Chicago rapper, actor, and activist Vic Mensa has unveiled his new brand 93 Boyz, an equity-focused cannabis company which is the first Black owned and led in the state of Illinois. One of his first community initiatives involved heading back to his hometown – the Southside of Chicago. Vic rolled up to the BP Gas Station on 47th & Woodlawn around the corner from his mother’s house and with the help of 93 Boyz Vic was able to surprise 200 cars with $10,000 in free gas. The story was first picked up by TMZ which shared a heartfelt video of an elderly woman explaining how she originally only had $5 to put in her tank and was taken aback by the generosity. The gas giveaway was caught on tape and became a 60 second clip full of showing love and black humor. Vic says, “To celebrate the launch of 93BOYZ, the first black cannabis brand in Chicago, we went to the gas station on the block where I grew up and gave away $10,000 of free gas. At a time when many people are struggling to fill their tank, it felt good to be able to help the community in a real way.”
As Chicago’s first Black-owned cannabis brand, at the core of 93 Boyz’ mission is a reinvestment in the communities and individuals that have been historically and disproportionately affected by outdated laws, prejudices, and assumptions regarding cannabis consumption, elevating the underserved while also lifting spirits via the headiest product available in the state. Among the community-based initiatives that the brand will be undertaking is a partnership with Books Before Bars, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing books to underserved Illinois prison libraries, providing inmates with potentially transformative resources.
Speaking on the development and launch of 93 Boyz, Vic Mensa says: “Selling weed was my first hustle. It taught me work ethic, entrepreneurship, and funded all of my first music projects. As someone with a lifelong experience of anxiety and depression, it’s amazing to be able to help people facing those and other issues while working with something I love. The war on drugs has had a devastating impact on my community, and yet our representation in the cannabis industry is less than 2%. 93BOYZ is changing that narrative while combining high quality, tastemaker weed with socially conscious initiatives.”
In its pursuit to become a company focused on holistic good, 93 Boyz has joined forces with aeriz, the largest aeroponic cannabis cultivator in the world, to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly products from plant to person (aeroponics is a cultivation method to grow product without the use of soil or an aggregate medium). The product line includes premium flower eighths, premium preroll, and strain-specific vape cartridges, encompassing a range of different options from sativa to indica to custom hybrid blends.
Founded in collaboration with SaveMoneySaveLife, Mensa’s long running nonprofit organization that uplifts and empowers BIPOC individuals through facilitated experiences that integrate contemporary cultural art, traditional knowledge, and community service, 93 Boyz turns its focus specifically to initiatives aimed at prison reform and equity in the cannabis space.
For more information on 93 Boyz initiatives and products, visit HERE.
After two jam-packed days, NFT-VIP proved to be a major success. Thanks to its close-knit team of organizers, professionals, involved in press groups and discussions about the impact an NFT, many had an enjoyable experience.
Below are some of our intimate conversations with some of the speakers as well as participants at NFT-VIP.
Listen to ‘NFTs for Impact’ on 360 MAG Podcast HERE.
After law school, he organized the Racial Justice Program at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU).
Today, Darryl is a proud father to twins and happily married to his beautiful wife Erika. Over the past few years, he established the Newark Chess Club — a youth advisership platform which teaches life skills for future milestones by applying the game’s rulesets. Lastly, he helms a boutique real estate and contracts law firm Downtown Newark.
Adam Anderson, the author of Fire Yourself, the Entrepreneurial Endgame and co-host of the Two Stones, One Bird podcast, is a cyber security and space entrepreneur who has been the advisor, founder and/or primary investor in over 30 startups.
As a cybersecurity venture, Adam is responsible for the cyber economy by reporting cybercrime and researching companies to ensure they are trustworthy.
He is also a venture capital walking alongside startups from the beginning stage of the business to the final launch and production. He is now serving as the Chair of the Board for Hook Security and as Managing General Partner for Ansuz Capital.
Listen to Wayne Scot Lukas on 360 MAG PodcastHERE.
Ms. NFTy, also known as Carrie Taylor, is an Asian American who attended the Harvard Business School for Disruptive Marketing. As an NFT architect, she wants to continue to create a space for underprivileged young people to learn about cryptocurrency with unique digital identifiers. Last week, she served as a keynote speaker at the NFT-VIP and NFT.NYC.
Multi-platinum-certified Boston-born and Los Angeles-based artist BIA releases the music video for her new song “Can’t Touch This” via Epic Records on October 26th.
