left<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
43
Red Light<br />
Special<br />
Photographer: CJ Cromwell<br />
Photo Retoucher: Irving De Jong<br />
Creative Directors: Awena Abala &<br />
Jayshawn Jones
BOSS MAGAZINE Arts & Entertainment<br />
46<br />
A+<br />
E<br />
arts + entertainment<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
47
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Mavado:<br />
by Kern Carter<br />
voice of a generation<br />
It’s clear that more than any other reggae artist of this generation,<br />
Mavado has been able to cross musical boundaries, influence<br />
Jamaican culture, and infiltrate popular culture. He brought a unique<br />
sound to the dancehall scene, and has remained a powerful voice in<br />
the industry since the beginning of his career.<br />
It didn’t take long<br />
for Mavado to<br />
establish himself<br />
as a force in the<br />
scene. Under<br />
the tutelage of<br />
mentor Bounty<br />
Killer since his<br />
early teens,<br />
and with the<br />
leadership of<br />
manager Julian<br />
Jones Griffin,<br />
Mavado burst on<br />
to the dancehall<br />
circuit with the<br />
knowledge<br />
of a veteran,<br />
immediately<br />
making his mark<br />
with his first<br />
single “Real<br />
McKoy.” The<br />
track became<br />
an anthem, and<br />
became the<br />
first in a string<br />
of songs that<br />
showed Mavado<br />
was much more<br />
than a simple<br />
dancehall artist.<br />
He certainly has<br />
been much more<br />
than that, and<br />
soon fans and<br />
other musicians<br />
took notice<br />
of the new<br />
sensation. As his<br />
base expanded,<br />
hip-hop radio stations started spinning songs off his debut<br />
“Gangsta For Life” album, and Mavado’s popularity grew<br />
rapidly. Artists like Jay-Z started remixing Mavado’s songs,<br />
and even more artists like Lil Kim and Wyclef were requesting<br />
the singer be featured on their songs.<br />
But as the success came, so did the controversy. Most<br />
notably his duel with former colleague Vybz Kartel. Despite<br />
the numerous diss tracks that went back and forth from both<br />
artists, the major impact of this fallout was how it impacted<br />
Jamaican culture, specifically the youth. The impact again<br />
showed the power of Mavado’s voice, as the creation of<br />
his “Gully Side” movement caused many youths of Jamaica<br />
to follow suite and feel like they had to fight Mavado’s<br />
battle against<br />
Vybz “Gaza”<br />
movement.<br />
The result was<br />
an uproar in<br />
the streets of<br />
Jamaica, and<br />
lives were lost<br />
due to what was<br />
essentially a<br />
musical beef.<br />
Though the<br />
dispute between<br />
both artists<br />
seem to be over,<br />
Mavado has<br />
taken advantage<br />
of the Gully<br />
Side movement<br />
and spun it<br />
into something<br />
positive and<br />
profitable.<br />
His website<br />
gullyside.com<br />
has been a hub<br />
for everything<br />
M a v a d o ,<br />
including new<br />
music, show<br />
dates, and<br />
Gully Side<br />
merchandise.<br />
One of the bigger<br />
announcements<br />
of Mavado’s<br />
career came<br />
when he<br />
announced<br />
signing to DJ<br />
Khaled’s We The<br />
Best imprint in 2011, a move that opened up the “Delila”<br />
singer to an even wider audience. Since then, Mavado has<br />
collabed with Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and most recently<br />
got a feature from pop sensation Nikki Minaj on his “Give It<br />
All To Me” single released this past October.<br />
Mavado’s voice continues to be heavy in the dancehall<br />
scene. His impact on music and culture is unmatched by<br />
most artists in any genre today. He has the power to attract<br />
and the power to influence, and with only two albums,<br />
Mavado has a future that may be even brighter than his<br />
past. Transgressions aside, Mavado is the voice of today’s<br />
youth, and his impact has been unquestionable.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
48<br />
49
Talking Sex, Love & Reggae with<br />
Gyptian<br />
by Laura Metcalfe<br />
The album “Sex, Love and Reggae”<br />
features many collaborations,<br />
including Toronto’s own Melanie<br />
Fiona (featured on our Winter 2012<br />
cover). What was working with<br />
Melanie like?<br />
Working with Fiona was like magic.<br />
She knew exactly what she was doing.<br />
She’s a professional by doing music,<br />
you know. It could never have been<br />
better, so give thanks. Give it up to<br />
Fiona. Mighty!<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
There’s much more to Gyptian<br />
than the ever popular single ‘Hold<br />
You’. Growing up in a large family<br />
in Jamaica’s rural King Weston<br />
District of St. Andrew, Gyptian<br />
had an early start in singing. He<br />
first gained attention when he<br />
won a 2004 talent competition,<br />
landing him a major spot in a<br />
major local reggae show. Today,<br />
Gyptian is one of Jamaica’s most<br />
internationally recognized and<br />
loved reggae artists. His success<br />
has not come without the essential<br />
mix of raw talent and hard work.<br />
Since the release of his first album<br />
“My Name is Gyptian” in 2006, the<br />
artist has released three albums,<br />
won the 2010 Soul Train Award<br />
for Best Reggae Artist, and<br />
landed a gold record single.<br />
Gyptian’s most recent album,<br />
‘Sex, Love and Reggae,’ released<br />
in October 2013 by VP Records,<br />
has already seen the popularity of<br />
hit singles including ‘Overtime,’<br />
‘Wine Slow,’ dancehall hit ‘Non-<br />
Stop’ and ‘Wet-Fete’, the socainfluenced<br />
collaboration with<br />
Kes the Band. The album also<br />
features a collaboration with<br />
Angela Hunt on the track ‘Vixen’.<br />
Gyptian is quoted as describing<br />
Vixen as “a song for the really<br />
strong women, who like to be<br />
in control… It’s for all the boss<br />
ladies.”<br />
Boss Magazine spoke with<br />
Gyptian about his music, his<br />
fashion sense, his freestyle with Snoop Lion and his advice<br />
for our readers.<br />
Your international hit song ‘Hold You’ went Gold this past<br />
summer, the first reggae artist to go Gold in almost a<br />
decade. What do you attribute the success of this song<br />
to?<br />
First thing I got to say is the fans because they’re the ones<br />
that even made me who I am in the first place, and for me to<br />
get the chance to achieve such success.<br />
You have recently been touring across North America and<br />
Europe to promote the release of your latest studio album<br />
“Sex, Love and Reggae”. How have your fans responded<br />
to the new material?<br />
I’ve been promoting the new album Sex Love and Reggae all<br />
over the world. People have been enjoying the new music<br />
so far. It’s surprising to a lot of the places, the LP SLR so far<br />
everybody is enjoying themselves and looking forward to<br />
the album.<br />
Your latest mixtape (mixed by your dj<br />
Spinciti) features a freestyle with you<br />
and Snoop Lion. What do you think of<br />
Snoop’s foray into the world of reggae<br />
and how was working with him?<br />
The latest Mixtape was all about<br />
informing the fans that Gyptian has<br />
a forthcoming album. Working with<br />
Snoop Lion, well any artist would want<br />
to because he is a very successful<br />
person. For you to be in the same<br />
building with him, that’s a good look.<br />
At the same time for me, I don’t really<br />
think whatever a lot of people are<br />
thinking. Music is music to me, no<br />
matter what you are or what you do<br />
or where you are from. Once you’re<br />
doing music it’s positive vibes and love<br />
and peace. Gyptian is a fan of yours and<br />
Gyptian really give you support.<br />
In addition to touring you have been<br />
working on several new music videos,<br />
including the steamy ‘One More<br />
Time’. What is your favourite new<br />
Gyptian video?<br />
I would say my favourite video now<br />
is “One More Night,” and the new<br />
one coming out “Vixen.” There are a<br />
whole lot of videos and it’s all about<br />
promoting the new album. Really just<br />
push out images…<br />
Who are you listening to today?<br />
What’s on your playlist?<br />
Queen Ifreka<br />
I’ve heard you have a thing for shoes<br />
and it is clear that you are always wearing the latest styles<br />
that incorporate Jamaican and North American trends.<br />
What is your personal style and your favourite fashion<br />
trends?<br />
Being creative as in you make the clothes look good on you<br />
while you’re wearing them. And I like the name brands.<br />
“Music is music to me, no matter what you are or what you do or<br />
where you are from. Once you’re doing music it’s positive vibes and<br />
love and peace.”<br />
- gyptian<br />
Your music has inspired many young fans, from the real<br />
issues you talk about in ‘Serious Times’ to the romantic<br />
love songs like ‘Beautiful Lady.’ Do you have any advice<br />
for Boss readers following their dreams?<br />
Yes, never give up on your beliefs, your dreams and your<br />
wishes.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
50<br />
51
the legendary:<br />
Junior Reidby Kern Carter<br />
I’d like to know from your perspective, how has reggae<br />
music evolved since you started almost 3 decades ago.<br />
Reggae music has become more commercial and mainstream<br />
and many new artistes now have a better opportunity of<br />
becoming successful in the music industry.<br />
I still listen to John Law to this day. What is it about your<br />
music that makes it stick with listeners for such a long time?<br />
To say that Junior Reid is a legend would be understating<br />
his impact. From winning Grammies, to his time with Black Uhuru, to<br />
the opportunities he directly created for other artists, Junior Reid has<br />
forever made his mark on reggae music. It was an honour to interview<br />
Mr. “John Law” himself and get some of his insights into what reggae<br />
music has meant for him.<br />
My music sticks with listeners because my lyrics are original<br />
and relates to reality and I also incorporate good melodies<br />
that are catchy.<br />
You have been successful giving other artists<br />
opportunities. What do you look for when deciding to<br />
promote another artist?<br />
When working to promote a new artiste I usually look for<br />
the artiste ability to write good lyrics and melodies and has<br />
a plan for his/her long term success.<br />
Along the same lines as the previous question, you<br />
have also established a relatively successful label and<br />
production company. What is your vision when creating<br />
music for yourself and helping artists create a vision for<br />
themselves?<br />
I am inspired to creating music by seeing how it can improve<br />
people lives by bringing joy and happiness. When I see<br />
people react to my music in a good way it also makes me feel<br />
good and reminds me of my purpose on earth; being happy.<br />
Talk a little bit about your time with Black Uhuru. How<br />
did joining that band impact your career early on?<br />
Black Uhuru is the only Reggae group which got<br />
promoted on an International level besides<br />
Bob Marley. This gave me more confidence<br />
know that I was chosen as their new<br />
lead singer. My first Grammy and<br />
US Tour experience also took<br />
place being a part of the<br />
Group.<br />
Looking back at you career,<br />
what moments stand out most<br />
to you?<br />
Coming from school one day and saw a<br />
band performing in downtown Kingston<br />
where I got the opportunity to perform<br />
with the band as they requested someone<br />
from the crowd to perform with them.<br />
Performing at the American Music Awards<br />
and being the most requested artiste by<br />
international rappers.<br />
With all that you have accomplished, how do you keep<br />
yourself motivated and what is next for Junior Reid?<br />
Keeping in touch with the people keeps me motivated. As<br />
for what’s new, my new album is expected to be released<br />
March, hopefully on the JR Records label.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
53
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
54<br />
Don Dem<br />
Coming out of Spanish Town and<br />
Portmore, Jamaica where the areas are<br />
known to be violent and the partitions<br />
have a Don on every corner, Olaf<br />
“HD” Smith, Kirk “Diamond” Douglas,<br />
Chaunard “Bob the Builder” Brown,<br />
Durri “The Scientist” Brown, and Kez<br />
“Don” Ferguson, make up the selfmotivated<br />
reggae/dancehall group<br />
Don Dem.<br />
Their musical style also fuses aspects<br />
of hip-hop, but it was dancing that first<br />
got the group noticed. In 2008, all eyes<br />
were on them as their fans admired<br />
the energy and unique dance moves<br />
they displayed when out having fun at<br />
parties. I got the chance to speak with<br />
Olaf HD who is the jack of all musical<br />
trades and has fancied the drums since<br />
the age of 2, and Kirk Diamond, inspired<br />
to write at the age of 17, the lyricist and<br />
manager for the group. Their persona<br />
and artistic vision creates a peace that<br />
keeps the group glued, structured, and<br />
grounded.<br />
“When my basketball dream was over,<br />
I started writing. At the time I couldn’t<br />
see myself on stage so I wanted to<br />
remain behind the scenes. I am known<br />
for my lyrical skill because I am always<br />
in my head.” Diamond stays true to<br />
himself by writing about his life. “It<br />
could be the funniest song; it still<br />
happened.”<br />
Although there are many, Bob Marley<br />
was the key inspiration for Kirk<br />
Diamond as his story kind of reminds<br />
him of the struggles that Don Dem has<br />
faced. “Canada isn’t an easy place [to<br />
live in] either. Different personalities<br />
have to come together to do what we<br />
do and so far, variously speaking, we are<br />
the best reggae group in Canada that is<br />
not living in Jamaica. I really would like<br />
be considered as the dancehall version<br />
of the Wailers in Canada.”<br />
Olaf HD on the other hand has role<br />
models in the music world stemming<br />
from marketing guru P. Diddy, to<br />
by Domonique Morris<br />
The Best Reggae Group in Canada<br />
drummers Tony Royster Jr. and Spanky<br />
Dee, as well as well-known producers<br />
Steven the Genius McGregor,<br />
Timbaland, and Sam I Am. HD was<br />
enthused to be able to produce his<br />
own beats at the age of 16 and that<br />
drive allowed him to become an<br />
engineer, producer, and artist, all while<br />
still remaining true to his first love,<br />
drumming. From an artist’s perspective,<br />
HD also likes the risqué lyrics of Aidonia<br />
and business mindset of Jay-Z.<br />
“I have been with Aidonia through his<br />
journey,” says Olaf HD. “Not a lot of<br />
times people are able to have followed<br />
an artist from the beginning to success.<br />
Jay-Z brought the music through<br />
business and made it possible to dream<br />
bigger than just being musicians. He<br />
inspired them to own their own work.”<br />
And owning their work is exactly what<br />
Don Dem intends to do as HD alongside<br />
Bob the Builder mix and produce their<br />
own songs.<br />
The members of<br />
Don Dem thrive off<br />
encouraging each<br />
other as they push<br />
one to outdo the<br />
other to set the bar<br />
high for whoever’s<br />
verse comes next. As<br />
Diamond chuckles he<br />
says, “We are always<br />
doing something that<br />
is not expected in a<br />
song. Even if it is a<br />
mistake, if it sounds<br />
good we put it in.”<br />
Summer of 2010 was<br />
the official year that<br />
Don Dem became a<br />
music group. As they<br />
transitioned from<br />
dancers to artists<br />
they created a remix<br />
CD called “Don Dem<br />
RMXTape Vol.1” that<br />
was released this past<br />
summer. The group<br />
is now working on a<br />
release date for their<br />
EP. So far they have<br />
released two songs:<br />
Blind to Dem and<br />
Need Your Love.<br />
The envy they received<br />
from the people in<br />
various circles caused<br />
them to write a song<br />
about the bad minded<br />
people that are so A-C-<br />
T-I-V-E in their lives.<br />
That is how Blind to<br />
Dem came to be.<br />
“They have a crab in a<br />
barrel mentality,” says<br />
Diamond, “we don’t<br />
take a lot of crap from<br />
people...you can hear<br />
it in our music..when<br />
we get hard core that this is stemming<br />
from somewhere…we Stevie Wonder<br />
to them, Ray Charles to them...all the<br />
people that were fighting us, we did<br />
a song for them,” says Olaf HD. When<br />
getting certain messages across, Kirk<br />
Diamond makes sure their songs are<br />
lyrically detailed and revel in the fact<br />
that Don Dem have the power to get<br />
their fans to repeat Blind to Dem lyrics<br />
in the face of all the haters at their<br />
“we are the best reggae group in Canada<br />
that is not living in Jamaica. I really would<br />
like be considered as the dancehall version<br />
of the Wailers in Canada.” - kirk diamond<br />
dancehall shows. Need Your Love, on<br />
the other hand, shows another side of<br />
Don Dem as they talk about life as artists<br />
and the struggles that come when<br />
trying to maintain a relationship. For<br />
some of them, fame is in the forefront<br />
of their minds, while for others, they<br />
highly respect their private life.<br />
“We’re very passionate guys when it<br />
comes to our girlfriends and we put a<br />
lot of time in our music and that affects<br />
our relationships at<br />
times, you know, being<br />
at the studio late.” Kirk<br />
Diamond brings in<br />
the reality by saying,<br />
“Your relationship is<br />
not going to look so<br />
well if the two of you<br />
are not strong.” This<br />
is a situation we hear<br />
and experience far too<br />
many times especially<br />
with mainstream<br />
artists. “I need your<br />
love! I don’t want<br />
you to leave but just<br />
understand I gotta<br />
do what I gotta do to<br />
make my music career<br />
work,” concludes Olaf<br />
HD.<br />
In 5 years, the group<br />
sees themselves<br />
on tour adorning<br />
the stage in various<br />
countries and cities<br />
with their unique twist<br />
of the dancehall genre<br />
which they believe will<br />
never lose its identity.<br />
Olaf HD explains,<br />
“If you mix ginger in<br />
any drink, it is still<br />
going to have that<br />
dominant taste in it,<br />
right? Dancehall will<br />
never be watered<br />
down. It is not<br />
traditional reggae; it’s<br />
an evolution of what it<br />
used to be”.<br />
As Don Dem holds tight<br />
to their inspirations,<br />
they keep the idea that<br />
patterning them is<br />
okay as long as they do<br />
it better with their one<br />
of a kind flair. They also hold tight to<br />
and concluded the interview with what<br />
they believe is their magical formula<br />
for success: Hard work, determination,<br />
and a lot of God.<br />
“Everything you could possibly do to<br />
be successful coincides with hard work<br />
and determination. Once you have<br />
those two plus God, there is nothing<br />
you can’t do!”<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
55
Rhythm Education:<br />
by Kern Carter<br />
Mikki Ras educates the people with real life music.<br />
Mikki Ras is the minority. A conscious artist that chooses to<br />
use his voice to uplift with positive music. He spent a minute<br />
with Boss Magazine to let us know a bit about why his music<br />
is the way it is.<br />
You seem to have chosen to use your voice as to comment<br />
on social stigmas from an uplifting perspective. Why<br />
choose this path when it seems like so much of popular<br />
music is negative?<br />
I didn’t even choose to it’s just natural that I have to live up<br />
to my culture and do music that uplift my people.<br />
Your success as an artist would suggest that your message<br />
is being heard. Do you ever feel pressure to maybe fit in<br />
with more popular music trends?<br />
The music is already a challenge so getting your song to be<br />
among those at the top is definitely a tuff task.<br />
Do you feel that all reggae artists should be held<br />
accountable for the lyrics in their music? Should they<br />
welcome their position as role models?<br />
Yes they should because music is life. Real life. Yes they are<br />
role models.<br />
What can we expect next from Mikki Ras? More music?<br />
More shows?<br />
Well right now I am presently in the studio finishing up my<br />
album which is due to release before the summer. Still doing<br />
shows both locally and internationally. Heading to Canada<br />
for a promo tour in a few weeks.<br />
Are there any artists that you are collaborating with or<br />
would like to collaborate with in the near future?<br />
I have a few collabs which is due to release on the album. Still<br />
haven’t done one with my mentor Beres Hammond has yet.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
57
in the Eyes of music<br />
by Domonique Morris<br />
Squad. Females were always<br />
in love with my eyes so for<br />
a while they called me Eyes<br />
because they are so bright.<br />
Due to the group everybody<br />
nick name has the last name<br />
“Us.” So because they call me<br />
Eyes I added the “Us” to the<br />
end and that is how my name<br />
was created.<br />
What made you want to get<br />
into the dancehall music<br />
business?<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Ricardo ‘Eyesus’ Rohen is one of Toronto’s reggae<br />
entertainers. He has worked with artists such as Norris<br />
Man, Toledo, and has gone on tour with well known<br />
dancehall artists. I had the wonderful opportunity to<br />
speak with Eyesus about his life as a musician, his views on<br />
dancehall’s music industry, as well as inspirational insight<br />
for those who are trying to get into the industry.<br />
For those who don’t know you, can<br />
you tell our Boss Magazine readers<br />
who you are and please explain the<br />
meaning behind your name Eyesus?<br />
Well, Eyesus is one of Toronto’s<br />
reggae entertainers. I have been doing<br />
music over the years and I have gone<br />
international doing music with a lot of<br />
known artists such as Norris Man, Jah<br />
Vinci, I-Octane, Toledo, and a lot more.<br />
I’ve done a video with Jah Vinci that was<br />
number one in Jamaica called We Hate<br />
Yuh First. Now I have a single, a dance<br />
song, called One Drop that is being<br />
played all over the world. The name<br />
Eyesus was developed when I was living<br />
in Jamaica. There is a group called Us<br />
When I was going to primary<br />
school in Jamaica around<br />
grade 4 and 5, I was like a<br />
deejay in the class. Some<br />
classmates and I would beat<br />
the desk and sing to the<br />
point where there would be<br />
a sound clash for money at<br />
lunch time and the whole<br />
school would start taking<br />
you in. There was bare<br />
excitement! I was one of<br />
the favourites those times<br />
at school. When they would<br />
have a school fete, I was the<br />
main artist that the whole<br />
school would wait to see<br />
go on stage and perform.<br />
That encouragement from<br />
a young age grew in me and<br />
allowed me to develop a<br />
passion for making music.<br />
Alright! So who are your idols then?<br />
Who is your inspiration? Who are<br />
the mentors that you look up to<br />
and how have they assisted in the<br />
developmental stages of your craft?<br />
In the business there are a lot of artists<br />
that I look up to now. However, I don’t<br />
exactly do what they do. I listen to<br />
artists like Beres, Bob Marley, Shabba<br />
Ranks and Buju.<br />
You mentioned Jah Vinci and<br />
collaborating with him to create the<br />
song We Hate Yuh First. How did that<br />
come to be?<br />
Jah Vinci is an artist I met that has the<br />
same last name as me. Our generation<br />
of family comes from August Town so<br />
it was compulsory that we both link up<br />
since we might be family. So we built<br />
a relationship where we reasoned and<br />
he said, “You know wha gwan? Yuh bad<br />
still y’know…we should have a song<br />
together!” When he finally came to<br />
Canada we linked up in the studio and<br />
put our creativity<br />
I read in an article that you are<br />
pushing your music mainly in Jamaica.<br />
How come?<br />
Imagine sitting at home in the dark. You<br />
need a candle but the candle is not at<br />
the convenience store by your house. If<br />
you don’t go anywhere else away from<br />
the convenience store you are going<br />
to stay in the dark for the rest of your<br />
time. Sometimes you have to come out<br />
of your own boundaries. Once you get<br />
a #1 hit in Jamaica you are a hit around<br />
the world. If you create a number one<br />
hit in Canada, you remain in Canada<br />
only because there is no dancehall<br />
market in Canada for people to be<br />
zooming in on.<br />
I like that analogy! So what makes<br />
you stand out in the dancehall<br />
community?<br />
A lot of people don’t try to say what<br />
the people want. They try to push what<br />
they want in the people and nowadays<br />
people have their own mind. If you<br />
write songs about things that you see,<br />
the everyday life, then a lot of people<br />
can relate to it. If I write something due<br />
to my experience and you can’t relate<br />
to it you’re just going to listen and keep<br />
going; it won’t gravitate to you and pull<br />
you in.<br />
As an up and coming artist what advice<br />
would you give to those who are trying<br />
to make it in the dancehall industry?<br />
The advice I would give is not to give up.<br />
There is a time for everything…today<br />
for you, tomorrow for me. Everybody<br />
is not going to shine the same time. If<br />
you really love something you have to<br />
put your heart and your mind into it.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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59
Boss was there<br />
Cham Concert<br />
Toronto’s Reggae or Die event<br />
featuring Dancehall Artist<br />
Cham was an energy filled<br />
event. With hit’s from Cham<br />
performed live such as Wine,<br />
Ghetto Story, Tun Up featuring<br />
Ms O and newest hit ‘Fighter’<br />
featuring Damian Marley, Cham<br />
had everyones waistline in<br />
circulation.
