Name: Larissa
Netting (Twitter) Name: Lariluv
Website: www.theellaproject.wordpress.com
Hometown: New York City by way of the Dominican Republic

Beau Gateau Par Ada (French for “Beautiful Cakes by Ada”) was created in 2010 by Ada Iris Serrano at the encouragement of her two daughters.  The business was inspired by her long family line of pastry makers, as well as her own sweet tooth.  As the demand for decorative style cakes grows as proof in the popular television shows “Cake Boss” and “Ace of Cakes,” Ada saw the need to develop a cake business that works with the customers to achieve the quality and style of higher-priced luxury cakes at more affordable prices.  With a thorough checklist and an open communication with the customer, as well as a popular blog that showcases her inspirations and current work, Ada has developed a strong following and hopes to flourish with “Beau Gateau Par Ada” in the future.

If you’re interested, please feel free to contact Ada and her daughters at adaserrano39@yahoo.com

I personally know Ada and her daughters.  Though new to the cake business, Ada is determined and dedicated to her work and to the satisfaction of her customers. And as a personal taster….I can vouch for the deliciousness of her cakes. Using either buttercream or fondant styles with flavors ranging from red velvet to carrot to German chocolate, your mouth will water when you see the many options they offer.  She also offers cupcakes, chocolate lollipops and during the months of November to February, she sells bottles of egg-free Puerto Rican egg-nog, also called Coquito.

If you have an event, email them and check out the blog (which currently is under construction).

Trust me when I say you will fall in love.

Name: Marvelous Got Sole
Netting Name: @MaRv3l0uS_S0leZ
Website: www.marvelousgotsole.wordpress.com
Email contact: marvelousgotsole@gmail.com
Hometown: NYC but now residing in GA

Q: Tell us about your blog, what its about and how it began.
A: My blog “MarvelousGotSole” is basically a place where sole collectors are celebrities.  We see big time magazines and internet sites post about what celebrities are wearing, etc.  Have you ever seen Nike interview a random sole collector who isn’t a celebrity?!  It’s unheard of, so I took the initiative to do it.  My blog is still growing, I started back in March ’10 on a rainy day when I was bored.

Q: At what age did you start your collection?
A: I’ve ran through sneakers for a very long time before I found my passion in them.  Now that I’m 24, I’ve been officially collecting kicks since I was 19.

Q: I see on your blog you refer to sneakers as solez, Is there any special meaning to that?
A: I’m just different that’s all.  Sneakers is a cool word that was given to them since day one.  But, solez to me is much better.  I personally admire ”sneakers” from the bottom of the sole up.

Q: As a self proclaimed “sneaker head,” what can you offer your audience if they decide to check out your blog?
A: Entertainment and sneaker knowledge that comes from everyone featured on my blog.  The psychographics for my blog are basically individuals who collect solez like myself or people who just admire it.  My blog puts sole collectors together in one spot to show off their collection as well as respect the collection of others.  At the end of the day we all have the same passion and although we may be strangers, we definitely have something in common.

Q: What are your favorite pair of “solez”? Why?
A: My favorite pair of solez would be my OG Air Max Tn Plus because it’s the only pair of solez that I’ve owned since 8th grade that are in really good condition and still in my possession.

Q: Since sneaker collecting is typically a male -dominated genre, being a woman how do the males respond to your knowledge and/or love for collecting? Have you found it to be difficult to break into sneaker collecting?
A: My knowledge/love for collecting seems to be an ice breaker for males to talk to me.  Normally many wouldn’t know what to say to me, but they usually compliment the solez I may have on at that particular time then a conversation will spark from that. I have two male best friends and they collect solez just like me.  I think they vibe with me so well because I can relate to many of the things they love to do and its pretty cool that I can stand my ground and keep up with the kick game.  I never found it difficult to break in because I knew I was collecting for me and it wasn’t to gain popularity or anything like that.

Q: Do you think “solez” and art go hand in hand? Why or why not?
A: Yes solez and art does go hand in hand for many reasons.  Many times artistic individuals express themselves through art.  For me, solez are my own expression of myself and who I am.  Some people collect art for their happiness, I collect solez for that same purpose.  Art is a product of human creativity just as solez are.  Someone sat down and sketched out my solez before it went into production and hit the shelves for me to buy them.

Q: What celebrity do you think has the illest  “solez”?
A: Sad to say, but I don’t follow celebrity solez like some people may do.  Some true celebrities in the sole game is ATF Crew.  There’s a member who goes by the name of The Mayor (@_MAYOR_) and he is the Air Force 1′s king.  I remembered when I first heard of him, he was being interviewed on The CW 11 News in NY.  He has so many exclusive solez as well as solez that will never hit stores.  I admire him and the whole ATF Crew!

Q: Where do you see your blog in 5 years?
A: Great question! Being that ideas are presented to me all the time now that I’m blogging, there’s many possibilities of my blog becoming an online magazine or something like that.  I enjoy writing about solez since it’s a passion and I hope people will continue to enjoy reading it.

Q: Any upcoming events or projects?
A: First and foremost, I’m writing an article about the 20 hottest kicks of 2010 in a new magazine called IKONS Magazine and that issue will drop in September ’10, so look out for that.  Then there’s a big sneaker project I’m working on with 3 partners which will illustrate the sneaker game mainly in NY by allowing 25-30 sneaker heads to tell their story.  As well as allowing sneaker heads outside of NY to give their testimonials on the game.  So if any sneaker heads read this, please check out this blog post for more info:
http://marvelousgotsole.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/sneaker-venture/

Q: Last words? Shout-outs?
A: Shout-out to my partners Patrice (@B3stK3pt_Secr3t), Simone (@_S1MON3_) and Jamal (@Dollarbill50). Make sure you check out Kix Anonymous hosted by Jamal on Youtube & subscribe to his channel
www.youtube.com/MrDollarbill555 . Also I want to thank everyone who has supported my blog and the sneaker heads who were featured on it thus far. My last words to anyone, whether you’re a sneaker head of not, just live life with motivation and remember rejections are just experiences.

Ms. Vandal is something I’ve been called for a really long time. I’ve always found myself to be more of a vandal than an artist. A bit of that changed as I grew older, but without a doubt I don’t forget my starting grounds.  I’ve always felt that art is what you believe it to be, and anything can be art. My art is me, whether I paint a beautiful picture, take a photo, write a few words, or illegally deface “public property” with my messages, be it my name or a simple reminder to the world that they are beautiful, they are dying, or they need to all fuck off (depending on my mood) that’s my art. I feel power in vandalism because it’s me taking control, no one else. It’s me leaving the world a little reminder that I was here. It’s my post-it to everyone who stops and reads it.

