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Plant parents are flexing on the Gram and we couldn’t be happier

“HOW MANY HOUSE PLANTS ARE TOO MANY?”

Will likely not be a question you hear from a plant parent. If you live in an urban setting, surrounded by industrial innovations of a major city, then you know how much plants can turn the austere apartment into an adorned manifestation.

But as beautiful as it sounds, there is an effort necessary to living the plant-life. Plants are still life, and like children, they need attention and sunlight to thrive.


MONEY TREES ARE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR SHADE

I have had what some [friends] call a “money tree” or the Jade plant [Pachira aquatica] for a few years now, and have accumulated some other, smaller, planting pots to fill.

These pots I have filled with seeds immediately available to me; this includes seeds from fruits, mainly apples, and the occasional cannabis seed, usually female which produces the flower.

At one point I tried the ancient Japanese art of Bonsai tree growing. Unsuccessfully, I could not master the planting rituals described on the box. But the soil and pot from that are still in use.

I make a daily effort to tend to my precious plants, watering them, talking to them as suggested, realizing plants absorb exactly what we exhale, CO2. This is me in my plant parenthood.

Having house plants is therapeutic and permeates an ambiance into your space, calming your cabin fever qualm. Plants and planting are intricate parts of life, more than we regularly think. We, as humans have taken plants from an organism that lives off the land and brought them into our worlds.

It may take a bit of sunlight coming through your window to create that greenhouse effect of a sort. Greenhouses have advantageous effects when allied with growing all kinds of plants.

Between methane, CO2, oxygen, water, and UV rays, passing through a plant, the science behind planting can be fun, you can even step your game up and do a little in-home composting.

Coolaustralia.org
Coolaustralia.org

THE LEARNING CURVE

Planting is a task that can be a great learning experience and life skill worth having; like swimming. Growing a plant for their beauty is an accomplishment of time and patience and the return can be great. This can be cost-saving as you can grow your vegetables, fruits, and garnishes.

Plants are “pleasing to the eye” describes Darryl, plant parent, and social media plant influencer. They are living things that realize a life that flourishes in many ways, and with humans can become, according to Darryl, “long-term, botanical companions.”


BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP

The relationship we have with our plants is the relationship we can have with our environments; including, our food intake, our beloved wardrobes, and the everyday oxygen we breathe. We learn to appreciate the life around us and respect its omnipresent forms.

With the time passing and our visual sense are overstimulated with the digital waves, plants happen to be a great alternative to mindfulness and consciousness when escaping the virtual blurs of the day.

And sometimes they smell great like Gum trees, also known as Eucalyptus, or look dangerously cool, like Cactus plants, or succulents, which don’t require as much attention daily.

Nick, plant parent and social media influencer, says,

“FOR ME, EVEN BEFORE QUARANTINE, PLANTS TEACH US PATIENCE. THEY TEACH US TO SLOW DOWN AND TO APPRECIATE NATURE IN A NEW WAY THAT ISN’T BUILT ON INSTANT GRATIFICATION OR PERFECTION.

“IT’S NATURE NOT FURNITURE AFTER ALL, AND DURING A TIME WHEN WE CAN’T LEAVE OUR HOMES AS MUCH, PLANTS ARE VITAL TO KEEPING OUR CONNECTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD ALIVE.”

 

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⠀ How can we expect to make responsible decisions for our planet when we are so disconnected from the world we are trying to protect? 🧐⠀ ⠀ I ask myself this question everyday, and as our urban cities grow we become more detached from nature and our food system. We need to SEE IT to believe it, and for me that starts with making the spaces we inhabit greener 🌿⠀ ⠀ I truly believe that plants are stepping stones towards sustainability, and the more we immerse ourselves in their ecosystem the easier it will be to cultivate a “nurture first” mindset. If I can get you to care about the little plant on your desk, I can get you to care about the BIG plant that sustains all life on earth 😉⠀ ⠀ But even with all of the recent positive news about the environment, it shouldn’t take a global pandemic or one day out of the year for us to realize the error in our ways. We’ve created an incredibly fragile and imbalanced ecosystem, and although I often feel discouraged I am hopeful that this crisis has inspired us to listen and embrace new behaviors 🙏🏼⠀ ⠀ It doesn’t have to be difficult, and here are three no fail ways to make a positive impact on the environment starting now:⠀ ⠀ 🌱 You don’t have to pull a Thoreau and move to the middle of the woods to cut down on your carbon emissions. Obviously we should be conscious of our behavior and energy consumption but also research a few carbon offset programs. They’re a great way to balance out your emissions from travel and your home ⚡️⠀ ⠀ 🌱 Shop second hand. I don’t buy new clothes. They’re expensive and take lots of resources and energy to produce. Plus each trip to the thrift shop is a new adventure. In the words of the wise Forrest Gump, “Thrift shopping is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get” 💁🏼‍♂️⠀ ⠀ 🌱 Go meatless for one meal a day. You don’t have to go stone cold vegan overnight but every meal helps. The key is making sure your vegan cooking exciting! Boring salads are CANCELED! Give me the vegan bolognese with lentils and roasted mushrooms over sweet potato noodles 🤤⠀ ⠀ Happy Earth Day humans. Go play in the dirt 🌍⠀ ⠀ 📸: @shelbypine⠀

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Nick suggests that we can learn to be patient at this time of angst. Coping with our isolation, in this time we can admit to our imperfections, thus, plants remind us of how we grow as beings.

Tasked with daily watering and minimal operation, plants are perfect ways to meditate through repetition and taking care of another living thing; a gentler creature rather.


PLANTING YOUR SEEDS

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Boxed Water has a whole campaign dedicated to planting one million more trees, as they accomplished their first ‘milli’ this year, 2020. This goal was set five years ago, according to Cheif Marketing Officer and former Hush Puppies President and Timberland Executive, Rob Koenen.

Considering Boxed Water as a luxury brand, with placement in retail spaces for AG Jeans, Rag & Bone, and Diane Von Furstenberg it shows that their message is more than selling water – rather, they want to emphasize the importance of a balanced ecosystem.