nuit blanche<br />
The Boss team had the pleasure of experiencing Toronto transformed into<br />
a huge art gallery with over 110 contemporary art exhibits. We’ve seen<br />
everything from a tower of chairs to a stack of bicycles this free exhibit is<br />
a must see and Boss was there to get the exclusive.<br />
Camile Lauren<br />
By Nicole Seck<br />
a.k.a “Ciel” (Art of Ciel)<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
62<br />
bob marley’s birthday<br />
From top left: Bob Marley House in Kingston; Gyptian at Uptown Mondays; I-Octaine,<br />
Emancipation Park; Artist 300; Nine Mile Water tank and Bob Marley House.<br />
There are those who create art and<br />
there are those from whom art<br />
emanates. For Camille Lauren, the<br />
word emanate truly speaks to her,<br />
so much so that she has (apropos)<br />
named the recent art exhibit for which<br />
she fulfilled the dual role of Creative<br />
Director and Curator: Emanate Gallery<br />
Exhibit.<br />
Taking me back across time and space,<br />
Camille recounts her memories of<br />
having been born and raised—albeit<br />
for a short while—on the vibrant and<br />
colourful island of Curacao. Upon<br />
drawing comparisons between the<br />
multi-coloured and Dutch-inspired<br />
architecture that can be observed in<br />
her homeland, to those bright colours<br />
that can be found in her mixed-media<br />
produced works of art, it is by no<br />
means a coincidence that an artist was<br />
born out of such a vivid nation.<br />
Camille touts her mother and countless<br />
family members for having recognized,<br />
since she was a child, her interest in<br />
all things related to art. Purchasing<br />
art supplies for the young artist’s<br />
birthdays, in lieu of inconsequential<br />
gifts became commonplace and<br />
somewhat of a family affair. The<br />
self-taught artist pays homage to<br />
the remarkable figures (famous or<br />
otherwise), musical instruments,<br />
particularly those belonging to the<br />
percussion family, along with the<br />
inspirational and oft-convoluted stories<br />
from diverse peoples that have shaped<br />
and influenced her development as an<br />
artist. This 21-year-old plainly veers off<br />
the beaten path in both her work, as<br />
well as by way of her insights regarding<br />
life in general. As a rule of thumb,<br />
Camille believes life to be a mystifying<br />
experience; one that is almost<br />
reminiscent of an elusive dream that<br />
sort of just happens. You have to “do<br />
what comes naturally to you.”During<br />
my conversation with Camille, she<br />
much to my surprise stated: “I haven’t<br />
arrived.”<br />
What Camille means is that as an<br />
illustration student at OCAD, who has<br />
entered into her second year of studies<br />
in the Bachelor of Design program as<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
63
y: Nicole Seck<br />
purple. My memory won’t verify.<br />
But as a child, communicating<br />
with my hands, creating things<br />
was my second nature. One of<br />
my favourite things to do when<br />
I came to Canada in grade school<br />
was melt pieces of brightly-toned<br />
plasticine together on the heating<br />
grill, because I liked the way the<br />
colours looked blended. And the<br />
exploration continued onwards,<br />
with sketching, and in high school,<br />
painting.<br />
audience with my own vision is also<br />
challenging. As much as I would like<br />
others to appreciate what I do, when<br />
setting out to create, there needs to<br />
be distance between the expectations<br />
and requirements of others looking in.<br />
What is your signature style as<br />
it pertains to your art? In other<br />
words, what makes your artwork<br />
distinguishable from that of others?<br />
Most of my recent works are using<br />
mixed media. I also use animal motifs<br />
it takes. It frees others looking on or<br />
provokes more out of them. That’s<br />
why spoken word moves me so much.<br />
These artists bare their hearts, their<br />
blemishes on stage, proudly. As an<br />
incredible woman I knew once said,<br />
“we suffer to inspire.” My Jamaican<br />
heritage grounds me. My connection to<br />
the ocean is a significant inspiration for<br />
my work, which is expressed through<br />
Art of Ciel.<br />
Which artists, living or deceased,<br />
inspire you?<br />
“I believe that unapologetic self-expression is paramount.<br />
It’s healing to create something, whatever form it takes.<br />
It frees others looking on or provokes more out of them.”<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
of Fall 2013, she does not yet have the<br />
freedom to do what she wants, given<br />
the confinements of student life (which<br />
I am certain many of us can relate).<br />
Although many would perceive it to<br />
be a great achievement, having her<br />
striking art commissioned for display<br />
by a bed-and-breakfast in Jamaica<br />
falls short of Camille’s many visions for<br />
herself as an artist. Camille believes<br />
that achievement to be peanuts as far<br />
as accomplishments go, as she intends<br />
to take her art career to soaring heights<br />
while holding on to becoming an art<br />
therapist as a career goal, which is near<br />
and dear to her heart.<br />
Camille is a true visionary who praises<br />
her teachers for having passionately<br />
encouraged her to pursue art at St.<br />
Augustine’s Catholic Secondary School<br />
located in Brampton, Ontario. In the<br />
same manner that her former teachers<br />
saw something exceptional in her,<br />
Camille would like the world to know<br />
that they too have something special.<br />
Most poignantly, Camille expresses: “it only<br />
takes yourself to realize how masterful<br />
you are; you do not need anyone else to<br />
validate you.” To that I say, ditto.<br />
“Art is....” Complete the sentence.<br />
Vulnerability on display. Art is emotion<br />
dripped on canvas. Sensations are<br />
temporary, but paint makes the<br />
moment eternal and shareable. Art<br />
spills out from our lives in so many<br />
ways.<br />
When did you first discover that you<br />
were an artist?<br />
One of my fondest memories as a child<br />
was winning my first colouring contest<br />
while I lived in Bonaire. I was four years<br />
old, it was a Dalmatians theme and I<br />
must have coloured the dogs beige and<br />
Describe the thought process<br />
immediately prior to the creation<br />
of your masterpieces.<br />
“This needs to get out, NOW.”<br />
Often, when I hit the canvas,<br />
surface the fabric it’s after the idea<br />
has been brewing in my mind for<br />
quite some time. After scribbling<br />
the concept in my sketchbook,<br />
it takes time to simmer. And<br />
when it comes out, it’s a burst of<br />
energy that ideally comes out in<br />
one setting. That’s why I gravitate<br />
towards live painting so much. It’s<br />
pressure, yes. But within that time<br />
period, I know that what is roaring<br />
around inside will get a chance<br />
to come out, pour forth at high<br />
velocity. I will be cleansed at the<br />
speed that I create. Colour therapy<br />
is truly what it is to me.<br />
What are some challenges you face<br />
as an artist?<br />
Primarily, carving out the time to paint,<br />
and guarding it with my life. It’s easy to<br />
be caught up in unrelated projects, highpriority<br />
to-dos and goals and neglect<br />
your true love. But when I do let myself<br />
start, hours tick away on a different<br />
clock. Time moves FAST. Painting has<br />
an undeniable call to me, and my soul<br />
craves the act of creating as much as<br />
the canvas needs the artists hand to be.<br />
Balancing the demands of the<br />
and urban scenes and curvy looping<br />
lines for natural hair. In my “Brown<br />
Sugar Steaming” painting I used shells,<br />
sugar, salt, dried flowers, acrylic paint,<br />
leaves I collected in Jamaica and<br />
Florida. In other pieces I use feathers,<br />
stitched fabric, spray paint, India ink<br />
and sand. One of the pieces that has<br />
garnered a lot of appreciation is this<br />
piece called, “NaturalistaGLAM.” I<br />
painted it on a metallic fabric, though<br />
people tend to think is sheet metal<br />
and are always so surprised when they<br />
touch it and feel this softness under<br />
their fingertips. It depicts one of my<br />
favourite singers: Elle Varner.<br />
What, if anything, do you believe<br />
defines you as an artist?<br />
I created a live piece at an art<br />
competition called “OUTKAST” of a<br />
wild black sheep. The black sheep I<br />
painted represents that individual who<br />
is underestimated, who doesn’t have<br />
any distinctly visible advantages that<br />
will help them to “make it.” But it has<br />
a chance and the thing that makes<br />
it stand out can actually become a<br />
strength that leads it to the realization<br />
of its dreams. This black sheep has the<br />
vivacity, the persistence, the necessary<br />
confidence to pull through. I see my<br />
story wrapped up in this black sheep.<br />
I believe that unapologetic selfexpression<br />
is paramount. It’s healing<br />
to create something, whatever form<br />
I’m actually most inspired by musicians.<br />
Music is my sustenance, I replenish<br />
often and drink it in while I create.<br />
Jessie Boykins III, Frank Ocean, J. Cole,<br />
Tegan and Sara, Kendrick Lamar, Talib<br />
Kweli, Elle Varner, Janelle Monae, to<br />
name a few. Powerful, transformative,<br />
optimistic, pure, honest. Worlds are<br />
created through the portals of the<br />
ear, with the golden medium of sound.<br />
When you can hear that persistent<br />
passion in their voice, that underdog<br />
dream, that drive to make it, it’s so<br />
motivating for me to continue pursuing<br />
my dreams with fervour. How could I<br />
give any less?<br />
Camille is one of two<br />
Creative Directors<br />
and Curators for the<br />
Spoke N’ Heard event,<br />
the Emanate Gallery<br />
Exhibit. Emanate took<br />
place at the Arta Gallery<br />
on August 7th, 2013<br />
and featured her work<br />
alongside those of 18<br />
incredibly talented<br />
creators. For more<br />
information on this<br />
exhibit, you can visit<br />
www.spokenheard.ca<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
64<br />
65
Kiprich<br />
Hit Maker<br />
By Kern Carter<br />
You have a way of putting<br />
out songs that really become<br />
popular with the people. What’s<br />
your secret? How do you always<br />
seem to make that connection?<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Exco Levi<br />
When preparing for an interview, I always inundate myself<br />
with facts about the person or topic that I would be covering<br />
so I’m armed with enough material to ask intelligent,<br />
provoking questions. In that sense, this interview was no<br />
different. I thought I had all of my bases covered and was<br />
ready when Exco Levi called me from Jamaica. Little did I<br />
know what I was truly in for.<br />
I always learn something new when interviewing someone,<br />
but never before had I been educated this much about a<br />
topic and an industry I thought I knew well. But after getting<br />
off the phone with the “Bleaching Shop” singer, I felt like I’d<br />
just received a crash course in reggae music.<br />
Exco had just recently come off touring Africa, and his first<br />
comment shocked me. “I didn’t see one dance hall artist in<br />
my two months on tour.”<br />
I thought maybe Exco was exaggerating, but when I pushed<br />
further, he explained. “Listen, dancehall is one month music.<br />
None of them can sell out Cool Haus.”<br />
It was hard for me to believe in an era when a twerk video<br />
gets more views than a Barack Obama speech, that dancehall<br />
acts aren’t doing big tours.<br />
“Let me tell you,” Exco continued. “These dancehall artists<br />
do Brampton, Toronto, and London [Canada] and call that<br />
a tour. Then you have man like Berris Hammond tour right<br />
through the year.”<br />
Real Music<br />
Real Results By Kern Carter<br />
The more Exco spoke, the more I understood what he was<br />
saying. And while he did mention that there are exceptions,<br />
namely Mavado, his point was clear; great music travels. And<br />
because “dancehall competes with itself,” as he put it, then<br />
there’s nowhere for it to go.<br />
But I had more questions for Exco. Why does it seem<br />
like dancehall is so popular with people, particular this<br />
generation and the generations after it? It’s as if everyone<br />
knows the latest dance or the hottest rhythm.<br />
“Blame the media,” Exco says with conviction. “Don’t blame<br />
the artist 100%. If you feed the people with spoil milk, that’s<br />
what they’ll drink. And the only way to reach fans is through<br />
media.”<br />
And it seems like dancehall fans have been drinking plenty<br />
of it. But Exco isn’t too worried about what everyone else<br />
is doing. He knows there is power in his music, and he has 2<br />
Juno Awards to prove it. “Canada started me off officially so<br />
give thanks.”<br />
Though we were first to recognize, we certainly weren’t the<br />
only ones. Exco has toured continents, and plans to continue<br />
his push to become a big artist and brand. He’s preparing<br />
a new single Wicked Evil Man Dem with friend and feature<br />
artist Busy Signal. No matter the venue, everywhere he goes<br />
his message remains the same; “Just love, love yourself.”<br />
Couldn’t have been more profound.<br />
I choose topics that people can<br />
relate to and I keep my story<br />
line from the start to the end. I<br />
do not have any secret. Music is<br />
a part of me it’s a lifestyle so my<br />
inspiration comes from everyday<br />
interactions.<br />
You’ve also written some big<br />
hits. Is it tricky writing music for<br />
other artists?<br />
No its not tricky writing music<br />
for other artists, you have to<br />
almost put yourself in that<br />
person mindset, and pick a topic<br />
that would fit the Artist. Being a<br />
chameleon myself this is a very<br />
simple task, and writing a hit for<br />
an artist is not necessarily making<br />
them re-do what they have done,<br />
but to introduce something new<br />
that will force them to step out<br />
of the box. Sometimes prove<br />
versatility and you need to be<br />
versatile as an artist.<br />
What do you feel has been your<br />
greatest accomplishment in<br />
your career?<br />
My greatest accomplishment thus<br />
far is gaining fans from all corners of<br />
the world, breaking down language<br />
barriers. To hear my fans that don’t<br />
speak English singing my songs word<br />
for word is humbling.<br />
You’ve been in the industry for over<br />
a decade. Have you noticed any<br />
significant changes since you’ve<br />
started?<br />
The Dancehall hitmaker<br />
let’s Boss<br />
Magazine know<br />
about what it takes<br />
to write big tunes<br />
for himself and for<br />
other artists.<br />
Yes, Change is inevitable and everything<br />
will change with time. Some obvious<br />
observations are more studios. Before<br />
there were only a few, now it’s more<br />
easier to record and technological<br />
advancements that aid in sound and<br />
recording of music.<br />
What do new artists need to know in<br />
order to have a lasting career in this<br />
industry?<br />
Education is very important. Get to<br />
know the history of music and the<br />
business of it and do it with passion or<br />
not at all.<br />
What’s the next move for Kiprich?<br />
Learning to play an instrument and<br />
taking Kiprich the brand to the next<br />
level.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
66<br />
67
Bob Marley<br />
By Nicole Seck<br />
the story<br />
The Would-Be Nobel Laureate and His Resounding<br />
Drum That Never Stops Beating<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Not only a drum major for peace,<br />
justice, racial equality and universal<br />
love—a legend by far—the echoes<br />
of Marley’s rhythmic reggae<br />
bellows can be heard and spiritually<br />
felt to this very day, as if he were<br />
still alive. Of course the essence<br />
of music is one such that never<br />
truly dies, much like energy can<br />
never be destroyed; it becomes<br />
transferred into another form.<br />
The same analogy could be used<br />
to explain the very nature of the<br />
creation of reggae music pre<br />
and post the Marley era.<br />
The tale of Marley and<br />
childhood companion Neville<br />
Livingston (Bunny Wailer) is one<br />
that will continue to be spoken<br />
of for years to come. The pair<br />
had been known for belting out<br />
tunes together while attending<br />
Nine Mile’s Stepney Primary<br />
and Junior High School. The love<br />
that transpired between the<br />
duo would eventually lead to<br />
the formation of stylistic vocal<br />
group, The Teenagers, which<br />
would later include Bunny,<br />
Livingston, the legendary Peter<br />
Tosh, songstress Beverley Kelso,<br />
Cherry Smith alongside Junior<br />
Brathwaite. Although the group<br />
was heavily embued with vocal<br />
talent, under the informal<br />
tutelage of Higgins (from the wellknown<br />
Higgins and Wilson) Marley<br />
developed an adroitness in playing<br />
the guitar; an instrument that would<br />
make a marked distinction in many<br />
of Marley’s songs, stage shows, and<br />
photographs. The larger “Wailers”<br />
group would soon after dwindle to<br />
become composed of Bunny, Tosh<br />
and Marley.<br />
As we, the receptors of music have<br />
experienced, The Wailers’ “I Shot<br />
the Sheriff” received international<br />
acclaim and made significant<br />
headway amongst fanbases<br />
spanning different musical genres.<br />
With the upbeat track landing in<br />
the hands of British musician Eric<br />
Clapton, who became enamoured<br />
with the song, so much so that he<br />
decidedly recorded a cover of the<br />
song to be featured on his 1974<br />
461 Ocean Boulevard album. The<br />
crossover from strictly roots reggae<br />
became apparent with its reception<br />
being made popular by the likes of<br />
Clapton, whose rendition shot to<br />
#1 of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart<br />
in September of 1974, thereby<br />
orchestrating the emergence of a<br />
universal reception of the Roots,<br />
Rock, Reggae phenomenon.<br />
While it must be acknowledged<br />
with slight modesty that Marley<br />
was the driving force behind<br />
reggae music’s popularity on<br />
an international scale, it is<br />
nevertheless important to give<br />
credit where credit is due. In<br />
this case, paying homage to<br />
Marley falls short if only we<br />
fail to offer a deserving salute<br />
to reggae’s predecessors: ska<br />
and rock steady. Ska and rock<br />
steady evolved in the 50s and<br />
60s, incorporating jazz, rhythm<br />
and blues, bop, rock ‘n’ roll and<br />
punk elements from the United<br />
States. Around the same<br />
time Jamaica was released<br />
from British rule in 1962, we<br />
witnessed the rise in popularity<br />
of jazz and bop in the U.S,<br />
while Jamaicans celebrated<br />
ska and mento at home--music<br />
that they proudly called their<br />
own. Rastafarianism (of which<br />
Marley was a believer) also<br />
rose to gain many followers to<br />
its way of living in the 60s, with<br />
its ritualistic Nyabinghi drum having<br />
said to have been a contributor to<br />
reggae sounds as well.<br />
It is thus not merely a coincidence<br />
that around the time that The<br />
Wailers formed their group in 1963<br />
was around the time that a musical<br />
transition began to occur, allowing<br />
for the establishment of reggae as<br />
a uniquely classified musical genre.<br />
Reggae became distinguished by its<br />
slower, mismatched beats, guitar<br />
chords played in staccato, and often<br />
riveting piano keys which mimicked<br />
the aloofness of the guitar sounds.<br />
