001

NAPIZUM
ISSUE 001
MAGAZINE

ISSUE 001

CONTRIBUTERS
Benny Harps
Sharp
Jie Zheng
Eric Marshall
Editor
Editor
Graphic Designer
Journalist
INTERVIEWS
Arielle Bobb-Willis
Saleena Titus
Sanfa Mansaray Jr
Kane
Jie Zheng
Marley Watts
FEATURED ART
DiePosures
Jules Thomas
BENNY HARPS @itsjustdiffrnt
Editor
Director and Entrepenuer
“The magazine is for the artist
without a voice”
DAVID SHARP JR @_vol.1
Editor
Photographer and
Videographer
WRITING
Dirt
Dunia
Sofia Tesfu
Malcolm Avant
Benny Harps
Rakeb Teklehiwot
Looking for artists of all medium for
the next issue.
Send submission to:
harps.benny96@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE COVER
Directed—Benny Harps
Photographer—Sharp
Model—Ericka Dyson-Wright
“The shoot was inspired by a painting by my grandmother.
The painting is a nude body of a women without a head.
In this shoot I wanted to focus on the limbs of the female
anatomy. I felt like this was an example of what NAPIZUM is
about —the natural way of life.”
—Benny
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CONTENT
03
03 Arielle Bobb-Willis
09 Saleena Titus
13 “Deeds Not Words”
15 BARE
19 Sanfa Mansaray Jr
23 “Poetic Realism”
27 Kane
30 Shorty’s Newsletter
33 Jie Zheng
37 “Me!? I’m Tight as Fuck!!!”
39 Marley Watts
42 Poetry by the People
47 Nappy Shopping Network
01
19
33
11
23
37
27
NAPIZUM MAG 02

ARIELLE
BOBB-WILLIS
(@relbw)
Arielle Bobb-Willis, 23, if rich color, daring angles and
playful form could manifest from my mind into something
foreignly human, Arielle Bobb-Willis’ work would be just it.
Arielle is forging a path for herself with her bold creations.
There’s something truly special about the way she moves
people - in the physical sense, and in the emotional sense
we as an audience come to know after understanding her
humble purpose and image-making process. Arielle seems
to me a very pure soul with a knack for gently pushing herself
and those around her to always grow. To the viewer her
photographs might seem abstract, but dig just a little below
the surface and it’s clear her vision is ever-lucid.
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would come in as I am and they just didn’t understand me
at all like, “ahh this girls like out there”. So of course you turn
to ya know, when you can’t talk about yourself or talk about
what you like or explain yourself to people or be understood
you kind of resort to another medium, which was photography
for me; a way of like being able to express myself.
S: So is that what it provides for you, like period? Like strictly
an outlet?
A: Yes, it’s therapeutic. When I got to Augusta, That’s when
the depression hit. I was like, oh gosh, in a horrible dark
place and so photography has always been like that therapeutic
place.
S: So tell me the effect New York has on your photography.
A: All the places I lived definitely affected my photography
and who I am as a person. The moment that I felt that my
photography was right in my eyes was when I started seeing
myself in my photos, like who I am as a person, like in the
picture that I made. I’ve lived in New York, Augusta and New
Orleans. Growing up in New York my father is in the music
industry and he’s a really creative person. He brought me
to all the galleries and introduced me to everything artsy
fartsy in New York so this is where I kind of first found out
about abstract art and like how vast it is. We have Picasso,
Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Jacob Lawrence in our house so
growing up in the city made me see EVERYTHING.
(Sharp travels to New York to meet photographer Arielle
Bobb-Willis. She brings him to the place she feels most
comfortable.) “We walked to the middle of Prospect Park.
Seemed lke a smaller Central Park without the tourists. Wide
open space, yet you can still see three or four buildings towering
over the trees in the background...weather was perfect.
Most comfortable day of the year.”
Sharp: Where did Art/Photography start for you?
Arielle: It started when I was 13/14 and I moved to Augusta,
Georgia, and it was a really depressing time. I didn’t really
have many friends; I didn’t live in the city, so it was a different
environment so I was alone a lot ya know? New kid, in
a small town. I was randomly placed in a digital imaging
class and that’s when I found photography. My mom got
me my first digital camera and my high school teacher got
me my first film camera. I would shoot all my friends like all
the time. Like when I would go out to dinner I would bring
my camera and shoot peoples feet or the food, I would just
always be shooting because I wanted to learn about it. So
yeah, Augusta, Georgia is where I started.
S: So tell us a little bit about Augusta, Georgia.
A: Augusta was a very small town, and it’s very different
from New York City…really different. I went to a prep school
and it was very ya know, bow tie, like very preppy, and I
S: What drew you to abstract art?
A: For me… if I had to dig deep into who I am as a person
and why I like that stuff, well of course that’s what I grew up
looking at but also, because where I started photography
was such a horrible place, I like started to develop this kind
of depersonalization-like Identity. Like I didn’t really understand
like my body or like why I was here, Very existential.
Like “why do I have this face and not another”, “why am I
here” all this stuff. So I kind of like didn’t wanna have my face
in the pictures I was taking or didn’t wanna see people as
people cause I didn’t understand what I was or why I was a
human and it was a lot of existential questioning so, I think
that’s why I like abstract art. I always had abstract thoughts
so what comes out are abstract ideas.
S: When I first looked at your photos color stands out, but
what also stands out is the form you put the models in. Tell
me more about the form and what it means?
A: Well I see my subjects as shapes. You know how you
have this huge feed on Instagram, all of us have done the
scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, and there’s a lot of
emphasis on the individual as a person and their face. So I
wanted to make it about more the body. Not about it being
cool but more about being apart of the composition. Not
being the main focus like “this is a person I’m shooting”, it’s
more about them becoming apart of the art.
NAPIZUM MAG 06