Boxed Water is encouraging its audience to live consciously through practice.

Growing house plant boxed water wants you to name your plant, as well as they, will plant a tree in honor of your social media sharing efforts, tagging Boxed Water and #BetterPlanet.

Koenen also shares an affinity for the house plant, or office plant rather, that he has named ‘Sam’ after his daughter Samantha. Naming your plant to create a connection not only to your house plant but to the environment in which we share with these living things.

Photo: boxwaterirbetter.com
Photo: boxwaterirbetter.com

FARMER’S CHOICE

“YES! I LOVE IT. NOT ONLY DO THE PLANTS PURIFY THE AIR IT’S YUMMY TO EAT!”

Conscious social media influencer, Thania Peck of Catcher In The Style said about her plants.

 

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Happy Earth Week, my friends! Every week is Earth Week in my books. This year is an enormous deal; we are celebrating the 50th year of Earth Week! We can all be more mindful of behavior towards mother nature. With that said, I’m super excited to announce the newest Earth Polo collection from @poloralphlauren! It’s made entirely of recycled bottles using a waterless dyeing process, and is super soft. Ralph Lauren is committed to recycling 170 million plastic bottles by 2025, diverting plastics from our oceans and landfills. If you choose to purchase new items, be mindful you are responsible for the life of the garment. Shop responsibly. Tap my look to shop #TheEarthPolo right here on IG. #VoteEarth #EarthDay #ad

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Thania has dived into the in-home farming game. She grows small veggies and garnishes which she is cooking with, while also saving money and trips to the market into the “COVID unknown.”

She tips us off to the fact that “It’s also more affordable right now to grow food at home. Things are getting very pricey at the stores.” Purified air and food for thought, plants are here to serve us as long as we serve them. Only then we can reap the benefits.

Even if you made it back to your hometown from your normal living situation in a major city, like Maryah did, interior plant stylist and influencer, plants have an attachment to your being that develops over time.


Maryah says,

“I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN AWAY FROM MY PLANTS DURING MY PERIOD OF QUARANTINE SINCE I LEFT NY TO BE WITH MY FAMILY. THAT BEING SAID, NOT ONLY HAVE I REALIZED HOW MUCH I MISS THEIR PRESENCE, BUT DOING VIRTUAL CONSULTING HAS HELPED ME TO RE-APPRECIATE EVERYONE ELSE’S PERSONAL JOURNEY IN PLANT PARENTHOOD!”

“THIS LOOKS SO DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE AND ITS A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PLANTS IS AS PERSONAL AND INTIMATE AS YOU MAKE IT.”


LONG TERM GROWTH

Planting is a life-long journey that someone like Shamini Dhana, founder of Dhana Inc. specializing in circular memory jackets of sentimental value, has known her whole life.

A journey that is innate to our discovery of life in general, plants can live with you throughout – they are our omnipresent relatives.

 

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Growth Is Good 💚

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Shamini divulged, “from child to adult, I’ve always had an affinity to nature – her beauty, abundance, and color. My mother was a stellar gardener and at one point, I remember us having close to a thousand plants and trees in our garden – from ferns to flowering, fruit to vegetables, green and color, scented and textures of all varieties. ”

“I LEARNED THE JOY OF ENGAGING WITH THE EARTH THROUGH GARDENING -, DIGGING, PLANTING SEEDS, TENDING, WATERING, PRUNING, AND CARING FOR OUR GREEN PLANTS AND TREES.”

She continued,

“PLANTING AND GARDENING OFFER CONNECTION LIKE NO OTHER – IT ALLOWS ME TO SILENCE THE MIND, TO BE IN THE MOMENT, TO CONNECT TO THE EARTH, IN EVERY ASPECT, AND WITH ALL THE SENSES. IT IS LIFE.”

We can thank the plants – the air, the sun, the soil, and the water – for our existence today and our presence here on Earth tomorrow. Granted, we treat the planet’s most vulnerable, delicate, and decorative features with respect and dignity.

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Groth Progress og Shamini’s garden

The Dhana Inc. founder continued, “with gardening, we are the facilitators, the connectivity tissue between soil, plant, and food. We, together, are bonded and there is imprinting that happens when you plant a seed or bulb. As you travel through life, the plant too travels its path and you are forever enjoined in this discovery.”

“I’VE ALWAYS FELT THAT JUST LIKE TREES, PLANTS HAVE A “QUIET INTELLIGENCE” ABOUT THEM.  WE ARE, AFTER ALL, INTERTWINED WITH THE SAME LIFE ENERGY – THAT WHICH KEEPS US ALIVE AND THAT WE SHARE AS ONE – AIR, WATER, SUN.”

As others explore the avenues of growing plants, others are consciously adopting these habits out of necessity and compassion for the essential-workers of our society. Stacie, mixologist and social media influencer known as the Garden Cocktail has dedicated her life to growing herbs and garnishes for her specialty cocktails.

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Photos of Stacie courtesy of LG by Cassell Ferere

Stacie elaborated, “plants have always been a draw for me because I love taking care of things. dogs, coworkers, roommates. I always had houseplants but things exploded when I got my first place with outdoor space about five years ago.”

“I STARTED GROWING A COCKTAIL GARDEN OF OBSCURE THINGS FOR GARNISHES AND DRINKS AND THAT HOBBY HAS CONTINUED TO TODAY. WHEN QUARANTINE HIT, MY HOBBY FELT A LOT LESS LIKE A HOBBY AND I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS I GROW MORE AS NECESSITIES THAN COCKTAIL PARTY TRICKS.”

 

“IT’S MADE ME RESPECT OUR SUPPLY CHAINS AND AGRICULTURE SO SO MUCH MORE AS SOME INGREDIENTS BECOME DIFFICULT TO PROCURE. THIS SUMMER I’M GROWING MORE ITEMS AND SPECIFICALLY MORE COOKING HERBS VS THINGS JUST FOR FUN. I’M SO DANG THANKFUL FOR OUR GROCERIES, OUR FARMERS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO GET THE VARIETY OF INGREDIENTS WE EXPERIENCE HERE IN NYC ON A REGULAR (EVEN QUARANTINED) BASIS.”

