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Contents: Urban Community

Inspirational Tymes : Men Arise Interviews with: Aisha Tyler Something Fresh for my Fans Love & Relationships : Statik & Flo: Relationships from both sides! NEWS & ENTERTAINmenT

Diamond of the Month: Gogi Raeford-Turner Interviews with: Spotlight on: The Love Zone’s own Preston Miles.

Inside Money Tymes

Financial Information you can “bank” on! Arts & Culture

Urban Music: Darien Brockington Bares his Soul Spoken Word: Focusing on Love Urban Flava: The Bohemian Café, The Good Life

Fashion & Swagger- Scents for 2010 Good Eats- Sweets for Your Sweet! Gallery- Urban Tymes in the city!

URBAN TYMES MAGAZINE Charlotte, North Carolina 28213

www.urbantymes.com

Aug, 2009- Issue 1

COFOUNDER AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

CAREY W.DIGSBY cdigs@urbantymes.com

SALES AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

STEPHAN JACKSON sdjackson@urbantymes.com

EDITOR

MR. URBAN editor@urbantymes.com

MARKETING/PUBLIC RELATIONS

DANA SIDBERRY MOTIVATION MARKETING dana@motivationmktg.net

CONTRIBUTING CREATIVE EDITOR

KEYSHA J. HALL kjhall@urbantymes.com

To Subscribe to Urban Tymes Magazine Contact us at:

subscriptions@urbantymes.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ANANE THABITI Poet/Speaker His works have spanned in various outlets, from the play “Leeds of Magnolia” with UNCC Southern Oral History Project, to published works in the NC Humanitarian Council, The News & Observer, and Urban Tymes. ananethabiti@yahoo.com

Anthony Tillman

Poet/Writer “ Living my todays, better than my yesterdays, in order to have a better tomorrow.......”

Alum of the Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York studying fine arts, Anthony, or Aayantee” as he is referred to, brings

a fresh perspective to the lyrical world.

Katherine Waddell Writer “It's in my veins flowing freely into the universe; I have the power to change my situation. The words I write are etchings of the road I have traveled.” An English graduate of Belmont Abbey College, and educator, Katherine is also a freelance writer whose works can be seen in many social networks. Stay tuned for major interviews with celebs!

Keysha J. Hall CEO TAO Entertainment

“Words give birth to inspiration, motivation, causing joy and elation as unprotected poetry will be the death of me because I can’t fathom living

without poetic words alive in me.” Kj ©2009 Educator, writer and businesswoman. KJ Hall brings art and culture

to our readers with a unique perspective! kjhall@urbantymes.com

Pervis Nash Inspirational Tymes featured writer. Bringing a fresh, positive outlook via the Word itself!

A Letter from the Founder

URBAN TYMES MAGAZINE Charlotte, North Carolina 28213

www.urbantymes.com

When I first developed this magazine, its inception was just a blog, devised to answer the many questions that I would receive from others about the best places to eat, places to go, and businesses to deal with. Many believed as I did, that the key for us to grow is to enjoy the diversity that this city has. Many times we are so mired by the negativity that is around us, we forget to stop and enjoy the beauty that is around us, and those that help create it! Created to highlight our community's gifts, resources, knowledge, people, and goals, our staff is inspired and blessed to have this opportunity come to fruition. Urban Tymes pledges to continue to bring content information and inspiration to our broad audience. As we embark on a new decade, with a new leader, and new vision, so too must our thoughts and abilities change to run parallel with these goals. Our printed publication embraces these ideals, and inspired by those pioneers in media that blazed a trail so many of us now follow, this too shall be a forum for all to participate in….. Peace and Blessings, Enjoy our first printed issue!

Inspirational Tymes

Men Arise!!!!!!!