S: What about the color?
A: The color in my work goes back
to me living in Augusta, which is the
premise of my work. I grew up with two
younger siblings under the age of ten
so I was like their babysitter all the time
when I could. They would watch the
The Wiggles and like bright TV shows
and it was so refreshing and lighthearted
and that’s how I wished the world
were all the time. Because at that time
I was really depressed and everything
was ugly, and unsaturated and horrible
so when I would sit and watch TV with
my little brother and sister or how they
drew their pictures they would draw the
most amazing illustrations. They never
used just pencils and paper; they had
like, red, yellow, green and blue.
S: How do your shoots come to you?
A: I just get visions throughout the
day from looking at something. I have
to look at things all the time, but I get
inspiration from paintings mostly. I usually
look at those like online because in
paintings there’s no limit to what you
“This is for my
sanity...This is a
forever kind of
thing.”
could do to the human form. When
I’m shooting I think in my head, “oh
maybe I could get someone to put
their legs behind their head and then
bend over with their hand on the wall.”
it makes me push myself more.
S: Where do you see photography
taking you?
A: This is for my sanity. This is something
to make me feel good about
myself. I feel the most beautiful when
I’m shooting and I have this group
of images so it’s for that aspect. But
also, career wise I feel like this is
something I’m going to be doing for
the rest of my life and very lucky to
have found that early on. Just saying
“Oh I’m a photographer,” when I
was 13 and had people like “WHAT?
Hahaha,” and me telling them “Yes!”
I’m just very lucky to still be doing and
still loving it and wstill feel as close to
it as I did then. This is a forever kind
of thing.
Watch the full video interview on
www.itsjustdiffrnt.portfoliobox.com
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NAPIZUM MAG 08

SALEENA
TITUS
(@_saleener)
Saleena Titus, 19, is a brand curator and designer for SAL.T.
She draws inspiration from everything around her and
manipulates them into her one-of-a-kind designs.Titus tells
stories through her visuals for SAL.T and allows people to
see things through her perspective. SAL.T is designed to
make people feel confident through providing clothing and
acessories for self-expression.
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Model—Syn
Photographer—Kubi
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Model—Esther Sanchez
Photographer—Saleena

Sharp: What are you creating right now?
Seleena: I’m just going to start off saying what SAL.T is.
SAL.T is whatever you want it to be. There’s no specific
aesthetic to it and there’s no specific audience I’m trying
to capture. I want to capture everyone, that’s why in all my
shoots I try to get as many different ethnicities and vibes like
look-wise. So the range of people that see it would say, “Oh
I’m not scared to wear that.” I feel like a lot of people now
feel intimidated by like looking at someone else wear something
nice and say, “I can’t pull that off like he/she can.”
That’s not how it’s supposed to be. I want the buyer to feel
like they can wear it. So SAL.T is something that I’m trying
to make for everyone. I am also working on female clothing
that’s coming out soon.
about anything else other than school. She’s supportive
though.
S: What is the creative direction as far as visuals go?
Sel: My big inspiration for me on Instagram is (@adarchives).
They are dope. They do a lot of side-by-side photos
and I like side by side because you have more than just the
photo to look at.
Watch the full video interview on
www.itsjustdiffrnt.portfoliobox.com
S: I saw the denim line dropped. Tell me more about that.
Sel: I just really like denim, I feel like it will always be in fashion.
I got inspired by watching a racecar derby and I don’t
know why but I got inspired to do denim, and the design
came from me just thinking about a racecar the whole time.
Weird different things that happen, inspire me. I could think
of a light bulb and think of a way I could make something
that will be different, but relate back to the light bulb. I get
inspired so randomly. I get my inspiration from objects and
designers. For example, OFF-WHITE Fall 2017 collection inspired
me just by looking at sheer clothing. The next collection
I’m dropping is more elegant because I’m trying to reel
in the older generation.
S: How do you feel about the area, Virginia? Are they receptive
to what you’re doing?
Sel: As far as fashion in Virginia I feel like it’s put on a hold.
In the whole DMV area there’s no progression. I feel like to
make an impact you just need to go to other places. Virginia
is too slow for me; I have to go to D.C. to do things. There’s
literally nothing going on in Virginia, everyone is too laid
back.
S: Tell me about your creative start, when did you start
creating?
Sel: I’ve always been the odd one out. I was home schooled.
Home school is very sheltered, and calm and all you do is
learn so I was the weird one. But I think it started when I
was a freshman in high school. I didn’t know anything about
fashion before that. I was that intimidated person that would
say, “I wanted to dress like that but I can’t dress like that.”
I took an elective and it was Fashion Merchandising and I
ended up loving fashion. I started getting into it and dressing
“odd” as people would call it and people got used to it and
started calling it my style. My teacher, Ms. Clemens pushed
me more than a teacher should and it made me be more
into fashion. My mom wasn’t against it but she doesn’t have
a creative mindset. She’s more towards like conservative
thinking. She liked when I was the smart girl that didn’t think
NAPIZUM MAG 12