Q: Describe your personal philosophy on life, love and friendship.
A: My personal philosophy on those 3 things are simple. They’re all based on choices, choices that lead you in whichever directions you choose. The best part is, they’re extremely easy choices, you know things like – yes/no, right/wrong, good/bad etc; but people just love to complicate them! I’m still working on understanding why, but so far I’ve learned that people seem to enjoy trying to change others rather than change themselves.

Q: Name 5 influences and inspirations in your life.
A: I’d be lying if I said I can name five people that truly inspire and influence me. The only one main thing that inspires me, is life. Life inspires me every single day, and right after life on the list would be myself. The way that I intake life and its influences make for my inspirational self living.

Q: How does what you do stand out from the rest?
A: Because I’m doing what I do and not what anyone else does.

 Q: Your blog includes numerous images of graffiti art. Why do you think this art form is important to urban culture? Name a few artists that sparked your love for it.
A: It’s important to the urban culture, because it is the urban culture. This is our art! And even if some people want to water it down or so called “sell out”, I’m never mad nor should anyone be, because we’re not selling out for wanting to expand our mediums, we’re simply wanting to buy in. The more mainstream something goes out, the more diverse it comes in. I’m all for diversity, because then, those who want to know, will learn the history and the history is always written, and everyone will always know the roots of graffiti, hip hop, and breaking. 

Q: Who are you trying to reach with your site and what would you like them to know about you?
A: The people. I’m trying to reach the people, all people, any people, but mainly lost people. I hope that any person that ever stops by my site is lost and to them I hope that I’m the gas station they ask directions to. My directions always get people directly to their destination. And with that said, I’d like people to know that I’m not perfect, nor do I think I am, and I certainty don’t think that I know it all, but I do know a lot and I am one mother fucking logically conscious woman, that’s a for sure.

Name: Glendy
Netting Name:  @StyleAmor
Website/Blogs/MySpace Music Page: www.styleamor.com
Hometown: NY, NY

About Glendy:  A  fashion blogger and trend forecaster based in New York City. Her past experiences include working for established designers and start-up labels in the fields of PR/marketing, creative consulting, merchandising and sales.

Q:  What is your site all about? Describe its beginnings.
A:  Style Amor, received its name from the word love in Spanish, amor.  Style Amor is an online lifestyle blog that covers fashion trends, designers, events, food, art and latin culture. It also covers aspects of the industry that are sometimes over looked or too obscure to be discussed in glossy publications.  I began my blog as a creative outlet to share ideas and the things I loved and hated about the fashion industry. 

Q: What does style mean to you?
A: I believe fashion is an outspoken medium to express individuality and that style is a way of life.

Q: How would you define your own personal style?
A: I like to mix prints and things that usually stand out, like bright and bold color combinations. I think plain colors are so boring and sometimes a print or a color can brighten your day.

Q: Fashion blogging has been quite popular recently. Explain what makes your blog stand out.
A: I like to bring readers my honest opinions and my take on retail for example my “fashion confidential” posts and also I speak about things that other people like to overlook like the reality of our current print media “The endangered fashion magazine” and also “Coco Chanel’s disturbing little secret”. Many do not like to cover controversy but I don’t mind talking about these issues no matter how uncomfortable it may feel to some people.

Q: Who takes the photos on your blog?
A: I take photos or my boyfriend sometimes takes photos of events or of me.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten and how have you applied it?
A: Stay true to your voice, I have noticed that many bloggers just do re-posts but I think readers appreciate an individual voice and perspective.

Q: Who is your favorite designer of all time and explain why.
A: I love the late Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs. The unique vision these designers bring every season makes you feel excited about fashion and also appreciate the fact that fashion is an art.

Q: If you’re looking for some inspiration, where do you go or what do you do?
A: I usually look at other blogs, read the news, watch a great movie, it really depends on my mood.

Q: Do you have any upcoming shows or projects?
A: I like to take things one step at a time and I do have some projects coming up but I’ll reveal them later, so stay tuned !!!!

Q: Last words? Shout outs?
A: Thank you so much for this wonderful interview, I absolutely loved your questions and thank you so much for supporting my blog!!!

Name:  Jerome A. Shaw
Netting Name:  Rome (@Jay3veryDay on Twitter)
Website/Blogs/MySpace Music Page:  www.PhotosByRome.com  & www.ADayInThaLifeOf.com
Hometown:  Harlem

Q: Your photography is amazing. What is the most important part of taking a good photo as a photographer?
A:  Composition aka having a good eye, as some people said to me is the most important part of taking photos in my opinion. I look at a lot of “photographer’s” work and it makes me mad because they just take pictures. Anybody can take a picture but can you create a photo… I’ve learn to wait, examine what I’m shooting, and think of every angle I can take photos from to make it that much more interesting. That is probably the main reason why some people say that I have progressed so fast. The fact that I was able to understand that quickly helped me make my work that much better.

Q: How does your work stand out from other photographers?
A:  I think my work stands out from other photographers by its diversity. For now I do not have a set niche and that’s fine because everything that I shoot, events, children, fashion, portraiture and artistic are all things I love to shoot all the time. I put as much time into fashion as I do into events and the same goes with everything else I shoot. That shows how dedicated I am to this. I do think that in a few I WILL be one of the top photographers and there will be nothing I can’t capture and make a good photo of it.

Q: What are your best and worst photo shoot experiences?
A:  My best photo shoot experience was when I first got paid to do a photo shoot. I was nervous as hell but I got through it. I’m pretty sure it was some of my worst photos ever but after getting that money from the client, it felt great. I said to myself, “Damn, I take photos of YOU, make your acne disappear, clean up your uni-brow, whiten your teeth and I get PAID for it?!? Fuck Yes” and that’s all she wrote.

My worst photo shoot experience actually happened after a shoot. I did a clothing line photo shoot at a Soho studio. It was four hours of shooting and everything was great when we left. I went to the next gig at a party I was hired to shoot that night. I get there shoot the party and leave at about 3 am. I get home, hook up the cam to my iMac to start uploading. I finished uploading the party photos and went to switch to the card with the look book photos on it. I put the card in and there’s nothing there. I check it again and again and realized that when I was at the party I got distracted and forgot to switch cards and accidentally formatted the memory card with the look book photos. I screamed “FUCK” at about 5:30am and started freaking out. I tried to recover the data but it didn’t work. The client was tight as hell but at the end I just did another shoot for her a few months later for free and everything was fine. Stressful but lesson learned.

Q: What is your favorite subject (s) to shoot?
A:  My favorite subject to shoot are kids. Not on some Chris Hansen “To Catch a Predator” flow, lol. Kids for the most part are the easiest to shoot. There are no egos, and when they are actually happy and into the photo shoot, the best photos are made. I usually have them jump around, scream, play with toys and just be kids. I remember being commissioned to take family photos for an entire school and one mother literally started crying after seeing photos of her child laughing and smiling on the screen. She looked at her elated daughter then looked at me and said “Thank You”. That was a really great moment for me.

