Look Inside For The DJ of The Month The Entertainment Industry A Reflection of The Society We Live In
My Life Your Entertainment
Edward Sylvan
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CONTENTS JUNE 2021
NewBreath 04 Edward Sylvan 07 AKBAR 09 Ms. Juicy 11 Devin Lee 13 Sophia Maria 15 Fly Ty 18 18 Shay OmyGod 20 Peter Meyer 23 Miguel 26 Veena & Alex 28 Nico Franc 30 DJ Mos 32 Ad Dolphin 34 La Shana Latrice 37 BJ Coleman 42 Money Marc 44
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37 Founder – Cece Hymes
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W.I.B (Where It Begins) is an Independent agency with the aim to always be innovated in each approach taken to projects and making sure excellence is given in a projects execution when it comes to media marketing, branding, networking and management. Founded by the well experienced and ever growing force; D.C native - Cece Hymes, the most important and integral aspect of W.I.B is that branding for both Creatives and Businesses is taken to the next level with each and every project undertaken.
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We’ve continued to represent a very diverse and well acclaimed roster of emerging talents in the entertainment, and businesses! With a determined persistence for continued excellence, our Founder – Cece Hymes, with a college Degree in Business Management, has also worked within radio and with many companies such as: RDE Entertainment, H.I.G.H Entertainment and Caribbean Gospel Records Ltd.,
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re-imagine the brand for today’s modern global and digitallyconnected men and women. Q. What makes your apparel line unique? A. It starts from a level of authenticity and reflects the daring attitude of New York. They’re the kind of garments people wear not to look like everyone else but to express their true selves. Then, the word “Ambition” is the fuel that inspires everyone to dream and achieve. You don’t have to be a successful entrepreneur to be ambitious. You could be a school student, a parent, a good friend. The name speaks to anyone and everyone in the world who want to make a difference. The designs are also tied very closely to my personal story and style. I create pieces to be youthful, but timeless, simple and wearable by all ages. Rather just making pieces look cool, my thought process is “this design looks great but how can I discuss one piece with meaning”. Every design detail is intentional, from fabric to fit, from silhouette to color palette, from concept to graphic placement. When I’m in the design process, I like to look at my own wardrobe and see what’s missing. I think about what inspires me - I’m inspired by many things whether it be architecture, film, food, lifestyle or travel as I’m sure many people are - this is where we connect with our audience as well. Q. Tell us more about your collection and the motivation behind them? A. I released our SS21 “World’s Fair” collection to kick things off because that fair in 1964 was an optimistic look toward the future and a way of embracing the world. I also wanted to represent not just New York but Queens in particular where the fair was held. 2020 was very much a rebirth for me and so what better place to start off than at the beginning on home turf? There are brands from Queens, NY but I hadn’t actually seen a full upscale collection dedicated to the borough. I wanted to fill that void and do something different. And as a minority owned business, it is important to me that I show the youth that it can be done.
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Q. Where do you see your brand in the next five years? A. We dream big at “Ambition Worldwide” and we have big plans, so I see us being carried in select retailers globally with much more robust collections. We’re focusing on providing a successful entry level line that serves as a way for people who don’t have the budget to spend a modest amount of money to be part of the Ambition Worldwide brand. I want the world to know about Blanco, and about what we started. I have always admired A$AP mob for keeping Yams’ legacy alive through their work and I wanted to do something similarly, so Blanco’s memory stays alive in the collections. I would also love to get the brand involved in working with underserved communities. Too many in these communities are struggling so it would be important to me to keep everyone motivated and well taken care of. Q. What has been the biggest challenge you have had building your brand? A. The biggest challenge I can say I’ve faced is trying to grow the brand’s audience in a saturated market where “clout” comes first before the work. Another is assembling a consistently reliable and dedicated team behind the brand. It’s not
easy finding the right people with the necessary skills as well as the commitment to helping us bring Ambition Worldwide to life. Q. Are you working on any new projects? A. There’s always something new we’re working on at Ambition Worldwide - definitely! I’m currently working on an Ambition Merch line which includes tees, hats and sweats. The Merch line includes entry level pricing to allow those who may not be able to afford our cut and sew to still be part of the Ambition Worldwide brand. Our devoted fans can also look forward to new cut and sew shorts coming soon! Q. How do you come up with the ideas on what the fans want? A. I found that coming up with ideas isn’t actually too difficult. As a fan and student of fashion myself, I’ve watched and followed other designers and brands from the early stages to growing into successful businesses. I think the fact that I could see potential in others’ designs validates that I already had an eye for design in general for what was good. It’s just a balance between trying to stay on trend with cuts and silhouettes and maintaining the integrity and truth of myself in what I like and wear. Q. What advice can you give to others who want to start an apparel line? A. I would advise anyone who wants to create their own line to make sure they have a solid business model and a plan for at least the next 6 months. There will be naysayers but that comes with the territory of being an entrepreneur. They should also take a look at what’s already out there and see if there is something, they think the industry is missing or if they can capitalize on something unique to themselves as a brand. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Everyone can follow the brand on Instagram at @ambitionworldwide. And on my personal page @ thadotman, I always post sneak peaks so they can stay informed about new products, new designs and BTS before the final products make it to the brand page.
