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April / May Issue Liz Menezes

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Page 1: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

S Class Coupe

S Class Coupe

Pop Acoustic

Singer Liz

Menezes

Heals The

World

PG 22

April May Cover

Model Iris Sparxx Sparks The XX In

Sexy

PG 34

2015 Spring

Fashion Trends

PG 424447

Top Idea Concept Cars

2018 Aston Martin SUV

Bugatti SUV In Design Stage

2018 X-Class Hatchback Benz

PG 4041

Health amp Beauty

Healthy Nails

PG 48

Cosmetic Skin

Care Tips PG38 UPCOMING ARTISTS

A-BOMB PG 11

Jazz Hudson PG 18

NextGenJazz PG 18

Latin Jazz Quartet

Milan PG 19

Car N Drive

Electric Drive

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Elec-

tric Drive Cigarette Racing and

AMG have this month unveiled

the 42-foot Huntress speed

boat

PG 21

FEATURES

The BUZZ

Dj Boston Chery

Stephen Crabtree AkA

Liferoot PG 33

TECH

iWatch Concept Design

PG 2829

MAURI SAVVY M781

Styles available at

IKE FOR MRALBERTrsquoS

CLEVELAND OH 44115

216 696 3359

MICHELE OLIVIERI

NEW YORK NY 10002

888 213 8035

alligatorworldcom

MORRELLrsquoS SHOES

MARION IN 46953

765 206 1466

morrellsshoescom

MAURI SAVVY NAPPA QUILTED NAPPA CALF

BABY CROCO BEIGE-RED-BLACK ALSO AVAILA-

VOL 27 NO 26

PUBLISHER Louis J Fowler

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Louis J Fowler

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Morena A Fernandez

VICE PRESIDENT E Fernandez

EDITORIAL

MANAGER EDITOR Herman Fowler

ART DIRECTOR Louis Fowler

SENIOR EDITOR Louis Fowler

WEB DESIGNER Team El Barrio Magazine

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jezne Sosa Dj Blackwater Db

Heard UNDERGROUND HIP HOP BLOG

Photography Capital City Boudior

ART

COVER ART DIRECTOR Louis J Fowler

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS The Motive Girl Club

Stewart Illussion Exclusive Motoring

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATIONMARKETING DIRECTOR James Leach

SINGLE COPY SALES MANAGER Jayne Sosa

DIGITAL AND MOBILE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Janella Sosa

PUBLISHED BY

MusicThatPays

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG

04-2

015

UKrsquos Most Ethical Menswear Brand

THTC

Studio httpwwwrpslondoncom Photographer wwwchelonewolfcouk Model httpswwwfacebookcommczanifref=ts

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 2: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

S Class Coupe

Pop Acoustic

Singer Liz

Menezes

Heals The

World

PG 22

April May Cover

Model Iris Sparxx Sparks The XX In

Sexy

PG 34

2015 Spring

Fashion Trends

PG 424447

Top Idea Concept Cars

2018 Aston Martin SUV

Bugatti SUV In Design Stage

2018 X-Class Hatchback Benz

PG 4041

Health amp Beauty

Healthy Nails

PG 48

Cosmetic Skin

Care Tips PG38 UPCOMING ARTISTS

A-BOMB PG 11

Jazz Hudson PG 18

NextGenJazz PG 18

Latin Jazz Quartet

Milan PG 19

Car N Drive

Electric Drive

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Elec-

tric Drive Cigarette Racing and

AMG have this month unveiled

the 42-foot Huntress speed

boat

PG 21

FEATURES

The BUZZ

Dj Boston Chery

Stephen Crabtree AkA

Liferoot PG 33

TECH

iWatch Concept Design

PG 2829

MAURI SAVVY M781

Styles available at

IKE FOR MRALBERTrsquoS

CLEVELAND OH 44115

216 696 3359

MICHELE OLIVIERI

NEW YORK NY 10002

888 213 8035

alligatorworldcom

MORRELLrsquoS SHOES

MARION IN 46953

765 206 1466

morrellsshoescom

MAURI SAVVY NAPPA QUILTED NAPPA CALF

BABY CROCO BEIGE-RED-BLACK ALSO AVAILA-

VOL 27 NO 26

PUBLISHER Louis J Fowler

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Louis J Fowler

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Morena A Fernandez

VICE PRESIDENT E Fernandez

EDITORIAL

MANAGER EDITOR Herman Fowler

ART DIRECTOR Louis Fowler

SENIOR EDITOR Louis Fowler

WEB DESIGNER Team El Barrio Magazine

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jezne Sosa Dj Blackwater Db

Heard UNDERGROUND HIP HOP BLOG

Photography Capital City Boudior

ART

COVER ART DIRECTOR Louis J Fowler

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS The Motive Girl Club

Stewart Illussion Exclusive Motoring

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATIONMARKETING DIRECTOR James Leach

SINGLE COPY SALES MANAGER Jayne Sosa

DIGITAL AND MOBILE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Janella Sosa

PUBLISHED BY

MusicThatPays

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG

04-2

015

UKrsquos Most Ethical Menswear Brand

THTC

Studio httpwwwrpslondoncom Photographer wwwchelonewolfcouk Model httpswwwfacebookcommczanifref=ts

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 3: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Pop Acoustic