“Can’t Touch This” is a fan favorite from the album with critics like VIBE Magazine citing “The Boston-bred rapper uses her soft, raspy tone to let everyone know her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.” Right now, BIA is lighting up venues across the country as direct support on Don Toliver’s Life Of A Don Tour.
Recently, BIA made headlines when she performed as one of Rihanna’s special guests at the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3. It’s available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. She also took the stage at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards and gathered two nominations in the categories of “Best Collaboration” and “Song of the Year.” Not to mention, she’s fast closing in on 1 billion streams to date. BIA also performed at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards and brought out Lil’ Jon for a performance of their smash “BIA BIA”
Oct. 27 – San Francisco, CA
Oct. 28 – Oakland, CA
Oct. 30 – Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 31 – Los Angeles, CA
Festival Performances:
Nov. 12 – Day N Vegas Festival
Dec. 10 – Rolling Loud California Festival
ABOUT BIA:
Multi-Platinum Recording Artist BIA is known for music that possesses both biting wit and boldly authentic swag that stems from BIA’s years traveling through the Boston rap scene, later moving over to Miami, Los Angeles, and then taking over the world. With every mixtape, collaboration, and guest appearance, BIA has only amplified her reach. She dominated 2020 with a fresh new perspective: she inked a deal with Epic Records, dropped the hard-hitting “Free BIA (1st Day Out)” and the intoxicating “COVERGIRL”, as well as dove further into the fashion world with a feature in Good American’s Spring 2020 campaign and Missguided × Sean John Fall 2020 capsule collection.
By the end of 2020, she dropped her For Certain EP, armed with the hit single “Whole Lotta Money”—a song with a central message that unlimited currency can be both mental and physical. The EP reached the Top 10 of Billboard’s Heatseekers Album Charts, and “Whole Lotta Money” became an undeniable force, due in part to its continuous viral success on TikTok. The track has jumped right off the platform and into streaming stardom, marking its territory in the Spotify Viral 50 Chart as well as the Global Spotify Charts and earning her a nomination for “Best Breakthrough Song” at the 2021 MTV VMAs. In addition, BIA’s reimagined version of her hit song “Skate” was featured in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs tune-in promos on NHLNetwork, NBC and NBCSN in the U.S., Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, and across the NHL’s social and digital platforms.
MONEYBAGG YO DELIVERS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED VIDEO FOR WOCKESHA WITH APPEARANCE FROM LIL WAYNE
Today, multiplatinum musician Moneybagg Yo unveiled the long-awaited video for his hit song Wockesha, which he co-directed alongside Ben Marc.
The breezy visual kicks off with a cameo from hip-hop legend Lil Wayne, who divulges his infamous speech on dismissing those who can’t mind their business. Frame by frame, we see Moneybagg Yo become disillusioned by a lover which includes him seeing a mirage that equates to a complicated relationship.
Wockesha quickly became a fan favorite from the release of Bagg’s critically acclaimed fourth studio album, A Gangsta’s Pain, which recently earned gold-certification from the RIAA. On the metaphorical record, which samples DeBarge’s pillowy track, Stay With Me, Bagg finds himself taping into more of his emotional side. The Southern artist opens about indulging on his toxic pleasures, he raps “One minute I’m done with you, the next one I be runnin’ back. Go your way, I go my way, but somehow we be still attached.” Today the track has nearly 150 million streams globally across all streaming partners and has charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Over the weekend, Bagg hit the stage at the 2021 BET Music Awards to perform a medley of Wockesha and his No. 1 song Time Today, which VIBE Magazine praised “Moneybagg Yo gets the crowd turned up as he tears through his performance, delivering each line with the fervor and conviction heard on the actual record.” To date, A Gangsta’s Pain has cumulatively tallied over 300 million streams and counting. Meanwhile, Billboard, Complex, and UPROXX have already listed it as “Best Albums of 2021 So Far.”
A Gangsta’s Pain showcases Moneybagg’s versatility as an artist. He opens up with some of his most powerful tracks yet, but he also turns up with indisputable and inimitable bangers. Among those, it boasts singles such as the hard-hitting Shottas (Lala), platinum-selling Time Today, Hard For The Next (feat. Future), and the recent anthem GO! (feat. BIG30). The 22-track opus earned widespread critical acclaim upon arrival. Billboard applauded his “authentic stories that connect to both the hearts and minds of the streets.”