“Deeds Not
Words”
by Rakeb Teklehiwot (@rakebbb)
Let’s begin with defining feminism and
women empowerment. In my book,
feminism is a movement towards
equality for men and women politically,
socially, and economically. Society
make it seem like feminist hate men
but we are fighting for equal rights,
equal pay and equal opportunities.
Feminism has three waves. The first
wave started in 1848 and it was called
Legal Personhood. Elizabeth C.
Stanton and Susan B. Anthony held a
convention in Seneca Falls with about
300 men and women to discuss their
ultimate goal to have equal rights.
In 1920, we got a political legislative
accomplishment which was the 19th
amendment (vote, inherit property,
jobs, own property, education and
citizenship). That ended the first wave
of feminism.
The second wave of feminism
started in 1964 and it was called
Women Liberation. The civil rights act
was passed in 1964 which outlawed
discrimination based on color, race,
religion and sex. Women Liberation
ended in 1973 with the case of Roe V.
Wade which protects a woman’s right
to abortion. The case became a big win
for the women suffrage movement but
the fight wasn’t over.
The third wave started in 1992 and
is called Power and Diversity. The third
wave is currently still going on to this
day. The ultimate goal is the equal
rights amendment. Two important
names to remember during the third
wave period are Clarence Thomas and
Anita Hill. Anita Hill is an American
attorney who testified that she was sexual
harassed by Clarence Thomas. This
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changed how society looked at equal
rights and feminism.
We (women) have to have our own
personal agency and take over our
life and discover new things about us.
We need to undermine the power and
authority of an established system or
institution. We need to invest in our
girls and women which then creates a
great community, nations, and world.
Let’s talk about women’s suffrage
movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
was a well-educated woman who
launched the suffrage movement in
1848 and led the National Women
Suffrage Association (NWSA). She was
70 years old when Alice Paul, who was
an activist and one of the leaders for
the women suffrage. Paul then completed
the suffrage movement in 1920.
She then revolutionized from NWSA
to National Women’s Party. If you want
to learn more about Alice Paul and the
women suffrage movement then you
should definitely check out the Belmont-Paul
Women’s Equality National
Monument in Washington D.C
For me, I am proud to call myself a
feminist because I believe that a woman
should have equal rights as a man.
When I say that I am a feminist, people
automatically act different around
me, especially men. They are terrified
of the word “feminist” or “feminism”.
They believe that feminists hate men,
well I don’t know know if that is a
complete true statement. Society
makes it that way but in reality we are
just fighting for our rights.
NAPIZUM MAG 14

BARE
By @DiePosures
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Assistant—@gunsinblack
Model —@elevateevolveelate
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“diversity and style
in nudity...
desensitize public
perception of the
naked body”
NAPIZUM MAG 18

SANFA
MANSARAY JR
(@swagggsplashs3)
Creative Director & Designer of Quest Society, Sanfa
Mansaray Jr is nothing short of a genius. Mansaray is a
Fashion Merchandising & Marketing/Retail Management major
at the Art Institute. With a impeccable eye for fashion/art
with the savvy design skills to match this creative organically
orchestrated his own brand Quest Society. Being no stranger
to details, colors & location, Sanfa put together a amazing
first collection entitled “JONNY”. Currently Mansaray is working
on a second collection & looks to be releasing his own
Magazine “En Pursuit”. Sanfa was asked a number of things,
but what stood out the most was his power to wanting to
Inspire other creatives, through his work
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Quest Society Collection
Rob McKnight
Yuhan Yang
Benny: So what are you currently working on right now?
Sanfa: The brand I have is called QUEST SOCIETY. It’s a
lifestyle brand that is basically about people following their
dreams and saying fuck what society wants you to be.
Everybody has their own quest, everybody has something
they tryna get outta life, so do what you wanna do and fuck
society.
B: When did you start your brand?
S: I’ve been established since 2011/2012 when I moved
to New York. It was something I always wanted to do. I
dropped my first collection in 2013 and right now I’m working
on the second collection and I’m just running with that.
B: What is your inspiration?
S: My main inspiration comes from everyday life. My clothing,
pieces and my sayings like for example, I have a saying
that says, “I’m on a quest bitch hoe.” That came from my
aunt saying that after I graduated, “Since you graduated
school, what you gonna do now?” and It was like, “I’m on a
quest bitch.” Like don’t worry what I’m bouta do. So a lot of
those things come from things I’ve been through, whether
it’s pain or pleasure I put it in a garment or paper and just
create.
B: How old were you when you knew you wanted to do this
for a career?
S: I would say, 13. The only reason I say 13 is because I
knew mom would say all the time like, “Read your books,” or
“Do your homework,” but I’ll be sketching like shirts. Around
that time ALL DAYS, SHOOTERS and SOLBIATO was the
streetwear brands I knew and I always wanted to have
something like that because everybody in the streets had
that on. The way people felt wearing that shit, to me it was
like, “Damn, I really wanna make something like that. Just
to have people feeling just like that”. 13 is when I knew but
when I turned 20 that’s when I knew for a fact that this fashion
shit is something that I really wanna do.
B: So the DMV lifestyle is something you mostly portray in
your clothes?
S: Not really portray. I just feel like those brands are the originators
of streetwear. So I get a lot of inspiration from them.
I’m not tryna portray it, I’m tryna do something like that but
better.
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B: So like today’s society, everybody wants to be a designer
or creator. What makes you different from everybody else?
S: This is a lifestyle to me. This is not about money. I feel like
if you wanna do something you should just do it knowing
that you waking up in the morning like, “Yo, I’m doing fashion”,
regardless if you getting paid or not. The younger generation
is fucked up and it kinda makes me mad. They not
really putting in the work forreal. They get a blank tee shirt
and just putting anything on that shit. They don’t have their
own style, they just off some, “Hypebeast gonna fuck with it,
so I’m gonna fuck with it.” So, fuck the hypebeast’s. Like we
really out here putting in work. I’m just more hungry.
B: How do you work with living in Montgomery County?
S: I’m very well known in my area so just by my connections
and the people that I know, my shit gets love out here. People
fuck with me and they know that I’m serious about this
shit. So to make people understand your shit is to just have
a story man. If you give people a story to follow its gonna
reach somebody. Somebody gonna connect with the story
and it’s gonna relate to them. So just have a story to tell.
B: So in high school was there anything else that you wanted
to do besides fashion?
S: Man I’m supposed to be in the NBA right now, hahaha
hittin curry with the shot haha. I used to eat, drink, and sleep
basketball like that was my life. In the back of my mind I was
still like a fashion nigga but basketball was my life. I played
all 4 years of high school and I was gonna play for community
college, but practice is whack. It was just in the way.
for business and marketing to learn the business aspect of
it because like, who is someone to teach me how to sew?
You’re teaching me your technique, so what’s gonna make
us different? It’s nice to have a paper (diploma) but connections
is everything.
B: So what was growing up like?
S: So basically, I’m African descent, Sierra Leonean. When
you come up in an African household it’s like your parents
have a set career they want you in. So after graduating high
school I told my parents I’m going to New York and they was
like, “Nah, you’re going to school for physical therapy.” So I
actually went to school for that and I was about to get my
associates with three months left in school and I dropped
out. That shit just wasn’t for me like, I would be in labs with
like old ass people haha. I would come there dressed like
how I dress and these niggas pants are to they belly button
and they got lab coats haha. I had this partner who was
like 47 and he just used to look at me like, “What are you
doing here?” I took that as like, he saw that that shit wasn’t
my passion. I literally did that shit just to make my parents
happy. I mean the money would’ve been sweet but I wouldn’t
have been happy. Honestly, that’s how my whole brand got
started just from that whole scenario. Like, after I dropped
out I told my parents, “Now I’m moving to New York.” So I’m
doing everything I gotta do to get ready for this big step. If
you really wanna do something you will do whatever you
gotta do to go above and beyond.
“In the world we live in
now, self-thought is the
best, like teach yourself...
It’s nice to have a paper
(diploma) but connections
is everything.”
B: So you go to the Art Institute?
S: Yeah, I went to The Art Institute of New York City and I
graduated from there. Currently I am still enrolled at the one
in Arlington/Washington but um….fuck school. I mean The
Art Institute I’m gonna keep it a hundred wit you, is ass. If
knowing what I know now, I would’ve never gone. Like you
have someone teaching you something that they learned
from somebody else. In the world we live in now, selfthought
is the best, like teach yourself. When I went I went
NAPIZUM MAG 22

