Boss_Winter_2013-14

WINTER 2013 

WWW.BOSSMAG.BIZ 

M a g a z i n e 

Grammy Award- 

Nominated 

Jamaican Recording 

Artist 

Cham 

beauty alert! 

6 steps to the perfect brow 

jamaican 

exclusive: 

mavado, 

gyptian, Beenie Man, 

vybz kartel & more... 

this issue’s boss man & woman: 

eugene jones jr. & shahina sayani 

top 4 runway trends 

BOSSMAGAZINE1304 $3.95

CalmCoolCollected 

Outside your life is crazy busy. 

Inside, it’s a serene oasis. 

You’re close to what’s important. 

And far from what isn’t. 

That’s why you chose a Greenwin 

building. 

Happy buildings. Happy renters. 

More than a slogan, it describes 

your life. 

M a g a z i n e 

Tamika Johnson 

Editor-In-Chief 

Fashion/Beauty 

Fashion/Beauty Editor & Stylist Awena Abala 

Fashion/Beauty Editor & Stylist Jayshawn Jones 

Fashion/Beauty Lead Photographer Cyril (CJ) Cromwell Simmonds 

Fashion/Beauty Lead Photo Retoucher Irving De Jong 

Arts/Entertainment 

Arts/Entertainment Editor Kern Carter 

Lifestyle editor Justina Opoku-Ware 

Copy Editor Kern Carter 

Graphic DesignerS Laura Metcalfe, Alan Joson, Vic Metcalfe 

Sales & Marketing DIRECTOR Amina Yassin Omar 

public relations & communications Idil Hassan 

Mentors 

Laura Metcalfe, Morris Beckford, Amina Yassin-Omar 

Features 

Cham, Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela, Eugene Jones Jr, Shahina Sayani, 

Julian Marley, Mavado, Gyptian, Vybz Kartel, Junior Reid, Beenie Man, 

I-Octane, Romaine Virgo, Don Dem, Mikki Ras, Eyesus, Camile Lauren, 

Exco Levi, Kiprich, Demarco, Bramma, Jordan Clarke, Sean Andre 

Contributing Photographers 

Cyril (CJ) Cromwell Simmonds, Jayshawn Jones, Dre Barrett, Shennel 

Photography, Martin Brown, Che Kothari, Northbridge Media Group, 

Martika Gregory, Ebony Photography, DNA Photography 

Contributing Writers 

Domonique Morris, Kern Carter, Sasha Vella, Laura Metcalfe, Nicole 

Seck, Joesph Fava, Justina Opoku-Ware, Adam Ali, Jessica Alex, Fiana 

Andrews, Fiana Andrews, Max Greenwood, Jessica Alex, Shassha 

Loftman,, Andrew Williams, BCFAN Black Creek Financial Action 

Network, Shassha Loftman 

greenwin.ca

oss Contributors 

42 

winter 2013 

The Boss Team would like to say a special thank you to all our contributors. We have been 

blessed to find such individuals with creativity and determination, that fit so well with the 

direction of Boss Magazine. 

andrew williams 

Writer 

First I’d like to thank BOSS Magazine for giving me the opportunity to pursue my 

passion for journalism and photography. I’ve been writing for as long as I could 

remember. As a proficient daydreamer, I love channeling my thoughts and views 

into pros, whether they concern major issues that have a resonating impact across 

communities or simple things that fascinate proud nerds like myself. Digital 

photography has been a fun and engaging challenge I never shy away from, capturing 

a fragment of life before it disappears into time and space. Or maybe I’m just a big kid 

who likes to play with expensive DSLRs, lighting, and equipment. 

BOSS Beauty 

Must–Haves 

Contents 

jennifer christine darocha 

Hairstylist 

Jennifer Christine DaRocha’s first experience in the fashion editorial world was with 

Boss, which she describes as a wonderful opportunity that has led to more open doors 

than she ever imagined possible. Jennifer Christine is a recent graduate at the Canadian 

Beauty College with a diploma in Makeup Artistry and certificate in Airbrushing. 

6 Editor’s Letter Editor in Chief Tamika Johnson’s latest 

thoughts about this issues artist features, fashion trends 

and community features 

7 @thatsbossmag Be sure to check out the hottest street 

fashion looks from our readers Instagrams and Tweets 

10 Bosses of Our Own Domain Meet the people behind 

Boss Magazine 

Fashion 

CONTRIBUTORS 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

2 

irving de jong 

Photographer 

A self-taught photographer/retoucher/graphic designer born in France and raised in 

Toronto, who has spent countless hours since his childhood years on the computer 

learning about media arts. Currently working with different Toronto recording artists, 

magazines, clothing lines and media blogs. Has started working with Boss magazine as 

an event photographer and is now a retoucher for the editorial and enjoys the friendly 

BOSS environment. 

fiana andrews 

The Shy Advocate 

Just a shy girl breaking out of her cocoon into a social butterfly who creates approachable 

opportunities wherever she goes and shareshow to do it with other shy folks. She 

loves creating environments that make it a lot easier for people (especially shy ones) to 

initiate conversation with one another. So she plans events that encourages interaction 

through ice breakers, activities and discussions. She has a soft spot for shy people and 

advocates on their behalf. 

On the Cover 

Black blazer with faux leather 

appliqué. Zara $119.00, Black 

zipper sleeve sweater. Zara 

$59.90, Accessories, artist 

own on. Styled by Awena 

Abala & Jayshawn Jones 

Photographer: CJ Cromwell, 

Photo Editor: Irving De Jong 

14 Fashion Must Haves Stay trendy with this issues must 

haves fresh off the runway 

16 African Fashion Week Take a peek at Toronto’s very first 

African Fashion Week 

18 Boss Woman Boss reaches out to Art Reach for this issues 

Boss Woman, Shahina Sayani 

20 Designer Profile: Malaika Lue Boss catches up with 

Malaika Lue and finds out how she caters to every party 

girl’s needs 

28 Getting Lawless With Cham Boss gets up close and lawless 

with the one and only Cham 

Beauty 

42 Beauty Must Haves find your go-to beauty products wit 

this seasons must haves 

43 Eyebrow Contouring Attention Ladies! This is a need to 

know you do not want to miss! 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

3

28 

Cham 

Arts & Entertainment 

48 Voice of a Generation Mavado has crossed musical 

boundaries not many of his time have seen 

48 Talking Sex, Love & Reggae Gyptian opens up to Boss 

about it all... 

52 Beyond a Legend Legendary artist Junior Reid discusses 

three decades of musical success 

54 The Best Reggae Group in Canada Don Dem tells Boss 

about their inspiration and how they inspire each other 

57 Rhythm Education Mikki Ras educates the people with 

real life music 

58 In the Eyes of Music Reggae artist Eyesus sees his future 

clearly 

60 Boss Was There The Boss team covers Reggae or Die 

featuring Cham, stops at Toronto’s largest outdoor arts 

display at Nuit Blanch, and celebrates the birthday of the 

King of reggae music Bob Marley in his hometown Kingston 

Jamaica 

63 Art of Ceil DJ Artist Camille Lauren takes us on a visual 

journey 

66 Real Music, Real Results Two-time Juno award winning 

reggae sensation Exco Levi educates Boss about his place in 

reggae music 

67 Hit Maker The dancehall hit-maker let’s Boss know about 

what it takes to what it takes big tunes for himself and for 

other artists 

68 Tribute to a Legend The would-be Nobel laureate Bob 

Marley and his resounding drum that never stops beating 

70 Cream of the Crop From performing to producing, 

Demarco might very well be the most versatile talent in 

reggae music 

72 Early Success Bramma discusses his early successes both 

inside and outside of Jamaica 

74 No Boundaries Jordan Clarke refuses any limits to her art 

76 Madness The eccentric and explosive Vybz Kartel 

78 Images of Inspiration Sean Andre takes a unique journey 

through art 

80 Cry to the Nation I-Octane tells Boss how he uses his 

sweet voice and clean lyrics to command both Reggae and 

Dancehall audiences all over the world 

88 

If I Ruled 

TO 

82 Boss Live From Jamaica The Boss team goes to Jamaica 

and covers the Annual Bob Marley Concert in Kingston. 

Check out exclusive interviews from Dancehall & Reggae 

headliners such as Julian Marley, Beenie Man, Romaine Virgo 

and much more... 

Lifestyle 

88 If I Ruled TO Boss was there to capture this amazing 

youthful event organized by Toronto Community Housing 

90 Boss Man Boss catches up with CEO of TCH Eugene 

Jones Jr. who is shaking things up by advocating for youth 

92 Boss Scholars Boss profiles Kwaku Agyemang and Christina 

Watson-Williams, two young students at the top of their 

game 

94 Saying F-You To It All The Forgiveness Project shows Boss 

how one person affected by trauma can take a simple oneword 

idea and use it to instill change and progress within the 

youth of Toronto 

96 Superhero Tasheka Mason is making noise in her Toronto 

east end neighbourhood 

98 I’m Bossy! Thinking of becoming your own boss? 

Author Jessica Alex provides some helpful tips on how to 

get started 

100 Use Eye Contact to Get the Contact Fiana Andrews 

explains how to use eye contact to show interest 

102 Born “Troublemaker” Nelson Mandela Personal trainer 

Adam Ali provides advice on how to be a healthier you 

106 Boss of Education Boss gets you tips on how to take 

charge of your education 

108 Hidden Gem: Belleeny’s Restaurant Check out this family 

run West Indian/Italian fusion cuisine restaurant located in 

the Northwest end of Toronto 

109 Financial Independence Are you ready to go at it on 

your own? Black Creek Financial Action Network will help you 

find out 

110 Horoscopes Interested to know what fortunes this season 

brings? Then check out Nadiya Zodiac Starcast 

WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE 

5

Editor’s 

Letter 

twitter 

INSTAGRAM 

@ThatsBossMag 

@feistytima 

can’t go wrong 

with a little 

black dress 

@champagnepapi 

Our Drizzy sports a sharp 

tailored dark navy blue suit, 

has him looking oh so GQ. 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

Toronto is famous for our cold and long winters, but the 

Boss team has devoted this issue to warming you up. We 

feature sizzling talents straight from Jamaica starting with 

our Grammy Award Nominated Dancehall artist Cham on the 

cover. Our fashion spreads will give the ladies street fashion 

and fresh off the runway looks; choose the style that best 

fits your occasion. Men, we haven’t forgotten about you. We 

have page to page spreads of men’s fashion that will be sure 

to have the ladies screaming Lights, Camera, Action when you 

pass by. Congratulations! Toronto has witnessed its first African 

Fashion Week. What a classy fashionable event. If you missed it 

please check out the pieces we’ve captured. Tired of drawing 

in your eyebrows? Well draw no more! We have unlocked the 

secret of how to achieve the perfect eyebrow. Check out our 

beauty section while you are there and take a look at our Boss 

beauty must haves, hand-picked by our fashion editors. This 

issue’s Entertainment section is jam packed with dancehall 

and reggae favourites such as Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Vybz 

Kartel, Mavado, I-Octane, Mikki Ras and many more. Their music 

is guaranteed to heat you up by moving your waistline and 

their stories to success will inspire you. Our Lifestyle section 

highlights members of the community who are shaking things 

up and advocating for change, such as our Boss Man Eugene 

Jones Jr., and our Community Superhero Tasheka Mason. 

Having trouble dating? Well our relationship specialist Fiana 

Andrews tells you how important it is to make eye contact. 

Make sure you are keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions 

of healthy eating and exercise, if not Adam Ali will whip you into 

shape. Last but not least, Boss pays tribute to the late great 

Nelson Mandela by sharing his story to freedom. 

There you have it. Our issue 6. I wish I could tell you everything 

that’s in store but you’ll have to read on to find out more. I’d 

like to thank my Boss Team and all our contributors for another 

banging issue. Stay tuned to see the next chapter. Have a 

blessed season. Let us pray for an early summer Toronto. 

Please email me I’d love to hear from you 

Tamika Johnson 

tamikaj@bossmag.biz 

Ascend @AscendYen Tis’ the season to shop 

local with your friends @ThatsBossMag 

You’ve tweeted us @thatsbossmag and you’ve tagged us 

@thebossmagazine on Instagram. Thank you readers! We 

are always excited to see what latest trends TorontoNians 

are showcasing. 

Please take a look at some of Toronto’s street fashion 

trends and our Torontonian celebrities hottest fashion 

trends. 

@iamjenniferle & 

@bow2urleader 

both individuals 

take risks and 

think outside the 

box when it comes 

to fashion. Playing 

with metallic isn’t 

for everyone and 

both rocked it 

right. 

@justinbieber 

wears a 

rebillious red 

suit to his movie 

premier Believe. 

Stacey 

McKenzie @ 

StaceyMcKenzie1 

BIG Christmas 

hugs to 

@ThatsBossMag 

The beautiful 

@mymflife wears 

a white oversized 

blazer with 

black patchwork 

collar. Black 

and white colour 

block is so in for 

this season. 

Please tweet us @ThatsBossMag for any questions, concerns 

or story ideas you would like to see in the next issue of 

Boss Magazine and your tweet maybe featured. 


6 

7

Bosses of our own domain 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

From left to right: Awena, Amina, Morris, 

Tamika, Kern, Justina, Laura, Idil, Jayshawn 

Location: Artreach Toronto Headquarters 

Photographer: DNA Photography 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

10 

11

VOLUNTEER WITH 

BOSS MAGAZINE! 

Boss 

M A G A Z I N E 

Boss Fashion 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

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BOSS IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR 

HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS 

LOOKING TO GAIN • HANDS ON EXPERIENCE 

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? 

EMAIL: BOSSMAG01@GMAIL.COM 

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“People will stare. Make it worth 

their while.” 

- Harry Winston 

So don’t caught off gaurd this 

winter, check out Boss’ candid look 

at this season’s fashions. 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

13

Fashion must haves 

Oversized Coat 

Balmain F/W 2013 Saint Laurent S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci F/W 2013 

leather 

Tom Ford S/S 2014 

Leather is the new denim. From the fall runways 

to spring, this trend doesn’t seem to be going away 

anytime soon, so you might as well embrace it! 

Christopher Kane F/W 2013 Haider Ackerman S/S 2014 Lanvin F/W 2013 

Proenza Schouler F/W 2013 

As the weather drops, keep your inner fashionista warm with winter’s 

top trend. Oversized coats give you the room to layer, because bigger is 

always better. 

Keep it sexy and elegant with one of this season’s hottest 

trends. Whether you want to keep it subtle or sexy, in lace 

you’ll have a confident strut. 

lace 

Thigh Boots 

Stand apart from everyone this season with the ‘It’ Boot. Thigh high 

boots accentuate your legs, and reveals enough skin to grab attention. 


Tom Ford S/S 2014 Chloe S/S 2014 Elie Saab S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci S/S 2014 

Prabal Gurung F/W 2013 Tom Ford S/S 2014 Tom Ford S/S 2014 Emilio Pucci F/W 2013 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

15

African fashion week 

This past year Toronto celebrated Africa’s unique and diverse 

cultural heritage by throwing its first annual African Fashion 

Week. The event showcased a group of talented designers with 

a keen eye for elaborate textiles, flamboyant prints, and 

creating unique contemporary garments. 

With the fashion industry now a days, taking a very safe 

and narrow approach towards representing African culture, 

these skilled group of individuals went outside the box and 

showcased a unique perspective on Africa’s rich ethnic culture. 

Take a look at our top picks from the runways.

BOSS MAGAZINE 

shahina sayani Boss Woman 

By Andrew Williams 

Toronto. Our city brims with a vibrant 

culture of artistic fervor. It is a place 

where young people from all corners 

of the globe and from all walks of life 

converge to live and create. Wading 

deep in this maelstrom is Shahina Sayani. 

Since 2006 she has been the director of 

ArtReach Toronto, using this platform 

to ignite the passions of artistic youth 

across the city. 

A native to Windsor Ontario, Sayani’s 

parents were among the 80,000 Asians 

forced to leave their home of Uganda 

in 1972. When then president Idi Amin 

assumed power over the central Africa 

nation, his poor decision making and 

paranoia led to him using Asian ethnic 

groups as a scapegoat, resulting in many 

having to flee the country at the threat 

of violence. 

However, Canada was not the end of the 

hardships for Sayani’s family. 

“Growing up in small towns, our family 

was often in the minority,” says Sayani. 

She speaks about how racism and bullying 

were common fixtures throughout her 

childhood, as she was only one of three 

South Asian kids in school. Among the 

things that stand out for her was the 

persecution she received for things as 

simple as going to prayer with her family. 

Nevertheless, adversity builds character, 

and Sayani attributes these tribulations 

as what drove her to help others through 

the arts. From a personal stand point, 

she refrains from identifying with one 

particular facet of art, although she’s 

keen on dance and has dabbled in henna. 

“All art forms inspire me,” she says. “I love 

the feeling of getting goose-bumps when 

I watch a dance theatre performance or 

hear a powerful spoken word piece.” 

After studying at Brock University where 

she received her BSc and BA, she moved 

to Toronto where she delved into the 

non-profit sector to work with individuals 

directly. Among the organizations Sayani 

first broke into was the For Youth Initiative 

(FYI), which aimed to groom young 

leaders for tackling issues head-on that 

are facing the community. Throughout 

her time in FYI, her roles ranged from a 

coordinator to Executive Director. She 

helped spearhead a breakfast program 

that fed 800 elementary students each 

day. 

“It was one of the most challenging 

projects I ever worked on, and one of the 

most fulfilling,” she says. 

With gun violence being an ongoing 

struggle in Toronto’s marginalized 

communities, Sayani worked tirelessly to 

obtain charitable donations from groups 

like the United Way. The aim was to 

develop a scholarship that would provide 

disenfranchised youth with better access 

to education and skills for employment. 

Of course one of the things standing in 

the way of her efforts was the negative 

stigma attached to these comminutes, in 

particular people of colour. 

“One of my first priorities was also 

to engage the media in profiling the 

positive work of local youth,” Sayani 

explains. “This was done to strategically 

address the fact that coverage tends to 

be very negative and generalizes young 

black men.” The FYI Scholarship Program 

was itself created in memory of two 

teens lost to gun violence. 

Another group Sayani worked closely 

with was the Grassroots Youth 

Collaborative (GYC), which she helped 

get off the ground. Consisting of various 

organizations led by young people within 

the city, they found a common cause in 

addressing the issues affecting their 

communities, and formed the GYC in an 

effort to raise funds. 

“GYC members united to promote and 

legitimize the model of ‘youth–led’ as 

an effective way to engage, empower, 

and reach excluded youth,” she says. 

To elaborate further, the group was 

concerned with education, resisting 

conventional perspective and practices, 

encouraging unity and solidarity, and 

funding. 

“I am privileged to experience the 

raw, innovative and boundary-pushing 

artistry of Toronto’s finest young artists,” 

explains Sayani when asked about her 

devotion to the arts. She is a staunch 

believer that art is a powerful way to 

connect with the youth, imbuing them 

with the hope and inspiration to uplift 

not only themselves but also their 

communities. This is the fundamental 

principle behind ArtReach Toronto. 

ArtReach seeks to support art initiatives 

aimed at building young leaders 

in underprivileged areas through 

fundraising and mentorship. According 

to Sayani, art can achieve the following in 

young people when thoroughly applied: 

· increase in self-esteem 

· healing 

· personal transformation 

· becoming adept in the arts 

· increased sense of identity 

· heightened sense of social/political 

awareness and involvement 

This is the overall goal of ArtReach 

Toronto. 

As you would think, putting together 

such an ambitious endeavour came with 

its challenges. Among them was working 

together with different organization and 

11 different partners, each with their 

own objectives. 

“It was like having 11 different bosses!” 

says Sayani. However, there’s the old 

law of how cash rules everything around 

us, and thus the biggest challenge was 

procuring the funds to continue their 

efforts. Luckily, the Toronto Arts Council 

stepped in and pledged $300,000 per 

year, a significant milestone for ArtReach. 

Sayani has been with ArtReach for the 

past seven years. Within the program, 

her responsibilities as director involve 

research, managing staff, building 

partnerships, and of course financial 

management, which includes grants. 

Through the innovative art initiatives 

that the program supports, she hopes to 

teach young people how to set realistic 

goals and utilize their own skills and 

talents in working towards a career as 

well as a more inclusive society. 

“Racism, poverty, unemployment and 

access to education are issues that I am 

passionate about, and they need to be 

addressed on a systemic level to truly 

better our communities.” 

One of the key events hosted by 

ArtReach is its annual Youth Arts Pitch. 

This presentation gives local young 

artists the opportunity to obtain the 

crucial funding necessary to bring their 

artistic visions to fruition. Prizes include 

$15,000 in cash winnings and $4,000 in 

supplementary prize packs. 

“It’s an alternative to the traditional 

funding systems that involve grant 

applications, months of waiting [for a 

reply], and all the restrictions on the use 

of funds,” Sayani explains. Past prizes 

have also included web design services, 

access to studios, and support for 

promotional materials, things that would 

launch a serious career. 

Like any contest, there are several factors 

that determine which participants would 

be final prize winners. Things the judges 

pay particular attention to include 

creativity, the live performance, and 

motivation. What the judges don’t want 

to see is an uninspired pitch that lacks 

energy or doesn’t engage the audience. 

Those coming from under-served 

or at risk areas of Toronto may have 

found themselves further disillusioned 

following the dysfunction at city hall and a 

headline-making mayor. However, Sayani 

stresses the importance in maintaining a 

strong relationship with our city officials 

in order to achieve growth. 

