SPREAD: The Canvas Collection

PRESENTED BY DUPP & SWAT

Baby. . .

it ’s . . .

cold. . .

outside .

SPREADEDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DAVITA GALLOWAY @DUPPANDSWAT

DESIGN EDITOR: JIMI THOMPSON @DAMMIT_WESLEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ART & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: KYLE MURRAY @MURRAYSMYNAME

BEAUTY EDITORS: MARIA ALLEN @ALICIAPATRICIAA & RENITA MARTIN @MSNITA1

CUISINE EDITOR: JONATHAN COOPER @IAMCOOPERNICUSFASHION EDITORS: JANIA MASSEY & DEIDRA YOUNG

@ETHANANDZOEYMUSIC EDITOR: HARVEY CUMMINGS @HARVEYCUMMINGS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

COLUMNISTS: DION GALLOWAY @DUPPANDSWAT & CEDRIC ISAAC @DISTINGUISHDGNT

THE SPREAD MAG, CANVAS COLLISIONFROST 2015

A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

Advertising/Contact/Stockists/SubmissionsQuestions and/or comments may be

submitted to [email protected]

The SPREAD Magazine is published quarterly by dupp&swat, LLC and distributed online and through boutiques, art galleries and home décor shops. All content produced in this publication is © The Spread Magazine, 2015. Reproduction in whole or in part, without prior written consent, is strictly prohibited.

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7

Arteditor’s is supposed to move you. It’s intended to cause a shift in your psyche and in your physical self. Whether it leaves you inspired and talking about it for weeks, in ‘happy’ tears, numb due to its graphic nature and/or, downright, pissed, it has done its job. You’ve been changed, altered and impacted be-cause of the content presented on the canvas.

Whether the canvas is inanimate or very-much alive, life has been breathed into it with a splatter. A drip-drop. With succinct strokes. Do you prefer a palette

consisting of pastels or neons? Beat the brush against it. Inject ink. Add acrylic or oil! Use pencil on paper. Or, char-coal. Or, pen. Pin this! Stitch here, here and there. Lights, camera, action! Blink. Say Cheese. Repeat verse two. Repeat verse two. Add vibrato. Be bold with your board. Blot. Write. Draw. Snap. Flash. Part. Braid. Cut. Splice. Do you want carnations on the cake or cartoon characters? Squeeze. Baste. Basically, with one hand or two, art is created. Use two hands to crochet, and juggle, and knead dough. Eat. Need dough for this art. Need dough for this art. I need

dough for this art. Gotta eat. Baby, got-ta eat. Be an outkast! Pop. Break, not as in shatter but as in dance. Pointe, plie’, promenade, please. Art exists in everything and, likewise, everything is a canvas. Here, in this issue, it all collides.

Dedicated to those who hustle, push and slang their purpose, their passion for a piece of their ‘American’ pie…

note

DAVITA galloway

8

TABLEOF CONTENTS

pg. 26

KYLE MOSHER GOOD GAUDE

pg. 46FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: JONATHAN “COOP” COOPER

WHO ELSE WANNA F%CK WIT HOLLYWOOD COLE?“ “

9

CITY OF INK SALOAN SMITTY TALAYA

pg. 118 pg. 95 pg. 147 pg. 164

DUPP 'S NOTEPADWelcome back, party people!! Long time, no see! I must admit,

though, it feels great to lay my eyes on you! To those of you who

had the misfortune of missing the first entry, this section is full of

random opinions or thoughts and not just my thoughts, in some

instances I am just the mouthpiece for those without a platform. So,

shall we do this? Let’s get to it; we have a lot to discuss. Oh, and

keep the fan mail coming, the interaction is nice.

So, there’s this thing called Ebola, have you heard of it? Yes? No? Maybe? Well, it seems to have replaced SARS--remember that? What will THEY come up with next?! Listen here, until I see it putting up numbers, in the US, like Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, Hypertension or even an AK-47, I’ll hold my concern. Nonetheless, R.I.P. to those who have lost their lives.

If a woman hits a man, and a man hits her back, why is it not consid-

ered a fight? Why is it labeled abuse? NEVER and under NO circumstance,

should a man hit a woman. In like fashion, women should avoid hitting

men. We can all agree on that, right? And, yes, men and women are

built differently; however, that doesn’t give a woman a pass. Also, what

if the female identifies as a stud and is built like one, will your opinion

change? Hell, in pushing the ‘equality’ agenda, can anyone get it?

The good people at Blank Canvas always show

love when I fall through; I have no choice to re-

turn the favor! Harold and Nicole, what’s good?!

Please stop by their recently remodeled oasis,

located in South End, and spend some money!

GymGlasses, an affiliate group of SPREAD, would like to see what you’re working with. Submit images of your sneaks and tech devices, on IG, and tag @GymGlasses.

Are you a ‘Sugar Daddy?’ You know, an older gentleman catering to the financial needs of a, typically, younger woman? Can we reverse that thing? How come more men don’t marry older women for money? Huh, how come we don’t see that? Particularly, with women earning just as much if not more, than men, why is it not as prevalent? I would like to suggest it’s because men don’t place as much value on money as women do but that would probably be a lie. Ehhh just a thought.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and used that time to spend

with family and friends. It is important to NEVER forget their rel-

evance! They are critical! They are essential! Speaking for myself, I

really appreciate the holidays, and not just for the chitterlings (aka

chitlins’) and spiked egg nog but for the, generally, upbeat and

happy climate that’s associated with that time of the year.

DUPP 'S NOTEPADWhile I am divulging information, I have often wondered what it must feel like to take a hit of crack. Listen, don’t look at me like that? Like, I’m the only person who has ever wondered what kind of high that is. People sell their cars, they empty bank ac-counts, rob their own, and even offer themselves, as a sex toy, to gain the funds necessary for that Mt. Olympus. Let’s be clear, I will never find out but it doesn’t help my curiosity.

Do kids hunch anymore? That’s right, down south we say hunch! Do they hunch the bed or pillow over Janet, Apollonia, and Shannon Tweed or, better yet, their modern day equivalents? What about ‘hide and go get it?’ Do they even know what that is? No, these kids have graduated to ‘hide and go sex it!’ Instead of being broken in, gradu-ally, they rush to mimic the behavior of adults and ignore, skip, and/or otherwise, delete the best years of their life. They want to become adults before they can fully experience their childhood. Slow down! Pump the brakes!

While composing this masterpiece, what am I listening to? Devin the Dude, To Tha X-TremeThe Roots, PhrenologyThe Best of West Coast Funk

What sneaks am I wearing?Nike Barbershop SB’s (that suede is so soft)

Remember, mix the old with the new and you’ll stay relevant.

Ok, I must confess: I was a fairly, bad kid. In elementary, I used to steal money from the cubbies during our mandatory naps. I was just trying to get change to feed my nutty buddy bar and raisin crème pie cravings. Damn, those nutty buddy bars used to have me tweaking.

Whether you agree, disagree or just want to

chime in, contact me at [email protected], ATTENTION:

DUPP"S NOTEPAD.

Seymour, this is the world’s first multipurpose, flat tool. They say it’s 18 tools in 1. Imagine that? Never to rust, bend or dull, mechanics and repairmen should be all over this one.

Seymour, get the hell off my phone talking that witchery!

USB? What the what? Elmer, you wanna tell me what the hell a USB is?

Elmer, you sound like a 21-year old, wet behind the ears, fresh off your momma’s areola.

Elmer, Chucky was telling me about these phones that are battling. It’s, it’s, it’s, it’s an all out war!

A device? Sounds like you’ve been brainwashed by the youngins.’ Elmer, you think you know what you’re talking about but you don’t know nothing about nothing.

It’s a thingy you plug into a device, Seymour.

I know about Spotify and Insta-gram. Do you, sucka?

Elmer, it sounds like I need that at all times! I just don’t know where it will fit in my bill fold. You know, I’ve kept every card and receipt since 1981. I’ve got important stuff in there, including your ex’s number. Hahaha, yeh, she be calling…

Elmer, have you heard about TV Man, though? They say it creates its own Wi-Fi and becomes an access point to watch TV and multimedia files anywhere. No Internet access needed.

Just listen to me Elmer. You no longer need a router and it won’t use your 3G/4G data plan. It’s free TV! Did you hear me? Free! The de-vice is cheap, compact, lightweight and can fit in your pocket

Seymour, what in the holychipmunk of love is WIFI?

But wait, there’s more. Matter of fact, this is unbelievable, Seymour! It’s a business card that doubles as a USB storage device.

What about Pandora, Vine, or TweetCaster, Seymour? Ohhh, I forgot! Pandora is plenty nice! You know, I was about to hit that, Elmer?! Yep, she was about to get all this choca-latte.

Seymour, some sneakers are meant to wear often, while others are strictly for special occasions; in other words, worn only twice a year.

Do you know about these? As the shoe becomes worn it changes color from white to green; in a chipping off sort of way.