This is not to speak down on women or to call men out. It’s to wake some up from the place of sleep and into the place of Kingship....Sisters, again no disrespect! Men we all want to be leaders of some sort, whether it be in the coaching arena, owning a business, in our home or wherever it may be. Rightfully so, we were created to be leaders, kings and priests.... To be the leaders we desire fellas, we must first have a vision (goal, purpose, plan)....The word of God says, can the blind lead the blind. True vision only comes from God Himself, it becomes more "natural" as we grow in grace. Kings, what I'm saying is that without a vision the people perish. Who are the people? They are the people of our influence, our children, our spouses, our employees, our students etc. Without direction for our homes they become out of order. Without a vision for a new business, they will never get off of the ground. Without goals, our children will

look to other sources for inspiration. Much like pregnancy (intimacy), the man with a vision plants the seed into the woman. This is the role of his kingship, it is how he leads...The woman receives from her leader, the seed of purpose, she carries it, nurtures it and supports it. This is the Queens role....However if there are no goals, or visions from her King, she and the family will began to feel insecure therefore causing the woman to take on the role of King, something she was not put here to be... Without the seed of vision, purpose, plans and goals being sown, there can be no harvest.... There will be no birth...There will be no delivery...Therefore Kings, arise with purpose to the place where you have been called. That place; Leadership Peace and Blessings to you all ~Pervis D. Nash~

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Notebook, pen in hand, with internet up and running. Oh wait, a cup of coffee! Alright I am ready to interview Aisha Tyler! My mind was racing; will I come out of a bag and present myself as star struck? Will I ask her the questions that would make this worth reading? So not to seem like too much of a novice I brushed up on my facts then took a deep breath. I did not want to waste the star’s time with questions she had already answered on her website: www.aishatyler.com Aisha Tyler (comedian, actress, and writer) will be appearing at the McGlohon Theatre on February 14th , 2010 at 7:30 p.m. She will perform a fresh batch of comedic material for her audience, promising that it will be “funny stuff”. When asked about her upcoming talk show on ABC she stated, “It’s still in the works, no details at this time.” It has been advertised that this show will focus on a younger audience. Currently she is working on her stand up tour, which has not yet been named. “We usually do not come up with the name of the show until we are ready to record,” she says. She shared words of wisdom to anyone thinking of being in comedy, “This is a marathon not a sprint.

You have to be committed day in and day out.” Realizing that comedy seems to be especially hard for women I asked her for the secret to her success and she said, “I don’t know if there are any secrets, but you have to have passion.” This will carry you through the low times when things aren’t going the way you think that they should. If you want to be an overnight success she suggests that you get on a “reality show”, with a laugh. Most people first fell for Tyler's unique brand of comedy while watching her host E!'s Emmy-winning pop culture crucible Talk Soup. As the first woman and first African-American to host the show, she instantly became a comedic cult icon. After Talk Soup, Tyler moved quickly into television and film, enjoying another first: being the first African-American to play an extended character arc on NBC’s Friends. She later co-starred with Jennifer Love Hewitt in the CBS hit Ghost Whisperer, and had recurring roles on both CSI and 24 in the same season. Aisha has made numerous television appearances, including FX’s Nip/Tuck, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Comedy Central’s Reno 911, Cartoon Network’s The Boondocks, and many more. She has written a book called, “Swerve: Reckless Observations of a Postmodern Girl”. The book is a comedic look through Tyler’s eyes at the world. She also contributes to magazines like Glamour, Jane, and O: The Oprah Magazine. She talked about her new animated show ‘Archer’, where she is the voice behind Lana Kane, the former girlfriend of the suave master spy Sterling Archer. The agency ‘ISIS’, is owned by Archer’s mother. Tyler’s character is strong, voluptuous and often exasperated. Her character has a penchant for adult films and is currently dating ISIS comptroller Cyril Figgis, to the mystification of her colleagues. What she said she liked best about doing animation, “There’s no hair or make up, just me.” For me, this was an opportunity of a life time. She is living her dream and I thanked her for sharing her time with me to do this interview!

It's CCIIAAAA Tourney Time!!!

An Interview with the Commissioner Urban Tymes recently had the opportunity to talk to CIAA commissioner Leon G. Kerry. During the interview, the passion of this gentleman on HBCUs and the CIAA was very evident, and he gave us the inside scoop on what to expect in 2010! UT: How does it feel to be the commissioner of such a large, historic organization? Kerry: Challenged, tough, but pretty good I must say. The economy has challenged many going into 2010, but I am happy to say that the program has maintained during this. This year, we expect to do some incredible things during the CIAA. From celebs to book signings. We definitely appreciate our sponsors, and are excited about the whole thing! UT: What can we expect this year? Kerry: Well, we will have a mini concert before the game, and in the middle, a day party in the arena, a health symposium and much more. We want to drive more people to the arena by keeping things exciting, keeping the magic going. That and some great basketball! UT: How has the CIAA bought more notice to the HBCU athletic programs? Kerry: It has absolutely brought much notice. We have been the most successful during this process. We see that there are some good kids coming from Division I to CIAA schools. I think we set the example for all, and there is a great story to be told! Just some notes on the organization: •Founded originally in 1912 as the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association •Based in Hampton, VA •America's oldest Historically Black College Conference •Made up of 12 historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs) situated along the Eastern Seaboard. Over 175,000 fans attend the 2009 CIAA tournament. Over the last 10 years, the CIAA has generated over $178 million in economic impact for the state of North Carolina and over $12.03 million in overall scholarship dollars for CIAA member institutions. For more information, visit: http://www.ciaatournament.org http://www.theciaa.com

