Posts made in January 2021

Chicago Joins the Independent Drivers Guild

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Chicago gig workers and organizers are joining with the nation’s largest organization of rideshare drivers to launch a Chicago branch of the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG), a drivers’ rights organization affiliated with the Machinists Union. IDG-Chicago will aim to empower Chicago gig workers and advocate for rights, protections and benefits for the drivers who keep Chicago moving.

The longtime Chicago rideshare driver organizers behind Gig Workers Matter are joining forces and becoming part of the IDG to expand efforts to empower the city’s tens of thousands of rideshare drivers. Gig Workers Matter has played a critical role in advocating for Chicago rideshare drivers and other gig economy workers, from mobilizing hundreds of Chicago drivers to advocate for their rights in the state legislature to providing critical information and support to drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These Chicago driver-organizers will expand their work advocating for gig workers as IDG-Chicago while benefiting from the experience and expertise of being part of the nation’s largest and most impactful driver organization.

Chicago rideshare drivers Lenny Sanchez, Steven Everett, and Mark Smithivas who co-founded Gig Workers Matter and helped organize Chicago’s largest gig worker actions like a demonstration at the Chicago Uber hub, and a rolling advocacy action at O’Hare. The three said they were excited to scale up driver advocacy efforts in their hometown with IDG-Chicago.

“For too long Uber and Lyft have held all the power. They hike prices for riders, cut pay for drivers and change the app whenever they want and drivers don’t have any recourse. We’re excited to launch IDG-Chicago to fight back,” said rideshare driver and IDG-Chicago co-founder Lenny Sanchez.

“IDG beat the odds to win higher pay and benefits for drivers in New York City and working together, we know we can do the same here in Chicago,” said Steven Everett, a Chicago rideshare driver who has been organizing gig workers in Chicago for over two years.

Mark Smithivas, a driver and organizer with GWM who is co-founding IDG-Chicago with Sanchez and Everett, noted, “Building power for gig workers is not easy, especially when the big platform companies have millions to pour into lobbying campaigns like we saw in California. We can’t let drivers get steam-rolled in Chicago. We need a voice in our future.”

After decades organizing for-hire vehicle drivers in New York City, the Machinists Union helped New York drivers form the Independent Drivers Guild in 2016. Since that time, the Guild has grown from representing 60,000 drivers to advocating for more than 200,000 drivers across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The new expansion to Chicago will allow the Guild to advocate for tens of thousands of additional drivers.

The IDG has achieved landmark victories for rideshare drivers that have put billions of dollars in drivers’ pockets, from requiring Uber to add a tipping option in the app to petitioning for and winning the nation’s first minimum wage protection for rideshare drivers, which New York City found raised driver pay by half a billion dollars in a six month period. The Guild also fought for and won an appeals process for Uber and Lyft drivers to dispute unfair firings or deactivations and benefits including free vision, telemedicine, and counseling.

“When workers stand together we can achieve real change. With both of our organization’s focus on new 21st century organizing models, we can achieve tremendous changes for the drivers in Chicago and Illinois. We are excited to launch IDG Chicago as we continue to expand our campaign to empower gig workers,” said Brendan Sexton, Executive Director of the Independent Drivers Guild.

Chicago gig workers can learn more HERE

Drake’s Organic Spiked Ice Pops

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Drake’s Organic Spirits recently announced that its Drake’s Organic Spiked Ice freeze-and-eat adult pops are outselling established national vodka and tequila brands in California, according to sales numbers from Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits, the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States.

Drake’s Organic Spiked Ice are handheld ice pops that feature 15% ABV and only 80 calories each. Spiked Ice is available in four flavors: Mango Rum Punch, Vodka Lemonade, Watermelon Martini and Classic Mojito. Award-winning all-organic, ultra-premium vodka and white rum makes up Drake’s Organic Spirits. As a result, they contain no artificial colors or flavors and freeze with twice the ABV as other brands.

“We know consumers care about the ingredients that go into the products they’re eating and drinking.” No state is as committed to organic products and sustainability than California. In California, 90% of households buy organic on a regular basis. Drake’s Organic Spirits commits to producing spirits made with the highest quality organic, non-GMO ingredients. These are better for the body and planet,” said Drake’s Founder and CEO Mark Anderson.

Drake’s Organic Spirits is the first and only spirit line in the world to be certified USDA organic, non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. As a result, the five certifications ensure a cleaner drinking option that comes only from the highest quality organic ingredients.