Hypebeast’s kids jumped all over these but they are pretty weak. The J’s are not a disappointment but they are overrated. These sneakers are decent, at best, but you would still wear them, Seymour, wouldn’t you? You have no taste!

Yo’ momma don’t have any taste! Foamposites have been cutting it close for a while now, with more misses than hits. This version bears the holy name, ‘Supreme,’ and they don’t even live up to the hype. These young punks are still wear-ing them, though. Kids, these days, are lost like Dorothy from the Wiz!

Genius right? Not as smart as me, Elmer! You know I was on the dean’s list in 1950.

I had to steal mine from Jr. That’s right, I stole them from my son but I got them!

Oh I know all about it Elmer, I know everything you trying to preach. I have these beside my 1973 all white chucks.

These were a holiday must-have, putting a new spin on a classic version of these iconic shoes. I hope you got yours because I damn sure got mine, Elmer.

: I stacked my social security check for these. Now, don’t tell my wife about these, Elmer, because I skipped our anniversary for the release of the OG Navy New Balances.

Elmer, you ol’ snitch. People are going to judge me without knowing the whole story! I am a law-abiding, Christian man of the community; you’re going to have people thinking otherwise you ol’ geezer.

Seymour, your priorities are all wrong! You should’ve got the Nike SB Chairman Bao’s. I thought you knew better?

You know the kicks are dope if you’re willing to give up a few kids for them. Seymour is not only willing to put his kids on a boat to Australia for both of these but he’ll wrap them like Christmas presents before they haul off.

16

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

17

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

FROST FACTS

were celebrated as a religious festival from 776 B.C. until 393 A.D., when the games were banned for being a pagan festival (the Olympics celebrated the Greek god Zeus). In 1894, a French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, proposed a re-vival of the ancient tradition, and thus the modern-day Olym-pic Summer Games were born. (Wikipedia.org)

The early Olympic Games

the Olympics were held every four years. Since then, the Winter and Summer games have alternated every two years.

Up until 1994 BACK

in the 14th centur y, i t is be-l ieved that kids were bapt ized in cider s ince i t was of ten more sani tar y than water. (Forget the juice; we’re talk ing about the hard s tuf f . )

19

No two snowflakes are alike but all snowflakes have 6 sides and fall at an average 3.1mph.

Chionophobia is the fear of snow.

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located in New York City’s Times Square. The event was first organized by Adolph Ochs, owner of The New York Times newspa-per, while the ball itself was designed by Artkraft Strauss. First held on December 31, 1907, to welcome 1908, the ball drop has been held annually since. (Wikipedia.org)

and if ya don’t know, then now ya know”

20

On a whim and while in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to catch up with the twins of Jungle Boogie, Anthony and Antwain Hart. In a seamless, white room in a multifunctional studio, we chatted between random dance moments. Below, our interaction.

SPREAD: What are the highlights of your career?

Antwain: Being apart of the Disney movie, ‘Let it Shine.’ It was our first opportunity to act and dance on screen.

Anthony: Working with Fatima Robinson! I just remember being on an elevator and once the doors opened, there she was with braids to her butt and red lipstick! That was my moment!

SPREAD: How long have you been professional dancers?

Anthony: In 2007, we signed to an agency and became ‘official’

hitting the ground, running. We auditioned for ‘Stomp the Yard 2’ and while we were filming that, we also auditioned for MTV’s ‘American Best Dance Crew (ABDC).’

Antwain: With ABDC you had to have a crew to audition but, thinking on our toes, we told the production staff that the other dancers were either sick or at work and couldn’t attend today’s casting. Being recognized from the ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ auditions, the producer asked that we come back the following day—with our crew.

Anthony: Truth be told, we didn’t have one as it’s always been us two, just us two. So, we started making calls and, voila.

Antwain: We’ve never danced with anyone else before that. And, we, literally, rehearsed all night, grabbed our ‘uniform’ from WalMart—where else can you shop at 3am?!—and decided on a name.

Anthony: Though people assume our name, ‘Jungle Boogie,’ came from the song, it was inspired by the various dance styles that each dancer possessed.

Antwain: In a jungle, there are multiple animals that do their own thing and have a specific purpose; well, the same can be said for us. We each have a particular style of dance but perform as a unit.

Anthony: Once a name was selected, we went to the audition loca-tion and slept as we’d been rehearsing all night. We awoke to them calling our name and, having never danced together, we made it on the show. Truthfully, once on the show, our only goal was to not go home first, and we ended up making it to the top four. Not bad, not bad.

THE BOOGIE BROTHERS: Anthony & Antwain HartInterviewed by: Kyle Murray

Photography By Will Jenkins & Jonathan Cooper

21

SPREAD: Would you do reality tv again?

Antwain: If it’s strategic and plays a part in reaching our end goal, then yes. However, that’s the only reason.

Anthony: If it caters to our lifestyle, yes.

SPREAD: What choreographers would you love to work with?

Anthony: Hi-Hat! She’s amazing! But, there are quite a few choreographers that I’ve worked with before and would do so again, like Fatima. Come to think of it, I’m not going to say who I wouldn’t want to work with, that’d be stupid! (laughter)

Antwain: I respect so many choreographers because of their grind, like Jamaica Craft. I also admire how they’re able to transcend from choreography into film.

SPREAD: If you couldn’t dance anymore and had to select a new career, what would it be?

Anthony: It would still be in entertainment. God forbid, but I don’t need my limbs to make my dreams come true. If I couldn’t dance, I would focus on artist development or photography.

Antwain: Because of dance, I’ve been introduced to a lot of things so I would venture into multi-level marketing and commercial real estate. I will say, though, that we’re currently putting together a traveling stage production and without dance, this opportunity would not have been realized.

SPREAD: Do you have any childhood memories involving dance?

Antwain: I don’t know if Anthony remembers this but we were about three or four and every time our parents would go grocery shopping, we’d run next door to the laundromat. There, was a tiny radio, in the corner, blasting music and we would immediately start dancing. Initially, we danced be-cause we enjoyed it; however, we caught on quickly as the patrons would give us money. Basically, the harder we danced, the more candy money we had.

Anthony: For me, stepping in school opened up so many doors; that’s when I realized that I could dance and be taken seriously.

Basically, the harder we danced, the more candy money we had.

{ }

22

SPREAD: What do you like to spread?

Antwain: Positivity

Anthony: Love and laughter

SPREAD: If you could paint the world with your footsteps, what color would you use?

Anthony: Blue and green

Antwain: Purple

23

Dancers dont aspire to exist only in the

background. We want to be respected as

artists and not just decorations.{ }Anthony Hart

Artist: Shenice IG: @designsbyshenice

Models:Natasha Rankin IG: @enterthewild

Lesley FreemanInstagram: @love_lesley_locs

Ebony FernandezTwitter/IG: @slimpickenss

Creative Director: Renee SteedPhotographer: Devon Green

25

“then leap sucka!”?FROGGYfeelin

26 M

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28

HEIDELBERG

30

The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project in Detroit, Michigan, created in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey (‘Grandpa Sam’). The Heidelberg Project is, in part, a political protest, as Tyree Guyton’s child-hood neighborhood began to deteriorate after the 1967 riots. After serving in the army, Guyton came home to find his old neighborhood looking as if ‘a bomb went off.’ To combat the destruc-tion, The Heidelberg Project was created.

At first, the project consisted of painting a series of houses on Detroit’s Heidelberg Street with bright dots, of many colors, and attaching sal-vaged items to the houses. It was a constantly evolving work that transformed a hard-core inner city neighborhood, where people were afraid to walk, even in daytime, into one in which neigh-bors took pride and where visitors were many and welcomed. As the houses associated with The Heidelberg Project are often damaged by fires

and face complete demolition and destruction by the city, please visit www.heidelberg.org to see how you an be of assistance.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

31

CREATORIMAGES PROVIDED BY THE HEIDELBERG PROJECT

32

F A S H I O N

33

F A S H I O N

34

CHRISTINE

35

CHRISTINE

36

REBICH

37

In three words, describe who Christine is?

Hmmm, I never thought about that before and have no idea. I suppose ‘Christine’ can be described as a rock ‘n roll lover, being eclectic and, at the same time, awkward.

What is the inspiration behind your self-proclaimed, “uncanny ideas?” Mostly, from human bodies. I’m intrigued with what should be covered and what should be revealed. Using unpredictable ma-terials, like plastics and metals, are also key components.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

Invisibility; there is a lot you can do with that.

When you’re having a stressful day, how do you choose to relax?

I eat Cheetos and drink soda.

Where would one wear your designs?

Although my designs are made from atypical materials, they can be worn in typical envi-ronments such as photo shoots, performances as well as a variety of events.

What did you eat for breakfast?

Awww shit! Hashbrowns, cheese grits and tofu scrambled vegetables.

What’s in your playlist?

