Blaze Magazine

J. Cole “Cole World”

AlbumHit or Miss?

BLAZED

ecem

ber

2011

Courtni StarrThe Rise of Hip-Hop’s Newest Talent

Marijuana

Should it be legal??

Rappers Behind BarsRight of Passage?

Blaze Exclusive

2 Debonair Magazine December 2011 Debonair Magazine December 2011 3

Blaze Magazine2432 55th Street, Suite 210

Chicago, IL 80301

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief

Angel NealCreative DirectorJoshua Williams

Senior EditorJoshua WilliamsWriter at Large

Joshua WilliamsOffice Manager

Angel NealDESIGN

Photo EditorPharrell Williams

Senior Associate Photo EditorAngela Simmons

Associate Art DirectorGabrielle Union

Chicago Sales ManagerJW

(248) [email protected]

Advertising Manager, Beyonce Knowles

(813) 125-1723BK@adscom

Editorial and Business Offices2520 55th St., Suite 210

Chicago, IL 80321

BLAZE

Winter collectionComing SoonHellz Bellz

*All New*

4 Blaze Magazine December 2011 Blaze Magazine December 2011 5

CON10 Courtni Starr Newest Hip-Hip TalentTheres something about Starr. Maybe its her killer blonde hair, her unique voice, or her good-girl gone-bad looks. Whatever it is, she dishes on what inspres her sense of musical style.

8 Fashion Essentials

12 J.Cole Album CheckDid J.Cole’s albulm reach the standards of his fans and his label? Check out the albulm review.

14 Secret LoverThe power of the drug throughout the years

16 From the Stage to the Slammer

6 Editors Note7 Contributors

TENTS

Edito

r’sNOTEOne of the perks of being a part of the editing process is you get to learn about all sorts of places, people and things. I love to hear about rising talent in the world of music. While scouting out talent for our Q&A for this issue in New York, I ran into a blonde haired diva that is ready to take the music industry by storm. She goes by the name of Courtni Starr (pg.11), she is a new “Blaze”ing talent, not quite signed but many lables are looking at her. Her first EP “ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is about to drop really soon. On another note don’t fret our website Blazemagazine.com is now up and running. We promise to bring you original articles, dope fashions, and great cover stories. We have so many years ahead of us to ‘show you how we BLAZE! So what are you waiting for??? Get Blazed.

Angel Neal

Angel Neal xoxoEditor-In-Chief

Reader Feedback“Wale”

Dior Marciano,26Bronx, NYI really loved the album review on Wale in the last issue. I feel like most people don’t give him enough credit. He is definitely someone worth talking about and listening to. His music helped me through a lot of breakups. Thanks for featuring him in last months issue.

“Street Style”

Rico Suave, 22Atlanta, GAI really enjoyed the street style section of last months issue. I get a lot of my inspiration from regular people who can really dress. A lot of magazines focus only on what the stars are wear-ing but you guys provided a different vibe.

“Beyonce Inspired”

Ava Chanel, 23Detroit ,MichiganI really enjoyed the feature on Beyonce. Many magazines were covering her story but you guys put a different spin on it. The fact that she is pregnant and still wants to perform for her fans was a great detail to add to the story. Although I wanted more pictures of her in the story, the copy was to drawn out.

Angela SimmonsBackground: The Pastry designer and self-described “fashion junkie” has worked on assignments in almost five countries styling new talent.Assignment: Simmons styled rising talent (pg.10). Her thoughts about Starr, “She was a pleasure to style because her look is so unique.”What’s next: She’s developing a style forum project for Teen Vogue’s Fashion University in New York the end of January.