Drake’s Organic Premium Vodka was awarded Double Gold and Drake’s Organic White Rum received Gold at the most recent Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Convention & Exposition in Orlando, FL. The judges are industry experts who blind taste-test each spirit. Therefore, the most prestigious in the industry recognizes and respects Drake’s Organic White Rum.

Drake’s Organic Spiked Ice, Organic Vodka, Organic White Rum, Organic Spiced Rum and Organic Mixes are available at hundreds of locations throughout California including select Ralphs, Save Mart, Lucky, FoodMaxx, Albertsons, Vons and Target stores. However, if you would like a complete list of locations offering Drake’s products, click HERE.

About Drake’s Organic Spirits

In 2017 Minneapolis-based Drake’s Organic Spirits launched. Drake’s sources the highest quality USDA organic and non-GMO Project Verified ingredients to create a line of ultra-premium spirits and mixers. The Drake’s spirit line currently consists of Drake’s Organic Vodka, Drake’s Organic White Rum and Drake’s Organic Spiced Rum. Organic cane sugar, rather than grain, which produces a smooth, clean aftertaste, makes up Drake’s Organic Spirits. Drake’s Spirits are all 12-times distilled, creating an ultra-premium hand-crafted spirit at a price that beats the leading premium brands. Drake’s recently began producing bulk sanitizer to meet the need for cleaner, safer environments.

Follow Drake’s Organic Sprits

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

J.I. Releases Spotify Singles

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Last summer Spotify announced their newest RADAR partnership with Brooklyn’s own, J.I. Launched in March 2020, RADAR has served as the platform for Spotify’s Global Emerging Artist Program, encompassing over 20 global sister programs, and represents Spotify’s commitment to supporting artists across all stages of their development across all genres. Today, the rising artist to watch releases his inaugural Spotify Singles. Recorded in his NYC hometown last fall, Side A is a stripped-back, piano-driven version of J.I.’s single “Letter 2 U,” off his recently released Hood Life Krisis Vol. 3 EP and Side B is a gorgeous cover of Drake’s iconic “Marvins Room.” Of the tracks he shares “The reasons why I picked these tracks are because ‘Letter 2 U’ was the first single off HLK V.3 and was very well received. I picked to cover Drake because he is a prolific staple for Generation Z. ‘Marvin’s Room’ is a vibe so recreating this song made sense.”

J.I. – Dual eSingle “Spotify Singles” (Spotify Exclusive)

“Letter 2 U” Acoustic: HERE

“Marvins Room”: HERE

The exclusive Spotify singles arrive fresh off the heels of the latest installment of his mixtape trilogy, Hood Life Krisis Vol. 3 which features 7-tracks including a solo Reggaetón single, “Suficiente” (Sufficient) as well as the highly anticipated collaboration, “R&B Shit” featuring fellow NYC rapper, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (which XXL listed as on of their 13 best news songs of the week). Released via G*Starr Ent./Geffen Records the project garnered attention from Complex (“has quickly grown to become one of the brightest acts out right now”), Billboard (“J.I. looks to bearhug the NY rap scene once more with his third installment.”), HotNewHipHop (the young emcee did not disappoint on the new project”) and more. He was also named one of Rolling Stone’s “Biggest Breakthrough Artists of 2020” and landed a spot on The New York Times “Best Songs of 2020 Playlist.” At 19-years-old, J.I. continues to be a force to be reckoned with.

Driving more than four billion streams since the program began in 2017, Spotify Singles was created to give artists an opportunity to record new versions of their own songs, and the songs of the artists they love. The Singles scope includes a unique version of each artist’s own song (Side A) and a cover song of their choosing (Side B). To date, there have been over 300 Singles recorded as part of the program.

Connect with J.I.

Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Straight Up Steve Austin Season 2 Returns Jan. 11

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In “Straight Up Steve Austin,” WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and a celebrity guest get real, heading out to different cities across America to take part in one-of-a-kind adventures, while swapping stories about their lives and careers. It’s a unique twist on the standard interview show, with no studio, no couch and no cue cards — just a straight up good time and good old-fashioned American fun. Season one was 2019’s #1 new unscripted cable series for men between the ages of 18-49 and 25-54.*

Second season guests include stand-up comedian and one of this generation’s best storytellers Bert Kreischer, NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair, hip hop icon and actor Ice-T, award-winning country musician Luke Combs, acclaimed comedian, actor and host Joel McHale, “Jackass” prankster Steve-O, and producer and Emmy Award-winning comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish.

