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#MoreThanAModel: How Jordan Torres’ hustler mindset helped him make his own path

Jordan Torres entered high school like most teenagers — unsure of what the future had in store for him and what his place would be in the world. But it didn’t take long for him to find the path that would set the rest of his life in motion.

It was one with a whole lot of twists and turns, obstacles, and even moments when it seemed like thing wouldn’t pan out. But none of that was ever too much for this Bronx bull to fight through. JT, as, he’s known by those close to him, was raised in the BX, where not a lot of dudes make it out to be game changers and world shakers.

During a sit down with Kulture Hub, JT reflected on where most dudes from his hood ended up and where he is now in life, saying he “could’ve easily been dead or in prison.”

JT was different though. His mindset drives his hustle and his level of motivation is obvious from the minute you first meet him.

“I get my motivation from the weirdest things…I get my motivation from what people get depressed about.”

It all starts with his family. His internal motivation comes in big part from losing two older brothers to the all too familiar violence that affects so many in the Bronx.

Jordan has each of their names tattooed on the inside of his wrists as a reminder. Whenever he wants to put his head down, he sees their names and is reminded to always keep his head up.

 

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I know you’re probably wondering why I’m spending my birthday at the cemetery but to be 100; I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. On this day a couple years ago one of my older brothers was laid to Rest In Peace. It’s not the easiest hump to get over but I do my best as I get older. I know my big brothers want to see me enjoying myself but I rather come here and reflect on this thing we call “life”. There’s always better days ahead. I’m grateful to be here, I could careless about anything else. Lastly, I want to sincerely thank everyone for reaching out to me on this special day. I’m a guy that cares about the small things; a text, call or post is always appreciated. I am truly overwhelmed with the amount of love I received on this day so far. I’m blessed enough to have people who not only love me but support me through this journey I’m on and that’s ya. There’s not much more to be said. Thanks again for all the wishes and support. 🦍

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But it doesn’t end with his brothers – his mom is also a huge source of inspiration. He describes her as “the most important person in the world.” She built herself up from next to nothing and raised Jordan as a single parent.

“Everything I’ve accomplished has always been bigger for me and my family”

JT’s path to success started while sitting in class one day when a group of older students walked in to recruit new players for a local rugby club. He knew a few of those older guys and decided to give it a shot.

The pairing clicked instantly. He excelled on the pitch and quickly became one of the brightest high-school talents in the NYC area. It seemed like JT had his path figured out. Rugby became his calling and opened up countless doors for him.

Even with his success in rugby, JT still knew there was always a chance of him never making it out of the hood. He remembers still hanging out with the wrong crowds and getting caught up in the wrong scenes.

 

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Strollin ‘

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That all changed after a run-in with police ended with him getting arrested. While sitting behind bars, he realized if he stayed on this path “if I wanted to leave, I couldn’t.” That was when he hit that shift to stay on his path for success.

“Once I got arrested, and everything, that’s when I knew the street life wasn’t for me.”

Later that same year, Jordan was all the way across the globe, playing elite rugby down in New Zealand. It was an eye-opening experience, unlike anything he had experienced back home in the BX.

Rugby kept him off the streets, introduced him to new cultures and ideas, and took him all around the country and the world. JT was all set to play college at Penn State, a collegiate rugby powerhouse when his path changed again.

 

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@coach – page 3 #flauntmagazine

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The summer before starting school, he was approached by a modeling agency for a job.

JT was faced with a tough choice — pursue his developing rugby career at a university that might not have been the right fit for him, or pursue a new career in something he wasn’t familiar with and start making an impact immediately.

“The fun is in the journey… I’m happy to be chasing the dream.”

It was never something he had considered doing, but once again JT decided to give something new a shot. His competitive nature and constant strive for greatness propelled him to the top of his game. Modeling has opened up even more doors for JT and he feels like he’s just getting started. His next career path to dominate? Acting, of course. And it won’t stop there.

 

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VERSACE by BRUCE WEBER. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤✨✨✨✨#MAJORMOVES

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JT will continue to build his brand and ultimately use his success and influence to give back to his community. He has plans to open a community center in his old neighborhood in the Bronx to help kids find their own paths to success and callings in life.

“For these kids in the Bronx, to show that them anything is possible. Whether it’s music, sports, entertainment”

JT told Kulture Hub that even with his success he’ll never forget where he comes from. Now based in LA, he makes constant trips back to NYC to spend time with his family, childhood friends, and the concrete jungle that raised him.

He’ll always be the same old JT from the block — no amount of success will change that.

