Act Badd Productions

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Founder Daniel Martinez

Editor-In-CheifMiguel Hurtado

Editos/Staff WritersMorgan SalmonJennie OrellanaElizabeth Domino

Editors/Online Staff WritersKarla GonzalezAshley WhittakerChad SanchezElizabeth Domino

DesignersNelson CanoDennis PerezRigoberto ChavezTrevor Piper

PhotographersRubben StunnerRolando GuerraTrevor Piper

Web DesignerMayra VillarrealDennis Perez

Video EditorDennis Perez

Photo EditorRuben StunnerRolando Guerra

Finance DirectorElio ReyesMarketing DirectorElio ReyesAdvertising / [email protected]

ContributorsWillam OrellanaSheldon PownallAdrain Breakfree FloTeresa WaldonTravis DrakeMarco TorresSusie RiveraBetty Stunner

Special thanks to:Connor ObyrneBrande JamesReinard Sahagun

EDITORIAL

Off to a good start.

It’s been a bumpy ride trying to get the second issue to release. Through scheduling conflicts, boat parties, and a hot summer, we finally prevailed. Our ultimate goal was to present to you, the reader, a second issue that surpasses the first, both in quantity and quality of material. It wasn’t easy at first; many of the subjects we had in mind were enthusiastic about working with us but just that both parties’ lack of free time put us at an impasse. We would never want to be a magazine that shells out mediocrity, so careful decisions were made on who was going to be the subject of our cover and what were our pages going to consist of. We were pleased to once again use home-grown talent with home-grown backdrops because we, above anything else, want to stay true to our movement and keep it “Houston”. In the grand scheme of things, we’re more than ecstatic to be wrapping the second issue. It is not only a pleasure to be working with friends, but having the opportunity to be taken serious by the public is another one of our goals we’re steadily approaching. Act Badd wants to be on the tip of everyone’s tongues, instagram hash tags, and the subject of retweets. We’re way past the beginning of the first quarter and the game is hitting crunch time. We think it’s about that time to #ActBadd.

MIGUEL HURTADOEditor-In-Chief

THE CIRCLE

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SPORTS DALE MITCHELL 29-year-old heavyweight fighter, Dale Mitchell, also known as the ‘Alpha Male,’ displayed his prodigious talents after winning the Legacy Fighting Championship last month against his opponent Tony Melton. The viewers expecting either a quick fight or bloody war, witnessed Dale dominate the cage within 1 minute of the first round --- it immediately became evident who would be receiving the championship belt. “Words can’t describe my feelings that night,” says Mitchell. “I couldn’t even give a proper post-fight interview because I was speechless. I felt like I was floating when my hand was raised in victory, and I felt unstoppable when the belt was placed around my waist.”

Just three weeks after his victory, Mitchell signed up for yet another fight. “I jumped on the opportunity to be on TV, but I’m sure it would have come later in my career,” he says. “I’m a fighter and fighters fight. But now I have to make wiser decisions since my career and status have elevated.” Reminiscing on his previous loss Mitchell’s only regret was wishing he had a little more time to prepare. “You always get the feeling that you let people down, but you have to remember who you really do this for,” he says. Mitchell’s only thought after the loss was to get back to work and train harder for the next one. “I’m not going to limit myself to focus on one thing,” he explained. “But I am going to get back to my wrestling roots for a bit. After that loss and like others, I just plan on elevating my training and dedication. Work hard, work harder, work the hardest, and I will be the best.” And that is exactly what Dale ‘Alpha Male’ Mitchell is doing.

Mitchell was 23 when he started showing some interest in MMA; but, it wasn’t until 25 when he was certain that this is what he wanted to do. “After playing college football, I still had that competitive edge and needed something to do,” he says. Mitchell explained that fighting wasn’t an option that he sought. “It kind of came to me,” he says. “Back then I

was working as a bouncer at a club, and I would get into altercations on a regular basis. One day, I had a situation with a couple of guys who didn’t know their limit and I handled myself pretty well. Shortly after, the DJ of the club told me he was into MMA, and asked if I was or if I would be. I said, sure. And at that moment a fighter was born.”