The series is produced by Line by Line Media and executive produced by Steve Austin, Dave Barsky, Deb Cullen, Sam Sarkoob and Bob Unger.

Watch the trailer: HERE

#StraightUpSteveAustin

About USA Network

USA Network has been a #1 cable entertainment network for 14 years, and is home to the most compelling television properties in the industry. Serving a broad, passionate fanbase, USA’s diverse slate includes popular award-winning dramas, unfiltered family comedies, buzzy unscripted, weekly live WWE programming, and a portfolio of sought-after acquired series and movies. USA is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

*Source: Nielsen L3 (000), 12/30/18-11/19/19, M-Su 6p-12a, 6+ telecasts

Over 32% Of TikTok Users Are In Their Teens

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Social Media platform TikTok has continued its meteoric rise since an important merger in 2018 that took the platform globally, permeating the mainstream. The platform is especially popular among the younger generation with a majority of teens using Tiktok in the US. According to data presented by Stock Apps, over 30% of Tiktok users are in their teens which is the biggest among all age groups. More data indicates that 7 in 10 American teens use Tiktok at least once a month.

The Early Days of Tiktok

Tiktok is a social media platform that originated in China and is locally known there as Douyin. Douyin was started by ByteDance in 2016 and aimed to spread globally once it gained popularity in mainland China. In 2017 ByteDance launched Tiktok which was the international version of Douyin.

In 2018, Bytedance reportedly spent up to $1B to acquire Musical.ly, another Chinese social media startup based out of Shanghai that was founded in 2014. Musical.ly already had a large following, especially among the younger generation. This became the foundation for Tiktok’s global rise. Since their merger, Tiktok has been made available to download in over 150 countries and 75+ languages.

Tiktok Widely Popular Among Younger Generation

Tiktok allows users to record a short 15-second clip that usually features music in the background and can be edited through filters. A popular kind of clip that originated with the Musical.ly app are short lip-sync videos to trendy songs. The video can also be sped up or slowed down to the users liking allowing for creative little clips that easily go viral. The platform clearly appeals to the younger generation and has surpassed many other social media platforms in terms of usage among teens. In the fall of 2020, a survey of almost 10K teens indicated that TikTok was the third most popular social media platform behind only Snapchat and Instagram with over 7 in 10 teens indicating that they used the platform at least once a month.

More Than 30% Of Tiktok’s Android Users Are In Their Teens – Largest Share By Age Group

TikTok’s popularity among the younger generation is no secret and is in fact the backbone of the app’s success. As of the midway point of 2020, 32.5% of Tiktok’s Android users are from the 10-19 age group, the largest share of any group, followed by the next youngest generation, the 20-29-year-olds who comprise 29.5% of Tiktok’s Android users. That means over 60% of Tiktok’s Android users are under the age of 30.

This important share of the market has not been lost among celebrities who seek to expand their reach with stars such as Jimmy Fallon and Tony Hawk among those to join the Tiktok party relatively early in 2018. Since then other megastars such as Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber and Will Smith have joined the party, among many others.

In the fall of 2019, Tiktok also announced a multi-year partnership with the National Football League which included the launch of the official NFL Tiktok account giving teams, players and the league as a whole new marketing avenue. Partnerships such as these are what help catapult Tiktok to become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, already boasting 800 monthly active users in less than four years of existence.

Bas – Smoke From Fire × The Hics

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Dreamville Sudanese-American artist, Bas, starts the year off with his first release, “Smoke From Fire” with The Hics, out today. The Deputy produced track acts as an affirmation and reminder to never lose hope when facing adversity. “’Smoke from Fire’ is about coming out a destructive space and rising above it,” Bas explains. “Out of this fire, this destructive force, we rise above and we rebuild, reinvent and keep progressing.”

Listen HERE.

“Smoke From Fire” is the official theme song for Bas’ new podcast “The Messenger”. It focuses on prolific Ugandan musician-turned activist, Bobi Wine and chronicles his transition from iconic musician to a fearless politician leading a movement to highlight and challenge the current oppressive regime over Uganda.

This series puts a spotlight on the political revolutions emerging throughout Africa, often on the backs of successful artists who are using their audiences to unite and dismantle decades of political oppression, violence, and corruption. The podcast comes just in time for Uganda’s pivotal election on January 14th, 2021.