Q: What are the best and worst things someone can do when they pose for you?
A:  The best thing to do when they pose for me is to relax and be themselves and try not to force a photo. Unless you are a super model and the shots are being pitched for print, there’s no need to be extra. I love natural and candid shooting.

The worse thing someone can do when they pose for me is not coming prepared to shoot. I have had people ask me to shoot them weeks in advance and when the day comes, it’s like they just climbed out of an abandoned well after 33 days. Dudes with no cuts, lint in hair, 1 wrinkled outfit, and 9/11 knuckles. Even some women came to shoot with crazy weaves, unshaven with hair ev-very-where and an ashy body. I do not want to be sitting at my Mac editing these photos, I’ll be there forever. All I’m saying is if you want photos, come correct as if these photos will be your way into stardom.

Q: Name your top 5 influences/ inspirations.
A:  5 influences/inspirations that drive me are..

1: The low quality photos that people are subjected to. Whether is be for someones portfolio, personal collection or just event photos, I want to bring great photos to everyone. Something which people will talk about and admire. 2: To help people out. I am a firm believer in Karma. If I can help someone progress in their art or craft, I am confident that the end product and my connection with them will reciprocate and lead to further work as well as bigger and better things. 3: The feeling of doing something that I actually enjoy. I see a lot of people who are just existing and working to just work and not working because they love what they do. This is a great job and even though it can get busy and stressful, I have a lot of freedom and have full control and that makes me happy. 4: My drive to always move forward and progress. I want to continue taking photos and hopefully be published in magazines, album covers and be able to own my own studio in the city to provide quality service and be able to help other photographers. 5: This may be cliche now but since High school I have always said hat I just wanted to be successful. I want to be able to do this, make the good money, live the good life and be able to support my family and my possible new one in the future. If they comes true, I will be truly happy.

Q: Do you have any upcoming shows or projects?
A:  Right now I’m working on getting new and upcoming artist from all over to come shoot with me. I want to be able to give them great photos so when they make it big, that Karma (hopefully) will kick in. I am also gathering up some of my best work so far to showcase at a gallery and hopefully gain more exposure and sell, lol. On the flip side I am current in the process of learning and using the HD video feature of my camera to shoot short clips for Halstead Realty Properties in Harlem, which should be a great learning and prosperous experience.

Q: Last words? Shout outs?
A:  I want to thanks my friends, “friends” and family who supported me when I told them that I was going to do this full-time. A lot of people looked at me like I was nuts but they knew that if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it, so they held me down and rooted for me. I also want to thank everyone who I have met in the past year and 5 months. There were some real and some fake, either way you all helped me in some way or another to better understand the business and what comes along with it. I always knew that if you tell yourself enough that you can do something and get up off ya ass to make it happen, it will eventually manifest. It may take some time but it will come. Follow suit.

P.S. Great thanks to Angelique (@Imani_Sublime) for showing interest in my work and giving me a chance to let people know who I am. It’s greatly appreciated.

HERE IS SOME OF HIS WORK! 

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

I first saw Alexis Belon on a friend’s site (shout-out to @Ahlexandria)… and she is such an extremely intelligent and powerful young lady. I respect her grind, her style, and I respect her perspective. She has a lot to say… a real inspiration to those of us who’ve had to struggle in life. A testament to strength and learning from life. You go girl!

CHECK OUT MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HER BELOW!!!

Name:Jose Vilson

Netting Name (Twitter, etc):  @thejlv, facebook/thejosevilson

Website/Blog/Tumblr/YouTube: http://thejosevilson.com

Hometown:   NYC, NY (Lower East Side)

Q: Your website is very insightful and deep…what drove you to create this outlet and why do you continue writing it?

A:  Simply put, it was the best way for me to get angry in public. It was a natural extension from the journaling I was doing and my Doogie Howser fantasies. At first, I wanted to test out the professional-type writing and pick up a side career as a freelancer of some nature, but I found myself quickly discussing my profession and the madness that occurs in my classroom. It’s also an out-loud reflection tool for people to observe and pick apart. In turn, I found people with  similar interests and communities that wanted to upgrade their practice. As far as the .com, it’s important for everyone to be independent of these free sites, who implicitly have control of your material once you agree to their terms. Having my own site makes sure that I’m independent and unfiltered (at least until Homeland Security gets a hold of me.)

Q: You’re a teacher. Explain the highs and lows of being a professional educator in NYC.

A: This is one of those times I might have referred you to a post or two on my blog, but let’s keep it simple. It’s probably the most emotionally draining job I’ve ever had. Imagine for 45-90 minutes sitting in front of 30 different people who you’re in charge of instructing while ensuring that they interact well with each other, preparing for them for hours, and doing the same thing all over again right after you’re done with them. We may get a break, but that usually consists of using the bathroom, taking a breath, eating a tasteless lunch, and setting up the classroom all over after the general mess left by the students. If you’re younger, you’re so drained, you nap shortly after school and generally don’t do anything but relax. If you’re in the system long enough, it gets better, but those are the tried and true who’ve survived that long.

Then, during the extended breaks, like summer, we get maybe a month to really be ourselves and not Mr. or Ms. So-And-So, and focus on our families and friends, who either miss us in our hermit stage or have to hear us constantly babbling about the educational boogeymen who want too much with too little. That is, if you’re not teaching summer school, a favorite of teachers who own a house. Then there’s about 2 weeks of getting ready and becoming Mr. So-and-So Again, followed by planning, re-planning, buying materials, and setting up the classroom in time for students to get there.

It’s tough. But, for most teachers I know, it’s worth it. The ability to have an impact on students and their respective communities is tremendous. We’re not simply interested in making better students, but making focused people. With the fraction of horror stories out there, it’s amazing that anyone hears about the great people who work 8-4pm (sometimes longer) as people who aren’t necessarily themselves. It’s an odd mix of artisan, marksman, and doctor, and no one can tell me different.

Q: Considering the dramatic school closings, pink slips, and salary freezes that teachers are experiencing, what do you think is the essential problem with the NYC school system and what steps do we need to take to fix them?

A: Simple: we need to invest in the students. This doesn’t simply mean money; it means we need to look at the ideas of equity in neighborhoods, and the mixed messages sent to our institutions. For instance, how can we keep implying that testing is so important when there are so many factors for a student doing well that work against the student? And what if the student does well, but isn’t a productive member of our society? Are we building automatons or citizens? Prisoners or presidents? These questions that swirl around in my head often, and even those who we consider “uneducated” point to this disparity often. It’s like one of my higher-ups always says, “Kids in Scarsdale never worry about the test. They just go about doing it.”

Q: As a writer, describe your deepest inspirations.