 

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#ad To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I am seriously jazzed to be working with the folks at @TimeOutNewYork (aka Time IN right now!) and @FeverTree_USA to make a twist on a Paloma! During this quarantine, I made the decision to only use the best mixers for our evening cocktail hours because these small indulgences feel like good house rules to impose right now for a bit of fun. I love the Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit because it uses real Florida grapefruit juice. 🍊💖⁠ .⁠ For my take on a Paloma, I wanted to use easy-to-obtain ingredients that pair well with grapefruit, so I chose mint and fresh ginger. Since I live in NYC, I don’t have space for a big juicer, but I still get that hot ginger flavor with a blender and a small fine-mesh strainer! ⁠ .⁠ I’ve got a tutorial video that shows my “hacked” juicing-without-a-juicer technique, and my stories link out to the piece on @TimeOutNewYork where they’ve got a taco pairing for a few Paloma variations that can easily be made at home!⁠ .⁠ 🍊Snappy Paloma 🍊⁠ 🔸2oz tequila with a 1-inch ginger piece blended in + strained with a fine mesh strainer⁠ 🔸Squeeze of lemon juice, I used a pink variegated lemon! ⁠ Mint for muddling and for garnish⁠ 🔸Fever-Tree Grapefruit Soda to top⁠ 🔸1 lemon slice for garnish⁠ 🔸Optional: Edible flowers to garnish⁠ 🔸Optional: Rim your glass with salt and pink peppercorn⁠ .⁠ Add the tequila and ginger into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh strainer to remove all of the solids. Add gingered tequila to a lowball glass and muddle with mint. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and shake with ice. Top with Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit and garnish like heck! ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #MixWithTheBest #cincodemayo #gardencocktails #cincodemayo #cincodemayococktails #craftcocktails #imbibe #imbibe #mixologyguide #imbibegram #drinkstagram #cocktailtime #handcraftedcocktails #liqpic #saveurmag #mixologyguide #bareaders #homebartender #cocktailsathome #homecocktails #cocktailquarantine #cocktailgram #cocktailsathome #madeathome #thingstodo #thingstomake #thingstodoathome #tequilacocktails #paloma⁠

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Quarantine has shifted thinking for a lot of entrepreneurs and businesses. Now there is an incentive to think more circular in every aspect of life and Stacie and the others are cultivating Green New Deals with their landlords and exploring the beauty and application of growing plants.

Stacie digressed,

“I’M STILL GROWING SOME WEIRD THINGS THIS SUMMER, THOUGH. I GOT SOME TEENY CHARAPITA PEPPERS FROM BRAZIL THAT I’M MOST EXCITED ABOUT.”

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Finally Focused: Meet Italian erotic photographer Leonardo Glauso

Leonardo Glauso is an erotic photographer with an eye for naturalness but stays knee-deep in books and his magazine, Resuer, to keep him busy.

The Italian born, Florence resident has been inspired by his family and his city and is finally focusing his efforts. Photoshoots have been halted and photographers everywhere have been resisting the urge to go out and shoot for the safety of their communities.

Unless you’re a journalistic photographer, it’s safe to say ‘stay home’ for the sake of shooting tomorrow. But what are the photographers of tomorrow doing or have done to transcend their artistry past this pandemic?

Photos by Leonardo Glauso

Motivated and influenced by his family, from an early age Leonardo was infused with the passion for art. The cities of Italy played a part as around each corner he was consumed by the architectural artistry.

Still living in Florence, Leonardo has manifested his photographic talents into books of boudoir women, and since 2015 has been publishing Resuer, a boudoir magazine where he explores the ultimate expression of femininity and naturalness of women.

“I think the woman’s lines are the maximum expression of art and naturalness.”

Photographer Leonardo Glauso
Photos by Leonardo Glauso

As an artist, Leonardo is a purist who believes that “the important thing is the vision of the photographer.” Not compromised by the tool he relies on — his eye and artistic capabilities. Aware of the range of camera models out there, Glauso tends to be non-specific when it comes to his weapon of choice.

Photos by Leonardo Glauso

“My first camera was a small compact digital [camera] as a gift from my parents,”

Leonardo explains. He can be found working with his 24-70mm, most likely, as it is his go-to when traveling.

Leonardo Glauso erotic photographer
Photos by Leonardo Glauso

Resuer has been a catalyst for his photography over the years. Inspired by movies and passionate about magazines, it is his platform for his work and the work of other artists who want to create in this lane.

A product of his artistic studies Resuer magazine is an ever-updating portfolio of Leonardo’s work.

 

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Although he may receive some backlash for his style of photography and artistic eye, Leonardo is happy that his work is being noticed and elicits a response – something a young artist thrives on.

I have always had a great passion for magazines, I wanted to create a space to give visibility to emerging and non-emerging artists.

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Photos by Leonardo Glauso

Glauso has focused his lens on a subject that, to him, is a homage to the naturalness of the lines a woman creates with her body. While relinquishing himself of constructs and frills, his photographic eye is natural and fresh.

Now, with the daily hustle subsiding to quarantine living, Leonardo is using this time to“Listen to himself and reflect on the future.”

“The positive thing is that by getting out of the hustle and bustle of life, I was able to listen better to myself and reflect on the future.”

 

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#me 🙂

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Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Roxy surfer Stephanie Gilmore champions sustainable living in her sport

When I got the opportunity to hang out with a world-class championship pro surfer, a part of me was itching to find out all I could about surfing, and her home, Australia.

Waves and sharks popped up in my mind, and I had some curiosity about the origin of UGGs and the array of remarkably beautiful influencers occupying coastlines.