Meanwhile, UPROXX observed, “Moneybagg Yo steps out of his comfort zone to conquer A Gangsta’s Pain on his pensive new album.” Rolling Stone highlighted Certified Neptunes (feat. Pharrell) as a “Song You Need To Know.” Continuing his takeover, Moneybagg recently made his late-night television debut with an impressive medley of Time Today and Hard For The Next on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Combining on-the-ground reporting and candid interviews with Hussle’s friends, family, and peers, THE MARATHON DON’T STOP traces the life and work of an extraordinary artist, placing him in historical context and unpacking his complex legacy.
Some details of Hussle’s life that Kenner can discuss in an interview include:
Ermias Asghedom, before he was Nipsey Hussle, was a brilliant, soft-spoken, and underestimated young man who loved hip hop with a passion and was determined to build his own successful music label and clothing business—as well as other businesses that would employ many members of his community.
His life in the Crenshaw District starting in 1985, placing Hussle in historical context within the evolution of Hip Hop, Los Angeles, and America.
Hussle’s genius as a teenager who built his own computers and went on to push the envelope of technology in growing his businesses as well as innovating new revenue models for independent musicians that have since been adopted by the mainstream music industry
Hussle’s life-changing trip to Africa to visit his father’s family in Eritrea, as well as his little-known first meeting with Afeni Shakur, long before he called himself the ‘Tupac of My Generation’ or even took the rap name Nipsey Hussle.
Hussle’s impact as an activist, and his efforts to re-align L.A. gang culture with the mission of organizations like the Black Panthers…AND MORE.
Rob Kenner is one of the most prolific and influential voices in hip-hop publishing. A founding editor of Vibe, Kenner joined the start-up team of Quincy Jones’ groundbreaking hip hop monthly in 1992. During a nineteen-year run at Vibe he edited and wrote cover and feature stories on iconic cultural figures ranging from Tupac Shakur to Barack Obama as well as writing the acclaimed column Boomshots. Kenner’s writing has appeared in Complex, Genius, Mass Appeal, Pigeons & Planes, Ego Trip, Poetry magazine, The New York Times, and Billboard. He’s also produced and directed documentary shorts on the likes of De La Soul, Nas, and Post Malone. As an editor at Vibe Books, Kenner worked on the New York Times bestseller Tupac Shakur and contributed to The Vibe History of Hip Hop. He went on to co-author VX: 10 Years of Vibe Photography and produced the book Unbelievable, a biography of The Notorious B.I.G. by Cheo Hodari Coker Jr., which was optioned for the motion picture Notorious.
Adé (formally Phil Ade) recently released his brand new EP Always Something.
In case you are unfamiliar, Adé is a Nigerian/Grenadian-American artist known for effortless lyrics and ability to smoothly transition between rapping and singing. He has previously worked with artists such as Logic and Mac Miller, and his new six-track EP features collaborations with Lil Baby, Rich The Kidand Wale. Adé has previously caught the attention of publications such as Billboard, Complex, XXL, HypeBeast, Hot New Hip Hop and more. Beginning a new chapter in his career with a new name and unique sound, Adé is on his way to rap stardom and a chance for his reinvention to inspire on a massive scale. He recently freestyled over Jay-Z’s “Threat” on L.A. Leakers which can be seen HERE.
Adé is the true voice of the DMV hip-hop scene and has fueled a new wave of D.C. rap. His global perspective can be seen on his diverse new EP featuring undeniable anthems and powerful lyrics. As an artist, he is able to deliver music with something for everyone as he combines live instrumentation, hip-hop, rapping, and singing. Ade’s songs focus on the positives in his life and showcase the newfound confidence he has achieved while introducing himself as a new leader in the DMV hip-hop movement.
More about Adé
In between, growth occurs. Silver Spring, Maryland rapper, producer, and artist Adé (born Phil Adetumbi) underwent such evolution. Under the name Phil Adé, he delivered a string of independent mixtapes, singles, and appearances in addition to collaborations with everyone from Logic and Mac Miller to Raekwon and Bootsy Collins. Starting in 2013, he dove into honing his craft, writing in the studio with a variety of artists, perfecting his own sound as well as his live performance. He ultimately developed his voice immensely. During this time, he made extensive contributions as a writer and featured act to Wale’s #1 opus The Album About Nothing [2015] and Shine [2017], in addition to working with Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony Hamilton, Chris Brown, Eric Bellinger, Mýa, Trevor Jackson, Serayah, 9th Wonder and Bink , while gracing the stage on the sold out SHIN3 Tour. In 2017, he shared the solo single “No Fear” [feat. Tate Kobang and Saba Abraha], which soundtracked WWE NXT and clocked half-a-million streams. Upon the latter’s arrival,Billboard described him as “ready to seize his opportunity at rap stardom.”