A: My inspirations range a myriad of genres and influences. My earliest of course was the Bible, and the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Well-written stories and a mystical majestic sort of writing to it that inspired some of my thoughts about what’s possible. The Lower East Side, and the dramatic tales that stem from there also influenced me. It’s a microcosm for what I see all over the city and the world, and it’s special because of these dynamics playing out now. From there, the list looks like this: John Steinbeck, Lois Lowry, Pat Conroy, William Shakespeare, Carter G. Woodson, Malcolm Gladwell, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Tara Betts, Staceyann Chin, Rakim, Notorious BIG, Junot Diaz, Neil Strauss, Thomas Hauser, Sapphire, etc.

Q: What book changed your life as a writer and as a reader?

A: The book that changed my life was Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. It mattered that I went to a military-focused Catholic high school, and I’m assuming they did this intentionally. At first, I thought it’d be just another boring book, but my boy Chris said, “Yo, read this joint. It’s really good stuff.” So I caught up to all the readings, and found myself enthralled in this genre of confessional fiction. As a writer, I was also influenced by The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao a bit, only that there’s so few books that speak to that sort of experience.

Q: Do your students read your website? Do you encourage them to?

A: No, and hell no, but they do it anyways. Some of them probably don’t get past the paragraphs, mainly because they like the pictures. How do I know? Because they print them out, put them in their background, and madness like that. I will say, though, that some of my alum read my material. And they’re crazy for doing so.

Q: How do you juggle being a professional teacher and being a revolutionary thinker? Does this ever come into conflict? Does it ever become a benefit?

A: There’s little juggle there. So long as your ethics are aligned, it’s fine. Unfortunately, there are situations that irk the hell out of me, but in this system, there are no absolutes or ideals of perfection. There will always be those one or two actions or views that contradict your overall picture on “revolution,” but if your actions work towards the greater good, then it’s fine.

Q: You’re having a dinner party and you can invite five (5) famous people (dead or alive). Who would you invite and why?

A: I’d love to have dinners with zombies and cadavers! Seriously, my list is pretty easy: Malcolm X, Carter G. Woodson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, KRS-One, and Lolita Lebron. Honorable mention goes to Sonia Sanchez, Cesar Chavez, and Martin Luther King Jr. I’d like to have a real discussion about the future of urban education with them. Hopefully I’d get a great answer.

Q: What are you trying to accomplish through your website?

A: I was hoping to accomplish something, though I’m not sure how much I’ve actually accomplished at this point. More than anything, my goal is simply to provide a voice as a Black / Latino male teacher. By my count, there are about 11-13 blogs written by Black / Latino teachers as a whole, and only 4 by males. If you look at the whole edublogosphere, it feels like 1%, so it’s obvious that they wouldn’t include our voices in these discussions.

It’s also a vehicle for my other endeavors, like my writing, web designing, and promotions. It’s cool stuff.

Q:  What advice can you give me, someone who is studying to be a JHS/HS teacher?

A:  I’d say unthink everything and come with a blank slate as far as schooling. Only come with your previous experiences. The feeling of a school as a student is far different from that of a teacher. It’s similar to being an actor in a play or a movie. The audience and participants don’t see all the behind-the-scenes and assume that making the production is easy, but the actor knows what’s going on. It’s a little deeper than that, but I’ve pontificated enough.

Q: Last words? Shout outs?

A:  Don’t tweet about it. Be about it.

JAHDI hails from the County of Kings, Brooklyn, New York, where she began her artistic career in the late 1990′s. Her experience as a singer ranges from singing hooks for a local hip-hop group, singing lead and back-ups for a Salsa band, to recording as a Solo Artist.

Jahdi has performed in venues within the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. After a brief lay-off from her artistic career, where she pursued a Bachelors Degree in Business Management at Rutgers University, Jahdi is currently developing her debut album including tracks in Pop, R&B and Ballads in both English and Spanish. Jahdi has been classically trained as a vocalist and has had professional training in various forms of dance.

Jahdi’s latest venture has led her to print and runway modeling for some of the Tri-State area’s greatest up-and-coming clothing designers and stylists and has been featured in various magazines such as VIBE Magazine, TRACE Magazine, 42Poder Magazine, Kicksclusive Magazine and numerous online advertising campaigns. Her sultry look is explosive on the runway and her charm makes her inviting and wonderful to work with.

An amazingly talented and gorgeous young lady, Jahdi is also one of the nicest people I have ever met through my Facebooking and Twitter networking.  Always sharing some postivity and smiles, she is definitely a rare gem. I first heard her singing a La Lupe song on her MySpace music page and I was floored. She is an awesome singer!!!! I hope you all take the time to check her out!!! I thank her for being a part of what I do and I hope she continues her path towards her destiny. <3

CHECK OUT MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HER BELOW!!!

Name: Jahdi
Netting Name: Jahdi247 (Cuz I’m Me all day every day!)  :]
Website/Blogs/MySpace Music Page: www.facebook.com/Jahdi, www.twitter.com/Jahdi247, www.myspace.com/jahdi,
Hometown: Bushwick, Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
Q:  Why do you sing? When did you know that you were meant to be a singer?
A: I’ve been singing ever since I can remember.  My Dad is a musician. He and my mom met at one of his shows, so I’ve always had Music in my life. A why? I don’t really have a why. Or at least I haven’t thought about why. I’m just happy when I sing. I feel incomplete when I don’t sing. I went through a few years where I refused to sing because I was “mad at the industry” (Rolls eyes).. I must say those years were so difficult because I felt like I was missing something so vital. I was unhappy. It was like not having God in my life. I was empty. Hmm.. I guess I do have a why then… I sing because it is a vital part of me.
 
Q: What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in life?
A: I’ve learned lots of lessons and I will continue to learn lessons because ‘to Err is to Human’, but learning from those lessons is what makes you an intelligent human. But, if I HAD TO pick ONE… I would have to say that I’ve learned that things are never as FINAL as we think they are… and that Life is never as definite as we often make it seem to be. Things rarely go AS PLANNED… There is always a Grey area. There is always a work around, a Plan B, C, D… I’ve learned to let go, sit back, reflect, strategize and start again. A few years ago I thought differently. I didn’t have the experience, insight, patience and courage to pull back from the situation and start with a new approach. I’ve learned that I can do that… and that it’s ok… and that many times it works out even better!
 
Q: What artists have influenced your singing style and why?
A: I am the product of so many different genres/artists/eras/inspirations. I am heavily influenced by the songs from “los tiempos de antes” (The good old days)… and I don’t mean my days, but my mom’s days. My mom is my biggest inspiration in music because she introduced me to all of the music that makes me the Artist I am today.  She would listen to old Ballads of Lost Love/ unrequited Love/ Hate/ Deception/ Passion from artists like La Lupe, Amanda Miguel, Tony Vega… then the Freestyle Era/Club Music boomed (The first lyrics I ever learned was All Cried Out by Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam), then Salsa de Calle – Hector Lavoe, Frankie Negron, Ruben Blades, Ismael Miranda… Salsa Romantica – Marc Anthony, La India … My mother’s music inspired me to internalize and become inspired by these great stories and talented artists that were far beyond my young years! And as I got older, I was inspired by the obvious songbirds – Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah. 
 