Today, the cool, offbeat rhythms<br />
of reggae are recognized as a cool<br />
boy skank or swag that was much<br />
slower paced than its precursors.<br />
Although The Wailers mutually<br />
decide to go their separate ways in<br />
1974, Marley continued to produce<br />
works under the name Bob Marley<br />
and the Wailers. As a solo artist,<br />
not only did Marley’s musical lyrics<br />
profess thoughts of emancipation<br />
and global peace, his active<br />
participation in benefit concerts<br />
such as “Smile Jamaica,” which took<br />
place during the time of Michael<br />
Manley’s leadership in 1976<br />
professed the same, at a time when<br />
the People’s National Party and<br />
the Jamaican Labour Party were at<br />
odds. Despite what many purport<br />
to have been an assassination<br />
attempt on Marley, his spouse,<br />
and manager two days prior to the<br />
concert, due to what some thought<br />
was a concert in support of Manley<br />
and not for unification purposes at<br />
all, an injured Marley nonetheless<br />
had chosen to perform, which<br />
speaks volumes about the<br />
man’s courageous and unityloving<br />
spirit. With the threat of<br />
another onslaught stirring, Marley<br />
performed again in 1978 as part of<br />
the One Love Peace Concert, which<br />
was planned as a way to ameliorate<br />
rising tensions between Jamaica’s<br />
opposing political parties. It is<br />
around the same time that Marley’s<br />
Exodus and Kaya albums had been<br />
released and it is duly noted that<br />
the albums’ contents very much<br />
so promoted ideas of love and<br />
freedom. The highly popular “One<br />
Love” was one of the songs to<br />
appear on the Exodus album and<br />
to date is arguably celebrated as<br />
Marley’s most loved songs.<br />
Ever winning in the musical arena,<br />
Marley set the stage as a band<br />
leader for reggae by having spawned<br />
a widespread and internationally<br />
recognized genre of music. Perhaps<br />
it was Marley’s complex yet cool,<br />
reclined yet relatable nature<br />
that drew massive crowds and<br />
subsequent notoriety his way.<br />
Maybe it was his connection to the<br />
people of the Earth, his compassion<br />
for the underdog, his refrain from<br />
the pomp and the circumstance.<br />
Although everyone has their own<br />
reason for being a Marley fan, the<br />
bottom line remains that Bob was<br />
for the people: not only Jamaican<br />
people, but people of the world.<br />
Having grown up on a farm in the<br />
rural Nine Mile, St. Ann Parish,<br />
Jamaica—essentially cash poor—<br />
Marley’s experiences led to his<br />
connection with the downtrodden<br />
and grassroots movements alike.<br />
Perhaps being the product of a biracial<br />
marriage between his folks,<br />
Ellen Marley, a Jamaican of African<br />
descent, and Norval Marley, of<br />
European descent, made resonating<br />
with the duality amongst binaries<br />
such as those that exist between<br />
Blacks and Whites, the rich and the<br />
cash poor—an easier feat.<br />
A would-be Nobel Laureate I am<br />
sure, posthumously and if in a<br />
position to nominate a candidate<br />
for a Nobel Peace Prize, many would<br />
(without refrain) choose Marley.<br />
Regrettably, back in 1974 the de jure<br />
Statutes of the Nobel Foundation<br />
established that Prizes could not be<br />
handed out to deceased persons,<br />
with the exception of cases where<br />
awardees were alive at the time<br />
that their nominations and awards<br />
had been set.<br />
Following in their Father’s<br />
footsteps, Marley’s children—most<br />
notably, Damion, Ziggy, Stephen<br />
and Kymani—have managed<br />
quite successfully to continue<br />
the luminescence that is their<br />
legendary father’s name and<br />
reputation. The pastiche that is<br />
connected to Marley’s legacy is one<br />
that was before Marley and after<br />
Marley—perpetual. Music is truly<br />
a universal language that connects<br />
us all. Indeed Marley played an<br />
exceptional role in seeing to it that<br />
during a highly contentious time<br />
in the political affairs of the U.S.,<br />
with the civil rights movement and<br />
in Jamaica, with warring political<br />
parties, there was a voice that<br />
took our attention away from the<br />
fighting and sought to appease our<br />
souls. Thank you Bob Marley. We<br />
salute you.<br />
Nikki is an educator and writer,<br />
whose musings cover a wide range<br />
of topics incuding but, not limited<br />
to: politics, love, education and<br />
cultural criticism. You can follow<br />
her on Twitter @artculturemusic.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
68<br />
69
Few musicians of any genre can match<br />
the overall talent and versatility of<br />
Demarco. Whether it’s performing<br />
on stage or creating the latest beat<br />
or riddim for the dancehall, Demarco<br />
excels equally at whatever he chooses<br />
to focus. With a resume comparable to<br />
any act in the game, Demarco continues<br />
to stay motivated and continues to<br />
push himself to do more. BOSS had a<br />
chance to speak with Demarco and ask<br />
him about being such a multi-faceted<br />
talent.<br />
You’re such a versatile<br />
talent with the ability to<br />
perform, produce, song,<br />
write, and engineer. Which<br />
of these do you most enjoy<br />
doing?<br />
artists. Which one of them has most<br />
impressed you with their work inside<br />
the studio?<br />
I can’t allude to one particular individual,<br />
what I can say is I try to take the<br />
positives from each artiste I encounter<br />
and see where it’s applicable in the<br />
improvement of my own work ethic.<br />
However I find the Reggae acts to be<br />
very committed to their craft.<br />
Lazy Body has been so well received<br />
on charts across the world. Talk about<br />
of work throughout your career.<br />
What keeps you motivated to keep<br />
creating?<br />
Thank you for the acknowledgement.<br />
What keeps me motivated is life and<br />
its experiences garnered through<br />
travelling, experiencing new people,<br />
cultures and most importantly the<br />
fans. As an entertainer something<br />
you feel like you want to stop, take a<br />
break or change direction but the fans<br />
constantly remind you that your work<br />
helps them through their day/life and<br />
Each facet has its own high<br />
point, but I enjoying them<br />
all equally. I like the idea<br />
of being able to contribute<br />
creatively to every aspect of<br />
a composition from thought<br />
to finish.<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Demarco<br />
Cream<br />
By Kern Carter<br />
of the Crop<br />
Is there an aspect of<br />
your talent that you will<br />
eventually focus on?<br />
Meaning do you ever see<br />
yourself just doing one<br />
thing?<br />
No I don’t see myself<br />
focusing on any one thing;<br />
but lately I’ve developed a<br />
strong affinity for the visual<br />
arts, film making to be<br />
more specific. I’ve started<br />
investing more time into<br />
that aspect of my career my<br />
latest work is ‘Lazy Body’<br />
which was completely shot<br />
and edited in–house by my<br />
team True Gift Entertainment.<br />
How does your mindset change when<br />
creating a dancehall riddim as oppose<br />
to a hip hop or R&B track?<br />
When composing a beat I try to<br />
immerse myself into the culture,<br />
lifestyle of mindset of the person/thing<br />
I am creating the project for. That helps<br />
to provide the inspiration needed or<br />
sometimes inspiration comes from my<br />
own experiences or those around me.<br />
You’ve worked with countless<br />
the process in creating the track.<br />
I was at the studio vibing with the team<br />
after returning from my Australian<br />
tour. Jay Crazie my producer played<br />
the beat and the words just came<br />
to me. After completing the verses I<br />
thought it needed more excitement<br />
and moments later Hotta Maestro<br />
walked into the studio and everyone<br />
knows how he can energize a party so<br />
he laid his vocals on the track and the<br />
rest is history.<br />
You have amassed a long resume<br />
that within itself is motivation that<br />
you’re not just doing this for yourself<br />
but for the many that looks to you and<br />
your words for comfort.<br />
What does the word “success” mean<br />
for Demarco?<br />
Success could be defined as “the<br />
accomplishment of one’s aim or<br />
purpose in life”; relating to me that<br />
would be being able to do what I love<br />
(music) while earning a living and still<br />
be afforded the joy of spending time<br />
with family and those close to me.<br />
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Bramma<br />
Early Success<br />
By Kern Carter<br />
You always hear stories about what it’s like growing up<br />
in parts of Kingston, Jamaica. What was your personal<br />
experience Maxfield Gardens community and how did<br />
that shape you as a person?<br />
My personal experiences... There’s a lot. Just to name a few,<br />
I’ve to escape poverty and make it out. Maxfield is one of the<br />
toughest Garrison in Jamaica. Just to survive out of Maxfield<br />
was an experience within itself. Also I’ve experienced losing<br />
most of my friends to violence and even saw some of them<br />
go to jail. Other experiences back then, my address alone,<br />
made people judge me “because me a ghetto youth” etc. I<br />
definitely think it shaped and molded me into the person<br />
I am now. It made me stronger, made me realize where I’m<br />
coming from and identify where I want to go.<br />
What was it like going straight from school directly into<br />
the dancehall scene? How did you handle the expectations<br />
at such a young age?<br />
Well honestly, it was a conscious decision, when I look at my<br />
life and my surroundings. Firstly, I had to grow up quick; so<br />
immediately after High School it was either music, or being<br />
on the corner. As an only child of my mother, you know what<br />
stems from the corner: either death or jail. I did not want<br />
that for myself, «so I chose music». It was hard as a youth<br />
yes, trying to make links from studio to studio in the streets,<br />
lots of doors closed on me. I knew what I wanted though, so<br />
I just went for it.<br />
How difficult was it getting attention in the Jamaican<br />
dancehall market? Why do you think you were able to<br />
have success outside of Jamaica?<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Boss is fortunate to interview Bramma, one of the leading<br />
reggae artists of this generation and the certainly the<br />
next. He’s already accomplished so much in his early career,<br />
and although Bramma is thankful for the present success,<br />
he is even more focused on what he has yet to conquer.<br />
Very difficult because Jamaica has one million and one<br />
dancehall artists and every other person thinks they are the<br />
next big thing. So you know you have to make your thing as<br />
unique as possible and just go hard to stand out. Firstly, I<br />
know my music is real, and I sing for real people. So naturally<br />
they will feel and appreciate it, and it’s different from<br />
the everyday crap you hear on the radio they are calling<br />
dancehall. I mean, a lot of lyrics, plus the catchy melodies,<br />
nothing confusing (laughs).<br />
You’ve said that Bounty Killer was one of your musical<br />
idols growing up. Which one of your peers in the Reggae<br />
scene today do you admire?<br />
I don’t think that I have any peers because I am unique… lol.<br />
But if I have to say someone it has to be Stephen McGregor<br />
or my S-LOCK Team.<br />
How important was it for your career, and for you as<br />
a person, not to take sides when the initial problems<br />
started between Vybz and Bounty and everyone else<br />
involved. Was it difficult to stay neutral?<br />
Well it was never really hard. First and foremost nobody<br />
can program me, I do what I want and I am my own man. At<br />
that time Kartel and I were close friends and I looked up to<br />
Bounty Killer, so if they have beef; I’m a vegetarian. “Rasta<br />
don’t mix up in that.”<br />
Describe the feeling on finally going on tour for the first<br />
time? Did that make you feel like you were solidified as<br />
top Reggae artist?<br />
Yes, it was overwhelming and gratifying to know that I’m<br />
leaving my island and people because another country want<br />
to see me and love my music. It was a good feeling and it<br />
solidified me as an artist, because it boosted my love and<br />
confidence in the music through that appreciation.<br />
What is the next step for Bramma? Where do you hope to<br />
take your career and what message do you want to send<br />
with your music?<br />
I will continue to do this S-LOCK / BIG SHIP thing to the<br />
best of my ability. Which includes playing my part in<br />
representing and promoting the Dancehall/ Reggae genre<br />
to where it needs to be. Look out for lots more videos, tours,<br />
collaborations and also getting my new artists out there:<br />
Krucial, Idus and Diamond. I hope to take my career as far as<br />
it can go, doing my best. And my message is that ‘#Gorillas<br />
run the world lol.’ To all of the people with dreams, you can<br />
be or do whatever you want don’t allow anything or anyone<br />
to discourage you.<br />
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adoring fans. “Validation shouldn’t<br />
be important but it helps to keep one<br />
on track.” Of course, validation often<br />
leads people to belief that they are<br />
doing something right.<br />
After witnessing Jordan’s art, it is quite<br />
difficult to imagine that its creator is<br />
extremely shy and uses painting as<br />
a conduit through which she is able<br />
to communicate her thoughts and<br />
feelings. Although Jordan is fearful and<br />
at times doubtful, she remains diligent<br />
and refuses to allow fear to take over<br />
the process.<br />
And it shows in her beautiful artwork.<br />
I rounded off our phone conversation<br />
with the following Q & A with the very<br />
insightful Jordan:<br />
Does art allow you to creatively<br />
express the tensions you face as a<br />
biracial woman? If yes, how?<br />
about being biracial/mixed-race. In<br />
2012, I co-founded 3MW Collective<br />
along with Rema Tavares and Ilene<br />
Sova. Our mission is using visual art to<br />
deconstruct mixed-race identity. My art<br />
has provided me with the opportunity<br />
to connect with others and to explore<br />
relevant issues.<br />
Which of the two do you weigh more<br />
heavily: your desire to use art as a<br />
form of creative expression or the<br />
effect that your art may have upon<br />
others?<br />
I think both are important; however,<br />
if I had to choose one then creative<br />
expression would weigh more for me.<br />
I use art to express myself because<br />
it’s what feels right. I think naturally<br />
if I’m honest with myself the work<br />
will always affect somebody. Art is a<br />
universal language, and it has a way of<br />
connecting with others.<br />
Jordan Clarke<br />
No Boundaries<br />
By Nicole Seck<br />
femininity in art has been Jordan’s<br />
main focus. She has a vested interest<br />
in empowering women of the Black/<br />
African diaspora and racialized women<br />
alike.<br />
Yes, art most definitely allows me<br />
to creatively express myself and<br />
my biracial identity. It was actually<br />
through painting that I initially began<br />
looking into my identity. It all started<br />
with a painting from 2008 titled<br />
Nothing is just black or white. This<br />
painting lead to my “mask” series of<br />
self-portraits exploring mixed race.<br />
This work has acted as a stepping stone<br />
for where I am now as an artist. Before<br />
this work, I wasn’t thinking critically<br />
What do you believe to be missing<br />
from Toronto’s art landscape (if<br />
anything)?<br />
Fearless art buyers.<br />
Why art?<br />
I choose art because it makes me feel<br />
connected and complete. It allows me<br />
to see the beauty in everything.<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
For Jordan Clarke, artists’ expressions<br />
through their work are inextricably<br />
linked to their identity. Jordan, who<br />
is biracial herself, along with two<br />
other biracial women have formed<br />
a collective called 3MW or 3 Mixed<br />
Women. On October 3rd the trio<br />
banded together to curate an art<br />
exhibit entitled Complexion, which<br />
also happened to be a featured as<br />
part of Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche:<br />
an overnight showcase of art strewn<br />
across Toronto’s metropolis.<br />
Jordan posits that in Toronto there<br />
is an open community of support for<br />
artists that one would unlikely stumble<br />
upon elsewhere. Where Toronto falls<br />
short—in Jordan’s eyes—is when it<br />
comes to forking up the dollars by<br />
purchasing craze-worthy art, so as to<br />
assist in eradicating the widely-held<br />
“starving artist” image.<br />
Art has always been something that<br />
has made the burgeoning artist feel<br />
“human, good and smart.” Even as<br />
a graduate of OCAD, Jordan states<br />
during our buoyant phone conversation<br />
that she didn’t feel supported or<br />
encouraged by her professors<br />
throughout the course of her studies,<br />
claiming they often sought to pigeonhole<br />
her into focusing on producing<br />
Africentric art, seemingly to keep in<br />
line with the false belief that Black/<br />
African artists are chiefly interested in<br />
creating art that contains elements of<br />
Africa, Blackness and nothing else.<br />
Jordan’s art has known no bounds.<br />
In fact, art has led her into unfamiliar<br />
territory. While in her third year at<br />
OCAD, art led her to Italy, where she<br />
encountered new techniques and<br />
became inspired by earth tones such<br />
as burnt sienna and various shades of<br />
brown, which can be found in many of<br />
her paintings. As an artist who has not<br />
been confined to the walls of academia<br />
since graduating in 2007, integrating<br />
Jordan finds it important to place<br />
some amount of thought into<br />
everything that she creates, claiming<br />
that there must be a vision as to why<br />
it is we do the things we do. “When<br />
you inspire others they give back to<br />
you,” says the self-proclaimed ubershy<br />
artist. As life for most is a process<br />
of learning and development, it is not<br />
surprising that Jordan’s objective is<br />
to continue along her journey toward<br />
artistic development for the purpose<br />
of creating inspirational pieces for<br />
others. But behind her desire to<br />
create inspirational works that others<br />
can feast their eyes on, lies Jordan’s<br />
admission of feeding off of aweinspired<br />
and positive sentiments of<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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Vybz Kartel:<br />
Madness<br />
by kern carter<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
How else would you describe the enigma that is dancehall<br />
icon Vybz Kartel. Since parting ways with “The Alliance” and<br />
his former mentor Bounty Killa, controversy has followed.<br />
From his feud with former colleague Mavado, to being<br />
banned from Guyana airwaves, to his continued incarceration<br />
on a suspected murder charge, Vybz has perhaps become the<br />
most polarizing reggae artist of his generation.<br />
As Vybz Kartel sits in his cell awaiting the completion of<br />
a second murder trial in as many years, one can only imagine<br />
what thoughts are running through the DJ’s mind. Prior<br />
to his incarceration, Vybz had been in the dancehall scene<br />
for over a decade and seemed to be at the height of his success<br />
and popularity. His single “Clarks” was burning up the<br />