Singer Liz

Menezes

Heals The

World

PG 22

April May Cover

Model Iris Sparxx Sparks The XX In

Sexy

PG 34

2015 Spring

Fashion Trends

PG 424447

Top Idea Concept Cars

2018 Aston Martin SUV

Bugatti SUV In Design Stage

2018 X-Class Hatchback Benz

PG 4041

Health amp Beauty

Healthy Nails

PG 48

Cosmetic Skin

Care Tips PG38 UPCOMING ARTISTS

A-BOMB PG 11

Jazz Hudson PG 18

NextGenJazz PG 18

Latin Jazz Quartet

Milan PG 19

Car N Drive

Electric Drive

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Elec-

tric Drive Cigarette Racing and

AMG have this month unveiled

the 42-foot Huntress speed

boat

PG 21

FEATURES

The BUZZ

Dj Boston Chery

Stephen Crabtree AkA

Liferoot PG 33

TECH

iWatch Concept Design

PG 2829

MAURI SAVVY M781

Styles available at

IKE FOR MRALBERTrsquoS

CLEVELAND OH 44115

216 696 3359

MICHELE OLIVIERI

NEW YORK NY 10002

888 213 8035

alligatorworldcom

MORRELLrsquoS SHOES

MARION IN 46953

765 206 1466

morrellsshoescom

MAURI SAVVY NAPPA QUILTED NAPPA CALF

BABY CROCO BEIGE-RED-BLACK ALSO AVAILA-

VOL 27 NO 26

PUBLISHER Louis J Fowler

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Louis J Fowler

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Morena A Fernandez

VICE PRESIDENT E Fernandez

EDITORIAL

MANAGER EDITOR Herman Fowler

ART DIRECTOR Louis Fowler

SENIOR EDITOR Louis Fowler

WEB DESIGNER Team El Barrio Magazine

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jezne Sosa Dj Blackwater Db

Heard UNDERGROUND HIP HOP BLOG

Photography Capital City Boudior

ART

COVER ART DIRECTOR Louis J Fowler

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS The Motive Girl Club

Stewart Illussion Exclusive Motoring

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATIONMARKETING DIRECTOR James Leach

SINGLE COPY SALES MANAGER Jayne Sosa

DIGITAL AND MOBILE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Janella Sosa

PUBLISHED BY

MusicThatPays

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG

04-2

015

UKrsquos Most Ethical Menswear Brand

THTC

Studio httpwwwrpslondoncom Photographer wwwchelonewolfcouk Model httpswwwfacebookcommczanifref=ts

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 4: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

MAURI SAVVY M781

Styles available at

IKE FOR MRALBERTrsquoS

CLEVELAND OH 44115

216 696 3359

MICHELE OLIVIERI

NEW YORK NY 10002

888 213 8035

alligatorworldcom

MORRELLrsquoS SHOES

MARION IN 46953

765 206 1466

morrellsshoescom

MAURI SAVVY NAPPA QUILTED NAPPA CALF

BABY CROCO BEIGE-RED-BLACK ALSO AVAILA-

VOL 27 NO 26

PUBLISHER Louis J Fowler

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Louis J Fowler

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Morena A Fernandez

VICE PRESIDENT E Fernandez

EDITORIAL

MANAGER EDITOR Herman Fowler

ART DIRECTOR Louis Fowler

SENIOR EDITOR Louis Fowler

WEB DESIGNER Team El Barrio Magazine

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jezne Sosa Dj Blackwater Db

Heard UNDERGROUND HIP HOP BLOG

Photography Capital City Boudior

ART

COVER ART DIRECTOR Louis J Fowler

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS The Motive Girl Club

Stewart Illussion Exclusive Motoring

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATIONMARKETING DIRECTOR James Leach

SINGLE COPY SALES MANAGER Jayne Sosa

DIGITAL AND MOBILE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Janella Sosa

PUBLISHED BY

MusicThatPays

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG

04-2

015

UKrsquos Most Ethical Menswear Brand

THTC

Studio httpwwwrpslondoncom Photographer wwwchelonewolfcouk Model httpswwwfacebookcommczanifref=ts

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 5: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

UKrsquos Most Ethical Menswear Brand

THTC

Studio httpwwwrpslondoncom Photographer wwwchelonewolfcouk Model httpswwwfacebookcommczanifref=ts

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 6: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Tell us a little about yourself Where are you from

How long have you been making Hip Hop

My name is A-Bomb and Irsquom from all over I grew up in the

Northeast back when NYC was the only respected city mak-

ing hip hop music When I moved out West Death Row

popped up It was a bit of a lsquoDeclaration of Independencersquo

thing happening out there at the time People rising up and

proving their worth in a scene dominated by a completely

different demographic The same movement took place

when I moved to ATL being led by Outkast and the Dungeon

Family Irsquove been in East Atlanta GA for 15 years Been seri-

ously recording music for about that long as well

What influences you in making Hip Hop

Just the life we live Days juuggin and making rap songs

Good dinner Nights getting all lit up and fucking with some

chics Rinse daily The lifestyle is really the inspiration for the

music rather than the other way around

Describe your music and what separates you from

other MCs

Itrsquos definitely reality rap Itrsquos all me through and through

And its good-natured Fun Even funny sometimes We really

love this shit

Who have you collaborated with Who would you like

to collab with in the near future

Irsquove got Kool Keith Mr SOS and Fishscales of Nappy Roots

on my newest album I would love to see A-Bomb f Action

Bronson Or A-Bomb f Danny Brown Earl Sweatshirt Gucci

Young Dolph are some other guys irsquove been listening to late-

ly

Your definition of ldquoUnderground Hip Hoprdquo

Just not above the surface for whatever reason Theres

good and not so great music in the underground realm

as there is in the mainstream Most of my tastes tend to

lie in the underground

Production wise who are your influences Who

does your production

And who would you like to work with

Wes Green is my main producer He does a great job of

guiding and molding projects around the artists he works

with Beat wise i really love Metro Boomin TM808 Harry

Fraud Don Cannon And of course DJ Premier 9th Won-

der Pete Rock

Any current or future projects you are promoting

Yes I just released The Movie ndash Remixed Irsquom super excit-

ed

Can you give us a brief description of the creative

process of The Movie REMIXED Also tell us a lit-

tle bit about the concept and idea behind your Al-

bum Cover Art

Itrsquos a complete re-working of The Movie which was my

first solo album since Mighty High Coup embarked in

2010 The initial release of The Movie made a lot of noise

I was blessed to be able to reach out to a lot of my favor-

ite producers and work closely with them to take the re-

mix record to a whole new place The production is pretty

next-level Smooth-edged future bass hard and loud trap

tunes and a feature from Fish Scales of Nappy Roots

Where can we find your music and info

You can find A-Bomb ndash The Movie A-Bomb ndash The Movie

(REMIXED) and all of Mighty High Couprsquos music on

iTunes

Also my Soundcloud site httpwwwsoundcloudcom

iknowabomb And of course Twitter and IG iknowa-

bomb

SPO

TLIGH

T

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 11

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 7: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