Contributers

Gabrielle UnionBackground: A Blaze contributor for over a decade, Union is the critically acclaimed author of two books, most recently Why Drugs are not legalized, (Harper).Assignment: She interviewed people in the Marijuana story ” (page 14).What’s next: She’s plans to do college tours with BET. For more information check out her blog Gabs4real.com

Pharrell WilliamsBackground: One of America’s leading fashion designers , producers, and self proclaimed photographer.Assignment: He shot the cover story (J.Cole, pg.12) and the photos for (Courtni Starr, pg.10).What’s next: Williams is working on his winter launch collection of his popular brand Billionaire Boys Club. He also plans to market his new artist Teyana Taylor this upcoming spring. He can be reached at bbc.com.

BLAZE

Blaze Magazine December 2011 7 6 Blaze Magazine December 2011

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Ladies Night Out!!! Let your hair down and... relax

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Steve Madden Traise Blue Suede $90

Aquamarine Earrings 10k White Gold Square-cut $152

Club Monaco Necklace $189

Banana Republic Remington Leather Drawstring $198

XOXO Slim Dress $59

Boutique 9 Quin leather pumps $78

Makeup Price: Sky is the limit

Aldo Dwyer $110

Burberry Sunglasses $210

Louis Vuitton bag $1400

Essentials

Men:Under $2,000

Citzen Watch $500

Abercom

bie & Fitch $250

Blaze Magazine December 2011 98 Blaze Magazine December 2011

Courtni StarrHip-hop’s newest and brightest talent, Courtni Starr dishes about her journey into the world of music. A native of Largo, Florida, she is willing in ready to take the Hip-Hop game to a new level.

By. Angel NealBlaze: How did Coutrni Starr get started? Starr: I laugh when people ask me this. I started singing before I could speak. I guess you can say I started in the church choir, and doing talent shows when I was a little girl. I thank God everyday I wake up, because he didn’t have to bless me with this special gift.Blaze: Who are some of your musical influences?Starr: There are so many I could name. I’m really inspired by Beyonce. Not only as a singer but as a true entertainer. Also artist such as Amy Whinehouse, Prince, Lauryn Hill influence me as well. I love those who have their own distinctive sound, the ones that are not afraid to just take chances in be themselves with their music. I like people who are original.Blaze: What is your writing process like? Where do you get your inspiration?Starr: I’m inspired by my everyday life. I write about stuff that happens to me or stuff I want to happen to me. Of course past relationships influence some of my writing and sometimes the people around me. I’m always writing.Blaze: How would you describe your sound of music?Starr: I’m all over the place because I sing and I rap. I get asked this question a lot and I always say my music is timeless music tunes. I’m like a female Drake. I can’t personally put a distinctive sound on myself, its just feel good music. I would say though I definitely have a hip-hop vibe.

Photos by. Hollywood

Blaze: What artist have you worked with?Starr: I’ve worked with artists such as Plies, Drake, Chris Brown, Chris J and Jazmin Sullivan and some top-notch producers. I’m willing to work with more. I like the fact that I’m learning as I grow from those who have accomplished so much already. My remix for “Best you Ever had” with Drake got a lot of attention. I recently collaborated with pop divas “Super”. Our track “Oxygen” has just been released on Russell Simmons GlobalGrind.com. So I believe my hard work is paying off.Blaze: So I hear you’re going to drop an EP before the end of the year titled “Gentlemen prefer Blondes”. What can we expect to hear?Starr: I don’t want to give it all away. Similar tracks to “Charlie Brown Teacher” a track I released a few months ago. That track is getting great reviews. My EP will feature songs that can appeal to the R&B and Hip-Hop in you.Blaze: Where could people keep in touch with your latest projects and your music?Starr: My web site wwww.courtnistarr.com is a good start. People can also follow me on twitter @courtniStarr.Blaze: You have an original look what inspired the blonde hair?Starr: Growing up I was a tomboy but as I matured I wanted to express my womanly side. The blonde hair is just me being me, I’ve had it forever.