airwaves in Jamaica (and internationally), he released his<br />
own shoe line “Addis,” and<br />
he was the first dancehall<br />
artist to host his own reality<br />
show called Teacher’s Pet,<br />
a “Bachelor” type program<br />
that pit 20 females vying for<br />
Vybz affection.<br />
It seemed that Kartel had<br />
risen past his feud with former<br />
colleague Mavado, a<br />
beef stemming from Kartel’s<br />
departure from “The<br />
Alliance,” which also encompassed<br />
notable DJ Bounty<br />
Killa. At its height, the feud<br />
was much more than the<br />
diss tracks both djs spit on<br />
the most popular riddim of<br />
the time. The Gaza vs Gully<br />
culture that Vybz and Mavado<br />
created respectively,<br />
seeped into Jamaican culture<br />
causing youths of the island<br />
to take sides and wage<br />
their own personal wars that<br />
actually cost some young<br />
people their lives.<br />
To both artists credit, they<br />
twice tried to publicly end the feud, the second of those attempts<br />
actually saw both artists perform on stage together<br />
at the West Kingston Jamboree in 2009. And Vybz has since<br />
gone on to some major accomplishments, solidifying his<br />
name as one of the premiere dancehall djs in reggae music.<br />
But controversy has always stayed with the “Cake Soap”<br />
singer. The aforementioned track alluded to Vybz bleaching<br />
his skin, in effect causing him to appear lighter skinned. The<br />
act caused an uproar throughout social media across the<br />
globe, some questioning the safety of the practice, but the<br />
bigger question being the moral perception. The practice of<br />
bleaching is common amongst females in Jamaica, creating<br />
a “vampire” culture and image which assumes that lighter<br />
skinned people are somehow more privileged. Vybz was the<br />
first notable male (aside from Sammy Sosa) that adopted<br />
this practice, but he was unapologetic for his<br />
actions, instead comparing his bleaching to white<br />
people “getting a sun tan.”<br />
Soon more controversy for Vybz, as his music was<br />
banned on Guyana airwaves with the National Communications<br />
Network claiming Kartel had nothing<br />
positive to offer entertainment.<br />
But these missteps seem petty in comparison to<br />
Kartel’s next crime, a double murder accusation on<br />
September of 2011, a charge in which the “Straight<br />
Jeans and Fitted” singer is still fighting. A lot can be<br />
said of these accusations, but it would be unfair to<br />
speak in detail about an ongoing case, which at this<br />
point are only accusations.<br />
What can be said is that Vybz has again impacted<br />
the culture of his country and beyond with a tool<br />
other than his music. To show you the reach Vybz’<br />
case has covered, I was inside of a club this past July<br />
when they announced he was not guilty of the initial<br />
murder charge. The crowd erupted in a frenzy<br />
as they played only Kartel songs for the next 10<br />
minutes, which says a lot about the catalogue of<br />
the dancehall don.<br />
It’s easy to forget in all of this chaos that Vybz Kartel<br />
is a serious performer that has been able to capture<br />
not only the airwaves, but speak to an entire<br />
generation of people through his music. He has had<br />
numerous hit records—“High,” “No Games,” “Summertime,”—just<br />
to name a few. His music can be aggressive<br />
and speak to the youths going through the<br />
everyday hardships, or it can be playful and sexual<br />
and speak more to women in the dancehall life. He<br />
is versatile, charismatic, energetic, and a consummate<br />
showman. A rare mix in reggae music today,<br />
it must be said that Vybz is one modern day legend,<br />
someone that will be remembered for his music as<br />
much as for the turmoil that has surrounded him.<br />
And now here we are. Vybz awaiting his fate, patiently<br />
or impatiently, no doubt wondering how the<br />
next decade of his life will be played out. One can<br />
only hope the madness has come to an end.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Sean Andre<br />
Images of InspirationBy Joseph<br />
You might know the venerable painter<br />
Bob Ross from Family Guy and a<br />
plethora of hilarious memes scattered<br />
across the internet, and you might<br />
perceive him as, well, the butt end<br />
of many jokes. But for many artists,<br />
like Sean Andre Thomas of Markham,<br />
Ontario, Bob Ross’s television<br />
show, The Joy of Painting, introduced<br />
them to the limitless and awe-inspiring<br />
possibilities of art. It prompted them<br />
to pick up a pencil or a paint brush and<br />
to start depicting their own creations<br />
Like many infinitely curious children,<br />
Sean liked to “doodle and mess<br />
around with crayons,” but he had yet<br />
to comprehend any meaning beyond<br />
his blithe and aimless doodling until<br />
his mother introduced him to Bob<br />
Ross. “My mom used to sit me in front<br />
of Bob Ross, and I’d watch it for as long<br />
as it was on,” reminisces the 26-yearold<br />
artist. “And I was in so much awe<br />
watching it. I was like, ‘Oh my God this<br />
guy’s painting a whole city with just a<br />
paint brush!’<br />
From watching The Joy of Painting,<br />
Sean started to become aware of the<br />
many ingredients of visual arts. And with<br />
the help of other sources of inspiration<br />
like Marvel (he particularly enjoyed<br />
drawing Wolverine from X-Men), he<br />
began to develop not only a talent<br />
for art, but also his own style. Despite<br />
these ambitions, however, a career as<br />
an artist seemed less realistic to Sean<br />
as he grew older.<br />
Sean’s family moved around the GTA<br />
after arriving in Canada from Jamaica,<br />
Fava<br />
and by the time he reached high school<br />
he was living in Markham. He attended<br />
Markham District High School and<br />
pursued a scholarship in basketball,<br />
because like many artists who I’ve had<br />
this conversation with (a good example<br />
would be musicians), he didn’t see an<br />
outlet for art in his hometown.<br />
The passion he had for art subsided and<br />
was eventually pushed aside. “I was just<br />
playing basketball in high school as a lot<br />
of people were,” he said. “My mom kept<br />
telling me, you know trying to convince<br />
me, that I should do something with<br />
my art. But I did the popular thing and<br />
played basketball.” For him, basketball<br />
presented a very clear path towards an<br />
end-goal: get a scholarship, play for a<br />
college team and then get drafted into<br />
the NBA.<br />
Art, conversely, presented a path<br />
that was too ambiguous for him to<br />
be comfortable with. “There weren’t<br />
many outlets. You know, that’s one<br />
thing I didn’t see a lot of,” he said.<br />
“There was really not much there. It<br />
wasn’t promoted. So I took it [art]<br />
lackadaisically. I knew I had this talent<br />
but was there going to be anyone to<br />
see it? Where could I display it?” He did<br />
not get the basketball scholarship he<br />
wanted, so he settled with a graphics<br />
design program at George Brown<br />
College. But he was still not confident<br />
enough to pursue a career in the arts.<br />
While Sean was in college he started<br />
a jewellery business as a way to make<br />
money. His main products were gold<br />
grillz (gold teeth), and he sold them at<br />
a price well below what his competitors<br />
were charging and was making enough<br />
money for his business to remain<br />
viable. “I first got involved with making<br />
grillz when I went to Atlanta,” he said.<br />
“And when I got back to Toronto a lot<br />
of people wanted grillz but they were<br />
going for $400, and I knew I’d be able<br />
to sell them for about $160.”<br />
So he was successful in starting and<br />
then maintaining his business, but<br />
he had a hard time sustaining his<br />
enthusiasm for what he was doing. Too<br />
often he found his thoughts gravitating<br />
towards art. He felt a yearning to do<br />
something more fulfilling with his life.<br />
Eventually, Sean was pushed out of<br />
the jewellery business by competition,<br />
but that’s not something he laments.<br />
He was still at George Brown at the<br />
time and was exposed to inspiring art<br />
initiatives-like the Bauhaus movement<br />
of the early 20th century and the<br />
Manifesto Festival that takes place<br />
every year in Toronto-through his art<br />
classes.<br />
By the time he graduated, he no longer<br />
had a business. He only had a degree<br />
and a passion for art; and he knew he<br />
needed a new direction in his life. So he<br />
took his artistic talents, his inspiration<br />
he accrued from learning about art<br />
ventures through school, and his<br />
entrepreneurial spirit and set out to<br />
establish himself.<br />
Sean had his first solo exhibit in August<br />
where he displayed 13 original art<br />
pieces. Around the same time, he was<br />
chosen alongside 20 other artists to<br />
take part in the Downtown Markham<br />
Public Art Installation project. The<br />
Markham Public Art project called on<br />
the 20 artists to paint murals—based<br />
on the theme of a perfect city—that<br />
would be displayed at the intersection<br />
of Birchmount Road and Enterprise<br />
Boulevard in downtown Markham.<br />
He has also launched a website for<br />
his business Arts Golden, where he<br />
offers his services for any digital media<br />
project. I guess it’s safe to say he’s on<br />
the right track.<br />
Now that he’s taken those first steps<br />
and found his place in a world he<br />
doubted he would find himself a part<br />
of, the question remains: What’s next<br />
for Sean Andre Thomas? “My main goal<br />
now is to get a Kickstarter started and<br />
open an art centre for kids and anyone<br />
really who wants to come create art<br />
and share their art,” he said. “One thing<br />
I try to do with my art is get people<br />
inspired. Inspired to see what I’m doing<br />
and do something like it.”<br />
For Sean, getting people—and not<br />
just young people—excited about art<br />
and to create their own is as worthy an<br />
endeavour as the Manifesto Festival. “I<br />
want people to see beyond what’s in<br />
front of them, like these corporations<br />
and their ads and create their own<br />
brand,” he said. “I’m passionate about<br />
what I do and I want to help push<br />
others.”<br />
It seems the torch once carried by his<br />
syndicated mentor Bob Ross has been<br />
passed, and Sean carries it with the<br />
same intentions to inspire.<br />
“One thing I try to do with my art is get people inspired. Inspired to see<br />
what I’m doing and do something like it.”<br />
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BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
I-Octane<br />
by kern carter<br />
Higher Level<br />
You are a truly unique artist in that<br />
your music is able to resonate on<br />
all platforms, be it dance hall or<br />
“conscious.” How do you maintain<br />
that balance?<br />
I just try to keep it positive whether I’m<br />
singing dancehall or Reggae, I ensure<br />
that people can relate to my songs and<br />
always in a clean way. I don’t believe I<br />
have to say certain things to make my<br />
point. That way everyone can enjoy my<br />
music.<br />
Your stage shows are powerful to<br />
watch. How are you able to make that<br />
connection with a live audience?<br />
You see when I touch the stage no<br />
matter where in the world or to<br />
how much people I always go into a<br />
different zone or frame of mind the<br />
minute I hear the MC announce my<br />
name. So honestly I couldn’t explain<br />
to you how I do it. I just know being on<br />
stage is everything to me so I always<br />
give it my all.<br />
You’ve been part of significant brand<br />
campaigns, which is not typical for<br />
many reggae artists. Why do you feel<br />
that brands have identified you as<br />
having influence over culture?<br />
Well my music is clean, it has a message<br />
and everyone can relate to it. But most<br />
importantly my team ensure that I am<br />
a package, not just a talented youth. In<br />
other words am a marketable artiste<br />
and I have a very professional team so<br />
companies have no issue working with<br />
me. What can I say; companies need<br />
faces that can sell their products and I<br />
guess have one of those faces lol<br />
You are considered a leader of this<br />
generation of reggae artists. Is that<br />
how you see yourself?<br />
Well I just do good music and hope<br />
people will love and appreciate it. I do<br />
not do it to be on top nor to be a leader<br />
per say, but if others see me as a leader<br />
then I’m honoured to be seen in that<br />
light.<br />
Do you feel any pressure to be a<br />
role model and to hold yourself<br />
accountable for the lyrics in your<br />
music?<br />
No man, no pressure. I keep it 100%<br />
all the time. I know today people will<br />
love and look up to you but tomorrow<br />
just like that for whatever reason they<br />
forget about you. I’m honoured to<br />
be seen as a role model, but I’m still<br />
grounded about it. I’m not going to let<br />
it get to my head. As it relates to my<br />
lyrics it’s all me. Now and again another<br />
artiste may say change this or add this<br />
while recording. That’s all.<br />
You’ve accomplished a lot in a short<br />
period of time. Where does I-Octane<br />
hope to take his career from here?<br />
I am absolutely grateful for everything<br />
I’m blessed with in my life so far cause<br />
trust me at one point this was all just<br />
a dream for me. But as you may know<br />
I am about to drop my second studio<br />
album titled ‘My Journey’ and honestly<br />
I have put in some serious work into<br />
making it and when it drops on March<br />
4th my team and I are going to put<br />
even more work to promote it so I can<br />
be a Grammy winning artiste and just<br />
keep making good music for the world<br />
to appreciate. Cause as you know<br />
music is probably the most universal<br />
language there is, so if I can keep<br />
spreading positivity thru my music,<br />
then my journey here on earth will be<br />
amazing. And I have so much more to<br />
learn about myself and music itself, so<br />
as I go along you will hear the growth<br />
in my music and that’s all I want to do,<br />
just keep growing.<br />
Big up to Boss magazine and the readers. Much love...<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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82<br />
Jamaica<br />
Live from<br />
by kern carter<br />
Boss Magazine was inside of National Stadium in Jamaica to join<br />
in the birthday celebration in honour of the late great musical<br />
icon Bob Marley. National Stadium is the actual site of Bob<br />
Marley’s historic Peace Concert, and artists old and new came<br />
out to perform and show their love and appreciation. Boss was<br />
able to catch up with some of these artists to ask them what Bob<br />
Marley meant to them and their careers.<br />
Julian Marley<br />
One can only imagine the world-wind<br />
of emotions Julian Marley feels when<br />
performing at a celebration honouring<br />
his father and the greatest reggae<br />
musician of all time.<br />
“It feels very good celebrating our<br />
father’s Earth-strong, yuh know. And<br />
it’s a great feeling here tonight with<br />
so much people turning out, so much<br />
great artists.”<br />
And Julian most certainly must be<br />
included in that category of ‘great<br />
artists.’ He has established himself as<br />
one of the prominent figures in reggae<br />
today, having been nominated for a<br />
Grammy with his “Awake” album in<br />
2009, and having toured the world<br />
over, bringing his roots style of music<br />
to the masses.<br />
“The message is L.O.V.E. Say it, spread<br />
it in many different ways. That’s the<br />
message we have for all fans and<br />
everyone.”<br />
Julian has been spreading that<br />
message since his debut album in the<br />
mid-nineties. Replicating his father’s<br />
message of love and inclusion, Julian<br />
has created a distinct spot for himself<br />
through his own music. He learned to<br />
play several instruments at an early<br />
age, including the keys and drums, and<br />
has transferred that knowledge to<br />
his stage shows, which are powerfully<br />
engaging to audiences of all cultures.<br />
Julian is now looking ahead to new<br />
music and new experiences.<br />
“Currently I’ve been writing some songs<br />
and doing some studio work also. And<br />
working on the album, so hopefully<br />
by summertime we’ll have something<br />
ready for the fans.”<br />
With a string of tour dates ahead,<br />
including the 9 Mile Festival in Miami,<br />
fans will certainly get a full dose of<br />
Julian before the new album. The son<br />
of a legend, Julian has carried on the<br />
Marley tradition of influential music<br />
proudly. We thank him for taking time<br />
to speak to the Boss family.<br />
A legend in his own right, Beenie man<br />
has performed at National Stadium<br />
many times to sold out crowds<br />
singing along to any one of his classic<br />
dancehall tracks. Regardless of his own<br />
success, Beenie is always humbled at<br />
the opportunity to pay tribute to the<br />
ultimate reggae icon.<br />
“To celebrate Bob Marley birthday<br />
is always an honour. My kids told me<br />
they wanted to come to the concert at<br />
National Stadium so I brought them.<br />
They asked me to go on stage and sing<br />
a few songs, I did that.”<br />
And for that, I’m sure the crowd at<br />
National Stadium was appreciative.<br />
A staple in the dancehall scene for<br />
close to three decades, Beenie Man<br />
transcends what it means to be a<br />
traditional artist, instead he defines it.<br />
He has won awards, toured the world,<br />
stirred up controversy, but more than<br />
anything, he has consistently put out<br />
great music that connects with his core<br />
fans and that has allowed him to not<br />
only survive, but to thrive in an industry<br />
where new artists spring up every year.<br />
So for BOSS to catch up with Beenie<br />
and see him pay tribute to another<br />
legend truly shows how powerful Bob<br />
Marley’s influence has been, and how<br />
many artists he has truly inspired, and<br />
continues to inspire. But Beenie isn’t<br />
finished. You would think an artist<br />
who put out his first album before he<br />
was a teenager would be somewhat<br />
Beenie Man<br />
satisfied with his accomplishments.<br />
With early hits like “Who Am I,” classic<br />
albums like “Blessed,” and with a string<br />
of 8 consecutive DJ of the Year awards<br />
during the 1990’s, Beenie’s status is<br />
secure even if he chose not to ever put<br />
out another record.<br />
But that would not be the work ethic<br />
that has lead to Beenie being called<br />
King of Dancehall. He has continued<br />
to produce hits into this decade,<br />
including “Rum and Redbull,” which<br />
was an international radio smash. And<br />
now even more work ahead, inside and<br />
outside of music.<br />
“Right now I’m working on my new<br />
LP. It’s called Greatest Gyalist so right<br />
now that is the whole agenda. And I’m<br />
working on a new television series for<br />
Jamaica. It’s more like a detective, bad<br />
boy, rude boy police ting. It’s not like a<br />
comedy ting, you know. It’s something<br />
everybody can pick up.”<br />
The name of the TV series will be called<br />
“Just Like Kingston,” playing off of a<br />
video Beenie was featured in while<br />
in Canada. He also says the series will<br />
definitely be accessible to Canadian<br />
fans as the financing is from a Canadian<br />
source.<br />
So keep looking out for more and<br />
more from Beenie Man. He has set<br />
the standard for dancehall music and<br />
continues to remain relevant across the<br />
world.
