Music Meets Fashion 2018 Bryan Michael Cox

Bryan-Michael Cox
Pg. 14
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IN THIS
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LEVEL21
MAGAZINE
MUSIC MEETS
FASHION ISSUE
8. DANEILLE
HASKELL
COVER: SUPER
PRODUCER
BRYAN-MICHAEL COX
8
42.
Marche?
Tayl or
Templ eton
42
COVER
STORIES
COVER:FALLINGTHROUGHAPRIL
YOUNGNIYAH
36.
14. 22.
30
36
38. MILAN
HIGHTOWER
38
AUGUST.2018-w w w.level21m ag.com

HAIR/MUA : Paul Mitchell School Charlotte
Creative Direction: Tempestt Harris
Photographer: Tanisha Byrd
Wardrobe: H. Lerent

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
DANEILLE HASKELL
Danielle Haskell is using her voice to
complete her life?s mission by encouraging
others and spreading God?s love to the world.
She is an accomplished Christian pop
singer/song writer. Amazingly, Danielle began
singing and playing the piano at the age of
three. By the time she was six years old,
Danielle began taking guitar lessons. Now at
the age of 19, Danielle is making a name for
herself within the gospel music industry. She
has garnered several accolades, including the
2018 Carolina Music Video Award for Best
Video within the Christian/Gospel genre.
Danielle has been acknowledged as 2017
Akademia Christian Artist of the Year and
nominated for the 2018 Josie Music Awards
category of Rising Star. Recently, Level 21 had
the opportunity to talk with her:
How w ere you discovered?
My mother would set up singing ?gigs? for me. I
guess you would call them ?gigs? but I didn?t get
paid for them. I would sing at local events and
my home church. However, my first paying gig
was singing at Disney. I sang at one event in
Disney when I was in 6th grade. Two years after
the event that I received another call inquiring
if I still sang, and that began me taking my
music more seriously and eventually leading to
where I am now.
What m ade you w ant t o sing gospel verses
anot her genre of m usic?
I love all genres of music. Growing up, I went to
a Catholic school. So, I naturally gravitated to
music with Christian undertones. I wanted to
create music that everyone, even atheists,
could relate to the message of love and feel
something in their hearts. The best part of
music is when someone listens to and relates
to your song. In the few minutes that they are
listening to the song, not only do they become
part of my story, but I become part of theirs
and that is an awesome feeling.
What w ould you consider t o be t he harder
t ask song, w rit ing or singing?
That is a tough question. I probably would say
that song writing is much harder. Although
singing and song writing require practice and
hard work, song writing requires a lot of
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.8
creativity. You must focus on the message and
its words to provoke heart-felt emotions. I write
personal songs to help and comfort others.
Tell us a lit t le bit about your song, ?Forget ?.
Forget is a very important song about my
grandfather. He was suffering with Alzheimer?s
disease for the last six years of his life. One day,
I received a call that my grandfather had fallen
and had a brain bleed. Danielle flew back home
to find him hospitalized. I was told not to
expect much and that he would likely pass
away in a few weeks. During his entire time
with Alzheimer?s, I was the only person he
consistently recognized. Not once, did my
grandfather get my name wrong. I was so
afraid that he would forget me after his
accident. However, when I saw him and said
?Pepere?, he immediately replied ?Danielle
you?re here?. I was so grateful that my
grandfather, even with a brain bleed, still
recognized me. Immediately, I felt so much love
and gratefulness that my grandfather had not
forgotten me and neither had God. I wrote that
song within ½ hour. The song?s message is that
God never forgets us.
What advice w ould you give our readers t o
follow t heir dream s?
Just relax. Success comes from being calm.
When you are under pressure, just breathe and
relax. If you stay calm and work hard, things
will naturally fall into place.