“I’m like a female Drake”


J. Cole A Cole WorldThe Sideline Story

Three years ago, with no warning, a young

MC from

North Carolina captivated the ears of lis-teners. His choppy flow, m

elodic beats and con-scious content was a nice escape from

what had becom

e the brain drain called hip-hop. Finally, one of the m

ost antici

he puts to good use on the

album;

something

we have grown to expect from

him. The produc-

tion was mostly handled

by Cole, but some of the

beats have too much go-

ing on. Key tracks such as Dollar and a Dream

, Mr.

Nice Watch and Nobody

Perfect are perfect fits for the album

. . However, the addition of old m

ix tape

tracks such as Lights Please,

Who

Dat and In the M

orning leave som

ething to

be desired. In the end, it m

ay have been im

possible for Cole to live up to the ex-pectations we all had. Perhaps he is not the im

-m

ediate solution to the problem

with hip-hop, but surely he has

pated albums of the year

has hit the shelves. J. Cole’s A Cole W

orld: The Sideline Story m

arks the debut of the North Caro-linian rapper/producer.

The first thing you notice when listen-ing to the album

is J. Cole is norm

al. The album

is pleasantly ab-sent

the gangster

ex-aggerations of being a cold-blooded killer, Es-cobar type drug kingpin or whale with unlim

ited funds. “I’m

just a regular guy, everyday joe, that can actually rap pretty good,” Cole

told DJ

green Lantern in an interview on Invasion radio.

Cole can rap pretty well, a skill

“Yo

un

g n

***a w

ith

his je

an

s lo

w... n

ice

gu

Y just g

ot a

me

an

flo

w”

>>>>> BYJoshua S

. William

s

solidified him

self as

an artist that will be around

for years

to com

e.12 Blaze Magazine December 2011

Photos take by John Cruz

1969- A Gallup poll says 4% percent of adults said they had tried marijuana. 43 percent said they thought it was used by many or some high school kids. 1972- A Gallup poll says 60 percent of Americans thought marijuana was addictive. 1972- National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse release a report recommending the decriminalization of mari-juana for personal use.1973- 12 percent of respon-dents to a Gallup poll say they had tried marijuana.1973- Richard Nixon proposes Reorganization Plan Number 2. The DEA is created. 1977- A Gallup poll says 24 per-cent of respondents had tried

marijuana.1978- 66 percent of respondents to a Gallup poll say marijuana was a serious problem in mid-dle schools and high schools. 1980- Ronald Reagan war on drugs begins. He once said “I now have absolute proof that smoking even one marijuana cigarette is equal in brain dam-age to being on Bikini Island during a hydrogen bomb blast.”1982- One person is arrested every 38 seconds for marijuana. 1985- An estimated one-third of Americans had used mari-juana in their life.1998- Washington decriminal-izes the use of medical Mari-juana. 1999- The Institute of Medicine

issues a report saying “There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are ca-sually linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.”2000- 1,579,566 total arrests for drug abuse. 45 percent are for marijuana possession.2006- The American Cancer Society releases a study saying that heavy marijuana use does not cause cancer. 2009- A CBS News poll finds that for 41 percent of Ameri-cans support the legalization of marijuana and 52 percent are opposed. 2011- A Gallup poll shows more than 50 percent of Ameri-cans support the legalization of marijuana.

The issue of marijuana legal-ization has seemingly gone in a full circle. Modern science and increased liberalism has led to a more informed and tolerant public. What was once considered socially intol-erable is now beginning to be accepted. Recently, more than ever. the issue of marijuana legalization has picked up steam. It is unclear when and if marijuana will be legal, but public perception has surely changed. It’s only a matter of time until the laws reflect the public’s outlook.

Secret LoverA History of Marijuana Public condemnation…..Private consumption.

College students and CEO’s, from basements to board-rooms, ball-players and bank-ers, America has had a long-standing affair with Mary Jane; not Spiderman’s secret love por-trayed by Kristen Dunst in the 2001 film. Her sweet stench has filled the hallways of projects and frat houses alike. Congress-men and common folks have all had a run in with this lady. Whether a casual conversation, a one night stand or unrelent-ing love that would rival Aph-rodite, we all know her name, her smell. However, the legal-ization, effect and use of mari-juana has long been a contro-versial topic.