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Romain Virgo<br />
After winning the Digicel Rising Stars Competition in 2007<br />
at the age of 17, the youngest performer to ever accomplish<br />
that feat, Romain Virgo followed a string of hits with his selftitled<br />
debut album in 2010.<br />
On performing at National Stadium for Bob Marley<br />
Birthday Celebration<br />
“It’s an honour. Anyone that performs here tonight should<br />
feel good that we’re honouring a King. Everybody loves his<br />
music, everybody supports him as someone that has done so<br />
much for reggae music and so much for his country.”<br />
On what he’s working on musically<br />
“Right now we’re just in the studio. We’re looking forward<br />
this year to putting out another album, but for now we’re<br />
just putting out singles and probably a few of these singles<br />
will be on the album coming up. We’re just putting in work,<br />
every day we’re working whether it’s a music video or a new<br />
song, we just keep on working and stay optimistic. I love<br />
what I do, I believe in what I do and the messages I put in my<br />
songs and try to follow in the footsteps of great people like<br />
Bob Marley.”<br />
Christopher Ellis<br />
The youngest child of the great Alton Ellis, Christopher<br />
Ellis has joined forces with the Marley’s Ghetto Youths<br />
International label to create soulful, sultry lovers rock that<br />
would make his father smile down from the gates with pride.<br />
On performing at National Stadium for Bob Marley<br />
Birthday Celebration<br />
“It feels so good to perform here, but it feels even better<br />
with the reception we get. Being well received to me is<br />
important, you know, and they did that for me; and that’s a<br />
big deal. I’m going home today satisfied, very satisfied. I can<br />
sleep good tonight.”<br />
On what’s next for him musically<br />
“I just released an EP called Better than Love. It’s on iTunes<br />
right now and it’s done really well-it got to number 3 on<br />
the U.S charts, you know, billboard reggae, and number 2<br />
in England, so that’s been going great for me. After the EP<br />
now is album, you know, so 12 songs from Christopher Ellis is<br />
coming 2014.”<br />
Ikaya<br />
You knew as soon as you heard Ikaya on Capleton’s single<br />
“Fire” that Ikaya was here to stay. Now she has her own hits<br />
to boast about, like “Fly Away”, and “Hard Way” that have<br />
become staples on European radio. Her hard work earned<br />
her the Stone Love Female Artist of the Year in 2010, and<br />
now much more music is on the way.<br />
On performing at National Stadium for Bob Marley<br />
Birthday Celebration<br />
“I feel honoured and when I got the call I was so excited<br />
about it. As you know Bob Marley, he’s an icon and he’s a<br />
legend and he paved the way for us young artists so I have<br />
to show my tribute to him, you understand what I’m saying.<br />
It’s a great feeling and I’m elated to be here right now. I’m so<br />
loving this. It’s a great vibe.”<br />
On what’s next for her musically<br />
“I’m working on my album right now. I have a single named<br />
“Fly Away” which is getting great feedback right now. I<br />
just did a video for one of the singles off my album which<br />
is coming soon called “Bang Bang.” You can look for that<br />
coming soon. My song “Hard Way” has a great impact on<br />
not just younger generation but the elders also. And I’m<br />
just elated to be that person that is a motivator and inspire<br />
people and that’s what I love doing.”<br />
Wayne Marshall<br />
Since he stormed into the reggae scene, Wayne Marshall had<br />
a style that has captured audiences from across the globe.<br />
From his collaborations with Sean Paul or Beenie Man, to his<br />
remix of “Blame It” by Jamie Fox, Wayne Marshall is a leader<br />
in this generations reggae music scene.<br />
On performing at National Stadium for Bob Marley<br />
Birthday Celebration<br />
“It’s always a joy, always a pleasure to perform at these<br />
historic monuments, [with] that big statue out there<br />
(speaking of Bob Marley statue). I can remember being a kid,<br />
as long as I could remember myself, I remember seeing that<br />
statue and that always kinda put Bob Marley in a different<br />
light because he wasn’t really a sports man, yet still big<br />
statue up at National Stadium, that really shows you he<br />
is a national icon and a superstar. It’s always a pleasure to<br />
represent the greatest to ever do reggae music.”<br />
On what’s next for him musically<br />
“The album was release January 21. The executive producer<br />
of the album is Damian Marley, team member Ghetto Youths<br />
International, big up all of the Marley family. The album is<br />
out now doing well. I don’t have a favourite favourite song<br />
on the album, but there is a song called Stupid Money I do<br />
with my son. He’s only 8 years old and he did the hook. We<br />
are very excited about it. It’s out now and getting played all<br />
over the world.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
84<br />
85
Lifestyle
If I<br />
Ruled<br />
T.O.By Justina Opoku-Ware<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Bow wow, Terrence Ross, Jully Black,<br />
Glenn Lewis, and Karl Wolf were all<br />
there. BOSS was also there. If I Ruled<br />
T.O. was a summit organized by<br />
Toronto Community Housing (TCH) to<br />
give youth residing in TCH properties<br />
the chance to speak and be heard.<br />
The event was a huge success, with<br />
celebrities that are known locally, as<br />
well as ones known internationally,<br />
making an appearance to support<br />
the cause. The event was held at<br />
the Sheraton Centre in Downtown<br />
Toronto.<br />
2013 was dubbed “Year of the Youth,”<br />
and the summit was the headlining<br />
event. The purpose of the event was<br />
to “inspire, empower and motivate<br />
youth living in Toronto Community<br />
Housing neighbourhoods to advocate<br />
for change.” The day was filled with<br />
workshops, question & answer panels,<br />
award presentations, key-note speakers<br />
and motivational entertainment.<br />
Through these activities, youth were<br />
able to develop in the four categories<br />
launched under the Year of the Youth<br />
action plan: leadership, recreation,<br />
safety, and economic opportunities.<br />
The event was a huge success with 1500<br />
youth in attendance. Transportation<br />
to and from the event was provided,<br />
as well as snacks, lunch, and a three<br />
course dinner. BOSS would like to<br />
congratulate TCH for putting on an<br />
amazing event!<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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89
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Gene Jones<br />
Boss MAN<br />
by Kern Carter<br />
How difficult is it to really influence<br />
change or command enough power to<br />
create real change? Lost in the current<br />
political storm of Toronto is the past<br />
turmoil that was the TCHC and the impending<br />
rift between city constituents<br />
and leaders elected to be their voices.<br />
Into the midst of this friction steps<br />
Gene Jones from seemingly a world<br />
away; in actuality just a short ride south<br />
of the border, and assigned with the<br />
task of closing that rift and restoring<br />
the residents faith in their officials and<br />
Changing Places<br />
implementing change against hesitant<br />
surroundings.<br />
As beautiful as we believe our city of Toronto<br />
to be, it wasn’t initially the attraction<br />
that pushed Gene Jones to leave<br />
his home country.<br />
“It was about the opportunity to do<br />
wonderful things in the city of Toronto,”<br />
Gene admits. “When I arrived here, then<br />
I understood what a wonderful city Toronto<br />
is and was for many years.”<br />
And the opportunity is where Gene has<br />
focused his attention; the opportunity<br />
for real change, to succeed where the<br />
TCHC has failed in the past in connecting<br />
with its residents. An opportunity<br />
that Gene is well aware will be difficult<br />
to conquer.<br />
“Change is the biggest thing. The transformation,<br />
trying to show [residents] a different<br />
way. Trying to get people to explore,<br />
trying to get down into the culture.”<br />
A culture built on accountability, Gene<br />
hopes. He recognizes that for change to<br />
work, the TCHC has to restore residents’<br />
faith in its ability to identify and service<br />
residents’ needs. They need to open the<br />
dialogue through direct contact and<br />
gatherings such as town hall meetings<br />
where residents’ voices are heard and<br />
their complaints are managed. And he<br />
knows that can only happen from the<br />
top down.<br />
“You can’t operate TCHC from behind a<br />
desk. They want to see you, they want<br />
to talk to you. The TCHC has made a lot<br />
of promises and have not delivered on<br />
those promises. But the majority of the<br />
promises I’ve made, we’ve reacted and<br />
we’ve provided those resources. I think<br />
now they think I mean what I say.”<br />
That trust between people and their<br />
representatives is crucial, even more so<br />
when dealing with what is essentially a<br />
landlord-tenant relationship. Each side<br />
has expectations and responsibilities<br />
and each side must be open to change.<br />
And Gene wants that change across the<br />
board. Apart from physically restoring<br />
broken down communities and getting<br />
the residents to take pride in their surroundings,<br />
Gene hopes to implement<br />
changes that stretch beyond simply being<br />
a courteous landlord.<br />
“I want to provide entrepreneurial opportunities<br />
for our residents, jobs for<br />
our residents and contracts with our<br />
residents. We need educational programs.<br />
The Youth Summit in October<br />
was a good start. Bringing youth together<br />
and alert the people who have<br />
funding to help provide opportunities<br />
for them.”<br />
Opportunities, Gene feels, aren’t always<br />
provided for youth and not on the scale<br />
that is grand enough for them to truly<br />
be successful.<br />
“Youth are the most disenfranchised<br />
group of individuals in the city. We<br />
talk a good game, we provide resources,<br />
but we pick at it. We need to go at<br />
it holistically. We got to do it neighbourhood<br />
by neighbourhood. I don’t<br />
like the stereotype of having priority<br />
neighbourhoods. Now we want to<br />
bring a different program where we<br />
invite and we try to work in a holistic<br />
approach and put all the resources together<br />
and really direct how we get<br />
our youth to engage in education and<br />
jobs and so forth.”<br />
Certainly a big task. Although Gene<br />
does admit that sometimes his staff<br />
and even residents can be hesitant<br />
about his plans, he has a clear vision of<br />
where he expects Toronto to be and<br />
when he wants it to get there. Sighting<br />
2015 as the aim for when his changes<br />
would have had time to be implemented<br />
and recognized by residents, Gene is<br />
taking a strong willed, straightforward<br />
approach to rebuilding the social infrastructure<br />
of his residents.<br />
Gene plans to use every resource available<br />
to him, including people and particularly<br />
the elderly. Gene feels strongly<br />
that the elderly have a wealth of knowledge<br />
that they can impart on youth, and<br />
he is working to find ways to bring these<br />
two demographics together.<br />
“We got to find ways to get them out<br />
of the house and use their historical<br />
knowledge to try to educate our youth.<br />
That’s what we’re all about.”<br />
And Gene feels that part of that social<br />
reconstruction will have to include<br />
physically creating affordable housing<br />
for the residents, something he feels<br />
Toronto is lacking.<br />
“Toronto has no affordable housing.<br />
You have people who can buy condos<br />
and then you have those people who<br />
have to rent, and there’s no in between.<br />
I don’t understand how people can afford<br />
to live in Toronto. My clientele’s<br />
average income is like $1300/month.<br />
That’s pretty, pretty dismal in this big<br />
city where everything is expensive.”<br />
And here the cycle begins. People who<br />
can’t afford to live from month-tomonth<br />
depend more on the system to<br />
help make ends meet, or worse, turn to<br />
illegal or underhanded activities they<br />
feel are justified by their financial situation.<br />
That’s partly why Gene is adamant<br />
about a holistic approach to improving<br />
the lives of youth and utilizing the TCHC<br />
as a service provider and a resource<br />
for its residents. And although he does<br />
agree that affordable housing is a possible<br />
step, Gene has some ideas.<br />
“I think we need to work with the developers<br />
and see how we can carve in<br />
affordable housing. If there was a tax<br />
credit system, like in the United States,<br />
it would be a shoe-in. It provides an opportunity<br />
to provide affordable housing<br />
for those in between.”<br />
Just repairing the relationship between<br />
the TCHC and its residents is a huge undertaking,<br />
but add to it the other ambitious<br />
projects that Gene is pursuing and<br />
you can understand why he says he’s<br />
been extremely busy. He makes sure to<br />
visit his residents, he analyzes housing<br />
needs by going to TCHC properties, and<br />
he keeps himself completely accessible<br />
for suggestions on improvements.<br />
Speaking with Gene Jones you recognize<br />
immediately that he is a person<br />
of few words. His focus is clear and his<br />
work-ethic intense. He is on a direct<br />
path to affecting change: physically by<br />
restoring TCHC properties, and culturally<br />
by providing opportunities for residents<br />
to become educated and to use<br />
their skills to become positive members<br />
of their communities, society as a whole<br />
and the overall economy of Toronto.<br />
“I have great staff and I have great residents.<br />
I enjoy my work and I’m proud to<br />
be president of the TCHC.”<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
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91
Boss Scholars<br />
By Justina Opoku-Ware<br />
Kwaku Agyemang<br />
What do you have to say about the stigma surrounding your<br />
community in regards to race and success (certain races<br />
are categorized as unsuccessful from the very beginning)?<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
Kwaku Agyei Agyemang was born and raised in Rexdale. His<br />
parents are from the West African country of Ghana. He is<br />
attending North Albion C.I. and is part of various activities in<br />
the community such as Trust 15 Men of Distinction, Albion<br />
Neighborhood Services, and initiatives to help improve the<br />
quality of the community he lives in. Kwaku is also part of a<br />
dance group, as well as a member of the Rexdale Raiders minor<br />
football league. Over the course of his educational history, he<br />
has received many awards and achievements such as:<br />
· Student Council President grade 7<br />
· Student Council President grade 8<br />
· Dance Award grade 8<br />
· Pride Award grade 8<br />
· Volunteer Award grade 8<br />
· Citizenship Award grade 9<br />
· Leadership Award grade 9<br />
· Michael Frish Award grade 10<br />
· Honor Roll grade 10<br />
· Highest Mark Communication Technology grade 10<br />
· Camp leader grade 11<br />
· Student Council Treasure<br />
2013-2014<br />
He currently has a part-time job as an afterschool program<br />
leader and is excelling in school in hopes of getting a scholarship<br />
and gaining admission into a good university.<br />
What kind of obstacles did you encounter growing up in your<br />
community?<br />
Growing up in the community I live, there were some obstacles<br />
I encountered in the sense of being an “at risk youth.” Many<br />
people think just because you come from a certain community<br />
means you have to have a tough time growing up. Luckily for<br />
me I had well educated parents who mentored me and were<br />
there for me. That kind of support was what kept me from<br />
giving in to gangs or doing drugs.<br />
How have you overcome these obstacles?<br />
Simple, I stayed in school; I chose not to affiliate myself with<br />
certain people. Surprisingly that’s where most of my issues<br />
came from; I wouldn’t hang out with “people I’m supposed to<br />
hangout with” and the people I wanted to affiliate myself with<br />
tried to distance [themselves] from me because they thought<br />
I was just another at risk youth. As a result, I didn’t have a<br />
‘particular’ group of friends, I had acquaintances. This didn’t<br />
bother me that much, it allowed me to develop relationships<br />
with more people.<br />
That’s the problem in our communities; many people<br />
are focusing on all the negative material, but refuse to<br />
acknowledge the efforts made by hardworking people to<br />
better the community for its citizens. Many people will blame<br />
the individuals displaying the negative behaviour from the<br />
community, and to some extent that is true. But we can’t hide<br />
from the fact that the media does play an unfair game by saying<br />
things like “ANOTHER shooting at (such and such) place.”<br />
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from<br />
now?<br />
I see myself in University studying business and Dramatic arts<br />
and becoming a successful actor incorporated with business.<br />
What advice would you give to youth growing up in<br />
communities that are considered as “at risk”?<br />
I am going to keep it short and sweet with two common phrases,<br />
“stay in school” and “stay out of trouble.”<br />
Christina Alexis<br />
Watson-Williams<br />
Christina Alexis Watson-Williams is a young female from<br />
Rexdale. Even though there are many stereotypes in place in<br />
her community, at her young age, Christina has managed to<br />
overcome several of them, and continues to conquer more. She<br />
is currently one of a handful of students in the gifted program<br />
at her school. She is also a member of Toronto’s young up and<br />
coming dance group, Broken Silence, and placed as runner up<br />
in a beauty pageant. Boss was able to get a few minutes from<br />
Christina’s busy schedule to ask her a few questions.<br />
What do you like about school?<br />
I like math, and writing stories. I also like recess. I love school so<br />
much that I wish I could be there all day.<br />
What is your favourite subject?<br />
My favourite subject is art.<br />
What do you want to be when you grow up?<br />
When I grow up I want to be in fashion and modeling so I can go<br />
all around the world and be a celebrity.<br />
f one of your friends told you, “school is hard,” what would<br />
you say to them?<br />
Yes school is hard, but you need to be in school so you can learn<br />
how to read and write and become smart. School is a good<br />
thing and everyone needs to go to school.<br />
Do you know someone who<br />
is excelling academically?<br />
Boss Magazine is looking for<br />
nominationsfor our Scholar<br />
feature to be profiled in our next<br />
issue! Send a brief paragraph<br />
about why the nominee should be<br />
selected to: bossmag01@gmail.com<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
92<br />
93
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
Saying F-You<br />
Last year I was driving my brother to<br />
work. I had accidentally left his computer<br />
on overnight and provided him with a<br />
very lame apology. This minor thing came<br />
up during our drive, and snowballed into<br />
a shouting match, leading to both of us<br />
saying some pretty awful things. Once I<br />
dropped him off, I thought that would<br />
be the last time we ever spoke again.<br />
There was nothing that could be done<br />
to remedy the situation. The words we<br />
said were out there now, with no going<br />
back. I didn’t ever want to remember the<br />
conversation, so I erased it (and him) from<br />
my memory. In one fleeting moment, my<br />
whole landscape had changed. My mom<br />
urged for us to confront and figure out<br />
the problem, but we didn’t. Obviously,<br />
parents always know best, and it took 4<br />
gruelling months to learn how to forgive<br />
myself and my brother. The idea of<br />
forgiveness is a strange one - that is to<br />
stop feeling resentful or indignant to<br />
someone who has wronged you, even<br />
if they have not apologized or made up<br />
for their actions. Yet, forgiveness is a<br />
valuable tool, so underused and often<br />
forgotten in our age, that it seems<br />
outdated and pointless.<br />
The phrase “forgive and forget” floats<br />
around a lot, but it’s a phrase that truly<br />
fits the cliché of “easier said than done.”<br />
To wholly forgive someone for a heinous,<br />
almost unspeakable action is mentally<br />
exhausting, and many often don’t do<br />
it, instead internalizing the feelings and<br />
brooding something dark and even more<br />
hurtful within themselves.<br />
How one person affected<br />
by trauma took a simple<br />
one-word idea and used it<br />
to instill change and<br />
progress within the<br />
youth of Toronto<br />
Broaching the idea of forgiveness,<br />
especially for youth, is difficult. It’s so<br />
much easier to ignore or seek revenge<br />
on those who have wronged you, yet it<br />