Today, Mitchell honestly feels he’s obtained his personal short-term goals in MMA, from winning a championship title belt to fighting on live TV. “My ambitions are limitless,” he says. “I want to eventually be the best in the world or at least have my name mentioned among them.” Even his shorts that were once a naff solid black are now indubitably labeled with supporter logos and names. “It’s pretty clear how hard I’ve worked if you look at my career years ago and take a glance at it now,” says Mitchell. “Even my mind and body have changed over time due to the dedication I have put in; and I owe it all to those who supported and helped me out along the way. To do this full time is hard enough, so to do it alone is unimaginable.” In the next 10 years Mitchell sees himself in MMA on the world stage fighting for greatness. “But if all else fails I still would be involved in the sport,” he says. “I see myself coaching MMA or eventually opening my own fight club or gym and giving others the chance to chase their dreams.”

You’ve been rumored to be signed by the UFC soon, what can UFC fans expect?

If that opportunity ever arises then fans can expect nothing less of what I have been giving them so far. I always strive to do my best and give the fans what their looking for. Everyone would see a my skills develop even more and would see a new and improved me as they have with my past few fights

Is there anyone out there that you’d like to test yourself against?

Nobody in particular to be honest. I would like to test myself against the best any has to offer. That’s the only way to get better, never looking for the easy road. Just stepping into a locked cage with another man that wants that wants to destroy you as bad as you want to do to him is a test in itself.

Do you have a favorite UFC fighter/idol?

No idols but I do have a couple favorites. I would have to say by far my favorite 2 fighters would have to be Anderson ‘THE SPIDER’ Silva and Jon ’BONES’ Jones. These guys seem to be way ahead of their game in the sport. In my eyes they are the most complete fighters in the world as of now. Seeing them fight is like watching a cat play with a half dead mouse. Fighting seems to be too easy for them and I think the only man who can defeat them is the man they see in the mirror daily.

What does it take to be a good fighter?

There is no secret to being a good fighter in my book. Just like any other job or anything in life it comes down to the more you put into it will be the more you get out of it. It’s a struggle to do this full time and if you ever plan on making it big then that’s what it takes. I’ve done everything from sleeping on couches at the fight club, selling my car for money to continue training, walking to the gym for training daily, to quitting jobs to have more time to perfect my craft. I’m not saying that’s what it takes but that’s what I’ve done and more and things still aren’t perfect but I continue to grind.

What has been your biggest challenge thus far?

My biggest challenge has always been and will continue to be myself. I challenge myself every day when I have to wake up and have to train all day no the only person stopping you is you. www.actbadd.com/sports


STYLE INTAKE


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Chris ColeHouston TX

November 2011








STYLE RYAN X TRAVIS

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”. And these words couldn’t be truer or hold greater weight than when talking about 3rd ID Clothing out of Austin and everything they have accomplished. The brainchild of Ryan Reneau and Travis Drake, 3rd ID was born in 2008 and epitomizes the notion of being true to oneself with its distinct, one of a kind design apparel line that expresses their own individuality and personality that many can relate to and do. Fresh, sleek and expressive, their line is a hit and has taken off and now they are branching out into cover art and design projects as well as constantly developing new hot ideas.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. You guys hail from Houston, and attended Lee High School together. When was the idea for 3rd id born?

TD: Yup, Houston, TX born and raised. We like to feel that attending schools in the HISD school system like Lee definitely shaped us into the people we are today. Although we didn’t actually create 3rd ID until 2008, we feel that all of our life experiences to this point have helped birth this company and have given it its character.

The name of your brand is 3rd id clothing. Is there significance behind the name?

RR: The name 3rd ID steps from the time I served in the military. I was in the 3rd Infantry Division of the United States Army.

You guys have launched 3 lines in addition to branching out and evolving to graphic design for album artwork, fliers, design logos…did you find this was a challenge or different from working with your clothing line?

RR: While things like the actual graphic design and execution of designs is similar, the two sides of the company are very different. Each presents it’s own set of challenges given they’re both different mediums of expression and end product, but they also compliment each other very nicely. Both sides start with creative concepts that evolve along the way.

You guys have had the pleasure of working with amazing artists and high profile A-Listers such as Houston’s own Slim Thug, Dj Mr. Rogers, Le$, and other artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y and Chip Tha Ripper to name a few. How did it feel being able to work with them? What was that like?

RR: it’s always cool to meet the people that are playing in your deck. But at the end of the day, they’re people just like you and me out on their own hustle.

TD: We’re fans of music, so anytime the opportunity arises when you can work directly with an artist that you’ve listened to for years, it can be exciting. As Ryan said, we’re all artists and we all have goals to push our movement and product to anyone who’s interested. Although these are artists we will always look up to because of their talents, we still feel like we’re all on the same playing field...creating art.