"You AreMy
Breath"
Ben Carson once said that, ?Through
hard work, perseverance and a faith
in God, you can live your dreams.?
Danielle is living out her dreams and
encouraging others, along the way.
Her latest song is ?Breath?. The song
is a tribute to everyone who lifted her
up during her life. The video for this
single has been nominated for the
2018 Carolina Music Video Award.
Danielle is making huge strides in the
gospel industry. According to her
song lyrics, her music is a true
testament that, ?when we are weak,
you are my next steps. When we need
it, you are my breath?. Danielle, keep
letting your light shine!
Written by: Marage Blakeney

www.daniellevhaskell.com / Instagram @danielle.haskell

The Music
Meet s Fashio n
Issue 2018
w w w .l evel 21mag.co m

1 1 A M -2 A M
A S K A B O U T O U R
D A M E R A FA M ILY C O M B O
P H O N E : (704) 376-7147

www.lightingambience.com
Contact: M ichael Saunder s-Phone: (704-858-5640 Em ail:m saunder s1959@gm ail.com

yan-
BMichael
COX
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.14

Rec or d Br eak i ng
Song wr i t er .
c ompos er . pr oduc er

THE GENIUS
That Is..
BRYAN- MI CHAEL COX
A written Collaboration by: Christopher Pointe and Kaitlin Booe
The mark of a great architect is not in the volume of what he?s
built, but in the impact his creation has on its surroundings.
The same can be said for musical architects, and producers
are the architects of the soundtracks of our lives. The best
ones not only have extensive resumes, but they also forever
impact whoever hears their songs. Bryan-Michael Cox is the
epitome of such a producer. What Mozart was to classical
music, Bryan-Michael Cox is to R&B and pop music.
Raised in Houston, Texas, Cox knew Beyoncé in high school,
and even if his first demo tape was with her, Cox?s career truly
began as so many do? with an internship for the then
Georgia-based Noontime Records. Cox has said of moving
from Houston to Georgia, ?Back then, there were three
choices if you wanted to be in the music industry. Live in New
York, live in L.A., or live in Atlanta.? So, Cox enrolled in Clark
Atlanta University ?because I was just trying to get to Atlanta.?
Since then, he?s reconnected with Beyoncé (he produced a
track for Destiny?s Child) and has been mentored by So So
Def?s Jermaine Dupri, but Cox has carved out his own place
behind the scenes of some of the industry?s most lucrative
stars like Usher, Bow Wow, Justin Bieber, R. Kelly, and
Drake? just to name a few.
Cox is also responsible for over 100 million record sales and
thirty-five No. 1 hits. With that in mind, it?s easy to say that
Cox has done it all. ?To be a great producer, you have to
understand every genre. You?ve got to have a love and affinity
for everything,? he explains. With a portfolio that boasts
Grammy Awards and nominations alike (nine wins and twelve
nominations if you?re counting), Cox?s success speaks for
itself. His accolades are even more impressive when you
consider the declining popularity of R&B and pop. Even with
the increasing popularity of hip-hop, Cox isn?t concerned
about the future of either genre. ?Music is always a cycle. As
long as I?ve been alive, it?s been a cycle,? Cox told us when we
asked about where he sees music trends, and listeners?
tastes, ten years from now.

?I feel like R&B?s going to have a resurgence. You?ve seen
what?s happened with the L.M.A. record, you?ve seen
what?s happened with H.E.R., with Damn Caesar, you see
what?s happening with these artists who are making some
real movement. It?s a reflection of people reacting or
gravitating to R&B music.? To keep the circle unbroken,
Cox calls on the driving force of a younger generation. ?To
all my little black boys and girls growing up, if you?re great
at something, be great. Do not ever underestimate who
you are or what you feel you can do. If you?re great at
creating content walk in that s* * t! We need to be teaching
ownership because our kids are still enchanted with
labels. You shouldn?t be looking for Columbia, Atlantic, Def
Jam? they?re looking for y?all.?
Cox continues, ?I?ve seen a lot of different styles come and
go and come back. I?ve always tried to keep my ear to the
streets and try to keep my ear to what the youth is doing
and try to really pay attention to what everybody else is
doing. I?ve always embraced the youth and I?ve always
wanted to understand what they?re doing. I don?t carry
myself as an old person. This business keeps us young,?
Cox told us at Level21. Cox may have been talking about
what influences his style, but style applies to more than
just the clothes on your back. In fact, it?s that style and
Cox?s desire to stay engaged in current trends that
contributes to the longevity of his career.
Artists who were once on Cox?s wish list have become a hit
list of artists he?s teamed up with to produce cultural
classics. At this point in his career he?s partnered with so
many legendary performers and amassed so many
awards that Bryan Michael Cox has become the producer
that even the stars prefer. ?I?ve worked with artists who I
never thought I?d work with. Mariah and Whitney were
unattainable. Mary J. Blige, they?re the queens of it all. I
grew up wanting to work with them?, Cox passionately
retorts. ?Growing up as a kid from Houston I never
imagined that one day I?d work with these artists.?
The key to it all, regardless of genre, lay in the songs and
how they?re constructed. As a producer, that?s where Cox
comes into play. ?I discovered that when I worked with
Usher. The best songs are conversations,? Cox explains.