As always Donatella Versace has laced her new handbag col-lection with pure Versace glamour Ex-pect black and gold snake prints and lots of new shapes

Versace

By Amy Lewis

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 8: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 9: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

SNEAKER NEWS MARCH MADNESS ndash THE ROAD TO THE GREATEST

NIKE KOBE EVER

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 10: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Jazz Hudson was the winner of the Social Changemaker Award Jazz Hud-son is an artist activist and educator whose goal is to inspire the voice and artistic development of young people Through spoken word she is devoted to educating and instilling a sense of responsibility toward self and com-munity in youth locally and abroad

In an earlier era young jazz musicians learned

their art in the clubs sitting in with the masters

picking up precious experience set after set night

after night

But in the 21st century - with fewer clubs more

big-ticket concerts and an increasing emphasis on

box-office stars - emerging artists get a fraction of

the stage time that past generations enjoyed

These players in their 20s struggle for the chance

to mature in the best possible way for jazz riffing

before a live audience

Which is why the non-profit Jazz Institute of Chi-

cago and the Drake Hotel have partnered on a

groundbreaking project NextGenJazz During the

first three Thursday nights of each month

through May NextGenJazz is giving an up-and-

coming jazz artist a featured run at the hotelrsquos

plush Palm Court

Independent Artists Milan

Latin Jazz Quartet

Independent Jazz

PG 18 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 11: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Raffaele Kohler

Great talent and great sensibility as a Trumpet player and composer often his sound is defined as a rdquo Velvety Sound rdquo for his softness and warm timbreGifted also with a special technique and abilities in addi-tion to his experience he is always able to enchant those listening to his improvisations In this Album he give us two unique compositions ldquoPrimordquo inspired by the life of Boxer Primo Carnera And ldquoCosirdquo inspired by his encounters with many artists cultures and cities of Eastern Europe

Alessandro Sicardi

Polyhedral artist and pure talent as a guitar player composer and ar-ranger gifted with a incomparable musicality and an innate sense of improvisation In this Album he arranged many of our compositions and also gave us his contribution to two compositions A froposito in-spired by his last trip to the Africa where the colours of places and the voices of people gave him this idea instead Ba(r)llad was inspired by a Barmaid that he had just met one night only in a Bar in Milan and at first sight he was fascinated by her face her eyes and her glancehellip

Davide Marzagalli

Rumour has it that he was born with his Congas Hersquos a very talented percussionist his great experiences with many International artists al-lowed him to improve his technique a lot as well as his experiences with many gypsy artists which allowed him to absorb their resonance and to create a special unique atmosphere during its improvisations

Lino Grasso

Is the last to take part in this project letrsquos say the last but not the least He is an Electric Bass player who through his talent and his experiences allows us to appreciate his great qualities and technique giving several shades to our project that are part of his own abilities and his great passion for the Latin Jazz Style

About the Composer

Massimo Bove

His persistent research in finding through simplicity the key of composition and by merely following an idea He has brought his talent into the working and founding of this project where he can express himself at his best In this album he has also given us his contribution of five compositions while his target is also giving the listeners sounds col-ours emotions from our country with Senti-mento LatinoNavy Blue Jealousy Jim Jams Jass Francesrsquos eyes he is following the idea of project that is to give to Latin Jazz Style an Italian colour and to bring more people near-er to this fantastic style

Independent Jazz

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 19

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 12: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Everyone knows electricity and water donrsquot mix but with the latest creation from Cigarette Racing a world renowned manufacturer of powered boats based in Miami-Dade Coun-ty Florida nothing could be further from the truth At the Miami International Boat Show this week Cigarette Racing took the covers off a new boat concept powered by an elec-tric drivetrain inspired by the one in theMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive Cigarette Racing and AMG have collab-orated on a number of projects in the past and just this month unveiled the 42-foot Huntress which was inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Cigarette Racingrsquos latest boat the 38-foot Cigarette AMG Electric Drive concept is like nothing wersquove seen before however Just as the SLS AMG Electric Drive is the fastest and most powerful electric car currently in production the new Cigarette AMG Electric Drive is currently the fastest and most powerful electric boat ever produced although its still a concept It has a combined output of 1654 kilowatts (2220 horse-power) and 2212 pound-feet of torque from its twelve elec-tric motors which is enough to see it reach a top speed of 100 mph By comparison the 552-kilowatt (700-horsepower) SLS AMG Electric Drive has a limited top speed of 155 mph

Electric Drive

The boat concept integrates four batteries with a total of 48 modules

and 3456 cells which generate a total capacity of 240 kilowatt hours

and maximum voltage of 400 volts To charge all of this there are two

22-kilowatt onboard chargers from the SLS AMG Electric Drive as

standard Adapted to fit the infrastructure standard of many American

marinas the boat has a charging capacity of 44 kilowatts The battery

is fully charged in approximately seven hours To reduce the charging

time to less than three hours the powerboat can be fitted with four

on-board chargers as an option Unfortunately no figures for range

have been given

Looking past its insane drivetrain the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive

boat concept is finished in AMGrsquos Electricbeam magno paint finish the

same matte chrome paintwork exclusively reserved for the SLS AMG

Electric Drive This theme carries over to the cabin which also benefits

from design and fittings inspired by those in the elec-

tric Mercedes supercar Items including sports seats various carbon

elements and AMG logos There are also displays provide for current

motor output speed battery voltage and of course the batterys state

of charge

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 21

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 13: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

EBMag How are you doing today Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom super busy and excited these days to be recording vocals for three different projects that will be released in the near future EBMag We are now here personally with you talking about your music So Liz tell us a little about Liz Menezes Liz Menezes Irsquom a recording artist that lives a life of artistry and the everyday experiences of life Music is who I am and it is a part of every angle of my life My goal is to become a well respected and recognized artist I love connecting with people through the language of music be-cause music cancels out all prejudice and units races gender social status and the lists goes on I realized at a young age that the joy that music brought to my life I could share that feeling with the world

PG 22 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 14: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