But another thing that popped up in my mind was the condition of the oceans that surfers occupy and if ocean plastics were becoming more of an issue, coastally and worldwide.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

There always seems to be a new source of ocean plastic, going back to the beginning of the past decade. Currently, ocean plastics are becoming like an unnatural-natural resource that can be harvested from oceans and beaches around the globe.

This got me thinking of how, if any, do surfers care to be stylish on open water or dry land, knowing the impact fashion has overall.


Bring Your Board

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Professional surfer, Roxy sponsored athlete, guitarist, environmentalist, and Australian cool-kid, Stephanie Gilmore is leading the way to the 2021 Olympics. Surfing will be premiered for the first time in Tokyo.

She has been making waves since the tender age of 19 in the pro-surfing circuit and is now living a dream while supporting many eco-friendly efforts of various nonprofits and organizations.

She is an influencer of surf culture and people around the world, especially in her Pacific island region.

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“I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT STRAIGHT ON TO THE QUALIFYING SERIES AND QUALIFIED STRAIGHTAWAY. AND SO I WAS ON THE WORLD TOUR AT 19 YEARS OF AGE. IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR, AND I WON THE WORLD TITLE AS A ROOKIE, AND I WON IT EVERY YEAR FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS. THEN AT THE END OF 2010, I HAD THIS INCIDENT, WHICH WAS A BIT OF A HURDLE.”

Stephanie continued:

“I HAD A BROKEN WRIST AND A FEW DIFFERENT INJURIES AND SOME EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. IT TOOK ME A GOOD YEAR TO REALLY RECOVER FROM THAT. IN 2012, I WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND WIN THE TITLE AGAIN. I SORT OF BEEN OFF SINCE THEN. I’D WIN A TITLE AND THEN I FEEL LIKE IT TAKES ME A YEAR TO GO BY TO FINISH PARTYING.”

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Stephanie has recently spent time on hiatus from the surfing scene. She’s usually traveling and photographing her views from coastlines around the world.

For her, sustainable ideas were far from her daily routine but her livelihood is set in one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet, the ocean. Besides balancing on a board, she has realized the balance needed for fashion and the ecosystems of the world to co-exist.

Josie Kerr [wearing ROXY tee and cap] and Ellie were forced to evacuate their home in Mallacoota [Australia]. Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Josie Kerr [wearing ROXY tee and cap] and Ellie were forced to evacuate their home in Mallacoota [Australia]. Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

What is evident is the ravaging fires Australia has experienced earlier in the year. The oceans that are swooshing used consumer plastics and other trash from continent to continent, coastline to coastline, ending up in places like Bali, whose infrastructure can’t handle the influx of the trash.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

“I THINK NOW IT’S A BIG MOVEMENT. WHICH IS COOL FOR SURFERS! DIVING STRAIGHT INTO SUSTAINABILITY – SURFING IS A PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY LIVE THERE EVERY DAY.”


THE WAVE OF INFLUENCERS

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Born, raised, and living in New South Wales, Australia, and spending time in Malibu during the off-season, this happy-go-lucky girl has been carving a path of her own and celebrating her success around every turn.

As a Roxy sponsored, seven-time world champion athlete, living most of her life on the surface of the ocean, she is avid about their brand’s functionality in design, but more impressed at the eco-friendly production and finish of the garments.

She is honored to be considered cool enough for fashion placement, but she has goals that come with that.

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“THERE’S A LITTLE MORE GOING ON THAN JUST TRYING TO BE AN INFLUENCER. I THINK THE MAIN THING, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US IS THAT I WANT TO USE MY PLATFORM TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THINGS THAT AREN’T GOING TO JUST GROW MY FOLLOWING BUT TEACH MY FOLLOWING.”

Gilmore continued:

“I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT I’M TRYING TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE ON. AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF INFLUENCERS TO STOP AND ASK THEMSELVES THOSE QUESTIONS. LIKE, ‘WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY TRYING TO TELL ME? WHAT STORY ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?’”


ROXY SURFING CLUB

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Roxy swimwear is particularly favored by Stephanie as she can find everything she needs for surfing in any condition while knowing that the brand is countering the effects of human consumption with their Pop Surf Collection.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Roxy makes everything a surfer needs like sarongs, slides, towels, and even poncho towels with hoods, which makes changing at the beach more accessible.

They have everything covered for a surfer with suits for every condition like when the waters are warm but the wind is chilly. Maybe just a vest when it’s a bit warmer or full suit when the weather is colder.


LOOK OUT FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE PAGE PRINT ISSUE COMING SOON!

TAKE OUR PAGE READER SURVEY


Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

You can watch Stephanie in the latest surfing visuals from the Convicts production house in Electric Wave, featuring two other surfing greats, Coco Ho and Leah Dawson.

“Electric Wave is half surf-film, half arthouse-cinema and all futuristic. Featuring seven-time World Surf League Champion, Steph Gilmore, in addition to the young star Coco Ho and legendary free surfer, Leah Dawson, Electric Wave celebrates sustainability and progression within and beyond the surf world.”

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

How Battelle found a sustainable way to decontaminate N95 masks

In 2014, a science research and development organization based out of Columbus, Ohio, thought to be proactive in the fight against diseases.

Similar to Bill Gates in his predictions of a pandemic, Battelle was a step ahead in anticipating an outbreak and figured a way they could be of help in a world of material consumption and waste.

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Fast forward to 2020, and Battelle was enlisted by the Food & Drug Administration [FDA] to distribute its decontamination system for personal protective equipment [PPE], including the N95 mask.

These were initially installed in Ohio hospitals and set to decontaminate 10,000 masks a day.

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As the spread of the coronavirus persists the Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine has made an effort to send decontamination machines to hospitals and healthcare facilities that have been experiencing a shortage of PPE due to the number of patients in need of care.

Machines were sent to health care operations in Ohio as well as Washington state, Washington, D.C., and the epicenter of the coronavirus, New York City.

With COVID-19 hitting major cities at alarming rates, the federal stockpile of equipment is still waiting to be deployed by President Donald Trump.