“In my opinion, the most effective 

approach is to attack from all angles,” 

she says. “Taking immediate action, 

mobilizing and bringing awareness to 

your cause is crucial in addressing issues 

and making change in your community.” 

She names the Beautiful City Billboard 

Fee (BCBF) as an example of what the 

camaraderie between city hall and the 

people can accomplish. The BCBF allows 

for a levy paid by billboard companies to 

go towards public art and programs that 

would enrich the city. 

Whether support comes from city 

council, private funders, or non-profit 

organizations, it ultimately falls to 

young individuals who have observed 

or experienced hardships to stand up 

and become leaders. Sayani has seen 

firsthand how the arts can transform 

lives and unlock the hidden potential 

that lies in all of us. And she has seen 

how our creative energy can ripple out 

to touch others. 

“I feel privileged to have witnessed the transformation of so 

many young people into youth organizers who are mobilizing 

and addressing social justice issues in their communities.” 


18 

19

Malaika Lue 

By Domonique Morris 

Designer Profile 

Toronto native, Malaika 

Lue, is the master key 

to any party woman’s 

salacious wardrobe. 

With a zest for fashion, 

Lue stepped out of her 

comfort zone of self 

doubt and scepticism 

and created pieces that 

became revealing, 

neck breaking, show 

stoppers. 

“Fashion is what it is, right?” asks Lue 

with a coy undertone. 

On her 21st birthday, Lue had an 

answer. That answer was to physically 

step into the club with her very first 

piece, her birthday outfit: a sequenced 

pinkish bluish dress that glistened 

stylishly with or without the lights on. 

“I make my own stuff. I don’t follow 

trends. I do what I want to do and I 

make what I want to make! Whatever 

I feel that day is what I am going to 

make. Whatever colour I feel, that is 

what I am doing.” All eyes were on 

her as she enjoyed herself that night. 

She received countless amounts of 

compliments and vast support from a 

close friend of hers who pushed her 

into launching her self-titled pieces. 

Malaika Lue’s education in sewing 

began with her foster mother and that 

gift of learning assisted in the mastering 

of her first collection. Leaving college 

to pursue her fashion dreams was “the 

best thing that could ever happen 

to me” Lue happily exclaimed. While 

conceptualizing a design, her aim is to 

create comfortable fitting outfits for 

women that like to party, want to be 

bold and stand out, be sexy and who 

are simply tired of shopping at the mall. 

Months into her fashion career, a very 

shy Lue, began to market her pieces on 

various social networks like Facebook 

and Instagram. Although she was not 

sure if people were going to like her 

21

By Nicole Seck 

GETTING LAWLESS WITH 

cham 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

22 

pieces, she posted them anyway and 

sure enough, 90% of her followers fell 

in love with her sense of style. When 

asked what her inspiration was she said, 

“Everything inspires me...I look at other 

people in the same industry, see what 

they’re up to, 

and [wonder] 

how I can do 

better than 

them.” 

Knowing 

that her 

“bright and 

tight” outfits 

were too 

much for her 

city as she felt that Toronto’s style was 

earthier than desired, Lue took a leap 

of faith and moved to Miami, Florida. 

Ironically enough, the theme of her 

latest collection is Miami: fun, crazy 

and wild - it seems fitting. The hard 

work, dedication, and stick-to-itiveness 

seen in her growing collection paid off 

as her attire caught the eyes of many 

people all over the world including 

reality TV show stars as well as actors 

who she later created outfits for. To 

keep up with demand, Lue says, “is a 

lot of work; but it is a work in progress.” 

Malaika Lue is currently working on 

opening up a boutique in South Beach, 

Miami then later gracing major cities 

within the United States with more 

boutiques. Malaika Lue encourages the 

up and coming designers and those 

pursuing their dreams to never give up 

and don’t be a quitter, “When things 

get tough, you keep going. Don’t be 

afraid because [once upon a time] that 

was me.” 

Knowing that her “bright and tight” outfits were too much 

for her city as she felt that Toronto’s style was earthier 

than desired, Lue took a leap of faith and moved to Miami, 

Florida. Ironically enough, the theme of her latest collection is 

Miami: fun, crazy and wild - it seems fitting. 

Now at the 

age of 22, 

and with 

one year of 

experience 

under her 

belt, Lue 

has proven 

herself to 

be more 

than just the average young fashion 

designer. She has created a collection 

that not only represents her party girl 

persona of being edgy, chic, and extra, 

but her pieces allow her clientele to 

feel the same way. 

cham tells boss readers that he wants the world to know: 

“I love love.”

In the case of Cham versus the rest 

of the world -- insofar as our general 

impression of him is concerned – it 

seems the seasoned reggae artist has 

been keeping a little known about 

secret: the man behind the raspy voice, 

exuberant performances, glamour and 

notoriety is not quite the boisterous 

personality that one may otherwise 

believe him to be. Upon entering 

Cham’s dimly lit sixth floor suite of 

the Sheraton hotel, I am immediately 

drawn by his laidback, soft-spoken 

down-to-earth charm and pleasant 

demeanor. 

The world over has been privy 

to both the fire and fury that 

has been the alchemical forces 

of Cham’s one-of-a-kind, 

youthful yet coarse vocals, 

alongside longtime producer 

Dave Kelly’s impeccable 

sounds. The artist formerly 

known as Baby Cham revoked 

the “Baby” moniker back in 

2005, five years into the game 

and following the release of 

his debut album, Wow…The 

Story. After the name change 

came the release of Cham’s 

sophomore album, Ghetto 

Story, under the direction of 

Atlantic Records/Madhouse, 

which proved to be more of 

a heavyweight record and 

arguably put the budding 

artist on the map. 

It’s been quite some time 

since the artist formerly 

known as “Baby Cham” has 

been in the glaring spotlight; seven 

years since his enchanting “Ghetto 

Story” collaboration with songstress 

Alicia Keys. Over the years we have 

witnessed and heard Cham on 

numerous tracks in collaboration with 

Toronto’s own Jully Black, Brooklynite 

Foxy Brown, iconic pop singer Rihanna, 

and universal Hip Hop heavy hitter, 

Akon. Even with a lengthy hiatus (in the 

eyes of the public),Cham’s been toiling 

away in the studio alongside his wife O. 

Together the duo has produced such 

blazing tracks as “Tun Up” (2012) and 

“Wine” (2012). 2013 witnessed Cham 

hit the studio with dynamic producer 

Dave Kelly and highly-lauded reggae 

star Damian “Junior Gong” Marley with 

the release of “Fighter.” 

Though only in Toronto for a 

performance as part of the Scotiabank 

Caribbean Carnival festivities (at the 

time of our interview), Cham has 

frequented the streets of Toronto in 

recent years, claiming that the city 

“got something that nowhere else 

has.” Many would venture to say that 

Cham’s onto something with respect 

to his views about our beloved city, 

given Toronto’s multiplicitous cultures 

and large Jamaican population, 

which makes for celebrations around 

dancehall music to be that much more 

special for the reggae artist, as well as 

others. 

Recognized for his musical talents, 

Cham’s artistry has also spread into 

the domain of fashion. At 34 years 

of age, this ever-evolving singer/ 

songwriter/entrepreneur, whose 

clothing line, aptly named Lawless, 

describes the inspiration behind the 

company’s name. The artist, who was 

raised in the heart of Waterhouse in St. 

Andrew’s Parish, Jamaica, has come to 

realize that he and his fellow fashionconscious 

Jamaicans simply reject 

most conventional rules of fashion and 

never seem to follow the trends; hence 

the name Lawless. Cham’s laissez-faire 

attitude toward fashion could easily 

be related to his views about life as a 

musician, in that he has “never been 

one that watches someone else.” Much 

in the similar way that he would not 

dare instruct an artist about the way 

in which they choose to go about their 

uniquely tailored creative process, 

so too would he hesitate to criticize 

another’s style of dress. 

Cham’s rebellious views on life, music 

and fashion make it of little surprise 

that he envisions himself someday 

collaborating with the colourful and 

effervescent rapper Nicki Minaj. 

For the time being, Cham remains a 

staunch supporter of producer Dave 

Kelly, whom the singer has 

worked alongside to produce 

countless tracks. A mutual 

bond was formed between 

the two, as Cham fondly 

recounts, when Kelly took it 

upon himself to give a young 

Cham a chance. He was fresh 

out of High School, and even 

though other producers 

shunned him due to sinus 

troubles that produced an 

often coarse sound coming 

from his diaphragm, Kelly held 

on to the belief that Cham was 

destined to bring something 

great to the world of music. 

Cham has in turn repaid Kelly 

with his undying loyalty. As a 

youngster, his predecessors 

included bigwigs such as 

Supercat, Shabba Ranks, 

and Buju Banton, whom 

Cham never falls short of 

acknowledging for having set 

the stage for contemporary 

reggae artists such as himself. 

Cham’s “live and let live” frame of 

mind serves him well, as it grounds 

his approach to all of his endeavours, 

whether business or personal. On the 

road to fame and popularity, Cham 

carries with him the belief that it is 

easy for one to lose their soul, and 

thus cherishes the long-held notion 

of being paid handsomely in return 

for the fruits of one’s hard work. As 

for the one thing Cham would like the 

world to know about him, he coyly 

states: “I love love.” 

For more information about Cham’s 

t-shirt line, visit: www.chamworld.com. 

“The artist... has come to realize that he and his fellow fashionconscious 

Jamaicans simply reject most conventional rules of fashion 

and never seem to follow the trends...”

cham 

Up close 

& personal. 

Seen like 

never 

before! 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

26

Fall into 

center stage... 

Lights, Camera 

& Action 

Photographer: CJ Cromwell 

Photo Retoucher: Irving De Jong 

Stylists: Awena Abala & 

Tamika Johnson

Black trousers with ripped details, Zara $79.90; 

Black sweater with printed sleeves, Zara $59.90; 

Black trench with leather sleeves, Zara $179.90; 

Black Combat Boot, models own 

Roots varsity jacket, models own; Harem pant, 

Zara $59.90; Black Converse $59.99

Green chinos, Zara $59.90; Printed slim fit dress shirt, 

H&M $34.90; Wool Sweater, Top Shop $49.99; Combat 

Boots, Models own; Glasses, Stylists own 

Plaid Trousers, Zara $59.90; Black slim fit dress 

shirt, H&M $17.95; Blue Velvet Blazer & Blue Velvet 

Loafers, Models own

Single Breasted Dinner Jacket, H&M $99.95; 

Dinner pant, H&M $69.95; White slim fit dress 

shirt, H&M $17.95; Black bow tie, H&M $14.95 

Black suit jacket, H&M $69.95; Black suit pant, H&M 

$49.95; White dress shirt with leather details, H&M 

$17.95; Waist coat, H&M $49.95

With Love... 

XOXO 

Photographer: Jayshawn Jones 

Stylists: Awena Abala & Jayshawn Jones 

On prev page, Leather crop top, Stylists own; On 

this Page leather crop top, stylists own; Leather 

Skirt, H&M 49.95$; Shoes, Aldo 69.95$; Silver 

choker necklace, Models own

Gold sequins blazer; UrbanOutfitters 129.99$, Black leather 

pant, H&M 29.95$, Gold chain sandal, Top Shop 90$; Black crop 

top shirt, Stylists own. 

”Make up is art, 

beauty is passion” 

- Unknown 


beauty


Beauty Must-Haves 

Keeping you covered this winter with our 

Boss Beauty must haves..... 

eyebrow contouring 

By Sasha Vella 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

42 

Protect your 

skin from 

the extreme 

coldness of 

winter with, 

Olay Complete 

All day 

Moisturizer 

.This nongreasy, 

oil free 

moisturizer will 

leave you with 

healthy looking, 

beautiful skin. 

Start everyday off 

right with, La Roche 

Posay Dermo- 

Cleanser. Its keeps 

your face hydrated 

and free of irritation. 

This is perfect for 

combination skin 

types too! 

Armani Si, is all about 

sophistication. The 

scent has floral,with 

hints of wood and musk 

undertones to it that 

makes it an uber sexy 

scent. Be sure to check 

it out! 

Looking for a 

perfume that’s 

uplifting and girlie 

? Well, Miss Dior 

has it in for you! 

with enduring hints 

of mandarin and 

jasmine, it will keep 

you feeling grown 

and sexy. 

Hydration is the name 

of the game this 

season, and Laura 

Mercier’s Lip Balm 

is sure to do just that! 

The balm is enriched 

with vitamins A, C 

and E and contains 

antioxidants to protect 

against the harshness 

of the environment. 

Stila: Portrait of a Perfect 

Pout! Need I say more? 

This vibrant lip stainer comes with 6 luxe shades to 

choose from. Perfect for what ever portrait that you 

want to create this season. 

Want to channel you 

inner bad girl? Riri 

has the go to red 

lipstick by Mac for 

you! with its bold 

and dramatic matte 

finish its guaranteed 

to last you from day 

to night! 

Get into the latest nail trend this 

season with Chanel’s Matte Top 

Coat! doesn’t matter if you pick 

light or dark colours, with its long 

lasting and durable formula it 

transitions limitless matte colour 

options with just one product. 

Give your eye lashes 

a fuller false eyelash 

effect with Loreal’s 

top selling Volumous 

Million Lashes mascara! 

With its multitude of 

bristles and amazing 

formula, it creates that 

perfect curl and leaves a 

dramatic effect with no 

clumps. 

Keep your lips moisturized this season with Lise Watier’s 

Sensational Lips exfoliating lip balm. With its sugar crystal 

formula it exfoilates your lips by getting rid of dead skin and 

leaves your lips silky smooth. 

They say your eyes are the window to 

your soul, so how better to frame them 

than with a beautiful eyebrow. A little 

effort in grooming your brows goes 

a long way for your appearance no 

matter your age, gender or degree of 

maintenance. 

Shape is key! Though you want to 

achieve that perfect arch to widen 

the appearance of the eye, you also 

want to follow your natural silhouette. 

Avoid a stern arch that will make your 

eye look smaller and give you that 

permanent ‘mad face’ look. If you 

consider your facial features to be 

strong and dominate, go for a fuller 

brow. If you would say you have smaller 

softer features, aim for a thinner brow. 

It doesn’t take much work to maintain 

your eyebrow shape once achieved. 

Don’t shy away from seeing a 

professional upon your first attempt 

to shape and define your eyebrows. 

Eyebrow specialists can see shapes 

within brows you may not and be able 

to frame your features you may be 

unaware of. 

Depending on the rate your hair grows, 

you may need to tweeze/wax/thread 

every other week or even once a month 

with minimal plucking in between. 

Over-plucking can become something 

like a bad habit. Try to pluck hairs one at 

a time and be cautious around the top 

and front of the brow, those hairs can 

be sparse and are known to sometimes 

not grow back. 

There is nothing wrong with enhancing 

or filling in your look with eyebrow 

pencils or powders. When choosing a 

color, aim for a shade or two lighter than 

your hair color - too dark can appear too 

harsh and unnatural. You don’t want 

the same darkness throughout when 

filling in the brow either, lighter to 

darker, from the front to the arch and 

out is best. Using these simple steps 

and no more than three tools you too 

can polish your look with the perfect 

eyebrow. 

Tools 

• Annabelle Brow Pencil – 040 

Medium Brown 

• Mac Concealer - NC35 

• Spooley and Concealer Brush 

Steps 

1. Brush brows up and outward from 

the inner brow to the arch using a 

spooley brush. 

2. Using light strokes outline the 

bottom and top of the brow with an 

eyebrow pencil. 

3. When you have the desired shape 

outlined, go in and fill in the brow 

leaving the front end unfilled to avoid 

harsh lines. (If you have less hair to 

work with you can try this step using 

a powder similar to the colour of your 

brows). 

4. Highlight the brow bone for a 

defined look using a concealer a couple 

shades lighter than your skin tone. (If 

you prefer a non-highlighted look, use a 

concealer the colour of your skin tone). 

5. Take your brush and start blending 

the concealer downward with the rest 

of your eyelid. For a more clean look, 

using the same technique, apply the 

concealer at the top tail of your brow 

and proceed to blend. 

6. Using your spooley, fade the inner 

brow getting rid of any blunt box shape 

that was left 


43

Red Light 

Special 

Photographer: CJ Cromwell 

Photo Retoucher: Irving De Jong 

Creative Directors: Awena Abala & 

Jayshawn Jones

BOSS MAGAZINE Arts & Entertainment 

46 

A+ 

E 

arts + entertainment 


47

BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Mavado: 

by Kern Carter 

voice of a generation 

It’s clear that more than any other reggae artist of this generation, 

Mavado has been able to cross musical boundaries, influence 

Jamaican culture, and infiltrate popular culture. He brought a unique 

sound to the dancehall scene, and has remained a powerful voice in 

the industry since the beginning of his career. 

It didn’t take long 

for Mavado to 

establish himself 

as a force in the 

scene. Under 

the tutelage of 

mentor Bounty 

Killer since his 

early teens, 

and with the 

leadership of 

manager Julian 

Jones Griffin, 

Mavado burst on 

to the dancehall 

circuit with the 

knowledge 

of a veteran, 

immediately 

making his mark 

with his first 

single “Real 

McKoy.” The 

track became 

an anthem, and 

became the 

first in a string 

of songs that 

showed Mavado 

was much more 

than a simple 

dancehall artist. 

He certainly has 

been much more 

than that, and 

soon fans and 

other musicians 

took notice 

of the new 

sensation. As his 

base expanded, 

hip-hop radio stations started spinning songs off his debut 

“Gangsta For Life” album, and Mavado’s popularity grew 

rapidly. Artists like Jay-Z started remixing Mavado’s songs, 

and even more artists like Lil Kim and Wyclef were requesting 

the singer be featured on their songs. 

But as the success came, so did the controversy. Most 

notably his duel with former colleague Vybz Kartel. Despite 

the numerous diss tracks that went back and forth from both 

artists, the major impact of this fallout was how it impacted 

Jamaican culture, specifically the youth. The impact again 

showed the power of Mavado’s voice, as the creation of 

his “Gully Side” movement caused many youths of Jamaica 

to follow suite and feel like they had to fight Mavado’s 

battle against 

Vybz “Gaza” 

movement. 

The result was 

an uproar in 

the streets of 

Jamaica, and 

lives were lost 

due to what was 

essentially a 

musical beef. 

Though the 

dispute between 

both artists 

seem to be over, 

Mavado has 

taken advantage 

of the Gully 

Side movement 

and spun it 

into something 

positive and 

profitable. 

His website 

gullyside.com 

has been a hub 

for everything 

M a v a d o , 

including new 

music, show 

dates, and 

Gully Side 

merchandise. 

One of the bigger 

announcements 

of Mavado’s 

career came 

when he 

announced 

signing to DJ 

Khaled’s We The 

Best imprint in 2011, a move that opened up the “Delila” 

singer to an even wider audience. Since then, Mavado has 

collabed with Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and most recently 

got a feature from pop sensation Nikki Minaj on his “Give It 

All To Me” single released this past October. 

Mavado’s voice continues to be heavy in the dancehall 

scene. His impact on music and culture is unmatched by 

most artists in any genre today. He has the power to attract 

and the power to influence, and with only two albums, 

Mavado has a future that may be even brighter than his 

past. Transgressions aside, Mavado is the voice of today’s 

youth, and his impact has been unquestionable. 


48 

49

Talking Sex, Love & Reggae with 

Gyptian 

by Laura Metcalfe 

The album “Sex, Love and Reggae” 

features many collaborations, 

including Toronto’s own Melanie 

Fiona (featured on our Winter 2012 

cover). What was working with 

Melanie like? 

Working with Fiona was like magic. 

She knew exactly what she was doing. 

She’s a professional by doing music, 

you know. It could never have been 

better, so give thanks. Give it up to 

Fiona. Mighty! 


There’s much more to Gyptian 

than the ever popular single ‘Hold 

You’. Growing up in a large family 

in Jamaica’s rural King Weston 

District of St. Andrew, Gyptian 

had an early start in singing. He 

first gained attention when he 

won a 2004 talent competition, 

landing him a major spot in a 

major local reggae show. Today, 

Gyptian is one of Jamaica’s most 

internationally recognized and 

loved reggae artists. His success 

has not come without the essential 

mix of raw talent and hard work. 

Since the release of his first album 

“My Name is Gyptian” in 2006, the 

artist has released three albums, 

won the 2010 Soul Train Award 

for Best Reggae Artist, and 

landed a gold record single. 

Gyptian’s most recent album, 

‘Sex, Love and Reggae,’ released 

in October 2013 by VP Records, 

has already seen the popularity of 

hit singles including ‘Overtime,’ 

‘Wine Slow,’ dancehall hit ‘Non- 

Stop’ and ‘Wet-Fete’, the socainfluenced 

collaboration with 

Kes the Band. The album also 

features a collaboration with 

Angela Hunt on the track ‘Vixen’. 

Gyptian is quoted as describing 

Vixen as “a song for the really 

strong women, who like to be 

in control… It’s for all the boss 

ladies.” 

Boss Magazine spoke with 

Gyptian about his music, his 

fashion sense, his freestyle with Snoop Lion and his advice 

for our readers. 

Your international hit song ‘Hold You’ went Gold this past 

summer, the first reggae artist to go Gold in almost a 

decade. What do you attribute the success of this song 

to? 

First thing I got to say is the fans because they’re the ones 

that even made me who I am in the first place, and for me to 

get the chance to achieve such success. 

You have recently been touring across North America and 

Europe to promote the release of your latest studio album 

“Sex, Love and Reggae”. How have your fans responded 

to the new material? 

I’ve been promoting the new album Sex Love and Reggae all 

over the world. People have been enjoying the new music 

so far. It’s surprising to a lot of the places, the LP SLR so far 

everybody is enjoying themselves and looking forward to 

the album. 

