Cece In The City

Category: blogs

  • Interview with Julian Lark

    Interview with Julian Lark

     

    By: Where It Begins

     

     

    Q. What have you been doing these days?

    A. Working, Grinding, working on real housewives of Atlanta.

    Q. You styled Anita Baker for the B.E.T. Awards: how was it working with her?

    A. It was amazing they found me on Instagram, and they wanted me to design a custom look for her.

    Q. What made you get into fashion?

    A. It’s always been in me. I have been doing fashion since 4th grade. I came to Atlanta after high school and went to AIU to get my B.A. in marketing. I own Kontrol Magazine, and it’s a national fashion beauty lifestyle publication based out of Atlanta and sold nationally through Barnes and Nobles. I am also creating a show called blended love which basically talks about different people that come to love; rather they black or white showing the different love couples. It showcases love in a different light; it shows love in a different matter.

    Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion. The person that made you say I want to do this.

    A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t a typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.

    Q. What made you launch Kontrol Magazine?

    A. I wanted to showcase my work as a Designer and showcase my friends’ work who have a hard time getting put on. I decided to create the magazine as a platform for us.

    Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion design? The person that made you say I want to do this.

    A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.

    Q. Do you think fashion in New York is more advanced than here in the south?

    A. Yes, fashion everywhere is more advanced than here. We don’t have fashion here in Atlanta. Fashion here is like a clone everyone wants to do the same thing everyone wants to look alike. No one wants to be different.

  • Interview with Nappy Roots

    Interview with Nappy Roots

     

    By: Where It Begins

     

     

    Q. How do you feel about where the music is right now?

    A.  We like it. It’s always growing as we get older. Music means something different to us. Music means to us differently than the kids we think. It’s time for Hip-Hop to give some harmony to the older generations. Even on Netflix, you got shows like “The Evolution” that are really breaking down what Hip-Hop is. If you like something different, you can go to SoundCloud, we think this is a good time.

     

    The time is good with Hip-Hop, we like to look at how it used to be called the golden era. When I was appreciative of what was going on, and now it’s the new era. Some people complain about how things change. It evolves, and the evolution of Hip-Hop is a dope thing to see and experience while we are living within it.

     

    Q. What have you all been up to these days?

    A. Working on life, and we still make music. We been making beer and getting into the craft beer to a place we all get. We can appreciate it and the diversity. The industry and different beers are changing the world.

     

    Q. How did you get started with beer?

    A. It started with liking beer and trying different flavors that turned into a business opportunity. We drank it, tried different brewers, went to different places, and it was all about us trying different beers that led to starting Atlantucky. That is our beer brewing company. We had 2 beers that we did with Monday Night Brewing. We tour 100 to 150 days out of the year. It started as going around the country. Before the shows we would go find a brewery. We visited about a hundred or more breweries over 5 or more years. We learned more by trying new flavors and brewing in the country. We went to cool places people would never go to. We got an opportunity with Monday Night Brewing to do our first beer called “Front Porch Parallel”. It sold out everywhere.

     

    We found another revenue stream. Beer is something that will be around forever, even if we stop rapping, beer will still be around. If we can make that, we can still be creative as an artist. We saw it as a business opportunity and a passion project. Beer is sold everywhere. The beer industry is booming. It’s a $40 billion dollar industry a year. A lot of people are bringing the urban side to it. Nappy Roots are more than just a name on a can. We know how to make it.

     

    Watermelon Chicken & Gritz is in about 4 states. Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, and New York. The goal is to do a collaboration as well as travel, so we can do more meet and greets. We are also doing a T.V. show about it called “40 Akerz and a Brew”. Craft beer is about creativity and there’s a science to it.

     

    Q. What is “Nappy Roots” doing differently?

    A. Being “Nappy Roots” and doing beer is different. They need more diversity in Atlanta.

  • 30 day writing challenge (September 2022 Day 3)

    30 Day writing challenge

    Day 3

    Q. A Poem

    Day 3

    This is our 30 day challenge
    I like to do
    Invited some friends
    To do it too.

    Hope it opens them up
    To express themselves
    To the topics we have
    Can’t wait to hear

    Want to thank everyone
    For joining in
    Taking your time out
    To support your friend

    Hope you like my poem
    It is to you
    Send it out to others
    To join in too.

    Share your poem below or Join Cece Challenges on Facebook

  • An Exercise in Confidence

    An exercise in confidence

    When you’re trying to be humble, it’s easy to forget how extraordinary you are. Make a list of your best qualities. Feel free to be generous with your praise. Brag! You dont always have to be humble. Reminding yourself of your abilities and positive traits is an act of empowerment,  not arrogance.

    Then turn your list into a series of affirmations by adding “I am” before each one: I am incredibly generous.  I am beautiful.  I am a great parent, I am a loyal friend.