However, he changed everything for 2019. He opted to go by simply Adé, signed to Epic Records, and cooked up his first EP of the label, Always Something.
“I spent a long time recording and figuring out what I wanted my sound to be like,” he admits. “I feel like I’m there now. I was able to watch Wale and see a lot of the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of being an artist on a major label and how to behave in different situations. Everything got me to my comfort zone. I’ve found a happy medium between singing and rapping. It’s a new era in my life. That’s why I felt the need to reintroduce myself. I’m definitely more experienced. I’m more comfortable with what I’m doing. Since I wanted to start fresh, I changed my name. This is a clean slate. I’m a new artist.”
At the same time, he still kept his heritage and hometown close. Born to a Nigerian father and Grenadian mother, he grew up with a global mindset when it came to music, going from singing in church to rapping in high school. Coming up in the DMV scene, he also developed an appreciation for the live instrumentation intrinsic to the region’s “Go-go” movement before eventually galvanizing the first wave of D.C. rap.
His perspective informs the diversity of Always Something. The six-track project kicks off with the sharp and fiery flow of “Play Something.” Backed by live drums and wailing synths, he properly makes his introduction by “rapping continuously in freestyle fashion about who I am, where I’m from, and where I’m at,” as he puts it.
Immediately after, “Something New” [feat. Lil Baby] coasts along on an airy beat as he locks into a laidback and confident cadence punctuated by a magnetic turn from Lil Baby.
“I made the song one night after coming home from the club,” he goes on. “My art always needs to be fun. It’s all about seeing what’s going on around me, how people move, and staying focused. Lil Baby killed it.”
Elsewhere, “Something from Nothing” [feat. Rich The Kid] stretches from hypnotic verses into a hard-hitting hook. Another highlight, “Something Real” [feat. GoldLink & Wale], unites three DMV titans on one seismic collaboration. As all of the songs feature “Something” in their titles, the project maintains a true cohesion.
“As I was recording, I kept thinking about the phrase ‘Always Something’,” he elaborates. “I found a deeper meaning. In life, you’re met with negatives, and you’re met with positives. From my experience, I’ve always been able to have more peace and progress when I am focused on whatever good is going on in my life. When it seems like everything going on is negative, it’s easier to move forward when you are focused on the upside. There’s Always Something to remain positive about.”
In the end, Adé’s reinvention paves the way to inspire on a massive scale.
“No matter what’s happening, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” he leaves off. “Stay positive. I want everyone to know that.”
TRAVEL JOURNALIST THOMAS WILMER INTERVIEWS 360 MAGAZINE PUBLISHER VAUGHN LOWERY
Small to medium sized business often fall short due to high turnover. Vaughn Lowery, Publisher of 360 Magazine, provides listeners with first-hand knowledge on the ever-shifting world of digital publishing and content creation through a youthful lens. Likewise with his innate ability to be accessible, he speaks to working in tandem with emerging generations and how their input could be detrimental to the survival of a brand.
LISTEN HERE
An Additional Conversation with 360 Magazine’s Publisher Vaughn Lowery
If Vaughn Lowery was asked what his idea of success was 10 years ago, his answer would be very different from what it is today. He may have said that success means doing what he loves to do, being accomplished, or having a certain amount of material things.
“Success to me now is having a purpose in life and feeling passionate and fulfilled by it,” says Lowery.
Lowery got his first taste of the industry while interning for Vibe Magazine while on Summer vacation from Cornell University. His sister drove him into New York City every morning to drop him off and always advised him to be the first one at the office. One morning Lowery found himself alone with the publisher of the magazine at the time, Keith Clinkscales, which gave him the opportunity to speak with him one-on-one. It was due to his sister’s advice that he got the chance to do what no other intern would normally get to do.
After finishing up at Cornell in just three years, Lowery became an executive trainee with Saks Fifth Avenue. He was able to get along with everyone in the office and was doing great when he was called into his boss’s office one afternoon.
“She told me I was in the wrong business; that I was very charismatic and should try acting,” Lowery says, “but, I liked the path I was on at that time.”
It wasn’t until Lowery was asked by someone connected to the talent industry if he was a model that he truly considered breaking into the talent industry. Shortly after taking professional photos and getting them out to agencies, Lowery ended up with Ford Models. From there he did photoshoots, tv commercials, and ad campaigns, all while still working in outside sales at Aetna US Healthcare. Once he began modelling full time his face was in the pages of GQ, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Gap. By being around people of all different positions, primarily in the magazine publishing industry, Lowery came to understand how content was produced. It was right before the recession hit while he was living in LA that Lowery made the transition from modelling to the publishing industry.