is those exact actions that instead create<br />
more despair and depression. F-You: The<br />
Forgiveness Project is an organization/<br />
speaker series created by Tara Muldoon<br />
that encourages our generation and<br />
those to come, to be mindful of those<br />
who have hurt you, viewing all possible<br />
perspectives of conflict and emotional<br />
strife. “What would it look like if you<br />
forgive yourself or another today?” is<br />
the question Tara wants to pose to the<br />
world. F-You is an idea first formed<br />
and implemented in the UK under<br />
the moniker The Forgiveness Project,<br />
and transferred by Tara into a Toronto<br />
setting. The UK based Forgiveness<br />
Project hosted an art show at the<br />
University of Toronto in which Tara<br />
attended, and the ideals presented<br />
resonated so deeply with her that she<br />
decided to convey the morals in her own<br />
way at home, hoping to instill the same<br />
reaction in the population of Toronto.<br />
I had a chance to discuss F-You with Tara,<br />
and the inspiration comes from a dark<br />
point in Tara’s life.<br />
“I was on the journey of coming to terms<br />
with a sexual assault; the art show [at U<br />
of T] touched me in a profound way.”<br />
This idea of forgiveness, simple it may<br />
be in theory, impacted Tara so much<br />
that she was determined to spread the<br />
word, literally. Tara hopes forgiveness<br />
By Max Greenwood<br />
to it all<br />
can bring peace to anyone harmed by<br />
violence, sexual assault, or anything that<br />
has negatively affected the individual.<br />
Tara began hosting F-You events in<br />
December of 2010, drawing in 49<br />
attendees who wanted to discuss the<br />
unforgettable things that had happened<br />
to them, and the struggle to cope and<br />
move on.<br />
“To be honest, I don’t really do anything”<br />
says Tara. “It’s the speakers - when<br />
you have a peer sitting in front of you<br />
speaking about overcoming trauma/<br />
heartbreak/addiction/etc., the strength<br />
is contagious.”<br />
All of us are constantly surrounded by<br />
conflict of some kind, whether real life<br />
or depicted in the media. Some of us are<br />
affected directly, having lost friends or<br />
family; others indirectly, yet the pain and<br />
emotion is all-to-real, and Tara set out to<br />
turn this trauma into a positive project.<br />
Forgiving others is important, but selfforgiveness<br />
is a major talking point as<br />
well. Many people act impulsively and<br />
cannot forget something done in a fit<br />
of passion or emotion. Forgiving oneself<br />
is often more difficult then forgiving<br />
someone else. Reliving those “I could<br />
have handled it better” moments is<br />
draining. This is why Tara invites both<br />
victims and perpetrators of violent acts<br />
to speak. We are a collection of every<br />
“what if” we have ever thought, some<br />
fortunate and some destructive, so<br />
confronting them in F-You’s positive<br />
space, surrounded by like-minded peers,<br />
is an excellent approach to the difficult<br />
task of answering those what-ifs.<br />
Victims of sexual assault, ex-gang<br />
members, and others who seek answers<br />
attend the F-You meetings and tell their<br />
raw stories. The original discussion group<br />
has grown extensively since its inception,<br />
and averages an astounding return rate<br />
of over 85%. “Real recognizes real,” Tara<br />
surmises. “I believe people come back<br />
because of our calibre of speakers.” The<br />
real goal of the F-You discussion series<br />
is to produce “logical, preventable antiviolence<br />
tactics,” but Tara has much<br />
more in mind, hoping to one day change<br />
the meaning of “F-you” to mean “forgive<br />
you.” However, when I first read F-You,<br />
I had something else in mind, something<br />
a bit more hostile. “Fuck you” seems like<br />
the first thing to say to someone who has<br />
wronged you, but anger seems like a step<br />
in the wrong direction when it comes to<br />
forgiveness. Tara has another thought.<br />
“I believe anger is healthy. When we<br />
are hurt or wronged, we have to go<br />
through a process to find peace. I would<br />
never and could never judge anyone<br />
for being mad when pain occurs.” F-You<br />
aims to create talking points around<br />
this anger, presenting the idea that<br />
even if forgiveness seems too distant<br />
a thought, it is still possible. Still, anger<br />
cannot be a crutch.<br />
“I do feel there is a point when anger<br />
can take over our lives, which becomes<br />
unhealthy and can manifest addictions<br />
[and] hate.” Tara seems to convey that<br />
anger is normal, but being consumed by<br />
anger (or any emotion for that matter) is<br />
not. Finding ways to come to terms with<br />
these overpowering feelings is the key<br />
motive behind F-You.<br />
This idea of being consumed with anger<br />
brings up an interesting topic, one Tara<br />
has debated endlessly. Is there such a<br />
thing as an unforgivable action? “In my<br />
experience,” says Tara, “I have yet to find<br />
anything unforgivable. I really believe<br />
that with my whole heart.” Although<br />
I personally agree with Tara - there is<br />
always a way to move past an action,<br />
despite its consequences on your life -<br />
forgiveness is not universal. Everyone<br />
does not forgive the same way, and<br />
some may not be want to forgive at all.<br />
“We discuss the [unforgivable] question<br />
openly to create conversation - never,<br />
ever to judge.” This question contributes<br />
to the key factors and appeal of<br />
F-You: creating touchy talking points,<br />
encouraging speakers to present their<br />
personal stories, and seeking acceptance<br />
and comfort in a group atmosphere.<br />
F-You was not created to tell exactly how<br />
to face your source of problems though,<br />
as this process differs for each attendee.<br />
“Confrontation is absolutely not<br />
necessary, in my experience,” Tara says.<br />
“I will never be able to speak directly to<br />
the man who assaulted me. I forgave him<br />
for me, not for him.”<br />
In a way, Tara encapsulates the entire<br />
message of F-You with this sentence.<br />
You do not enter with the intent of fully<br />
forgiving someone by the end, removing<br />
them from your mind and continuing on,<br />
happy now, with your life. Forgiveness<br />
is a tool, to be practiced and used more<br />
and more throughout your life.<br />
“Hurt people hurt people...I don’t believe<br />
F-You can save the world, but I’ve had<br />
multiple people tell me that F-You has<br />
kept [them] from shooting a gun and<br />
also taking their own lives.” Forgiveness<br />
creates relief and cultivates personal<br />
growth. There may never be finalized<br />
conclusions to the conflicts these<br />
speakers present, but changing the way<br />
these conflicts are thought about is a<br />
major step.<br />
Building upon these ideals, Tara and<br />
F-You recently published a book, based<br />
on the format that occurs at the speaker<br />
series. Real people submit stories<br />
involving forgiveness; this way, those<br />
who are not comfortable speaking in<br />
person can instead share their stories<br />
with a pen and paper. The book, F-You:<br />
The Forgiveness Project - Memoirs of<br />
Violence and Compassion, published<br />
in August 2013, is the first in a series<br />
aimed to spread the word of forgiveness<br />
throughout the world.<br />
“So many people doubted me that<br />
youth would write about forgiveness”<br />
says Tara. “It’s been incredibly inspiring<br />
to see all the authors tell their stories.”<br />
The City of Toronto helped fund the<br />
book, and another is slated to be<br />
published soon, this time dealing with<br />
grief and forgiveness specifically. After<br />
that, Tara hopes to focus on addiction.<br />
In the meantime, F-You continues to<br />
hold speaker series and present their<br />
admirable message, visiting universities,<br />
community centres, and anyone that will<br />
have them. Tara even visited Rome, and<br />
gave Pope Francis a copy of the book.<br />
“I hope he gives us a review,” jokes Tara.<br />
Even if he doesn’t, it’s refreshing to see<br />
someone who holds such a culturally<br />
valued (albeit a bit archaic) position<br />
involving themselves in something<br />
so pertinent to all facets of society,<br />
showing again how far-reaching and<br />
valuable the cause is.<br />
Still, forgiving is an everyday struggle.<br />
“Forgiveness can get gritty and<br />
complicated,” says Tara. “I have yet to<br />
experience someone speaking about<br />
an easy forgiveness experience.” Tara<br />
created F-You to guide through this<br />
complex process of forgiveness, letting<br />
us listen to those who have suffered<br />
from and even perpetrated terrible acts.<br />
Never forget to forgive - it will make<br />
you a stronger person and allow you to<br />
grow and help others. F-You reminded<br />
me of this: I let a fight with my brother<br />
drag on for too long once, and I nearly<br />
lost my relationship with him. I imagined<br />
what life would be like without having<br />
him around, to ask for favours, to hang<br />
out with, to learn from. I could not deal<br />
with the thought of losing that part of<br />
my life. I imagined myself forgiving him,<br />
and knew it had to happen, so faced my<br />
fears and said F-you to it all.<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
94<br />
95
Boss MAGAZINE<br />
Superhero<br />
By Justina Opoku-Ware<br />
Tasheka Mason (TASHEKA meaning; Wisdom, prone to selfsacrifice<br />
and peacemaker. MASON; from an old French word<br />
of German origin meaning “to make or stone worker”) is the<br />
third child of four on both of her parents’ sides. According<br />
to the Akan day names, her day name is Adjua which is<br />
connected to the day she was born, Monday, which means<br />
“peacemaker, humorous, devoted to helping others, and<br />
responsible.” With that being said, Tasheka is devoted to<br />
helping the young people around her achieve excellence and<br />
to helping her community grow. A resident of Scarborough,<br />
she is currently the volunteer executive director at<br />
Healin’Scars, the 2013 Youth Legacy Award recipient at<br />
YCF (United Way), a selected member on the first Premier’s<br />
Counsel On Youth Opportunities, the chair of the board at<br />
Redemption Reintegration Services, and is in the process<br />
of holding an exclusive event for her new company TM3;<br />
A Vintage vs Modern Wear Night Out Networking/Launch<br />
event. Boss caught up with our latest Superhero to ask her<br />
a few questions.<br />
What is your superhero motto?<br />
Humility is key. Always be a life long learner.<br />
In order to lead, one must know how to strategically follow.<br />
A struggle that started years ago and a journey that has just<br />
begun.<br />
What are you most passionate about making happen in<br />
your community?<br />
I am most passionate about building and restoring<br />
my community. However I am very passionate about<br />
minimizing the violence, unemployment rates and the<br />
amount of at risk youths within these underserved and<br />
marginalized communities. After which I will see more<br />
young entrepreneurs in my community and change-makers.<br />
What or who inspired you to get involved in your community?<br />
Ever since I made that discovery, the journey began. I started<br />
volunteering within non-profit organizations and then I<br />
started my own Healin’Scars Non-Profit Organization whose<br />
mandate is to heal through the arts. Through this program, I<br />
have held three successful Fashion/Talent shows within the<br />
last two years. However, there are a few folks who when<br />
the times got rough, inspired me to stay in community<br />
work; my mother (Fredericka Thompson), Victor Beausoleil<br />
(Mentor) and my best friend (Jemelia Hosannah-Grant).<br />
There were times when the work was overwhelming. I<br />
worried about my clients and a lot of other things I had no<br />
control over and these folks made sure that I understood<br />
my purpose. Victor being the outstanding community<br />
leader he is always made sure to steer me in directions<br />
that I would fully utilize my skills and expertise, because<br />
like my mother and my best friend, he believed in me.<br />
What have you been most proud to be a part of in your<br />
community?<br />
I have been a part of a lot of things in my community. I do<br />
motivational speaking in multiple organizations, schools and<br />
community events. However, with all that, I am most proud<br />
to have been granted the opportunities to sit at multiple<br />
tables and impact the policies that affect my community.<br />
Which superhero (real or fictional) inspires you the most?<br />
In order to inspire one must not only have achievement, one<br />
must also posses similar or the same journey, morals, and<br />
characteristics as those who are inspired by him/her. I met<br />
this man a few years ago and ever since our first encounter,<br />
he inspired me. From the way he accepts challenges, to the<br />
way he executes them. He always says, “Tasheka, don’t be<br />
good be great, because good is the most that is expected<br />
from you,” and since then I have been trying to be great.<br />
This man is experienced in what he does. However, he is by<br />
far one of the most humbled souls I know. He is never afraid<br />
to challenge me or tell me that what I am doing is wrong.<br />
He always lets me know I need to revisit my actions step by<br />
step and fix the issue without missing a step. He pays keen<br />
attention to details and there is nothing ever too good for<br />
him to teach me. I am honored to call Danavan Samuel my<br />
real life Superhero.<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
96<br />
I was inspired by my story to get involved in my community.<br />
I was born In Tivoli Gardens and raised in Cassava Piece<br />
Kingston, Jamaica by a single mother of three. When I<br />
arrived in Canada, I was bombarded with the idea that<br />
this is a land of opportunity. After a year of navigating the<br />
Canadian culture and seeking the opportunities available to<br />
me, I utilized them because I knew exactly what it felt like to<br />
not have. After which I discovered my ability to effectively<br />
lead my peers, I realized that my teachers and adult allies<br />
were right when they said I was a born leader and a helper.<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
97
I’m Bossy<br />
By Jessica Alex<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
I like being my own boss. Although<br />
I think the saying YOLO is cliché<br />
and played out, I do understand the<br />
common saying life is too short. This is<br />
one of the main reasons why I decided<br />
to give up my full-time job in pursuit of<br />
my entrepreneurial endeavours. Some<br />
may not understand that decision,<br />
especially in this economy. Everyday<br />
you hear reports that the job market is<br />
tough, particularly for the youth. Then<br />
here I go giving up a salaried position.<br />
However, I crunched the numbers,<br />
weighed the pros and cons and decided<br />
to tap into my own business dreams.<br />
Disclaimer: not everyone is meant to be<br />
an entrepreneur. Sometimes it’s okay<br />
to have a hobby and keep it as a hobby.<br />
With that being said, entrepreneurs<br />
can offer a great contribution to<br />
society and can even create new jobs<br />
and opportunities for others.<br />
One of the things that are important<br />
to understand is that being an<br />
entrepreneur is not easy. Very few<br />
people in this world will achieve<br />
overnight success. Some people may<br />
assume that being an entrepreneur is<br />
the easy part and working for someone<br />
else is the hard part. They may think<br />
that as an entrepreneur you can sleep<br />
in everyday, go shopping, maybe even<br />
play video games (I heard Grand Theft<br />
Auto just came out). Meanwhile, when<br />
you work for someone else, you have<br />
to show up on time and take breaks<br />
when they tell you to. In reality, as an<br />
entrepreneur there may be many days<br />
where you get less sleep than if you<br />
were working a nine to five job, at least<br />
that is the case for me.<br />
When I don’t have an interview,<br />
appointment, seminar, book signing or<br />
fashion show, I am doing research and<br />
planning. There will never come a day<br />
where you will know everything. There<br />
is always something new to learn. It’s<br />
good to have a mentor who has been<br />
there and done that to guide you,<br />
but make sure that they have good<br />
intentions. It is also important to keep<br />
up with what’s new. Trends are ever<br />
changing and it’s good to ride the first<br />
wave to stay on top of things (or create<br />
a trend of your own), especially when<br />
you are trying to build a brand.<br />
Building a brand<br />
I believe in always being true to<br />
yourself, not just in business, but in<br />
every part of life. In fact, I think that<br />
is a big part of being a boss in any<br />
and everything that you do. If you put<br />
up a front, people are usually really<br />
good at sniffing you out eventually,<br />
so keep it real but polished as well.<br />
Ultimately, how you portray yourself<br />
can also make or break you. A part of<br />
my business brand is to educate and<br />
inspire children and youth. A part of my<br />
personal brand is to give back. Both of<br />
those undertakings are a natural part<br />
of me, so portraying that is effortless.<br />
Do your research<br />
Before you decide to become an<br />
entrepreneur, really take the time to<br />
think about the pros and cons. Once<br />
you know what business you want to<br />
get into, research that business; what<br />
are the trends, what are the start up<br />
costs and who is the competition?<br />
I know that if I didn’t go for it, I would<br />
constantly have something nagging<br />
away at me. Five years from now, I want<br />
to be able to look in the mirror and<br />
say, I did it! instead of asking myself I<br />
wonder what would have happened if<br />
I tried? No matter what the outcome,<br />
I want to know that I took that risk,<br />
and that’s what being a boss is about;<br />
taking the risk and doing things that<br />
not everyone can do.<br />
If you do decide to run your own<br />
business, it is okay to have another job<br />
to keep your income steady until your<br />
business takes off. Whether you decide<br />
to hold that job on a part-time or fulltime<br />
basis and how much time you<br />
think you will need to invest into your<br />
new start-up business is up to you.<br />
As a youth, know that there are a lot of<br />
untapped resources available to you.<br />
If you are worried about not having<br />
customers right away, often I find that<br />
friends and family can start off as your<br />
clients and then you can branch out<br />
from there.<br />
Don’t give up. Like I said, it takes<br />
time. Success doesn’t always come<br />
overnight, and it may not even happen<br />
on the first try. A few years ago, I<br />
started a newspaper and I believe that<br />
was a catalyst into my new venture,<br />
which is publishing children’s books. If<br />
being a boss is what you want to do,<br />
you’ve got to believe in yourself and go<br />
for it.<br />
I think Kelis said it best, “I’m bossy!” Are<br />
you?<br />
Jessica Alex is the author, illustrator<br />
and publisher of “What If the World<br />
Had No Colour?” a book for children.<br />
To get in touch with Alex go to<br />
www.uponastarbooks.ca.<br />
To follow her on twitter: @Jess_alex88<br />
or @UponAStarBooks<br />
To connect on Facebook: Upon A Star<br />
Books Inc or Author Jessica Alex<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
98<br />
99
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
Use Eye Contact<br />
to Get the Contact<br />
By Fiana Andrews<br />
As you enter the room, you survey<br />
partygoers and assess the people in your<br />
line of vision. You make eye contact with<br />
a few people and when you do, your<br />
eyes momentarily open widely and your<br />
eyebrows rise and fall in an attempt to<br />
acknowledge their presence. Shortly,<br />
your eyes focus on someone you find<br />
attractive. You store information about<br />
him and then rank the person based on<br />
interest. Once he ranks high, you then<br />
decide to take a second look. Your eyes<br />
meet with his, your heart beats faster<br />
and your face begins to warm up from<br />
embarrassment. “Oh no, they caught<br />
me looking,” you say to yourself as you<br />
break eye contact and quickly look away.<br />
You are dying to look again, so steal<br />
another look. You are still happy with<br />
what you see and now you have this<br />
urge to speak to him. So you look again<br />
with intent this time and you try to<br />
maintain a constant gaze. This proves to<br />
be uncomfortable so you keep the eye<br />
contact brief.<br />
“Should I approach them?” you ask<br />
yourself. As you evaluate the interaction<br />
between the two of you, you conclude<br />
that the established eye contact<br />
between him and you was held longer<br />
this time. You assume mutual interest.<br />
You notice them at the refreshments<br />
table. “This is my chance to approach,”<br />
you reason.<br />
You make your way over to initiate<br />