 

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VIBES’ 💙

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The process hasn’t been without consequence though. Like most successful people, he’s lost friends who claim he’s changed or sold out. You can understand his disappointment when he says “I lost them for bettering myself.” He doesn’t get too hung up on it though, JT just keeps grinding.

“I do have homies that never switched it up on me.”

JT will always push himself to be the best he can be and won’t settle for anything less. If you tell him his dreams are silly, he’ll make sure to show you (and more importantly himself) that achieving them is no issue.

Jordan continues to work each and every day to perfect his crafts, grow as a person, and move forward. Things are just getting started for JT and you’d be a fool to think he’s going to slow down anytime soon.

Harlem Hops: The hot new beer hall and the inspiring trio that brought it to life

When Harlem Hops founders Kevin Bradford, Kim Harris, and Stacey Lee opened their doors last month, there were no doubts that they had struck gold. The three brought years of experience, passion for the project, and the hustling spirit needed to get it done.

Kim, Kevin, and Stacey all have full-time jobs and tons of other outside responsibilities, but that was not going to stop them from getting this done.

Stacey cites that “having a team to support each other” has been one of the factors for their success. When one of these outside forces needs their attention, they “try to lean on each other” she says.

Harlem Hops

Their abilities to lean on each other and trust one another formed because of the passion for what they are doing. Eighteen years ago Kim told a friend that she was coming back to Harlem and opening a business in the community. After making this dream come true through Harlem Hops, she said,

“It feels good to come back and give something to everybody.”

That “everybody” includes the growing number of new faces moving into Harlem neighborhoods in the form of gentrification. You can’t deny it, Harlem, like so many other neighborhoods in New York and other cities across the country, has been hit pretty hard with gentrification.

Along with the new faces, came a number of new businesses that have also increased in Harlem. They usually come in the form of coffee shops, wine bars, and other “upscale” businesses that push out the longstanding mom and pop shops.

Instead of combatting the newcomers, the Harlem Hops founders realized their new spot should be a place where “ALL Harlem” residents can stop by and enjoy.

Harlem Hops

This mindset has already proven to be a success. The beer bar, located at 2268 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard (between 133rd and 134th Street), had already become a favorite spot amongst neighborhood locals.

Why not have a space where everyone can feel at home? As Kim told Kulture Hub,

“We’re all on the same subways together, so why can’t we all live together?”

Besides putting it on for the neighborhood the team has an uncanny love for beer, especially Kevin. Like so many other entrepreneurs, Kevin has turned his passion into a business.

Kevin urges young entrepreneurs to “find something you love and stick with it.” This advice holds true for what ever you love doing. Whether it’s photography, art, food, music, or any other passion project. Just stick with it.

#MondayMotivation

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Kim added to this notion by saying,

“If you have this desire in your heart and you have to get it out, there’s no option.”

She equated the desire to a musician that has a song that needs to get out, saying “you’ll find a way.”

Between undesirable business partners, finding the right location, and other hurdles, doubters might’ve written off Harlem Hops years ago, but there was nothing that was going to stop this trio from seeing this through.

Now with their early success, the Harlem Hops family is looking to inspire a new age of entrepreneurs. Kevin, Kim, and Stacey have set up a scholarship program that will send high school graduates from Harlem to communities to attend HBCUs, where the three founders got their start.

Harlem Hops

They don’t plan on stopping there. When asked about additional plans for helping young entrepreneurs, Kim told Kulture Hub, “If we’re in a place where we can help someone else establish themselves, we are going to do that.”

The three do recognize that their path is a special one. Stacey often sites that entrepreneurship is not for everyone. However, she does encourage young people to “figure out what’s your purpose.” Their purpose has always been Harlem Hops and we should all be thankful to them for bringing it to us.

Just check Harlem Hops out once and you’ll understand why this place is built for success. The hip and stylish space is similar to a lot of the new spots opening up around the city, but the ownership is what really sets it apart from the rest.

We eatin’ fam: 7 NYC food spots you low key need to hit this summer

Summer is the perfect season for exploring New York City and all that it has to offer. Everything you could possibly want is right here in your backyard.

There’s always something new to try out — whether it’s concerts, shopping, art, parties, or eating. Especially the eating. This is the food capital of the world.

So step away from the local pizza joint, don’t order that take-out Chinese food, and hit up these spots instead.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs

The food is here is great at all times of the day, but you really have to go for the breakfast.

Nothing will cure that nasty hangover like an order of Pies ‘n’ Thighs fried chicken and waffles. Please don’t forget the biscuits on the side though.