Q: You’re a mommy to a beautiful little girl. In the arts/music industry, some say that becoming a mother can be a deterrent to your career? What do you say to those people (aka the haters…LoL)?
A: Having my baby girl is the biggest success of my life! I can see why people would THINK that being a mother in this industry is a deterrent because once you have a child it’s no longer just about you. There is another human being that takes precedence above and beyond anything and everything else your life. However, when you have a strong support system who believes in you as a person and as an artist, there is no deterring your movement. Having her, I am even more inspired to succeed because I am now an example that you CAN be anything you want as long as you work hard and give yourself a fair shot!
 
You know, I can honestly say that I have truly been blessed and am not aware of any JAHDI haters just yet. If they’re out there, I’ve been fortunate not to have crossed paths with them which is just fine with me! 
 
Q: What are your best and worst experiences performing on stage?
A: Best experience has to be when I sang with a Salsa Band a few years ago. There’s something quite different about singing with a live band.  The energy, the playfulness, the vibe is amazing! Worst Experiences – has to be at a Club in Washington Heights (won’t mention the name) who had the WORST sound system ever!! It was horrible! OH! And any performance where I’ve forgotten the Lyrics! That used to happen a lot! LOL.. Those sucked too!  :/
 
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten and how have you applied it?
A: It’s Cliche but true… “Do it for yourself”. When I began considering music as a professional option, I struggled with which genre I should pursue. I grew up listening to Spanish Ballads, yet being from Brooklyn I also loved singing English Pop/R&B… I heard repeatedly that I had to choose one.. choose.. choose.. until someone told me to Sing for Me! He told me who cares what I thought people want to hear. Sing what I want.. Do it for myself. And that’s what I do now! Somedays I’ll sing a pop song and dance around the house.. other days I’ll belt out a Ballad that bring tears to my eyes.. its whatever my heart desires right then and there. Even if I never become rich & famous. I’m still gonna sing.. even if its just for me!
 
Q: What is your favorite style of music to sing?
A: Sad, tear-jerking Ballads.. Hands Down!  I think I have an old soul who is still haunted by her Love demons somewhere deep inside. Lol.. These type of songs satisfy that for me (whatever THAT is)
 
Q: Describe yourself in one sentence.
A:  I am absolutely, undeniably, the most perfectly imperfect ME! :]
 
Q: Do you have any upcoming shows or projects?
A: I am currently working on recording my album! I’ve pushed it back way too long and it’s stabbing at me… so I’ve decided to focus on that and that alone for right now! I have a few collaborations with other artists that I need to wrap up and then it’s 100% the album. Once that’s done, I can focus on all aspects of promoting, including shows, website, the works.
 
Q: Last words? Shout outs?
A:  I want to shout you out, first of all, for deeming me important enough to feature on your site. Thank you!  I also want to thank everyone who supports me and surround me with their positivity. I am truly humbled at the love that I get even without having a project out yet!

Name: Jeremy O’Brien
Website/Blog: www.jeremyobrien.tumblr.com
Netting Name (Twitter Name, etc): @jeremyobrien
Hometown: Queens, NY. Born & raised.

Q: How would you describe yourself as an artist/blogger/performer (whatever applies to you)?  
A: I wouldn’t consider myself any of those. By profession, I work in Integrated Marketing at MTV Networks…I turn lead into gold. It just so happens that I have a blog on the side.

Q: Who is your target audience in regards to your site/show/work? If you have a website/show, describe its beginnings and the reasons behind its creation.
A: To be honest, my blog was originally meant for just my friends/family as well as myself. In terms of my friends and family, I wanted to have a platform to post things that are of interest to me in an effort to bring our worlds closer. I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like, so it was a way to build that bridge with them. In terms of myself, I thought it would be cool to keep a blog to record various interests of mine and then look back on it 20-30 years from now. I’m really a low key dude and not into speaking from a position of authority particularly since I don’t have any. I don’t want to be famous either. So the blog wasn’t meant for public consumption per say. If my friends spread the word that’s something else that I don’t really have control of.

Q: Its 2015, where do you see yourself?
A: Personally: Living happily with my girlfriend in an apartment/house that I own (not rent), continuing to fight for social causes that I believe in, hopefully a wiser more educated person, and better traveled. Professionally: Climbing the ranks at MTV Networks, winning the respect of colleagues, and creating successful marketing campaigns for clients.

Q: What are your biggest inspirations?
A: Books such as “Whatever It Takes” by Paul Tough and “Dreams From My Father” by Barack Obama…films like “God Grew Tired of Us” and “The Motorcycle Diaries”…speeches by Dr. Cornel West…creative work by Crispin Porter and W+K… and music by Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco…the perseverance and courage of people on the frontlines of non-profit and philanthropic work…people who are deeply intelligent…people with strong principles…the student who has the work to pay their way through college…single mothers with the strength to raise their child despite the odds…

Q: How are you different from the next artist/blogger/writer/performer?
A: I’m not sure. I’m not really into talking about why I am different or better than the next person. I mean, I understand the question. America is a society where we celebrate individuality, but I think deep down while we want to create our own identities, we also yearn for a sense of community and meaningful relationships with other people. So I’d like to flip the question and ask what we all have in common, because I feel like what unites us is more powerful than what divides us. I, like others, put my blog together in order to connect with others. That’s what nourishes us as humans I think. So like any writer or artist or blogger, I use my platform to share my interests in hopes that I connect with friends and family and others who have similar interests.

Q: Pick a famous figure (can be real or from a book/show, dead or alive) that you feel you are similar to. How are you similar?
A: I wouldn’t feel right comparing myself to famous people. So I won’t. But I can list people whose personal characteristics inspire me, such as…the empathy of Che Guevara, the pragmatism of President Obama, the competitiveness of Michael Jordan, the team-first mentality of John Stockton, the creativity of Bob Greenberg, the innovation of Steve Jobs, and the kindness of Martin Luther King. I am inspired by those qualities and hope to reflect some of that in my own life.

Q: Tell me why you do what you do and how you have progressed in doing it.
A: I do what I do because the creative potential that comes with marketing is fulfilling to me. In high school I was an art major and at the same time I like to be challenged intellectually. The intersection of that is marketing. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy my work. I come up with creative solutions.  In terms of the more personal passions I have, like social justice, that just comes with being a human being and having a sense of empathy when I see suffering and injustice.