Your latest mixtape (mixed by your dj 

Spinciti) features a freestyle with you 

and Snoop Lion. What do you think of 

Snoop’s foray into the world of reggae 

and how was working with him? 

The latest Mixtape was all about 

informing the fans that Gyptian has 

a forthcoming album. Working with 

Snoop Lion, well any artist would want 

to because he is a very successful 

person. For you to be in the same 

building with him, that’s a good look. 

At the same time for me, I don’t really 

think whatever a lot of people are 

thinking. Music is music to me, no 

matter what you are or what you do 

or where you are from. Once you’re 

doing music it’s positive vibes and love 

and peace. Gyptian is a fan of yours and 

Gyptian really give you support. 

In addition to touring you have been 

working on several new music videos, 

including the steamy ‘One More 

Time’. What is your favourite new 

Gyptian video? 

I would say my favourite video now 

is “One More Night,” and the new 

one coming out “Vixen.” There are a 

whole lot of videos and it’s all about 

promoting the new album. Really just 

push out images… 

Who are you listening to today? 

What’s on your playlist? 

Queen Ifreka 

I’ve heard you have a thing for shoes 

and it is clear that you are always wearing the latest styles 

that incorporate Jamaican and North American trends. 

What is your personal style and your favourite fashion 

trends? 

Being creative as in you make the clothes look good on you 

while you’re wearing them. And I like the name brands. 

“Music is music to me, no matter what you are or what you do or 

where you are from. Once you’re doing music it’s positive vibes and 

love and peace.” 

- gyptian 

Your music has inspired many young fans, from the real 

issues you talk about in ‘Serious Times’ to the romantic 

love songs like ‘Beautiful Lady.’ Do you have any advice 

for Boss readers following their dreams? 

Yes, never give up on your beliefs, your dreams and your 

wishes. 


50 

51

the legendary: 

Junior Reidby Kern Carter 

I’d like to know from your perspective, how has reggae 

music evolved since you started almost 3 decades ago. 

Reggae music has become more commercial and mainstream 

and many new artistes now have a better opportunity of 

becoming successful in the music industry. 

I still listen to John Law to this day. What is it about your 

music that makes it stick with listeners for such a long time? 

To say that Junior Reid is a legend would be understating 

his impact. From winning Grammies, to his time with Black Uhuru, to 

the opportunities he directly created for other artists, Junior Reid has 

forever made his mark on reggae music. It was an honour to interview 

Mr. “John Law” himself and get some of his insights into what reggae 

music has meant for him. 

My music sticks with listeners because my lyrics are original 

and relates to reality and I also incorporate good melodies 

that are catchy. 

You have been successful giving other artists 

opportunities. What do you look for when deciding to 

promote another artist? 

When working to promote a new artiste I usually look for 

the artiste ability to write good lyrics and melodies and has 

a plan for his/her long term success. 

Along the same lines as the previous question, you 

have also established a relatively successful label and 

production company. What is your vision when creating 

music for yourself and helping artists create a vision for 

themselves? 

I am inspired to creating music by seeing how it can improve 

people lives by bringing joy and happiness. When I see 

people react to my music in a good way it also makes me feel 

good and reminds me of my purpose on earth; being happy. 

Talk a little bit about your time with Black Uhuru. How 

did joining that band impact your career early on? 

Black Uhuru is the only Reggae group which got 

promoted on an International level besides 

Bob Marley. This gave me more confidence 

know that I was chosen as their new 

lead singer. My first Grammy and 

US Tour experience also took 

place being a part of the 

Group. 

Looking back at you career, 

what moments stand out most 

to you? 

Coming from school one day and saw a 

band performing in downtown Kingston 

where I got the opportunity to perform 

with the band as they requested someone 

from the crowd to perform with them. 

Performing at the American Music Awards 

and being the most requested artiste by 

international rappers. 

With all that you have accomplished, how do you keep 

yourself motivated and what is next for Junior Reid? 

Keeping in touch with the people keeps me motivated. As 

for what’s new, my new album is expected to be released 

March, hopefully on the JR Records label. 


53


54 

Don Dem 

Coming out of Spanish Town and 

Portmore, Jamaica where the areas are 

known to be violent and the partitions 

have a Don on every corner, Olaf 

“HD” Smith, Kirk “Diamond” Douglas, 

Chaunard “Bob the Builder” Brown, 

Durri “The Scientist” Brown, and Kez 

“Don” Ferguson, make up the selfmotivated 

reggae/dancehall group 

Don Dem. 

Their musical style also fuses aspects 

of hip-hop, but it was dancing that first 

got the group noticed. In 2008, all eyes 

were on them as their fans admired 

the energy and unique dance moves 

they displayed when out having fun at 

parties. I got the chance to speak with 

Olaf HD who is the jack of all musical 

trades and has fancied the drums since 

the age of 2, and Kirk Diamond, inspired 

to write at the age of 17, the lyricist and 

manager for the group. Their persona 

and artistic vision creates a peace that 

keeps the group glued, structured, and 

grounded. 

“When my basketball dream was over, 

I started writing. At the time I couldn’t 

see myself on stage so I wanted to 

remain behind the scenes. I am known 

for my lyrical skill because I am always 

in my head.” Diamond stays true to 

himself by writing about his life. “It 

could be the funniest song; it still 

happened.” 

Although there are many, Bob Marley 

was the key inspiration for Kirk 

Diamond as his story kind of reminds 

him of the struggles that Don Dem has 

faced. “Canada isn’t an easy place [to 

live in] either. Different personalities 

have to come together to do what we 

do and so far, variously speaking, we are 

the best reggae group in Canada that is 

not living in Jamaica. I really would like 

be considered as the dancehall version 

of the Wailers in Canada.” 

Olaf HD on the other hand has role 

models in the music world stemming 

from marketing guru P. Diddy, to 

by Domonique Morris 

The Best Reggae Group in Canada 

drummers Tony Royster Jr. and Spanky 

Dee, as well as well-known producers 

Steven the Genius McGregor, 

Timbaland, and Sam I Am. HD was 

enthused to be able to produce his 

own beats at the age of 16 and that 

drive allowed him to become an 

engineer, producer, and artist, all while 

still remaining true to his first love, 

drumming. From an artist’s perspective, 

HD also likes the risqué lyrics of Aidonia 

and business mindset of Jay-Z. 

“I have been with Aidonia through his 

journey,” says Olaf HD. “Not a lot of 

times people are able to have followed 

an artist from the beginning to success. 

Jay-Z brought the music through 

business and made it possible to dream 

bigger than just being musicians. He 

inspired them to own their own work.” 

And owning their work is exactly what 

Don Dem intends to do as HD alongside 

Bob the Builder mix and produce their 

own songs. 

The members of 

Don Dem thrive off 

encouraging each 

other as they push 

one to outdo the 

other to set the bar 

high for whoever’s 

verse comes next. As 

Diamond chuckles he 

says, “We are always 

doing something that 

is not expected in a 

song. Even if it is a 

mistake, if it sounds 

good we put it in.” 

Summer of 2010 was 

the official year that 

Don Dem became a 

music group. As they 

transitioned from 

dancers to artists 

they created a remix 

CD called “Don Dem 

RMXTape Vol.1” that 

was released this past 

summer. The group 

is now working on a 

release date for their 

EP. So far they have 

released two songs: 

Blind to Dem and 

Need Your Love. 

The envy they received 

from the people in 

various circles caused 

them to write a song 

about the bad minded 

people that are so A-C- 

T-I-V-E in their lives. 

That is how Blind to 

Dem came to be. 

“They have a crab in a 

barrel mentality,” says 

Diamond, “we don’t 

take a lot of crap from 

people...you can hear 

it in our music..when 

we get hard core that this is stemming 

from somewhere…we Stevie Wonder 

to them, Ray Charles to them...all the 

people that were fighting us, we did 

a song for them,” says Olaf HD. When 

getting certain messages across, Kirk 

Diamond makes sure their songs are 

lyrically detailed and revel in the fact 

that Don Dem have the power to get 

their fans to repeat Blind to Dem lyrics 

in the face of all the haters at their 

“we are the best reggae group in Canada 

that is not living in Jamaica. I really would 

like be considered as the dancehall version 

of the Wailers in Canada.” - kirk diamond 

dancehall shows. Need Your Love, on 

the other hand, shows another side of 

Don Dem as they talk about life as artists 

and the struggles that come when 

trying to maintain a relationship. For 

some of them, fame is in the forefront 

of their minds, while for others, they 

highly respect their private life. 

“We’re very passionate guys when it 

comes to our girlfriends and we put a 

lot of time in our music and that affects 

our relationships at 

times, you know, being 

at the studio late.” Kirk 

Diamond brings in 

the reality by saying, 

“Your relationship is 

not going to look so 

well if the two of you 

are not strong.” This 

is a situation we hear 

and experience far too 

many times especially 

with mainstream 

artists. “I need your 

love! I don’t want 

you to leave but just 

understand I gotta 

do what I gotta do to 

make my music career 

work,” concludes Olaf 

HD. 

In 5 years, the group 

sees themselves 

on tour adorning 

the stage in various 

countries and cities 

with their unique twist 

of the dancehall genre 

which they believe will 

never lose its identity. 

Olaf HD explains, 

“If you mix ginger in 

any drink, it is still 

going to have that 

dominant taste in it, 

right? Dancehall will 

never be watered 

down. It is not 

traditional reggae; it’s 

an evolution of what it 

used to be”. 

As Don Dem holds tight 

to their inspirations, 

they keep the idea that 

patterning them is 

okay as long as they do 

it better with their one 

of a kind flair. They also hold tight to 

and concluded the interview with what 

they believe is their magical formula 

for success: Hard work, determination, 

and a lot of God. 

“Everything you could possibly do to 

be successful coincides with hard work 

and determination. Once you have 

those two plus God, there is nothing 

you can’t do!” 


55

Rhythm Education: 


Mikki Ras educates the people with real life music. 

Mikki Ras is the minority. A conscious artist that chooses to 

use his voice to uplift with positive music. He spent a minute 

with Boss Magazine to let us know a bit about why his music 

is the way it is. 

You seem to have chosen to use your voice as to comment 

on social stigmas from an uplifting perspective. Why 

choose this path when it seems like so much of popular 

music is negative? 

I didn’t even choose to it’s just natural that I have to live up 

to my culture and do music that uplift my people. 

Your success as an artist would suggest that your message 

is being heard. Do you ever feel pressure to maybe fit in 

with more popular music trends? 

The music is already a challenge so getting your song to be 

among those at the top is definitely a tuff task. 

Do you feel that all reggae artists should be held 

accountable for the lyrics in their music? Should they 

welcome their position as role models? 

Yes they should because music is life. Real life. Yes they are 

role models. 

What can we expect next from Mikki Ras? More music? 

More shows? 

Well right now I am presently in the studio finishing up my 

album which is due to release before the summer. Still doing 

shows both locally and internationally. Heading to Canada 

for a promo tour in a few weeks. 

Are there any artists that you are collaborating with or 

would like to collaborate with in the near future? 

I have a few collabs which is due to release on the album. Still 

haven’t done one with my mentor Beres Hammond has yet. 


57

in the Eyes of music 

by Domonique Morris 

Squad. Females were always 

in love with my eyes so for 

a while they called me Eyes 

because they are so bright. 

Due to the group everybody 

nick name has the last name 

“Us.” So because they call me 

Eyes I added the “Us” to the 

end and that is how my name 

was created. 

What made you want to get 

into the dancehall music 

business? 


Ricardo ‘Eyesus’ Rohen is one of Toronto’s reggae 

entertainers. He has worked with artists such as Norris 

Man, Toledo, and has gone on tour with well known 

dancehall artists. I had the wonderful opportunity to 

speak with Eyesus about his life as a musician, his views on 

dancehall’s music industry, as well as inspirational insight 

for those who are trying to get into the industry. 

For those who don’t know you, can 

you tell our Boss Magazine readers 

who you are and please explain the 

meaning behind your name Eyesus? 

Well, Eyesus is one of Toronto’s 

reggae entertainers. I have been doing 

music over the years and I have gone 

international doing music with a lot of 

known artists such as Norris Man, Jah 

Vinci, I-Octane, Toledo, and a lot more. 

I’ve done a video with Jah Vinci that was 

number one in Jamaica called We Hate 

Yuh First. Now I have a single, a dance 

song, called One Drop that is being 

played all over the world. The name 

Eyesus was developed when I was living 

in Jamaica. There is a group called Us 

When I was going to primary 

school in Jamaica around 

grade 4 and 5, I was like a 

deejay in the class. Some 

classmates and I would beat 

the desk and sing to the 

point where there would be 

a sound clash for money at 

lunch time and the whole 

school would start taking 

you in. There was bare 

excitement! I was one of 

the favourites those times 

at school. When they would 

have a school fete, I was the 

main artist that the whole 

school would wait to see 

go on stage and perform. 

That encouragement from 

a young age grew in me and 

allowed me to develop a 

passion for making music. 

Alright! So who are your idols then? 

Who is your inspiration? Who are 

the mentors that you look up to 

and how have they assisted in the 

developmental stages of your craft? 

In the business there are a lot of artists 

that I look up to now. However, I don’t 

exactly do what they do. I listen to 

artists like Beres, Bob Marley, Shabba 

Ranks and Buju. 

You mentioned Jah Vinci and 

collaborating with him to create the 

song We Hate Yuh First. How did that 

come to be? 

Jah Vinci is an artist I met that has the 

same last name as me. Our generation 

of family comes from August Town so 

it was compulsory that we both link up 

since we might be family. So we built 

a relationship where we reasoned and 

he said, “You know wha gwan? Yuh bad 

still y’know…we should have a song 

together!” When he finally came to 

Canada we linked up in the studio and 

put our creativity 

I read in an article that you are 

pushing your music mainly in Jamaica. 

How come? 

Imagine sitting at home in the dark. You 

need a candle but the candle is not at 

the convenience store by your house. If 

you don’t go anywhere else away from 

the convenience store you are going 

to stay in the dark for the rest of your 

time. Sometimes you have to come out 

of your own boundaries. Once you get 

a #1 hit in Jamaica you are a hit around 

the world. If you create a number one 

hit in Canada, you remain in Canada 

only because there is no dancehall 

market in Canada for people to be 

zooming in on. 

I like that analogy! So what makes 

you stand out in the dancehall 

community? 

A lot of people don’t try to say what 

the people want. They try to push what 

they want in the people and nowadays 

people have their own mind. If you 

write songs about things that you see, 

the everyday life, then a lot of people 

can relate to it. If I write something due 

to my experience and you can’t relate 

to it you’re just going to listen and keep 

going; it won’t gravitate to you and pull 

you in. 

As an up and coming artist what advice 

would you give to those who are trying 

to make it in the dancehall industry? 

The advice I would give is not to give up. 

There is a time for everything…today 

for you, tomorrow for me. Everybody 

is not going to shine the same time. If 

you really love something you have to 

put your heart and your mind into it. 


58 

59

Boss was there 

Cham Concert 

Toronto’s Reggae or Die event 

featuring Dancehall Artist 

Cham was an energy filled 

event. With hit’s from Cham 

performed live such as Wine, 

Ghetto Story, Tun Up featuring 

Ms O and newest hit ‘Fighter’ 

featuring Damian Marley, Cham 

had everyones waistline in 

circulation.

nuit blanche 

The Boss team had the pleasure of experiencing Toronto transformed into 

a huge art gallery with over 110 contemporary art exhibits. We’ve seen 

everything from a tower of chairs to a stack of bicycles this free exhibit is 

a must see and Boss was there to get the exclusive. 

Camile Lauren 


a.k.a “Ciel” (Art of Ciel) 


62 

bob marley’s birthday 

From top left: Bob Marley House in Kingston; Gyptian at Uptown Mondays; I-Octaine, 

Emancipation Park; Artist 300; Nine Mile Water tank and Bob Marley House. 

There are those who create art and 

there are those from whom art 

emanates. For Camille Lauren, the 

word emanate truly speaks to her, 

so much so that she has (apropos) 

named the recent art exhibit for which 

she fulfilled the dual role of Creative 

Director and Curator: Emanate Gallery 

Exhibit. 

Taking me back across time and space, 

Camille recounts her memories of 

having been born and raised—albeit 

for a short while—on the vibrant and 

colourful island of Curacao. Upon 

drawing comparisons between the 

multi-coloured and Dutch-inspired 

architecture that can be observed in 

her homeland, to those bright colours 

that can be found in her mixed-media 

produced works of art, it is by no 

means a coincidence that an artist was 

born out of such a vivid nation. 

Camille touts her mother and countless 

family members for having recognized, 

since she was a child, her interest in 

all things related to art. Purchasing 

art supplies for the young artist’s 

birthdays, in lieu of inconsequential 

gifts became commonplace and 

somewhat of a family affair. The 

self-taught artist pays homage to 

the remarkable figures (famous or 

otherwise), musical instruments, 

particularly those belonging to the 

percussion family, along with the 

inspirational and oft-convoluted stories 

from diverse peoples that have shaped 

and influenced her development as an 

artist. This 21-year-old plainly veers off 

the beaten path in both her work, as 

well as by way of her insights regarding 

life in general. As a rule of thumb, 

Camille believes life to be a mystifying 

experience; one that is almost 

reminiscent of an elusive dream that 

sort of just happens. You have to “do 

what comes naturally to you.”During 

my conversation with Camille, she 

much to my surprise stated: “I haven’t 

arrived.” 

What Camille means is that as an 

illustration student at OCAD, who has 

entered into her second year of studies 

in the Bachelor of Design program as 


63

y: Nicole Seck 

purple. My memory won’t verify. 

But as a child, communicating 

with my hands, creating things 

was my second nature. One of 

my favourite things to do when 

I came to Canada in grade school 

was melt pieces of brightly-toned 

plasticine together on the heating 

grill, because I liked the way the 

colours looked blended. And the 

exploration continued onwards, 

with sketching, and in high school, 

painting. 

audience with my own vision is also 

challenging. As much as I would like 

others to appreciate what I do, when 

setting out to create, there needs to 

be distance between the expectations 

and requirements of others looking in. 

What is your signature style as 

it pertains to your art? In other 

words, what makes your artwork 

distinguishable from that of others? 

Most of my recent works are using 

mixed media. I also use animal motifs 

it takes. It frees others looking on or 

provokes more out of them. That’s 

why spoken word moves me so much. 

These artists bare their hearts, their 

blemishes on stage, proudly. As an 

incredible woman I knew once said, 

“we suffer to inspire.” My Jamaican 

heritage grounds me. My connection to 

the ocean is a significant inspiration for 

my work, which is expressed through 

Art of Ciel. 

Which artists, living or deceased, 

inspire you? 

“I believe that unapologetic self-expression is paramount. 

It’s healing to create something, whatever form it takes. 

It frees others looking on or provokes more out of them.” 


of Fall 2013, she does not yet have the 

freedom to do what she wants, given 

the confinements of student life (which 

I am certain many of us can relate). 

Although many would perceive it to 

be a great achievement, having her 

striking art commissioned for display 

by a bed-and-breakfast in Jamaica 

falls short of Camille’s many visions for 

herself as an artist. Camille believes 

that achievement to be peanuts as far 

as accomplishments go, as she intends 

to take her art career to soaring heights 

while holding on to becoming an art 

therapist as a career goal, which is near 

and dear to her heart. 

Camille is a true visionary who praises 

her teachers for having passionately 

encouraged her to pursue art at St. 

Augustine’s Catholic Secondary School 

located in Brampton, Ontario. In the 

same manner that her former teachers 

saw something exceptional in her, 

Camille would like the world to know 

that they too have something special. 

Most poignantly, Camille expresses: “it only 

takes yourself to realize how masterful 

you are; you do not need anyone else to 

validate you.” To that I say, ditto. 

“Art is....” Complete the sentence. 

Vulnerability on display. Art is emotion 

dripped on canvas. Sensations are 

temporary, but paint makes the 

moment eternal and shareable. Art 

spills out from our lives in so many 

ways. 

When did you first discover that you 

were an artist? 

One of my fondest memories as a child 

was winning my first colouring contest 

while I lived in Bonaire. I was four years 

old, it was a Dalmatians theme and I 

must have coloured the dogs beige and 

Describe the thought process 

immediately prior to the creation 

of your masterpieces. 

“This needs to get out, NOW.” 

Often, when I hit the canvas, 

surface the fabric it’s after the idea 

has been brewing in my mind for 

quite some time. After scribbling 

the concept in my sketchbook, 

it takes time to simmer. And 

when it comes out, it’s a burst of 

energy that ideally comes out in 

one setting. That’s why I gravitate 

towards live painting so much. It’s 

pressure, yes. But within that time 

period, I know that what is roaring 

around inside will get a chance 

to come out, pour forth at high 

velocity. I will be cleansed at the 

speed that I create. Colour therapy 

is truly what it is to me. 

What are some challenges you face 

as an artist? 

Primarily, carving out the time to paint, 

and guarding it with my life. It’s easy to 

be caught up in unrelated projects, highpriority 

to-dos and goals and neglect 

your true love. But when I do let myself 

start, hours tick away on a different 

clock. Time moves FAST. Painting has 

an undeniable call to me, and my soul 

craves the act of creating as much as 

the canvas needs the artists hand to be. 