CIAA Schedule of Events Check out the tentative schedule for the 2010 CIAA Tournament February 23 - 27, 2010 - Charlotte, NC. Tuesday, February 23 Food Lion Women's Tournament Begins 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena Wednesday, February 24 CIAA Ford Fan Experience 2010 CIAA Ford Fan Experience Bank of America Day Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center - Hall C CIAA Education Day CIAA Education Day 2010 NASA STEM Education and Career Awareness Charlotte Convention Center Food Lion Women's Quarterfinals 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena Men's Tournament Begins 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena Thursday, February 25 Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium Hosted by: Nationwide Insurance, Healing Our Village & Laugh 4 Life TWCA Practice Court 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Yolanda Adams Morning Show The Yolanda Adams Morning Show presented by Lowe's 2010 CIAA Ford Fan Experience Doors open at 5:30 a.m. Show starts at 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Charlotte Convention Center - Hall C CIAA Ford Fan Experience 2010 CIAA Fan Experience Lowe's Day Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center - Hall C CIAA Career Expo CIAA Career Expo 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Charlotte Convention Center Ballroom A-D Food Lion Women's Quarterfinals 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. Time Warner Cable Arena Men's Quarterfinals 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena TV One Friday, February 26 Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium Hosted by: Nationwide Insurance, Healing Our Village & Laugh 4 Life TWCA Practice Court 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Steve Harvey Morning Show Steve Harvey Morning Show presented by Ford 2010 CIAA Ford Fan Experience Doors open at 5:30 a.m. Show starts at 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Charlotte Convention Center - Hall C CIAA Step Show 2010 CIAA Step Show Bojangles Coliseum Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. CIAA Ford Fan Experience 2010 CIAA Ford Fan Experience Nationwide Insurance Day Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center - Hall C Food Lion Women's Semifinals 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena Men's Semifinals 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. Time Warner Cable Arena TV One CIAA Women's Luncheon CIAA Women's Luncheon Invite Only! Morton's Steakhouse - Uptown Charlotte Saturday, February 27 Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium

Food Lion Health & Wellness Symposium Hosted by: Nationwide Insurance, Healing Our Village & Laugh 4 Life TWCA Practice Court 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CIAA Championship Concert CIAA Championship Concert featuring En Vogue FREE with a CIAA Ticket Book Time Warner Cable Arena Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Show starts at 5:00 p.m. McDonald's Super Saturday 2010 CIAA McDonald's Super Saturday Featuring Laurie Ann Gibson & Bow Wow Time Warner Cable Arena

Doors open at 8:45 a.m. Show starts at 9:00 a.m. Men's Final 6:00 p.m. - ESPN U Time Warner Cable Arena CIAA Post Tournament Party CIAA Post Tournament Party - featuring the Temptations Show starts at 11:00 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center Food Lion Women's Final 9:00 p.m - ESPN Plus Time Warner Cable Arena

.

To Valentine or not to Valentine??????? Dear Statik and Flo, It's about time for Valentine's Day. I know if I do not celebrate this day my lady is going to want to have intense fellowship over that fact. I show her I love her every day. I don't see why a man made day should have so much emphasis to prove how I feel about her. I do not feel this brings us closer and I believe this day is over rated. What should I do? Flo: Listen man, while I can see that you show her love every day, you gotta understand that this is not about you, it’s about the both of you. The same way she shows you love and tends to your feelings, you must do the same for her. Just like you would expect something on your birthday, she will expect something on that day. Statik: I realize that women make a big deal out of this day and yes it is a man made day. However, the emphasis of this day is to go above and beyond the norm. To reach deeper than you normally do and blow her mind. Just think when you make her happy everyone in the house is happy. Besides any excuse is a good excuse to drop everything and love. Flo: Amen sis! If you can take the time to show that special someone how much you care, do it! We get so involved with work and other things that take our time and energies; this is the one thing that helps revitalize the relationship between you two.