“The Messenger” is a co-production between Dreamville Studios, Awfully Nice Productions & Spotify, and is executive produced by Candace Rodney (President of Dreamville Studios), Adam Roy, Ibrahim Hamad, and Jermaine Cole for Dreamville; Jesse Burton for Awfully Nice.

About Bas

Always balancing his bravado with a relatable sense of humility, Dreamville’s first signee, Bas, continues to solidify himself as one of the most respected and authentic artists in the world. Since his debut album Last Winter in 2014 and the acclaimed follow-up Too Highto Riot in 2016, Bas has cultivated a dedicated fan community, known as the “Fiends,” and has included both his heritage and a global perspective into his soundscape. #17 on Billboard ’s Top Rap Albums of 2018, Milky Way , Bas’s latest album, was deemed his strongest and most sonically ambitious album to date. A power player on Dreamville’s 2019 historical #1 album, Revenge Of The Dreamers III, Bas received Grammy nominations, including “Best Rap Album” and “Best Rap Performance” for the stand-out single, “Down Bad.” Bas also earned his first Billboard Hot 100 placements with “Down Bad” and “Costa Rica.” Earlier in 2019, Bas branched out sonically with his EP, Spilled Milk I , which featured an outstanding supporting cast (Ari Lennox, Earthgang, J.I.D, Kidomminant, and Falcons) and strong collaborative projects like his single, “Risk” with French multi-instrumentalist artist FKJ. More of the unexpected is set to come from Bas as he prepares for his forthcoming album with longtime collaborators The Hics.

About The Hics

THE HICS are a London duo comprised of Sam Paul Evans and Rox Barker. They fuse their unique musical backgrounds and vocal styles to form a harmonic synergy, born from their love of Jazz, Soul, Electronic and Folk — THE HICS have become a one of a kind sophisti-pop soul duo.

Forgotten Vintage Gaming Consoles

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The video game console scene these days is quite settled, boring even. Sony and Microsoft have a stranglehold on the market, with the PlayStation enjoying a healthy lead on the Xbox. And then you have Nintendo doing their own thing with the Switch on the handheld segment, despite the rise of mobile gaming.

All this is a far cry from the early decades of video game consoles. Consoles had some crazy innovations in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, as the designers were experimenting quite a lot. Naturally, the technology was also quite primitive in terms of computing power, graphics, and display, resulting in some extra weirdness.

These are some of the vintage gaming consoles that never made it to the big leagues in the cut-throat video games market. Some were from small brands while others are from the big names we still see churning out consoles and games today.

Fairchild Channel F

Despite being the first home console to use cartridges and a microprocessor, the Fairchild Channel F failed in the console market. Pitted against the legendary Atari 2600 (home of Pacman), the Channel F ended up decidedly second-best.

Before the Fairchild, other consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey came with games built-in, which severely limited choice as well as graphics quality. The Channel F came with two built-in games and a library that eventually expanded to include over 26 games.

The cartridges for these games were called “videocarts” and had games like Tic Tac Toe, Space War, Spitfire, and Shooting Gallery. Though it had a decent list of games, the Fairchild Console could not match Atari’s popular arcade games.

And the controllers were also decidedly poor quality, breaking rather quickly. The F in Channel F stood for “Fun.” The fun stopped for Fairchild in 1983 as sales declined and they ended production after a six-year run that started in 1976.

Radica Games Consoles

The modern handheld consoles like PSP, GameBoy, and Switch are designed to play many different games. But in the past, we had consoles that were basically one-trick ponies – they only came with one or a few handfuls of in-built titles.

Radica Ltd is a name that many who were kids in the 1980s and 90s may not remember. Though not as famous as Sega or Nintendo, the US manufacturer was quite prolific in the handheld consoles market, mass-producing devices between 1983 and 2006.

Though they became famous for consoles that carried titles from the biggest brands like Sega and Taito, Radica actually started in the gambling business. The company initially launched collectible game consoles for casinos.

These had classic games like Blackjack 21, Poker, and Solitaire. Though thoroughly outdated by modern standards, the vintage feel of the games does make Radica consoles great from a nostalgic POV. Online variations have been designed to model modern blackjack tables as found in top land-based casinos.

Radica did not do anything innovative in the design department. Their consoles largely copied the design set by others. The company was eventually acquired and fully absorbed by toy giant Mattel in 2006.