?The first song I ever wrote with Usher was a record called ?U Got it Bad,?and that song came
through a conversation. I learned from him and Jermaine? ?Oh, sh* t, we want to talk about
songs.?We want to talk about what we?re going through, and through us conversing, these
songs are going to present themselves, they?re going to develop.? This only happens because of
our relationships. Cox has worked with platinum-selling artists like Usher, Mariah Carey, Kanye
West and Mary J. Bilge, and has done so for over a decade; it?s safe to say Cox is a master of
both. And, according to us here at Level21, he?ll continue to be regardless of where the music
industry goes from here.
" The i l l us t r at or
of f eel i ngs . "
Photography: Antoinne Duane Jones
Wardrobe: Maurice Brown, Stacey Adams,
Untitled Facade
Stylist: Jerry Thompson - JT's Kloset
Creative Direction: Michael Lopez
Video- Emmanuel Toussaint-Toussaint Studios

"PAY
ATTENTION"

?Style is a way to
say who you are
without having to
speak.? ? Rachel
Zoe

LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.22

FALLING
THROUGH
By Chris Lewis
APRIL
Every now and again you meet a group of
young musicians who truly have talent
and drive; gaining a following in North
Carolina, this alt-rock band, Falling
Through April will be one of the few to
change the landscape of rock for the
better for Carolinas and beyond. In the
midst of troublesome circumstances like
transmission explosions and previous
vocalists going M.I.A., managed to thrive
together and create some pretty amazing
music for fans to jam out to.
The band consists of Mikaela Salazar
(lead vocalist), Dan Candia (vocalist and
guitarist), Jim Siani (guitarist), Dave
Piontek (vocalist and bassist), Taylor
Foster (drummer/percussionist).The
power of music runs deep within their
veins! Dan?s family consists of many
well-traveled musicians, and his father
was a guitarist himself. Taylor?s father
was also a drummer, and Jim?s passion
for music began at the young age of 13.
Dave started playing when he received
his first guitar at 13 years old. Mikaela?s
love for singing came from listening to
singers Alanis Morrissette and Gwen
Stefani.
Although they all hail from different parts
of the ?States, Dan, Jim, Dave, and Taylor
found each other while playing in other
bands that were apart of Charlotte?s indie
rock scene. Once Mikaela joined in 2016,
the band felt complete and they went on
to release their first single together
called ?Desperate Measures? in
September of 2017. The song?s music
video premiered on Alternative Press and
debuted at #13 on the YouTube?s
Alternative Hotlist Playlist! The single is
playing in 3,800 Health Clubs worldwide,
and plays on shows such as MusicMix