It was his experience in modelling that inspired Lowery’s creation of the 360 Magazine. While working on any given shoot, Lowery was often one of just three or less black men. Often times he was the only black man on a set which drew his attention to the lack of representation in the media industry. Lowery’s goal for the 360 Magazine was that it would fill this niche and promote diversity across the publishing world, specifically the covers of its magazines.
For those wanting to work in the media industry, specifically in the publishing world, Lowery suggests starting from the ground up.
“Being self taught and learning as you go is something you need to be open to,” says Lowery, “Ask tons of questions, and learn everything you can from every position.”
Lowery warns that it’s important to be open and cordial to everyone, because you don’t know when your paths will cross again. Making connections and using them is how most people gain opportunities. He also adds that just by hanging out with people you’ll always learn something that you can apply to aspects of your work.
Things in the industry have been changing and becoming more digitally focused since the beginning of 360 Magazine’s launch. The magazine was started during a time of e-zines, so it’s not a surprise that the website came first. Lowery had experience with creating websites from a young age so the move from print to digital was natural for him. It was clear to him where the industry was going.
“Print was getting costly, bookstores were looking dilapidated and even Barnes and Noble was focusing on their version of the tablet, the Nook,” says Lowery, “All the magazines were looking alike anyway.”
Print was still important though. Besides the fact that advertising agencies want to see a physical copy of a magazine before working with them, print is taken more seriously due to its cost. Other companies will be aware that a certain magazine has the funds to support itself if they have a print copy to show for it.
360 Magazine printed their first issue in 2009, but it was costly. Lowery began thinking that there had to be some other way to work with print. It was then that he decided to do print on demand publications. 360 Magazine linked with Blurb, which allowed anyone to order a print copy of the magazine right from our website. They’ve been distributing to them for 9 years now.
The magazine’s estimated circulation, which is based on print, is 110,000 from print on demand. This number doesn’t tend to move much, but most people end up reading 360 Magazine’s online articles through WordPress.
When asked what makes a media contributor most marketable, Lowery says that in this industry you need a social following and the ability to network. Being accessible and having a portfolio of published work is a great place to start as well.
“Do it all,” Lowery says, “monetize, write, take photos, be on time, and take initiatives.”
The hardest thing about the industry in Lowery’s opinion is breaking into it and surviving on freelance jobs along the way. Writers should be prepared to sacrifice mentally, physically and financially. While working for a publication, Lowery says that writers need to do what they can to become a valuable asset to them. That way, a publication will be more likely to keep you on board and help you in the future.
As for internship positions at 360 Magazine, Lowery aims to teach interns everything that he didn’t learn. He’s assigns articles for interns to write, pushes them to network, has them do coverage and teaches them how to get published or to self-publish.
“We teach interns how to be resourceful and find themselves in the organization,” says Lowery.
When interns can bring business to the magazine, the magazine will bring business to them. Special assignment opportunities are available for interns who finish their program and are still looking to remain involved. Lowery says that while the magazine is specifically looking to groom editors, that if a publication wants to really pop, then they have to have a revolving door.
When asked what goals he has for the future of 360 Magazine, Lowery responded that he aims to keep it three dimensional with podcasts and web series.
“I want to be able to put the brand out to different countries and places in America,” says Lowery, Local presences would strengthen us.”
He also says that he’s interested in the possibility of a reality spin off or docu-series, as well as introducing more formal programs for educational purposes.
Michael Letterlough Jr. is an Award-winning fashion, commercial and portrait photographer whose work has been seen and published in national and international magazines such as Forbes, Vogue Italia, GQ, Vibe, EuroMoney, Ebony/Jet and Essence to name a few; as well as international selling CD and book covers, national ad campaigns, top modeling agencies, and countless celebrities – including Janet Jackson, Kevin Hart, supermodels Beverly Johnson and Janice Dickinson, and Hip-Hop mogul, Russell Simmons.
However, it’s the work Michael has created with such companies as American Express, Nike, and the Bravo TV Network, as well as smaller businesses and individual personalities that positions his style of imagery as strong, commercial branding tools. When aligned with businesses – big and small – Michael has the ability to creatively and ingeniously produce photographs that not only perfectly represent their brand, but also command an audience’s attention.
Michael was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and graduated with a degree in Communications/Magazine Journalism from Temple University. After beginning his professional career as an entertainment journalist, he eventually discovered his passion for photography and developed much of his photography career living in New York City. Michael currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