1619- The first American mari-juana law is enacted in James-town, VA. The law made Indian hemp seed a mandatory crop.1906- The FDA is created as part of the Pure Food and Drugs Act.1913-1928- States begin passing anti-marijuana laws.1930- U.S. Department of Trea-sury creates the Federal Bureau of Narcotics1930- Harry J. Anslinger is named the first commissioner of the FBN. He declares a war on drugs.1936- “Tell your children” is distributed; the film is widely regarded as a propaganda film, claiming that marijuana causes madness.

1937- The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 is passed. The law did not criminalize marijuana but it levied strong taxes and strict regulations on the use and growth of marijuana.1937- Samuel R. Caldwell is convicted for selling marijuana. He becomes the first person convicted for marijuana. His customer is convicted of pos-session. Caldwell is sentenced to four years in prison. 1950- Officials claim marijuana is a gateway drug to heroin.1951- Congress passed the Boggs Act. The act increased penalties for drug violations. This is the first time marijuana is classified in the same catego-ry as narcotics.

1956- The Narcotic Control Act passes. Penalties become even stiffer for marijuana and it criminalizes the transport of all narcotics, including marijuana.1961- The Single Convention on Narcotics Treaty is signed. Marijuana becomes illegal worldwide.1969- Timothy Leary, who was convicted for possession of Marijuana without a stamp, challenges the court’s decision on the grounds that the act violated his Fifth Amendment right against self- incrimi-nation. The Supreme Court agrees. The Marijuana Tax Act is ruled unconstitutional.

By Pharell WilliamsPhotos by Gabrielle Union


Banging beats and hot lyrics once was all an artist needed to be successful—that is no longer the case. In an industry that has grown to idolize gangster rappers like 2pac and Bigge Smalls, it has become necessary for the modern artist to have “street-cred”. Selling drugs and killing people have become mandatory criteria on the checklist of record executives and listen-ers alike. To satisfy the demands of the masses, it would seem rappers are forced to coexist between the glamour’s of Hollywood and the dim realties of prison. “Either die or go prison, that’s a hell of a decision,” T.I. said on his 2008 album Paper trail. T.I., who was recently released from federal prison on gun charges, is no stranger to the judicial system. He like many other rap artist can’t seem to stay out of jail. “I think rappers are expected to live that type of life,” G-fat, a local Tallahassee producer/en-gineer said. “We expect rappers to be thugs. That’s how they portray themselves and that’s what sells.”

From the Stage to the SlammerRappers run in with the law

Either die or go to prison, That’s a hell of a desision.

Shortly after being arrested in 2007, T.I. released his first single, Whatever You Like. off of his upcoming album Paper Trail. According to Billboard.com, the single would become the most successful single of his career and break the record for highest jump to the #1 spot. “I think that some rappers don’t just live the Hollywood life is what people like,” David Chin, a former FAMU student said. “Them going to prison is not a good thing, but I think it appeals to

some of the street people. It’s something they can relate to.”Perhaps it is a way for artist to connect to their fan base, but according to Newsweek Magazine, nearly 80 percent of hip-hop records purchased are purchased by young white males. So who are these rappers appealing to?Matthew Knighton, a Chicago producer said, “rap-pers are people like everyone else. A lot of them

grew up in the hood. With fame comes attention, it’s not that their doing something out of their character or something that doesn’t go on every day. It’s just the whole world is watch-ing now.”Whatever the cause, it would seem rap artist will continue to go to jail and the public will keep buying their records. Perhaps the business thinking is right, controversy sells.

Rappers in jail in 2011

T.I.Remy MaDa BratLil BoosieGucci ManeBlack RobDMXC-Murder TurkG DepLil wayne

Photo taken by Steve Hilton

By Pharell Williams


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