Name: Gogi Raeford-Turner Age: 48 Hometown: Demopolis, AL Sign: Scorpio By Day: I am a professional at Duke Energy, Inc. By Night: I work tirelessly as CEO of GWC and developing my company by generating business contacts, scheduling business meetings, positioning GWC to continue to successfully fulfill the demands of it's customers . Having to get up at 5 am (working 9+ hours); I usually go to bed as late as 2 am. My first passion is: MY PEOPLE. I have a strong desire to help my African American brothers and sisters reach fulfill our potential--Our potential to "live as Kings and Queens" which is our God given destiny. I constantly reach out to the Black community in hopes that I will somehow make a difference, whether large or small. My second passion is: Children. I love all children as they are the innocent ones.

God has charged us with the responsibility to nurture them and grow and develop them into productive citizens, yet we have failed them in so many ways. My Community Services projects include: Coordinating volunteer efforts for Presbyterian Hospital's Blume Children's Cancer Clinic annual picnic and holiday party. RAIN: Regional Aids Interfaith Network, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness. Chapter President of Charlotte NAN--National Action Network.... Over the past year, the success of Granite Works of Charlotte has allowed us to expanding into the Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia area. My Goals: Short Term: 5 Years: To develop Granite Works of Charlotte to be among the Top 10 Granite Dealers in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. We are the only professional African American Granite Dealers in the Charlotte Metropolitan area. Long Term: To expand my company to at least 3 additional South Eastern States. My Favorite quote is: "BE Black, BUY Black, THINK Black and all else will take care of itself."- Marcus Garvey

What Lies Beneath…..

If I could....

As I sit in my chair on a cold rainy evening drinking coffee, I look out the window and see

the drops of rain hitting the glass. With each drop I imagined each moment of my life that

has passed. I remember a lot of good times, funny times, a few sad times and for sure a few

times that I wish for a do over.

Then I look a little harder and see my reflection in the window starring back at me. The

only thing though, she looks younger, naive, with a big gleam in her eyes, like life is going

to be nothing but easy street.

I say something to her but she does not want to hear me, she says “what do you know old

woman that you think you can tell me?" I say "oh there is a lot baby girl, more then you

think." "What ever!" she says. "Please listen to me honey, just for a few"

“If I could go back and be you again, I would do things so different" I told her. "Like what?"

she asks me. "Well for starters I would have learned the sound of my voice, what it sounds

like to say no. No to skipping class, no to trying drugs and alcohol, no to sex, no to peer-

pressure. I would also know when danger approached because I would listen to that little

voice in my gut that says run. I would know not to procrastinate, because that is a killer of

dreams. I would know when to wait and when to pursue a thing. I would know how to relax

and take things slow and when to put some fire to it. I would not be the yes girl, trying to

please everyone and no one trying to please me. I would know to blaze a trail and and step

out of my comfort zone. I would not choose to always take the easy way out; I would stand

the trial and come out as refined gold." As I look at my younger self, I realize that she is

crying...Oh no wait a minute, it’s not her that is crying it is me. At that moment I realized

that those very things that I wished I could change were necessary in order to shape me

into the person that I am today.

Live life with no regrets, that doesn't mean mistakes won't be made; the difference is how you

choose to look at them. Mistakes are meant to be learned from, they're meant to refine you.

Realize it as such, and know this; it is the Refiners fire that will bring you forth as pure

gold.

~Hassa~

SSPPOOTTLLIIGGHHTT on

The Love Zone with

Preston Miles Katherine Waddell

Preston Miles is synonymous with the words ‘love’ and ‘relaxation’. He said, “At the end of the day I’m a regular guy that likes regular stuff”. I laughed when I heard that smooth mellow voice luring me in for a closer listen as I began to unwind. I had to catch myself hold up…its early afternoon. By the way, ‘yes’ his voice is as smooth as butter in person! I listen to the show so much my mind has an automatic timer, so hearing his voice sent my expectations to hearing him crank out jam after jam. The passion that he operates with seeps through the speakers infecting everyone in such a way it makes you want to love the one you with or remember the one you had. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner it was just fitting to have Mr. Romance himself featured this month. One of the things he enjoys doing is listening to his favorite records, (yes I said records as in vinyl) probably “Blue and Green by Miles Davis”. “If you don’t have vinyl you’re not really doing