Balancing the demands of the 

and urban scenes and curvy looping 

lines for natural hair. In my “Brown 

Sugar Steaming” painting I used shells, 

sugar, salt, dried flowers, acrylic paint, 

leaves I collected in Jamaica and 

Florida. In other pieces I use feathers, 

stitched fabric, spray paint, India ink 

and sand. One of the pieces that has 

garnered a lot of appreciation is this 

piece called, “NaturalistaGLAM.” I 

painted it on a metallic fabric, though 

people tend to think is sheet metal 

and are always so surprised when they 

touch it and feel this softness under 

their fingertips. It depicts one of my 

favourite singers: Elle Varner. 

What, if anything, do you believe 

defines you as an artist? 

I created a live piece at an art 

competition called “OUTKAST” of a 

wild black sheep. The black sheep I 

painted represents that individual who 

is underestimated, who doesn’t have 

any distinctly visible advantages that 

will help them to “make it.” But it has 

a chance and the thing that makes 

it stand out can actually become a 

strength that leads it to the realization 

of its dreams. This black sheep has the 

vivacity, the persistence, the necessary 

confidence to pull through. I see my 

story wrapped up in this black sheep. 

I believe that unapologetic selfexpression 

is paramount. It’s healing 

to create something, whatever form 

I’m actually most inspired by musicians. 

Music is my sustenance, I replenish 

often and drink it in while I create. 

Jessie Boykins III, Frank Ocean, J. Cole, 

Tegan and Sara, Kendrick Lamar, Talib 

Kweli, Elle Varner, Janelle Monae, to 

name a few. Powerful, transformative, 

optimistic, pure, honest. Worlds are 

created through the portals of the 

ear, with the golden medium of sound. 

When you can hear that persistent 

passion in their voice, that underdog 

dream, that drive to make it, it’s so 

motivating for me to continue pursuing 

my dreams with fervour. How could I 

give any less? 

Camille is one of two 

Creative Directors 

and Curators for the 

Spoke N’ Heard event, 

the Emanate Gallery 

Exhibit. Emanate took 

place at the Arta Gallery 

on August 7th, 2013 

and featured her work 

alongside those of 18 

incredibly talented 

creators. For more 

information on this 

exhibit, you can visit 

www.spokenheard.ca 


64 

65

Kiprich 

Hit Maker 

By Kern Carter 

You have a way of putting 

out songs that really become 

popular with the people. What’s 

your secret? How do you always 

seem to make that connection? 


Exco Levi 

When preparing for an interview, I always inundate myself 

with facts about the person or topic that I would be covering 

so I’m armed with enough material to ask intelligent, 

provoking questions. In that sense, this interview was no 

different. I thought I had all of my bases covered and was 

ready when Exco Levi called me from Jamaica. Little did I 

know what I was truly in for. 

I always learn something new when interviewing someone, 

but never before had I been educated this much about a 

topic and an industry I thought I knew well. But after getting 

off the phone with the “Bleaching Shop” singer, I felt like I’d 

just received a crash course in reggae music. 

Exco had just recently come off touring Africa, and his first 

comment shocked me. “I didn’t see one dance hall artist in 

my two months on tour.” 

I thought maybe Exco was exaggerating, but when I pushed 

further, he explained. “Listen, dancehall is one month music. 

None of them can sell out Cool Haus.” 

It was hard for me to believe in an era when a twerk video 

gets more views than a Barack Obama speech, that dancehall 

acts aren’t doing big tours. 

“Let me tell you,” Exco continued. “These dancehall artists 

do Brampton, Toronto, and London [Canada] and call that 

a tour. Then you have man like Berris Hammond tour right 

through the year.” 

Real Music 

Real Results By Kern Carter 

The more Exco spoke, the more I understood what he was 

saying. And while he did mention that there are exceptions, 

namely Mavado, his point was clear; great music travels. And 

because “dancehall competes with itself,” as he put it, then 

there’s nowhere for it to go. 

But I had more questions for Exco. Why does it seem 

like dancehall is so popular with people, particular this 

generation and the generations after it? It’s as if everyone 

knows the latest dance or the hottest rhythm. 

“Blame the media,” Exco says with conviction. “Don’t blame 

the artist 100%. If you feed the people with spoil milk, that’s 

what they’ll drink. And the only way to reach fans is through 

media.” 

And it seems like dancehall fans have been drinking plenty 

of it. But Exco isn’t too worried about what everyone else 

is doing. He knows there is power in his music, and he has 2 

Juno Awards to prove it. “Canada started me off officially so 

give thanks.” 

Though we were first to recognize, we certainly weren’t the 

only ones. Exco has toured continents, and plans to continue 

his push to become a big artist and brand. He’s preparing 

a new single Wicked Evil Man Dem with friend and feature 

artist Busy Signal. No matter the venue, everywhere he goes 

his message remains the same; “Just love, love yourself.” 

Couldn’t have been more profound. 

I choose topics that people can 

relate to and I keep my story 

line from the start to the end. I 

do not have any secret. Music is 

a part of me it’s a lifestyle so my 

inspiration comes from everyday 

interactions. 

You’ve also written some big 

hits. Is it tricky writing music for 

other artists? 

No its not tricky writing music 

for other artists, you have to 

almost put yourself in that 

person mindset, and pick a topic 

that would fit the Artist. Being a 

chameleon myself this is a very 

simple task, and writing a hit for 

an artist is not necessarily making 

them re-do what they have done, 

but to introduce something new 

that will force them to step out 

of the box. Sometimes prove 

versatility and you need to be 

versatile as an artist. 

What do you feel has been your 

greatest accomplishment in 

your career? 

My greatest accomplishment thus 

far is gaining fans from all corners of 

the world, breaking down language 

barriers. To hear my fans that don’t 

speak English singing my songs word 

for word is humbling. 

You’ve been in the industry for over 

a decade. Have you noticed any 

significant changes since you’ve 

started? 

The Dancehall hitmaker 

let’s Boss 

Magazine know 

about what it takes 

to write big tunes 

for himself and for 

other artists. 

Yes, Change is inevitable and everything 

will change with time. Some obvious 

observations are more studios. Before 

there were only a few, now it’s more 

easier to record and technological 

advancements that aid in sound and 

recording of music. 

What do new artists need to know in 

order to have a lasting career in this 

industry? 

Education is very important. Get to 

know the history of music and the 

business of it and do it with passion or 

not at all. 

What’s the next move for Kiprich? 

Learning to play an instrument and 

taking Kiprich the brand to the next 

level. 


66 

67

Bob Marley 


the story 

The Would-Be Nobel Laureate and His Resounding 

Drum That Never Stops Beating 


Not only a drum major for peace, 

justice, racial equality and universal 

love—a legend by far—the echoes 

of Marley’s rhythmic reggae 

bellows can be heard and spiritually 

felt to this very day, as if he were 

still alive. Of course the essence 

of music is one such that never 

truly dies, much like energy can 

never be destroyed; it becomes 

transferred into another form. 

The same analogy could be used 

to explain the very nature of the 

creation of reggae music pre 

and post the Marley era. 

The tale of Marley and 

childhood companion Neville 

Livingston (Bunny Wailer) is one 

that will continue to be spoken 

of for years to come. The pair 

had been known for belting out 

tunes together while attending 

Nine Mile’s Stepney Primary 

and Junior High School. The love 

that transpired between the 

duo would eventually lead to 

the formation of stylistic vocal 

group, The Teenagers, which 

would later include Bunny, 

Livingston, the legendary Peter 

Tosh, songstress Beverley Kelso, 

Cherry Smith alongside Junior 

Brathwaite. Although the group 

was heavily embued with vocal 

talent, under the informal 

tutelage of Higgins (from the wellknown 

Higgins and Wilson) Marley 

developed an adroitness in playing 

the guitar; an instrument that would 

make a marked distinction in many 

of Marley’s songs, stage shows, and 

photographs. The larger “Wailers” 

group would soon after dwindle to 

become composed of Bunny, Tosh 

and Marley. 

As we, the receptors of music have 

experienced, The Wailers’ “I Shot 

the Sheriff” received international 

acclaim and made significant 

headway amongst fanbases 

spanning different musical genres. 

With the upbeat track landing in 

the hands of British musician Eric 

Clapton, who became enamoured 

with the song, so much so that he 

decidedly recorded a cover of the 

song to be featured on his 1974 

461 Ocean Boulevard album. The 

crossover from strictly roots reggae 

became apparent with its reception 

being made popular by the likes of 

Clapton, whose rendition shot to 

#1 of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart 

in September of 1974, thereby 

orchestrating the emergence of a 

universal reception of the Roots, 

Rock, Reggae phenomenon. 

While it must be acknowledged 

with slight modesty that Marley 

was the driving force behind 

reggae music’s popularity on 

an international scale, it is 

nevertheless important to give 

credit where credit is due. In 

this case, paying homage to 

Marley falls short if only we 

fail to offer a deserving salute 

to reggae’s predecessors: ska 

and rock steady. Ska and rock 

steady evolved in the 50s and 

60s, incorporating jazz, rhythm 

and blues, bop, rock ‘n’ roll and 

punk elements from the United 

States. Around the same 

time Jamaica was released 

from British rule in 1962, we 

witnessed the rise in popularity 

of jazz and bop in the U.S, 

while Jamaicans celebrated 

ska and mento at home--music 

that they proudly called their 

own. Rastafarianism (of which 

Marley was a believer) also 

rose to gain many followers to 

its way of living in the 60s, with 

its ritualistic Nyabinghi drum having 

said to have been a contributor to 

reggae sounds as well. 

It is thus not merely a coincidence 

that around the time that The 

Wailers formed their group in 1963 

was around the time that a musical 

transition began to occur, allowing 

for the establishment of reggae as 

a uniquely classified musical genre. 

Reggae became distinguished by its 

slower, mismatched beats, guitar 

chords played in staccato, and often 

riveting piano keys which mimicked 

the aloofness of the guitar sounds. 

Today, the cool, offbeat rhythms 

of reggae are recognized as a cool 

boy skank or swag that was much 

slower paced than its precursors. 

Although The Wailers mutually 

decide to go their separate ways in 

1974, Marley continued to produce 

works under the name Bob Marley 

and the Wailers. As a solo artist, 

not only did Marley’s musical lyrics 

profess thoughts of emancipation 

and global peace, his active 

participation in benefit concerts 

such as “Smile Jamaica,” which took 

place during the time of Michael 

Manley’s leadership in 1976 

professed the same, at a time when 

the People’s National Party and 

the Jamaican Labour Party were at 

odds. Despite what many purport 

to have been an assassination 

attempt on Marley, his spouse, 

and manager two days prior to the 

concert, due to what some thought 

was a concert in support of Manley 

and not for unification purposes at 

all, an injured Marley nonetheless 

had chosen to perform, which 

speaks volumes about the 

man’s courageous and unityloving 

spirit. With the threat of 

another onslaught stirring, Marley 

performed again in 1978 as part of 

the One Love Peace Concert, which 

was planned as a way to ameliorate 

rising tensions between Jamaica’s 

opposing political parties. It is 

around the same time that Marley’s 

Exodus and Kaya albums had been 

released and it is duly noted that 

the albums’ contents very much 

so promoted ideas of love and 

freedom. The highly popular “One 

Love” was one of the songs to 

appear on the Exodus album and 

to date is arguably celebrated as 

Marley’s most loved songs. 

Ever winning in the musical arena, 

Marley set the stage as a band 

leader for reggae by having spawned 

a widespread and internationally 

recognized genre of music. Perhaps 

it was Marley’s complex yet cool, 

reclined yet relatable nature 

that drew massive crowds and 

subsequent notoriety his way. 

Maybe it was his connection to the 

people of the Earth, his compassion 

for the underdog, his refrain from 

the pomp and the circumstance. 

Although everyone has their own 

reason for being a Marley fan, the 

bottom line remains that Bob was 

for the people: not only Jamaican 

people, but people of the world. 

Having grown up on a farm in the 

rural Nine Mile, St. Ann Parish, 

Jamaica—essentially cash poor— 

Marley’s experiences led to his 

connection with the downtrodden 

and grassroots movements alike. 

Perhaps being the product of a biracial 

marriage between his folks, 

Ellen Marley, a Jamaican of African 

descent, and Norval Marley, of 

European descent, made resonating 

with the duality amongst binaries 

such as those that exist between 

Blacks and Whites, the rich and the 

cash poor—an easier feat. 

A would-be Nobel Laureate I am 

sure, posthumously and if in a 

position to nominate a candidate 

for a Nobel Peace Prize, many would 

(without refrain) choose Marley. 

Regrettably, back in 1974 the de jure 

Statutes of the Nobel Foundation 

established that Prizes could not be 

handed out to deceased persons, 

with the exception of cases where 

awardees were alive at the time 

that their nominations and awards 

had been set. 

Following in their Father’s 

footsteps, Marley’s children—most 

notably, Damion, Ziggy, Stephen 

and Kymani—have managed 

quite successfully to continue 

the luminescence that is their 

legendary father’s name and 

reputation. The pastiche that is 

connected to Marley’s legacy is one 

that was before Marley and after 

Marley—perpetual. Music is truly 

a universal language that connects 

us all. Indeed Marley played an 

exceptional role in seeing to it that 

during a highly contentious time 

in the political affairs of the U.S., 

with the civil rights movement and 

in Jamaica, with warring political 

parties, there was a voice that 

took our attention away from the 

fighting and sought to appease our 

souls. Thank you Bob Marley. We 

salute you. 

Nikki is an educator and writer, 

whose musings cover a wide range 

of topics incuding but, not limited 

to: politics, love, education and 

cultural criticism. You can follow 

her on Twitter @artculturemusic. 


68 

69

Few musicians of any genre can match 

the overall talent and versatility of 

Demarco. Whether it’s performing 

on stage or creating the latest beat 

or riddim for the dancehall, Demarco 

excels equally at whatever he chooses 

to focus. With a resume comparable to 

any act in the game, Demarco continues 

to stay motivated and continues to 

push himself to do more. BOSS had a 

chance to speak with Demarco and ask 

him about being such a multi-faceted 

talent. 

You’re such a versatile 

talent with the ability to 

perform, produce, song, 

write, and engineer. Which 

of these do you most enjoy 

doing? 

artists. Which one of them has most 

impressed you with their work inside 

the studio? 

I can’t allude to one particular individual, 

what I can say is I try to take the 

positives from each artiste I encounter 

and see where it’s applicable in the 

improvement of my own work ethic. 

However I find the Reggae acts to be 

very committed to their craft. 

Lazy Body has been so well received 

on charts across the world. Talk about 

of work throughout your career. 

What keeps you motivated to keep 

creating? 

Thank you for the acknowledgement. 

What keeps me motivated is life and 

its experiences garnered through 

travelling, experiencing new people, 

cultures and most importantly the 

fans. As an entertainer something 

you feel like you want to stop, take a 

break or change direction but the fans 

constantly remind you that your work 

helps them through their day/life and 

Each facet has its own high 

point, but I enjoying them 

all equally. I like the idea 

of being able to contribute 

creatively to every aspect of 

a composition from thought 

to finish. 


Demarco 

Cream 


of the Crop 

Is there an aspect of 

your talent that you will 

eventually focus on? 

Meaning do you ever see 

yourself just doing one 

thing? 

No I don’t see myself 

focusing on any one thing; 

but lately I’ve developed a 

strong affinity for the visual 

arts, film making to be 

more specific. I’ve started 

investing more time into 

that aspect of my career my 

latest work is ‘Lazy Body’ 

which was completely shot 

and edited in–house by my 

team True Gift Entertainment. 

How does your mindset change when 

creating a dancehall riddim as oppose 

to a hip hop or R&B track? 

When composing a beat I try to 

immerse myself into the culture, 

lifestyle of mindset of the person/thing 

I am creating the project for. That helps 

to provide the inspiration needed or 

sometimes inspiration comes from my 

own experiences or those around me. 

You’ve worked with countless 

the process in creating the track. 

I was at the studio vibing with the team 

after returning from my Australian 

tour. Jay Crazie my producer played 

the beat and the words just came 

to me. After completing the verses I 

thought it needed more excitement 

and moments later Hotta Maestro 

walked into the studio and everyone 

knows how he can energize a party so 

he laid his vocals on the track and the 

rest is history. 

You have amassed a long resume 

that within itself is motivation that 

you’re not just doing this for yourself 

but for the many that looks to you and 

your words for comfort. 

What does the word “success” mean 

for Demarco? 

Success could be defined as “the 

accomplishment of one’s aim or 

purpose in life”; relating to me that 

would be being able to do what I love 

(music) while earning a living and still 

be afforded the joy of spending time 

with family and those close to me. 


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71

Bramma 

Early Success 


You always hear stories about what it’s like growing up 

in parts of Kingston, Jamaica. What was your personal 

experience Maxfield Gardens community and how did 

that shape you as a person? 

My personal experiences... There’s a lot. Just to name a few, 

I’ve to escape poverty and make it out. Maxfield is one of the 

toughest Garrison in Jamaica. Just to survive out of Maxfield 

was an experience within itself. Also I’ve experienced losing 

most of my friends to violence and even saw some of them 

go to jail. Other experiences back then, my address alone, 

made people judge me “because me a ghetto youth” etc. I 

definitely think it shaped and molded me into the person 

I am now. It made me stronger, made me realize where I’m 

coming from and identify where I want to go. 

What was it like going straight from school directly into 

the dancehall scene? How did you handle the expectations 

at such a young age? 

Well honestly, it was a conscious decision, when I look at my 

life and my surroundings. Firstly, I had to grow up quick; so 

immediately after High School it was either music, or being 

on the corner. As an only child of my mother, you know what 

stems from the corner: either death or jail. I did not want 

that for myself, «so I chose music». It was hard as a youth 

yes, trying to make links from studio to studio in the streets, 

lots of doors closed on me. I knew what I wanted though, so 

I just went for it. 

How difficult was it getting attention in the Jamaican 

dancehall market? Why do you think you were able to 

have success outside of Jamaica? 


Boss is fortunate to interview Bramma, one of the leading 

reggae artists of this generation and the certainly the 

next. He’s already accomplished so much in his early career, 

and although Bramma is thankful for the present success, 

he is even more focused on what he has yet to conquer. 

Very difficult because Jamaica has one million and one 

dancehall artists and every other person thinks they are the 

next big thing. So you know you have to make your thing as 

unique as possible and just go hard to stand out. Firstly, I 

know my music is real, and I sing for real people. So naturally 

they will feel and appreciate it, and it’s different from 

the everyday crap you hear on the radio they are calling 

dancehall. I mean, a lot of lyrics, plus the catchy melodies, 

nothing confusing (laughs). 

You’ve said that Bounty Killer was one of your musical 

idols growing up. Which one of your peers in the Reggae 

scene today do you admire? 

I don’t think that I have any peers because I am unique… lol. 

But if I have to say someone it has to be Stephen McGregor 

or my S-LOCK Team. 

How important was it for your career, and for you as 

a person, not to take sides when the initial problems 

started between Vybz and Bounty and everyone else 

involved. Was it difficult to stay neutral? 

Well it was never really hard. First and foremost nobody 

can program me, I do what I want and I am my own man. At 

that time Kartel and I were close friends and I looked up to 

Bounty Killer, so if they have beef; I’m a vegetarian. “Rasta 

don’t mix up in that.” 

Describe the feeling on finally going on tour for the first 

time? Did that make you feel like you were solidified as 

top Reggae artist? 

Yes, it was overwhelming and gratifying to know that I’m 

leaving my island and people because another country want 

to see me and love my music. It was a good feeling and it 

solidified me as an artist, because it boosted my love and 

confidence in the music through that appreciation. 

What is the next step for Bramma? Where do you hope to 

take your career and what message do you want to send 

with your music? 

I will continue to do this S-LOCK / BIG SHIP thing to the 

best of my ability. Which includes playing my part in 

representing and promoting the Dancehall/ Reggae genre 

to where it needs to be. Look out for lots more videos, tours, 

collaborations and also getting my new artists out there: 

Krucial, Idus and Diamond. I hope to take my career as far as 

it can go, doing my best. And my message is that ‘#Gorillas 

run the world lol.’ To all of the people with dreams, you can 

be or do whatever you want don’t allow anything or anyone 

to discourage you. 


72 

73

adoring fans. “Validation shouldn’t 

be important but it helps to keep one 

on track.” Of course, validation often 

leads people to belief that they are 

doing something right. 

After witnessing Jordan’s art, it is quite 

difficult to imagine that its creator is 

extremely shy and uses painting as 

a conduit through which she is able 

to communicate her thoughts and 

feelings. Although Jordan is fearful and 

at times doubtful, she remains diligent 

and refuses to allow fear to take over 

the process. 

And it shows in her beautiful artwork. 

I rounded off our phone conversation 

with the following Q & A with the very 

insightful Jordan: 

Does art allow you to creatively 

express the tensions you face as a 

biracial woman? If yes, how? 

about being biracial/mixed-race. In 

2012, I co-founded 3MW Collective 

along with Rema Tavares and Ilene 

Sova. Our mission is using visual art to 

deconstruct mixed-race identity. My art 

has provided me with the opportunity 

to connect with others and to explore 

relevant issues. 

Which of the two do you weigh more 

heavily: your desire to use art as a 

form of creative expression or the 

effect that your art may have upon 

others? 

I think both are important; however, 

if I had to choose one then creative 

expression would weigh more for me. 

I use art to express myself because 

it’s what feels right. I think naturally 

if I’m honest with myself the work 

will always affect somebody. Art is a 

universal language, and it has a way of 

connecting with others. 

Jordan Clarke 

No Boundaries 


femininity in art has been Jordan’s 

main focus. She has a vested interest 

in empowering women of the Black/ 

African diaspora and racialized women 

alike. 