“POETIC REALISM”
by Jules Thomas
23 NAPIZUM MAG

NAPIZUM MAG 24

“...painting a candid, intimate
and raw picture of our small world.”
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“Telling the story of “our lives”.
NAPIZUM MAG 26

KANE
(@kane_lovillage)
Back in 2011, Kane began the creation of his music label
Rebel Music Entertainment, alongside his own music group,
Lo Village, with members, Kwess and Ama. In August 2016,
they dropped their leading single, Lately. The Gaithersburg
natives used their vintage beats and melodic harmonies to
create a fresh, unique Hip-Hop sound.
27 NAPIZUM MAG

we got our sound.
B: So growing up did you want to do music or did you wanna
do another occupation?
K: I honestly thought rap was cool but I didn’t like the stigma
that is followed behind people who rapped professionally. It
was almost like they were taking the easy way out in life. So
I was like, “I know I can rap.” In school I was always good at
writing and I was creative as fuck so I always knew if I needed
a plan B I could always rap. I got into some trouble with
the law n shit so I was in a corner; I had to make decisions to
put me in a better position from where I was at that moment
so I got to work and started with the music shit. I knew It
wasn’t gonna happen for me over night but it’s worth it.
Benny: What do you do?
Kane: My name is Kane and I’m an entrepreneur. I started
an indie record label, which has been in the making for 5
years now, called Rebel Music Collective. We have an artist,
Dirty Shafi and group named Lo Village where I play a rapper
role, I have my sister Ama who is the vocalist she’s the R&B
sound, and then we have Joel who goes by Kwes and he’s
the fusion of Rap and R&B. Right now we’re working on a
project with Dirty Shafi as a follow up of our first project Last
Summer. We got good feedback and results from it and we
are trying to capitalize off the next project with Shafi. That
should be coming soon.
B: So did you grow up listening to different artist in your
household?
K: Yeah, like that was the biggest thing. Like I haven’t seen
my father in like 7 years but of all the memories I have of
my dad, it was all with music. My uncle is the one who put
me on to rap and my dad put me on to soul music. My uncle
introduced me to Bob Marley and Tupac, and my dad put me
on to Michael Jackson, all that shit. I was also in band, and
my brother played the piano. Growing up I was always musically
inclined all of my childhood memories has something
to do with music. I remember I hated rap and I used to like
NSYNC and Back Street Boys n shit, it wasn’t until my uncle
put me on to it.
B: So where did you get the inspiration to start a group or
start rapping?
K: My favorite shit music wise was groups like OutKast, Wu-
Tang, Mobb-Deep (R.I.P. Prodigy), The Fuggees, and A Tribe
Called Quest are all like my shit so it’s like I wanted to build
that type of unit, you know what I’m sayin. I think there’s
power in numbers for sure and I know how to spot talent so
I was like, “Let’s start a group.’
B: So I listened to Last Summer and I noticed you guys have
a different sound, so what is you guys thinking process into
making the music?
K: We know what the sound is that currently works, and
niggas are like, “Do this and you’ll win.” But bump that, just
do whatever you feel. So how we work is like, I’ll put down
a hook or something and after, I have 3 other people who
know me musically that could critic what I do and give their
opinion. With us being a group we gotta push each other. So
if Ama does a hook and I’ve heard her do something like that
before then I’m gonna tell her to scratch that and do it again.
That’s why it’s so unique because it’s like everybody puts
their part into a unique ass fucking fire product which is ill.
We know each other so much and had so much practice in
the studio it’s like muscle memory at this point so that’s how
NAPIZUM MAG 28