it”, he said with a laugh. “There’s nothing like listening to vinyl, hearing the scratch of the record…yeah.” He is a father of two and he shared that he has an 18 year old daughter in college and his “little man” is 8 years old. “I love my kids”. A little known fact about him that his listeners do not know is that he is a “practical joker and a big goof ball”. “Wherever you are, whatever you do always take a little happiness with you”. The passion he has for his children and his music pushes him towards all that he wants to accomplish this year. Speaking of passion and things to be accomplished I asked about his CD and when could we expect to see it. Preston is just a lover of life and seems to appreciate all that life has to offer so much so, that he calls himself a “jack of all trades and a master of none”, because of his tendency to have more than one project at a time going. The CD has been a long slow process. “It should be out by the end of this year.” At this point he is working with producers and selecting the perfect tracks. Stay tuned to hear a single by the summer time. If you are wondering what could be expected from the Love Zone disc jockey; he tickles the keys a little, but expect to hear vocals and heartfelt lyrics that he has penned. Since this article is themed around Valentine’s Day, Preston shared what this special day would be like with him. Being a lover of life mixed with a bit of spontaneity makes for a wonderful evening. His is cut from the old cloth of ‘romance’. One scenario he gave was that he would suggest

what she should wear for the evening, without giving away the secret of the evening to come. Dinner would be followed by a stroll for good conversation and live jazz at an undisclosed romantic location around town, some gifts and maybe flowers, but not roses because those are boring. All of this would be spread out over the evening to make the romance last. Valentine’s Day is just an excuse to turn up the volume on romance and “get in love’s face”. Ahhh, how refreshing, thank you I said. To hear Preston Miles and his band, ‘The Preston Miles experience’, prior to the end of the year, follow him on

Twitter, FaceBook.com/Preston Miles Love Zone, My Space under Preston Miles and of course V1019.com where he hosts an online blog; in all of these places you can stay up to date with where they will appear next. As always you can hear him every Sunday through Thursday 7pm to midnight. Preston is so generous he will even tuck you in before he signs off. And he signed this interview off with these words, “Love life and continue to do the best that you can do…you know what, if you are with somebody love them and share good music together…feel the fire and enjoy love; so here’s one of the classics by Rick James and Teena Marie, “Feel the Fire”.

Thats right, follow me on twitter at

twitter.com /pmileslovezone

pmiles@v1019.com

MONEY TYMES YOUR 5-MINUTE GUIDE TO RAISING KIDS Are the expenses of parenting taking up a big chunk of your budget? Here are two dozen tips for keeping costs under control. By MSN Money staff It's not just finances. It's philosophy. Do you need the big house, the minivan? Children grew up quite nicely before either of these caught on. Other things -- food, clothing, child care -- are plain old necessities. Still, there are ways to cut costs without rinsing and reusing baggies. Here are the basics and how you can control their costs. They never stop eating Kids eat and eat -- to the tune of $225 to $350 a month each. To save money, consider these tips: Brown-bag lunches, and don't succumb to fast-food temptations. If your kids know Happy Meals are an option, you'll get no peace. Do the grocery shopping alone and after eating. With hands free and stomach full, you'll have more time and energy to do comparison shopping, and you'll make fewer impulse buys. (See "Be a bargain-shopping champ.") Shop for a week's worth of groceries at a time. Buy snacks in bulk, then repackage them in plastic bags. Grow some of your own food, even if you grow it in containers. You'll save a bit, and a garden gives children an interest in what they eat.

And kids never stop growing As children grow, their clothes get more expensive, averaging $50 to $75 a month by the time they are 18. When they're young, shop at discount stores, thrift shops and resale or consignment stores. Then sell the outgrown clothes at the resale shop and use that money toward the next size up. Buy a season ahead. Most stores mark down prices to make room for the next season, and many resale stores put seasonal clothes on the half-price or dollar racks. For teens and preteens, labels are important. Buy the basics at discount stores. Then teach your children to shop around and buy on sale. If they insist on $120 jeans, offer to pay a portion and let them use their allowance for the rest. (See "Should your kid get an allowance?") Shop online so it's easier to make comparisons. Allowances that really work Answer to the big questions: When to start, how much to pay and whether the money should be tied to chores. How to make child care affordable Probably the biggest immediate expense you'll incur is for child care, which is especially expensive for infants. Depending on where you live, care can cost from $300 to $1,250 a month. Home day care is generally cheaper than a day-care center or preschool, but it's typically less structured and more of a baby-sitting environment. Use the child- and dependent-care credit, which provides a tax credit of 20% to 35% for care for dependents 12 or younger (that's a dollar-for-dollar