Yes, art most definitely allows me 

to creatively express myself and 

my biracial identity. It was actually 

through painting that I initially began 

looking into my identity. It all started 

with a painting from 2008 titled 

Nothing is just black or white. This 

painting lead to my “mask” series of 

self-portraits exploring mixed race. 

This work has acted as a stepping stone 

for where I am now as an artist. Before 

this work, I wasn’t thinking critically 

What do you believe to be missing 

from Toronto’s art landscape (if 

anything)? 

Fearless art buyers. 

Why art? 

I choose art because it makes me feel 

connected and complete. It allows me 

to see the beauty in everything. 


For Jordan Clarke, artists’ expressions 

through their work are inextricably 

linked to their identity. Jordan, who 

is biracial herself, along with two 

other biracial women have formed 

a collective called 3MW or 3 Mixed 

Women. On October 3rd the trio 

banded together to curate an art 

exhibit entitled Complexion, which 

also happened to be a featured as 

part of Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche: 

an overnight showcase of art strewn 

across Toronto’s metropolis. 

Jordan posits that in Toronto there 

is an open community of support for 

artists that one would unlikely stumble 

upon elsewhere. Where Toronto falls 

short—in Jordan’s eyes—is when it 

comes to forking up the dollars by 

purchasing craze-worthy art, so as to 

assist in eradicating the widely-held 

“starving artist” image. 

Art has always been something that 

has made the burgeoning artist feel 

“human, good and smart.” Even as 

a graduate of OCAD, Jordan states 

during our buoyant phone conversation 

that she didn’t feel supported or 

encouraged by her professors 

throughout the course of her studies, 

claiming they often sought to pigeonhole 

her into focusing on producing 

Africentric art, seemingly to keep in 

line with the false belief that Black/ 

African artists are chiefly interested in 

creating art that contains elements of 

Africa, Blackness and nothing else. 

Jordan’s art has known no bounds. 

In fact, art has led her into unfamiliar 

territory. While in her third year at 

OCAD, art led her to Italy, where she 

encountered new techniques and 

became inspired by earth tones such 

as burnt sienna and various shades of 

brown, which can be found in many of 

her paintings. As an artist who has not 

been confined to the walls of academia 

since graduating in 2007, integrating 

Jordan finds it important to place 

some amount of thought into 

everything that she creates, claiming 

that there must be a vision as to why 

it is we do the things we do. “When 

you inspire others they give back to 

you,” says the self-proclaimed ubershy 

artist. As life for most is a process 

of learning and development, it is not 

surprising that Jordan’s objective is 

to continue along her journey toward 

artistic development for the purpose 

of creating inspirational pieces for 

others. But behind her desire to 

create inspirational works that others 

can feast their eyes on, lies Jordan’s 

admission of feeding off of aweinspired 

and positive sentiments of 


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75

Vybz Kartel: 

Madness 

by kern carter 


How else would you describe the enigma that is dancehall 

icon Vybz Kartel. Since parting ways with “The Alliance” and 

his former mentor Bounty Killa, controversy has followed. 

From his feud with former colleague Mavado, to being 

banned from Guyana airwaves, to his continued incarceration 

on a suspected murder charge, Vybz has perhaps become the 

most polarizing reggae artist of his generation. 

As Vybz Kartel sits in his cell awaiting the completion of 

a second murder trial in as many years, one can only imagine 

what thoughts are running through the DJ’s mind. Prior 

to his incarceration, Vybz had been in the dancehall scene 

for over a decade and seemed to be at the height of his success 

and popularity. His single “Clarks” was burning up the 

airwaves in Jamaica (and internationally), he released his 

own shoe line “Addis,” and 

he was the first dancehall 

artist to host his own reality 

show called Teacher’s Pet, 

a “Bachelor” type program 

that pit 20 females vying for 

Vybz affection. 

It seemed that Kartel had 

risen past his feud with former 

colleague Mavado, a 

beef stemming from Kartel’s 

departure from “The 

Alliance,” which also encompassed 

notable DJ Bounty 

Killa. At its height, the feud 

was much more than the 

diss tracks both djs spit on 

the most popular riddim of 

the time. The Gaza vs Gully 

culture that Vybz and Mavado 

created respectively, 

seeped into Jamaican culture 

causing youths of the island 

to take sides and wage 

their own personal wars that 

actually cost some young 

people their lives. 

To both artists credit, they 

twice tried to publicly end the feud, the second of those attempts 

actually saw both artists perform on stage together 

at the West Kingston Jamboree in 2009. And Vybz has since 

gone on to some major accomplishments, solidifying his 

name as one of the premiere dancehall djs in reggae music. 

But controversy has always stayed with the “Cake Soap” 

singer. The aforementioned track alluded to Vybz bleaching 

his skin, in effect causing him to appear lighter skinned. The 

act caused an uproar throughout social media across the 

globe, some questioning the safety of the practice, but the 

bigger question being the moral perception. The practice of 

bleaching is common amongst females in Jamaica, creating 

a “vampire” culture and image which assumes that lighter 

skinned people are somehow more privileged. Vybz was the 

first notable male (aside from Sammy Sosa) that adopted 

this practice, but he was unapologetic for his 

actions, instead comparing his bleaching to white 

people “getting a sun tan.” 

Soon more controversy for Vybz, as his music was 

banned on Guyana airwaves with the National Communications 

Network claiming Kartel had nothing 

positive to offer entertainment. 

But these missteps seem petty in comparison to 

Kartel’s next crime, a double murder accusation on 

September of 2011, a charge in which the “Straight 

Jeans and Fitted” singer is still fighting. A lot can be 

said of these accusations, but it would be unfair to 

speak in detail about an ongoing case, which at this 

point are only accusations. 

What can be said is that Vybz has again impacted 

the culture of his country and beyond with a tool 

other than his music. To show you the reach Vybz’ 

case has covered, I was inside of a club this past July 

when they announced he was not guilty of the initial 

murder charge. The crowd erupted in a frenzy 

as they played only Kartel songs for the next 10 

minutes, which says a lot about the catalogue of 

the dancehall don. 

It’s easy to forget in all of this chaos that Vybz Kartel 

is a serious performer that has been able to capture 

not only the airwaves, but speak to an entire 

generation of people through his music. He has had 

numerous hit records—“High,” “No Games,” “Summertime,”—just 

to name a few. His music can be aggressive 

and speak to the youths going through the 

everyday hardships, or it can be playful and sexual 

and speak more to women in the dancehall life. He 

is versatile, charismatic, energetic, and a consummate 

showman. A rare mix in reggae music today, 

it must be said that Vybz is one modern day legend, 

someone that will be remembered for his music as 

much as for the turmoil that has surrounded him. 

And now here we are. Vybz awaiting his fate, patiently 

or impatiently, no doubt wondering how the 

next decade of his life will be played out. One can 

only hope the madness has come to an end. 


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77


Sean Andre 

Images of InspirationBy Joseph 

You might know the venerable painter 

Bob Ross from Family Guy and a 

plethora of hilarious memes scattered 

across the internet, and you might 

perceive him as, well, the butt end 

of many jokes. But for many artists, 

like Sean Andre Thomas of Markham, 

Ontario, Bob Ross’s television 

show, The Joy of Painting, introduced 

them to the limitless and awe-inspiring 

possibilities of art. It prompted them 

to pick up a pencil or a paint brush and 

to start depicting their own creations 

Like many infinitely curious children, 

Sean liked to “doodle and mess 

around with crayons,” but he had yet 

to comprehend any meaning beyond 

his blithe and aimless doodling until 

his mother introduced him to Bob 

Ross. “My mom used to sit me in front 

of Bob Ross, and I’d watch it for as long 

as it was on,” reminisces the 26-yearold 

artist. “And I was in so much awe 

watching it. I was like, ‘Oh my God this 

guy’s painting a whole city with just a 

paint brush!’ 

From watching The Joy of Painting, 

Sean started to become aware of the 

many ingredients of visual arts. And with 

the help of other sources of inspiration 

like Marvel (he particularly enjoyed 

drawing Wolverine from X-Men), he 

began to develop not only a talent 

for art, but also his own style. Despite 

these ambitions, however, a career as 

an artist seemed less realistic to Sean 

as he grew older. 

Sean’s family moved around the GTA 

after arriving in Canada from Jamaica, 

Fava 

and by the time he reached high school 

he was living in Markham. He attended 

Markham District High School and 

pursued a scholarship in basketball, 

because like many artists who I’ve had 

this conversation with (a good example 

would be musicians), he didn’t see an 

outlet for art in his hometown. 

The passion he had for art subsided and 

was eventually pushed aside. “I was just 

playing basketball in high school as a lot 

of people were,” he said. “My mom kept 

telling me, you know trying to convince 

me, that I should do something with 

my art. But I did the popular thing and 

played basketball.” For him, basketball 

presented a very clear path towards an 

end-goal: get a scholarship, play for a 

college team and then get drafted into 

the NBA. 

Art, conversely, presented a path 

that was too ambiguous for him to 

be comfortable with. “There weren’t 

many outlets. You know, that’s one 

thing I didn’t see a lot of,” he said. 

“There was really not much there. It 

wasn’t promoted. So I took it [art] 

lackadaisically. I knew I had this talent 

but was there going to be anyone to 

see it? Where could I display it?” He did 

not get the basketball scholarship he 

wanted, so he settled with a graphics 

design program at George Brown 

College. But he was still not confident 

enough to pursue a career in the arts. 

While Sean was in college he started 

a jewellery business as a way to make 

money. His main products were gold 

grillz (gold teeth), and he sold them at 

a price well below what his competitors 

were charging and was making enough 

money for his business to remain 

viable. “I first got involved with making 

grillz when I went to Atlanta,” he said. 

“And when I got back to Toronto a lot 

of people wanted grillz but they were 

going for $400, and I knew I’d be able 

to sell them for about $160.” 

So he was successful in starting and 

then maintaining his business, but 

he had a hard time sustaining his 

enthusiasm for what he was doing. Too 

often he found his thoughts gravitating 

towards art. He felt a yearning to do 

something more fulfilling with his life. 

Eventually, Sean was pushed out of 

the jewellery business by competition, 

but that’s not something he laments. 

He was still at George Brown at the 

time and was exposed to inspiring art 

initiatives-like the Bauhaus movement 

of the early 20th century and the 

Manifesto Festival that takes place 

every year in Toronto-through his art 

classes. 

By the time he graduated, he no longer 

had a business. He only had a degree 

and a passion for art; and he knew he 

needed a new direction in his life. So he 

took his artistic talents, his inspiration 

he accrued from learning about art 

ventures through school, and his 

entrepreneurial spirit and set out to 

establish himself. 

Sean had his first solo exhibit in August 

where he displayed 13 original art 

pieces. Around the same time, he was 

chosen alongside 20 other artists to 

take part in the Downtown Markham 

Public Art Installation project. The 

Markham Public Art project called on 

the 20 artists to paint murals—based 

on the theme of a perfect city—that 

would be displayed at the intersection 

of Birchmount Road and Enterprise 

Boulevard in downtown Markham. 

He has also launched a website for 

his business Arts Golden, where he 

offers his services for any digital media 

project. I guess it’s safe to say he’s on 

the right track. 

Now that he’s taken those first steps 

and found his place in a world he 

doubted he would find himself a part 

of, the question remains: What’s next 

for Sean Andre Thomas? “My main goal 

now is to get a Kickstarter started and 

open an art centre for kids and anyone 

really who wants to come create art 

and share their art,” he said. “One thing 

I try to do with my art is get people 

inspired. Inspired to see what I’m doing 

and do something like it.” 

For Sean, getting people—and not 

just young people—excited about art 

and to create their own is as worthy an 

endeavour as the Manifesto Festival. “I 

want people to see beyond what’s in 

front of them, like these corporations 

and their ads and create their own 

brand,” he said. “I’m passionate about 

what I do and I want to help push 

others.” 

It seems the torch once carried by his 

syndicated mentor Bob Ross has been 

passed, and Sean carries it with the 

same intentions to inspire. 

“One thing I try to do with my art is get people inspired. Inspired to see 

what I’m doing and do something like it.” 


78 

79


I-Octane 


Higher Level 

You are a truly unique artist in that 

your music is able to resonate on 

all platforms, be it dance hall or 

“conscious.” How do you maintain 

that balance? 

I just try to keep it positive whether I’m 

singing dancehall or Reggae, I ensure 

that people can relate to my songs and 

always in a clean way. I don’t believe I 

have to say certain things to make my 

point. That way everyone can enjoy my 

music. 

Your stage shows are powerful to 

watch. How are you able to make that 

connection with a live audience? 

You see when I touch the stage no 

matter where in the world or to 

how much people I always go into a 

different zone or frame of mind the 

minute I hear the MC announce my 

name. So honestly I couldn’t explain 

to you how I do it. I just know being on 

stage is everything to me so I always 

give it my all. 

You’ve been part of significant brand 

campaigns, which is not typical for 

many reggae artists. Why do you feel 

that brands have identified you as 

having influence over culture? 

Well my music is clean, it has a message 

and everyone can relate to it. But most 

importantly my team ensure that I am 

a package, not just a talented youth. In 

other words am a marketable artiste 

and I have a very professional team so 

companies have no issue working with 

me. What can I say; companies need 

faces that can sell their products and I 

guess have one of those faces lol 

You are considered a leader of this 

generation of reggae artists. Is that 

how you see yourself? 

Well I just do good music and hope 

people will love and appreciate it. I do 

not do it to be on top nor to be a leader 

per say, but if others see me as a leader 

then I’m honoured to be seen in that 

light. 

Do you feel any pressure to be a 

role model and to hold yourself 

accountable for the lyrics in your 

music? 

No man, no pressure. I keep it 100% 

all the time. I know today people will 

love and look up to you but tomorrow 

just like that for whatever reason they 

forget about you. I’m honoured to 

be seen as a role model, but I’m still 

grounded about it. I’m not going to let 

it get to my head. As it relates to my 

lyrics it’s all me. Now and again another 

artiste may say change this or add this 

while recording. That’s all. 

You’ve accomplished a lot in a short 

period of time. Where does I-Octane 

hope to take his career from here? 

I am absolutely grateful for everything 

I’m blessed with in my life so far cause 

trust me at one point this was all just 

a dream for me. But as you may know 

I am about to drop my second studio 

album titled ‘My Journey’ and honestly 

I have put in some serious work into 

making it and when it drops on March 

4th my team and I are going to put 

even more work to promote it so I can 

be a Grammy winning artiste and just 

keep making good music for the world 

to appreciate. Cause as you know 

music is probably the most universal 

language there is, so if I can keep 

spreading positivity thru my music, 

then my journey here on earth will be 

amazing. And I have so much more to 

learn about myself and music itself, so 

as I go along you will hear the growth 

in my music and that’s all I want to do, 

just keep growing. 

Big up to Boss magazine and the readers. Much love... 


80 

81


82 

Jamaica 

Live from 


Boss Magazine was inside of National Stadium in Jamaica to join 

in the birthday celebration in honour of the late great musical 

icon Bob Marley. National Stadium is the actual site of Bob 

Marley’s historic Peace Concert, and artists old and new came 

out to perform and show their love and appreciation. Boss was 

able to catch up with some of these artists to ask them what Bob 

Marley meant to them and their careers. 

Julian Marley 

One can only imagine the world-wind 

of emotions Julian Marley feels when 

performing at a celebration honouring 

his father and the greatest reggae 

musician of all time. 

“It feels very good celebrating our 

father’s Earth-strong, yuh know. And 

it’s a great feeling here tonight with 

so much people turning out, so much 

great artists.” 

And Julian most certainly must be 

included in that category of ‘great 

artists.’ He has established himself as 

one of the prominent figures in reggae 

today, having been nominated for a 

Grammy with his “Awake” album in 

2009, and having toured the world 

over, bringing his roots style of music 

to the masses. 

“The message is L.O.V.E. Say it, spread 

it in many different ways. That’s the 

message we have for all fans and 

everyone.” 

Julian has been spreading that 

message since his debut album in the 

mid-nineties. Replicating his father’s 

message of love and inclusion, Julian 

has created a distinct spot for himself 

through his own music. He learned to 

play several instruments at an early 

age, including the keys and drums, and 

has transferred that knowledge to 

his stage shows, which are powerfully 

engaging to audiences of all cultures. 

Julian is now looking ahead to new 

music and new experiences. 

“Currently I’ve been writing some songs 

and doing some studio work also. And 

working on the album, so hopefully 

by summertime we’ll have something 

ready for the fans.” 

With a string of tour dates ahead, 

including the 9 Mile Festival in Miami, 

fans will certainly get a full dose of 

Julian before the new album. The son 

of a legend, Julian has carried on the 

Marley tradition of influential music 

proudly. We thank him for taking time 

to speak to the Boss family. 

A legend in his own right, Beenie man 

has performed at National Stadium 

many times to sold out crowds 

singing along to any one of his classic 

dancehall tracks. Regardless of his own 

success, Beenie is always humbled at 

the opportunity to pay tribute to the 

ultimate reggae icon. 

“To celebrate Bob Marley birthday 

is always an honour. My kids told me 

they wanted to come to the concert at 

National Stadium so I brought them. 

They asked me to go on stage and sing 

a few songs, I did that.” 

And for that, I’m sure the crowd at 

National Stadium was appreciative. 

A staple in the dancehall scene for 

close to three decades, Beenie Man 

transcends what it means to be a 

traditional artist, instead he defines it. 

He has won awards, toured the world, 

stirred up controversy, but more than 

anything, he has consistently put out 

great music that connects with his core 

fans and that has allowed him to not 

only survive, but to thrive in an industry 

where new artists spring up every year. 

So for BOSS to catch up with Beenie 

and see him pay tribute to another 

legend truly shows how powerful Bob 

Marley’s influence has been, and how 

many artists he has truly inspired, and 

continues to inspire. But Beenie isn’t 

finished. You would think an artist 

who put out his first album before he 

was a teenager would be somewhat 

Beenie Man 

satisfied with his accomplishments. 

With early hits like “Who Am I,” classic 

albums like “Blessed,” and with a string 

of 8 consecutive DJ of the Year awards 

during the 1990’s, Beenie’s status is 

secure even if he chose not to ever put 

out another record. 

But that would not be the work ethic 

that has lead to Beenie being called 

King of Dancehall. He has continued 

to produce hits into this decade, 

including “Rum and Redbull,” which 

was an international radio smash. And 

now even more work ahead, inside and 

outside of music. 

“Right now I’m working on my new 

LP. It’s called Greatest Gyalist so right 

now that is the whole agenda. And I’m 

working on a new television series for 

Jamaica. It’s more like a detective, bad 

boy, rude boy police ting. It’s not like a 

comedy ting, you know. It’s something 

everybody can pick up.” 

The name of the TV series will be called 

“Just Like Kingston,” playing off of a 

video Beenie was featured in while 

in Canada. He also says the series will 

definitely be accessible to Canadian 

fans as the financing is from a Canadian 

source. 

So keep looking out for more and 

more from Beenie Man. He has set 

the standard for dancehall music and 

continues to remain relevant across the 

world.


Romain Virgo 

After winning the Digicel Rising Stars Competition in 2007 

at the age of 17, the youngest performer to ever accomplish 

that feat, Romain Virgo followed a string of hits with his selftitled 

debut album in 2010. 

On performing at National Stadium for Bob Marley 

Birthday Celebration 

“It’s an honour. Anyone that performs here tonight should 

feel good that we’re honouring a King. Everybody loves his 

music, everybody supports him as someone that has done so 

much for reggae music and so much for his country.” 

On what he’s working on musically 

“Right now we’re just in the studio. We’re looking forward 

this year to putting out another album, but for now we’re 

just putting out singles and probably a few of these singles 

will be on the album coming up. We’re just putting in work, 

every day we’re working whether it’s a music video or a new 

song, we just keep on working and stay optimistic. I love 

what I do, I believe in what I do and the messages I put in my 

songs and try to follow in the footsteps of great people like 

Bob Marley.” 

Christopher Ellis 

The youngest child of the great Alton Ellis, Christopher 

Ellis has joined forces with the Marley’s Ghetto Youths 

International label to create soulful, sultry lovers rock that 

would make his father smile down from the gates with pride. 



“It feels so good to perform here, but it feels even better 

with the reception we get. Being well received to me is 

important, you know, and they did that for me; and that’s a 

big deal. I’m going home today satisfied, very satisfied. I can 

sleep good tonight.” 

On what’s next for him musically 

“I just released an EP called Better than Love. It’s on iTunes 

right now and it’s done really well-it got to number 3 on 

the U.S charts, you know, billboard reggae, and number 2 

in England, so that’s been going great for me. After the EP 

now is album, you know, so 12 songs from Christopher Ellis is 

coming 2014.” 

Ikaya 

You knew as soon as you heard Ikaya on Capleton’s single 

“Fire” that Ikaya was here to stay. Now she has her own hits 

to boast about, like “Fly Away”, and “Hard Way” that have 

become staples on European radio. Her hard work earned 

her the Stone Love Female Artist of the Year in 2010, and 

now much more music is on the way. 



“I feel honoured and when I got the call I was so excited 

about it. As you know Bob Marley, he’s an icon and he’s a 

legend and he paved the way for us young artists so I have 

to show my tribute to him, you understand what I’m saying. 

It’s a great feeling and I’m elated to be here right now. I’m so 

loving this. It’s a great vibe.” 

On what’s next for her musically 

“I’m working on my album right now. I have a single named 

“Fly Away” which is getting great feedback right now. I 

just did a video for one of the singles off my album which 

is coming soon called “Bang Bang.” You can look for that 

coming soon. My song “Hard Way” has a great impact on 

not just younger generation but the elders also. And I’m 

just elated to be that person that is a motivator and inspire 

people and that’s what I love doing.” 