“Our sound is like nostalgia,
and whatever we are on and
we have a little groovy shit
too...The shit that’s going on
we try not to let it influence
us and we try and keep a
fresh mind.”
B: So what Genre do you think Lo Village is?
K: Aite so, you remember how it was D’angelo and Erykah
Badu came out and made a genre called ‘Neo-Soul’? I feel
like that’s what we are trying to do with Hip-Hop, something
like, “Neo-Hip Hop” but I don’t wanna say that, it kinda
sounds corny to me as I say it right now. Our sound is like
nostalgia, and whatever we are on and we have a little
groovy shit too. We took the shit niggas have done before
and took it to another level. The shit that’s going on we try
not to let it influence us and we try and keep a fresh mind.
B: So what do you think about Hip-Hop now?
K: Everybody wants attention. I lost respect for so many
people. The shit I’ve seen my favorite rappers do for attention
is crazy. I feel like you should show what you do through
your music. All that other shit is taking away what you do
with your music and fucking up the culture. Other cultures
don’t respect this kind of shit you feel me? And this is the
shit that is perpetuating some of the music. As much as
niggas don’t wanna be role models you gotta understand
how rappers played a role in your life. A lot of us don’t have
fathers in the house so that rapper was like that role model
in your life, and niggas now are taking advantage. It’s like
who taught you nigga?
and a lot more irresponsible rappers. There are some Sound-
Cloud rappers I think are dope as hell but I feel like the ones
that pop are the ones that are gonna have careers. I mean
there’s hope.
B: So with your music and the path you wanna go are you
gonna influence the young ones?
K: Yes Ima try. I feel like I got the attention. The fans that DM
us are younger so it’s like, “Okay bet, I got their attention.” I’m
not tryna be corny with my message or nothing. I’m gonna
say it in a way that I would’ve liked to have heard it. I mean
I have lil niggas like Shafi that can tell me if the shit is corny
or not.
Check out their debut mixtape, “Last Summer” on Spotify,
Apple Music and other streaming sites.
B: Where do you see the Hip-Hop culture in 5 years?
K: Uhh I don’t know…white people.
(Benny laughs hysterically, “Do you really think that?”)
I mean I don’t know. I’ll say this though…in the next 3-5 years
there will be more homosexual rappers, more white rappers
29 NAPIZUM MAG

SHORTY’S
NEWSLETTER
So we went to a local elementary school to talk to some
of the kids. Growing up as a child in this generation
there are a lot of things at your fingertips. Children are
very aware of what’s going on, so we asked them “What
is love?”. Here’s what they had to say:
NAPIZUM MAG 30

Christopher, 9, Love is a
special feeling you have for
someone.
Noah, 6, my daddy and me went
to go to the store to get my
mommy some flowers and he said
we are doing it because we love
Maddie, 7, love is gross.
Joeshya, 5, when I share my
toys with my cousins.
31 NAPIZUM MAG

Bailey, 6, love is when my teacher
gives the classroom candy.
Jay 7, love is when you share
everything.
Guyia, 8, love is when your heart
beats fast.
Jake, 9, love is mixed with
appreciation, friendship, and
happiness.
NAPIZUM MAG 32

33 NAPIZUM MAG
JIE ZHENG
(@zh_ng)
At the age of 19, Jie Zheng has launched her own brand,
store, and gained an online presence. She has taken her
studies in Graphic Design to incorporate into her instinct
for fashion.Her passion for all mediums of art is combined
to create a full image. She is coming up on her biggest
task to create her first collection. No one can anticipate
what will come out from the multi-media artist next.