reduction of a large portion of your expense). You must have earned income, and the care provided must enable you to work or look for work. Save on taxes by paying child-care costs with pretax dollars through an employer-provided flexible-spending account. Telecommute, job-share or work flexible hours to reduce time away from home. Arrange your schedule so that you or a relative can be with your child. If your school district offers a free half-day pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds or a free full-day kindergarten, enroll your child. It can reduce child-care costs to after-school or half-day rates. The $225,000 question: What about college? This is the biggest single expense and the one that worries parents the most. There are a number of ways to save for college, and many have tax advantages. You might not be able to save much at all, but that doesn't mean you can't help.

Start early, whichever option you choose. In 2020, you'll need nearly $225,000 for a private college or $105,000 for an in-state public university When your children are in high school, check whether a nearby college will let them take classes to get ahead. Have your children attend a community college, where they can earn core credits, gain independence and dabble in subjects. They can transfer to a university for the final two years. (See "College for half-price.") Look into scholarships and work programs before taking out a home-equity loan to fund college. Start early to help your children appreciate the gift of an education. They'll be more willing to participate in funding it.

A Planning and Consulting Firm offering strategic planning, business planning, new business research, HR, marketing plans, and business travel and event

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When you first hear the name Darien Brockington, you may have images of the handsome R&B addition to Foreign Exchange, the Grammy nominated group from North Carolina that has blazed the music industry since hitting the scene in 2004. Although he’s experienced success with the group, as a solo artist he’s also enjoyed a slew of hits from his Feeling EP and debut album, Somebody to Love. Often described as a beast vocally, the Durham, North Carolina native is more than meets the eye. He is the epitome of the Renaissance man being a true musician who takes his art seriously. With his latest release, The Cold Case Files, you get a rare glimpse inside the man behind the music as he takes you on his personal journey of self discovery. So sit back and enjoy the ride… The artistry of an individual lies in their ability to pull someone into their moment, whether with written words on a page or melodic serenades in song. The Cold Case Files demonstrates this fluidly on all tracks as he shares the emotional rollercoaster he endured during the period the mixtape chronicles. Never before have I listened to an album and been able to relate to each track as the raw emotion overpowered me, forging a bond between me and the

As I listened, I hoped I would gain insight into the rarely discussed decision to leave music behind in 2008. Riding the heels of a prominent debut album, a solid gig with an internationally known group, successful collaborations with some of the top artists in hip hop and R&B, it seemed like he had it all. What man wouldn’t enjoy living his dream performing for adoring fans around the world? But despite all the success he had with others, the personal success he craved as a solo artist eluded him; or so he thought. Instead of enjoying his success, his inner demons and voices of critics and naysayers echoed in his ears daily. As a singer, songwriter, and vocal arranger, he wanted nothing more than to make feel good, classic R&B music, his way. Instead he was billed as the next big soul artist, which was problematic for him as a musician and as a man. I can only imagine the toll that must’ve taken on his heart. The notion of knowing you’re good, but being told you’re not good enough. Yearning to demonstrate your talent, only to have it shaped into what others want it to be; instead of allowing the gift to flow naturally. The man known for such hits as Good Days, I Need You, The Highways of My Life (Pts 1&2), and Be Your Lover, is an R&B singer. You can tell from the live performances, it’s in his heart and soul. It’s effortless for him, and that’s his true place of power because he’s doing what he loves. You feel it in every chord and verse that fosters a personal connection to the song. As a man with great range, he’s also able to belt out soulful tracks like Beautiful with ease. According to Darien, “R&B is natural talent, whereas soul is a learned one.” He credits YahZarah St. James with teaching him about soul music, as well as how to become a broader musician. Anyone who has followed his career can tell the lessons were learned because the growth in vocal ability and as a songwriter is evident.

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Bares His Soul…For the Love of Music

By Keysha J Hall

Photos by John Stephens for JASPhoto.