Wayne Marshall 

Since he stormed into the reggae scene, Wayne Marshall had 

a style that has captured audiences from across the globe. 

From his collaborations with Sean Paul or Beenie Man, to his 

remix of “Blame It” by Jamie Fox, Wayne Marshall is a leader 

in this generations reggae music scene. 



“It’s always a joy, always a pleasure to perform at these 

historic monuments, [with] that big statue out there 

(speaking of Bob Marley statue). I can remember being a kid, 

as long as I could remember myself, I remember seeing that 

statue and that always kinda put Bob Marley in a different 

light because he wasn’t really a sports man, yet still big 

statue up at National Stadium, that really shows you he 

is a national icon and a superstar. It’s always a pleasure to 

represent the greatest to ever do reggae music.” 

On what’s next for him musically 

“The album was release January 21. The executive producer 

of the album is Damian Marley, team member Ghetto Youths 

International, big up all of the Marley family. The album is 

out now doing well. I don’t have a favourite favourite song 

on the album, but there is a song called Stupid Money I do 

with my son. He’s only 8 years old and he did the hook. We 

are very excited about it. It’s out now and getting played all 

over the world. 


84 

85

Lifestyle

If I 

Ruled 

T.O.By Justina Opoku-Ware 


Bow wow, Terrence Ross, Jully Black, 

Glenn Lewis, and Karl Wolf were all 

there. BOSS was also there. If I Ruled 

T.O. was a summit organized by 

Toronto Community Housing (TCH) to 

give youth residing in TCH properties 

the chance to speak and be heard. 

The event was a huge success, with 

celebrities that are known locally, as 

well as ones known internationally, 

making an appearance to support 

the cause. The event was held at 

the Sheraton Centre in Downtown 

Toronto. 

2013 was dubbed “Year of the Youth,” 

and the summit was the headlining 

event. The purpose of the event was 

to “inspire, empower and motivate 

youth living in Toronto Community 

Housing neighbourhoods to advocate 

for change.” The day was filled with 

workshops, question & answer panels, 

award presentations, key-note speakers 

and motivational entertainment. 

Through these activities, youth were 

able to develop in the four categories 

launched under the Year of the Youth 

action plan: leadership, recreation, 

safety, and economic opportunities. 

The event was a huge success with 1500 

youth in attendance. Transportation 

to and from the event was provided, 

as well as snacks, lunch, and a three 

course dinner. BOSS would like to 

congratulate TCH for putting on an 

amazing event! 


88 

89


Gene Jones 

Boss MAN 


How difficult is it to really influence 

change or command enough power to 

create real change? Lost in the current 

political storm of Toronto is the past 

turmoil that was the TCHC and the impending 

rift between city constituents 

and leaders elected to be their voices. 

Into the midst of this friction steps 

Gene Jones from seemingly a world 

away; in actuality just a short ride south 

of the border, and assigned with the 

task of closing that rift and restoring 

the residents faith in their officials and 

Changing Places 

implementing change against hesitant 

surroundings. 

As beautiful as we believe our city of Toronto 

to be, it wasn’t initially the attraction 

that pushed Gene Jones to leave 

his home country. 

“It was about the opportunity to do 

wonderful things in the city of Toronto,” 

Gene admits. “When I arrived here, then 

I understood what a wonderful city Toronto 

is and was for many years.” 

And the opportunity is where Gene has 

focused his attention; the opportunity 

for real change, to succeed where the 

TCHC has failed in the past in connecting 

with its residents. An opportunity 

that Gene is well aware will be difficult 

to conquer. 

“Change is the biggest thing. The transformation, 

trying to show [residents] a different 

way. Trying to get people to explore, 

trying to get down into the culture.” 

A culture built on accountability, Gene 

hopes. He recognizes that for change to 

work, the TCHC has to restore residents’ 

faith in its ability to identify and service 

residents’ needs. They need to open the 

dialogue through direct contact and 

gatherings such as town hall meetings 

where residents’ voices are heard and 

their complaints are managed. And he 

knows that can only happen from the 

top down. 

“You can’t operate TCHC from behind a 

desk. They want to see you, they want 

to talk to you. The TCHC has made a lot 

of promises and have not delivered on 

those promises. But the majority of the 

promises I’ve made, we’ve reacted and 

we’ve provided those resources. I think 

now they think I mean what I say.” 

That trust between people and their 

representatives is crucial, even more so 

when dealing with what is essentially a 

landlord-tenant relationship. Each side 

has expectations and responsibilities 

and each side must be open to change. 

And Gene wants that change across the 

board. Apart from physically restoring 

broken down communities and getting 

the residents to take pride in their surroundings, 

Gene hopes to implement 

changes that stretch beyond simply being 

a courteous landlord. 

“I want to provide entrepreneurial opportunities 

for our residents, jobs for 

our residents and contracts with our 

residents. We need educational programs. 

The Youth Summit in October 

was a good start. Bringing youth together 

and alert the people who have 

funding to help provide opportunities 

for them.” 

Opportunities, Gene feels, aren’t always 

provided for youth and not on the scale 

that is grand enough for them to truly 

be successful. 

“Youth are the most disenfranchised 

group of individuals in the city. We 

talk a good game, we provide resources, 

but we pick at it. We need to go at 

it holistically. We got to do it neighbourhood 

by neighbourhood. I don’t 

like the stereotype of having priority 

neighbourhoods. Now we want to 

bring a different program where we 

invite and we try to work in a holistic 

approach and put all the resources together 

and really direct how we get 

our youth to engage in education and 

jobs and so forth.” 

Certainly a big task. Although Gene 

does admit that sometimes his staff 

and even residents can be hesitant 

about his plans, he has a clear vision of 

where he expects Toronto to be and 

when he wants it to get there. Sighting 

2015 as the aim for when his changes 

would have had time to be implemented 

and recognized by residents, Gene is 

taking a strong willed, straightforward 

approach to rebuilding the social infrastructure 

of his residents. 

Gene plans to use every resource available 

to him, including people and particularly 

the elderly. Gene feels strongly 

that the elderly have a wealth of knowledge 

that they can impart on youth, and 

he is working to find ways to bring these 

two demographics together. 

“We got to find ways to get them out 

of the house and use their historical 

knowledge to try to educate our youth. 

That’s what we’re all about.” 

And Gene feels that part of that social 

reconstruction will have to include 

physically creating affordable housing 

for the residents, something he feels 

Toronto is lacking. 

“Toronto has no affordable housing. 

You have people who can buy condos 

and then you have those people who 

have to rent, and there’s no in between. 

I don’t understand how people can afford 

to live in Toronto. My clientele’s 

average income is like $1300/month. 

That’s pretty, pretty dismal in this big 

city where everything is expensive.” 

And here the cycle begins. People who 

can’t afford to live from month-tomonth 

depend more on the system to 

help make ends meet, or worse, turn to 

illegal or underhanded activities they 

feel are justified by their financial situation. 

That’s partly why Gene is adamant 

about a holistic approach to improving 

the lives of youth and utilizing the TCHC 

as a service provider and a resource 

for its residents. And although he does 

agree that affordable housing is a possible 

step, Gene has some ideas. 

“I think we need to work with the developers 

and see how we can carve in 

affordable housing. If there was a tax 

credit system, like in the United States, 

it would be a shoe-in. It provides an opportunity 

to provide affordable housing 

for those in between.” 

Just repairing the relationship between 

the TCHC and its residents is a huge undertaking, 

but add to it the other ambitious 

projects that Gene is pursuing and 

you can understand why he says he’s 

been extremely busy. He makes sure to 

visit his residents, he analyzes housing 

needs by going to TCHC properties, and 

he keeps himself completely accessible 

for suggestions on improvements. 

Speaking with Gene Jones you recognize 

immediately that he is a person 

of few words. His focus is clear and his 

work-ethic intense. He is on a direct 

path to affecting change: physically by 

restoring TCHC properties, and culturally 

by providing opportunities for residents 

to become educated and to use 

their skills to become positive members 

of their communities, society as a whole 

and the overall economy of Toronto. 

“I have great staff and I have great residents. 

I enjoy my work and I’m proud to 

be president of the TCHC.” 


90 

91

Boss Scholars 

By Justina Opoku-Ware 

Kwaku Agyemang 

What do you have to say about the stigma surrounding your 

community in regards to race and success (certain races 

are categorized as unsuccessful from the very beginning)? 

BOSS MAGAZINE LIFESTYLE 

Kwaku Agyei Agyemang was born and raised in Rexdale. His 

parents are from the West African country of Ghana. He is 

attending North Albion C.I. and is part of various activities in 

the community such as Trust 15 Men of Distinction, Albion 

Neighborhood Services, and initiatives to help improve the 

quality of the community he lives in. Kwaku is also part of a 

dance group, as well as a member of the Rexdale Raiders minor 

football league. Over the course of his educational history, he 

has received many awards and achievements such as: 

· Student Council President grade 7 

· Student Council President grade 8 

· Dance Award grade 8 

· Pride Award grade 8 

· Volunteer Award grade 8 

· Citizenship Award grade 9 

· Leadership Award grade 9 

· Michael Frish Award grade 10 

· Honor Roll grade 10 

· Highest Mark Communication Technology grade 10 

· Camp leader grade 11 

· Student Council Treasure 

2013-2014 

He currently has a part-time job as an afterschool program 

leader and is excelling in school in hopes of getting a scholarship 

and gaining admission into a good university. 

What kind of obstacles did you encounter growing up in your 

community? 

Growing up in the community I live, there were some obstacles 

I encountered in the sense of being an “at risk youth.” Many 

people think just because you come from a certain community 

means you have to have a tough time growing up. Luckily for 

me I had well educated parents who mentored me and were 

there for me. That kind of support was what kept me from 

giving in to gangs or doing drugs. 

How have you overcome these obstacles? 

Simple, I stayed in school; I chose not to affiliate myself with 

certain people. Surprisingly that’s where most of my issues 

came from; I wouldn’t hang out with “people I’m supposed to 

hangout with” and the people I wanted to affiliate myself with 

tried to distance [themselves] from me because they thought 

I was just another at risk youth. As a result, I didn’t have a 

‘particular’ group of friends, I had acquaintances. This didn’t 

bother me that much, it allowed me to develop relationships 

with more people. 

That’s the problem in our communities; many people 

are focusing on all the negative material, but refuse to 

acknowledge the efforts made by hardworking people to 

better the community for its citizens. Many people will blame 

the individuals displaying the negative behaviour from the 

community, and to some extent that is true. But we can’t hide 

from the fact that the media does play an unfair game by saying 

things like “ANOTHER shooting at (such and such) place.” 

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10 years from 

now? 

I see myself in University studying business and Dramatic arts 

and becoming a successful actor incorporated with business. 

What advice would you give to youth growing up in 

communities that are considered as “at risk”? 

I am going to keep it short and sweet with two common phrases, 

“stay in school” and “stay out of trouble.” 

Christina Alexis 

Watson-Williams 

Christina Alexis Watson-Williams is a young female from 

Rexdale. Even though there are many stereotypes in place in 

her community, at her young age, Christina has managed to 

overcome several of them, and continues to conquer more. She 

is currently one of a handful of students in the gifted program 

at her school. She is also a member of Toronto’s young up and 

coming dance group, Broken Silence, and placed as runner up 

in a beauty pageant. Boss was able to get a few minutes from 

Christina’s busy schedule to ask her a few questions. 

What do you like about school? 

I like math, and writing stories. I also like recess. I love school so 

much that I wish I could be there all day. 

What is your favourite subject? 

My favourite subject is art. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

When I grow up I want to be in fashion and modeling so I can go 

all around the world and be a celebrity. 

f one of your friends told you, “school is hard,” what would 

you say to them? 

Yes school is hard, but you need to be in school so you can learn 

how to read and write and become smart. School is a good 

thing and everyone needs to go to school. 

Do you know someone who 

is excelling academically? 

Boss Magazine is looking for 

nominationsfor our Scholar 

feature to be profiled in our next 

issue! Send a brief paragraph 

about why the nominee should be 

selected to: bossmag01@gmail.com 


92 

93


Saying F-You 

Last year I was driving my brother to 

work. I had accidentally left his computer 

on overnight and provided him with a 

very lame apology. This minor thing came 

up during our drive, and snowballed into 

a shouting match, leading to both of us 

saying some pretty awful things. Once I 

dropped him off, I thought that would 

be the last time we ever spoke again. 

There was nothing that could be done 

to remedy the situation. The words we 

said were out there now, with no going 

back. I didn’t ever want to remember the 

conversation, so I erased it (and him) from 

my memory. In one fleeting moment, my 

whole landscape had changed. My mom 

urged for us to confront and figure out 

the problem, but we didn’t. Obviously, 

parents always know best, and it took 4 

gruelling months to learn how to forgive 

myself and my brother. The idea of 

forgiveness is a strange one - that is to 

stop feeling resentful or indignant to 

someone who has wronged you, even 

if they have not apologized or made up 

for their actions. Yet, forgiveness is a 

valuable tool, so underused and often 

forgotten in our age, that it seems 

outdated and pointless. 

The phrase “forgive and forget” floats 

around a lot, but it’s a phrase that truly 

fits the cliché of “easier said than done.” 

To wholly forgive someone for a heinous, 

almost unspeakable action is mentally 

exhausting, and many often don’t do 

it, instead internalizing the feelings and 

brooding something dark and even more 

hurtful within themselves. 

How one person affected 

by trauma took a simple 

one-word idea and used it 

to instill change and 

progress within the 

youth of Toronto 

Broaching the idea of forgiveness, 

especially for youth, is difficult. It’s so 

much easier to ignore or seek revenge 

on those who have wronged you, yet it 

is those exact actions that instead create 

more despair and depression. F-You: The 

Forgiveness Project is an organization/ 

speaker series created by Tara Muldoon 

that encourages our generation and 

those to come, to be mindful of those 

who have hurt you, viewing all possible 

perspectives of conflict and emotional 

strife. “What would it look like if you 

forgive yourself or another today?” is 

the question Tara wants to pose to the 

world. F-You is an idea first formed 

and implemented in the UK under 

the moniker The Forgiveness Project, 

and transferred by Tara into a Toronto 

setting. The UK based Forgiveness 

Project hosted an art show at the 

University of Toronto in which Tara 

attended, and the ideals presented 

resonated so deeply with her that she 

decided to convey the morals in her own 

way at home, hoping to instill the same 

reaction in the population of Toronto. 

I had a chance to discuss F-You with Tara, 

and the inspiration comes from a dark 

point in Tara’s life. 

“I was on the journey of coming to terms 

with a sexual assault; the art show [at U 

of T] touched me in a profound way.” 

This idea of forgiveness, simple it may 

be in theory, impacted Tara so much 

that she was determined to spread the 

word, literally. Tara hopes forgiveness 

By Max Greenwood 

to it all 

can bring peace to anyone harmed by 

violence, sexual assault, or anything that 

has negatively affected the individual. 

Tara began hosting F-You events in 

December of 2010, drawing in 49 

attendees who wanted to discuss the 

unforgettable things that had happened 

to them, and the struggle to cope and 

move on. 

“To be honest, I don’t really do anything” 

says Tara. “It’s the speakers - when 

you have a peer sitting in front of you 

speaking about overcoming trauma/ 

heartbreak/addiction/etc., the strength 

is contagious.” 

All of us are constantly surrounded by 

conflict of some kind, whether real life 

or depicted in the media. Some of us are 

affected directly, having lost friends or 

family; others indirectly, yet the pain and 

emotion is all-to-real, and Tara set out to 

turn this trauma into a positive project. 

Forgiving others is important, but selfforgiveness 

is a major talking point as 

well. Many people act impulsively and 

cannot forget something done in a fit 

of passion or emotion. Forgiving oneself 

is often more difficult then forgiving 

someone else. Reliving those “I could 

have handled it better” moments is 

draining. This is why Tara invites both 

victims and perpetrators of violent acts 

to speak. We are a collection of every 

“what if” we have ever thought, some 

fortunate and some destructive, so 

confronting them in F-You’s positive 

space, surrounded by like-minded peers, 

is an excellent approach to the difficult 

task of answering those what-ifs. 

Victims of sexual assault, ex-gang 

members, and others who seek answers 

attend the F-You meetings and tell their 

raw stories. The original discussion group 

has grown extensively since its inception, 

and averages an astounding return rate 

of over 85%. “Real recognizes real,” Tara 

surmises. “I believe people come back 

because of our calibre of speakers.” The 

real goal of the F-You discussion series 

is to produce “logical, preventable antiviolence 

tactics,” but Tara has much 

more in mind, hoping to one day change 

the meaning of “F-you” to mean “forgive 

you.” However, when I first read F-You, 

I had something else in mind, something 

a bit more hostile. “Fuck you” seems like 

the first thing to say to someone who has 

wronged you, but anger seems like a step 

in the wrong direction when it comes to 

forgiveness. Tara has another thought. 

“I believe anger is healthy. When we 

are hurt or wronged, we have to go 

through a process to find peace. I would 

never and could never judge anyone 

for being mad when pain occurs.” F-You 

aims to create talking points around 

this anger, presenting the idea that 

even if forgiveness seems too distant 

a thought, it is still possible. Still, anger 

cannot be a crutch. 

“I do feel there is a point when anger 

can take over our lives, which becomes 

unhealthy and can manifest addictions 

[and] hate.” Tara seems to convey that 

anger is normal, but being consumed by 

anger (or any emotion for that matter) is 

not. Finding ways to come to terms with 

these overpowering feelings is the key 

motive behind F-You. 

This idea of being consumed with anger 

brings up an interesting topic, one Tara 

has debated endlessly. Is there such a 

thing as an unforgivable action? “In my 

experience,” says Tara, “I have yet to find 

anything unforgivable. I really believe 

that with my whole heart.” Although 

I personally agree with Tara - there is 

always a way to move past an action, 

despite its consequences on your life - 

forgiveness is not universal. Everyone 

does not forgive the same way, and 

some may not be want to forgive at all. 

“We discuss the [unforgivable] question 

openly to create conversation - never, 

ever to judge.” This question contributes 

to the key factors and appeal of 

F-You: creating touchy talking points, 

encouraging speakers to present their 

personal stories, and seeking acceptance 

and comfort in a group atmosphere. 

F-You was not created to tell exactly how 

to face your source of problems though, 

as this process differs for each attendee. 

“Confrontation is absolutely not 

necessary, in my experience,” Tara says. 

“I will never be able to speak directly to 

the man who assaulted me. I forgave him 

for me, not for him.” 

In a way, Tara encapsulates the entire 

message of F-You with this sentence. 

You do not enter with the intent of fully 

forgiving someone by the end, removing 

them from your mind and continuing on, 

happy now, with your life. Forgiveness 

is a tool, to be practiced and used more 

and more throughout your life. 

“Hurt people hurt people...I don’t believe 

F-You can save the world, but I’ve had 

multiple people tell me that F-You has 

kept [them] from shooting a gun and 

also taking their own lives.” Forgiveness 

creates relief and cultivates personal 

growth. There may never be finalized 

conclusions to the conflicts these 

speakers present, but changing the way 

these conflicts are thought about is a 

major step. 

Building upon these ideals, Tara and 

F-You recently published a book, based 

on the format that occurs at the speaker 

series. Real people submit stories 

involving forgiveness; this way, those 

who are not comfortable speaking in 

person can instead share their stories 

with a pen and paper. The book, F-You: 

The Forgiveness Project - Memoirs of 

Violence and Compassion, published 

in August 2013, is the first in a series 

aimed to spread the word of forgiveness 

throughout the world. 

“So many people doubted me that 

youth would write about forgiveness” 

says Tara. “It’s been incredibly inspiring 

to see all the authors tell their stories.” 

The City of Toronto helped fund the 

book, and another is slated to be 

published soon, this time dealing with 

grief and forgiveness specifically. After 

that, Tara hopes to focus on addiction. 

In the meantime, F-You continues to 

hold speaker series and present their 

admirable message, visiting universities, 

community centres, and anyone that will 

have them. Tara even visited Rome, and 

gave Pope Francis a copy of the book. 

“I hope he gives us a review,” jokes Tara. 

Even if he doesn’t, it’s refreshing to see 

someone who holds such a culturally 

valued (albeit a bit archaic) position 

involving themselves in something 

so pertinent to all facets of society, 

showing again how far-reaching and 

valuable the cause is. 

Still, forgiving is an everyday struggle. 

“Forgiveness can get gritty and 

complicated,” says Tara. “I have yet to 

experience someone speaking about 

an easy forgiveness experience.” Tara 

created F-You to guide through this 

complex process of forgiveness, letting 

us listen to those who have suffered 

from and even perpetrated terrible acts. 

Never forget to forgive - it will make 

you a stronger person and allow you to 

grow and help others. F-You reminded 

me of this: I let a fight with my brother 

drag on for too long once, and I nearly 

lost my relationship with him. I imagined 

what life would be like without having 

him around, to ask for favours, to hang 

out with, to learn from. I could not deal 

with the thought of losing that part of 

my life. I imagined myself forgiving him, 

and knew it had to happen, so faced my 

fears and said F-you to it all. 