Do you feel that this gave you more of a presence and solidified the 3rd i.d. name in the hip hop community?

TD: The added exposure from our design work is a definite plus to an apparel line that already has close ties to hip-hop culture.

RR: The people that actually know we designed and worked for these artists will definitely give us a second look. However, we can’t sit back and depend on album covers to solidify us as a clothing brand, and vice versa. We must keep it moving and continue to progress in the apparel and design industries.

Describe the general process you go through to design and realize a piece of clothing.

TD: This is tough as each piece, whether it’s apparel or something like an album cover, can be born in any number of ways. To generalize it, we normally develop a broad idea or concept first that will outline the specific message(s) that we want each piece to convey. Once this specific message is developed, it’s on to the tricky part of figuring out how to represent it visually. Keeping in mind the message, tone, desired style, etc. we’ll select a few routes to take and begin execution. We like to explore quite a few ways of approaching each design before a final rendition is selected. With apparel pieces, specifically we will begin production to try and reach a finished product that expresses our original concept as close as possible. Ensuring that each element, from colors to fonts, all compliment the original ideas is a must. The best part is watching an original idea evolve into something so much better and greater as we produce it.

Where do you get your inspiration? Do your roots in Houston have an influence on your concepts?

TD: Being from Houston definitely helps mold our concepts with a unique south-ern flavor. But location isn’t the most important thing. Especially when attempting to appeal to a global market. Our inspiration can come from anywhere. Various life experiences, movies we watch, songs we hear, or things like personal interac-tions can all influence what ideas are brought to the table.

How would you define your personal style?

RR: We do us, period.

TD: Custom.

How would you define the style your line exemplifies?

TD: 3rd ID has a strong and unique style, with emphasis on being an individual and standing out from the crowd.

Many people would say you are more than just a designer, but a true artist. Do you agree?

TD: It really just depends on your definition of a “true artist.” But yes, I do feel that we can be placed in this group. We create things to express ourselves...and to me, that’s what art is all about. Being able to show others how you’re feeling and relate to them through a medium like apparel is a great feeling. www.actbadd.com/style


STYLE IN THE BAG






“Don’t get it twisted, Houston still holds it down in the Hip Hop department.”

We suppose Doughbeezy believes in the same things we do, since he is a prime example of hidden talent filed under the Southern Rap tab. Also in the belief that Houston is over heating with talent, but amidst the curtain of mainstream music, that talent might seem to be cooling down just as fast as it heats up. Act Badd approached Doughbeezy about an interview, and he was more than willing to oblige. Then again, we are all for showcasing examples of rappers with potential. We asked him to give us some insight on what its like being a hidden talent known as, the Southeast Beast.

There’s nothing special about a Tuesday, but for the sake of details and imagery, painting a picture is necessary to paint Doughbeezy. So…On a Tuesday afternoon in June, it was just that, it was both sunny and raining, as we made our way from the southwest side of the city to our beloved downtown. It’s a big city, and it can be a bit of length drive depending on the time of day. We figured a long drive would give us an opportunity to get acquainted with a rising star.

We start in Missouri City, we exchange brief introductions, and dive right in with a bit of help from an “old friend”-just to loosen up the mood a bit. We ask him to give us a quick summary of who he is up to this point and what he wants


to accomplish. “Feed my family and my friends’ families. Pretty much feed my family and put my people in a position to feed their family”, exclaims the Southeast Beast, or by his government name Tai, knows too well the rap game is full of shady characters and illusions of what life should be like. He is well aware and grateful for the family and friends he holds dear. He’s also not a flamboyant rapper with an over-confident stride or demeanor, nor a tall by stature, but not to worry, he more than overcompensates with speed and precision on the mic. This 25 year-old beast is among veterans like Hov; rappers who don’t write down their lyrics. It’s true. Dough likes to remember things, and those things happen to be his catchy lines. Don’t get us wrong though, they might be catchy, but it just seems impossible to spit that

many good lines, complete with breaks and enough metaphors to make Hov himself listen to, doesn’t it? Well we put him on the spot, and well, the man delivered.