EBMag How did you get inspired to do Acous-tic music verse doing the normal Latin pop mu-sic Liz Menezes My first musical release was ex-actly that a Latin Pop Rock cd I found my writing and musical taste to revolve around that genre and sound After living in Brazil for two years and experi-encing the culture and itrsquos calm gentle way of being through its people I became enamored with the sounds of Bossa Nova I began re-cording for Albatroz Music based in Rio de Janiero and I quickly became immersed in the free sounds of the music from Brazil I went on to do several recordings for the label which were released in Japan and Europe and in 2014 I recorded a full length Bossa Nova cd RELAXING IN BOSSA I also released my haunting acoustic Spanish single DEJAME which became an instant success international-ly I started 2015 in the studio once again and I wanted to have a more intimate relationship with my writing and the produc-tion of the music I didnrsquot want my fan base to wait too much longer for new music so I decid-ed to give them a surprise and release my first English single NEW CREATION This song called me to write it because I felt people needed to find healing through music Acoustic music to me is the exposure of my voice and the connection with the sounds of the instrument(s) that accompany my words EBMag Your music tends to br ing spir itual texture to your projects Are you involved in reli-gion and if so whats your religious faith Liz Menezes I feel that my music is exploring different aspects of my life I am Christian and God is the center of my faith NEW CREATION is a cry from all who need a new beginning and that joy is found in the presence of Jesus Walk in faith and find freedom of life and self EBMag So far Liz yoursquove been doing shows and concerts over the past years now How has music changed your life as an artist and as a per-son Liz Menezes I wrote my first song at the age of nine and since then I have not stopped and I will not stop Music is one of the eternal joys of my life it allows me to express my emotions truths my past and present in a poetic way I wear many different hats as a creative person it ranges anywhere from being a lyricist poet story teller co-producer and even co-arranger There is no limit to creativi-ty and originality that is why I do not limit myself to a genre of music If I can sing in dif-ferent languages and styles of music why not experience the richness of its sounds

EBMag Out of every produced music yoursquove created you love to incorporate live band instru-ments How important is it to have that type of element in Acoustic music Liz Menezes For me a good live band cannot be compared to programmed instru-ments The feel of music is different when the human touch is missing Acoustic music has an element of longing of emotionally lyric that can only be delivered through the excel-lence of a seasoned musician EBMag As a Latin recording artist What makes Liz Menezes different and why Liz Menezes I feel that what makes me dif-ferent is that I have been submerged in music from a very early age I was and am like a sponge I listen and learn I listen and dance I listen and write Music touches me in such a way that just a four bar verse of sound can make me cry I donrsquot write the typical and expected lyric I try to reach deep within the surface to draw out the truth My focus is not on how sexy I will look in my next perfor-mance itrsquos how good the musical content will be and are all the musicians liking what they hear Irsquom a journey that will continue to make you feel something even when the music has stopped EBMag So we hear that your happily married Nice How supportive is your husband towards your music career and is he your manager as well Liz Menezes You heard correct hahaha Irsquom married to an incredible musician his name is Eli Menezes We meet working on one of my musical ventures and the rest is well as they say history Eli is my producer and has been now for many years He gets me and my cra-ziness he understands my creative process EBMag Liz Menezes how would you describe your music for those that dont know of you Liz Menezes Liz Menezes is a non typical mix of poprockjazz and acoustic blends ac-companied by a rich sultry yet at times aggressive voice leading the listener to a never before heard storybook of song EBMag Whos all in the group and what in-strument do they play Liz Menezes I have a selective group of rotat-ing musicians which I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage or studio recording with Eli Menezes- electric and acoustic guitar Patrick Andy ndash bass Jotan Afanador ndash drums Manny Laine ndash drums Carlos De Oliveira ndash percussion Bendji Allonce- percussion Tom Barber- horns

EBMag What are you cur-rently working on now Liz Liz Menezes Irsquom in the stu-dio working on three very different projects My first English ep My second Spanish ep A second full length cd in Bossa Nova EBMag As a Latin ar tist that has obtain such high status in the music indus-try do you find it very difficult as a female to not full into or subject your self to industry way producing music Liz Menezes Good ques-tion As an indi artist I do not feel that way I have the freedom of releasing music that is true to me and my point of view I have the ability to create and blend different sounds and styles without anyone telling not to EBMag Do you have any live tours going on for this year Liz If so where Liz Menezes The schedul-ing of shows will begin once I have completed my record-ings in the studio and then I will be on a promotional tour I do however have a show on May 22 at Fon-tanarsquos located in NYC 105 Eldridge St New York NY 10002 Irsquom also excited about the discussions to tour in Japan upon the comple-tion of my sec-ond Bossa Nova cd this year

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 23

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 15: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

EBMag For Liz Menezes what gives you that inspiration to cre-ate your materials Liz Menezes My inspiration comes from life people and everyday happiness drama triumph and desires There is so much material in every-thing your eyes and heart can behold and appreciate EBMag Have any labels ap-proach you and would you sign to any label if you was offered Liz Menezes I en-joy being an indi artist but if the right scenario fair and appropri-ate offer were to be presented I would consider my op-tions and make an educated deci-sion I have cul-tured my career carefully and I want anyone join-ing my journey to do the same EBMag Liz is there any ar tist you would like to work with on a project If so who and why Liz Menezes I would love to work with Banda Magda John Mayer Laura Pausini Shakira and Mana Aside from being fantastic and unique artists each of these singers is a mas-ter writer and to be able to sit and explore their writing pro-cess would be an honor EBMag Liz Menezes thank you for taking out the time to sit with us Do you have any final words you would like to add

Liz Menezes The pleasure was all mine thank you I would like to thank all of the fans who have made my musi-cal journey worth the creative process each time I sing or write I do this for you To all who have yet to take a listen to Liz Menezes I invite you to give me space in your musical selection and take a journey with me Allow me to introduce you to different blends of sounds that will en-tice your ears and leave you wanting more

Remember nothing is impossi-ble if you believe in yourself and go for your dreams

PG 124 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 16: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Would you like to wear it Although it is believed that young people hardly wear watches anymore Apple is expecting to make the hit and to prove that it is still the number one maker of innovative and desired devices Apart from that al-ready lots of other gadgets exist that offer the same functions or even better So it is hard to think that someone would spend more than $200 on a watch just to be able to see his messagesemails in an alternative way on a 15 inch screen