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Today, Battelle has been granted the ability to decontaminate up to 80,000 masks a day. These masks can have an extended lifespan and can be worn up to 20 times by healthcare workers in the field, sans degradation of mask performance.

Battelle’s decontamination machine and system use concentrated hydrogen peroxide vapor, then the filters are gassed for two and a half hours to destroy viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants, including the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

With plans further plans to recycle and reuse materials within the healthcare field, Battelle wants to be able to produce machines that are capable of decontaminating ventilators and other pieces of equipment.

While we wait for companies to produce all the PPE gear that is needed for handling this pandemic accordingly, we should take note of what solution could improve our response to situations like the one we are in at this very moment.

Battelle has sought a circular solution for the n95 mask issue and has been considerate enough to the planet and to the people that inhabit it.

Look for this article on PAGE magazine.

Quarantine Style: What are fashion icons rocking to stay sane?

Fashion is in a weird place.

But it can do more for us while we are staying home to stay safe. As our sartorial ambition has been deteriorating, we are desperately holding on to our dignity trying to stay engaged with humans in the real world.

There are levels to this sh*t. And getting fly from the waist up for a Zoom meeting or similar seems like the new trend where we can hella style inspo from.

naomi campbell no filter
Marc Jacobs and Naomi Campbell for “No Filter’

Naomi Campbell has been hosting a YouTube series called “No Filter with Naomi” where she gets real with some of fashion’s most prominent figures. A recent episode featured Marc Jacobs, lounging in a Prada sweater over a Lacoste shirt while pearls rest around his collar.

The two spent a reasonable amount of time talking about the emotions behind dressing up. They dived into valuing your clothing – especially the expensive brands.

Marc went in about how he needs to get dressed and most importantly, as Naomi and Marc  both agreed, they “have to make the bed.” Marc goes on about how these things are an “act of self-care.

Marc Jacobs continues to rant:

“I  HOPE BY MY ACTIONS, SOMEONE WILL FEEL FREE ENOUGH TO PAINT THEIR FACE, DO THEIR NAILS, WEAR HEELS AROUND THE LIVING ROOM, GET DRESSED FOR DINNER EVEN THO YOUR ALL BY YOURSELF. I KNOW I DO IT FOR THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DO IT TO FEEL GOOD.”

 

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a girl and her favorite yellow jacket : a series

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Let’s be honest, we all have gotten lazy, maybe depressed. We haven’t seen our hairdressers and barbers in over a month. Makeup tutorials can be helpful but you’ll be wearing a mask if you decide to head outside.

There hasn’t been much to do other than getting the fulfillment of getting dressed up. Pillow challenges and living room runways are all we – fashion people – have, lately.

We all have our way of feeling adequate enough, presenting ourselves in our best fashion, simply just to feel good about ourselves.

Whether the home style is the best version of you or the laziest, it’s still a style choice that makes us remember why we like fashion. Fabrics, comfort, confidence, and individuality; we simply should dress up because we can…


Want more? Hit PAGE magazine for the full list of celebs and what drip they’re wearing at the crib.

SodaStream pledges to eliminate 67 billion plastic bottles to save our home

If you have stopped drinking hardcore soda, but like most, crave the carbonated delight, then it’s likely you’ve heard of SodaStream, the world’s leading sparkling water-maker brand.

They offer over 20 different flavors to create sparkling soda without all the sugar. While they have already created a solution to a big problem, there are still some issues that have them itching to get closer to circularity with an eco-centric mission just in time for Earth Day.

sodastream carbonation A cold fact — 67 Billion Plastic bottles are enough to wrap planet earth almost eight times. That doubles what we dispose of each year here in America. One in four Americans knows how to recycle and do recycle, making the oceans around the globe vulnerable to 75 percent of single-use plastic products.

Kulture hub

With that said, SodaStream, a PepsiCo. brand, has pledged to change all of that by 2025. How? The plan on eliminating 67 billion plastic bottles from production. Since 2019, their efforts have contributed to the avoidance of, roughly, 5 billion single-use plastic bottles. And SodaStream won’t stop there.

sodastream products

Since the beginning Soda Stream has implemented a sustainable process within its company motto and introduced solar panels to power five percent of the main facility. They plan to generate 20 percent of the factory’s energy this way by 2021. In due time, they want to be using 100 percent natural gas and clean energy.

sodastream

SodaStream CEO Eyal Shohat commented,

“We are constantly exploring further steps, including in the field of renewable energy. As a company, we feel responsible and committed towards the world we will leave for the next generation,”

As we continue to produce 300 million tons of plastic each year, 8 million tons are finding its way to the ocean. The biggest threat here? Fifty percent of the plastic produced is for single-use, something not recommended by environmentalists everywhere.

Re-usability is key for SodaStream and one bottle replaces 3,070 plastic bottles while they have plans to move from plastic to metal containers by 2021. The idea is deemed to offset 200 million plastic bottles by 2025.

sodastream

Amid the pandemic of COVID-19, we have grown even more aware of the fragility of our ecosystem as well as how vulnerable we are to Mother Nature. SodaStream has a message for all and has sought practices to reach eco-friendly solutions.

sodastream plastic bottles

As the CEO, Shohat stated,

“While we are all going through something so challenging, my hope is that, once COVID-19 will be behind us, we will remember to take much better care of the planet we live in, all together as mankind.”

SodaStream has also put together a video message to the world to encourage conscious living and awareness. It serves as a homage campaign to planet Earth and quick a reminder to not only take care of ourselves but also the planet.

https://youtu.be/INA79P_b5nQ

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Level up for Earth Day with these eco-friendly life hacks

The next couple of days are dedicated to growth. On one hand, you’ve got a marijuana packed 4/20 and then there’s Earth Day – likely another reason to puff on some greenery. But this Earth Day is going to be different.

Earth has rejected us – some say we were sent to our room to “think about what we’ve done.” We have seen tremendous upticks in CO2 emission for decades. All caused by human activity, ranging from the driving of cars to the production of food.