The Vectrex

We take screens for granted these days – be it on handheld consoles or mobile phones. But there was a time when consoles had to depend entirely on an outside video output source (and they still do for PS5 and Xbox Series X).

The Vectrex was an idea that came far too soon – in an era when screens were still bulky, monochrome, and highly pixelated. Launched in the early ’80s, the Vectrex came bundled with its display, which was like a mini-TV.

The display was black and white, with a series of plastic color overlays that you could place on the screen to make the objects look red, green, or blue. Though it had way better graphics than contemporary consoles, thanks to vector graphics instead of bitmaps (smooth lines), the console was ultimately a failure.

For one, it was incredibly expensive. And the allure of not needing a TV for gaming was not huge in those days, especially as this was not a portable device. It was one of the major casualties in the great market crash of the video game industry in 1983.

Virtual Boy

Virtual Reality is a cutting edge technology that holds a lot of promise in gaming. Yet in 2021, it is still a niche in the video games landscape – a fast-growing one at that, but still in need of evolution. So you can imagine how primitive a VR-based console must have been way back in the 1990s.

Launched by Nintendo in 1995, Virtual Boy was a good 20 years ahead of the technology. The 3D game system came with a cool VR headset and a connected controller, and games in full monochrome glory.

Yes, Virtual Boy games had to be enjoyed in red, as the hardware was not capable of outputting in any other colors. It had a real “Terminator vision” vibe to it, which was probably intentional given how popular those movies were back then.

The hardware was quite bulky, with the headset being quite cumbersome. And it was also quite notorious for causing headaches and eye strain to users. The one major game available on the Virtual Boy was Mario’s Tennis.

Though the stereoscopic 3D was quite impressive for its time, the console was widely panned by critics and users. It was a commercial failure as well, due to insane pricing. Nintendo did try to make it more appealing by dropping the prices but to no avail. The Virtual Boy sank without a trace.

Marvin Liao Joins FanVestor’s Advisory Board

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Top venture capitalist and former Yahoo! senior executive Marvin Liao has joined the Advisory Board of global fintech fan investment and commerce platform FanVestor, the announcement was made today by company CEO Michael Golomb.

“Marvin’s expertise and proven track record are unmatched in the industry. He managed one of the most successful accelerators, maturing and investing in more than 400 start-ups,” comments Golomb. “This combined with his vast global professional experience working at Yahoo! spearheading the company’s expansion in all important global markets make him a valuable addition to FanVestor’s Advisory Board.”

On the Advisory Board, Liao joins recently appointed members former President/CEO, DASAN Zhone Solutions Yung Kim and former PINTEC executive Alan Qiu.

Marvin Liao is an investor, executive coach, and formal advisor to several large family offices. Previously, he was a Partner at Venture Capital Fund 500 Startups, running the San Francisco-based accelerator program, as well as investing in seed-stage start-ups. He has invested in over 414 pre-seed and seed-stage startups during the six years spent there.

Liao also spent over a decade as a senior executive at Yahoo!, boasting an extensive operating experience expanding businesses across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Liao presently serves on the boards of directors and advisory boards of several Internet advertising and ad technology companies around the world. He also is a mentor for a number of global accelerator programs.

FanVestor offers all-in-one commerce, auction, investing, and sweepstakes platform designed specifically to meet the needs of celebrities. Founded by Michael Golomb, an innovator in the world of business and fintech, FanVestor’s robust technology platform will allow current and former athletes, media and music celebrities, fashion icons, and artists to leverage their influence by offering their fans an opportunity to participate in their latest projects or charitable initiatives.

The company’s leadership team and Board of Directors is highlighted by COO Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment, and also includes former News Corp. executive Marty Pompadur, former CEO of Warner Brothers Music, Phil Quartararo, and former President of Korea Telecom, Yung Kim, and several other successful executives.

Lexus – “All In”

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Sneakerhead, audiophile, fashionista, gamer … these people are “all in” on their passions. In a new marketing campaign breaking today for the Lexus 2021 IS, the automaker celebrates its own obsession: an unapologetically pure sports sedan. Entitled “All In,” the new campaign engages an audience that’s just as unapologetic about pursuing their unique interests. It features influencers and deep, diverse media partnerships.

“The IS customer is our youngest, most fiercely authentic yet,” said Lisa Materazzo, vice president of Lexus marketing. “The marketing campaign, like the new IS, is equally authentic and celebrates those who fully embrace their passions.”