Sharp: So you are an artist that practices
all mediums of art. What do you
connect with the most?
Jie: I think that’s what I’m trying to
figure out because it’s a lot of mediums
you can work with. They all have different
results. I mean I guess it depends
what you wanna express. I don’t have a
favorite; it’s all of them combined that’s
like the big picture. I’m still learning
everything but I’m falling in love with
every one of them.
S: You in school for graphic design?
Tell me a little bit about that.
J: I really don’t put my graphic work
out there. I have this whole back-story
how I was supposed to go to school
for bio, because that’s what my parents
wanted me to do. I’ve told that story so
many times but now that’s not my story
anymore. That was an old chapter
in my life, now I’m in a new period of
my life. I took graphic design so I can
learn all elements of art, all the things
that apply to the fashion industry. With
me learning graphic design I get to
play around with everything. I like the
problem solving aspect of it and like
challenging me to creatively think
S: You just started a business right?
J: Yeah ShopJie. I started it when I
was going on winter break. It’s a store
of accessible fashion for the creative
minded individual. I also wanted the
store to represent my style, like me giving
my closet to the buyer. I’m actually
ending it soon because I don’t have full
creative process with it. Yes, I buy the
clothes and sell it to the consumer but
there’s no satisfaction in that. I wasn’t
set out to do that. I told myself I was
a fashion designer when I was 11 and
ShopJie was not it. That was me taking
the easy path; it was a nice learning
experience.
S: What role do you think fashion plays
today?
J: Well I want to combined art &
fashion. Art to me is anything, whether
it’s music, architecture, traditional art,
painting and with all that I just want
to combine the two. That’s what art
should be. It’s not just a t-shirt you
can buy, it’s not just a dress and some
jeans, art needs to be respected again…
well no, fashion needs to be respected
again because fashion is art and there
are things to be told through that, and
I wanted to bring it back to that, and I
want the new generation to see that.
I’m like with all the trendy stuff but I
have like a respect and interest in art
but people need to understand art and
stop brushing art off and people need
to stop looking at things for more than
30 seconds and actually think about it.
NAPIZUM MAG 34

SOUL SISTRS for Shop Jie S/S
Models —Victoria Chang & Alyssa Mayumi
Photographer —Ornelle Chimi
Makeup—Nathalyn Nunoo
S: At 19, where did you get the mind
state to start a business?
J: It comes from my parents. They’re
business owners, they opened their
restaurant, that’s how they got started
here and they’ve had it since I was
born. My dad has started his own
business back in China. Growing up
I’ve seen that process and that made
me business savvy. I’ve always tried
to “hustle” when I was little because
I seen it from my parents. I mean my
parents did well for me when I was
little, but I would always try and get it
on my own. Like I don’t want to rely on
my parents, I’d rather be independent,
that’s why I became business savvy. I
was a freshman in high school when I
first started making money. I used to
buy clothes from the thrift store and
re-work it or shoot in the clothes and
post it up on this website and resell it. I
guess it’s just the urge to work and I’m
a workaholic.
me. I’m not negative on myself but I
don’t see anything, but not in a bad
way, I just can’t see it. I learn something
everyday and that changes my
whole perspective on everything. But
I just think I’m gonna learn more, and
I just see myself going everywhere
and that’s promising to myself that it’s
going to add up to something as long
as I’m working. That’s why I’m less
worried because there’s hundreds or
thousands of people that want to do
what I want to do but only 10% actually
go through with it, so all I have to do is
keep going and keep at it. If you have
people around you that motivate you
then you’re good. So the future doesn’t
worry me, I’m just trying to ride it out
to get there. I’m enjoying the journey
because I’m having fun. Some days are
slower and I’m like, “I should do more”
or “when is it going to come?” ya know?
But I have to remind myself that I’m 19
and I’m doing okay for myself.
“there’s hundreds or
thousands of people
that want to do what
I want to do but only
10% actually go
through with it”
S: So tell me about where you see yourself
in the future?
J: I mean every year gets better for
Watch the full video interview on
www.itsjustdiffrnt.portfoliobox.com
35 NAPIZUM MAG

Frame of Benny
Self-portrait 2
MARCH
郑
捷
JIE ZHENG VOL 1
Ren Hang Tribute Photography Zine
Styling for Ornelle Chimi
NAPIZUM MAG 36

37 NAPIZUM MAG

“ME!? I’M TIGHT AS FUCK!!!”
by Benny Harps
“First got it when he was six, didn’t know any tricks. Matter
of fact, first time he got on it he slipped.” The lyrics above
are from a song called Kick Push by Lupe Fiasco. Lupe
Fiasco and other African American artist in the media have
influenced young black men to enter the white dominated
sport called skateboarding. Well at least that is the case for
my friends Emmanuel & Tony, two young black skateboarders
from Germantown, MD. I went to one of the skate parks
they created themselves to chop it up with the guys.
They called it the “Boxspot.” Random metal from street
signs, handmade half pipe ramps, and construction cones
makes it look like every skater that went there brought
something with them from off the street. Tony Says, “Everything
you see here… was built over time.” I was intrigued
for the simple fact that I lived around the area but never
seen or heard about this makeshift skate park from an empty
concrete lot.
Growing up in Rockville, MD, I was the black kid in the
predominately white suburbs. So of course, as a kid I was
naturally into what the “other kids” were into. I listened to
alternative and indie rock. I woke up to the early morning
reruns of music videos on MTV of bands like Fall Out Boy,
Green Day, My Chemical Romance, etc. My first video game
on my new PS1 was Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2. Portions of
the game showed skate videos that I would try to go out and
mimic. I was engulfed by the satisfaction I got after landing
any amateur tricks. But some friends weren’t so accepting
of my hobby. They would tell me it was whack and I should
stop. Me being young, I listened and never worked on being
a better skater.
So I asked the guys “What does it feel like being a black
skater?” “Honestly… I like it”, says Tony. “Just for the fact
that when I go to a skate park people don’t take me seriously
because they look at me and they be like, ‘Awww, you don’t
really skate like that’. And they underestimate me. Once I
start skating all the white people are speechless.” As a black
skater your skills are already underestimated by your peers,
in a white dominated sport. Tony and Emmanuel share
their experience of judgement in the skate setting, which
they reciprocate with their skills. Tony also mentions the
pressure of when you are the only black skater at the park.
Tony says, “When you’re good and you’re a black skater, it
be feeling like its all eyes on you. It’s kinda good and bad.”
As a black skater it is hard to be accepted, it is a bunch of
pressure once you step on that board. There is a standard of
what a good skater may be, but as a black skater there is an
added pressure to surpass their expectations.
Black skaters face judgement in a white dominated sport.
Likewise a white person might be underestimated stepping
on to a basketball court, which is a predominately black
sport. But in athletics you are able to show your skills and
be accepted. There’s an even playing field in sports. Whether
you are Black, White, Latino, etc. you just have to show your
ass off when you step up to the plate.
Tony
@eastcoasttone
@arthousedmv
Emmanuel
NAPIZUM MAG 38