While Darien grew in his musicianship, he still was dissatisfied personally as an artist. He wanted to be well rounded, not boxed into one category. He wasn’t trying to be the next “it guy”. He just wanted his musical ability to speak for itself, not lie dormant overshadowed by his success with other artists. He felt, and was told by naysayers (aka haters), he was only as good as when he played with someone else. As an artist, that kills your spirit and chokes the life of your talent because you start to believe it and question your gift. So his frustration as an artist set in, and it caused a downward spiral for him. The pang of self doubt, fueled by the constant barrage of people saying he was either too commercial or not commercial enough was overwhelming for him. The debut album, Somebody to Love, was well received by fans, but didn’t meet sales expectations due in part to ineffective marketing and the timing of the release. What was slated to be his defining moment as a solo artist, made him feel like a failure. This coupled with issues in his private life, was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. So after prayer, he decided to stop doing the thing he loved. He called his manager and said “he can’t do this anymore, he’s had enough, and he’s done.” But like any true artist with a passion for what he loves, the nagging void left by not sharing his gift ate away at his soul. He spent time away from the industry to clear the baggage in his life personally and professionally. He realized he spent more time focusing on what everyone else wanted, instead of being true to himself. This is a mistake he vowed never to make again. Despite the turmoil he endured, he learned a lot about himself in the process. Believing that his demons were behind him, and ready to forge ahead with renewed strength, vigor and passion for his artistry, he decided, much to the delight of fans around the world, to return to the music scene on his own terms. Although he’s worked consistently throughout the years on collaborations with Foreign Exchange and numerous other artists such as, Little Brother, UCity, Rapper Big Pooh, and Yoshi, The Cold Case Files marks his first release as a solo artist in over three years. It’s been long overdue for fans who wanted to hear from the man with vocal prowess beyond his years. This release is meant to give fans an idea of what he was going through in his life. Each track has a personal story attached to it, and you can hear and feel the emotion in each song. The ups and downs personally and professionally are visible as he removes the mask so many wear daily to hide their pain. With up-tempo tracks, such as Here We Go, Meet Me in Paris, Brakes On Us and mellow tracks like Be Your Lover and Beautiful, there’s something for everyone on the album.

There are also great collaborations with Sincere on Don’t Miss You No More and Rapper Big Pooh on The One. Listening to The Cold Case Files enables you to ride the waves of emotion Darien aka D-Brock underwent before, during and after his hiatus from the music scene. As we welcome him back, everyone is excited about his highly anticipated album slated for release this year, The Effecting. This will be a cohesive body of work demonstrating his growth musically, and is sure to fulfill the appetite of fans hungry for more of his music. Now filled with confidence and a level of comfort with his artistry, he’s excited about the new material he’s sure his fans will love and welcome with open arms. The hardest part about being true to yourself is listening to that small still voice that forces you to choose between doing what you want and what’s demanded of you. We are the sum total of our choices, and oftentimes we tend to make the wrongs ones, only to wallow in regret. Darien has made choices fans may not understand, but will come to appreciate because they were the right ones for him. He thanks his fans for supporting him, and hopes they continue to do so. With family and friends, such as Lady V, to provide support and keep Darien grounded, there’s no limit to what he can achieve. His star continues to shine, and bring much needed light to the music scene overcast with darkness by artists more concerned with record sales, than representing their gifting. He will always remain a man measured not by alterable statistics, but by the content of his character and his artistry. Darien is currently on tour with Foreign Exchange and you can see him in the following cities:

February 12 - @ Center Stage Live (Atlanta) February 14 - @ Cat's Cradle (Carrboro, NC)

March 20 - TBA (Detroit) April 17 - @ EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall

(Akron, OH)

website: www.dbrockmusic.com facebook:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2262234944 twitter: www.twitter.com/dbrock914

youtube: www.youtube.com/dbrockfanclub myspace: www.myspace.com/darienakadbrock

©2010

FORBIDDEN By Leon A. Phillips Your soft touch, your addictive scent, your sweet taste Is like warm rays of sunshine on my face I long with everlasting anticipation for your sweet embrace But we’ve never met. I can feel your silky, smooth skin under my gentle touch Massaging you, feeling you, reading your body as such Wanting to be under your skin oh sooooooooo much But we’ve never met. Holding your hand is like a gift of gold Feeling the brush of your lips is one to behold Drowning in your eyes is like a dream unfold But we’ve never met. Your warm breath on my neck Hands running down my spine I dream about you being mine But we’ve never met.

