Interviews

By Souleo/Souleo Enterprises, LLC, Media Content Producer

My worst Christmas memory does not involve realizing that Santa Claus isn't a man of color born in Harlem or receiving a gift without the receipt for exchange purposes. Instead Christmas always manages to conjure the empty feeling of disappointment since in the third grade I lost the title role in "The Nutcracker" to my terribly misbehaved classmate. I was selected to be a mouse, not even the Mouse King! See, I'm still a little bitter which is why I was only marginally excited to attend "A New Holiday Revue" held at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The always polished Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis reworked classic Christmas tunes into instrumentals, which complemented certain songs and made others almost unrecognizable. Marsalis was an amiable host full of witty banter. Uncharacteristically, gospel singer Kim Burrell appeared stiff and did not go all-out "church" on the sophisticated audience. She was decidedly restrained even on the soulful Donny Hathaway cut, "This Christmas."

I don't recall doing much dancing in "The Nutcracker" but if I did I wouldn't have wanted the performers from Ballet Hispanico to join and upstage me. The company celebrating its 75^th anniversary made a safe but solid debut at the Apollo Theater with Arturo O' Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. After two repertory staples, "Club Havana" and "Tito on Timbales," the company premiered artistic director, Eduardo Vilaro's "Asuka," an homage to Celia Cruz. Vilaro's work was notable for same-sex dance pairings and women dipping men. "It is important for me to gender role play," Vilaro says. "There is nothing wrong with same-sex movement. Culture is not static and it evolves with the times." Overall, the production could have benefited from more innovative moments to reach its full potential.

Later that evening I headed to Joe's Pub for the birthday concert of rock soul ballerina, Kimberly Nichole. Nichole possesses a powerful voice which she whips, cracks, dips, spins and twirls in emotional fever pitches on songs such as "Disconnected," her debut album's title cut, "The Yellow Brick Journey," and her cover of "Cry Baby." As an independent female African-American rock artist, Nichole knows that gaining mainstream acceptance is a challenge but she is undeterred. "You rarely see black women doing rock music in mainstream, but we do exist," she notes. "I can't focus on how many of 'us' are in a specific style or genre. Mainstream will catch on very soon." After her set Nichole received a special birthday/Christmas gift from creative artist, Beau McCall. Nichole told me that she loves the present which is a bra designed by McCall adorned in his signature style of buttons, "I put it on and danced around my Harlem abode. It's perfect for the stage."

Now that reminds me that I need to let go of my failed stage debut in "The Nutcracker," embrace the holiday spirit and do some last-minute Christmas shopping around Harlem.

Souleo Enterprises, LLC is the umbrella company that creates and produces entertaining, empowering and informative media and philanthropic projects by founder, Souleo.

The Takeover-A Thanksgiving Day to Remember w/SODA

It's turkey day, which means lots of food and full bellies that will wreak havoc on a few bowel systems. It also means a few, err awkward moments with your alcoholic aunt, creepy uncle and annoying cousins. But hey, isn't that what Thanksgiving Day is all about? A time to get together and create some memories that you'll treasure or pray to forget. Today SODA, Blonde Gang, SOS and Theodore Grams are telling us their favorite Thanksgiving Day tales. Pass the peas!

SODA: Wop! Bam! Boom!

"My cousin made a plate and it was humungous. She then sat in the chair and exploded as all four-chair legs broke down. The plate went all up in the air and she grabbed all the food. That was a good Thanksgiving right there."

BLONDEGANG: Who You Callin' Turkey?

"We had a down south trip in Opa-Locka, Florida. We hunted a turkey and grilled one, fried one and boiled one. This is a true story."

SOS: Kids Say the Craziest Things

"My youngest brother was ten and we had out-of-town cousins come with their newborn baby. Somebody commented earlier that the baby wasn't cute and my youngest brother heard them. So as we were sitting at the table my cousins asked if anybody wanted to see the baby. My brother said, 'Nobody wants to see that baby. You know he is ugly.' We all got quiet and were shocked. We all acted like it didn't happen and went along with the day."

Theodore Grams: I Got the Munchies

"We all go to thanksgiving dinner in New Jersey and we always sneak out to go smoke before we eat. I eat a lot and it helps me digest my food pretty well. The cold wind and cold weather helps get the scent off and we might spray something in the air to get rid of the smell too."