Tai came to Houston by way of Cleveland. He moved to Houston as a young kid and immediately began to show signs that he had a knack for telling rhymes. “I started free-styling at fifteen. From then on it was just a part of my life. Getting my words out like a song”, exclaims Dough. “I mean a year-ago I was working at Wal mart, and to see the progress I’ve made, it’s amazing.” Kickback Sundays was something brand new in Screwston. A day out of the week where all rappers the city ‘round would come out and hopefully get a chance to break bread on stage, mic-to-mic,



in front of an audience. After winning one Sunday, everyone who left that day would come to remember his name, and if not that, his flow. He considers the whole venue “a blessing” that gave him an opportunity to show some people what he had to offer.Fast forward a year later and Doughbeezy is on his way to becoming known, to becoming recognized and praised in the city he loves. “A lot of people get discouraged out here in Houston. They feel as though they might not be able to make it outside of this place and then end up giving up, I’m just here to make my mark, and bring my people along for the ride.” The Beast wants to make it apparent to everyone living sole in this city that he has got what it takes to become a household name in our home city, because then again, we wouldn’t want to lose him. So far his repertoire includes mixtapes and headlined shows, but we needed to touch base on his latest brainchild. It has been a while since his acclaimed mixtape Blue Magic, a mixtape that was a refreshing mesh of classic southern swag and intricate lyricism that we the listeners love. With tracks like “My Car” that include Kirko Bangz and Slim Thug, and “F*ck You” with his big bro Killa Kyleon, Doughbeezy was clearly making a statement that he intends on sticking around for a while.

We asked him about the mixtape’s release, and if it panned out the way he imagined, or hoped for. He said “I didn’t maximize as much as I should have. Everyone that knows me knows I like to do it big. Like when I dropped Reggie Bush and Kool Aid, we had a release and gave hard copies out for free a week before SXSW.” Speaking of SXSW, we figured we’d find out what it’s like performing, and Dough reassures, “you have to be physically and mentally prepared to go out there and go live. I

literally did the show right before I headlined Warehouse Live, so it happened pretty fast, but it’s a trip!”

Dough also acknowledges that success doesn’t always happen overnight, but is thankful for the amount of it he has already attained. The game so far hasn’t changed him much. As for his sleeping pattern, he jokingly says “my sleeping hours aren’t the same anymore…I can’t go to sleep before five-o-clock in the AM!”. Tai understands that the effort he puts into his career is what’s going to make him succeed. If he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it big! Someone with such a charismatic and welcoming personality is what the game needs these days. No, he’s not rapping about wasting fools or selling rocks, but he’s showing you entertainment, and what it’s like to make good music that can be timeless. Maybe, in his city, Doughbeezy is the missing link.

In a city of four-plus million people, it can be said with confidence that not everyone has visited the 60th floor in the Chase building down town. Typically this is because there are offices up there and people just want to avoid feeling awkward while in awe up there. This particular day, after the rain had passed, the sky was clear enough for the Beast to witness the colossal vastness of Houston, Texas. He doesn’t want to leave and make it somewhere else. Doughbeezy wants to succeed here and everywhere else! In “Blue Magic” he confirms that perfectly: “I’m just cruising down on mash mode, tryna be the next new Astro…yea, a star in Houston about to sneak right out the backdoor.” We just hope we don’t pass up on opening the front door for him.

“I’m just cruising down on mash mode, tryna be the next new Astro…yea, a star in Houston about to sneak right out

the backdoor.” - Blue Magic






“Houston has an impact on

everybody in the game. It seems

like everyone who raps shows respect to what we mean

to hip-hop.”


Not many rappers have a military mindset, but Killa Kyleon does. It was more apparent in the earlier days with influences from Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X, but this particular street soldier has a “seek and destroy” mentality. Killa Kyleon is precisely the embodiment of his name; a Killa, especially on his tracks or features, with the likes of Big K.R.I.T or Curren$y, that you might’ve heard him on. We did our research, and found out indeed, the man does not disappoint. “I pride myself on quality. Every time I get on the mic I seek and destroy. I’m a Navy SEAL out here! Special Forces!” confirms Killa. After listening to his music and hearing the hype associated with him, we just had to get in and take some notes. Pay attention, the colonel will only say this once.