Sophia Maria
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guy. Most people will never know that about me because I am so outgoing, being the life of the party! And that I can sing, I just don’t do it for a living. Hosting is my baby and it allows me to be my authentic self and have fun without trying, it feels so natural vibing with the audience. My adrenaline always peeps up when I’m on the stage, it’s definitely a rush. With singing you are under a magnifying glass; people are waiting for you to hit the wrong note and then your career is on thin ice. Too much pressure!
you and keep pushing you towards your highest level of frequency that you can be! If it’s what you truly want, then keep pushing for it and don’t stop. Take the corrective criticism from the industry legends, surround yourself with talent that has longevity, they know the keys to success. Don’t think everyone is hating just because your talent, art or music is not vibing with them, it’s ok that it doesn’t. Hell, everybody doesn’t like Rihanna but look where she is!! You have to believe in yourself more than anyone else does! If you know this is for you then who can be against you. You have to feel that desire so strong that you are willing to keep pushing by your damn self while going up a hill, now remember there are a million others just like you. So how will you set yourself apart from them? How are you any better or different from the same cats that are in your field. And that is where the work comes in, to bring your character and your passion to life so that it will not look or sound like anyone else in your field or in that room at that time! How will you make it shine so bright that it will make you undeniable! I promise you; my personality has gotten me into rooms that my resume could not do at that time! Because I believed in ME!!! I had to understand that my Purpose, My Passion and my Persistence had to stay on fire so that I could become successful!!! Stand on that with Everything that you Are and Everything that you want to Become!! Keep telling yourself “You Got This”
Q. What advice can you give others that want to be in the entertainment industry? A. #1 Attitude is Everything!!!! Keep a Positive Attitude at all times! The negativity will creep in, so you must stay around people that motivates
Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. ShayomyGod Iam Shay OmyGod Shay-Networking For Bookings: ContactShayOmyGod@gmail.com
that has been affected by domestic violence whether it’s mental, physical, phycological or sexual abuse we want them to know that we are here. I am a survivor, so I want to be that lending ear or hand to pull them up. More to come from the Hu$tle Gurl Brand by Shay OmyGod, which is my apparel and eyeglass line & It’s sister brand that is in the development stages now, so that is still a little on the hush hush side... So, I am one busy lady! Q. If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? A. The industry is such a beast and I wish it wasn’t so cutthroat. It almost feels like there aren’t any real friends in this game. It’s either me or you and there can’t be the 2 of us. But I always tell people, “Bill Gates didn’t stop being a millionaire just because Warren Buffett became one or McDonald’s didn’t stop making billions of burgers just because Burger King got into the business or all the other burger chains. There’s enough for everyone, so stop hating on other people’s blessings. Don’t be fake about it either, it’s ok to not like someone but don’t throw salt on them. Doing that can truly block your blessings. What’s for you is for you and it will come in the time that it is intended. Keep working and wait on it! I promise you; I know you will get more favor that way. People will see your attitude about things and will bless you just from that. Q. What is one fun fact about yourself? A. Hmmm, that I am shy when I am on a one on one basis, like with a
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Peter Meyer
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DJ OF THE
MONTH
DJ M.O.S JUNE TOP 10
1. MICHAEL JACKSON ........................Baby Be Mine 2. STEVIE WONDER ............................. Superwoman 3. ARETHA FRANKLIN ..... Until You Come Back To Me 4. NAS ................................................. Life’s A Bitch 5. JAY-Z ........................................ Politics As Usual 6. KANYE WEST FEAT NAS ........................ We Major 7. REEL PEOPLE ... Can We Pretend (Tall Black Guy Remix) 8. LUCKY DAYE .................................. Roll Some Mo 9. JIMI HENDRIX .................................... Little Wing 10. 702 ............................................. I Still Love You