But, some of the smoggiest places in the world have recently seen sunlight for the first time in a long time. China emissions are down about 25 percent since quarantine and social distancing, just saying.

Quarantined with a mandatory (non-mandatory) stay-at-home per safety measures, and on an intermittent cease and desist of the normal lives we once lived, it is unsure if we will ever get to live that life again.

It is wise to take the time now to reevaluate the way we have been living as individuals and pivot toward more sustainable practices in everyday life.

From eco-friendly toothbrushes and proper food waste management practices to vegan handbags (check them out), diversifying your palette for sustainability will help you understand what it means to live a more circular way of life.


Use that Greenthumb

There are so many things you can grow at home.

All you need is some planting pots, soil, seeds and some water each day. If you have a yard of a sort, even better. That’s a big opportunity to grow some shit! The first thing you probably think is, ‘I can grow a vegetable garden!’ We’re to say, “yes, you can.”

Seeds can be found online or at local certain supermarkets – since it’s essential at the moment. Grape tomatoes, mint, basil, and parsley are some easier things to grow for the beginners out there.

If you have some apples you can plant the seeds once you eat them as well. This may be more of a long term goal as you may need to move the plant to a larger setting for the apple tree to blossom in 10 years.

Nurturing plants and watching them grow is a process and a journey. Learning to grow life takes discipline. Discipline that can be of use in your life. It’s a meditative process overlooked regularly by most.

Using the seeds most available to you like fruits or certain vegetables are great places to start also. Got a cannabis seed in your stash? Try planting that as research.

Cultivating plant life is a fascinating practice to experience and to breed life from a simple seed, with soil and water is something that can be therapeutic in this lull time. It also is a great way to understand how precious soil health and freshwater are in the ecosystem.


Get to cheffin’

Vegan Recipes, sure! Steak tartar, even better. You grow your own garnish so it’s lit. Get recipes from anywhere; a book, magazine, YouTube, or blog, and get to work on some healthier eats. Or you could even try to make that thing you love at that restaurant you frequent.

You got all day to really perfect that roasted dish or treat you thought was on the other end of this quarantine. Learn to make roasted carrots with seared salmon, sprinkled with some basil from your window garden. Or you can try your luck at some granola – I have yet to find a home cook who can pull this off to perfection.

Nonetheless, you can try to make whatever it is you want, like – you guessed it – weed butter. Use leftovers from 4/20 to spice up your daily meals. Make some weed-infused vodka by fermenting weed stems in a preferred vodka or other clear alcohol to wash down your pan-fried scallions and risotto.


If it is broken, fix it fam

I’m sure you want to get that old film camera sitting on your dresser fixed. The shop is not open at the moment but, I got you. Just learn to fix it!

Websites like ifixit.com (and YouTube) are great places for learning about the ins-and-outs of your cache of broken things and worn items. Platforms like Ifixit give detailed information about a variety of electronics and the tools necessary to work with and the parts you may encounter and need, specifically.

They don’t stop there either. They have guides on how to repair clothing and other fashion accessories including frames for glasses. The thing that you may have let slip to the bottom of your draw since it was out of commission.

You don’t have to be a fashion designer to take the liberty of altering your clothes to your liking. This can save you tons of money. Buying new replacement fashion is old news. Keeps those clothes out of the landfill or in third world countries’ overflowing inventory of secondhand items.


Become An Green Expert

Environmental documentaries are a great way to celebrate Earth Day. This can be anything from the animals that inhabit different regions, or maybe something about the weather and the oceans.

If that’s not interesting enough, go back to the beginning of time with the anthropological series Cosmos, and rewatch how Neil deGrasse Tyson explains why we’re so small in the universe.

All great places to start when learning about all that planet earth has to offer, what the planet has been through and all the effects of man and our future.

We have heard the call outs from climate change activists demanding a change in business and how they operate within their ecosystems. Watching a documentary on that might give new meaning to your way of living.

You could even dive deep into the topic of sustainable fashion with documentaries like The True Cost or The Next Black. Learn about how troublesome fast-fashion is and what the future holds for the future of fashion.


Learn To Recycle

Honestly, we don’t know how to recycle. Only 1 in 4 Americans actually recycle their waste and that is nothing to brag about.

This would be a great time to set up some sort of recycling system in your home or apartment that can be easy for everyone else to understand. it can be as simple as reusing those sturdy Trader Joe bags to put bottles, metals and other plastics in until its time to take out the trash.

Coordinate with your local sanitation schedule to know when to put out which waste. Double-check on your local sanitation website for the days that are for recycled and what items should be stored together.

Often cross-contamination of plastic at recycling facilities happen in the trash. When that happens it becomes harder for the waste to be recycled for further uses. Dapping it up with your local sanitation department would be hella appreciated. Also, feel free to find ways to reuse the disposables you have now. And if you have to buy plastics, make sure that shit is sturdy enough for repeated use.


Put Some Respect on Earth’s Name

Earth Day should be about just that, respect. Every move you make should be a conscious one, not just for one day but for life. The effort it takes to make a change is in the continuum of the individual all the way up to the entire group.

Make every day Earth Day and hopefully, we can see more of the earth in a thriving, natural state, smog-less and without waste. Earth Day is about appreciation and being grateful for our provider, Mother Earth.

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Plus1 Vote calls on creatives to get young voters to the polls

As the Democratic primary nomination is concluding, the race to the presidency has begun and Plus1 Vote is leading the charge.

With the field clear for competition, it is up to voters to make it clear what they want from their country and their government.

Photo courtesy of Plus1 Vote by Cassell Ferere

The past four years have been different, none the less, we have been hopeful in the fight for truth and equality. This is why voting matters and why it is important for everyone to take part and voice their vision for the future of our home, The United States of America.

Photo courtesy of Plus 1 Vote

Founded by Saad Amer, Plus1 Vote is a non-profit that focuses on creating a democratized representation of the people.

The campaign is a revamping of an artistic vision for voter registration and outreach.