Bobwhite Counter

Bobwhite’s chicken sandwiches are perfect for when you want some dope food but don’t want to be kept from enjoying that NYC summer sun.

Order one for the road and take a stroll through the East Village. I can guarantee everyone you walk past will be wondering where they can get themselves that sandwich.


John Brown Smokehouse

Smoke show. 📷: @jakecohen

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Every now again everyone needs some “damn this is so good, it almost makes you want to slap your momma” level of good BBQ. John Brown in Long Island City is just that.

It’s hard to find good BBQ when you’re not in the south, but this spot has the perfect combo of quality meat, great sauce, and fire sides.


Mikey Likes It Ice Cream

Need some dessert after stuffing your face in the LES? Mikey Likes It Ice Cream is the place to go for it.

You might think that an ice cream shop that uses all natural and organic flavors will lose some of the taste quality, but that is not the case here.

You might want to pick up some swag to go with that cookies ‘n cream bowl. Plus you can peep the homie Clockwork Crosby’s work at the spot!


SET LES

Sometimes you need to just go ham and pig out a little bit. You spent all Spring eating right to get in shape for the Summer.

SET-LES is where you go to reward yourself for all that hard work. Hit this place with the squad and see who’s the first to tap out from too much grub.


Los Tacos No. 1

Look no further. Your new favorite taco joint is Los Tacos No. 1.

Tucked away in the always poppin’ Chelsea Market, Los Tacos No. 1 is a sure bet for some quality Mexican food.

To get the full experience, sit at the bar and order one of those classic glass bottles of Coke to wash down these delicious tacos and the side of guac that you have to get.


Lamano

The perfect place for date night. At Lamano you’ll be transported to an Iberian paradise, where you can enjoy the finest wines and some outrageous tapas.

Here you’ll get the perfect mix of a quiet and intimate night and a place to let loose and turn up a little bit.

This is (Gambino’s) America: How Donald Glover can do no wrong

Donald Glover is having himself one hell of week month year career. The dude has officially reached a place where he can do no wrong.

Since last Friday he dropped a new single “This Is America,” hosted SNL, debuted two new tracks, then dropped the craziest music video of the year. Not to mention, the season finale of his hit show Atlanta aired last night, but more on that later.

Although we didn’t need much more convincing, “This Is America” has solidified Gambino as THE definitive artistic influencer of our generation. The song and video have become an instant cultural phenomenon. Also, the song itself is fire.

The video is full of hidden messages, metaphors, and symbols. They reference a range of topics from gun violence, the country’s history of racism, and the role of social media.

Twitter, Reddit and other corners of the internet have taken the past view days dissecting the shit out of the video.

Glover’s series of successes has been a refreshing diversion from the Kanye West sunken circus that we were getting hit within the previous weeks. As a reminder, dude basically told us he supported Donald Trump, gave some crazy-ass interviews, and released an absolute trash “scoop-di poop” song (maybe as a joke).

The last couple of weeks are pretty much summed up by this Tweet.

Kanye poked his head out after not being in the public eye for a while and tried to shake things up and change the way we think just by saying some outlandish things. Instead, he got brushed off as just being a nut and completely losing his shit.

Meanwhile, while Kanye was making headlines for being a babbling lunatic, Gambino was plotting his latest conquest. A well thought out, extremely layered and well-crafted song and music video.

These recent events mark a seismic change in the way the general public views both artists. Kanye was once one of our most beloved figures in hip-hop, making classic albums and over time becoming a household name.

Kanye first burst out on to the scene with his timeless track “Through the Wire” and debut album The College Dropout. He became an instant success and spent the next decade or so taking over the rap game.

Would Kanye West GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

On the other hand, Gambino was never really taken seriously as a rapper. He first emerged with fun and goofy songs like “Freaks and Geeks” and “Bonfire.” His reputation as a jokester was just reinforced by his acting career, which included his role on NBC’s Community as Troy Barnes.

Somewhere along the line, Glover decided that he needed to take his acting, writing, and musical careers into a more serious direction. After leaving Community he released 2013’s Because of the Internet which solidified him as one of rap’s next rising stars.

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At the same time, Kanye was continuing his dominance over the game and transforming himself into a pop culture superstar.  He married Kim Kardashian, started work on his clothing lines and continued to put out great music.

Then in 2016, West released The Life of Pablo, a good album, even by Kanye standards. But we all started to see the writing on the wall. This guy was losing his f*cking mind.

Confused Kanye West GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

He was constantly reworking and releasing the album until it finally matched his ultimate vision. He even raps about his struggles with mental health on a few tracks.