USA and SidewalksTV. They also released
their album called Zodiac on January 19,
2018, which exhibits influences from
Incubus and Halsey. Falling Through April
has opened for bands such as Theory of
a Deadman, The Pretty Reckless, Pop Evil,
Adelitas Way, and Flyleaf, among others.
They?ve also performed at Warped Tour,
SXSW, Florida Music Festival, Sonorous
Music Festival, Dewey Beach Music
Conference, and Celebrate Fairfax.
For each band m em ber, can you
please ell us about your background?
Where are you all from and how did
you all get int o m usic?
Mikaela: I?m originally from California
but I?ve lived in a few places across the
country. Music is like air in my household
? growing up it was everywhere. My
whole family is musical; my dad plays
bass, mom sings, etc. There is a picture of
us performing as a family in Mexico with
me on guitar.
Dan: I was born and raised in Maryland
and decided to move to the Carolinas on
my own in 2009. One of my brothers,
Lou, introduced me to various bands my
whole life that made me interested in
picking up an instrument but my dad
always encouraged me to ?keep
practicing?and evolve. He also used to
play guitar around the house so I grew up
hearing it.
Taylor: My dad is a drummer so I always
looked up to him for inspiration. Seeing
him play I knew that?s what I wanted to
do. He lives in Arkansas and I spent time
between there and North Carolina
growing up.
Jim : I?m from Pennsylvania and just grew
up listening to music that inspired me to
want to be a musician. The way certain
songs or artists made me feel, that?s how
I want to make others feel.
Dave: I?m like Pepsi, born and raised in
the Carolinas. I got into music because of
my mom. She?s a singer and church band
leader but always told me I need to get
into playing the bass and as soon as I
picked up a bass I knew that was my
instrument and I still haven?t put it down
yet.
Who do you all look up t o m usically as
a group or solo act ?
Mikaela: Gwen Stefani from No Doubt,
Hayley Williams from Paramore, Jenna
McDougall from Tonight Alive.
Taylor: I?ve always been a big Incubus fan.
The Beatles too.
Dan: I have a really diverse taste in music
but I was heavily influenced by Stone
Temple Pilots, Rage Against The Machine,
and old school Metallica and that?s what
inspired me to want to play guitar. I also
look up to artists like Thrice, Paramore,
Incubus, and Andy McKee.
Jim : My favorite band is Weezer but I grew
up listening to Alice Cooper and
Aerosmith.
Dave: For me it?s 90?s alternative bands
like The Offspring. That time period in
Alternative rock music was full of talent
and really catchy songs.
What is your favorit e song you all have
done so far as group?
Mikaela: Probably With You in Mind or
Better Off Alone. Dan and I fought hard to
keep Better Off Alone on the album but
With You in Mind just has something
special to me in it.
Dan: Yeah, I agree with Mikaela. For me,
?With You in Mind? has something extra
special to me. I wrote that song when I
was in a really dark place in my head and
my life. I didn?t give her any back story I
just let her connect to it emotionally and
she nailed it. Literally wrote the perfect
words to capture what I was feeling when
I wrote the original idea.
What m ade you all cont inue looking for
group m em bers? What m ade you not
give up w hen you w ere "Falling Through
April??
Jim : At the time we were looking for a
vocalist we had been together for five
years. We had two previous albums
released, international tour history, major
festival performances,etc., so, we didn?t
want to leave that behind. We were
Continued>>

JIM
looking for a male to replace our former
vocalist and working with Mikaela on the side
to put something completely new together, but
the more we wrote together we realized how
well she fit in with the sound of Falling Through
April and decided to move forward that way.
TAYLOR
Where do you see Falling Through April in
five years?
Jim : There is no limit to how far and high we
want to go. We want to be out on terrestrial
radio, playing even bigger festivals, and secure
management and label support. So far,
everything we?ve done up to this point has
been grass roots and we?re doing just fine ? we
just want to be doing much better than we are
and think it?s time to have a third party step in
that specializes in those areas.
We wish you all continued success and we look
forward to hearing new music from you! Readers,
you can follow the band on Twitter @bandfta,
Facebook (Falling Through April), Instagram
@fallingthroughaprilofficial, YouTube (Falling
Through April), and search Falling Through April
on Google Play, Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify!
MIKAELA
DAN
DAVE

HAIR/MUA : Paul Mitchell School Charlotte
Creative Direction: Tempestt Harris
Photographer: Tanisha Byrd
Wardrobe: H. Lerent & H&M
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.28

LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.32

how do i
Col l abor at e
IN
Style
?

of f ice st yl e guide
1.
White collar
tops work well
with grey
pleated skirts
or pants.
2.
Braids & top
buns create a
spark of edge
in the
workplace.