contact. “Wow, look at this spread!” you<br />
comment out loud about the variety of<br />
food selections and hoping that he will<br />
respond. He takes the bait and chimes<br />
in with agreement. You then quickly<br />
ask a question while you still have his<br />
attention, and to your luck he responds.<br />
As you attempt to maintain the<br />
conversation, you gauge the amount of<br />
eye contact. Is it minimal? Is he looking<br />
away? If the answers are both yes, then<br />
you know to conclude the conversation;<br />
however, this is not the case.<br />
The eye contact is appropriate, and<br />
he nods his head at the right times<br />
confirming his attentiveness. In fact,<br />
you catch him lowering his eyes to<br />
your mouth, which is a sign to you<br />
that his gaze is now moving outside<br />
of the social boundaries to the more<br />
intimate ones. As you conclude the<br />
conversation, you share how much<br />
you have enjoyed it and that you<br />
would really like to talk with him again.<br />
You exchange numbers and judge<br />
that you have successfully created an<br />
approachable opportunity.<br />
When it comes to the science of<br />
approachability, many would agree that<br />
eye contact is a key to unlocking the<br />
door to approachable opportunities.<br />
In fact, eye contact has been said to<br />
be one of the best ways to appear<br />
approachable. So, when your eyes<br />
connect with another person’s eyes,<br />
you have just provided an opportunity<br />
to be approached. In addition, the<br />
“approacher” is able to interpret<br />
your eye contact as an invitation to<br />
approach you.<br />
The above scenario is an example<br />
of what goes on in the head of the<br />
“approacher.” As you can see, it’s nerveracking.<br />
So why not make it easier for<br />
the other person by returning the eye<br />
contact, especially if you are interested.<br />
Notice that the “approacher” waited<br />
after eye contact was established a<br />
second time before he considered to<br />
approach. Even after he approached,<br />
they continued to evaluate what the<br />
eyes communicated. Although the<br />
above example shows a successful<br />
approach, there will be times when the<br />
“approacher” can misread the cues and<br />
get rejected.<br />
If you are not interested in the<br />
“approacher,” keep your eye contact<br />
minimal and if the “approacher”<br />
approaches you, keep it businesslike<br />
and make sure your eyes remain<br />
at the same eye level as the other<br />
person’s eyes.<br />
A good rule of thumb is to practice<br />
making and maintaining eye contact<br />
with anyone you meet. Once you<br />
become good at that, add a friendly<br />
smile to your efforts. Once that<br />
feels natural, start saying hello.<br />
By the time you meet someone<br />
you’re interested in, you’ll be ready,<br />
willing and able to confidently and<br />
comfortably approach the person or<br />
be approached.<br />
www.approach2link.com<br />
Approach2link is a concept that was<br />
developed to address the issues that<br />
men and woman complain about which<br />
is men not approaching women and<br />
women not being approachable. We<br />
help by sharing tips on how to be more<br />
approachable and on how to approach.<br />
Approach2link also plans and promotes<br />
events that create approachable<br />
opportunities. Events that create<br />
approachable opportunities are events<br />
that promote interaction among<br />
individuals.<br />
Follow @approach2link on Twitter,<br />
Youtube, Instagram and Facebook<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
100<br />
101
BORN<br />
“Troublemaker”<br />
By Andrew Williams<br />
Nelson Mandela<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
“In my country,<br />
we go to prison<br />
first then become<br />
As a black male, I don’t need to say how<br />
there aren’t many black role models<br />
for us to look up to. Nelson Mandela<br />
belonged to that elite and near impossible<br />
few who came from nothing<br />
but managed to stand up against the<br />
machine. Known to his compatriots as<br />
Madiba, he was born Rolihlahla Mandela<br />
on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, a small<br />
village located in the south eastern<br />
edge of South Africa. As if destined to<br />
spark change, Mandela’s given name<br />
roughly translates into “troublemaker.”<br />
To get a better understanding of this<br />
man how he blazed a trail, we must first<br />
examine the environment that shaped<br />
him. Although systemic racism was<br />
alive and well throughout the world, it<br />
thoroughly rooted itself in the Dutch<br />
colony of South Africa, gorging on ignorance<br />
and xenophobia for decades<br />
until it grew into the tumor we know as<br />
Apartheid. Under this rule, which literally<br />
means “apartness,” human beings<br />
were placed into four arbitrary groups:<br />
black, white, coloured, and Indian. In<br />
1948, the segregation of blacks was<br />
made official legislation, their limited<br />
rights and freedoms obliterated, while<br />
the elevated status of the white Afrikaans<br />
minority was solidified.<br />
A lawyer by trade and part-time boxer,<br />
Mandela became involved with other<br />
like-minded individuals who were determined<br />
to tear down the oppression<br />
of Apartheid. Joining the African National<br />
Congress (ANC), he ascended<br />
the ranks and bolstered the party with<br />
more Pan-African ideals, believing that<br />
black self-sufficiency was the true path<br />
to freedom. It was during this time that<br />
Mandela and the ANC became increasingly<br />
more militant and nationalistic.<br />
Although he couldn’t be linked into any<br />
particular acts of terrorism, he was ultimately<br />
labeled a radical, leading the<br />
ANC in a rebellious campaign to take<br />
back South Africa from white tyranny.<br />
The ANC began resorting to acts of<br />
sabotage and violence, even towards<br />
civilians. In 1962, Mandela was apprehended<br />
then imprisoned for treason, a<br />
crime that carried a life sentence.<br />
Despite its drudgery and adversity,<br />
prison is what triggered his metamorphosis<br />
into the man the world would<br />
eventually recognize. The hard labour<br />
of Robben Island prison coupled with<br />
the intellectual debates between inmates<br />
taught Mandela how to be a<br />
better leader, and his previous hostilities<br />
were chipped away. The hardened<br />
revolutionary was transformed into a<br />
compassionate advocate for human<br />
rights who was able to elicit empathy<br />
from even the white prison guards.<br />
On February 11th, 1990, after 27 years<br />
of imprisonment, Mandela was finally<br />
released after much negations and<br />
waves of international support. With<br />
the help of then president F.W. de Klerk,<br />
Mandela was elected into office and<br />
spearheaded the end to Apartheid. He<br />
ushered in a new era of racial equality.<br />
He was staunchly against seeking reprisal<br />
from his former oppressors and<br />
instead believed in fostering a brotherhood<br />
between white and black. Mandela<br />
detested racism, seeing it as a<br />
barbaric thing no matter which race it<br />
came from. “If you want to make peace<br />
with your enemy, you have to work<br />
with your enemy,” he once said. “Then<br />
he becomes your partner.” Nevertheless,<br />
such a transition could not happen<br />
overnight as racial tensions still exist in<br />
South Africa to this day.<br />
Throughout his incarceration, his second<br />
wife Winnie Madikzela was a fiery<br />
supporter of his and as much a warrior<br />
against Apartheid as he was. Despite<br />
her contributions to the cause, her<br />
reputation was tarnished after she<br />
was implicated in extreme acts such<br />
as kidnapping and even murder, and<br />
not to mention various political scandals.<br />
Their 38 year marriage ended in<br />
divorce in 1996, but the two remained<br />
on good terms.<br />
Like all politicians, Mandela had his critics<br />
and detractors. Some have argued<br />
he didn’t do enough to tackle the crime<br />
that was festering throughout the nation,<br />
or tidy up the government from<br />
political corruption. His personal life<br />
was also mired with family problems<br />
and was itself a stir of controversy.<br />
However, he did not shy away from<br />
this. When his son Makgato Mandela<br />
died in 2005, he openly disclosed the<br />
cause was HIV in an effort to bring the<br />
issue of AIDS to the forefront.<br />
Married three times, Mandela is survived<br />
by his wife Graça Machel. In all he<br />
had six children and is survived by Zenani<br />
Mandela-Dlamin, Makaziwe Mandela,<br />
and Zindziswa Mandela.<br />
Mandela was behind bars from the age<br />
of 44 to 71, longer than I’ve been alive,<br />
and walked away without animosity.<br />
Known for keeping his emotions<br />
reserved, whatever grain of resentment<br />
or bitterness remained in him<br />
was buried deep in the past so that he<br />
could push forward into the future. He<br />
knew that holding onto hate and past<br />
wrongs was in itself a prison, and this<br />
is what he wanted everyone to be conscious<br />
of.<br />
“For to be free is not merely to cast off<br />
one’s chains, but to live in a way that<br />
respects and enhances the freedom of<br />
others.”<br />
Source:<br />
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/world/<br />
africa/nelson-mandela_obit.html?_r=0<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
President.” – Nelson Mandela<br />
103<br />
102
Fitness<br />
Succeeding in Your<br />
Health and Fitness<br />
By Adam Ali<br />
As your weekend ends and your lying in<br />
your bed, you decide that this coming<br />
week you are really going to stick to<br />
a workout routine and eat healthier.<br />
You will not have your regular pastry<br />
on the go. You plan to have a super<br />
healthy lunch and cut back dessert for<br />
the entire week. You will also head to<br />
the gym after work just before heading<br />
home at least three times this week.<br />
It seems like a solid plan and you have<br />
the intentions of going through with<br />
it. Monday comes and you just can’t<br />
help ordering something sugary and<br />
starchy to go with your coffee, so you<br />
get a muffin. The breakfast satisfies<br />
you and gives you an instant rush of<br />
sugar-energy! However, you feel guilty<br />
45 minutes later. You decide since you<br />
have already ruined your eating plans<br />
for the day to grab a pizza for lunch<br />
and skip the gym altogether with<br />
the self-talk that you will start again<br />
tomorrow. If this sounds at all familiar<br />
to you, read on…<br />
fitness. I am here to inform you that no<br />
matter what fitness level you are at,<br />
you will make mistakes on your way to<br />
achieving your ideal fitness and health<br />
goals. There will be some missed<br />
workouts and also poor food choices<br />
on your route to success. This is where<br />
the 80/20 rule comes into place. Do<br />
your absolute best to achieve an 80%<br />
effort towards living a healthy lifestyle<br />
and 20% of wiggle room to indulge<br />
in things you enjoy that are not so<br />
healthy. This approach keeps you sane<br />
and human.<br />
One of the mottos I live by is that<br />
losing is not about not winning, it’s<br />
about not trying. So if you come<br />
short from an attempt then, learn<br />
from these mistakes and do better.<br />
Realize what went wrong and<br />
figure out how you can avoid similar<br />
situations in the future.<br />
Here are three tips to help you on your<br />
journey to a healthier YOU.<br />
consider joining a sports club of some<br />
sort. I recently incorporated dodge ball<br />
into my weekly fitness regime. I joined<br />
a dodge ball league and now I have a<br />
fun day of ball-throwing action that I<br />
look forward to every week.<br />
Drink more water<br />
The cause for many hormonal and<br />
emotional instability is the lack of<br />
water consumption. The Institute of<br />
Medicine sets general guidelines for<br />
total water intake. It recommends that<br />
women consume a total of 91 ounces<br />
(that’s about 2.7 litres) per day for<br />
all food and beverages. For men, it’s<br />
about 125 ounces a day (or 3.7 litres).<br />
Depending on your diet, about 25% of<br />
the water you consume comes from<br />
your food (How much water do you<br />
really need? - DrOz.com).<br />
Incorporate the following tips into<br />
your daily life and you will be on your<br />
way to a healthier lifestyle.<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
The truth is that a lot of people have<br />
the above mindset when it comes to<br />
their health and fitness. They tend to<br />
give up when they slip up. But in reality,<br />
people who find success will fail many<br />
times before they succeed, no matter<br />
what their goals are.<br />
Let’s assess one of the most powerful<br />
and wealthiest woman of today. It has<br />
been documented that Oprah Winfrey<br />
was fired from one of her first jobs<br />
because she was “unfit for TV.” It took<br />
her many years of failure and learning<br />
to finally have her own talk show. The<br />
Oprah Winfrey Show then dominated<br />
for 25 years and Oprah now has her<br />
own TV Network. Understand that<br />
failure is a step towards your goal, not<br />
a reason to give up on it.<br />
This is the kind of mindset that is<br />
needed to obtain long-term health and<br />
If possible, get a personal<br />
trainer<br />
A personal trainer will create a<br />
foundation to get you active and turn<br />
working out and healthy eating into a<br />
habit. When you feel you are ready to<br />
do it on your own, then proceed on<br />
your own. It’s really a great investment<br />
that has long-term benefits on your<br />
wellbeing. If the luxury of<br />
getting a trainer is out of<br />
reach, seek guidance by<br />
training with a friend, or<br />
follow a workout DVD or<br />
online workout video.<br />
Engage in physical<br />
activities that you<br />
enjoy<br />
If you don’t enjoy resistance<br />
training, you should<br />
Adam Ali (@ADAMwontLOSE) is the<br />
founder of iWontLose.com. He is a<br />
Fitness professional and a community<br />
worker based out of Toronto.<br />
However, provides world-wide fitness<br />
and motivational related services<br />
online. adam@iwontlose.com<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
104<br />
105
Be the Boss<br />
Education<br />
of Your Own<br />
By Shassha Loftman<br />
Whether you’ve just graduated high<br />
school, college or university, it’s never<br />
too late to become an adult learner.<br />
The term adult learner was originally<br />
meant for someone in his late 40s and<br />
50s who was re-entering the field of<br />
academia. However, nowadays it has<br />
become synonymous with anyone<br />
who is pursuing higher education. In<br />
higher education the things you are<br />
learning are different and are more<br />
complex, so you can’t assume that old<br />
studying habits will still work or work<br />
to the same degree. Research has<br />
found that children and adults learn<br />
differently and high school teachers<br />
teach differently than professors.<br />
Your learning will be more successful<br />
if you discard any and all preconceived<br />
notions about what post-secondary<br />
education is and isn’t. Open your<br />
mind to the experience before judging<br />
if it’s not for you or that it’s too hard.<br />
To become a successful adult learner,<br />
the first thing to do is to become a<br />
self-directed learner. A self-directed<br />
learner is an individual who takes the<br />
initiative and the responsibility for<br />
what occurs in their learning process.<br />
Individuals select, manage and assess<br />
their own learning activities, which<br />
can be pursued at any time, in any<br />
place and through any means. Use<br />
what is being taught in classes as your<br />
guide, but take your own steps to learn<br />
beyond the classroom instruction.<br />
Take an active role in planning,<br />
monitoring and evaluating your<br />
education because no one will do it<br />
for you. Try to choose subjects and<br />
courses that (a) are most relevant to<br />
the job/profession you are pursuing,<br />
(b) are something relevant to your<br />
personal life and fit in your academic<br />
program. Don’t take courses because<br />
you like the professor or heard it was<br />
an easy course or because your friends<br />
are taking it. And last, but definitely not<br />
least, if you suspect you might have a<br />
learning disability, see your academic<br />
advisor as soon as possible. They can<br />
help you get information on how to<br />
get tested. Don’t suffer in silence.<br />
Some learning disabilities, especially<br />
those affecting organizational skills<br />
and problem-solving abilities, may<br />
not become apparent until later<br />
in an individual’s education as the<br />
demands of the learning environment<br />
increase in complexity. There are even<br />
instances where learning disabilities<br />
are diagnosed in adulthood, after<br />
entering college.<br />
One of the most rewarding things you<br />
can do for yourself academically is to<br />
learn about your own learning style.<br />
Your learning style defines how you<br />
acquire and process information and<br />
has nothing to do with being “smart.”<br />
You can think of it as how your<br />
brain works. Each person has a very<br />
particular way of learning. There are<br />
several different learning styles and<br />
you should know which one or which<br />
combination is yours. To me it is just<br />
as important as knowing what you are<br />
allergic to, because not knowing your<br />
learning style can be a fatal mistake<br />
that affects your academic success.<br />
When you develop an awareness<br />
of how you learn, or how you have<br />
learned best in the past, it will help<br />
you focus your energies in the most<br />
productive way and alert you to areas<br />
where you may need help. Visit your<br />
academic advisor to learn more about<br />
learning styles. This self-reflected<br />
knowledge will not only help you in<br />
school but in your personal life as<br />
well. Using your learning style to your<br />
advantage is one sure way to get your<br />
assignments done and on time while<br />
being stress free. And it’s one big step<br />
towards becoming a BOSS!<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE<br />
WINTER 2013<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
106<br />
107
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
108<br />
Hidden Gem<br />
Belleeny’s Martini<br />
Resto-Lounge<br />
By Justina Opoku-Ware<br />
Belleeny’s Martini Resto-Lounge is a casual fine dining<br />
restaurant that has brought a new concept to Canada: West<br />
Indian and Italian Fusion cuisine, offering signature dishes<br />
such as jerk chicken or oxtail stuffed ravioli, or bruschetta<br />
and jerk chicken spring rolls as a great choice for an appetizer.<br />
The décor includes overstuffed leather chairs which make<br />
for a relaxing atmosphere, not to mention the fireplace that<br />
makes for an excellent spot to kick back beside when the<br />
temperature outside drops.<br />
Opened in 2013, the restaurant is run by a close-knit family<br />
that prides itself on serving the highest quality of food with<br />
outstanding service. There is no MSG or peanuts in any of<br />
the food served.<br />
The restaurant is also an entertainment hotspot for local<br />
and Canadian talent, such as comedian Jay Martin, who<br />
comes in and performs once a week.<br />
Belleeny’s can be booked for private and special events such<br />
as weddings, birthdays, and off-site catering. They advise<br />
that to avoid any sort of disappointment, call ahead so they<br />
can accommodate and serve you.<br />
“Awesome food and entertainment! Awesome<br />
place for an event! Super people. Will<br />
definitely be back!” – Hyacinth Brown Walcott<br />
“Very classy place, the vibe was great. The<br />
owners took care of me and my guests very<br />
well and the staff were very professional<br />
and courteous. Thank you for a memorable<br />
evening!” – Sharean Edwards-Fairman<br />
“Every day of my last trip to Toronto was<br />
spent having supper with these fine people. A+<br />
all around” – Shannon Brake<br />
“Belleenys is the best place to be. My friends<br />
and I had a wonderful time for Khristine’s<br />
bday party. If you want a nice place to go<br />
and have great live entertainment...BELLEENY’S<br />
LOUNGE...AWESOME!!!” – Nicole Woodward<br />
Belleeny’s is located at 4000 Steeles West, right at the<br />
border of Toronto and Woodbridge. Check out their<br />
website at www.belleenyslounge.com or follow them on<br />
twitter: @belleenys<br />
Are you ready<br />
to go at it on your own?<br />
Landing your first job, or a new job, means making the<br />
money you need to finance your lifestyle. Whether you<br />
want to buy the latest cell phone, a car, or rent your own<br />
place, finding the cash to make your dreams a reality is<br />
simple with the right financial plan.<br />
With disposable income or easy credit at hand, it may<br />
be tempting to give in to the urge to buy the big-ticket<br />
items you’ve been wanting. But now is the time to start<br />
managing your money wisely.<br />
Start with these three steps:<br />