Killa Kyleon was more than willing to school us on his career and his love for hip-hop music. Don’t let that fool you, he also wanted to share his dismay with how things have panned out for many rappers. Killa Kyleon believes “the game is really f****d up…so many dudes out here bringin’ heat that don’t get their day”. Based on his perspective, the game itself is flawed. In an era where the number of twitter followers determines whether you’re “hot” or not, Killa remains true to his beliefs; that good music will always triumph. His focus is just that: to make consistently good music, and to make every project better than the last. Kyle, as he is legally and formally

known, was born and raised in Houston. Growing up in the southside of town, he knows all to well the culture and meaning of Houston hip-hop. He won’t disclose his age, which could mean he’d like to stay true to his creed; stay timeless. He’s proud of where he comes from. Houston is over-flooded with hip-hop culture. “I feel my hood started slabbin’…pretty much everything this city follows started on the southside” states Kyleon, “Houston has an impact on everybody in the game. It seems like everyone who raps shows respect to what we mean to hip-hop.” We wanted to know what his strategy is. Better yet, what his battle plans were and frankly, they seem fundamental to anyone trying to pursue any career in entertainment. “I’m doing me, “I’m trying

to be the better me”, he says. To him, it’s pointless if you’re trying to be a “jack-of-all trades” but don’t master shit. It’s redundant if you are doing five things at one time and you aren’t great at any of them. You have to be great at one of those five things. That’s exactly what he is doing. Be great at rapping and leave the other stuff to someone else. He also compares his plan to Michael Jordan’s long-term success in the shoe business. “Jordan sellin’ you the same shoe for the last 25 years! I have a ten year-old daughter that wears Jays, she wasn’t even alive when he was playing!” We also find that fascinating. He hopes to make something of his music that can be passed on, like something of greats. He wants to go out there and create his own buzz, to where his “shit is so hot, you won’t have no choice but to f***

with him.” Despite the buzz he has already garnered with his mixtapes, Killa is onthe fence about record deals. He doesn’t

want to sign to a label that won’t develop him. That’s another one of the flaws associated with hip-hop, the fact that these A&Rs go out and try to sign guys, and since they’re so excited about a deal, they sign right away, later realizing that the label was never going to give them one hundred percent. He points out that “they basically want you to go out there and do the footwork”, so why would someone sign if they would do all the work?

He recognizes good ideas when he sees them, and those of guys like Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller or Curren$y, that built their own following and did “their own grind”. He says “they capitalized”. The idea that twitter or other social outlets make an artist is one the Killa likes to be skeptical of. Frustrated, he believes that “just because you have a bunch of twitter followers don’t mean you got a bunch of fans…you’re this “hot” but you only sold 20,000 units?” The Internet is what he says messed it all up because people got lazy. It’s a gift and a curse. The man thinks that many are good at the grind, but that their music is terrible. “Some got the hustle and that works, but at the end of the day, you have to be dope at what you do”, and according to him and obvious to everyone else, dope sells itself,



so if you’re music is good…well you get the picture. Everyone is worried about being “real”, but Killa stresses to the fan base that at the end of it all, it is just entertainment. He thinks that too many rappers take this thing too personal, and might actually make it their downfall. That’s not what he’s focused on. “What do you think about what Rick Ross has done, with starting MMG?” we asked. “Rick Ross is the epitome of a boss. He went and got artists that had their own fire and following. I look up to him as a business man. MMG has the formula and that’s my goal: to make my own MMG. Make some lucrative business deals to be a millionaire and make MY music.” Team RUN-IT IS following. It’s not a label, its just Killa Kyleon doing Killa Kyleon. No gimmicks. No nonsense. It’s everything he stands for and consists of everyone from his fans to his people; more of a movement. He hopes to bring even more of this mentality and success for his next release Trill, that by his testimony will “smash like a coke can” and we’re more than sure he’ll deliver.

Before we finished and went on our separate ways, we needed to know where the name Killa Kyleon came from. He lays it out for us: “I kill every time I get on the mic, that’s how I got Killa. Kyleon came from the Screwed Up Click. Kyle is of course my real name and add “leon” like the end of Michael Corleone (minus the e) from the Godfather.” He also wanted to leave us with one last lesson that so many rappers seem to forget after a while: “once you start looking at this like a job, it ain’t fun anymore.” This is a belief that many aspiring rappers out their should keep in mind, that they need to love this game and enjoy it. Then again, the music might be about real life, but it’s just entertainment to us all.

“I kill every time I get on the mic, that’s how I got Killa.”