A variety of music; a lot of old country like Johnny Cash, sprinkled with dance grooves and, of course, classic rock ‘n roll.

What is your biggest pet peeve in the fashion industry?

Flip flops (laughter in the studio) and people who wear pajamas in public! Our ancestors would be upset!!

Name one guilty pleasure.

I like to research Miley Cyrus’s life (chuckles) because she gets an idea and fucking runs with it. She doesn’t hold back!

At 8am, what are you doing?

Hanging out in the kitchen.

Do you love hard?

Do I what? Yes, I definitely do!! Extremely hard!

What is your fashion forecast for next season?

I just hope people dress a little nicer and put more thought into what they’re wearing. I love seeing a guy dressed in a suit; there’s nothing like it.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Folly Beach, SC

What pushes you to keep going?

Other ‘working’ artists. I figure that if I work all day for someone else, I can at least spend an hour doing something I love.

If someone wants to purchase your designs, how can they reach you?

My website, www.christinerebich.com.

Are you drawn to neutrals or bright colors?

I think you can say quite a bit with black, white and gray. I like the artist’s uniform—white t-shirt and jeans.

What do you like to spread?

Comfort. People need to know they belong. Admittedly, though, my first thought was legs!

Interviewer: Jania MasseyPhotographer: Jamar “Bleusol” Caldwell

Location: Dupp & Swat Studios

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

t h e a r t o f t h r i f t i n g

I HAVE THE

taste in clothes I’M JUST TO POOR TOO PROVE IT....

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BESTJazmine Jade is the owner of Jade Vintage and based in Atlanta, GA. | www.shopjadevintage.com | @shopjadevintage

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“how doyou findso many

items?”GREAT

40

5KNOW YOUR TRENDSTrends, for the most part, are reinvented ideas and looks from a different period. For that reason, thrifting for ‘vintage’ gems will always be relevant. No matter where fashion takes us, you can create your own look by thrifting items that have a history; just think of it as your own personal style journey.

2BECOME FAMILIAR WITH SALE DAYS!Many thrift stores have days in which their entire inventory is 50%! On these days, not only are you able to save a pretty penny but perhaps the slashing of costs will entice you to try a few items you ordinarily wouldn’t. Make sure you investigate and know not only how to shop but when to shop.

1GO OFTEN!With the amount of items being added to inventory on a daily basis, it’s important to go thrifting once or twice a week to not miss an opportunity to snag something fabulous!

3HAVE AN OPEN MINDThrift stores can be smelly and daunting but in flipping through magazines or tracking trends, you may find great looks to recreate. Don’t discount items that may have a small stain, missing buttons, or broken zippers as they can be easily fixed with a tailor. You may even find items that aren’t your size but guess what? That’s an easier fix! Oversized pants or jeans? Hello boyfriend jeans! Oversized blazer? Wear it as a dress! T-shirt too small? Hi crop top! Be creative! Which brings us to…

4KNOW YOUR STAPLESTypically blazers, jeans, leather, sequins, and suits are in abundance. A printed blazer can be funky to add flair to an otherwise plain ensemble, or a monotone option can have utility in being dressed up or down. Never, ever, ever leave leather that fits for it will never go out of style and, of course, buy jeans in bulk.

6HAVE FUNThis is most important!! Part of the fun is knowing that what-ever is thrifted, you won’t find hundreds of others wearing the same look. Isn’t that plenty rea-son to dive in?! I thought so!

42

Charli Conklin

Hasani DinHasani Din LLC, Owner Creative Director

Sketch-errrrs

LeshaSketch-errrrs

44

Lauren RemesiCompany “Cut From The Same Cloth”IG @CutFromSameClothWebsite www.cutfromsamecloth.com

45

Tracie Mackins for Isabel Vernarad

46

BORIS

and

natasha1214 Thomas Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205

47

Amber Hatchett - Local Asheville Mask necklace $189 handmade/ upcycle

48

Amber Hatchett - Local Asheville Mask necklace $189 handmade/ upcycle

Moroccan Rings- $69 gold, silver, matter black and rose gold

49

Skelton 3 finger ring- Charles Albert-$198

50

Bullet Ring-$149- local Black Shamrock design

Wallets- $49 Hats- Grace Ulta Straw Top Hats, Cameo Leather Ivey Cap- $59

Cream Houndtooth necklace- $199- Local Black houndtooth necklace- $48 Bolo leather and sterling silver necklace- $99 native American

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Scarfs- $24 blue Aztec print | $32 American Scarf | $24 RIP/ Cross scarf

GOODGAUDE!

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Backpack - Metallic backpack $74 Backpack - Grey backpack $69

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BLANKCANVAS

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BLANKCANVAS

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PF Flyers- sneakers

Filling pieces- brown/ black

H by Hudson- black/blue loafers

Grenson- Tan boots green laces

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PF Flyers- sneakers

Grenson - Tan boots green laces

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Ring - Vitaly (black)

Lapels- Brand (Pretty Handsom

e) Rashon C

arraway- C

arroway C

oncepts- pen lapels

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Accessory Designers:primNedgy Boutique: IG @PRIMNEDGYBOUTIQUE

Bornmajestic E-Boutique: IG @BornMajesticTakishma Faison, custom made leather accessories: [email protected]

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C U I S I N EALL CUISINE CREDITS TO JONATHAN “COOP” COOPER

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Joseph Pepe is a musician and doughnut enthusiast. When not touring with his band, Cairo Fire, he’s utilizing his passion to make additional earnings. Initially, making doughnuts for friends and family, he now sells these hand-made, gourmet treats at farmer’s markets and fills private orders. His unique flavor pairings, such as fan-favorite, Goat Cheese Strawberry Balsamic, has won him a loyal following in the Charlotte area.

image courtesey of google via ilthy.com

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I’d Eat ItI’d Eat ItSo, you’re back for another episode of I’d Eat It, huh? Well, grab your bibs because it’s the BBQ Edition and, well, things can get messy. This time around, the munch crew visited a historical site hoping for buried treasure; unfortunately, it turned out to be booty. The fellas also visited locations that were pleasing to the eye, with all the bells and whistles; however, they didn’t live up to the hype. They even followed their noses and ventured to a BBQ fest that took over N. Tryon. Here, a recap of their findings and this time they have photos to assist their claims. Grab your napkins, before you

dive in, lots of ‘em...

BBQ ED IT ION

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Bobbee O’s 8432 Old Statesville Rd Charlotte, NC 28269

Bill Spoons 5524 South Blvd Charlotte, NC 28217

Midwood1401 Central Ave Charlotte, NC 28205

CED

CED

CED

DION

DION

DION

Atmosphere Taste Service Price Messy Mouth



Atmosphere Taste Service Price Take Your Mom



Okay, so let’s get it understood, the sauce is why you open the doors of this estab-lishment and enter. Salute the sauce!! Oh sweet Jesus, this sauce is like, like, like, like a 90’s house party in your mouth. Dion had the pulled pork; nice and juicy, at

that, if you let him tell it. Cedric, on the other hand, went with what he knows—brisket—which, he wasn’t disappointed with. The location doesn’t scream ‘BBQ’ but when you walk in, you know you’re in the right place. One word for you, SAUCE!! Got it? Ok, let’s say it together! “SAUCE.”

This place was fairly decent but nothing really separates it from the pack. Frankly, it’s just another BBQ joint; unfortunately, this one doesn’t offer brisket. You heard correctly! No brisket! In addition to being disappointed with that news, the sauce

appeared to be purchased and then re-packaged. But wait, there’s more... The Brunswick stew? Not worth it! Matter of fact, the fellas have a tribute for Brunswick stew a little later, ‘the death of it.’ Listen, we really don’t have a reason to venture here again.

Why Midwood? Uhhhh because of the burnt ends!! Ever heard of them? Well buddy, they look like charred nugget droppings but they taste like heaven. Once you get past their appearance, you realize that the flavor in this small packaging is undeni-

able and, truth be told, magical. Everything else just falls in line: the pulled pork, the brisket, and for the individuals who partake in adult beverages, we highly recommend Back Porch Tea. Sip it slow, very slow. And, for those who like their food to bite back, go for the Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos. You’ll thank us later!

OVERALL

OVERALL

OVERALL

82Old Hickory House6538 N. Tryon St Charlotte, NC 28213

Sauceman’s228 West Blvd Charlotte, NC 28203

CED

CED

DION

DION

HONORABLE MENTIONS





Ay, caramba! Where do we start? Dion stepped up to the plate and chose a place that wasn’t visually stimulating, hoping for a unique and positive experience. Well, it was definitely unique! This place has been a landmark for 50-something years

so they must be doing something right, right? Naw! We should’ve ran away—far, far, far, far, far away! The food is hard to swallow, literally; we had to eat Texas toast, with every bite, to make sure the food stayed down. Question, ummm just curious, should all the food on your plate have the same color? Is that a new trend in the cuisine world? And, what is with this Brunswick stew? Here, another place to offer the dish but, take our advice, stay away! On second thought, perhaps you should try it and let us know if you like the mushy texture and bland taste. Pork, brisket, hush puppies—everything was a waste. We are perplexed by one happening, however; their parking lot stays full. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? And while the building looks more like a truck stop, on a positive note, our waitress was friendly.