3.
Less is
more-Simple
Shirt and Slack
combo.
Go Natural: Try
out different
earth tones in
the same color
pallet.
4.

A NEWPRINCESS
IN THE SOUTH?
MEET YOUNG NIYAH
every great act deserves an encore. When it?s the
timeless hits of legendary R&B girl group Xscape this is
especially true. This encore, however, isn?t simply a
follow up performance by R&B royalty. It?s a dope new
opening act by Hip Hop?s next generation. Young
Niyah, the Princess of the South, is the fresh new face
who?s taking center stage. She?s also just happens to
be the daughter of Xscape member Tamika Scott.
Young Niyah is an energetic burst to the rap genre.
Her hot new single ?Hit Em? is stirring up the industry
and proving that the apple doesn?t fall far from the
musical tree.
?I started music at a very young age. I wrote my first
song when I was 4 so I think it was just instilled in me?,
she explains when asked how music initially captivated
her. With a famous mother of a popular 90?s group
she was practically born into the business.
Growing up, however, wasn?t all about music for Young
Niyah. Her mom made sure school was at the top of
her list. ?My mom really pushed my education,? she
sounds off emphatically. Even with all the talent in the
world you get the sense that her mom didn?t want her
to lose sight of her priorities.
Sports also played a major role in her life. Young Niyah
had a full scholarship to play collegiate softball. ?I love
them both?, she exhales with endearment. ?I started
softball and music around the same time when I was
younger. I just stopped playing softball about 2 years
ago. When I had to make a decision to pursue sports
or rap and I turned down that scholarship it showed
me that I loved music more.?
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.36
Young Niyah had the opportunity to open for her
mom on The Great Xscape Tour and it was quite the
experience. ?My mother has had a huge impact on me.
Just watching how hard she works even now when
we?re on tour makes me work harder?. Besides my
mom my musical influences are Lauren Hill, Drake and
Eminem.? Being impacted by legends in the business
exudes through her personality and explodes in her
music. ?I?m a ball of energy, beautiful, a song writer,
singer and rapper,? Niyah rhythmically responds when
asked how she?d describe herself. ?I get a lot of
comparisons to Da Brat?, another Atlanta bred artists
from the 90?s known for her combustive rapid fire
rhymes. Even with their similarities Young Niyah has a
style that?s all her own. She has a fun youthful persona
with the music to match.

Her latest single entitled ?Hit Em? exhibits her melodic flows, flashy style and is ATL to its core. ?My inspiration for ?Hit Em? was
haters. It was for the people who always have something to say. Rather than getting caught up in the negativity Young Niyah has
a different approach. ?I?m going to hit em with this verse. I?m going to hit em with these shoes." In other words, her remedy is to
let her music speak for her and her lavish style handle the rest.
?I have a long list of artists I?d like to work with. Cardi B, Rae Sremmurd who I really like and PnB Rock are just a few." With her
catchy rhymes and uniquely girlish charm collaborations with the industry?s top artists are certainly on the horizon for Young
Niyah.
?Stay focused and be true to yourself?, is her advice to other young aspiring artists. ?There are so many distractions out there?.
Despite her youth it?s apparent that Young Niyah is the product of her own advice. If ?Hit Em? is merely the beginning for her, Hip
Hop better brace itself for her follow up music. Just like her song Young Niyah definitely leaves quite the impression and The
Princess of the South will undoubtedly leave her mark on the industry as well.
" My
Mot her
had a huge
impact on
me"
For More Information on Young Niyah, Please Visit: www.officialyoungniyah.com
Instagram: officialyoungniyah Soundcloud: Young Niyah -Written by: Chris Lewis