My Favorite Recipes w/SODA

If you didn't know it by now, SODA, BLONDEGANG, SOS and Theodore Grams is quite an eclectic bunch. So what better way to dive headfirst into the root of their eccentricities by asking them to select their favorite _________. SODA kicks things off with his most scrumptious, most delicious and most decadent Thanksgiving Day recipes. Yeah, he cooks but we're not sure we'd want to put our digestive system to the test with a bowl of these entrees.

Dirty Macaroni

Ingredients: Dirt, cheese, macaroni and greatness

"This is a real recipe. It is a staple because it brings the family together. A little dirt doesn't hurt. I recommend that you get your dirt from the nearest garden or under the rug. Dirt is hard to find these days since it is a recession."

Squirrel Meat

Ingredients: A squirrel, nuts and your imagination

"Find a squirrel and make meat. To catch a squirrel you need to use squirrel lingo. Say 'Give 'em some of these.' Then the squirrel says 'What's these?' You say 'Nuts.' After that you grab your squirrel and make meat out of it."

My Favorite Blondes w/BLONDEGANG

Marilyn Monroe

"She is a fashion icon and a bad girl. She went against the grain and did her own thing. She played like dudes said I will mess with that dude and that dude 'cause that's what she wanted to do."

Billy Idol

"His music is heavy rock with lots of screaming and wailing like on 'Rebel Yell.' He puts lots of energy into his performances. That's one of the formulas we looked at for inspiration. He also had great style with his hair spiked up and wearing leather jackets."

Ric Flair

"He was flamboyant and he can kick your ass. He is the champion of wrestling and talked a whole lot of s*** and smacked the s*** out of people. Everybody loves Ric Flair."

My Favorite Producers w/SOS

The Neptunes

Song: "Lap Dance" recorded by N.E.R.D.

"They are the first ones to bridge super gangsta music with something totally different. They opened that whole door to the hood to do different stuff like rock out on a song and then have drummer beats. They went anywhere with it."

Timbaland

Song: "Big Pimpin'" recorded by Jay-Z feat. UGK

"He has the best drums in the world and it very rhythmic. He found all of those Middle Eastern sounds and it is different. That always makes greatness."

Quincy Jones

Song: "Off the Wall" recorded by Michael Jackson

"He made hits for generations and generations and it never stops. His music gives a good feeling and sticks with you even days later."

My Favorite Inspirations w/Theodore Grams

Rza

Song: "Liquid Sword," recorded by Wu-Tang Clan

"He has so much creativity. He took the concept of Wu-Tang Clan and mixed it with old Chinese movies that had a lot of meaning to it. He put it in the music through the drum patterns and samples to follow a storyline."

Oprah Winfrey

"She is a capitalist. She can capitalize on any type of situation."

David Guetta

Song; "Where Them Girls At," recorded by Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida

"I like the way he mixes his songs and makes it feel in the club and car. He differentiates his music for various types of environments."

SODA, BLONDEGANG, SOS and Theodore Grams each have their own unique sense of style and today we're getting them to select their top Jimmy Jazz items from our online catalog. Don't worry we don't think you'll need to dye your hair yellow or pink like BLONDEGANG in order to make these selections work for you. So get fall right with these picks.

SODA

G-Shock GA 110 Hypercolor Watch

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/accessories/g-shock-ga110-hypercolor-watch/GA110HC1A?color=Black

"I'll G-Shock my wrist so I won't be so shocked when daylight saving time comes around."

Beats by Dre Studio HD Headphones

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/accessories/beats-by-dre-studio-hd-headphones/MHBEATSPIOE?color=Black

"Beats by Dre + D.T.F. = eargasm."

Nike Air Max CB 34 Sneaker

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/footwear/nike-air-max-cb-34-sneaker/414243003?color=Grey

"Why, Charles Barkley's style you ask? 'Cause I wanted these kicks since I was a toddler."

BLONDEGANG

Levi's Welder Jeans

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/clothing/levis-welder-jean/046630004?color=Dark%20Blue

"We have a song called, 'Blonde Gang Tee.' The hook goes, 'All I need is a fresh pair of Levi's jeans and a BLONDEGANG tee shirt with my raiders snap back it's on.. Ain't much you can tell me now."

The North Face Fuzzy Earflap Beanie

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/accessories/the-north-face-fuzzy-earflap-beanie/APDBJK3?color=Black

"We chose this because the girl wearing it is so hot."