Poetry

Anane Thabiti

start as a whisper --as long as we start--

roar as ocean when understanding ends

your song sings more often of pain

more delicate than silk

more harsher than thorns--

that is what... what makes it beautiful

that makes us listen, makes us feel

joys and sorrows failures and progress

What of the Poets?

gifted and young voices yet unheard--

stifled by noise, faintly they are heard through the wind,

morning sunrises evening moon dances breath their life

energy transposed, lives getting touched--

learning cycles, teaching gains

there will be times when solitude

will be the only means to solace... where

the stillness of time will allow us

to listen and hear inner voices while others speak silence

to disillusioned spirits...offering mute interpretations.

Sing that I may,

that you may silence birds

that prophecy be told.

we will hear loud and clear.

C.O. Bigalow Fahrenheit Absolute by DIOR

2010 Scents for Men

Men, as we usher into a new decade of possibilities and greatness, you must have scents that represent each part!

Check out these at you favorite department store. POWER by 50 Cent AZZARO Elixir Banana Republic Patrick Dempsey’s

Who’s Crying Now? A drama play about Karma By Katherine Waddell I received the call while at another event. Darrell said, “If you can meet today, my partner and I are available.” I agreed to meet with the creators of the hit stage play, “Who’s Crying Now?” We met at Amelie’s in NoDa, the 24-hour French Bakery at the last minute, then caught up like old friends. These two gentlemen are personable, which made it easy to talk to them. I laughed and listened well because they tried to throw me for a loop, warning me that while I am watching the play I will try to figure it out, but I won’t. I am up for the challenge. The decree had been made. Now down to the reason we are here.

“Who’s Crying Now?” This hit stage production is making its second run. Life was giving to this play when Jamie handed Darrell a short story called “Catalina” and this was to be a sequel to “Chocolate Sista”. During this year’s CIAA tournament there will be two shows. These gentlemen believe that people want more to do during this week than just to party. A lot of time went into the development of this project. It went stage for its first run last year, May 2009. They received rave reviews; people have watched the show more than once and were inquiring about the sequels. With the invitation to come and perform during the 2010 CIAA, the thought of pushing a sequel had to wait. “We do not want to move to fast” They are very concerned with putting out a quality product. I wanted to know who gets to be the boss. “We’re both the boss”, Darrell says. “If I am the one sitting there typing, I am not the one that is writing if that makes any sense.” He explained that while one person has the ideas flowing; the other is keying those thoughts into the computer and they take turns doing that. Jamie added, “The beauty of what Darrell and I do is that we are friends before anything else. We are friends that happen to write.” We get into the creative groove that holds it steady til the project is complete. They have a unique way of putting a story together. When they wrote “Becoming One” for Chocolate Sista, Darrell would write a verse pass it off to Jamie then he would add to it. For them it has worked and it flows. Within their style is how they have taken a short story originally ‘Catalina’ and gave birth to their first stage production with two sequels waiting to get some of the lime light. Pigtails was written the same way. This is their signature! Another element they shared with me about their signature style is that they purposefully try to throw each other off in an effort to give the audience more than the typical every day, play. They want to be

recognized as “writers, not Afro-American writers”. They do not want to “pigeon holed into one genre of writing with only limited variation of characters.” Chocolate Sista is a collaborative work of poems and short stories. This book is broken up into seasons, “Summer-Romance, Autumn-Spirituality, Winter-Forgiveness and Spring-Education”. This book is written from the male perspective about women. Darrell, Jamie, and Sir Fitzgerald, worked together on the book’s opening poem called ‘Becoming One’, the rest of the book Darrell and Jamie collaborated. This book is dedicated to Afro-American women and told through the eyes of men. This was written because the authors felt this was needed. “We had not seen a book like this before”. This

book is to uplift and encourage women. No matter what the relationship with a woman is they will be reached in this book. Whether it’s your mother, sister, lover, daughter, wife…you get the point. This would make an excellent gift for Mother’s Day! This book will be available on the nights of the play. ‘Pigtails’ is a hilarious children’s book about identical triplet girls who are Afro-American. The theme of this children’s book is not to judge a book by its cover. Just because these three girls look alike does not make them the same. There will be more PigTails, tales to come. This book will be available late 2010. The characters were created by Lena Hopkins.

Check these gentlemen out at their website:

www.flowing-waters.com

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………In the city