Here, it’s all about the brisket and the variety of sauces to choose from,’ says Cedric. The pulled pork was pretty good and the collards have a kick to them—a Bruce Lee-powered kick, at that. An award-winning location, they definitely deserve the

recognition associated with their name. One thing to note, however, entering, parking, and leaving this establishment can be a bit dangerous because of their location along West Blvd. Tread carefully my friends.

OVERALL

OVERALL

Our regular stomping grounds, we frequent these establishments with a certain consistency that compelled us to acknowledge their presence in Charlotte’s BBQ scene.

MAC’s 2511 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 Overall: Don’t drive by simply because the bikers that frequent this spot look intimidating. No, really, get over it because you are missing out, mi amigo! The combo platters beckon your attention with their hefty portions of meat and the side items are simply mouth-watering. Oh happy day! The ribs, beer can chicken and pulled pork do not disappoint and the brisket, wowsers!

City Smoke 100 N. Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202 Overall: City Smoke has a decent arrangement but for anyone to venture back for Round Two, the food must be worthy. With their BBQ weighing in at ‘pretty good,’ here, we’ll construct a case for your recurring visits. And,

believe it or not, it’s all because of the side items and wings!! Their greens are seasoned to perfection and the mac and cheese, well, let’s just say a certain someone, named Cedric, licked his bowl clean. Not, exactly what you would expect from a BBQ joint but, hey, it was warranted. With a downtown presence, the atmosphere has a viable pulse; the only thing, yours may increase trying to figure out parking.

Q City BBQ Fest http://charlottebbqfestival.com/ What a coincidence?! Just as we’re finishing this focused edition, a BBQ fest rolls around, just in time for us to partake! The results: Moe’s, of Matthews, has the best ribs that we’ve EVER tasted! Tender and full of flavor, we are willing to claw, scratch and

fight for another slab. The Brunswick stew, though, wasn’t worth a lick. Can anyone get this dish, right? Dickey’s pork and brisket sandwiches are juicy and hold flavor like a bank vault. The sauce, on the other hand, was lacking a certain twang but it’ll do. The most overrated establishment goes to Carolina Rib King. The sauce was reminiscent of something store bought and, truth be told ,we’ve had better ribs at a franchise as they lacked hints of being smoked or charred. Accompanied by Chef Barry Francois, he mentioned having better ribs from an oven.

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F I N E A R T S

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F I N E A R T S

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SPREAD: Who are you and what do you want?

Bluz: I’m Bluz, spoken word artist, author, actor, host, activist, father, husband, space cowboy, taxi cab driver to two little divas, dreamer, believer and just an all around good dude. I don’t want much; just for the world to understand my art, to feel my music and my poetry. I want to be relevant and remembered. I want my children to be proud of who they are, who I was and understand that they can become anything they choose as long as they believe.

SPREAD: Where did the alias ‘Bluz’ come from?

Bluz: Well, it works in two-fold. I started rapping in a band with a guy who called himself Ryythm, so I called myself Bluz. Thus, Ryythm n’ Bluz. We released quality work but were probably a little ahead of our time. It wasn’t until I became, seriously, involved with poetry that the meaning of Bluz changed. As older musicians would describe it, the blues is more than music; it’s a retelling of the good times and bad times of black folks. The ups and downs, death and life, our history is reflected in music, particularly the Blues. I am a storyteller, of not only the black experience but the human experience. We all get the blues sometimes, we all have a story to share.

SPREAD: What are your fears, phobias?

Bluz: I have terrible fear of failure and letting people down. I like to make sure folks are happy but I’ve learned not to sacrifice my art or sense of self to do so. I’ve learned to balance that. Oh yeah, and clowns! I have a real fear of clowns, especially when they’re just walking around, in full makeup not doing clown shit. You know, like driving a regular car in full clown regalia. That freaks me out!

BLUZBLUZ

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SPREAD: Are you happy?Bluz: I am, not always. This world will test you and drag the sad out of you. Sometimes you have to choose to be happy and do so as often as I can.

SPREAD: How has poetry changed your life?Bluz: It’s almost impossible to answer this question without it turning into a 2-hour answer. Poetry has lead me in so many directions; doing radio, for over 10 years, with Power 98 and working with NASCAR and RAYCOM Sports, which resulted in an Emmy. It has lead to two National Poetry slam championships. It has lead me to Concrete Generation. Because of it, I have toured the country. I have found dupp&swat, OnQ, and national television because of poetry. I’ve come across a really dope group of poets and friends all in the name of poetry. Essentially, poetry has changed my life in ways I never saw coming and I don’t think it’s finished.

SPREAD: What did you eat for breakfast?Bluz: Chicken and waffles.

SPREAD: Any upcoming projects?Bluz: A lot of cool things are on deck. Do we still say that, ‘on deck?’ My full-length album, ‘Obscure Popularity,’ will be dropping March 2015, as well as my mixtape, ‘Reflection;’ shouts to Sean Washington and OneSon for bringing the album to light. ‘Obscure Popular-ity’ sticks to my traditional spoken word roots, while exploring other outlets, as well. Aside from the musical projects, I’m working on a short film and have a few bigger events coming up. While Mrbluz.com is under construction, most of the new stuff will be posted there.

SPREAD: How do current events impact your purpose as an artist?Bluz: Today’s world has my mind in overdrive and has helped redefine what I do and why I do it. Everyday, I feel a little different about who I am and why I write. Ranging from anger to happiness, from love to hate, what I do re-flects life and the current events. It drives me to reflect an ugly truth and the impact is beyond measure sometimes.

SPREAD: Do you get nervous before a performance?Bluz: Every. Single. Time. It’s a good thing, though. The nerves remind me that I still care about what I do, that I still get excited about what I do. The day I stop getting nervous might be the day I give this up.

SPREAD: Is there anyone you would like to collab with? Bluz: Like, here in Charlotte? Harvey Cummings, Tony Lelo, Anthony Hamilton, DJ DR, Fantasia, Jocelyn Ellis, Lute and any producer making good music. Nationally, Robert Glasper, Kings of Leon, Pharrell, Sam Smith, Ledi-si, BB King and Tye Tribbett, to name a few.

SPREAD: What song is stuck in your head?Bluz: Dej Loaf ’s, ‘Try Me’ and Kings of Leon’s, ‘Arizona.’ I don’t know how those two songs are exciting but they are rocking out!

I have terrible fear of failure and letting people down.

I have terrible fear of failure and letting people down.

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SWITCHBRAMHALL

REID

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KNUCKLEHEADS

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TICK TICK

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TYPO KIDS

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Saloan Rochelle Photography | MODEL: Kevin Vain, Designs + Props by Kevin Vain

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The Big Picture

Cell: (704)7803282Email: [email protected]

Ig @whatisrelaxTwitter @whatisrelax

Facebook.com/artbyh

JOSH HENDERSON

Shangri-La

107First Day

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MAINE SMITH@MAINESMITHNYC

All About Eve

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All About Eve

And the Beat Goes On

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ENIAM’S CLOSET

HOLLYWOOD

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POP LIFE (Left) | RO

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THE GROUPIE

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THE OFFERING

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CITY OF

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SPREAD: WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?LOVELESS MELVIN (LM): My name is Melvin Todd and all I really want to do is draw badass naked cherubs and gorgeous curvy women, all the while making a name for myself. Somewhere in the mix of that, I want to inspire people to chase their dreams. I swear it all goes hand in hand in my life.

SPREAD: WHY THE ALIAS LOVELESS MELVIN? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? LM: It’s kind of a play on words. I think the world is loveless with its strict ideologies and such. There are rules turning people into carbon copies of each other and they’re fucking miserable as a result. I put the loveless moniker in front of my name just because I’m aware of the bullshit. I’m of this world but I’ll never fit in. And, I’m cool with that. I’m loveless for straying from the norm and so are the people that dig the brand.

SPREAD: WHY THE OBSESSION WITH CHERUBS? THERE ARE OTHER SYMBOLS THAT REPRESENT LOVE, LIKE HEARTS AND SO FORTH, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THEM THAT MOVED YOU? LM: I’ve always had this fascination with them; particularly, their immortality yet youthful nature. In my art, I like twisting things so the juxtaposition of having them appear as badasses amused me. It all started with Cupid, though. I drew him, one day after being dumped, and I couldn’t stop. No one knows love like Cupid.

SPREAD: WHAT IS THE LOVELESS SOCIETY? LM: Loveless Society is love visualized through the art of tattooed cherubs. We try to address every aspect of love and, with our bad Cupid as guide, he helps us figure it out. With that, a tattoo style emerged. People tell me what they love and I, in turn, create a cherub surrounding just that. In essence, the cherub is there to protect what they love.