SOS

Polo Footwear Declan Boot

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/footwear/polo-footwear-declan-boot/8161431280T9?color=Black

"I like these because I was wearing them back when everybody still had trees on. I miss my low boots."

Mitchell and Ness Philadelphia Eagles NFL Snapback Cap

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/accessories/mitchell-and-ness-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-snapback-cap/NE90ZMTC6EAG?color=Green

"Even though were not having the season I expected I still bleed green."

Good Wood Bracelets

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/accessories/good-wood-nyc-3-pck-bracelets/GWB0005?color=Black

"I wear mine like a watch. Whenever someone asks me what time it is I say 420. You know time to get high."

Theodore Grams

Nike Air Griffey Max 2 Sneaker

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/footwear/nike-air-griffey-max-2-sneaker/442171001?color=Black

"I just recently brought a pair of these. I think any classic baseball player that had a Nike sneaker definitely had one for a reason."

Levi's 569 Jean

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/clothing/levis-569-jean/265690006?color=Dark%20Blue

"You can't go wrong with a classic pair of Levi's. It makes me feel comfortable, especially during shows when I'm running around and moving a lot."

The North Face Nuptse 2 Jacket

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/clothing/the-north-face-nuptse-2-jacket/AUFDJK3?color=Black

"Any certified '90's baby knows you can't deny a good North Face jacket when the fall comes around. It gets brisk in Philly so to keep the wind off your back, it's good to have one of these."

As usual we launch with The Questions. Read each acts entry to discover which questions led to responses such as squirrel meat, setting pants on fire and sleeping with Beyonce.

Questions: SODA

I'm at my best when...scratch and sniff.

I'm at my worst when...I'm out of squirrel meat.

The first thing I do in the morning is...brush my teeth.

I keep energy up by...the crack of moon.

I know I've got a good song when...The Jose Cuervo brothers go wild.

I've always wanted to...know the secret language of giraffes.

If I could, I still wouldn't...braid my underarm hair.

The best thing about being myself is...back fat.

A great hidden talent of mine is...I can breathe underwater.

My most embarrassing moment is...using my access card with coupons.

Questions: Blonde Gang

We are at our best when...under pressure.\

We are at our worst when...your best isn't good enough.

The first thing we do in the morning is...record music.

We keep our energy up by...listening to our music.

We know we have a good song when...the girls sing it word for word.

We've always wanted to...perform in London.

If we could, we still wouldn't...compromise art for money.

The best thing about being ourselves is...our hair glows in the dark.

Our greatest hidden talent is...We are demigods.

Our most embarrassing moment is...setting fire to our pants.

Questions: SOS

I'm at my best when...all the time.

I'm at my worst when...I had too much Jose Cuervo.

The first thing I do in the morning is...smoke.

I keep my energy up by...drinking energy drinks.

I know I've got a good song when...SODA says it's hot.

I've always wanted to...sleep with Beyonce.

If I could, I still wouldn't...sleep with Beyonce.

The best thing about being myself is...being me.

A great hidden talent of mine is...I am a great chef.

My most embarrassing moment is...when I fell off the stage backward and forward over a bundle of wires.

Questions: Theodore Grams

I'm at my best when...I'm around family.

I'm at my worst when...I'm not comfortable.

The first thing I do in the morning is...look at my daughter's picture and write two songs.

I keep my energy up by...partying hard.

I know I've got a good song when...I have dreams about it and I wake up and can't stop singing it.

I've always wanted to...sneak into the White House and take pictures of myself doing dumb stuff on statues.

If I could, I still wouldn't...stop getting intoxicated.

The best thing about being myself is...people never know what I'm gonna say or do next.

A great hidden talent of mine is...I can travel through time.

My most embarrassing moment is...having 38 people show up to one of my shows and I promoted the hell out of it.

Jimmy Jazz is proud to announce that tomorrow, November 19^th you will have the chance to meet Philadelphia hip-poppers, SOS & SODA. The in-store meet-and-greet will take place at our Franklin Mills location in Philadelphia, PA from 6-7:30PM. They will be there signing copies of their "D.T.F." single which is available for free at all of our Philly locations throughout the month of November.