It all ends at to be another tech battle in between com-pany giants for the next breakthrough device who seem to have bigger interest in wearable-type comput-ers than what users would normally need Although this is my own view you still have the right to decide on whether or not you would wantneed such a gadget

PG 26 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 17: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

With more and more modern gadgets coming up on

the market the next to expect would be a speculated

smart watch being developed by Apple According to

Wall Street Journal on 3rd June Apple applied for

trademark in Japan probably for the development of

the controversial iWatch Recent rumours about the

upcoming device have been spreading that it will be a

next generation of wearable computers Apple has

been getting a lot of public attention recently with all

the news around iOS 7 and now with the upcoming

new product To compensate for the strong competi-

tion the chief executive officerTim Cook has started

talking about an advanced ldquoprofoundly interestingrdquo

wristwatch-like device However it is believed that

Google and Microsoft are working on similar type of

technology A recent report by Bloomberg declares

that around 100 specialists are currently working on

the project with design development by the head of

Apple`s software ndash Jonathan Ive Probably the new

device would not be cheaper than $200 With this in

mind if you decide to purchase it would be essential

to invest in gadget insurance and ensure its liveli-

hood

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 18: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

PG 28 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 19: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

BUZZ

DJ Boston Chery At a ripe age of 23 she is already creating a buzz in

NYCrsquos underground music scene with high regard to her diverse sets

and mixes of Trap Hip-Hop 90rsquos Reggae and Chillwave She released

her latest eclectic mix ldquoHeart Chakraldquo She has performed sets for

legendary recording labels RocNation Universal and RCA and at

venues including Webster Hall SOBrsquos Santos Party Haus Slate The

Brooklyn Patch (sponsored by Sour Patch Kids) The Paper Box Tam-

many Hall TAO Downtown and The Delancey She participated in

the CMJ Music Marathon 2014 and VFiles Recording DJ Competition

and DJrsquod personally for recording artists Creative Gold Leaf and

artist collective Tribe NYC She was also featured in the 20142015

FallWinter campaign for Reebok Boston Chery is a socialite with a

warm bubbly personality go-getter mentality an extended

knowledge of music and an impressive network consisting of record-

ing artists media personalities and music executives She has played

alongside Maybach Music Grouprsquos recording artist Stalley received

compliments from Power 1051rsquos radio personality Angela Yee re-

cording artist Estelle street team representatives at HOT 97 and is

also a promotional representative for Fader Magazinersquos agency Cor-

nerstone Shersquos collaborated with prominent DJs such as Jam Master

Jayrsquos son amp ASAP Fergrsquos DJ TJ Mizell Joey Badassrsquos DJ Power Pleas-

ant and Justine Skyersquos DJ FilthyRichTaj Not only a DJ she also holds

experience in videography having worked with former Roc-A-Fella

President Damon Dash shot for Russell Simmonsrsquo blog GlobalGrind

and edited video for music mogul Sean Combsrsquo network Revolt TV For years Boston Chery has given full dedication to every endeavor that has crossed her path When it comes to versatility and overall performance satisfaction she commits to her audience while deliver-

ing seamless original mixes that transcend time and generations MIX Download Link httpssoundcloudcomcchery-1heart-chakra-a-boston-chery-mix httpwwwdjbcherycomhttpstwittercombostonchery

httpswwwfacebookcomBostonChery

ldquoStephen Crabtree (aka Liferoot) was born and raised in Nash-

ville TN Being involved in music since the age of five it is no

wonder that Liferoot holds to being more than just a producerrsquos

alias Crabtree keeps his talents close to him incorporating mul-

tiple instruments and personal intimate vocals into his very own

musical craft that has been growing ever since he began pro-

ducing in 2008Liferoot seems to keep his originality and influ-

ences closer his music is not for the faint at heart but for those

who want to get more involved and resonate with the music

they are listening to The sounds that Liferoot has come to culti-

vate are blended from raw emotion organic atmospheres and a

combination of original instrumentation vocals composition

and arrangement creating his very own unique style of Medita-

tive Hiphop Ranging in vibes and styles his music carelessly

transcends genres and focuses more on exploring the more

emotional side of hiphophelliprdquo

httpstwittercomLiferoot

httpswwwfacebookcomliferootmusic

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 33

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 20: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

What turns you off Self-absorbed jerks

What turns you on A man with rough work-ing hands HOT

What do you like to do for fun Shoot my bow amp go fishing

What type of music do you like Always been Country

What type of movies do you like Any-thing comical I love to laugh

What is your guilty Pleasure Chocolate

Location S Lake Tahoe CA

innervisionimagescom

PG 34 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 21: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Height 56

Weight 110 lbs

Bust 34 C

Dress Size 5

Age 27

Shoe 85

Hair BrunetteWay Long

Ethnicity German

ItalianSwede

Photography by Capital City Boudior

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 35

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 22: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

EBMAG Iris how did you get into model-

ing

Iris Sparxx I was scouted at a Sacramen-to Kings Game at 18 yo EBMAG what about be a model do you

like

Iris Sparxx Im not gonna lie the atten-tion hehe EBMAG what other publications have you

been featured in before EL BARRIO MAGA-

ZINE

Iris Sparxx Divine Wine BX25 Sxy Mag Girl of the Week EBMAG what makes Iris Sparxx a pre-

cious Icandy

Iris Sparxx I turn heads everywhere I go men and women I think its my hair lol everyone wants to touch it EBMAG do you have any other future

things lined up this year

Iris Sparxx I am currently working on my 2015 Calendar

EBMAG what makes up Iris

Sparxx

Iris Sparxx Commercial hair

blue eyes and my natural fig-ure Im a pretty simple gal

EBMAG what attracts Iris Sparxx

about a man (meaning what is

your idea of a quality man)

Iris Sparxx Intelligence humor

and hard working makes me melt

Twitter IrisSparxx

Iris Sparxx

PG 36 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 23: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Dont waste money