MARLEY WATTS
(@mrlysrt)
Marley Watts is a 17-year-old painter based in the suburbs
of Chicago, Illinois. Her fascinating and surreal art is mainly
based on portraits of her friends and family. She began her
career without any art classes under her belt, and started
painting these dreamlike portraits. As she has perfected her
craft, she has expanded her audience and her commissions.
Catch more of her paintings @mrlysrt on Instagram.
39 NAPIZUM MAG

Eric: Who are some of your favorite painters?
Marley: Favorite artists…I like the ones from the 80’s like
Andy Warhol. Right now, I’m really into surrealism and Yves
Tanguy. I like Mateo a lot. Also, I really like artists on Instagram
that I’ve seen...like @killeracid, @odd.but.true.
E: I was actually going to ask: do you draw inspiration from
Surrealism?
M: Yeah, from Surrealism and Pop Art. I really like those
types of styles and very vibrant colors.
E: Why do you use more vibrant tones rather than muted
tones?
M: I feel like it’s mostly because I haven’t really gotten into
mixing colors…also I just really like bright colors. I think when
(paintings are) duller, it’s not as interesting. It’s more fun to
use bright colors.
E: Besides Surrealism and Pop art, what other art forms and
artists do you pull from for your vision?
M: I like to go to art museums and walk around. Obviously, I
don’t know all of the names of all of the paintings and artists,
but I have a few pieces that I like a lot. I also try to notice art
everywhere. A lot of my friends dabble in artistic things like
photography so it’s cool that I get to see their artwork and I
can get inspired by it. I also go to a lot of music shows and I
draw a lot of inspiration from music.
E: What musical artists do you draw from?
M: I’ve been painting some stuff for some of the local punk
bands like Bad Timing, Martha’s Got a Limp Wrist. I think I’ll
be doing one for the Electric Excuse Me’s. When I paint, I like
to put on Sonic Youth or MGMT. I also like to put on some
rap artists.
E: Like who?
M: Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, some SoundCloud rappers. Baby
Muva’s really good. She’s one of my favorites.
E: Why do you center your art on people?
M: Well that might be changing this summer, because I like
to draw a lot of geometrical type things and I don’t really
have time during the school year to paint them. But hopefully
this summer, I’ll be able to have more time to focus on that,
and I’ll be taking a drawing class and that’ll be my first art
class ever. I’m really excited to learn some new things. The
reason I started with people was I think that people are kind
of interesting, the way they look and the way that they’re
unique. You know, like two girls could both have blonde hair
and blue eyes, but that doesn’t mean they look the same.
Also, I really wanted to paint something and it’s what people
wanted to see.
E: How recently have you been painting people in your style?
M: I’ve always drawn and doodled, but I started painting
actually this past summer and at first I would give them out
for free to my friends, and then I started getting more of a
demand for them so I started painting other people and I
guess that’s how we got here today. Last July is how it kind
of started.
E: What does your past art look like compared to your art
today? Cause I noticed that in your paintings that people
have more geometric features. You said last July is when
you started painting portraits, so before that, would you
paint other things?
M: I painted just random things, you know, whatever came to
mind. I didn’t keep a lot of pictures of my old one’s because I
didn’t like them that much.
NAPIZUM MAG 40

E: I was gonna say, looking at your art, it doesn’t matter
what race or gender or sex someone is. Since the colors are
abstract, you can’t judge someone for their race. It’s all just
paint.
M: Yeah, and sometimes on Snapchat, I’ll post funny drawings
of dicks on my story. It’s goofy, but I think it is kind of
political, because I’m drawing what I feel as a girl in the
world.
E: How do you see your art changing in the years to come?
M: I want to get more surrealist. Also, I want to learn how to
do landscapes, but in my own styles like with the neon colors
and geometrical shapes. I would also like to do abstract
shapes. I have a lot of things I want to do this summer.
E: What person in your life was your greatest inspiration for
your art?
M: This is gonna be kind of corny, but my first portrait I
painted, oh my god it’s so bad, I was cyberbullied about it. I
painted it when I was super sad about a boy. I guess it was
him and then a friend of mine. She’s really cool so I decided
to paint her. I actually painted it with Menard’s indoor wall
paint.
E: On a canvas?
M: Yeah (laughs), I didn’t know what I was doing.
E: Is there a specific technique or brushstroke you follow to
get your look? What’s your method when it comes to painting?
M: I don’t really know. In school, I haven’t really taken any art
classes since middle school, so I don’t even know if I’m doing
it right. I don’t really think I have a technique. I just think
about colors and what would look good together. And then
I try do whatever funky things I can to their faces, while still
making it look like their faces.
E: What’s your goal in the next year with your career in art?
M: I feel like I’m still pretty young, so I don’t know if this is
what I’ll do with the rest of my life, but I’m going to keep
doing it and see where it takes me and what opportunities
arise.
E: Where do you hope to go in the upcoming years after
graduating high school?
M: I want to keep doing art, but I think I’ll be going to college
for architecture.
E: Any final thoughts?
M: Hire me!
Eric Marshall is a 19-year-old writer and artist based in the
suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. He currently goes to Joliet Junior
College to get an Associates in Arts with a focus in Creative
Writing and Art Gallery Management. Follow him on Twitter
@erobmarshall, Instagram @erobmarshall and @fotobyeric.
E: Does your personal life have any influence on your art?
Anyone in your family that was an artist?
M: My family isn’t very artistic.
E: You said your friends are artistic though?
M: Yeah, my friends are super artistic. I got to be in one of
their fashion shows recently.
E: Through the colors and style that you use, are there any
underlying political or social aspects in your art?
M: This is gonna sound corny too, but I like that everyone I
paint is a person of color. Everyone is orange or green. Everyone
is equal.
41 NAPIZUM MAG