As we all witnessed Kanye’s very troubling and all too real public meltdown, Gambino shocked the world with his 2016 release Awaken My Love. Wait, that corny dude that made “Freaks and Geeks” and “3005” is the same dude that made “Redbone”? Yup.

And it didn’t stop there. Glover has been riding high ever since — 5 Grammy nominations, 2 spectacular seasons of Atlanta, a Star Wars movie, endless amounts of praise, and now “This is America.”

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Glover’s ability to create thought-provoking art, while keeping it fun is a true gift that the rest of us can only marvel at. Hopefully, Kanye can observe what Glover is doing and draw some inspiration from that.

It’d be nice for all of to see both of these at the top of their games at the same time.

How ‘Black Panther’ is ushering in the wave of the ‘Blackbuster’ film

Sometimes movies are just movies. We go to the theater, get transported to a fantastical world for 2 hours, and then go home and go on with our everyday lives. However, every once in a while, a movie comes along that has significance beyond the plot playing out onscreen.

Black Panther, the latest superhero saga in the Marvel Studios megaverse, is one of those films. As a film, Black Panther is just like every other Marvel superhero movie.

It follows a formulaic plot and cookie cutter characters, features beautifully choreographed fight sequences, sprinkles in just the right amount of humor, and includes cheeky nods to other works within the Marvel Universe.

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This isn’t to say it isn’t a good movie. Black Panther is masterfully executed by director Ryan Coogler, who is quickly becoming one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood. It also features a (mostly Black) All-Star cast, with too many awards and accolades amongst them to list.

So what makes Black Panther so special? This isn’t the first bomb movie to be directed by a Black person and feature a mostly Black cast. We’ve had plenty of those and we’ll have plenty more going forward.

Black Panther‘s significance stems from its size and scope. With the exception of maybe Star Wars, the Marvel universe is easily the biggest franchise in cinema right now. Since Iron Man was released in 2008, year after year they’ve given us some of the most fun and memorable movie moments in recent history. Now, a decade later, they’ve completely changed the game.

Black Panther Killmonger GIF by Marvel Studios - Find & Share on GIPHY

For far too long, young African-American moviegoers have watched people on the big screen who look nothing like them save the day. Time after time, these same moviegoers have been forced to relate to characters that they cannot fully identify with.

These same moviegoers have rarely had the opportunity to see people like them appear on screens not as thugs and criminals or the occasional athlete and rapper.

Now, with Black Panther, those disenfranchised Marvel fans finally have a hero to look up to who actually looks like them. Not only does the lead character look like them, but so does much of the surrounding cast.

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This notion goes the other way as well. Black Panther isn’t just a movie for woke audiences. It’s a movie for everyone. Marvel fans from all backgrounds have been hitting theaters in waves to show support for the newest Marvel superstar.

And they too have the pleasure of identifying with a hero who does not resemble the other heroes from the past films.

The cultural significance of Black Panther does not stop there though. This movie represents a widespread shift that has been happening in American culture. At this point, it is pretty hard to argue the influence that African-American culture has on the nation as a whole.

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Hip-hop, which was once seen as a passing fad, is now the most popular and influential music genre. More people are listening to hip-hop and R&B than rock and traditional pop. This shift has already been recognized by Grammys, with 4 of 5 best album nominees being hip-hop or R&B artists.

Among them was Kendrick Lamar, who is arguably the most popular name in music at the moment. If you’re looking to make a worldwide blockbuster, it doesn’t hurt to have that guy in charge of your soundtrack (it’s fire by the way).

Music isn’t the only place where this shift is happening. The world of fashion has been heavily influenced by Black voices. Additionally, many of our country’s most beloved athletes are African-American players in both the NFL and NBA.

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Now, Black Panther has shown us that that shift in influence is also being felt in film. Two of the most beloved and critically acclaimed films in the last two years have been indie projects about the experience of being Black in America (Moonlight and Get Out).

Both are extremely well made and undeniably important films, but neither one was able to achieve what Black Panther is accomplishing this year.

Black Panther is a masterfully-crafted, big budget, worldwide phenomenon. We usually refer to movies like this as blockbusters. However, in the case of Black Panther, it only feels right to call this one a “Blackbuster.”

Black Panther GIF by Marvel Studios - Find & Share on GIPHY

I don’t see this trend ending here. I think the early success that this movie has achieved and its assumed continued success will usher in a new cinematic trend.

We will begin to see more movies where diverse characters of all kinds will dominate the big screens in ways that only straight white males have had the luxury of inhabiting for far too long.

With all that being said, on behalf of marginalized moviegoers everywhere, we thank you Black Panther for opening the door to a brighter and more inclusive moviegoing tomorrow.