Q: What does the word change mean to you?
A: Change is having the wisdom and humility to learn from different circumstances the world presents to you. I think change in ourselves is inevitable, if you’re not progressing as a human being, then you’re probably stagnant. I think it was Socrates who said “The unexamined life is a life not worth living.” The world is fast and always changing, having the humility and wisdom to learn from experiences even when sometimes it means you’re contradicting yourself is ok. It means you’re learning and growing. And that is healthy.

Q: Last words, shout outs, notes?
A: I’d like to thank you for thinking of me as an interview subject. I’m humbled by that. I’ll just leave you with my favorite quote which I think of everyday when I wake up in the morning: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” –Ghandi

Name: Gloria
Website/Blog: N/A (what can i say? I’m the introverted type)
Netting Name (Twitter Name, etc): My Twitter name is @asiangoya
Hometown: Boogie Down Bronx baybeh!

Q: How would you describe yourself as an artist/blogger/performer (whatever applies to you)?
A: I have the most introverted ways when it comes to my writing. I simply say that I have a way with my words and that I am a lover of words. I also consider myself a person who likes to engage in “wordplay”…my little self-made term for how I tend to play around with the meanings of words and the spellings of them. Influences on my writing include funny topics and beautiful women.

Q: Who is your target audience in regards to your site/show/work?
A: I don’t really have a target audience…I guess anyone who’s open-minded enough and interested enough to dig deeper and interpret…

Q: Its 2015, where do you see yourself?
A: I see myself writing a new list of goals to accomplish (I try to do this every year…with a new big list every 5 years). I see myself really bugging my niece and nephew a lot more and I see myself digging way deeper into the finer things in life (i.e. becoming a donor to a few amazing non profits, continuing to volunteer, and continuing to ensure my niece and nephew are exposed to the unusual and outside the box things)

Q: What are your biggest inspirations?
A: Anything beautiful, women, my niece and nephew, my immediate family (both alive and with the big lady upstairs), animals…did I mention anything beautiful? Very rarely am I inspired by anything negative, but it has happened. Asi es la vida, no?

Q: How are you different from the next artist/blogger/writer/performer?
A: I’m different because I’m me…beautifully…LoL

Q: Pick a famous figure (can be real or from a book/show, dead or alive) that you feel you are similar to. How are you similar?
A: Definitely neo-soul musicians…specifically Maxwell! (I love that man as much as a lesbian woman can love a man LoL). I find myself drawn to Maxwell and neo-soul musicians overall because their style is reflective of mine when it comes to wordplay and just overall expression. Plus, I love love love me some old school R&B. I swear there’s a tiny little person inside of me, with a full glitter outfit complete with a butterfly collar, bell bottoms and fish tank platforms, boogie-in’ on down on the dance floor that is in the pit of my tummy. LoL.

Q: Tell me why you do what you do and how you have progressed in doing it.
A: I write because it lets my introvert be an extrovert, I write because I feel others can’t and if I feel I can I should, I write because I love words too much to keep them to myself, I write in the hopes that those I want to affect get to read and are touched, even if only feather light.

Q: What does the word change mean to you?
A: Change? It means left over coin, it means hope, it means getting down with the get down. It means if you want it, you will make it happen.

Some words from the @asiangoya:

poetry

words…they come to me…naturally

every day all day

constantly annoying me

flowing in and out

constantly toying with me

hootin and hollerin

i didn’t know what to do with them for years

then suddenly you

like sunshine after rainfall

came to me like a rainstorm

and calmed the confusion inside

vowels and verbs rearranged themselves

militantly

at the sheer scent of your scent

and the weight of your breath

into phrases, sentences, prose…

and eventually

dare i say it?

fuck it

poetry.

I have had the pleasure of following @SLIKNIKTHERULER on Twitter for a while now.  She is definitely a very direct young woman with a no-holds barred kind of attitude. I am constantly snickering at her blunt statements and quick wit.

 Recently, she created an online radio show that she co-hosts with @IamCrumbs and @WillieBones (yes, I’m using all of their Twitter names so u can follow them…LoL).

Here is the exclusive interview with Slik Nik the Ruler, y’all.

Dope young woman…watch out for her…she’s making moves!

 

Reality Check DTF on

www.dtfradio.com

Every Sunday 12pm to 2 pm est

Starring Slik Nik the Ruler,

 Crumbs & Willie Bones

 

Follow them on Twitter!  

www.twitter.com/realitycheckdtf

 

Q: How was the show created?

A: I was sitting around one day and said to myself I have a lot to say and people seem to be interested so why not start up a radio show? I enlisted the help of Crumbs of www.iamcrumbs.com  because he is effortlessly funny and entertaining and Willie because he has a similar sense of humor and is a phenominal music producer.

Q: Why was the show created and for what target audience?

A: We feel  like mainstream media is over saturated with the same artists/music and we wanted to create a platform where we could put people on to indivduals who are just as talented and are on the come up, though not necessarily as well-known. Our target audience is from anyone 18 to 35 who is interested in pop/urban culture mixed with very blunt opinions and comedy …basically, anyone with ears who wants to listen. [laughs] 

Q: How is the dynamic between you and the other personalities on the show?

A: Personally, I think its great. Our first show felt very natural, almost as if we were just hanging out and conversing. That’s exactly how we want to come across. I think we play off each other’s personalities very well.

Q: Is it difficult being the only female on the show?

A: No, not at all. I’ve always been one of the guys, from growing up in house with my dad and brothers to having more male friends than female. I’m totally comfortable with it, despite the topic of my breasts getting brought up a lot. [laughs]

Q: Any future aspirations/ projects for the show?

A: We just want to make “Reality Check ” a household name and expand as much as possible.  We are considering streaming live video as well, so that people can see the hysterics in action. We consider our show the people’s show and the listener’s suggestions really matter to us.

Q: How is this show different from other online radio shows?

A: Considering there’s a lot of people doing similiar style shows…all I can say is we bring our own special humor and insight to the table that you won’t be able to  find anywhere else.

 Q: Who, besides family, are your biggest inspirations in regards to your work/art? 

A: Marilyn Monroe, Mae West, NYC Radio Personality Angie Martinez, Chelsea Handler, Sarah Silverman. Any woman who worked hard and made a name for themselves when people didnt neccessarily believe they could.   One of my favorite quotes is from Marilyn Monroe “Well behaved women rarely make history.”

Ahlexandria, as she is known in the blogger/vlogger world, was born a Gemini on May 24th, 1988.  A mix of Dominican, Hungarian, African American and Cherokee Indian blood, she burst onto the blogger scene, thanks in part to Chris “The Chris Show” Alvarez, who convinced her to create her own dot com.

Designed to share her feelings, viewpoints and opinions, both her written and video blogs offer a glimpse into her world.  In her own words, “I like to let people have insight about me, share how I feel in hopes of them understanding and being able to relate.” 