POETRY BY THE PEOPLE
NAPIZUM MAG 42

NEO SOUL
Dunia
Once upon a time,
there was a shawty
who mined down
the mind so much
she got lost tryna find
answers locked inside.
so she sought
wherever was taught
school and home to start.
she denied the fact she was smart,
battling with mind and heart.
‘cause the mentors
meant to open more doors,
ignored their chores.
now responsible
for rebellious wars,
within the systems,
just listen...
12 years.
a whole 12 years.
they got us out here sleeping
for a whole 12 years.
too bad propaganda
can’t see these tears.
it’s so sad that my grandpa
slaved just so that I can fear.
magic ain’t real?
well capitalism a hoax!
that’s why I’m goin ghost,
fake my death,
hit the islands,
and that’s where
I say my toast!
You know the story
and how it goes..
I’m tryna get chose!
like the players anthem
cause life’s a game, I know.
but you ain’t got a clue,
And so,
here I am rippin poetic truths..
one by one like the strands to my roots.
Skeletons we all resemble,
but the Afro on my temple,
is to let niggas know
I got neo soul.
43 NAPIZUM MAG

LOST IN PARADISE
Kiki Zorigt
Tryna hold my tongue but something feels wrong
My mind says ‘girlfriend, just play along’
Hands reach for a mask so I don it on
Hands reach for a flask so I sip soem strong
Never learned how to scream
Fightings been my theme
Daddy always told me
‘Beat the opposing team’
Growing up,
We had to learn how to be free
& what to really see
to realize our dreams
how to make them our reality
& how to separate ourselves from society
UNTITLED
Dirt
Drugstore cowboy
Matt Dillon pop pillin
Ain’t no glass ceiling
If yo car ain’t got a roof in it
Loose lip billin and boys in blue villains
Gettin blue striped bones for a quick mention
Penchant to pen whatever feeling aloof
Mending proof
Benjamins spilling outta loot
Loose screw
recoup my losses pour ace like juice
Flew the coop as youth angst brimming to thru the jewels
Playing bad brains & minor threats
Not a minor threat to you
But,
U caught me w my thoughts a drift
Riding in whips w whites
so a nigga blend in
Laying inna backseat drifting
Transporting pack that my jansport filled with
Passport filled with stamps
Stamp!
I been ducking the law
Running from them cops
Clamps
NAPIZUM MAG 44

UNKOWNN UNDERGROUND PLACE
Sofia Tesfu
Where the rich vibrations pulsate under
The Harlem moon.
Where the ebony music man
Howls and wails his soul tune
Will you go with me?
Let the music sway us
While we move as my fingers
Tangle in your hands
We’ll feel the drums and the bass remind
Us of our lost motherland
Will you go with me,
To the unknown underground place
Where they play those electrifying sounds?
Will you go with me?
Our dancing bodies cut out silhouettes
Through smoke clouds
Where we finally banish our forced civility
Behind a soundtrack of rhythmic tranquility
Will you go with me?
And cry with laughter
As sweet sweat liberates our hair
And restores it to it’s natural
Glory
Will you go with me?
Where just above us, our kin fight wars
As men in badges stack up their
broken bodies like
Inventory
Will you go with me?
Where the sounds we now groove to
Sway to the beat of our march
Bare feet
Off our beloved African shores
Will you go with me?
And surrender to the rhythm
Our bodies mystically bound
To the dance floor
Let our bodies finally release the tension
Of generations of oppression
Please go with me,
Let it be our only escape
From this familiar yet foreign land
Just go with me
To our holy retreat
Our only relief
From constant reprimand.
45 NAPIZUM MAG

ARITHMETIC
Malcolm Avant
What do I have to do?
To have you understand that this to I isn’t just about me,
its about you too
When will it become apparent to you that one plus one doesn’t always equal 2 and
that
common mathematical equations don’t apply to us two?
because 4 us, 1+1= 1.
Two soul,
unified by feelings shared by two
create an entity embodied by me and you
we are united as one
and like a star in the sky our light shines on, and never will the
galaxy of black holes designed to split us, succeed
therein, lies the lay of the land that the truth of my words precede, indeed
its magical
watch me as I wave my wand through the air and trans-morph the particles of
every atom into a piece of the puzzle to the key that unlocks my soul...
now take it.
Keep it tucked away in a safe place
where it can never be stolen
I will
Give you a calculator so that you may try to conclude that the product of time
times you and I is so profound that the songbird will sing of our story to its
fledgelings
shouting out loud that there has never been a moment more true
then when I asked you
If 1+1 equals 2
NAPIZUM MAG 46

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NAPIZUM MAG 48

NAPIZUM
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