94 

95

Boss MAGAZINE 

Superhero 


Tasheka Mason (TASHEKA meaning; Wisdom, prone to selfsacrifice 

and peacemaker. MASON; from an old French word 

of German origin meaning “to make or stone worker”) is the 

third child of four on both of her parents’ sides. According 

to the Akan day names, her day name is Adjua which is 

connected to the day she was born, Monday, which means 

“peacemaker, humorous, devoted to helping others, and 

responsible.” With that being said, Tasheka is devoted to 

helping the young people around her achieve excellence and 

to helping her community grow. A resident of Scarborough, 

she is currently the volunteer executive director at 

Healin’Scars, the 2013 Youth Legacy Award recipient at 

YCF (United Way), a selected member on the first Premier’s 

Counsel On Youth Opportunities, the chair of the board at 

Redemption Reintegration Services, and is in the process 

of holding an exclusive event for her new company TM3; 

A Vintage vs Modern Wear Night Out Networking/Launch 

event. Boss caught up with our latest Superhero to ask her 

a few questions. 

What is your superhero motto? 

Humility is key. Always be a life long learner. 

In order to lead, one must know how to strategically follow. 

A struggle that started years ago and a journey that has just 

begun. 

What are you most passionate about making happen in 

your community? 

I am most passionate about building and restoring 

my community. However I am very passionate about 

minimizing the violence, unemployment rates and the 

amount of at risk youths within these underserved and 

marginalized communities. After which I will see more 

young entrepreneurs in my community and change-makers. 

What or who inspired you to get involved in your community? 

Ever since I made that discovery, the journey began. I started 

volunteering within non-profit organizations and then I 

started my own Healin’Scars Non-Profit Organization whose 

mandate is to heal through the arts. Through this program, I 

have held three successful Fashion/Talent shows within the 

last two years. However, there are a few folks who when 

the times got rough, inspired me to stay in community 

work; my mother (Fredericka Thompson), Victor Beausoleil 

(Mentor) and my best friend (Jemelia Hosannah-Grant). 

There were times when the work was overwhelming. I 

worried about my clients and a lot of other things I had no 

control over and these folks made sure that I understood 

my purpose. Victor being the outstanding community 

leader he is always made sure to steer me in directions 

that I would fully utilize my skills and expertise, because 

like my mother and my best friend, he believed in me. 

What have you been most proud to be a part of in your 

community? 

I have been a part of a lot of things in my community. I do 

motivational speaking in multiple organizations, schools and 

community events. However, with all that, I am most proud 

to have been granted the opportunities to sit at multiple 

tables and impact the policies that affect my community. 

Which superhero (real or fictional) inspires you the most? 

In order to inspire one must not only have achievement, one 

must also posses similar or the same journey, morals, and 

characteristics as those who are inspired by him/her. I met 

this man a few years ago and ever since our first encounter, 

he inspired me. From the way he accepts challenges, to the 

way he executes them. He always says, “Tasheka, don’t be 

good be great, because good is the most that is expected 

from you,” and since then I have been trying to be great. 

This man is experienced in what he does. However, he is by 

far one of the most humbled souls I know. He is never afraid 

to challenge me or tell me that what I am doing is wrong. 

He always lets me know I need to revisit my actions step by 

step and fix the issue without missing a step. He pays keen 

attention to details and there is nothing ever too good for 

him to teach me. I am honored to call Danavan Samuel my 

real life Superhero. 


96 

I was inspired by my story to get involved in my community. 

I was born In Tivoli Gardens and raised in Cassava Piece 

Kingston, Jamaica by a single mother of three. When I 

arrived in Canada, I was bombarded with the idea that 

this is a land of opportunity. After a year of navigating the 

Canadian culture and seeking the opportunities available to 

me, I utilized them because I knew exactly what it felt like to 

not have. After which I discovered my ability to effectively 

lead my peers, I realized that my teachers and adult allies 

were right when they said I was a born leader and a helper. 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

97

I’m Bossy 

By Jessica Alex 


I like being my own boss. Although 

I think the saying YOLO is cliché 

and played out, I do understand the 

common saying life is too short. This is 

one of the main reasons why I decided 

to give up my full-time job in pursuit of 

my entrepreneurial endeavours. Some 

may not understand that decision, 

especially in this economy. Everyday 

you hear reports that the job market is 

tough, particularly for the youth. Then 

here I go giving up a salaried position. 

However, I crunched the numbers, 

weighed the pros and cons and decided 

to tap into my own business dreams. 

Disclaimer: not everyone is meant to be 

an entrepreneur. Sometimes it’s okay 

to have a hobby and keep it as a hobby. 

With that being said, entrepreneurs 

can offer a great contribution to 

society and can even create new jobs 

and opportunities for others. 

One of the things that are important 

to understand is that being an 

entrepreneur is not easy. Very few 

people in this world will achieve 

overnight success. Some people may 

assume that being an entrepreneur is 

the easy part and working for someone 

else is the hard part. They may think 

that as an entrepreneur you can sleep 

in everyday, go shopping, maybe even 

play video games (I heard Grand Theft 

Auto just came out). Meanwhile, when 

you work for someone else, you have 

to show up on time and take breaks 

when they tell you to. In reality, as an 

entrepreneur there may be many days 

where you get less sleep than if you 

were working a nine to five job, at least 

that is the case for me. 

When I don’t have an interview, 

appointment, seminar, book signing or 

fashion show, I am doing research and 

planning. There will never come a day 

where you will know everything. There 

is always something new to learn. It’s 

good to have a mentor who has been 

there and done that to guide you, 

but make sure that they have good 

intentions. It is also important to keep 

up with what’s new. Trends are ever 

changing and it’s good to ride the first 

wave to stay on top of things (or create 

a trend of your own), especially when 

you are trying to build a brand. 

Building a brand 

I believe in always being true to 

yourself, not just in business, but in 

every part of life. In fact, I think that 

is a big part of being a boss in any 

and everything that you do. If you put 

up a front, people are usually really 

good at sniffing you out eventually, 

so keep it real but polished as well. 

Ultimately, how you portray yourself 

can also make or break you. A part of 

my business brand is to educate and 

inspire children and youth. A part of my 

personal brand is to give back. Both of 

those undertakings are a natural part 

of me, so portraying that is effortless. 

Do your research 

Before you decide to become an 

entrepreneur, really take the time to 

think about the pros and cons. Once 

you know what business you want to 

get into, research that business; what 

are the trends, what are the start up 

costs and who is the competition? 

I know that if I didn’t go for it, I would 

constantly have something nagging 

away at me. Five years from now, I want 

to be able to look in the mirror and 

say, I did it! instead of asking myself I 

wonder what would have happened if 

I tried? No matter what the outcome, 

I want to know that I took that risk, 

and that’s what being a boss is about; 

taking the risk and doing things that 

not everyone can do. 

If you do decide to run your own 

business, it is okay to have another job 

to keep your income steady until your 

business takes off. Whether you decide 

to hold that job on a part-time or fulltime 

basis and how much time you 

think you will need to invest into your 

new start-up business is up to you. 

As a youth, know that there are a lot of 

untapped resources available to you. 

If you are worried about not having 

customers right away, often I find that 

friends and family can start off as your 

clients and then you can branch out 

from there. 

Don’t give up. Like I said, it takes 

time. Success doesn’t always come 

overnight, and it may not even happen 

on the first try. A few years ago, I 

started a newspaper and I believe that 

was a catalyst into my new venture, 

which is publishing children’s books. If 

being a boss is what you want to do, 

you’ve got to believe in yourself and go 

for it. 

I think Kelis said it best, “I’m bossy!” Are 

you? 

Jessica Alex is the author, illustrator 

and publisher of “What If the World 

Had No Colour?” a book for children. 

To get in touch with Alex go to 

www.uponastarbooks.ca. 

To follow her on twitter: @Jess_alex88 

or @UponAStarBooks 

To connect on Facebook: Upon A Star 

Books Inc or Author Jessica Alex 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

98 

99

BOSS MAGAZINE 

Use Eye Contact 

to Get the Contact 

By Fiana Andrews 

As you enter the room, you survey 

partygoers and assess the people in your 

line of vision. You make eye contact with 

a few people and when you do, your 

eyes momentarily open widely and your 

eyebrows rise and fall in an attempt to 

acknowledge their presence. Shortly, 

your eyes focus on someone you find 

attractive. You store information about 

him and then rank the person based on 

interest. Once he ranks high, you then 

decide to take a second look. Your eyes 

meet with his, your heart beats faster 

and your face begins to warm up from 

embarrassment. “Oh no, they caught 

me looking,” you say to yourself as you 

break eye contact and quickly look away. 

You are dying to look again, so steal 

another look. You are still happy with 

what you see and now you have this 

urge to speak to him. So you look again 

with intent this time and you try to 

maintain a constant gaze. This proves to 

be uncomfortable so you keep the eye 

contact brief. 

“Should I approach them?” you ask 

yourself. As you evaluate the interaction 

between the two of you, you conclude 

that the established eye contact 

between him and you was held longer 

this time. You assume mutual interest. 

You notice them at the refreshments 

table. “This is my chance to approach,” 

you reason. 

You make your way over to initiate 

contact. “Wow, look at this spread!” you 

comment out loud about the variety of 

food selections and hoping that he will 

respond. He takes the bait and chimes 

in with agreement. You then quickly 

ask a question while you still have his 

attention, and to your luck he responds. 

As you attempt to maintain the 

conversation, you gauge the amount of 

eye contact. Is it minimal? Is he looking 

away? If the answers are both yes, then 

you know to conclude the conversation; 

however, this is not the case. 

The eye contact is appropriate, and 

he nods his head at the right times 

confirming his attentiveness. In fact, 

you catch him lowering his eyes to 

your mouth, which is a sign to you 

that his gaze is now moving outside 

of the social boundaries to the more 

intimate ones. As you conclude the 

conversation, you share how much 

you have enjoyed it and that you 

would really like to talk with him again. 

You exchange numbers and judge 

that you have successfully created an 

approachable opportunity. 

When it comes to the science of 

approachability, many would agree that 

eye contact is a key to unlocking the 

door to approachable opportunities. 

In fact, eye contact has been said to 

be one of the best ways to appear 

approachable. So, when your eyes 

connect with another person’s eyes, 

you have just provided an opportunity 

to be approached. In addition, the 

“approacher” is able to interpret 

your eye contact as an invitation to 

approach you. 

The above scenario is an example 

of what goes on in the head of the 

“approacher.” As you can see, it’s nerveracking. 

So why not make it easier for 

the other person by returning the eye 

contact, especially if you are interested. 

Notice that the “approacher” waited 

after eye contact was established a 

second time before he considered to 

approach. Even after he approached, 

they continued to evaluate what the 

eyes communicated. Although the 

above example shows a successful 

approach, there will be times when the 

“approacher” can misread the cues and 

get rejected. 

If you are not interested in the 

“approacher,” keep your eye contact 

minimal and if the “approacher” 

approaches you, keep it businesslike 

and make sure your eyes remain 

at the same eye level as the other 

person’s eyes. 

A good rule of thumb is to practice 

making and maintaining eye contact 

with anyone you meet. Once you 

become good at that, add a friendly 

smile to your efforts. Once that 

feels natural, start saying hello. 

By the time you meet someone 

you’re interested in, you’ll be ready, 

willing and able to confidently and 

comfortably approach the person or 

be approached. 

www.approach2link.com 

Approach2link is a concept that was 

developed to address the issues that 

men and woman complain about which 

is men not approaching women and 

women not being approachable. We 

help by sharing tips on how to be more 

approachable and on how to approach. 

Approach2link also plans and promotes 

events that create approachable 

opportunities. Events that create 

approachable opportunities are events 

that promote interaction among 

individuals. 

Follow @approach2link on Twitter, 

Youtube, Instagram and Facebook 


100 

101

BORN 

“Troublemaker” 

By Andrew Williams 

Nelson Mandela 


“In my country, 

we go to prison 

first then become 

As a black male, I don’t need to say how 

there aren’t many black role models 

for us to look up to. Nelson Mandela 

belonged to that elite and near impossible 

few who came from nothing 

but managed to stand up against the 

machine. Known to his compatriots as 

Madiba, he was born Rolihlahla Mandela 

on July 18th, 1918 in Mvezo, a small 

village located in the south eastern 

edge of South Africa. As if destined to 

spark change, Mandela’s given name 

roughly translates into “troublemaker.” 

To get a better understanding of this 

man how he blazed a trail, we must first 

examine the environment that shaped 

him. Although systemic racism was 

alive and well throughout the world, it 

thoroughly rooted itself in the Dutch 

colony of South Africa, gorging on ignorance 

and xenophobia for decades 

until it grew into the tumor we know as 

Apartheid. Under this rule, which literally 

means “apartness,” human beings 

were placed into four arbitrary groups: 

black, white, coloured, and Indian. In 

1948, the segregation of blacks was 

made official legislation, their limited 

rights and freedoms obliterated, while 

the elevated status of the white Afrikaans 

minority was solidified. 

A lawyer by trade and part-time boxer, 

Mandela became involved with other 

like-minded individuals who were determined 

to tear down the oppression 

of Apartheid. Joining the African National 

Congress (ANC), he ascended 

the ranks and bolstered the party with 

more Pan-African ideals, believing that 

black self-sufficiency was the true path 

to freedom. It was during this time that 

Mandela and the ANC became increasingly 

more militant and nationalistic. 

Although he couldn’t be linked into any 

particular acts of terrorism, he was ultimately 

labeled a radical, leading the 

ANC in a rebellious campaign to take 

back South Africa from white tyranny. 

The ANC began resorting to acts of 

sabotage and violence, even towards 

civilians. In 1962, Mandela was apprehended 

then imprisoned for treason, a 

crime that carried a life sentence. 

Despite its drudgery and adversity, 

prison is what triggered his metamorphosis 

into the man the world would 

eventually recognize. The hard labour 

of Robben Island prison coupled with 

the intellectual debates between inmates 

taught Mandela how to be a 

better leader, and his previous hostilities 

were chipped away. The hardened 

revolutionary was transformed into a 

compassionate advocate for human 

rights who was able to elicit empathy 

from even the white prison guards. 

On February 11th, 1990, after 27 years 

of imprisonment, Mandela was finally 

released after much negations and 

waves of international support. With 

the help of then president F.W. de Klerk, 

Mandela was elected into office and 

spearheaded the end to Apartheid. He 

ushered in a new era of racial equality. 

He was staunchly against seeking reprisal 

from his former oppressors and 

instead believed in fostering a brotherhood 

between white and black. Mandela 

detested racism, seeing it as a 

barbaric thing no matter which race it 

came from. “If you want to make peace 

with your enemy, you have to work 

with your enemy,” he once said. “Then 

he becomes your partner.” Nevertheless, 

such a transition could not happen 

overnight as racial tensions still exist in 

South Africa to this day. 

Throughout his incarceration, his second 

wife Winnie Madikzela was a fiery 

supporter of his and as much a warrior 

against Apartheid as he was. Despite 

her contributions to the cause, her 

reputation was tarnished after she 

was implicated in extreme acts such 

as kidnapping and even murder, and 

not to mention various political scandals. 

Their 38 year marriage ended in 

divorce in 1996, but the two remained 

on good terms. 

Like all politicians, Mandela had his critics 

and detractors. Some have argued 

he didn’t do enough to tackle the crime 

that was festering throughout the nation, 

or tidy up the government from 

political corruption. His personal life 

was also mired with family problems 

and was itself a stir of controversy. 

However, he did not shy away from 

this. When his son Makgato Mandela 

died in 2005, he openly disclosed the 

cause was HIV in an effort to bring the 

issue of AIDS to the forefront. 

Married three times, Mandela is survived 

by his wife Graça Machel. In all he 

had six children and is survived by Zenani 

Mandela-Dlamin, Makaziwe Mandela, 

and Zindziswa Mandela. 

Mandela was behind bars from the age 

of 44 to 71, longer than I’ve been alive, 

and walked away without animosity. 

Known for keeping his emotions 

reserved, whatever grain of resentment 

or bitterness remained in him 

was buried deep in the past so that he 

could push forward into the future. He 

knew that holding onto hate and past 

wrongs was in itself a prison, and this 

is what he wanted everyone to be conscious 

of. 

“For to be free is not merely to cast off 

one’s chains, but to live in a way that 

respects and enhances the freedom of 

others.” 

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/world/ 

africa/nelson-mandela_obit.html?_r=0 


BOSS MAGAZINE 

President.” – Nelson Mandela 

103 

102

Fitness 

Succeeding in Your 

Health and Fitness 

By Adam Ali 

As your weekend ends and your lying in 

your bed, you decide that this coming 

week you are really going to stick to 

a workout routine and eat healthier. 

You will not have your regular pastry 

on the go. You plan to have a super 

healthy lunch and cut back dessert for 

the entire week. You will also head to 

the gym after work just before heading 

home at least three times this week. 

It seems like a solid plan and you have 

the intentions of going through with 

it. Monday comes and you just can’t 

help ordering something sugary and 

starchy to go with your coffee, so you 

get a muffin. The breakfast satisfies 

you and gives you an instant rush of 

sugar-energy! However, you feel guilty 

45 minutes later. You decide since you 

have already ruined your eating plans 

for the day to grab a pizza for lunch 

and skip the gym altogether with 

the self-talk that you will start again 

tomorrow. If this sounds at all familiar 

to you, read on… 

fitness. I am here to inform you that no 

matter what fitness level you are at, 

you will make mistakes on your way to 

achieving your ideal fitness and health 

goals. There will be some missed 

workouts and also poor food choices 

on your route to success. This is where 

the 80/20 rule comes into place. Do 

your absolute best to achieve an 80% 

effort towards living a healthy lifestyle 

and 20% of wiggle room to indulge 

in things you enjoy that are not so 

healthy. This approach keeps you sane 

and human. 

One of the mottos I live by is that 

losing is not about not winning, it’s 

about not trying. So if you come 

short from an attempt then, learn 

from these mistakes and do better. 

Realize what went wrong and 

figure out how you can avoid similar 

situations in the future. 

Here are three tips to help you on your 

journey to a healthier YOU. 

consider joining a sports club of some 

sort. I recently incorporated dodge ball 

into my weekly fitness regime. I joined 

a dodge ball league and now I have a 

fun day of ball-throwing action that I 

look forward to every week. 

Drink more water 

The cause for many hormonal and 

emotional instability is the lack of 

water consumption. The Institute of 

Medicine sets general guidelines for 

total water intake. It recommends that 

women consume a total of 91 ounces 

(that’s about 2.7 litres) per day for 

all food and beverages. For men, it’s 

about 125 ounces a day (or 3.7 litres). 

Depending on your diet, about 25% of 

the water you consume comes from 

your food (How much water do you 

really need? - DrOz.com). 

Incorporate the following tips into 

your daily life and you will be on your 

way to a healthier lifestyle. 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

The truth is that a lot of people have 

the above mindset when it comes to 

their health and fitness. They tend to 

give up when they slip up. But in reality, 

people who find success will fail many 

times before they succeed, no matter 

what their goals are. 

Let’s assess one of the most powerful 

and wealthiest woman of today. It has 

been documented that Oprah Winfrey 

was fired from one of her first jobs 

because she was “unfit for TV.” It took 

her many years of failure and learning 

to finally have her own talk show. The 

Oprah Winfrey Show then dominated 

for 25 years and Oprah now has her 

own TV Network. Understand that 

failure is a step towards your goal, not 

a reason to give up on it. 

This is the kind of mindset that is 

needed to obtain long-term health and 

If possible, get a personal 

trainer 

A personal trainer will create a 

foundation to get you active and turn 

working out and healthy eating into a 

habit. When you feel you are ready to 

do it on your own, then proceed on 

your own. It’s really a great investment 

that has long-term benefits on your 

wellbeing. If the luxury of 

getting a trainer is out of 

reach, seek guidance by 

training with a friend, or 

follow a workout DVD or 

online workout video. 

Engage in physical 

activities that you 

enjoy 

If you don’t enjoy resistance 

training, you should 

Adam Ali (@ADAMwontLOSE) is the 

founder of iWontLose.com. He is a 

Fitness professional and a community 

worker based out of Toronto. 

However, provides world-wide fitness 

and motivational related services 

online. adam@iwontlose.com 


104 

105

Be the Boss 

Education 

of Your Own 

By Shassha Loftman 

Whether you’ve just graduated high 

school, college or university, it’s never 

too late to become an adult learner. 

The term adult learner was originally 

meant for someone in his late 40s and 

50s who was re-entering the field of 

academia. However, nowadays it has 

become synonymous with anyone 

who is pursuing higher education. In 

higher education the things you are 

learning are different and are more 

complex, so you can’t assume that old 

studying habits will still work or work 

to the same degree. Research has 

found that children and adults learn 

differently and high school teachers 

teach differently than professors. 

Your learning will be more successful 

if you discard any and all preconceived 

notions about what post-secondary 

education is and isn’t. Open your 

mind to the experience before judging 

if it’s not for you or that it’s too hard. 

To become a successful adult learner, 

the first thing to do is to become a 

self-directed learner. A self-directed 

learner is an individual who takes the 

initiative and the responsibility for 

what occurs in their learning process. 

Individuals select, manage and assess 

their own learning activities, which 

can be pursued at any time, in any 

place and through any means. Use 

what is being taught in classes as your 

guide, but take your own steps to learn 

beyond the classroom instruction. 

Take an active role in planning, 

monitoring and evaluating your 

education because no one will do it 

for you. Try to choose subjects and 

courses that (a) are most relevant to 

the job/profession you are pursuing, 

(b) are something relevant to your 

personal life and fit in your academic 

program. Don’t take courses because 

you like the professor or heard it was 

an easy course or because your friends 

are taking it. And last, but definitely not 

least, if you suspect you might have a 

learning disability, see your academic 

advisor as soon as possible. They can 

help you get information on how to 

get tested. Don’t suffer in silence. 