“Where’d you get that?” has been a question in the fashion industry since the beginning. Now one of Houston’s very own is the answer to that question. Sarah Aghili has taken her creative ambition to make something of her own and given it to the world. Shaking hands, waving good-bye and even handing your card to the cashier all garner attention to what your wrist is flaunting. With the ever-growing fashion of the trendy arm accessory, Sarah brings a fierce-eccentric style to the industry of jewelry. Today’s generation has moved on from the flashy “bling bling” of the 90s and early 00s and on to a more expressive artistic way to show off their style in everyday settings. When you go to the mall you catch people wearing any where from two to ten bracelets on their wrist; its about how much you want to show who you are and not just how many can you fit on your arm. Now everyone is about expressing their culture, mood, and what makes them “them”. When you visit SarahAghili.com you will be sure to find something to fit your style.

The thing is it does not just end with bracelets, thats only the beginning. One can find jewelry of all kinds as well as T-Shirts, bags, cosmetics, fine jewelry and even an outfit for your Miniature Schnauzer. You might think this girl is doing it all, and you would be right to say such that. Being of Iranian decent, in her designs you can see a noticeable influence of her culture. The Evil Eye, found in a number of pieces among her collection, if worn is said to provide protection and success to the bearer. SarahAghili.com gives you a fun way to express yourself to the world. Her talent in making the product she sells gives girls the

opportunity to find something for every occasion. So how does someone get into the jewelry line business? It takes dedication, ambition and even a young girl’s dream. Starting when she was only a kid, fascinated with colors and shapes, Sarah began to make her own jewelry. Not pleased with the generic options and overpriced jewelry given to girls she decided to design her own. She began to buy pieces and then take them apart and add others to them. Changing the whole design of what she originally purchased. Her friends and family became interested with her jewelry and thus her brand was born.

The target age for this line is anyone from 12-22, with a huge college demographic following. Reaching out to adolescents up to young adults seems to be going well for this young entrepreneur. Still stuck in the dream of playing dress up and having fun some of Sarah’s friends joke about her playing boss lady. “The ones who do know me tell me: I cant believe you run a company, you are like a 14 year old girl. I get this a lot from my friends.” Whether her friends believe it or not she has made a name for herself and has her brand out there amongst some of out favorite A-List celebrities. Rapper The Game, Shia LeBeouf, Jessica Biel, MC Hammer as well as Hunger Games star Isabelle Fuhrman have all been spotted rocking her designs. The next time you pick up a magazine talking about the latest accessory or reading the “who are they wearing” section, don’t be surprised when Aghili is in the description. Taking it back to her roots here in Houston, close friend Slim Thug has collaborated on T-Shirts and she has helped vamping up his own brand.


“I cant believe you run a company, you are like a 14 year old

girl. I get this a lot from my friends”


“Slim Thug is one of my funniest friends. We jog at Memorial Park together. One day when we were jogging he told me that he wanted to be like me and start a jewelry line, I thought he was joking. He was totally serious though. I told him well, launch SlimThug.com, he said he didn’t even want people to know that it would be his line. I told him why don’t you try designing some shirts first and I will feature them on my website and we will see how it goes”, said Sarah. Another venture is with MLS player Michael Chabala, where they have teamed up for his charity Bald Is Beautiful. One hundred percent of the proceeds sold go to The Curing Children’s Cancer fund.

For up and coming projects look out for Sarah working with reality basketball star Lamar Odom on his line Rich Soil. They are coming out with a women’s line so this fall should be promising for the ladies looking for something fresh. When Sarah isn’t working on a new line of jewelry or helping out a charity with her brand, you can find her out-side enjoying nature or traveling the world to visit family. You might spot her enjoying a cocktail and sushi at Katsuya or in California clocking in some quality time with her siblings. Just like her jewelry you can find Sarah in India or Dubai. She enjoys an occasional elephant or camel ride so adding adventurous to this girls resume just makes her more interesting.

Of course some one who travels a lot and has their own line must have a great fashion sense, right? When it comes to her own style Sarah dresses to her mood. From Boho-chic to Rocker she wears what is comfortable to her. “I love to express myself through my wardrobe,” she says. Taking risks and putting on what you feel like wearing definitely puts you in the front line of fashion. Now when it comes to her male counterpart Sarah doesn’t so much care about what they wear so much as about their drive and ability to make her laugh. Has this success changed you, we asked. The answer was no, and she seems to be holding to the answer. “Only thing my success has done to me is make me work harder.” She describes the feeling of being nervous and irritable when she isn’t working. Still family oriented and wanting the best for her company she is driven to keep them both on top. With a busy year keep her going you can tell she is passionate with everything she gets her hands on. She feels the need to be working on a project at all times. Now with the launch of AccessoryAddicted.com, based out of Chicago, she has her plate full and won’t stop until completely satisfied. This new site will grace us with new jewelry, hair accessories and eye wear.