By : Chris Lewis
WHY YOU SHOULD
KNOW MILAN HIGHTOWER
D
ifferent,creative, bold, a creation of
his own; Milan Hightower began as an
actor when he at just five years old. Since
then, he has entertained the masses with
his upbeat and carefree demeanor. He has
big dreams and aspirations, Inspiring
many with his captivating music and art.
We were able to catch up with him to get a
more in-depth look into his experiences as
a hip hop artist and creative vision.
Tell our readers how you got your st art
in t he m usic indust ry.
I was in acting first. I started acting at the
age of five in Off Broadway plays in New
York City. My mom kind of threw me in the
game early. It was really around the whole
?Lil Bow Wow, Lil Romeo? era. It was cool
to see someone around my age doing
something other than football or
basketball, so I kind of gravitated towards
that. I started rapping and I?ve been into
the whole industry from a young age,
music, fashion, acting, everything. I really
don?t know anything, but the
entertainment world.
Who are your biggest m usical
influences?
It would have to be Michael Jackson,
number one. You?ve got to say the King of
Pop. He?s creative and he?s able to take
things to the next level. Secondly, I would
say Tupac. He didn?t hold his tongue; he
spoke his mind. I feel like with music
you?ve got to be able to do that. I can go as
far back as the Temptations, Whitney
Houston. I?ll also say Drake, Janet Jackson,
Chris Brown, I have a big list. I?m open to
so much that the sky?s the limit when it
comes to my music.
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.38
Describe your experience perform ing at
t he Sauce Gala here in Charlot t e.
It was interesting because the Sauce Gala
came from being my EP release event, but
then it became even bigger. It was like
someone having a baby; it was like my
baby. Seeing everything come to life, it was
a feeling like no other. I was like a proud
dad.
Since you are w ell know n for m erging
ext ravagant visual art s w it h m usic in an
int riguing w ay, can you explain w hat
your process is w hen you are creat ing
new m usic and shoot ing videos?
I?m not a typical artist where I can sit down
and write music all day. I don?t do that. I
have to go to the studio with the producer
who makes the beat. I let the music talk to
me and I ask myself ?What does the beat
want me to say? What is the feeling?? I
haven?t really sat down and written
anything in so long, but it works because I
know what kind of artist I am. I allow the
music to play and then I come up with the
lyrics and the hook. After I finish each
song, I?m thinking of the visuals. I guess it
goes back to my acting days because I love
creating visuals that give people a run for
their money and crossing boundaries. The
majority of the videos I do, I write my own
treatments, cast my own people, and I
plan on doing my own stunts.
Which m usic video of yours w as t he
m ost challenging or required t he m ost
resources t o
shoot and w hy?
The most challenging was the video for
?Leaning.? We went to New York, and we
worked with a director named Fresh Press.
I told him that I wanted the video to be like
Gotham City and the world is crazy. He
doesn?t tell me the whole time that at the
time it was New York Fashion Week, but
we?re going to a club to shoot the video.
We get to the club and it?s a little different
than the type of club that I normally go to,
bear in mind that I had no idea that it was
also NYFW. I eventually asked him ?What
kind of club is this?? and he says ?Oh, this
is a gay club.? And I?m like, ?Oh, okay, cool,
so you tell me this now?? That was
probably the most challenging only
because I didn?t know what to expect. It
was a new world for me. But I have to say
that video was so cool because everyone
was so creative, no one was afraid to be in
front of the camera, everything was just
fun. What also made that night challenging
was the fact that my brother was too
young to get in the club and he was on the
song. So he had to use someone else?s ID,
but he still couldn?t get in because the ID
said that person was 6?2? and my brother
is only 5?7?. So, we ended up trying our
hardest to persuade the security guard to
let us in. We honestly went through so
much to try to get this video shot, but we
eventually made it work.
Nam e a m usic genre, if any, t hat people
w ould be surprised you list en t o or
nam e a genre you w ould like t o explore
in t he fut ure.
I guess I would say the whole John Mayer,
Ed Sheeran folk music route. What?s funny