Some learning disabilities, especially 

those affecting organizational skills 

and problem-solving abilities, may 

not become apparent until later 

in an individual’s education as the 

demands of the learning environment 

increase in complexity. There are even 

instances where learning disabilities 

are diagnosed in adulthood, after 

entering college. 

One of the most rewarding things you 

can do for yourself academically is to 

learn about your own learning style. 

Your learning style defines how you 

acquire and process information and 

has nothing to do with being “smart.” 

You can think of it as how your 

brain works. Each person has a very 

particular way of learning. There are 

several different learning styles and 

you should know which one or which 

combination is yours. To me it is just 

as important as knowing what you are 

allergic to, because not knowing your 

learning style can be a fatal mistake 

that affects your academic success. 

When you develop an awareness 

of how you learn, or how you have 

learned best in the past, it will help 

you focus your energies in the most 

productive way and alert you to areas 

where you may need help. Visit your 

academic advisor to learn more about 

learning styles. This self-reflected 

knowledge will not only help you in 

school but in your personal life as 

well. Using your learning style to your 

advantage is one sure way to get your 

assignments done and on time while 

being stress free. And it’s one big step 

towards becoming a BOSS! 



BOSS MAGAZINE 

106 

107

BOSS MAGAZINE 

108 

Hidden Gem 

Belleeny’s Martini 

Resto-Lounge 


Belleeny’s Martini Resto-Lounge is a casual fine dining 

restaurant that has brought a new concept to Canada: West 

Indian and Italian Fusion cuisine, offering signature dishes 

such as jerk chicken or oxtail stuffed ravioli, or bruschetta 

and jerk chicken spring rolls as a great choice for an appetizer. 

The décor includes overstuffed leather chairs which make 

for a relaxing atmosphere, not to mention the fireplace that 

makes for an excellent spot to kick back beside when the 

temperature outside drops. 

Opened in 2013, the restaurant is run by a close-knit family 

that prides itself on serving the highest quality of food with 

outstanding service. There is no MSG or peanuts in any of 

the food served. 

The restaurant is also an entertainment hotspot for local 

and Canadian talent, such as comedian Jay Martin, who 

comes in and performs once a week. 

Belleeny’s can be booked for private and special events such 

as weddings, birthdays, and off-site catering. They advise 

that to avoid any sort of disappointment, call ahead so they 

can accommodate and serve you. 

“Awesome food and entertainment! Awesome 

place for an event! Super people. Will 

definitely be back!” – Hyacinth Brown Walcott 

“Very classy place, the vibe was great. The 

owners took care of me and my guests very 

well and the staff were very professional 

and courteous. Thank you for a memorable 

evening!” – Sharean Edwards-Fairman 

“Every day of my last trip to Toronto was 

spent having supper with these fine people. A+ 

all around” – Shannon Brake 

“Belleenys is the best place to be. My friends 

and I had a wonderful time for Khristine’s 

bday party. If you want a nice place to go 

and have great live entertainment...BELLEENY’S 

LOUNGE...AWESOME!!!” – Nicole Woodward 

Belleeny’s is located at 4000 Steeles West, right at the 

border of Toronto and Woodbridge. Check out their 

website at www.belleenyslounge.com or follow them on 

twitter: @belleenys 

Are you ready 

to go at it on your own? 

Landing your first job, or a new job, means making the 

money you need to finance your lifestyle. Whether you 

want to buy the latest cell phone, a car, or rent your own 

place, finding the cash to make your dreams a reality is 

simple with the right financial plan. 

With disposable income or easy credit at hand, it may 

be tempting to give in to the urge to buy the big-ticket 

items you’ve been wanting. But now is the time to start 

managing your money wisely. 

Start with these three steps: 

1. list your short-and long-term goals like buying a car 

or saving a down payment for a home, 

2. assign a timeline to save for each, 

By Black Creek Financial Action Network 

3. build your savings plan into your monthly budget. 

You’ll have the keys to your new car or home in no time! 

While a new job means a steady income, moving out 

on your own brings many new expenses. Balance those 

extra costs with your goals by budgeting for both your 

needs and wants. 

Financial 

Literacy 

By managing your money wisely, you can stay in control 

of your financial independence. For more tips check out 

the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s (FCAC) life 

events, Moving out on Your Own and Starting your First 

Job, available on its website ItPaysToKnow.gc.ca. 

Material for this article was written by members of the 

Black Creek Financial Action Network (BCFAN). We are 

a multi-partner network working towards coordinating 

efforts among the many agencies providing financial 

information; mounting public events with a financial 

focus; advocating for the community on finance 

matters; sharing the best and promising practices 

aimed at building the capacity of service providers; 

and researching and evaluating financial programs and 

services. For a list of members and other information 

about BCFAN, please visit us at http://cec.info.yorku. 

ca/partnerships-collaborations/black-creek-financialaction-network/ 

Readers of BOSS magazine are welcome to submit 

their financial questions to BCFAN. Please email your 

questions and inquiries to yorkcec@yorku.ca 


109

AstroFabulous 

by nadiya shah 

ANNUAL 2014 

EDITION 

Hello fabulous Friends and Fans at Boss Magazine! Happy 

New Year! 

Collectively, this is a time when we know we are close to 

preparing something new and bold up ahead. Particularly in 

the second half of the year, we will all, at the very least, feel 

a sense of “fun” return. Celebrities should be especially good 

at capturing the collective imagination, with at least one new 

face that takes dramatic entrances to new heights. We can 

also see at least one notable celebrity set the stage for an 

upcoming career in politics, much to the surprise of all. We 

can also expect a return to a conversation about children in 

general; how to help them succeed and best prepare them, 

emotionally and otherwise, for successful lives ahead. 

We are likely to see a conversation around what people are 

“worth” to the whole, the value they contribute in moving 

us all forward, and how each can be helped to more fully 

fulfill one’s potential so that they are part of the evolving 

consciousness. 

It will be a great year, enjoy! 

ARIES (March 21-April 19) 

You are itching to embark on a fun year ahead, but 

just before you get there you’ve got to make sure 

you’ve got the essentials in place for the ride ahead. 

mainly, it is your home and partnerships that will 

need your attention. the home front brings changes 

that feel warm, as you create an environment to 

foster greater love and safety. In love, get ready to 

really see what you want and why you want it. some 

will do so explicitly, energetically, passionately, or 

aggressively. however you go about your lessons, 

know the challenges now will lead to greater love 

by year’s end. 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) 

Your mind continues to grow as new ideas rush in 

like waves. Thankfully, you do have the skills needed 

to make some use out of them before they pass, 

allowing you to make solid gains in the first half of 

the year. Later on, your attention turns towards 

the safety and security of a solid foundation from 

which to grow. For some this will mean positive, 

sometimes very quick gains where it comes to real 

estate and where you live. For others, this will be an 

inner connection to what you are actually building. 

In love, people from the past have ways of showing 

up at the most uncanny times. You might find 

yourself shocked by the replay of past patterns and 

deja vu experiences. It’s all designed to make sure 

you got the lesson. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) 

With just a few people around you, you manage to 

spin gold. While your life will always ask you to find 

the right words, this year you might find they provide 

the magic touch to just about any endeavor. Many 

of your sign will hop on an educational adventure 

and take on a new skill, which will quickly translate 

into lasting alliances thanks to the many people you 

transverse in the rooms. In love, you could meet 

your soul-mate in a classroom. The more witty the 

reparte, the more it moves you two closer. Those 

attached will also find words smooth over any rough 

patches and bring closeness. online hookups are 

especially lucky for you now, more so than usual. 

CANCER (June 21-July 22)The first half of the 

year still gives you the team advantage with all 

things, especially where it comes to great ideas and 

the confidence to see them through. The second 

half of the year lets you know you are on the right 

track when they start paying off in practical terms, 

meaning, theres more money heading your way. 

Prosperity finds you by surprise, and in the most 

uncanny ways. Whatever you can do to earn your 

way is especially blessed. Focus on meeting your 

responsibilities and providing for your own needs, 

and there will be more than enough to go around. 

In love, you start the year in a bit of a conundrum of 

a complex consideration, but don’t worry. The most 

sticky situations find resolution on their own volition. 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) 

While it might look sleepy on the surface at first, the 

year will change gears fast through a very notable 

moment to take place midway, when you know 

you are no longer who you were. There is a wide, 

open road in front of you and you can sense the 

fabulous places it may lead. What you want most 

are options for whatever feels like it could sail your 

boat, and you will certainly find it, or rather, you 

will attract it to you. A wonderful revelation about 

yourself could have you shocking others with a new 

direction. In love, you want to be adored even more 

than usual. Thankfully, you attract those who fit the 

requirements quite nicely. The ones with the wide, 

starry-eyed look of innocence masking frivolity are 

the ones you want most. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) 

There are few joys in life better than knowing you did 

a job well. This year, you will get your sparks going to 

refine your skills to even more splendid heights, as 

you are convinced being truly good at something is 

the way towards greater opportunity. It has worked 

for you before and will continue to be the tried and 

true path. If there is any doubt that angels are on 

your side, this year will forever quiet those voices 

of discontent, as several simply magical moments 

brushing on the miraculous restore any faith that 

might have ever been lost. In love, There is a story 

waiting to be written, but it doesn’t go quite how the 

fairy tales tell it. This is better because it is real. you 

insist on no secrets. This time, it pays off for you. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) 

There is little doubt that there will always be doubt. 

Not the kind that raises insecurity, but rather, the 

kind that knows there is always another way, another 

view, another method or opinion that can change 

all things to certain. This is part of the delicate 

balancing act you are here to carry out in your life, 

which you become especially adept at now. There is 

beauty and perfection in the lack of perfection itself, 

as your work, career, and even your friends illustrate 

to you clearly in several key moments this year. 

Having said all that, there is advancement and leaps 

up the proverbial ladder. In love, the line between 

friendship and love can blur, for better or otherwise. 

Take your steps in the experiment cautiously. 

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) 

Career matters go through a boon, but you might 

scarcely realize it as a stern energy continues to 

prevail. It is still your choice to have fun as you walk 

through the successes of your life, and this year 

does promise a few of them. In any type of interview 

or “need to impress” setting, you blow away any 

competition with your ability to sway the power 

players and authority figures. This is mainly because 

you know, at the end of the day, it’s not about that 

moment but the work and experience you have 

to back it up. Your ever more mindful attention to 

detail can have you stating some strange facts that 

turn out to be alarmingly and amusingly true. In 

love, you will likely find yourself attracted to those 

already ahead in the game, whether they be of 

greater age or achievement. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) 

You are set to have a year where you feel more “set” 

than you have in a long time. It’s a special time of you 

coming into your element and realizing just what 

that element is that you need to feel most happy 

and at peace with yourself. Of all signs, yours is the 

most adventurous, which is part of why this year fits 

like a glove, as a truly monumental, if not magical, 

adventure calls your name and you cannot ignore it. 

There are responsibilities, certainly, but a little careful 

juggling can have you finding ways of making them 

not only fun, but a necessary part of your frivolity. 

In love, the more unusual and foreign the subject, 

the more you want him or her. you will likely need to 

bring your translator app on your next date, or ten, 

but that is what nurturing love might ask of you. It is 

a small yet thrilling price to pay. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) 

Money matters take off in the best possible sense, 

as you attract some wealthy support. This doesn’t 

have to be in the traditional sense, though it might. 

Rather, financial institutions and applications seem 

to go especially well for you now as you assert your 

ideas and get the backers you need to make your 

dreams a reality. Personal reinvention and rebirth 

is also on offer, though that will require you take 

time out of your power making moves for honest 

self-reflection. It matters to you and you make the 

time. In love, the sexier, the better, and the taboo is 

best of all. You might find yourself unable to explain 

an attraction, and on the surface it might even seem 

like a bad bet, but you know that this situation will 

provide the catalyst for a shift in your psyche and 

soul, which is what intimacy is when it’s at its best. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) 

I could say the year will be fun, but that would be 

an overly simplified version of the experience you 

can expect. Rather, you are feeling overly jovial and 

earnestly expect the absolute best to just be drawn 

to you. Much to the amazement of others, this 

approach often pays off in wild, wacky, wondrous 

ways. You are overly confident, to put it mildly, and 

this attitude might secretly be doubted by you, but 

does have a way of paying off enough times for you 

to stick to the tactic. In love, you enter one of your 

best periods in over a decade for finding “The One” 

or turning the one you are with into the proverbial 

“It”. You are darn attractive now, so milk it and enjoy 

it for all it’s worth. 

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) 

Little does anyone know the adventurous side that 

creeps just under the surface of a mild mannered, 

spiritually inclined, wide eyed soul as yourself. Even 

you might catch yourself off guard by your expansive 

thoughts meeting a determination to take practical 

actions towards a pipe-dream, but if there is anyone 

with a chance of manifesting the near miraculous, 

it’s you. Through faith alone you move a figurative 

mountain of your own now. Your health could take a 

radical and surprising upturn, as problems that have 

been in the ether or plagued you for years either 

vanish, or you find a permanent plan for treatment 

that works. In love, that eye candy at the gym could 

be all yours. Get your insecurities out of the way and 

go for whatever you consider out of your league. 

Shared habits make the heart grow stronger. 

Nadiya Shah is your Fabulous Astrologer, Host, 

Communicator & Facilitator of the occasional epiphany, 

pointing the way to cosmic blessings. Visit her website at 

nadiyashah.com 


111

IN THISIssue 

BOSS MAGAZINE 

112 

Boss Fashion Title Page: Page 13 Model: Ashley, Photographer: CJ 

Cromwell, Photo Editor: Irving De Jong, Fashion Must Haves Pages 

14 – Page15 Images via style.com; Leather trend (from left to right) 

Balmain, Photographer: Monica Feudi, Saint Laurent, Photographer: 

Yannis Vlamos, Emilio Pucci, Photographer: Monica Feudi, Tom Ford, 

Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Lace trend(from left to right) Tom Ford, 

Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Chloe, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Elie 

Saab, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Emilio Pucci Photographer: Monica 

Feudi, on Page 16: Oversized Coat trend (from left to right) Christopher 

Kane, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Haider Ackerman, Photographer: 

Yannis Vlamos, Lanvin, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Proenza Schouler, 

Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Thigh Boots trend (from left to right) 

Prabal Gurung, Photographer: Marcus Tondo, Tom Ford, photographer: 

Marcus Tondo, Emilio Pucci, Photographer: Monica Feudi. African Fashion 

Week Pages 16-17, Photographer: John R. Designer Profile: Malaika 

Lue Pages 20-21, Dresses by: Malaika Lue, Writer: Domonique Morris, 

Photographer Max Milian. Cover Story: Getting Lawless with Cham Page 

23-25. On page 24: Leather Jacket: Zara: 169$, on Page 25, Writer: Nicole 

Seck, on Page 26: Shirt: Lawless by Cham. Cham Up Close and Personal 

Pages 26-28: leather motorcycle pants. Zara $99.00, White Lawless tshirt, 

chamworld.com, Blue Denim shirt, H&M 39.95, Accessories, artist own, 

on page 28: Black blazer with faux leather appliqué. Zara $119.00, Black 

zipper sleeve sweater. Zara $59.90, Accessories, artist own on Page 29: 

Black leather motorcycle pants. Zara $99.00, Black zipper sleeve sweater. 

Zara $59.90 ,Ray Ban sunglasses and Accessories, artist own, Shoes, artist 

own, Photographer: CJ Cromwell Styled by: Awena Abala & Jayshawn 

Jones. LIGHTS, CAMERA, & ACTION Mens Editorial Pages 29-37: Model: 

Irvin De Jong & Michael S; Photographer: CJ Cromwell; Photo Edited by: 

Irvin De Jong; Styled By: Awena Abala & Tamika Johnson; On page 29: 

top: Zara black sweater with printed sleeves 59.90; Zara black trench with 

leather sleeves 179.90; Bottom:Zara black trousers with ripped details 

79.90; black combat boots models own. On Page 30: Top: Roots Varsity 

Jacket, models own; Bottom: Zara Harem Pant 59.90; Shoes: Converse 

59.95. On Page 31: Top: Blue Velvet Blazer, Models own; H&M black dress 

shirt 17.95. On Page 32: Top: Top shop wool sweater 49.99; H&M printed 

slim fit shirt 34.90; Glasses: Stylists Own, On Page 33: Top: Top shop wool 

sweater 49.99; H&M printed slim fit shirt 34.90; Glasses: Stylists Own, Zara 

green chinos 59.90, Combat Boots: Models Own. On Page 34: Top: Blue 

Velvet Blazer, Models own; H&M black dress shirt 17.95: Bottom: Zara Plaid 

Trousers 59.90; shoes: blue Velvet Loafer, models own, On page 35: Top: 

H&M Single Breasted Dinner Jacket 99.95; H&M Slim fit dress shirt 17.95; 

Bottom: H&M Dinner Pant 69.95; Accessories: H&M bow tie 14.95;On 

Page 36: Top: H&M black Suit Jacket 69.95; H&M white dress shirt with 

leather details 17.95; Bottom: H&M black suit pant 49.95; H&M waist coat 

49.95, XOXO Editorial Page 38-40: Model: Denege Jones; Photographer: 

Jayshawn Jones: Styled/MUA by: Awena Abala & Jayshawn Jones. Clothing 

credit: On Page 39: Top: stylist own; On Page 40: top: stylist own; skirt: 

H&M 49.95; Shoes: Aldo 69.95; accessories: silver choker: models own; On 

Page 40: top: Urban Outfitters: Gold sequins blazer 129.99; black crop top: 

stylist own; Bottom: H&M Leather pant 29.95; Shoes: Top Shop: Gold Chain 

Sandal 90.00. Beauty Title Page: Page 42 Photographer: CJ Cromwell, 

Photo Edited by: Irving De Jong, Model: Ashley, Make Up Artist: Jennifer 

de Rocha, styled by:Awena Abala, Jayshawn Jones. Eyebrow Contouring 

Page 43 written by: Sasha Vella, photographer; CJ Cromwell. Beauty 

Editorial:Red Light Special Page 44-46 Photographer: CJ Cromwell, 

photos Edited by: Irving De Jong, Make Up Artist: Jennifer de Rocha, 

Hair stylist: Travis Fiedtkou. Page 44 model:Naa-Larley Karikari, Page 45 

model: Jasmine, Page 46 model: Ashley. Mavado: Voice of a Generation 

Page 48 - Page 49 writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. 

Talking Sex, Love and Reggae Page 50 - Page 51 writer: Laura Metcalfe 

Photographer: submitted by artist. The Legendary Junior Reid Page 52 – 

Page 53 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. The Best 

Reggae Group in Canada Page 54 – Page 55 Writer: Domonique Morris 

Photographer: Dre Barrett. Rhythm Education Page 57 Writer Kern 

Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. In the Eyes of Music Page 58 – 

Page 59 Writer: Domonique Morris Photographer: Shennel Photography. 

Boss Was There Page 60 – Page 62 On Page’s 60- 61 Photographer: 

Tamika Johnson. On Page 62 Photohrapher (Niut Blanche Jayshawn 

Jones, Bob Marley Tribute Laura Metcalfe). Art of Ciel Page 63 – Page 65 

Writer: Nicole Seck Photographer: Martin Brown. Real Music Real Results 

Page 66 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: Submitted by artist. Hitmaker 

Page 67 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by artist. Tribute 

to a Legend Page 68 – Page 69 Writer: Nicole Seck Photographer: Che 

Kothari (photos on bottom from left to right, #3, #5 & #7). Cream of the 

Crop Page 70 – Page 71 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: submitted by 

artist. Early Success Page 72 - Page 73 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: 

submitted by artist. No Boundaries Page 74 – Page 75 Writer: Nicole Seck 

Photographer: Northbridge Media Group. Vybz Kartel: Madness Page 76 

– Page 77 Writer: Kern Carter. Images of Inspiration Page 79 – Page 80 

Writer: Joseph Fava Photographer: Martika Gregory. Cry to the Nation 

Page 80 - Page 81 Writer: Kern Carter, Photo’s submitted by artist. Live 

From Jamaica Page 82 - Page 85 Writer Laura Metcalfe & Kern Carter 

Photographer: Laura Metcalfe & Andrea Zammit. Lifestyle Title Page: 

Page 87 Photographer: Jayshawn Jones. If I Ruled T.O. Page 88 - Page 89 

Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photographer: Jayshawn Jones. Boss Man 

Eugene Jones Jr Page 90 - Page 91 Writer: Kern Carter Photographer: 

Jayshawn Jones. Boss Scholars Page 92 - Page 93 Writer: Justina Opoku- 

Ware, Photographer: Ebony. Saying F-U to it All Page 94 - Page 95 Writer: 

Max Greenwood, Photos submitted by F-U Project. Boss Superhero Page 

96 - Page 97 Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photo’s handed in by feature. 

I’m Bossy Page 98 - Page 99 Writer: Jessica Alex, Photographer: Karimah 

Gheddai. Eye Contact to Get the Contact Page 100 - Page 101 Writer: 

Fiana Andrews, Photographer: Craig Hunter, Andre Andrews. Mandela 

Page 102 - Page 103 Writer: Andrew Williams. Succeeding in Your Health 

and Fitness Page 104 - Page 105 Writer: Adam Ali, Photos submitted 

Adam Ali. Boss of Your Own Education Page 106 - Page 107 Writer: 

Shassha Loftman Photographer (boss kids) Dwayne Holness. Hidden Gem: 

Belleeny’s Restaurant Page 108 Writer: Justina Opoku-Ware, Photos 

submitted by Belleeny’s Restaurant. Financial Independence Page 109 

Writer: Black Creek Financial Action Network.

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