After Kyrie trade, LeBron needs to bring his ‘super team’ to New York

There’s no denying it – the 2017 NBA offseason has been absolutely insane.

Big name players like Paul George, Chris Paul, and Gordon Hayward all made moves to strong teams to play with fellow superstars.

This year’s rookies might be the best incoming group since LeBron, D-Wade, and Melo headlined the legendary ’03 rookie class.

But the wildest move happened last week, when the Celtics and Cavs pulled off a blockbuster trade, swapping all-star point guards Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas.

All of these moves should make the 2017-18 season one of the most entertaining in recent years. That being said, it’s pretty safe to assume that the Warriors will win another championship and every other team is going to spend the 2018 offseason scrambling to try and play catch up.

One of those teams is, of course, my beloved Knicks. You may be asking yourself – what the hell can this joke of a team possibly pull off to be even somewhat competitive? The real question isn’t what the team can do, it’s what LeBron needs to do.

We can all pretty much agree that there’s basically no chance in hell that King James returns to the Cavs when his contract is up at the end of this season.

Lebron James What GIF by SB Nation - Find & Share on GIPHY

Even this far out, everyone and their mother is trying to speculate as to where LBJ might take his talents next.

Some people think he’ll team up with Magic Johnson and take the Lakers back to their Showtime glory. Others say he’ll join the freaks of nature currently balling out in Minnesota.

While some believe he’ll head back to Miami, because anyone would be crazy to turn down an opportunity to build their empire down in South Beach.

All of that sounds dope, but there’s really only one place that makes sense for LeBron to stop next – the Mecca. The Knicks need LeBron and LeBron needs the Knicks. The two are a match made in b-ball heaven.

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MSG is still the most iconic place to play basketball and LeBron is still the most iconic person playing right now (don’t even try to come at me with that Steph Curry b.s.).

In Cleveland, LeBron proved that he can take any team from the cellar to the top of the basketball world. The Knicks might be the biggest shit-show in the NBA right now and LBJ is the only person who could possibly save them at the moment.

NYC is the perfect place for LeBron and his super team of best friends (CP3, Melo, and D-Wade) to all link up. In New York, they can all continue to further grow their off court empire, while still playing for a big market team.

Besides all of the obvious reasons for King James to leave Cleveland for NYC, there’s one other extremely interesting reason. The whole Kyrie trade situation made everyone realize that there was actually some bad blood between Kyrie and LeBron.

https://giphy.com/gifs/cleveland-cavaliers-kyrie-irving-kevin-love-oV4M4ul54f5Hq

Now that Kyrie is officially a Celtic, there would no better way of bringing back the Boston-New York rivalry than with LBJ in New York.

Just imagine – those two legendary franchises, both led by guys that can’t stand each other, back at the top of the Eastern conference, duking it out time after time at the TD Garden and MSG.

Even if it’s just for one season, LeBron James bringing his super team to New York would be a treat for Knicks fans and basketball fans across the country.

The saddest moments in New York Knicks draft history

“With the 8th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select…” an absolute bust.

That’s how most Knicks fans are expecting it to go down at tonight’s NBA draft. Can you blame us though? The Knicks are notorious for making laughably horrible picks on draft night. I’m still trying to shake off that Tim Hardaway Jr. pick.

The Knicks have spent the better part of the last 15 seasons as a laughing stock in the NBA. The front office has been terrible, and so has the on court performance. I never thought I would say this, but someone please bring back Steve Novak and those #Knickstape years.

This year’s draft class is already thought to be one of the deepest in recent memory — filled with NBA-ready talent, playmakers, and potential All-Stars.

Fans of every team expect to walk away with instant upgrades. Except for Knicks fans, who are reliving some of team’s dumbest draft moments.

No other team has mastered the art of ruining draft potential the way the Knicks have. Who else would think to draft a Heisman winner to run the point?

What will it be this year? Do we miss out on a future Hall of Famer by one pick? Do we pass on a surprise star for a guy with “mad potential”? Or do we draft an All-Star talent player and trade him away for god knows what?

Hopefully Phil Jackson doesn’t pull the ultimate power move and trade the 7 foot Latvian unicorn we call Porzingod. He’s been the only bright spot on this team. The only thing that trade guarantees is a frenzy of salty Knicks fans roasting Phil Jackson to no end on Twitter.

Whatever it may be, Knicks fans better equip themselves with plenty of booze if they’re watching tonight’s draft. They’re gonna need it to drown out another year of sorrows.

It could be worse though, you could be a Brooklyn Nets fan.