A young educated female Ahlexandria is currently pursuing Business/Accounting in school with hopes of attaining a BA in math.  She describes herself as someone that “is random and outgoing who loves to laugh and travel, loves purple, Hello Kitty and laying on the beach.” 

Currently co-starring on “The Chris Show,” an online radio show on www.latinloungeradio.com  with host Chris Alvarez (www.theChrisShow.net ), DJ KutCase (www.DJKutCase.com ), and RAQ of RAQSTAR Management. Tune in on Wednesdays from 7pm- 8pm (originally Mondays from 9pm-11pm) to get a dose of the hilarity.

Ahlexandria has also done modeling for www.ShortyPop.com, one solo shoot and one female-on-female shoot, the video of which had 7,000+ views in the first two weeks of its posting.  Take a look. ;o) (www.ShortyPop.com, www.youtube.com/ShortyPopTube ). 

Even with her hectic schedule, she continues to blog as well as video blog her every day life. Her links are all listed below.

I personally know Ahlexandria and I have to say she is possibly one of the most genuine people I have ever met via online social networking.  I absolutely adore this girl, head to toe. A beautiful girl with a heart of gold, she has been a kind and trustworthy friend as well as a dope colleague of mine.  I appreciate her more than she knows and I applaud her drive and the work she puts out. It’s always entertaining, sleek, and her own vision. I can dig it.  

From photos and heartfelt montages for her friends on New Years to her sexy photos from ShortyPop, Ahlexandria shows that a good girl can always flaunt how bad ass she really is. ;o)

www.ahlexandria.com

www.twitter.com/Ahlexandria

www.YouTube/com/AhlexandriaTV

My boyfriend hit me up regarding Dasic Fernandez, a Chilean artist who has just recently moved to the U.S.

I quickly fell in love with his amazing work, vivid and charged with energy. The blog he has IS in Spanish, but even if you don’t read or speak the language, his work speaks for itself.

Amazing photos and spray paint work often etched with political relevance in mind, I imagine this young man to have a flourishing career in the States.

Take a look at the site even if you don’t understand Spanish. His work is unbelievable. Some of his work is featured below.

For professional inquiries please email him (he reads English as well) at : Dasic7@gmail.com

(“Fuego” Spray Paint on Canvas)

(“Carmenere”- Spray paint on cancas)

This is one of my dearest friends, Erika Dickstein. She is an AMAZING artist….I truly believe in her talent.

I have HARASSED her about creating a blog that features her unique art (intensely detailed, delicate sketches she creates on POSTiT notes) and her jewelry (trendy, droolworthy and delicate bobbles). 

FINALLY…after a night full of laughs, food (lots of food…LOL) and creativity, the blog was created with a little pressure from me…LOL. It features photos of her art, her jewelry and her life. She even has a category called “The People’s PosTiTs” in which she posts readers’ photos of their OWN PosTits saying hello that they send to her via email…AWESOME idea.

Want to request a custom design for one of her PosTiTs?

Want a unique ONE of a KIND piece of jewelry?

Want to say hi via your OWN PosTiT???
Hit her up at ErikaDickstein@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @BigRedE

Check out some of her work below.  Can you believe these are done on POST-IT NOTES???!!!! Yeah…me either!

My homegirls Sydney and Andrea make these awesome pins and murals using perler beads. Sparking a craze, the girls plan on having their own complete art show and sell their pins and creations via their new blog.

Each pic posted of a pin or mural is listed with the title and the pricing.  If you’re interested or even want a custom piece, feel free to email them at the below addy and join the facebook fan page. 

I really look forward to seeing what the girls come up with on this new blog. Awesome stuff.

CONTACT INFO:

www.facebook.com/pixelsperinch

Pineapplepixels@gmail.com

A few things about this young lady I met via Twitter and later through Revolution Ladies Night:  She loves poetry, makeup, and she loves her boyfriend. LoL.

When I met Jess, my first impression was that she was beautiful and she seemed so quiet, very observant. Then, on the night of RLN’s open mic, she recited a very powerful and meaningful poem that she had written.  I knew then that this was one female that was going to make a very powerful mark on the world…..she’s  just smart enough to choose carefully who belongs in it.

On her site, which recently became its OWN DOMAIN (u go girl)….she talks of her life and what makes her happy and sad. It’s fun and cute and very girly. SUPPORT MY HOMEY!!!!!

In her own words: 

The name is Jessica ; but many know me as SimpllyGorjess. I am an inspiring poet; writer; & artist. I have always enjoyed writing poetry and short stories. It’s something about making up my own happy ending; however I want it that keeps me inspired. I use my blog to write just about anything that lets my creative juices flow. I enjoy finding unique pieces of art whether it be a painting; street art; or a poem  piece/ spoken word. I like showing people something they cant usually find by opening a magazine or newspaper. I go from Makeup blogging to Old school Hip Hop songs which I feel can lift anyones mood up. I started my blog because I felt I had a voice that needed to be heard. Many people out there have interest or talents that they have yet to figure out; and I want to be the inspiration to others that all is possible and that they can find it within them.  If you stay positive , everyone around you will also be positive..I feel my blog can make that difference to some people that are just down and out; without hope or any type of motivation in life. I think any person can find at least one blog on my site to which they find was written just for them. I speak on all genres of music ; I have a passion for fashion; & anything with color or that sparks the artist in me. I also take many request as to what my readers want me to post, and if its something I consider to write on it gets added to the blog site. Feel free to teach me or influence me into any other topics of interest. I am down to earth and open minded to all of what my readers want to see from me. 

I happened to meet the lovely lady who created this blog. She’s a really dope person with a wicked cool accent.  We bonded over stories of bargain finds at Strawberry’s. LoL. 

 Describing herself merely as “A Brit in NY…UK to BK,” she uses the blog to showcase her beautiful sketches and ecclectic and trendy style.  And what style this girl has. It’s effortlessly cool and chic.

I adore the fact that she lists where she bought everything, especially her makeup, since all of us girls love to hit Sephora and splurge on the best.

Check out some of the pics she has below.

MAKE SURE TO HIT UP HER SITE!!!!

 AWESOME FASHION INSPIRATION AND TRUE STYLE!

I have the ultimate pleasure of being close friends with Mr. Elstabo Aviles and the honor of being one of his subjects for his art (please see poetry postings “I am Art (Sublime)” and “Shedding Skin”). 

I am ALWAYS on him about being less cryptic with his target audience and how his fans need somewhere to really connect and know more about what he does, how he does it, and what it all means to him.

I FINALLY convinced him to create a blog in which he can share his process, his creative inspirations, sneaks peeks of upcoming work AND where his work is being featured. So far, it’s been coming a long great. 

Please take a look at the blog, y’all. It’s some awesome stuff on there!