Theres no need to buy an expensive cleanser

loaded with fancy ingredients says photobi-

ologist Daniel B Yarosh PhD author of The

New Science of Perfect Skin Theyre on your

skin for less than a minute so they dont have

time to really do anything

Adding injury to insult Some pricey ingredi-ents can actually cause irritation (that would be you peppermint and eucalyptus) Start with inexpensive face washes (try Biore Revi-talize 4-in-1 Foaming Cleanser $7 for 67 oz drugstorecom) and see-through glycerin soaps like Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($3 drugstorecom)

Both remove dirt oil and dead skin cells

without stripping away your skins natural

(and necessary) oils

Get the red out

For the estimated 14 million people in the

US with rosacea--the condition whose

symptoms can be triggered by alcohol spicy

food exercise and sun exposure--their red-

dened skin can feel like a scarlet letter Re-

searchers have found that when rosacea suf-

ferers wash their faces with a sonic skin-care

brush (like the Clarisonic Skincare Sys-

tem $195 12clarisoniccom) their skin

Cover your mouth

Were talking about a lip balm with UV

protection not ruby red lipstick Your

lips (along with your eye area and upper

chest) have some of the thinnest skin on

your body so they need extra shielding

A survey by a member of the American

Society for Dermatologic Surgery found

that only 47 percent of respondents

used lip protection containing UV

blockers Thats bad news because

when skin cancer originates from the

lips its especially aggressive and has a

higher risk of spreading says Erin

Welch MD assistant professor of der-

matology at the University of Texas

Southwestern Medical Center

Guard your smackers by stocking up on

balms with sunscreen likeSoftlips Lip

ProtectantSunscreen with SPF 20 ($4

for two tubesdrugstorecom)

Go au naturel

There are more skin-care

products claiming to be

natural or organic than

there are reality-TV stars If

environmental and purity

standards are important to

you consider buying prod-

ucts made in Europe Compa-

nies overseas making eco

claims trace ingredients back

to their sources to verify their

natural origins

A few of the brands that do Lavera (laveracom) Weleda(usaweledacom) and Dr Hauschka Skin-care (drhauschkacom) And while youre at it On prod-ucts from the US look for the National Products Associ-ations new Natural Seal it certifies that 95 percent of the ingredients are truly nat-ural and pose no suspected human health risks (for more information vis-it naturalproductsassocorgcertifiednatural)

Use an anti-ager--now Dont wait for the first crows feet to appear before you reach for that little tube

COSMETICS amp BEAUTY CARE

PG 38 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 24: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Even women in their twenties

should be using a topical retinoid--

unless theyre pregnant or nurs-

ing says Francesca Fusco MD

assistant clinical professor of der-

matology at Mount Sinai School of

Medicine in New York City

Heres why Retinoids which con-

tain vitamin A are one of the most

potent agents for preventing and

reversing sun damage and signs of

aging And says Hirsch theyre

the ultimate multitasker They

speed skin renewal by shedding

dull pore-clogging cells and in-

crease collagen production to pre-

vent wrinkles

Ask your doctor about a retinoid prescription or try an OTC such as Roc Retinol Actif Pur Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizing Treat-ment--Night($22 for 1 oz drugstorecom)

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 39

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 25: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Concept 2018 SUV Aston Martin Bugatti SUV

CONCEPT IDEAS

PG 40 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 26: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

In the original article toward the bottom of this

page we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti

Veyron-style SUV plus created our own janky lift

of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti But

neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde

as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its

EB logos attached College of Art Center of De-

sign student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for

a Bugatti SUV Grand style grand pace and the

name The Grand Colombier A nod to the explor-

er Cristobol Colon mdash who we Americans know as

Christopher Columbus mdash the name evokes a

sense of adventure and technology over nature

We enjoy the near-invisible headlamps the scal-

loped horseshoe shapes and themes in the fender

profiles and the layered tailgate design Stunning

stuff as usual from Mr Jirec

Bugatti SUV

Grand Colombier Concept by Ondrej Jirec

Mercedes-Benz X-Class mini-hatchback to hit in 2018

As if the Mercedes-Benz A-Class wasnrsquot small enough the company

is planning for an even smaller hatchback in 2018 According to Au-

tobild the Mercedes-Benz mini-hatchback will be based on the small-

er next-generation Renault Clio

It has been reported that the mini-hatchback will be called the X-Class

(Oh yeah thatrsquos original) Mercedes-Benz plans to have its X-Class

compete against the likes of the Audi A1 and MINI models

Initially the company plans to produce about 100000 and 150000

units of the X-Class per year and it will come in a range of a hatch-

back crossover coupe and even perhaps a roadster version as well

As of speculation the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will be priced at under

euro20000 ($26000) and it will carry a low displacement engine or with

a turbo and direct injection system to provide optimum fuel ratio

CONCEPT IDEAS

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 41

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 27: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

The Adeam designers Alexander Wang and

Milly used and abused this specific and spec-

tacular trend for this season combining classic

and sporty styles with shapes and colors re-

newed thus creating some really bright and

tasteful combinations The Sports Chic has

become a more important trend recently and

often is combined with classic and elegant

pieces Kenzo Viktor amp Rolf Paco Rabanne

Fay Amanda Wakeley Pringle of Scotland

Jean-Pierre Braganza Lacoste and DKNY also

inspired this creative sophisticated sports

trend

PG 47

See More

2015 Trends Mens Womens Spring Collections

Fashion

Balmain Fashion

Balmain

PG 42 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Italian fashion designer Perry Balmain

brought spring in with more than just

fashionable colors but he happened

to nail this year with a bold trendy look

for the menrsquos collection Perry Balmain

introduced a newer look for men active

sports wear

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 28: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Pantsuits for women can be found in a wide variety of colors sizes styles and more but a real makeover is seen in the latest spring-summer 2015 collections Designers suggest us to try on urban and sport style pantsuits Each of the following looks has something unique and very special as you can try it on with your fa-vorite trainers sneakers cool beanies or any other eye-catching accessory that will surely make you look differently Thanks to the markets newcomers we see great updates that are perfect for weekends street wear as well as for nights out on the town We see awesome designs that take on different silhouettes cuts and trends New spring 2015 comes with ath-letic jackets sweatshirts baggy trousers mixed prints and slouchy shapes All in all keep it fun and bright