is people don?t understand that hip hop
influences a lot of different genres. I would
love to work with John Mayer or Ed
Sheeran and make that type of music for
sure.
What advice w ould you give t o aspiring
art ist s?
Be yourself. Simple as that. No matter
what road you?re taken down, just be
yourself. I feel like with our generation
now, people think that looking at
something else and becoming that is
being yourself. No, you have to look in the
mirror. Once you figure out who you are,
that?s when everything starts connecting,
and that?s when time starts working with
you. If you force something that isn?t
genuine, your mind and your energy is
going to fight it at some point. It
might seem good in the moment, but
down the road, you aren?t going to like
who you?ve become. Anybody that wants
to be in the industry, be yourself and stay
true to yourself no matter what.
What m essage do you w ant people t o
get from your m usic?
The message that I want to give is to have
fun. Have fun, express yourself, and
everything?s not that bad. I feel like there is
so much anger and darkness in music. And
when I say music, I mean specifically my
genre, hip hop. I feel like we?re in a dark
era of hip hop but I think my
music, even though it?s not happy,
bubblegum music, it?s a bit more vibey
than most. I feel like if you take the time to
really listen to my music, you?ll realize that
there is a deeper message below the
surface. I want to share a message while
also showing people that you can still have
a good time.
How can Level21 readers reach you?
On all social media, you can find me at
Milan Hightower. Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal,
everything. We appreciate you, Milan
Hightower, for being such an inspiring
artist and creator! We wish you
the best of luck in all of your endeavors
and thanks for the amazing interview. Stay
tuned for more awesome tracks from
Milan!

Photographer: Ursula Madariga

Many of us recall taking an art or
music class during our early years in
elementary, middle, and even high
school. I enjoyed music class playing
instruments. I recall grabbing my
favorite choice, the tambourine
made of wood or plastic with bright
metal jingles, the zills. I would race
to grab my favorite instrument,
because there were limited
supplies. I made all the noise I
wanted; it was a ?free for all? type of
class. To this day, I enjoy watching
?the saints? in church play the
tambourine. They make it look so
easy to use. The beat from the
?membrane head skin?, the ivory
colored backing, has an awesome
sound!
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Unfortunately, some students are at
a disadvantage when it comes to a
performing arts program. The
classes or programs are no longer
part of their curriculum. The ?arts?
refers to physical expression of
creativeness which is found in all
cultures. This includes visual arts,
performing arts and even literary
arts.
Making St ar s Br ig ht er Than
Diamo nds by Way o f Music .
In recent years, many public
schools view performing arts as a
luxury simply because the funds are
not always available. In most cases
many schools fail to provide
optional programs.
Many students will need to use
outside resources to participate in
specific programs for performing
arts. Meanwhile, some students are
receiving support from specific
nonprofit organizations such as
Support a Cause Foundation for the
Arts (SACFFTA) created by
philanthropist, Marche?Taylor
Templeton.
Ms. Taylor Templeton, a
Baltimorean herself, is also a former
student who enjoyed chorus
programs throughout her childhood
education. Her strong desire to
provide assistance to children
lacking programs such as chorus,
provided the eagerness to start her
nonprofit, SACFFTA. The organization
provides funds to offset the costs
required to attend independent
programs.
Tell us about Support a Cause
Foundat ion for t he Art s.
?The organization is focused on
partnering and bridging the gaps
with other non profits that are all
doing the work. It?s created for
leverage for direct services for kids.
Unfortunately, there is a financial
need for all organizations with little
to no funding. My organization was
created to provide funding to help
the nonprofit organizations that are
in need of funding.
We have recently partnered and will
be providing grants for Muse 360
Arts, a nonprofit which provides
diverse backgrounds in the arts
programs, as well as, Crystal Clear
Celebrity Camp. The children go
into the studio and record music
and even obtain ?head shots?. They

get a chance to get the full Hollywood
experience at this particular camp.
So, please t ell m e about t he single you
recent ly released.
?I recorded a song to support funding for
my nonprofit titled Naked. It was a way for
me to do the things I love and also help the
nonprofit. I am a song writer and I work
with producers in Baltimore. Nate Lanzino
helped produce the song Naked. However, I
am creating an album to get a greater
fundraiser stream from the album, with a
tentative date for release in September.
The album will be titled Naked.
Why did you choose t he nam e Naked?
?The title Naked came to me because I was
on social media reading about how the
world is always suggesting ?keeping it real?.
And the moment you do, you are
sometimes criticized with what you do. I
think of Naked as being free and clear and
just bare with no cover ups."
We certainly look forward to Marche?Taylor
Templeton?s album release Naked and look
forward to providing assistance with
Support a Cause for the Arts Foundation.
Remain on the lookout for up and coming
events and how you can donate or assist by
logging on to the foundation?s website.
www.SUPPORTACAUSEFOUNDATION.org
Written by Anitra Scott