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

I was following a young lady named Cynthia on Twitter and she tweeted about this group she was starting with her friend, Tina, called Revolution Ladie’s Night.  I had NO idea what to expect, but I felt compelled to hit her up. So, on January 5th, 2010 I ventured down to the Lower East Side (strange territory for a Bronx girl like me) and met up with some amazing young ladies.

As stated on the website:  “REVOLUTION LADIES NIGHT IS  A CREATIVE WOMEN’S FOCUS GROUP CREATED AND FACILIATED BY TINA G. AND CYN CIITY TO CREATE A SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE FOR WOMEN TO OWN THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES; AND TO ENCOURAGE EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CREATIVE RISKS. RECOGNIZING THE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES OF THE URBAN WOMAN, THE GROUP’S FOCUS IS TO ALLOW WOMEN OF ALL RACES, AGES, SHAPES, SIZES, AND STATUS TO COME TOGETHER AND ENLIGHTEN AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER CREATIVELY THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTIONS. MUCH LOVE TO THE STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF URBAN CITIES EVERYWHERE LOOKING FOR A CREATIVE OUTLET.”

I am proud to say I am a part of this group and will be featured prominently on the official blog once I begin spring semester classes. The blog will not only include work from the members of the group, but makeup tips (we ARE ladies after all), event listings, programs to look into and inspirational items. We’re definitely off to a good start!

Located on 184 Eldridge Street (on Rivington Street) in coordination with University Settlement (www.unversitysettlement.org), meeting every Tuesday night from 7:00pm-8:oopm.

For any inquiries, please contact the group via email: RLN_LES@yahoo.com

Nelson Cabán was a part-time cortero de caña and cowboy astronaut before encountering his lifelong nemesis, a color wheel, in preschool.

Raised in Spanish Harlem, and currently a graduate student at CCNY, he has studied art at Cooper Union in New York City and Estudio 13 in Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

His work has been exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Paris, and Spain and Nelson has been featured in the New York Times, Time Out New York, Hispanic Outlook magazine, and Metro (España).

Among the more notable collectors of his work include U.S. President Barack H. Obama, the F.B.I. of Puerto Rico, and Dr. Dulce Maria Garcia.

He is currently the resident artist of La Pregunta Arts Café in New York City and is involved in several upcoming exhibitions in the New York City area as well as a children’s book and a website dedicated exclusively to art-related ventures. 

If you guys get a chance, go onto Nelson’s blog. It is one of the most intelligent, eloquently written blogs I have ever read.  The topics are current and relevant and range from the economic issues arising from the Tiger Woods scandal to his artistic views on death. Full of his passionate views on art and current events, the blog provides insight to the mind of a phenomenal artist and writer. I look forward to his blog entries. And so should you.

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

For business inquiries and info, please email at: 

nelsoncaban@hotmail.com

At 22 years old, Vintage Vandal is an artist, exhibitonist, and model who began modeling in her hallway to show off her styling of vintage and current pieces through her personal blog. Her unique look and style immediately garnered attention from various clothing designers and websites.  Soon after, she began modeling professionally and has been featured in numerous magazines, clothing ads, websites , etc. 

Vintage Vandal is what I would most definitely call a modern-day pin up. Down to the Bettie Page bangs and the petite but curvy figure needed to pull it off, her photos speak for themselves.   I myself (though a taller, thicker female) have been inspired by the confidence and style she exudes. The fact that she is a young Latina (WEPA!) handling her business and making her own money is proof of her ambition, her smarts, and her business savvy. And as the accomplishments pile up….that is definitely something to be proud of .

You can always count on finding some great photos and styles on her site. I can often look on her site to find info on sample sales and light bulb ideas for vintage pieces that I myself own. Her style can be described as a mixture of different eras….hip, trendy and classic, vintage and avant-garde, comfort and elegance. As she says in her bio on her website “I dance to the beat of my OWN music and nothing else matters.”

Raised in a working class home where money was tight, she began thrift shopping in the Salvation Army, where she acquired and nurtured her eye for one-of-a-kind unique vintage pieces. In a trend-ridden youth culture, V.V. is the stand out in the crowd, rocking vintage pieces while others are waiting pathetically on line for Jordans at Foot Locker.

Using her artistic abilities she began painting on her clothes, improvising, taking apart pieces and sewing things together. The name she is so known for actually came from her guerilla-marketing tactic, in which she sold blazers purchased at the Salvation Army with her art work on it. In her “vandalizing” these vintage pieces with her own artwork, people became her walking ads, word of mouth spread and soon the name Vintage Vandal was born.

On her website bio she says, “Through my struggles and my accomplishments I hope to show women out there how to say “f*** you” to everyone who thinks your supposed to look, speak, act a certain way to be considered cool or In-Fashion. Follow your own heart, create your own style, and be your own person. At the end of the day, If I have inspired someone or have affected them in a positive way, that makes me the happiest person in the world, and It makes it all worth while.”

Now that is a wonderful goal to have. Keep doing your thing, girl!

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

www.vintagevandalizm.com

If you would like to contact her personally for questions  Vintagevandalizm@gmail.com.

For Business Inquiries please email VV.Jrodriguez@gmail.com

Born and raised in Spanish Harlem, Francisco aka Frank Nitty Nill Sinatra has been an avid writer for over 15 years and has performed at various open mics, freestyle battles and other events in places such as Arlene’s Basement in New York City’s renowned The Village, The Puerto Rican Day Celebration Festival in New Jersey, and HOPE Lounge in Brooklyn just to mention a few.  Also a member of an independent hip hop music group called GBU with whom he recorded various tracks, which can be heard on www.myspace.com/gbumusic. 

Current projects that Nitty Nill is working on is the site www.nittynillmusic.ning.com in which he puts together his own personal views on various topics as well as featuring some of his performances and work. He has also established a music page (www.myspace.com/nittynill) that displays a few songs, videos, photos and views expressed by those who have heard him.

He is currently a member of various websites (www.infamytv.com , www.str8fromdagutta.com) which allow him to express his talents as well as his ambition, and you can find some of his material on www.youtube.com/nittynillmusic.

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

As described on their blog….“PattyDukes & Rephstar are more than just your average Hip-Hop group. Circa ’95 is a movement. Celebrating the best of ’90s Hip-Hop and beyond. Holding down NYC and all galaxies. The Circa ’95 Radio Show is LIVE every Sunday from 2-5PM only on www.urbanlatinoradio.com”

I have the honor and pleasure of knowing both PattyDukes and Rephstar personally and have enjoyed the show on numerous occasions. Two phenomenal young people on the brink of stardom that host an incredible show featuring hip hop music from the golden era of the 90′s. 

Peep their website which has a live video feed of the show on Sundays as well as updates on upcoming events and guests on their blog calendar, and info on all the latest…you’d truly be missing out if you’re not on this, yo!