  • Day 3 of our 30 day Challenge

    Hey hey

    This is day 3 of me & @Imodelbooth 30 day challenge we are highlighting one person a day and their business. Today we are highlighting @trestonirbyhifive we got a chance to interview him and learn more about his journey. Also got his book that tells about his life.

    Check out the book here is the link
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2QY9628/ref=nodl_?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

    Stay tuned for day 4

  • 30 day challenge day 2

    Happy Friday

    @imodelbooth and I are doing a 30 day challenge and highlighting some talented people and their business for day 2 we would like to shout out @therealyoungbleed also here is the link if you want to get his book

    Check this out on Amazon
    The Making of Young Bleed’s Preserved https://a.co/d/d9wiZz8

    Stay tuned for day 3

  • Practice Positivity

    Practice positivity

    Look for the good in every experience and, as best as you can, find the lessons in each setback. Celebrate wins, seek out the bright side. Surround yourself with positive people and environments. Being optimistic takes practice.  Optimism may not work all the time, but the more you practice thinking positively,  the more optimism becomes second nature.

  • 30 day challenge (September 2022 Day 2)

    30-day challenge

    Day 2

    Q. How you are feeling?

    Today I am feeling great. It’s September my favorite month and it is Friday. I feel good and positive. New month, new blessings, new goals, and new challenges. I feel motivated and happy. This month is going to be a great month. Happy Friday.

  • Interview with Mekaiel

    Interview with Mekaiel

     

    By: Where It Begins

     

     

    Q. When did you start singing?

    A. I started singing at around 3 and a half, but officially at age 4. I sang on stage with my sister and dad at one of his concerts.

     

    Q. How did you get into the industry?

    A. For the most part, I took an in depth look at the industry by reading books on it, watching artists that inspired me, and attending workshops. I applied the knowledge I received so that at some point I would make the necessary global impact.

     

    Q. Who inspired you?

    A. It’s a long list, but I’d say firstly, my dad-Tony Gonzales, Also, Kirk Franklin, Ron Kenoly, John Legend, Ray Charles, Deitrick Haddon, Johnny Cash, and Maxwell inspired me as well.

     

    Q. Tell me about your single?

    A. In wanting to have no limitation placed on my sound, and being known for my Contemporary releases; the first release for 2019 showcases the worshiper in me that many have seen and experienced in my life performances over the years.

     

    The single is entitled “I Choose to Live” and it speaks to the heart of every person that wants greater in all aspects of life and is a reminder that through it all they must speak “Life” into their own lives even when the odds look stacked against them.

     

    The new offering was written/produced/ arranged by Lesroy ‘AP’ Byers and co- arranged by Sade Sealey of Audio Predators (out of Antigua), with mixing/ vocal production done by Sherwin Gardner of Flow Master Records and mastered by La Masseria Estudios.

     

    Q. What advice can you give others in this industry?

    A. To answer that question I’d say this: I watched the Netflix Quincy Jones documentary the other day, and in watching his story, I am reminded of some things that some people might say are cliché. Things such as “Keep going! Keep growing! Continue to educate yourself within the field. Never give up if you’re serious about making this all that you do. Even when you start to collect the nice checks and gain more power, never lose the drive necessary to continue to cause change and be great”!

     

    Q. What projects have you been doing in the community?

    A. Annually I try to host at least two outreach events in different communities, as well as a lot of food drives and free outdoor music events.

  • Interview with International Nova

    Interview with International Nova

     

    By: Where It Begins

     

     

    Q. Tell us about the song “Freak in me”?

    A. For me, it’s about the ladies putting good music out there with positive vibes and positive energy.

    Q. What brought you to Atlanta?

    A. As an Artist and a man, I think I’ve done all I can do in New York City. I had to come where the music was popping, and Atlanta fit my vibe (That laid-back vibe).

    Q. Who were some of the people that really made you say, “I can do this”?

    A. It took me a while to get comfortable, but I started hanging around people that were really doing it. Tony Sunshine pushed me. I was always in a one-man band. I have my own studio, do my own mixes, and own masters and videos. The first person I met here was Bone Crusher. He has been a big help and push, He said “Don’t change you. Don’t be an Atlanta artist. Be you, be different, and you will stand out”.

    Q. You were in the movie “All eyes on me” and “Love& Hip-Hop”, what other projects are you working on?

    A. I love acting. I know that acting is what I always wanted to do but did not think about doing. I had enough talent to do it, and I want to get into more of it. Tupac was my Idol. It was a blessing to be on the project “Love & Hip-Hop”. I made a record. Everyone went crazy, and the producers walked up to me. They wanted me to be in more scenes.

    Q. Do you Model?

    A. Yes, I have a lot of pictures in magazines. Triple O G did a contract with me also, and I did a sneaker deal with a sneaker project.