SPREAD: WHAT’S YOUR STYLE OF TATTOOING? AMONGST OTHERS, HOW DO YOU STAND OUT? LM: It’s an illustrated, realism style. In simpler terms, I use realistic shading with the addition of bold lines, around it, for emphasis. And, I stand out as an artist because the process of getting a Loveless tattoo is an event, in itself. We send out a questionnaire, where the potential client shares who they are what he or she loves. Their cherub is then sketched and after the tattoo, they get a professional photoshoot and interview. Months later, they are fea-tured on our site LovelessSociety.com. We want people to realize that being genuine is a huge deal and should be glorified.

SPREAD: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? LM: 11 years. I’m getting old.

SPREAD: IF YOU COULD PAINT THE WORLD, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU USE? LM: Visually, the world is already beautiful. Go, experience nature; that shit’s inspiring. For that, I’d probably change the color of people, if anything. We’d all be different colors like a box of crayons. Purple people, man! How trippy would that be? Perhaps doing so, will end a lot of this racism?! Either that or make it ten times worse. Who knows?!

SPREAD: WHAT’S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE? LM: My daughter wakes me every morning. She’s only one so she gets a pass. Seeing someone love you, that hard right first thing in the a.m., is the business. Truthfully, I’m motivated the rest of the day after that.

SPREAD: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? LM: Prichard, Alabama. If you can survive there, you can survive anywhere.

SPREAD: HOW DID YOU LAND AT COI? LM: In Auburn, I was a tattoo artist and did pretty well. While there, I heard about COI a few times and when I moved to Atlan-ta, to attend the Art Institute, I checked it out. The first day I walked in, I vibed with everyone instantly and was hired. Our goals were the same—to raise the quality of work everyone was seeing from black tattoo artists. Now, we’re all raising the bar, even higher, by expanding our individual brands. The cool thing is, we support each other and push one another to greatness! I’d give it a couple of years and we’ll all be rich.

SPREAD: WHAT SONG IS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD? LM: I’ve been playing NBA 2K15 in my downtime and they have Junior’s, ‘Mama Used to Say,’ on there. That is stuck in my head! It really is! I’ll, randomly, sing it while I’m tattooing. It’s pretty jarring how it comes without warning.

SPREAD: WHAT CANVAS DO YOU PREFER? LM: The love I have with my sketchbook can’t be matched. I love the rawness and creative process evident with sketches. Finished paintings and stuff are cool, but by the time it makes it there, everything is already figured out. I like seeing things that have no structure and enjoy experiencing its transition.

SPREAD: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE COLOR? LM: Turquoise. I barely have it around but I think it’s a pretty kick-ass color. It’s cool without trying to be.

SPREAD: WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? LM: Chipotle. They get way too much of my money!

Go, experience nature; that shit’s inspiring.

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SPREAD: What did you eat for breakfast?

MIYA BAILEY: Nothing. This blunt, right here, is breakfast. I don’t eat breakfast.

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SPREAD: Your morning routine, what is it?MB: My daughter calls out ‘daddy, daddy,’ waking me up. I then go into her room to see about her, changing her pamper, bathing and feeding her. Yeah, that’s what I usually do. I try to multitask after-wards—allowing her to run around and play while I check emails, making sure business is running well for the shops. Then, I come here at 4p and work until the a.m. I typically tattoo from 4-10p, grab something to eat, then come back here around 11p or 12am and, finally, get to do my job for my personal business.

SPREAD: How did you get into tattooing?MB: I started in the early 90’s because no one was buying my paintings during that time. I was reading all kinds of books like this one by Don Ed Hardy, where I learned about tattoo culture and the different styles of tattooing. I also started reading about the Nuba Tribe and became fascinated with the warrior, African culture and body modification techniques. I started in Asheville, but no one there was getting tattooed but bikers. And, majority thought tattoos were associated with being a devil worshiper. I had to deal with all this ‘you wanna be white’ bullshit, so I started looking for an appren-ticeship in Atlanta. I found one under Julia Alfonso, the first to teach black people how to tattoo. Yeah, I was apart of the first generation of students.

SPREAD: Why you? Why did Julia give you an opportunity?MB: I was humble and trying my best. She was tough though. I showed her my work and she threw my portfolio away, saying it was crap. She said, ‘If you want to be my apprentice, you have to throw all this shit away.’ My portfolio was hip hop inspired, you know that’s what was going on at the time, real hip hop. She wasn’t looking for that and I literally had to start over. According to her, ‘you can’t tattoo none of this shit on people,’ and it was the truth because black people weren’t into tattoo culture at the time. We had to teach people what tattoos were as they were like you mean, ‘the stuff that white people have on their arms?’ The culture wasn’t developed yet, we had to create and lay the foundation. We passed out fliers explaining what a tattoo was. And, it wasn’t until Tupac came in, that the shop became really popular. Once ‘Pac came in, it was on and popping.

SPREAD: What did you tat on ‘Pac?MB: Julia tatted ‘Pac. When I walked in she was fixing the cross on his back. I wasn’t allowed to touch him because I was an apprentice. When you’re an apprentice, you aren’t allowed to touch people.

SPREAD: What are the steps of an apprenticeship?MB: (exhaling smoke) It’s about two to three years. Like her, you see how she got the chairs, asked if you needed water, it’s that kind of thing for about a year. It’s mopping floors and such. Year one is learning how to clean as cross-contamination is real. You got to learn that shit! Once trust is built, then you can watch the artist tattoo and once trust is built, you can ask the artist questions. It’s a process because you have to learn how to draw. You may be an awesome artist but how you draw on paper isn’t how you draw on skin, there are differences. Then, you teach them the business aspect, taxes, marketing, etc. I teach my apprentices how to make money without me. Like my children, I have to make sure they eat and have a place to stay. I teach them how to be independent. It’s hazing, really. I push and push, trying to make them quit on a daily basis. I’m giving them 22 years of my experience in a crash course of three years; learning all the secrets and such. I have to make sure you’re respon-sible enough to handle it.

SPREAD: What currently inspires you?MB: Comic books, mostly. Good writing, good media, good stuff. Mike Giant is a huge inspiration to me. To see how far he’s come, while keeping the same humility is awesome. It’s pretty dope to see that money didn’t change him, that fame didn’t change him.

SPREAD: What was great about Prophet Art?MB: It was great because it was the beginning of what people call Afrocentric art and the first time people viewed these images in artwork. In the 80’s, I was one of the first artists, in the south, to use the ankh as a symbol of peace. When I came up, black people wouldn’t dare wear ankhs because it was associated with gothic kids and witches. I tried to bring the true definition to our culture and, of course, Erykah Badu, made it easier for me. That era was a reflection of my surroundings, the people I interacted with and my interest in 5% lessons. It was a beautiful time.

SPREAD: Why did you close it?MB: That culture wasn’t profitable for me, to be honest. I was tattooing the bohemian culture but these people were broke. There was good conversation but that means nothing when you’ve been tattooing all day and can barely pay your power bill. Something had to give! I decided to cut my locs and create something, completely new, with Tuki Carter—City of Ink (COI).

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SPREAD: Was COI a rebranding tactic?MB: It wasn’t rebranding, it was a rebirth. We were going to re-define who we were and how Atlanta was going to look. We had an extensive plan on how we were going to change the culture in Atlanta. We didn’t know if it was going to work or not but it did! If it’s different, if it’s a genuine revolt going against mainstream, it’ll make money in Atlanta; and, that’s what we did.

SPREAD: What contributes to this feel, this ‘homely’ vibe that you have here?MB: Man, this building was completely abandoned, condemned. It wasn’t even for rent. There wasn’t even a roof on this mother-fucker, when we took over. I just knew I wanted a place, away from everyone else, where I could paint, create and be at peace. I think I had $300 bucks and used that to tour up and down the east coast, making enough money to rebuild the shop, ourselves. Our friends helped and we read several Home Depot books. The only thing we couldn’t do was the electric but, trust me, we tried. Man, we built the toilets, the floors, you name it. We built the entire shop.

SPREAD: Do you think black tattoo artists still struggle?MB: Yeah, they struggle because they don’t listen. They don’t want to study. Listen, I studied people before me and figured

what worked for them. Why change a formula that isn’t broken?! A lot of young tattoo artists do the same style and, as such, you don’t know who did what. I make sure that my shit stands out. No matter what style I do, you can tell it’s mine because I put a certain feeling, a certain flow to it. You know it’s mine and either you like it or you don’t. I focus on the people who do. When everyone’s work looks the same, the only way they can compete is price. I start at $1000—take it or leave it. I am pure with my art and that’s what keeps me right. An iPhone is going to cost you, a Macbook is going to cost you. These material items, that you don’t need, cost you. I look at my art the same way, no matter what form i do—paper, canvas, skin. It’s my shit, it’s me taking a piece of my soul and giving it to you. I know how much that costs.