2015 Trends Fashion

PG 44 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 29: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 47

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 30: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

EBNAG Tell us a little about

yourself and your background

T-DOT I was born in East Orange

NJ and then my family moved to a

small town called Maplewood NJ

where I spent the majority of my

teenage years I lived literally around

the corner from Newark NJ Every-

one is more familiar with that city

When I say Maplewood everyone

draws question marks I moved to

Buffalo NY for school and I kinda

got stuck up here (laughs) I learned

a lot about life up here though Buf-

falo and Maplewood are two com-

pletely different towns filled with

people that have completely different

mindsets

EBMAG Who were some of your

musical influences coming up

T-DOT When I was younger I kinda

wasnrsquot really allowed to listen to rap

which is why itrsquos so ironic that I rap

now My Aunt had bought me Ma$ersquos

1st album Harlem World when it 1st

came out and my Mom told my Aunt

to take it back to the store I was so

pissed back then (laughs) Ma$e was

the hottest thing out around that

time too My mom listened to noth-

ing but Whitney Houston Luther

Vandross be

and Soca music Shersquos from St

Thomas VI so I been around Soca

and Reggae all my life When I got

older and discovered 50 Cent it was

a wrap for everything that I lis-

tened to All I listened to was 50 I

grew into liking Lil Wayne Juelz

Santana TI and Fabolous That

was my entire Napster library

EBMAG How would you de-

scribe yourself as an artist

Has your style changed much

over the years

T-DOT Irsquom very expressive in my

music Itrsquos funny because the peo-

ple that know me know that Irsquom

quiet and soft spoken So when

they hear my records its like yo

was that really you I made music

for me honestly not caring about

what other people thought about it

Everything I rap about is 10000

real I think my style changed

when I noticed people could relate

to what I was saying It turned

from making music for me to mak-

ing music for them Once I learned

how to make my music a little

more universal without really alter-

ing my art I knew this was exactly

what I wanted to do

EBMAG Whatrsquos your pro-

cess like for making mu-

sic Do you have a set

routine or does it vary

track by track

T DOT

NEW JERSEY

ARTIST

PG 48 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

BUZZ

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 31: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Man it depends One thing thats a

requirement is liquor (laughs) Prefer-

ably dark Preferably Remy Martin If

Irsquom with the team we usually all just

brainstorming on the track until

something dope comes out If Irsquom by

myself I like to get in tune with my

thoughts and what Irsquom about to write

about Irsquoll be really melo until its time

to record Once I figure out what the

track needs Irsquoll get turnt Or Irsquoll stay

in chill mode

EBMAG Can you run me through the

making of your latest project Where

were the studio vibes like

T-DOT The content for this album were

all real life experiences whether it was

something that happened in my life or

someone that was close to me Ideas

always pop in my mind and I try to put it

all in a song My sessions has lots of Re-

my Martin 1738 or Dusse Lots of Cran-

berry Red Bull They need to sponsor me

(laughs) Umm the studio was lit up with

candles for most of this project I donrsquot

know what it is but theres something

about candle light that just puts me in a

real artistic creative mode And from

there I just got in my mode to create

EBMAG What sort of independent hip-hop

promotion and marketing are you doing to

differentiate yourself from other artists

T-DOT Irsquove done things like if they bought my sin-

gle then they could get a ticket to my show 50

off When the album becomes available for pre-

order those who pre-order the album will get a

percentage off of my Merchandise (T-shirts

Hoodies etc) Yoursquoll have to follow me on Insta-

gram TDotTheRawest to know when that hap-

pens I havenrsquot figured out all the numbers for that

just yet its still in the works Also Irsquom doing a mini-

movie for one of my singles before the album

drops And whats dope about it is that the videos

before the upcoming mini-movie are like preludes

to it so my videos are in chronological order

EBMAG What are you thoughts on the cur-

rent state of hip-hop music today

T-DOT I think its very trendy and if you donrsquot son-

ically fit in whats hot your music possibly can get

lost No matter how good or bad it is But the

good thing about good music is that itrsquos undenia-

ble So once its heard itrsquoll get its recognition It

may take a little longer because just about every-

one wants to be an artist and its so easy to put

material out but I guess thats what sifts out the

ones who truly do this for their art versus the ones

who do it because they think its a quick way to get

rich So I guess Hip-Hoprsquos current state is a gift and

a curse for artists who havenrsquot hit mainstream yet

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 48

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 32: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Keep Them Short

Nails should reach the ends of your fingers

(no 80s-style long daggers) and be square

with rounded corners This is a more mod-

ern look and any color looks great on this

length says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann OPIs

executive vice president and artistic direc-

tor

Soften Up

Some of the older kinds of files are too

coarse for natural nails and can cause peel-

ing and splitting says celebrity manicurist

Elsbeth Schuetz Pick one with 240 grit

count or higher (grit count is listed on pack-

aging) such as Rudolph LightDark Pink Nail

File Soft Touch Extra Fine 280320 (89

cents sallybeautycom)

Skip the Soak

Most manicurists want to dunk your fingers

in a little bowl of water prior to polishing

Dont let them The new thinking is that

the nail plate expands with moisture then

shrinks back as it dries says Schuetz This

makes it hard for polish to adhere which

results in chipping

Choose a Flattering Hue

Its important to select a shade that com-

plements your skin tone OPI recently

launched a free iPhone app that helps

women pick a polish shade (you can choose

from more than 200 colors) Light skin

tones look great with purples or reds me-

dium skin tones can rock blues or metallics

and dark skin tones can pull off golds or

deep reds Corals and grays flatter all skin

tones

Make It Last

To prevent chipping try CND Shellac

UV Color Coat

a polish-gel hybrid It takes about 30

to 45 minutes to apply but theres zero

dry time and it will last for a full 14

days The process can cost up to dou-

ble the amount of a regular manicure

visit cndcom to find salons that offer

the service An easy at-home option

Sally Hansen 14 Day Nail Shields

sheer color nail strips that bond to

nails and last up to 14 days ($7 at

drugstores nationwide)