MODEL WATCH
Christ ina & Nicki
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.44

Photography: Michael Lopez
MUA: Alexis Washington-Evolving Faces CLT
Creative Direction: Tempestt Harris

FADE INTOM.A.C
rom the glitz and glam of today?s Hip Hop
comes an original perspective. Here, the catchy
hooks yield to rap in its most organic form. Fade
to black...MAC the Black Sheep that is. In the
chorus that is current Hip Hop his voice actually
stands out.
Mac The Black Sheep, a native North Carolinian,
is far more than a rural kid with urban
ambitions. He?s a maverick who not only
marches to the beat of his own drum but also
dictates his own life?s soundtrack as well.
?It was the freedom to say whatever you wanted
to say that drew me to Hip Hop,? MAC explains
when asked what about the music initially
attracted him. ?My dad used to play Martin
Luther King speeches and his ?Drum Major?
speech always stood out to me?. With legendary
speeches, from transcendent figures such as Dr.
King as his muse, rap became a logical choice. ?I
used to rap at the school lunch tables and got
ooze & ahh?s. Then I entered a talent show and
got the same reaction. Then it just became a
way for me to channel all my negative energy?.
?I chose my name as an artist because I was
always considered the Black Sheep of my family.
Everyone in my family is 6ft 4 or taller and plays
basketball. Anyone who chooses to do
something different doesn?t get the same
support or enthusiasm behind them?.
?The way I came up made me numb to a lot of
stuff but it let me know that I was strong enough
to get through certain things?. Mac the Black
Sheep is not your typical rapper. There?s a depth
to him that his music inevitably displays. ?As an
artist it gives me something to talk about. It also
makes me want to give somebody something
they can relate to; get them through that hard
time in their life?. Mac uses his pain and turns it
into inspiration which is a musical quality that
makes his music ultra relatable.
?A lot people compare me to J. Cole obviously
from the Fayetteville connection?, he quips when
asked how he characterizes himself as an artist.
Mac The BlackSheep is from a town called
Southern Pines which is only about an hour
from Fayetteville, NC where J. Cole grew up. ?We
LEVEL21 MAGAZINE-PG.46
have similar stories with both of our mom?s being on drugs?.
According to Mac that?s about where their similarities end. It?s not
because he doesn?t respect J. Cole?s music. He simply wants to be
his own artist. He doesn?t want to be in anyone?s shadow.
There are countless artists, however, that he?d like to share the
spot light with. Mac would love to collaborate with Icons such as
Farrell and Snoop to Neo Soul legends Jill Scott and Erykah Badou.
He even envisions working with the likes of Stevie Wonder which
is a testament to The Black Sheep?s range. His vision spans far
beyond the scope of music. He has his own clothing line
affectionately called Pineology. Mac looks not only to impact rap
music but the culture surrounding it as well.
His latest eat musical project is an album entitled ?Everytime?. It
features a side for guys and one directed specifically for the
ladies. ?My favorite track off this album is probably one called
?Lame S* * t?. I lost a lot of people recently to violence and prison?.
The song features an acoustic guitar uniquely designed to
highlight and accompany his emotional lyrics.
Mac the Black Sheep is an artist who is not afraid to take the road
less traveled in Hip Hop. Whether it?s anger, sadness or pain he
encapsulates it all. The result is a introspective journey with a very
personable feel. Mac the Black Sheep is a refreshing flow to a very
predictable track in Hip Hop.
Written by Chris Pointe

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Photograpy by: Ursula Madariaga