Rather than casting actors, the campaign features eight micro-influencers. The first spot, “Names,” moves quickly through people from different walks of life who introduce themselves by the names they’ve earned—be it sneakerhead, gamer or audiophile.

Another spot, “Vanity Plates,” demonstrates just how far these enthusiasts will go to show off the obsessions that define them. To ensure a connection with all consumers, unique ads were created to further explore the meaning of “all in” for Asian, Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ markets.

“Names” and “Vanity Plates” will air during primetime, special events and sports including NFL playoffs and NBA. Potential drivers and enthusiasts of Lexus will be able to ask their Google Assistant-ready devices about the new Lexus IS model to learn more about the vehicle’s latest technology, audio, performance and safety features, as well as a link to nearby dealerships. The campaign also includes video, audio, connected speakers, print, social and display.

Lexus is connecting with an audience that embraces their passions fully by providing content that celebrates those who go “all in.”

Epic Race. Lexus partnered with MotorTrend for an epic race between race car driver Rhys Millen and downhill skater Josh Neuman at speeds of over 70 MPH on Malibu’s legendary Deer Creek Road. The video is live now.
Travel Influencer. Lexus is partnering with Courageous Studios, CNN’s brand studio, to produce a documentary-style campaign that follows Ugandan-American photographer, self-proclaimed geography nerd and travel expert Jessica Nabongo. The first black woman to visit every country in the world, Jessica’s story unfolds as she approaches her next milestone: seeing every state in the U.S. The campaign will be distributed via CNNgo in February.
Fantasy Football. Last Fall, Lexus worked with Yahoo to create dynamic banners on the Yahoo Fantasy Football web site that leverage the players’ stats to serve custom ads to fans engaging in their passion.

About Lexus

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its guests. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries.

In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 242 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and two F performance models. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

Keep up with Lexus on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Pinterest.

Lexus Press Release Image curtsey of Jesse Zand

The Model Acobie

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360 Magazine sat down with up and coming model Acobie Inniss, to find out how he got started with modeling and where he plans to go next. The young, Barbadian model has a unique look that is sure to gain attention as his modeling career takes off.

Included below is also information about Rhaj Paul a designer that works with Acobie and Graham Edwards, Acobie’s agent. Working together, the team has created an amazing shoot featuring Acobie as the star.

When did you decide to begin modeling and how did you get started?

I was approached by Graham from GADAL Model Management at the end of 2018 and I didn’t take it too seriously at the time. A year later we had another chance encounter meeting and this time I decided it couldn’t hurt to give it a try; so I officially started at the end of 2019.

What was it like growing up in Barbados?

Growing up in Barbados is great! I loved that a nice beach would always be right around the corner; I was definitely a beach person, like in the summer I would be at the beach every day. I loved riding around on my bike and playing football and many other sports with my friends.

Do you think you will eventually become a full-time model? Why or why not?

Yes! I’m hoping to become a full-time model; but I know life can have twists and turns so I remain open to it happening or not happening, where ever life takes me I guess.

Where do you aspire to be five years from now and do you have plans to get there?

Five years from now I’d like to have my own home and to be traveling the world with my girlfriend- who I hope will be my wife at that time. I also want to be in a financial position to invest in Real Estate and be able to help the needy. Things don’t always go according to plan, but it’s still good to have one in place. I plan to keep an open mind and open heart to whatever opportunities come my way.

Are your family and friends supportive of your modeling career?

My mother and my close friends are supportive.

What has been your favorite part of modeling so far?

So far, my favorite part is meeting new people; trying new experiences and exercising my confidence and communication skills.

Some of your hobbies include stunt-riding and photography, do you hope to progress these talents further in the future?

Yes, I hope to progress further in these hobbies. For example the stunt riding; I’d love to build a community (of riders) where we ride for a cause…hopefully raise some funds as well and donate to different charities while having fun riding (smile).

What makes you unique from other up and coming models?

Well, I think everyone is unique in their own way; for me, I’m not sure, some people say it’s my hair or maybe my eyes. Lol.

Do you have any collaborations coming up that you’re excited about?

I’m definitely hoping to have some collaborations! I know my agency is working on stuff…don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. I like to only speak about things after they are done.

Are there any other models you would like to work with in the future?

I’d like to work with everyone! I’m new to this industry so I want to learn as much as I can from everyone.