SPREAD: Is Miya happy?MB: I’m never 100% happy and I’ll be lying if I say I am. I get mad at my employees all the time. I have to be a boss and who likes that job?! I may like someone, personally, but if they suck at their job, I have to clip them. And, the friendship may suffer because of it. That doesn’t make me happy. Being a boss sucks and it’s the only part of my life that’s complex.

SPREAD: Why did you decide against using an alias?MB: My mom always said that my name stood out. That’s the

artistry of my mother, you know. Miya Antoine Bailey is my entire name and she thought it sounded like some fly shit. It sounds like an artist’s name to me. I think she knew exactly what she was doing. At the same time, though, I don’t have anything to hide. My past is my past, my present is my present and my future is my future. If someone wants to research anything, they are welcomed. They’ll realize to not fuck with me! I’m not the same person I used to be, though. Now, I know how to walk away from certain situa-tions. I didn’t have that male role model telling me, ‘look man, you aren’t supposed to fight all the time.’ (laughter in the studio) If you wanted to fight me, it was 100%. I didn’t care who you were as I was trigger happy. I didn’t have any excuses, though, because I was conscious, well aware of my decisions. I was just an adren-aline junkie who loved danger. I had to channel that energy and aggressiveness into business in order to become successful.

SPREAD: What’s next for you?MB: I’m working on a film with Artemus Jenkins. It’s not a fol-low-up to Color Outside the Lines but...

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!

View the entire hour and some change interview at…

I am pure with my art and that’s what keeps me right.

DUPPANDSWAT.COM

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# P U S H P L A Y

Waking Up & Getting Ready

‘Good Morning,’ Kanye West‘Westside Right On Time,’ Kendrick Lamar feat. Jeezy

The Commute

‘Motivation,’ T.I.‘Magnificent,’ Rick Ross

Break

‘Rock Star,’ N*E*R*D‘Back To The Topic,’ J Cole

Rush Hour‘ATLiens,’ Outkast‘Shook Ones, Pt II,’ Mobb Deep

Chillaxin

‘Runnin’,’ The Pharcyde‘Mind Sex,’ Dead Prez

MONDAY

T h e p e r f e c t p l a y l i s t t o j u m p s t a r t y o u r w o r k w e e k & w e e k e n d

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Waking Up & Getting Ready‘Intro,’ Meek Mill‘Me OK,’ Jeezy

The Commute‘IDFWU,’ Big Sean‘7/11,’ Beyonce

Break‘Trophies,’ Drake‘I’m Good,’ Clipse feat. Pharrell

Rush Hour‘No Problem,’ Lil Scappy‘The Devil Is a Lie,’ Rick Ross feat. Jay Z

Chillaxin‘CoCo,’ O.T. Genasis‘Clique,’ Kanye West feat. Big Sean & Jay Z

F R I D A Y

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BIG KRITCad i l la c t i ca(Deluxe Vers ion)

It’s been two years since Big KRIT released his debut album under Def Jam, ‘Life from the Underground.’ A good effort but it received backlash from his longtime fans because of its commercialization. True, he was able to express his underground sound with cuts like ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ and ‘Praying Man,’ but he sacrificed radio and club hits with simple hooks like ‘I Got This’ and ‘Yeah Dat’s Me.’ Overall, however, it informed the masses that the South was still a forced to be reckoned with.

After the release of this first album, KRIT endured the typical trials and tribulations of a rising artist. More, he had a successful tour and was mentioned by Kendrick Lamar on the most talked about verse of the year. As a matter of fact, KRIT has grown, substantially, as an artist. Focused, his flows are sharper and his production, seasoned.

With that, usher in ‘Cadillactica.’ A pleasant journey through his subconscious mind, it all starts with ‘Kreation,’ where the Gods create the newly formed plant. Soon after, ‘Life’

begins followed by ‘My Sub Pt 3 (Big Bang).’ The title track, ‘Cadillactica’ is anthem worthy. Raphael Saadiq lends his hand on ‘Soul Food,’ a beautiful ode to reminiscing about the golden days when things were good and simple. R&B crooner, Rico Love, adds his vocals on ‘Pay Attention.’ ‘King of the South,’ where he addresses his allegiance to what he claims ‘the country side of town,’ is one of his most lyrical pieces. The funky and synth-filled ‘Mind Control’ (featuring E-40 and Wiz Khalifa) sounds like a cosmic spaceship ride. The sultry interlude ‘Standby’ features smooth sounds of saxo-phone star, Kenneth Whalum III. Mara Hruby is featured on ‘Do You Love Me,’ a slow jam dedicated to his Cadillac. The song ‘Third Eye’ refers to the special connection he has with his soulmate. Devin the Dude, Bun B and fellow Mississippi rapper, Big Sant, assist on ‘Mo Better Cool.’ He talks about how God blesses him during difficult timed on the soul track ‘Angels.’ ‘Saturdays=Celebration’ is a deep and dark letter in the event of his demise.

While the standard edition of ‘Cadillactica’ ends with the positive PSA ‘Lost Generation,’ a collaboration with Lupe Fiasco, the deluxe version contains the bonus tracks, ‘Mt Olympus (Reprise)’ and ‘Lac Lac’ featuring A$AP Ferg. He wrote ‘Mt Olympus’ the day after ‘Control’ by Kendrick Lamar, hit the airwaves. Due to sampling issues, the original version didn’t make the album, so he made it a reprise. And, the project ends with ‘Lac Lac,’ a bonafide cruising anthem.

‘Cadillactica’ is cohesive and fluid. This comes from a strong, southern linkage ranging from Outkast and Goodie Mob to UGK and 8Ball & MJG. Big KRIT continues to deliver the best in mood, lyrics and production while staying true to himself in the creative process. Salute, ‘Cadillactica!’

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Soul Gastrolounge was the place. Water was the drink of choice. And, a table in the far rear was the very spot to catch up with Veteran House & Lounge DJ Anthony ‘Smitty’ Smith. With an upbeat soundtrack, enticing our interaction, the talk was turnta-bles and his creative process.

SPREAD: When did music become a critical part of your life?Smitty: It was never NOT around. I grew up in a house where music was playing, all of the time. WGIV was the only station in the late 60’s playing Motown and funk, soul and gospel; so, during that time, those sounds were my gospel. I was committed and hooked to the groove.

SPREAD: Which records did you have?Smitty: Being a cover junkie, albums by Parliament Funkadelic were the shit! I also loved the covers from the Ohio Players—nothing but beautiful bald-headed women.

SPREAD: Initially, what inspired you to create music?Smitty: I was living in England, after serving as an aircraft mechanic in the Gulf War. Bjork just dropped and I had a buddy, named Barron Ford, who was a DJ. This guy played new jack swing and early house music of the 90’s. After moving back to

Charlotte, the mood was different as none of that was going on. As such, I definitely felt inspired to create. Andy Kastanas got me into the DJ game for real, for real, even buying my first crate of records.

SPREAD: When did you start producing?Smitty: In the late 90’s/early 2000’s, I had a Roland Groovebox, a little MC-303. It was sample-based and had a few synth sounds. Then, I purchased the 505, which had more sounds, and, eventually, the 909. At the time, everyone was producing on an MPC but since I was a DJ, I wasn’t trying to do all that. I just wanted to make dope loops to augment what I was playing, that’s all.

SPREAD: When you’re creating, do you start with a sample?Smitty: When I’m inspired and want to create, I call musicians and we record live instrumentation.

SPREAD: I hear you’re working on a new project, is that the case?Smitty: You know, it’s a thing right now, a thought in motion. Ma’an, I’m just trying to form Voltron.

THAT GUY SMITTY Interview: Harvey Cummings | Photography: Anthony Heron

THE ART OF STORYTELLIN

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RAPTHE GREATEST

BEEF EVER { }ACCORDING TOINSTAGRAM &BLACK TWITTER

1. JAY Z VS NAS | 2. NOTORIOUS B.I.G. VS TUPAC | 3. BENZINO VS EMINEM4. ICE CUBE VS N.W.A. | 5. KOOL MOE DEE VS LL COOL J 6. SERIUS JONES VS MURDA MOOK | 7. 50 CENT VS GAME 8. BEANIE SIGEL VS JADAKISS | 9. 50 CENT VS JA RULE 10. CASSIDY VS FREEWAY | 11. CANIBUS VS LL COOL J 12. KENDRICK LAMAR VS NEW YORK “INSERT ANY BAR FROM

ETHER HERE”

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B E A U T Y

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B E A U T Y

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shewantstheb

Are you a Pogonophile? Pogonophile (n.) - Someone who is fond of, or loves beards. (WIKTIONARY)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Beards come in different shapes, sizes and even colors! They have the ability to drive women wild and unite men all over the world.

So, let’s have a little fun, shall we? Meet some of the sexiest, bearded men on Instagram!