The non-profit started with a campaign concept photoshoot at the Christian Siriano’s showroom here in NYC to promote voter registration using conscious influencers. With the COVID pandemic at hand, the energy has shifted to a larger call-out to voters and potential voters.

The photoshoot brought together activist influencers from professional models and businesswomen to XR Youth NYC which is a part of the larger Extinction Rebellion movement. XR Youth It is an initiative started by a group of high school teenagers in efforts to prime their generation to vote with a purpose for doing good for society.

Fashion blogger and sustainability advocate Thania Peck even made an appearance.

thania peck vote
Photo courtesy of Plus1 Vote

With the given reality of remotely working with stay home orders for most of the United States, Plus1 Vote has devised a digital shift in their campaign. While continuing to recruit by staying engaged, a collective of creatives is being called upon to utilize their platforms to reach a new demographic.

2020 campaign
Photo courtesy of Plus1 Vote

The plan is to get a new generation of voters and the unregistered ready, willing, and able to vote in the 2020 presidential election. The campaign is an opportunity for you to register yourself to vote or help your ‘plus 1’ register.

With issues they are passionate about, activists, influencers and users can voice their opinions about an issue that may have been overlooked by other important issues.

 

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To quote my girl @mairaka : “voting is a tactic.” I’m just as unenthusiastic about how this election is playing out as the rest of y’all, but voting is a mother fucking tactic. And you best believe no matter who is in office we’re gonna continue to push and organize and advocate for our communities. If you have the ability to do so, register to vote at plus1campaign.org/register. And shoutout to @liveshiv for bringing me into this campaign and getting me out of my comfort zone. Join @plus1vote ‘s day of action today by registering to vote and encouraging your friends to as well. Your turn @anjalichandrashekar @kavita.rai @pranjalljain @reemakakaday @anumeha__ ✊🏾#votedanyway

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Launching today, This campaign is asking individuals to take a selfie with the word “VOTE” on their faces and challenge #plus1’s to participate by tagging them on Instagram.

With an Instagram filter also launching, users are capable are of engaging and sharing the effort to get friends and friends of friends to register and vote this coming November.

plus1 vote
Photo courtesy of Plus1 Vote

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Instagram Is The Perfect Place For Introverts During Social Distancing

We’ve all heard of ghost followers and bots existing on social media. These ominous entities lurk on timelines and maybe even troll certain accounts. But without giving them too much of the attention they so desperately crave, I am here to speak to the Introvert and about their online presence.

Finding some ground using similarly unfavorable tactics to remain socially active, this is a time to potentially get creative and create the space for you and society to coexist. The pandemic of COVID 19 has strengthened the order for social distancing worldwide and is keeping us indoors. With time this can become a mental prison causing stress.


F.O.M.O.

It’s hard enough to get out the door to be social especially with quarantine in effect. The introvert must be relieved to not have to be present in social settings they are used to, like work environments, while skipping the anxiety and fear of missing out on gatherings. It’s a great time to be alive, nonetheless.

With Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and even Tik Tok as social media outlets for all of us to use, the introvert has options to stay in touch with the outside world if they choose. It’s a privilege to be in control of your human contact as an introvert in this current state of social distancing. You may even have slight OCD tendencies, and handshakes have never been your thing.

Amongst these social media powerhouses, Instagram is the perfect place to engage. To not give up your location, or show something current of yourself like a selfie picture or video, or expressing your deepest or shallowest thoughts. Instagram happens to be a place where you can live anonymously, without a persona.

Free from the disclosure of your true identity.


Social Distancing Platforms

Twitter wouldn’t garner you enough delight as you would need to be verbose to participate. That lends you to exposure and as an introvert, you don’t care for or want that kind of attention. It’s a tit-for-tat gratification based around dialogue. Dialogue can make you vulnerable.

Tik Tok is cool, but it’s a one way street down a cul-de-sac. You get on and immediately start descending down the depths of videos after answering just 2 questions. Simply, this app would probably be too overwhelming, while to participate would be too invasive for you.

Making videos, most likely starring you doing some dance or acting something out. Watching other users on the platform is hypnotizing as the feed is like tunnel vision. You’d be better off doing something more interactive – this will push you into a digital wormhole.

Snapchat is similar to Twitter but less public. Snapchat can be a fully privatized experience that you can share with only close friends. But most of the excitement is in the face filters.

Maybe, that would be a deal-breaker and you’ll be missing out on the engagement features they provide. It’s more of an instant platform than Instagram and that may be an scary feeling, but the content will quickly go away within 24 hours.

Instagram, from the start, can be a place of anonymity. All you need is that burner email you’re always using to sign up for things you don’t want to be bothered by after the fact. You know how much a selfie freaks you out but it’s not necessary here.

Instagram can be your gallery for the things you like, even if it’s not your face, your thoughts, or even your own vernacular.


Stay In-Touch

At the least, Instagram is the least confrontational environment, unlike Twitter. You can block comments and make your account fully private. As for posting content, feel free to post the scenes from your window, or around the home for now, since we are currently on quarantine.

Get creative and make memes or graphics for your account. Or maybe source images from the world wide web and create a mood board of sorts. Instagram Live shouldn’t pose a threat as you choose to enter and exit them as you’d like.

You can become what you want – influencers show a life of aspiration or consumerism, yet we hear through the grapevines that they don’t all live the lives they always display on the gram. This should tell you, the introvert, that it’s ok to hide your personality while still feeling a role in contributing to the conversation.

Maybe you don’t want to be too out there if you’re even out there at all. Then you can create a ghostlike persona of yourself rather than just be a ghost with an account.

Plenty of influencers and their accounts have been very strategic in creating a mystique around themselves without giving up their identity and other personal qualities.

This is an artful quality that someone like Bansky, the omnipresent graffiti artist, has built into his real-life identity.


No Peers, No Pressures

Whether you’re playing for likes or not, Instagram has been toying with the idea of removing likes for the sake of getting gassed, implementing this in 7 countries at the moment.