1. list your short-and long-term goals like buying a car<br />
or saving a down payment for a home,<br />
2. assign a timeline to save for each,<br />
By Black Creek Financial Action Network<br />
3. build your savings plan into your monthly budget.<br />
You’ll have the keys to your new car or home in no time!<br />
While a new job means a steady income, moving out<br />
on your own brings many new expenses. Balance those<br />
extra costs with your goals by budgeting for both your<br />
needs and wants.<br />
Financial<br />
Literacy<br />
By managing your money wisely, you can stay in control<br />
of your financial independence. For more tips check out<br />
the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s (FCAC) life<br />
events, Moving out on Your Own and Starting your First<br />
Job, available on its website ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca.<br />
Material for this article was written by members of the<br />
Black Creek Financial Action Network (BCFAN). We are<br />
a multi-partner network working towards coordinating<br />
efforts among the many agencies providing financial<br />
information; mounting public events with a financial<br />
focus; advocating for the community on finance<br />
matters; sharing the best and promising practices<br />
aimed at building the capacity of service providers;<br />
and researching and evaluating financial programs and<br />
services. For a list of members and other information<br />
about BCFAN, please visit us at http://cec.info.yorku.<br />
ca/partnerships-collaborations/black-creek-financialaction-network/<br />
Readers of BOSS magazine are welcome to submit<br />
their financial questions to BCFAN. Please email your<br />
questions and inquiries to yorkcec@yorku.ca<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
109
AstroFabulous<br />
by nadiya shah<br />
ANNUAL 2014<br />
EDITION<br />
Hello fabulous Friends and Fans at Boss Magazine! Happy<br />
New Year!<br />
Collectively, this is a time when we know we are close to<br />
preparing something new and bold up ahead. Particularly in<br />
the second half of the year, we will all, at the very least, feel<br />
a sense of “fun” return. Celebrities should be especially good<br />
at capturing the collective imagination, with at least one new<br />
face that takes dramatic entrances to new heights. We can<br />
also see at least one notable celebrity set the stage for an<br />
upcoming career in politics, much to the surprise of all. We<br />
can also expect a return to a conversation about children in<br />
general; how to help them succeed and best prepare them,<br />
emotionally and otherwise, for successful lives ahead.<br />
We are likely to see a conversation around what people are<br />
“worth” to the whole, the value they contribute in moving<br />
us all forward, and how each can be helped to more fully<br />
fulfill one’s potential so that they are part of the evolving<br />
consciousness.<br />
It will be a great year, enjoy!<br />
ARIES (March 21-April 19)<br />
You are itching to embark on a fun year ahead, but<br />
just before you get there you’ve got to make sure<br />
you’ve got the essentials in place for the ride ahead.<br />
mainly, it is your home and partnerships that will<br />
need your attention. the home front brings changes<br />
that feel warm, as you create an environment to<br />
foster greater love and safety. In love, get ready to<br />
really see what you want and why you want it. some<br />
will do so explicitly, energetically, passionately, or<br />
aggressively. however you go about your lessons,<br />
know the challenges now will lead to greater love<br />
by year’s end.<br />
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)<br />
Your mind continues to grow as new ideas rush in<br />
like waves. Thankfully, you do have the skills needed<br />
to make some use out of them before they pass,<br />
allowing you to make solid gains in the first half of<br />
the year. Later on, your attention turns towards<br />
the safety and security of a solid foundation from<br />
which to grow. For some this will mean positive,<br />
sometimes very quick gains where it comes to real<br />
estate and where you live. For others, this will be an<br />
inner connection to what you are actually building.<br />
In love, people from the past have ways of showing<br />
up at the most uncanny times. You might find<br />
yourself shocked by the replay of past patterns and<br />
deja vu experiences. It’s all designed to make sure<br />
you got the lesson.<br />
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)<br />
With just a few people around you, you manage to<br />
spin gold. While your life will always ask you to find<br />
the right words, this year you might find they provide<br />
the magic touch to just about any endeavor. Many<br />
of your sign will hop on an educational adventure<br />
and take on a new skill, which will quickly translate<br />
into lasting alliances thanks to the many people you<br />
transverse in the rooms. In love, you could meet<br />
your soul-mate in a classroom. The more witty the<br />
reparte, the more it moves you two closer. Those<br />
attached will also find words smooth over any rough<br />
patches and bring closeness. online hookups are<br />
especially lucky for you now, more so than usual.<br />
CANCER (June 21-July 22)The first half of the<br />
year still gives you the team advantage with all<br />
things, especially where it comes to great ideas and<br />
the confidence to see them through. The second<br />
half of the year lets you know you are on the right<br />
track when they start paying off in practical terms,<br />
meaning, theres more money heading your way.<br />
Prosperity finds you by surprise, and in the most<br />
uncanny ways. Whatever you can do to earn your<br />
way is especially blessed. Focus on meeting your<br />
responsibilities and providing for your own needs,<br />
and there will be more than enough to go around.<br />
In love, you start the year in a bit of a conundrum of<br />
a complex consideration, but don’t worry. The most<br />
sticky situations find resolution on their own volition.<br />
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)<br />
While it might look sleepy on the surface at first, the<br />
year will change gears fast through a very notable<br />
moment to take place midway, when you know<br />
you are no longer who you were. There is a wide,<br />
open road in front of you and you can sense the<br />
fabulous places it may lead. What you want most<br />
are options for whatever feels like it could sail your<br />
boat, and you will certainly find it, or rather, you<br />
will attract it to you. A wonderful revelation about<br />
yourself could have you shocking others with a new<br />
direction. In love, you want to be adored even more<br />
than usual. Thankfully, you attract those who fit the<br />
requirements quite nicely. The ones with the wide,<br />
starry-eyed look of innocence masking frivolity are<br />
the ones you want most.<br />
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)<br />
There are few joys in life better than knowing you did<br />
a job well. This year, you will get your sparks going to<br />
refine your skills to even more splendid heights, as<br />
you are convinced being truly good at something is<br />
the way towards greater opportunity. It has worked<br />
for you before and will continue to be the tried and<br />
true path. If there is any doubt that angels are on<br />
your side, this year will forever quiet those voices<br />
of discontent, as several simply magical moments<br />
brushing on the miraculous restore any faith that<br />
might have ever been lost. In love, There is a story<br />
waiting to be written, but it doesn’t go quite how the<br />
fairy tales tell it. This is better because it is real. you<br />
insist on no secrets. This time, it pays off for you.<br />
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)<br />
There is little doubt that there will always be doubt.<br />
Not the kind that raises insecurity, but rather, the<br />
kind that knows there is always another way, another<br />
view, another method or opinion that can change<br />
all things to certain. This is part of the delicate<br />
balancing act you are here to carry out in your life,<br />
which you become especially adept at now. There is<br />
beauty and perfection in the lack of perfection itself,<br />
as your work, career, and even your friends illustrate<br />
to you clearly in several key moments this year.<br />
Having said all that, there is advancement and leaps<br />
up the proverbial ladder. In love, the line between<br />
friendship and love can blur, for better or otherwise.<br />
Take your steps in the experiment cautiously.<br />
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)<br />
Career matters go through a boon, but you might<br />
scarcely realize it as a stern energy continues to<br />
prevail. It is still your choice to have fun as you walk<br />
through the successes of your life, and this year<br />
does promise a few of them. In any type of interview<br />
or “need to impress” setting, you blow away any<br />
competition with your ability to sway the power<br />
players and authority figures. This is mainly because<br />
you know, at the end of the day, it’s not about that<br />
moment but the work and experience you have<br />
to back it up. Your ever more mindful attention to<br />
detail can have you stating some strange facts that<br />
turn out to be alarmingly and amusingly true. In<br />
love, you will likely find yourself attracted to those<br />
already ahead in the game, whether they be of<br />
greater age or achievement.<br />
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)<br />
You are set to have a year where you feel more “set”<br />
than you have in a long time. It’s a special time of you<br />
coming into your element and realizing just what<br />
that element is that you need to feel most happy<br />
and at peace with yourself. Of all signs, yours is the<br />
most adventurous, which is part of why this year fits<br />
like a glove, as a truly monumental, if not magical,<br />
adventure calls your name and you cannot ignore it.<br />
There are responsibilities, certainly, but a little careful<br />
juggling can have you finding ways of making them<br />
not only fun, but a necessary part of your frivolity.<br />
In love, the more unusual and foreign the subject,<br />
the more you want him or her. you will likely need to<br />
bring your translator app on your next date, or ten,<br />
but that is what nurturing love might ask of you. It is<br />
a small yet thrilling price to pay.<br />
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)<br />
Money matters take off in the best possible sense,<br />
as you attract some wealthy support. This doesn’t<br />
have to be in the traditional sense, though it might.<br />
Rather, financial institutions and applications seem<br />
to go especially well for you now as you assert your<br />
ideas and get the backers you need to make your<br />
dreams a reality. Personal reinvention and rebirth<br />
is also on offer, though that will require you take<br />
time out of your power making moves for honest<br />
self-reflection. It matters to you and you make the<br />
time. In love, the sexier, the better, and the taboo is<br />
best of all. You might find yourself unable to explain<br />
an attraction, and on the surface it might even seem<br />
like a bad bet, but you know that this situation will<br />
provide the catalyst for a shift in your psyche and<br />
soul, which is what intimacy is when it’s at its best.<br />
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)<br />
I could say the year will be fun, but that would be<br />
an overly simplified version of the experience you<br />
can expect. Rather, you are feeling overly jovial and<br />
earnestly expect the absolute best to just be drawn<br />
to you. Much to the amazement of others, this<br />
approach often pays off in wild, wacky, wondrous<br />
ways. You are overly confident, to put it mildly, and<br />
this attitude might secretly be doubted by you, but<br />
does have a way of paying off enough times for you<br />
to stick to the tactic. In love, you enter one of your<br />
best periods in over a decade for finding “The One”<br />
or turning the one you are with into the proverbial<br />
“It”. You are darn attractive now, so milk it and enjoy<br />
it for all it’s worth.<br />
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)<br />
Little does anyone know the adventurous side that<br />
creeps just under the surface of a mild mannered,<br />
spiritually inclined, wide eyed soul as yourself. Even<br />
you might catch yourself off guard by your expansive<br />
thoughts meeting a determination to take practical<br />
actions towards a pipe-dream, but if there is anyone<br />
with a chance of manifesting the near miraculous,<br />
it’s you. Through faith alone you move a figurative<br />
mountain of your own now. Your health could take a<br />
radical and surprising upturn, as problems that have<br />
been in the ether or plagued you for years either<br />
vanish, or you find a permanent plan for treatment<br />
that works. In love, that eye candy at the gym could<br />
be all yours. Get your insecurities out of the way and<br />
go for whatever you consider out of your league.<br />
Shared habits make the heart grow stronger.<br />
Nadiya Shah is your Fabulous Astrologer, Host,<br />
Communicator & Facilitator of the occasional epiphany,<br />
pointing the way to cosmic blessings. Visit her website at<br />
nadiyashah.com<br />
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
111
IN THISIssue<br />
BOSS MAGAZINE<br />
112<br />
Boss Fashion Title Page: Page 13 Model: Ashley, Photographer: CJ<br />
Cromwell, Photo Editor: Irving De Jong, Fashion Must Haves Pages<br />
14 – Page15 Images via style.com; Leather trend (from left to right)<br />
Balmain, Photographer: Monica Feudi, Saint Laurent, Photographer:<br />
Yannis Vlamos, Emilio Pucci, Photographer: Monica Feudi, Tom Ford,<br />
Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Lace trend(from left to right) Tom Ford,<br />
Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Chloe, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Elie<br />
Saab, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Emilio Pucci Photographer: Monica<br />
Feudi, on Page 16: Oversized Coat trend (from left to right) Christopher<br />
Kane, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Haider Ackerman, Photographer:<br />
Yannis Vlamos, Lanvin, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Proenza Schouler,<br />
Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Thigh Boots trend (from left to right)<br />
Prabal Gurung, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Tom Ford, photographer:<br />
Marcus Tondo, Emilio Pucci, Photographer: Monica Feudi. African Fashion<br />
Week Pages 16-17, Photographer: John R. Designer Profile: Malaika<br />
Lue Pages 20-21, Dresses by: Malaika Lue, Writer: Domonique Morris,<br />
Photographer Max Milian. Cover Story: Getting Lawless with Cham Page<br />
23-25. On page 24: Leather Jacket: Zara: 169$, on Page 25, Writer: Nicole<br />
Seck, on Page 26: Shirt: Lawless by Cham. Cham Up Close and Personal<br />
Pages 26-28: leather motorcycle pants. Zara $99.00, White Lawless tshirt,<br />
chamworld.com, Blue Denim shirt, H&M 39.95, Accessories, artist own,<br />
on page 28: Black blazer with faux leather appliqué. Zara $119.00, Black<br />
zipper sleeve sweater. Zara $59.90, Accessories, artist own on Page 29:<br />
Black leather motorcycle pants. Zara $99.00, Black zipper sleeve sweater.<br />
Zara $59.90 ,Ray Ban sunglasses and Accessories, artist own, Shoes, artist<br />
own, Photographer: CJ Cromwell Styled by: Awena Abala & Jayshawn<br />
Jones. LIGHTS, CAMERA, & ACTION Mens Editorial Pages 29-37: Model:<br />
Irvin De Jong & Michael S; Photographer: CJ Cromwell; Photo Edited by:<br />
Irvin De Jong; Styled By: Awena Abala & Tamika Johnson; On page 29:<br />
top: Zara black sweater with printed sleeves 59.90; Zara black trench with<br />
leather sleeves 179.90; Bottom:Zara black trousers with ripped details<br />
79.90; black combat boots models own. On Page 30: Top: Roots Varsity<br />
Jacket, models own; Bottom: Zara Harem Pant 59.90; Shoes: Converse<br />
59.95. On Page 31: Top: Blue Velvet Blazer, Models own; H&M black dress<br />
shirt 17.95. On Page 32: Top: Top shop wool sweater 49.99; H&M printed<br />
slim fit shirt 34.90; Glasses: Stylists Own, On Page 33: Top: Top shop wool<br />
sweater 49.99; H&M printed slim fit shirt 34.90; Glasses: Stylists Own, Zara<br />
green chinos 59.90, Combat Boots: Models Own. On Page 34: Top: Blue<br />
Velvet Blazer, Models own; H&M black dress shirt 17.95: Bottom: Zara Plaid<br />
Trousers 59.90; shoes: blue Velvet Loafer, models own, On page 35: Top:<br />
H&M Single Breasted Dinner Jacket 99.95; H&M Slim fit dress shirt 17.95;<br />
Bottom: H&M Dinner Pant 69.95; Accessories: H&M bow tie 14.95;On<br />
Page 36: Top: H&M black Suit Jacket 69.95; H&M white dress shirt with<br />
leather details 17.95; Bottom: H&M black suit pant 49.95; H&M waist coat<br />
49.95, XOXO Editorial Page 38-40: Model: Denege Jones; Photographer:<br />
Jayshawn Jones: Styled/MUA by: Awena Abala & Jayshawn Jones. Clothing<br />
credit: On Page 39: Top: stylist own; On Page 40: top: stylist own; skirt:<br />
H&M 49.95; Shoes: Aldo 69.95; accessories: silver choker: models own; On<br />
Page 40: top: Urban Outfitters: Gold sequins blazer 129.99; black crop top:<br />
stylist own; Bottom: H&M Leather pant 29.95; Shoes: Top Shop: Gold Chain<br />
Sandal 90.00. Beauty Title Page: Page 42 Photographer: CJ Cromwell,<br />
Photo Edited by: Irving De Jong, Model: Ashley, Make Up Artist: Jennifer<br />
de Rocha, styled by:Awena Abala, Jayshawn Jones. Eyebrow Contouring<br />
Page 43 written by: Sasha Vella, photographer; CJ Cromwell. Beauty<br />
Editorial:Red Light Special Page 44-46 Photographer: CJ Cromwell,<br />
photos Edited by: Irving De Jong, Make Up Artist: Jennifer de Rocha,<br />
Hair stylist: Travis Fiedtkou. Page 44 model:Naa-Larley Karikari, Page 45<br />
model: Jasmine, Page 46 model: Ashley. Mavado: Voice of a Generation<br />
Page 48 - Page 49 writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist.<br />
Talking Sex, Love and Reggae Page 50 - Page 51 writer: Laura Metcalfe<br />
Photographer: submitted by artist. The Legendary Junior Reid Page 52 –<br />
Page 53 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. The Best<br />
Reggae Group in Canada Page 54 – Page 55 Writer: Domonique Morris<br />
Photographer: Dre Barrett. Rhythm Education Page 57 Writer Kern<br />
Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. In the Eyes of Music Page 58 –<br />
Page 59 Writer: Domonique Morris Photographer: Shennel Photography.<br />
Boss Was There Page 60 – Page 62 On Page’s 60- 61 Photographer:<br />
Tamika Johnson. On Page 62 Photohrapher (Niut Blanche Jayshawn<br />
Jones, Bob Marley Tribute Laura Metcalfe). Art of Ciel Page 63 – Page 65<br />
Writer: Nicole Seck Photographer: Martin Brown. Real Music Real Results<br />
Page 66 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: Submitted by artist. Hitmaker<br />
Page 67 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. Tribute<br />
to a Legend Page 68 – Page 69 Writer: Nicole Seck Photographer: Che<br />
Kothari (photos on bottom from left to right, #3, #5 & #7). Cream of the<br />
Crop Page 70 – Page 71 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by<br />
artist. Early Success Page 72 - Page 73 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer:<br />
submitted by artist. No Boundaries Page 74 – Page 75 Writer: Nicole Seck<br />
Photographer: Northbridge Media Group. Vybz Kartel: Madness Page 76<br />
– Page 77 Writer: Kern Carter. Images of Inspiration Page 79 – Page 80<br />
Writer: Joseph Fava Photographer: Martika Gregory. Cry to the Nation<br />
Page 80 - Page 81 Writer: Kern Carter, Photo’s submitted by artist. Live<br />
From Jamaica Page 82 - Page 85 Writer Laura Metcalfe & Kern Carter<br />
Photographer: Laura Metcalfe & Andrea Zammit. Lifestyle Title Page:<br />
Page 87 Photographer: Jayshawn Jones. If I Ruled T.O. Page 88 - Page 89<br />
Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photographer: Jayshawn Jones. Boss Man<br />
Eugene Jones Jr Page 90 - Page 91 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer:<br />
Jayshawn Jones. Boss Scholars Page 92 - Page 93 Writer: Justina Opoku-<br />
Ware, Photographer: Ebony. Saying F-U to it All Page 94 - Page 95 Writer:<br />
Max Greenwood, Photos submitted by F-U Project. Boss Superhero Page<br />
96 - Page 97 Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photo’s handed in by feature.<br />
I’m Bossy Page 98 - Page 99 Writer: Jessica Alex, Photographer: Karimah<br />
Gheddai. Eye Contact to Get the Contact Page 100 - Page 101 Writer:<br />
Fiana Andrews, Photographer: Craig Hunter, Andre Andrews. Mandela<br />
Page 102 - Page 103 Writer: Andrew Williams. Succeeding in Your Health<br />
and Fitness Page 104 - Page 105 Writer: Adam Ali, Photos submitted<br />
Adam Ali. Boss of Your Own Education Page 106 - Page 107 Writer:<br />
Shassha Loftman Photographer (boss kids) Dwayne Holness. Hidden Gem:<br />
Belleeny’s Restaurant Page 108 Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photos<br />
submitted by Belleeny’s Restaurant. Financial Independence Page 109<br />
Writer: Black Creek Financial Action Network.
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