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Instagram: @billy_huxleyof followers: 161KProfession: Model

SPREAD: Does your beard have a name?BILLY HUXLEY (BH): Yes it does! I thought long and hard about its name and came up with a great one! You ready? It’s called The Billy Beard.

SPREAD: When did you start growing your beard?BH: When I began modeling. I’ve always had stubble but since I become bored with my appearance easily,I did it as a game changer!

SPREAD: What gets caught in your beard?BH: Juices. All kinds of juices.

SPREAD: How do you groom your beard?BH: A hair dryer with a dash of manpower.

SPREAD: What’s the craziest thing a follower has written about your beard?BH: Someone said they wanted to build a house in my beard, start a family and live happily ever after in it.

SPREAD: Why are women so drawn to and turned on by beards?BH: Ummm I guess it’s a ‘manliness’ thing. It’s the complete opposite of being female and a sign of pure masculinity, which I’m guessing is what they like about it.

SPREAD: Lastly, what do you like to SPREAD?BH: I like to spread the word that you should never, ever, EVER blame it on the boogie!

BILLYHUXLEY

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Instagram: @cobainn_# of followers: 5KProfession: General Manager

SPREAD: Does your beard have a name?RELL: No, I haven’t thought of naming it. LOL

SPREAD: When did you start growing your beard?RELL: I started growing it in 2007.

SPREAD: What gets caught in your beard?RELL: LOL. Ketchup, and other juices!

SPREAD: How do you groom your beard?RELL: I start by combing it out, then I use an Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner. Afterwards, I dry it, apply a leave-in conditioner and Argan Oil for softness and shine. After combing, I go over the line with a razor.

SPREAD: What’s the craziest thing a follower has written about your beard?RELL: I had a female ask if she can sit on my face and make my beard wet!

SPREAD: Why are women so drawn to and turned on by beards?RELL: I think it’s a sign of a grown man.

SPREAD: Lastly, what do you like to SPREAD?RELL: Love!

RELL

Instagram: @king_teej#of followers: 24KProfession: Actor . Model . Fitness Enthusiast

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SPREAD: Does your beard have a name?KING TEEJ (KT): The BEARD shall remain nameless...

SPREAD: When did you start growing your beard?KT: The question should phrase, ‘When did the beard start growing me?’ There is no me without the beard. LOL

SPREAD: What gets caught in your beard?KT: Food and females :)

SPREAD: How do you groom your beard?KT: I walk around with a red hair pick in my pocket. My beard sends a message to my brain. My brain sends a message to my arm. My arm sends a message to my hand. My hand sends a message to my back pocket. And BOOM, iGROOM! Can’t get caught slipping with a messy face-fro.

SPREAD: What’s the craziest thing a follower has written about your beard?KT: @GOD said: ‘On the seventh day, I finished creating your beard, so I rested from all my work.’No lie, scroll down 87 weeks ago...

SPREAD: Why are women so drawn to and turned on by beards?KT: Beards exude ‘manliness!’ You haven’t seen imag-es of Jesus with a naked face have you?

SPREAD: Lastly, what do you like to SPREAD?KT: Positive Energy. With so much going on in this day and age, I love to see people smile. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘A Day without Laughter, is a day wasted’ by Charlie Chaplin.

KINGT E E J

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Nude Beard Balm $20nudebycenterstagecuts.myshopify.com

Tarte Maracuja Lip Exfoliant $16tartecosmetics.com

Nip & Fab Detox Blend Body & Scrub $10target.com

Hempz Triple Moisture Body Cream $28ulta.com

Make your beard happy! Nude Beard Balm is perfect for a variety of textures. Men with dry, wavy and curly beards all vouch for this balm, claiming that it not only conditions and moisturizes but tames unruly beards, as well.

Chapped lips are never an appropriate state-ment! To combat the dry, cracked sensation,

this is a fabulous lip scrub that exfoliates and provides instant hydration, without feeling

greasy. Chockfull of raw sugar, antioxidants and Vitamin C, it sloughs off dead skin cells and

renews moisture! Perfect for cold winter days!

After you exfoliate, make sure you replenish your lip’s moisture! This ultra-conditioning lip balm is formulated with the finest ingredients nature has to offer, including, moisturizing, Kokum Butter and, antioxidant, Marula Oil. Clinically proven to be hypoallergenic, and free of synthetic ingredients, fragrances or flavors, this is perfect for those with allergies and sensitive skin!

Combining fresh and rejuvenating fragrances of tea tree, green tea and delicate jasmine with detoxifying frankincense, rid yourself of impurities while boosting your skin’s radiance. Remember men, you have to exfoliate as well! Scrub! Scrub! Scrub!

Say ‘GOODBYE’ to scaly skin and ‘HELLO’ to smooth skin! This whipped, body cream provides deep, 24-hour moisture that softens even the driest skin. Enriched with 100% natural, Hemp Seed Oil and fortified with their exclusive All-Day Triple Moisture Com-plex, this, magic in a bottle, is also available in smaller sizes—perfect for your car or purse

Benefit Cosmetics Total Moisture Facial Cream $42 benefitcosmetics.com

The best night cream ever, this concentrated facial cream delivers immediate & long term hydration for an ultra

radiant complexion. Tri-radiant, it captures water on the skin’s surface, maintains water on the skin’s surface, and

develops the skin’s reserves of water. Total Moisture Fa-cial Cream is a rich, emollient salve that can be applied

at night or during the day for drier skin types.

Burt’s Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm $3.99ulta.comM

UST

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during the winter months, skin becomes drier and dehydrated. However, a lack of the ‘right’ kinds of fats will also dry out your skin. Incorporating a small avocado, a handful of nuts (walnuts, almonds, or cashews), or even six ounces of salmon, on a daily basis, can revitalize a depleted complexion within a few days!

Keep your showers less than ten minutes; and, if you can wash completely in five, all the better. Keep the water lukewarm, not hot, as higher temperatures strip the natural layer of oil on the epidermis, the outermost part of your skin. Yes, we all love long, hot showers but a little compromise will save your skin in the long run!

Men, consider switching your shaving foam for a hydrating, shaving lotion or serum. As typical shaving creams can leave your skin feeling dry and

tight, try The Art of Shaving™ Sandalwood Shaving Cream! Containing glycerin, coconut and other essential oils, it will leave your skin full of moisture and feeling rejuvenated.

Typically, don’t use an eye cream? You should consider it, in the colder months, as it helps plump and smooth the thin skin around your eyes. More, if you have dry skin, your skin is prone to showing fine lines and wrinkles, so give it a boost of moisture with an eye cream. Benefit Cosmetics™ It’s Potent Eye Cream is a great option and contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity & firmness. With a blend of hydrating botanical extracts includ-ing apple extract, known to help boost collagen, & loquat extract, known to help protect the skin from free radical damage, it’ll bring life to your otherwise ‘burdened’ eyes.

When exfoliating, do so to your entire body, par-

ticularly your feet. Because areas of your feet are prone to cracking, in the winter months, never forget to moisturize them after bathing. As an additional precaution, before you go to bed, apply a thick lay-er of moisturizer and cotton socks. This is a sure-fire way to help heal dry feet. CND™ Cucumber Heel Therapy is an intensive callus treatment and works wonders, in just one night, with the accompaniment of aloe-infused socks.

Moisturize your body, inside and out, by drinking plenty of fluids. The Institute of Medicine recom-mends about nine cups of total beverages a day for women and roughly 13 cups for men. Another way to maintain hydration is by using a humidifier. When the indoor heat is blasting or at higher levels, it snatches moisture from the environment, making the air as well as your skin dry. On the assist, a humidifier will add water vapor to the air, indirectly helping your skin retain needed moisture.

Winterizing Your Skin

Oftentimes

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D E E RCaught in Headl ights

Makeup: Miche l le G reen | Ha i r/Wardrobe: Mar ia A l len | Photography: Sa loan Roche l le | Mode l s : Kennedy Dodds , K jne l Jackson

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WOULD YOU RATHER BE INVISIBLE OR ABLE TO READ MINDS?

WOULD YOU RATHER BE STRANDED ON AN ISLAND ALONE OR WITH SOMEONE YOU HATE?

WOULD YOU RATHER FIND TRUE LOVE OR 10 MILLION DOLLARS?

WOULD YOU RATHER MEET AN ALIEN VISITOR OR TRAVEL TO OUTER SPACE?

WOULD YOU RATHER NOT BE ABLE TO USE YOUR PHONE OR YOUR EMAIL?

WOULD YOU RATHER ONLY BE ABLE TO WHISPER OR ONLY BE ABLE TO SHOUT?

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE BALLS HANG FROM YOUR CHIN OR HAVE A FIVE INCH TAIL THAT WAGS EVERY TIM

E YOU GET EXCITED?

WOULD YOU RATHER SMELL LIKE A FART ALL THE TIM

E FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE OR DRINK A DIARRHEA MILKSHAKE?