About Acobie Inniss

Acobie is a newly discovered Barbadian model who describes himself as a “regular guy” who loves stunt riding and going for long rides on his Haro mountain bike. He says, he also likes researching things on the internet and learning new things.

One look at Acobie however, and you’ll see he’s anything but “regular”; the 6’ 2”, 21-year-old is an eclectic ethnic blend of Black; White and Indian- with a negro structured face and nose; light skin; freckles; pink lips; hair that can change color ranging from dark brown to blonde; perfect jaw-lines and hazel eyes with an intense gaze, that causes you too, to also gaze intensely. Anything but “regular!”

Acobie is not just another pretty face though, he is also talented practically with his hands. He’s a certified electrician and PV (photovoltaic) installer and sees the latter as “the future” because it’s “environmentally sustainable; good for the planet and clean energy”.

He also has a passion for photography (which he’s teaching himself); because he likes how you can “capture a moment forever.” All the knowledge he has on various topics such as his stunt-riding and photography he eagerly shares on his YouTube channel another one of his hobbies.

He loves the artist Saint Jhn (who’s originally from Guyana) and appreciates his music; success and Caribbean roots. Acobie is also into Kendrick Lamar and Arianna Grande. His favorite fashion brands he’d love to work with are Polo Ralph Lauren; Gucci and Prada.

About Rhaj Paul

Rhaj Paul is a conscious artist, whose objective is to use the medium of fashion and design to grow positivity, creativity and connection, particularly in the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora. 

From the emergence of his eponymous cut ‘n’ sewn menswear label – Rhaj Paul Montaazh (pron. ‘montage’) in 2000 to the trendsetting soft apparel Brand Evolve in 2010, and the first-ever Barbadian beard brand – The Beard Island Gang in 2014, the name Rhaj Paul has been synonymous with top-quality craftsmanship, unique style and innovative fashion marketing in Barbados. 

His work encompasses bespoke tailoring and design, fashion styling, graphic design and motivational public speaking.

Rhaj has worked with various organizations, entertainers, artists, videographers and photographers and has also starred in several local movies

Passionate, inspired, skilled and committed to raising an attitude of excellence and a genuine love for authentic self-expression, Rhaj Paul represents the Ministry Of Style Creative Alliance in its mandate to grow creative entrepreneurship in the Caribbean region and beyond.

Welcome, Minister of Style Rhaj Paul Whitehead!

About Khali Goodman

Khalil Goodman is a photographer, digital strategist and writer.  When he’s not art-directing or shooting a new set of images, Khalil spends too much time reading comic books and listening to all the wrong music at the right volume.

About Graham Edwards

Graham Edwards is a Model Agent and the founder and owner of GADAL Model Management Inc., a Barbadian based mother agency and model management company specializing in the scouting, training and placement of primarily black models internationally.

The name “GADAL” is a Hebrew verb for: “to grow; become great; become important; promote; make powerful; praise; magnify; do great things; to increase; to exceed; to excel; to promote; to become like a great tree or tower.”

It’s a personification of all that he wants to do for black models worldwide. He describes his job as, “doing my part to ensure a more level playing field in the fashion industry for models of color; long before Black Lives Matter appeared- I always knew black models mattered!”

Nothing makes him more satisfied than to see models of color succeed and to see them on the runways worldwide and in the pages of major international magazines.

Models scouted and placed internationally by GADAL Model Management Inc. through Graham, have appeared in Beyoncé’s music video: Get In Formation; Tinchy Stryder’s In My System; Avicii’s I Could Be The One; in shoots with Selita Banks; appeared in major fashion publications: L’Officiel Hommes; Men’s Health UK; Men’s Health Portugal; Cosmopolitan; Essence Magazine; Prestige Hong Kong; Cole Magazine; ESTE 2 and walked for international labels and designers: Givenchy; Calvin Klein; Moncler; Marcelo Burlon; Granted London; Sibling London; OTHER UK; Fausto Puglisi; Dockers and represented international brands such as: Nike; Coca Cola; Levi Jeans; Addidas; Asics and Equinox Gym.

The company has signed the models it represents into several international fashion markets and placed them with larger model agencies in: Germany; Italy; Mexico; South Africa; Spain, UK and the USA. Graham loves his job; still, actively scouts for models and is excited about every ‘new face’ he discovers and helping them achieve their fullest potential!