Now, as you know we've been championing the two talented young indie artists for quite some time. It looks like all that support is finally paying off as not only will they appear in-store but also on November 25^th, you can catch them live at the TLA. To celebrate we are launching an entire Takeover week dedicated to SOS & SODA. However they're not doing it alone as they've brought along a few friends: BLONDEGANG and Theodore Grams. These two additional acts will be joining them at their performance on Black Friday.

BLONDEGANG is a self-described group composed of "misfits," with an array of colorful hairstyles and hyper energetic live shows. Lyve, Kidd Sweeney of 787, Bok Nero, Plane Walker, Shy the Social Misfit, Sik Photos, Reese bux and Jamiil Hankins bring together a mixture of sounds and genres from rock to pop to hip-hop that has helped them develop a dedicated underground following.

Theodore Grams, or as he is affectionately known by his followers, "Baby Jesus" has been writing music since 11. Now at the age of 22, he has developed a list of credits whether it's sampling indie bands with Chiddy Bang's Xaphoon Jones, or flipping a pop record for an energetic trap track for Yung Triz.

We highly doubt that centuries ago when legendary poet and playwright, William Shakespeare was crafting "Romeo & Juliet," that it ever crossed his mind he would one day inspire lyrics about a gangsta named, Tony Montana. Yet, that's exactly what has occurred as Shakespeare is one of FUTURE's greatest influences, along with Too Short. For FUTURE the bard gets props for knowing how to effectively put his words together. "I loved how the words were so powerful and how it could make someone feel you. That's when I knew words were positive in how you put them together," he said. Today FUTURE selects his top 3 hip-hop songs, which have that powerful Shakespeare factor and would make the scribe proud.

Artist: Queen Latifah

Song: "U.N.I.T.Y."

The Shakespeare Factor: "You know what she is talking about by what she is saying."

Artist: Slick Rick

Song: "Children's Story"

The Shakespeare Factor: "You know he is talking about when you listen to the song because he describes everything from what he had on to what he did. He painted a picture of people walking down the street."

Artist: 2Pac

Song: "Dear Mama"

The Shakespeare Factor: "He shows how much he loves his mama no mater what she did and you're a strong black woman no matter what."

When a hip-hop artist chooses his/her moniker there is usually a thought process involved in the selection. For Atlanta native, Navyvadius Cash that thought process involved tapping into his confidence and ambition to give himself the all caps name of: FUTURE. So how could we deny devoting a week to someone this driven? The answer is we couldn't and that's why from November 8^th to November 11^th we are covering the past, present and FUTURE. You may know him from his hit single featuring Drake, "Tony Montana," or his work on YC's BET Hip-Hop Award nominated smash, "Racks." Now after years of making a name for himself on the mixtape circuit, the Epic Records artist is grinding even harder as he gears up for the forthcoming release of his debut album, Pluto.

Today we launch with The Questions where FUTURE dropped a few one-liners about his clothing line, Freebandz Apparel, what he needs in a woman, what his sunglasses hide and more.

My past is...behind me and now is the FUTURE.

My present is...Epic Records.

My future is...Freebandz Apparel, which is my clothing line that I'm designing.

The most important lesson I've learned from the streets is...keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.

The hardest thing for me to change is...to cut my hair. I've been growing it for 10 years.

Tony Montana and I share this in common....the struggle. We both had to overcome things to make it. He came to America and worked his way up from the bottom to create an empire.

My favorite meal is...black-eyed peas.

To win me over a woman needs to...cater to my needs. She has to know how to cook and give a nice backrub.

My sunglasses are essential because...I don't want to be figured out 'cause I want it to be about the music, not if I'm high or sober.

When she is not on the court, Essence can be found wearing various looks from sophisticated to preppy. So we decided to entrust her to choose some of this season's hottest looks that will have you scoring off the board.

Baby Phat Chanel Esque Jacket

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/baby-phat-chanel-esque-jacket/K3E00005?color=Pink

"I like this piece for its versatility. It can be played with jeans as it is it on the site or paired with a black turtleneck, leggings and boots and even with a skirt."

Essentials Harem Jegging

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/images/products/PL188/jj/PL188_black_essentials_harem_jegging1.jpg

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/essentials-harem-jegging/PL188?color=Black

"What can I say, it is essential, and a must-have."

Coogi Hooded Varsity Jacket

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/coogi-hooded-varsity-jacket/F6CG19ESCG?color=Black

"This look has never lost its appeal and the black and white look is official."