Go Green

If you choose just one eco-friendly

product to add to your manicure arse-

nal make it cuticle salve Because the

cuticle is the live part of your nail it

needs the gentlest products Try Burts

Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

$6 burtsbeescom Apply it nightly to

keep cuticles from looking ragged

Remove Right

Trendy dark polishesmdashthe big ones this

fall are chocolate brown forest green

and deep tealmdashrequire more aggres-

sive removing Standard cotton balls

can contain synthetic fibers that often

cant absorb rich pigments so soak a

good-quality cotton or rayon-blend pad

with remover and press it onto the nail

for three to four seconds to soften the

polish says Schuetz Pull the pad

straight up and away from your finger

in one direction Try Nailtini Cocktail

Napkins Nail Polish Remover Squares

$12 nailtinicom

HEALTH amp BEAUTY

NA

IL

TR

EA

TM

EN

T

PG 50 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 33: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Alabama artist Lil Mook releases the first leak off his upcoming

So Ambitious project which is scheduled to drop in February

Stream Double my cup produced by BsoundBeatz

Listen Now

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 34: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Born in London and raised in Essex Cynikal is

a hip-hop artist that is going places fast

Studying at Leeds College of Music Cynikal grad-

uated with first class honours working hard to lay

the lsquobuilding blocks and foundationsrsquo to see him

right He played live at the Olympic Park this year

for the 2012 Games and last year played at Lon-

donrsquos Lovebox Festival

He has received plenty of airtime across BBC 1X-

tra BBC Asian Network and Choice FM and you

only need to give his debut mixtape Breakfast a

couple of spins to understand why Cynikal takes

his music seriously and it shows in his well deliv-

ered rhymes and flawless production coming from

a songwriting perspective that he calls his

lsquopersonal therapyrsquo

Have a read of our 30 seconds with Londonrsquos up-

and-coming hip-hop star to see what makes him

do what he does

How long have you been making music

Irsquove been active as a hip-hop artist for nearly 12

years now but my musical journey began much

younger My earliest memory is playing various

different instruments at the age of four

What inspired your new album

The Breakfast mixtape was inspired by a

number of things that had been running

through my mind for a year or so before

producing it It had been a very difficult

time both personally and professionally

and writing these songs was like person-

al therapy for me ndash although I guess in

this case more public therapy

What process do you go through to

create your music

It always starts with the instrumental

always Whether itrsquos producing my own

music or sourcing a beat from else-

where I can only ever write lyrics to the

music The music is the foundation and

the direction Lyric writing for me is just

transcribing the language of the instru-

mentation After that Irsquoll get into the vo-

cal booth and just vibe it out I like to

record my songs as whole takes so the

essence of performance is really cap-

tured Irsquom not a believer in highly refined

vocal deliverance ndash in my mind itrsquos

somewhat of a contradiction of human

nature

How would you describe your sound

My sound is hip-hop for sure Of course

there are so many different kinds of influ-

ences brought in from other genres but

thatrsquos natural Irsquom a sponge yearning for

information and so Irsquom going to pull from

as many sources as I can I think thatrsquos

why many people say my brand of Hip

hop isnrsquot as intimidating as most be-

cause I donrsquot place too many boundaries

on my pool of inspiration

What would your dream collaboration

be

Dream collaboration There could never

be just one For me the dream would be

to work with as many talented individuals

and groups as possible

Where can we catch you performing

next

I have a few gigs in the coming weeks

but the one to highlight would be 5 Sep-

tember at the Paralympics Irsquom perform-

ing two 30-minute sets on the bandstand

stage ndash that will be special much like the

Olympics gigs were for me at the begin-

ning of August

WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC PG 53

CynikaSP

OTLIG

HT

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 35: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

The crowdfunding Pro-

ject of the Day today

is Unstoppable

a feature length docu-

mentary film focused

on the early days of

Londonrsquos Hip Hop sce-

ne (1979 ndash 1988)

The birth of Unstoppable came about with the

association of Giuseppe Pipitone an author

who documents previously unwritten stories of the

Black Panthers and of world wid hip hop artists

and Lidia Ravviso an independent filmmaker with

a passion for socially engaged topics who has

directed many hip hop music videos

The combination of a master of words and a master of imagery both with a love for hip hop a decision was made to tell the world the somewhat unknown story of how UK hip hop grew roots in 1980primes London

This independent dynamic and international pro-ject is aiming to reach a global audience but in order to do so another pound15000 needs to be add-ed to the thousands the team has already contrib-uted from their own pocket and thatrsquos where we come in

ldquoUnstoppable focuses on the early days of Lon-donrsquos Hip Hop scene (1979 ndash 1988) It is a 52 minute long documentary film divided in four closely linked sections Each section is an inde-pendent focus on a specific issue and all together they form a feature length documentary

The birth of hip hop is no secret scores of books films or songs retrace the path of this powerful cultural movement born from nothing to conquer everything From the Bronx to the whole of New York from the underground to the mainstream from the US to the world ndash hip hop has spread on every ground it touched adapting itself to each texture One might think this ad-aptation would have been smoother in the UK than else-where ndash sharing a language with the US having a similar interna-tional musical prominence and the two boasted strong artistic connections Yet this common ground hindered the emergence of an original British scenehellip

PG 54 WWWELBARRIOMAGAZINEORG APRILMAY 2015 EL BARRIO MAGAZINE LLC

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 36: April / May Issue Liz Menezes

Artist Theophilus London Title Of Album Timez Are Weird These Days Year Of Release 2011 Label Reprise Genre Indie Electronic Hip-Hop Format flac (tracks+cue+log) Quality lossless Total Time 37 min 05 sec Total Size 26344 mb Tracklist ---------- 1 Last Name London 346 2 Love Is Real (Feat Holly Miranda) 345 3 Wine And Chocolates 342 4 All Around The World 347 5 Shes Great (Interlude) 005 6 Why Even Try (Feat Sara Quin) 420 7 Stop It 305 8 Girls Girls $ 310 9 One Last Time 424 10 Lighthouse 332 11 I Stand Alone 322

Page 37: April / May Issue Liz Menezes