WOULD YOU RATHER ALWAYS GET FIRST DIBS OR THE LAST LAUGH?

WOULD YOU RATHER BE BORN WITH AN ELEPHANT TRUNK OR A GIRAFFE NECK?

WOULD YOU RATHER KNOW IT ALL OR HAVE IT ALL?

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A MISSING FINGER OR HAVE AN EXTRA TOE?

WOULD YOU RATHER DRINK 1 GALLON OF KETCHUP OR 1 GALLON OF MUSTARD?

WOULD YOU RATHER BE A TREE OR LIVE IN A TREE?

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A THIRD LEG OR A THIRD ARM?

WOULD YOU RATHER GIVE UP YOUR COMPUTER OR YOUR PET?

WOULD YOU RATHER BE UGLY AND RICH OR POOR AND GOOD-LOOKING?

WOULD YOU RATHER FIGHT MIKE TYSON OR ALI, IN THEIR PRIM

E?

WOULD YOU RATHER WAKE UP TO ‘WHO LET THE DOGS OUT’ OR ‘ITSY, BITSY SPIDER?’

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! WRITE YOUR ANSWERS BELOW | DON’T FORGET TO TAG EM

ON IG @THESPREADM

AG

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What

wouldyoudo?WOULD YOU RATHER SEE WHITNEY HOUSTON

OR LUTHER VANDROSS PERFORM LIVE?

WHITNEY: 37%LUTHER: 63%

WOULD YOU RATHER GO ABOUT YOUR NORMAL DAY NAKED OR FALL ASLEEP FOR A YEAR?

NAKED: 97%SLEEP: 3%

WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE CHALK FOR FINGERS OR LEAVES FOR TOES?

CHALK: 60%TOES: 40%

*you got to put in work on Claudia feet

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She’s one of those less-assuming creatives. She doesn’t wear flashy, graphic prints and her hair is ‘around-the-way-girl’ regular. And, if you didn’t know her, upon being in her presence, you would think she’s just another chica caught in the daily journey; that is, until she speaks. With a tongue

that cements her Midwest familiarity, this Detroit native is anything but regular, typical—in fact, merely walking into her uber colorful and comfortable home assures you that there’s more here.

With soulful tunes adding the perfect soundtrack to our conversation, I dove in.

TALAYA BROWNCONDUCTED BY DAVITA GALLOWAY | PHOTOGRAPHY, DEVON GREEN

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OW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN CHARLOTTE?It’s been five years this past September.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THE QUEEN CITY?I moved here very, very, very randomly, with a couple of sorority sisters. They were the ones moving with purpose, I just tagged along. They moved back to Detroit in a short, six months and left me here by myself, by my lonesome.

WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT’S YOUR JOB, YOUR CAREER? YOUR 9AM-5PM? My 10am-8pm, four days a week is doing nails.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE INDUSTRY?I was 18, a freshman in college and broke! I needed a quick hustle so I bought a mannequin hand, from the beauty supply store, and got it popping. And, it just so happened that I was good at it! That summer, I went home and started doing my mom’s and best friend’s nails. In time, people started inquiring about who did their nails and, before you knew it, I was in the basement with a regular clientele. When the school semester began, I started making some real money.

DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL FOR COSMETOLOGY?No, I never took a nail class in my life; I’m completely self-taught. By doing an apprenticeship with my mentor for six months, I was able to receive my license. Let it be known that I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth but yeh, no class, no school.

IF NOT COSMETOLOGY, WHAT WAS YOUR MAJOR THEN? I received a Bachelor’s in Health Communications. OK, AND WHAT WAS THE PLAN WITH THAT?I really thought that I was going to have a big, corporate job making six figures, driving a BMW. I got halfway through the program, did an internship and started meeting people in the corporate arena; turns out, all of them were miserable. At that point, I decided that I didn’t want my life to look like that. I, immediately, started working in mentor’s shop as a nail tech.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO REMAIN SUCCESSFUL IN THE INDUSTRY? WHY ARE YOU RELEVANT? My nail art makes me so popular; and, the fact that I don’t use a drill. But, mostly, my nail art!

DESCRIBE YOUR NAIL ART?(after a long pause) It is…it’s different. Frankly, it’s just stuff that comes to my mind. I, literally, don’t think about the design until I see polish on a nail. When that’s done, it all comes together. And, after awhile, a tech-nique, a style is developed. Admittedly, I follow trends a little but my style, for the most part, stays the same.

AT PRESENT YOU STRAY FROM THE ‘COOKIE CUTTER’ DESIGNS, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THAT NAIL TECH? Essentially, what I do, in Detroit, is commonplace. It wasn’t until I moved here when people were intrigued with what I do. But, I grew up getting the nail art that I install; it was never roses or flowers, though. I’m not into that!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Everything. Colors. Other artists. Being out and about, seeing things. Images from others. I follow a lot of different techs—not because I want to copy their aesthetic—but because they’re good. My home, as colorful as it is, also inspires me. Waking to this every day, how can you not be inspired?

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TRENDS IN NAIL ART? Well, there are specific colors that are popular this season, the use of stones and bling; I don’t get into all that as I like the artistry of drawing designs. However, I have inventory just in case they are asked for. (chuckles) But, I don’t advertise that.

WHEN PEOPLE QUESTION IF THEY’RE STICKERS, HOW DO YOU RESPOND? Surprisingly, I get that a lot. But, I’ve been using the same tools since ‘day one’—a striper and a dotter. Those are my homies! And, magic is created with only those items and, of course, paint. What’s crazy is that the striper, as I call it, comes really thick; I have to take a razor and make it thin for my needs. It’s just that simple, two tools.

IF YOU WEREN’T A NAIL TECH, WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU? I’ve always wanted to be a graphic designer and have considered going back to school for just that. You know, I just want something different every now and then. I haven’t made any moves yet but that’s what I would do.

WHAT DID YOU EAT FOR BREAKFAST?(looking defeated) Three cookies ‘n’ cream Hershey bricks, the little pieces. I had those and some water on the way to my first personal training session this morning. That question is so random! (laughter) I couldn’t even make anything up.

WHAT ABOUT MUSIC? WHAT/WHOARE YOU DIGGING? I listen to a lot of neo-soul and everyone knows that I love India.Arie. SHE IS MY SISTER! Well, in my head, anyway. I like ‘old school’ music and I also listen to hip hop every now and then. However, neo-soul is what I’m, mostly, into. Did I mention that I LOVE India?! I’ve seen her four times and it’s always a magical experience.

OF INDIA’S DISCOGRAPHY, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ALBUM?All of them! But, if I have to choose and it seems like I do, I’d say Acoustic Soul. I listen to that project very, very, very often.

H

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IN YOUR DESIGNS, WHAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK AND WHITE?It creates a stark contrast with all the colors that I use. In all of my drawings, regardless of the canvas, there’s some form of black and white.

IF YOU COULD PAINT THE WORLD, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU SELECT? All of them; every single color I can possibly imagine.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?All of them, I don’t have a favorite. I do have a least favorite, though, red. And, it’s not like I despise it but it’s, definitely, my least favorite.

WHO IS TALAYA?(long pause) Talaya is…Talaya is…man, a lot of things. I wear many hats but more than anything, I’m an artist. It took me a long time to come to terms with that but, in no way, do I want to downplay my talent, my craft because I’m proud of what I do. After a long ‘come to Jesus,’ I realize that it’s the essence of who I am. Talaya is, indeed, an artist!

wo

rdp

lay

Davita: Dream?Talaya: VacationingDavita: Art?Talaya: This!Davita: Color?Talaya: Love itDavita: Life?Talaya: Living itDavita: Talaya?Talaya: HappyDavita: Music?TalayaL oh…ummm…wonderful!Davita: Honey? (her dog)Talaya: My heart!Davita: Lupe?Talaya: Amazing! Amazing!Davita: Charlotte?Talaya: HomeDavita: Expression?Talaya: ColorDavita: Favorite cereal?Talaya: Fruit Loops! I love the colors.Davita: Favorite cartoon?Talaya: I don’t watch cartoons, never have.Davita: Ok then, favorite show?Talaya: Sons of Anarchy, in all of its glory. (pause) Amazing show! It may be my favorite show of all time.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS OF SWITCHING CAN-VASES? GOING FROM NAILS TO ACCESSORIES TO FRAMED PIECES? Attempting accessories was a suggestion from one of my clients. And, since I always made beaded jewelry, it wasn’t a far reach when she mentioned it. In fact, I agreed with her and thought, ‘maybe I should’; and, I did, using the same nail striper. The framed works, on the other hand, came about because of a dream. Until then, I had never drawn on such a large scale. I awoke, in the middle of the night, grabbed my last two sheets of scrapbook paper and a plate (to draw the circles, perfectly) and just started. That’s been the case with everything, really…I just started!

IG: @thetalayab

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