Posting and getting likes are some of the most satisfying feelings in the modern world right now. Although that would level that playing field, it would diverge the feeling of being judged on your timeline.

It’s not an obligation to be more engaging on social media, but for introverts, any interaction can be a grave task. And now that we are all stuck at home to be safe, this should be a time to find ourselves and ultimately become more appreciative of who we are.

Time is of the essence, and in this case, use your social media wisely as you can always find ways to improve life. Get creative and find ways to express yourself without giving away that precious part of you.

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

How hip hop historian Ralph McDaniels set the tone for the culture


Ralph McDaniels is a certified hip-hop legend and he has the catalog to prove it.

Capturing hip-hop culture for the various media outlets he has worked with and as the brain behind Video Music Box, McDaniels has amassed rare content of Hip Hop’s upbringing in the streets of New York City.

Images and videos of the greats during their come-ups as well as their peaks. Ralph McDaniels’ name still holds sentimental value to those who have done their homework when it comes to rap’s come-up.

Born And Raised

Born in Brooklyn, growing up, hip hop was the epicenter for youth culture. Interested by the vibe it brought to the New York City streets and the neighborhoods they stemmed from, Ralph saw an opportunity to get involved. Not as a rapper, DJ or producer, but as a documentarian.

He had the vision and foresight to realize that this birth of hip hop needed to be documented. Acting as an anthropologist to this era of hip-hop history, the perspective of this genre of music was authentic as Ralph video jockeyed the uncommon music videos on secondary channels on basic television here in New York City.


Growing up hip-hop

McDaniels grew up in an era well before Wi-Fi and digital. Parties were thrown with little to no marketing presence, as you ‘had to know’ what was the play for the evening.

Any effort to garner a large crowd would have to endure weeks of promotion to get thousands to show up. Flyers were rare but when they soared, DJs and dancers were the first to know and the promoter would summon their crowd. 

No internet to tell anyone.

Ralph was working with a vision unseen but believed that there was a market that needed this. A market that needed to see hip-hop. The man who can be accredited with the on-camera shout-out, McDaniels would find his calling.

“It was a need to know basis. People who knew each other… Hip-Hop and underground music didn’t get promoted on the radio. So, you didn’t hear about it on the radio. Back then that was the only way.”

Ralph affirmed,

“The dancers knew all the DJs, you know. All the graffiti artists might know the promoters. That’s how it began.”


Welcome to the party

The parties happened all over the city at venues that no longer exist today. Stories are only told from the vantage point of the OGs.

The Tunnel and the Latin Quarter in Manhattan to The Ark in Brooklyn, Ralph was there, to name a few. Camera in hand and always in the middle of the crowd getting content, McDaniels was an active member of the hip-hop community.

His love for documenting got him in the doors of famed locations and with ease he’d navigate the scene and capture the most unassuming moments and interactions of the pioneers in hip-hop and street culture.

The love came with long hours dedicated to capturing and editing footage. Ralph would stay up all night. 

“Shooting at like, one o’clock in the morning. By three o’clock, we were in and out. By eight in the morning, we finished editing it so we can get it on TV that afternoon. Then you had to wait! You couldn’t just post it as you do now. You had to wait for your time slot.”


Video Music Box Television

“My first mindset was to get it on TV. That was the most important thing. Nobody else was putting this on TV. So, it was revolutionary to do something like that.”

The local station was NYC-TV, and it connected the hip-hop community through Ralph’s diligence. He would go in and keep that routine of interviewing rappers and hip-hop patrons while documenting and providing a stage for the generation of talent in an underserved group in music. 

He then created a platform for artist and their music videos, something that was new at the time, to have a home and fans can check-in. Video Music Box was born from the beat of New York City in that era.

A “true form of art,” as Ralph refers to it. He saw the exposure as an opportunity to voice political and social issues amongst these factions. Granting opportunity, he not only pioneered hip-hop, but he was also creating a platform for those who are from those places to look to for inspiration.


Tall Tales

Working closely with Kool DJ Red Alert in those years, the two were outlets for the city’s most talented MC’s to get ears and eyes on their style and message. They nurtured careers like Fat Joe.


Joe recalled, “to these guys, believe it or not, Fat Joe is Little Joe.”

And he goes one, “this man literally changed my life – I gave [Red] my demo and I remember he ain’t play it for like two months, I was in Forest project, and I had the flu, and out of nowhere, it started playing out the speaker – and I jumped to the ceiling. I took the speaker and threw it out the window.”

“I started screaming, ‘Yo! Red Alert is playing my joint!’. Long story short, that song – rest in peace Chris Lighty – ended up being Flow Joe which was my first single ever. [Red Alert and Ralph McDaniels…]” 


Generation Next

Today, Ralph is into what the newer generations have to offer and has his ears to the beat. Although it takes a while for the new sounds to rest on his ears organically, he can always connect the dots from his era to the vibrations of today.

Artists like Koffee resonate with Ralph. Talent like hers is a hip-hop sound that chartered in the reggae influences of the early ’90s in hip-hop.

This included the bombastic sounds of Shaggy, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, and Supa Cat, who collaborated with Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy early in their careers. Artists of today have reached for that formula time and time again.

As I inquire into more of Ralph’s plans for the hip-hop industry today, he insistently replies “Yes, that’s the key to it all.” VideoMusicBox.com is gearing up to be the digital hub for this rare and unseen footage. He claims this project will act as a non-profit and archive for preserving hip-hop culture. 

 

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VMB Exclusive available at videomusicbox.com #broadcast

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Believe The Hype

Ralph has captured freestyles of Old Dirty bastard, interviews with LL Cool J and Jay-Z at club performances that are for sure keepsakes. 

Ralph McDaniels had a plan all along, traversing the hip-hop scene for generations. He wants to keep these memories as a historical currency that we can always refer to as our holy grail. McDaniels defines himself as a ‘Cultural Progressive” always attuned to something new.

And a historical center for hip hop is just that.

Look out for this Article on PAGE magazine.