The world is her oyster and she’s going to make a necklace out of it. Sarah Aghili just goes to show you that when you see something you can make better, go for it! There’s nothing wrong with changing the norm and making it your own. Her ambition is taking her places and her talent definitely got her here.







SNEAKERS KADOMA It all started in late 2003 – who knew that an idea sparked within the sneaker community on an online forum would transform into one of the biggest sneaker events in Texas? Bryan, better known as Kadoma, originated the sneaker summit idea by putting together social gatherings with those in the forum. “Since I was one of the older guys at the time, I made sure we got back together every summer and winter when everyone had a break from school or came back from college,” says Kadoma. Each summit doubled in size through word of mouth where sneaker fans would adulate and fawn before each other’s feet – the admiration and awe for sneakers even drew the gatherers to purchase the shoes one another was wearing. “We grew from internet cafes to sports bars, to night clubs, to concert venues, to stadiums, and now full on exhibit halls,” Kadoma adds. And it was the size that may have been one of the biggest challenges for Kadoma and his crew. Every year as the summit perdued, it also continued to outgrow its venues. “Originally we did the summit as a free event for nearly three years, but it got to the size where we really needed our own bigger venue and we were going to have to charge admission to pay for it,” says Kadoma. “It was a tough decision for us, but thankfully our audience felt the summit was worth paying for.”

The daunting decision Kadoma was forced to make opened a new door of opportunity where people from Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Louisiana, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Hawaii, just to name a few, were loyally traveling to attend. The summit has become the largest community-based sneaker event – so large that a potential sponsor asked Kadoma to change the name H-Town Sneaker Summit because it was bigger than H-Town. “But we did not think that would be fair to the people who helped create it and shape it into what it has become today and quickly shot down that idea,” says Kadoma. “I think that sense of community is the main secret to the summit’s success. I’ve always tried to keep the event more of a party or social gathering than a spectator event or showcase exhibit. I always wanted the summit to be something where everyone who came out feels like they participated and played a part rather than to go watch or look at something. When you go to a party you may go with your friends, but you usually mix and mingle and make new ones there. When you go to a spectator type event you usually go with a group of friends and then leave with them talking about what you just experienced. The summit brings out everyone from the casual sneaker fan to the hardcore collector. Even celebrities, entertainers, and athletes come, but everyone is there for the same reason, their passion for sneakers. I know a lot of people have met lifelong friends from the summits and that is probably one of the things that I am most proud of.”

More profoundly, Kadoma believes it is that sense of community that sets the H-Town Sneaker Summit apart from any other sneaker expo in the nation. “I remember one time hearing Killa Kyleon say there was nothing like the sneaker culture in Houston, and I think he’s right,” he says. “I’ve been to several cities on the east and west coasts, but there is just something unique about the culture here. I link it to our southern hip-hop style. It has a flavor all its own, but it’s still hip-hop at its core. However, as soon as you hear it, there is no denying what it is or where it came from. The H-Town Sneaker Summit is where we as a community open our doors twice a year and give the world the opportunity to come experience our

part of the culture. I recently heard Bun B say ‘we strive to put the ‘unity’ in community, and I think that about captures it.”

Do you remember your first pair of sneakers? Was this the time where you knew sneakers were your passion?

The furthest I can remember is when I was very young my favorite color was green. I always wanted a pair of all green tennis shoes, which was pretty much unheard of back then. But I can remember going elementary school shopping with my mom and I came across an all green pair of Zips I just had to have. I remember they didn’t have my exact size, but I was still determined to get them and went a size up. I wore them into the ground even though they gave me blisters from being a bit too big. I guess ever since then I’ve been into sneakers, but I never really imagined it would develop into such a huge part of my life.

Did you ever see yourself holding such a high title in the sneaker world due to the sneaker summits great success?

Definitely not. At one point the summit became bigger than I ever imagined. It became somewhat of a monster, and I became the guy that had to tame that monster. Honestly, sometimes it gets the best of me, but other times I’m on top of it. I really don’t look at it as a prestigious position at all. I just love shoes, and I love the culture.

The Sneaker Summit has had a few venues in the past, the Toyota Center being one of the biggest ones so far, what made you move it to the Reliant?

Toyota Center is a great venue and even one of my personal favorites, but unfortunately we outgrew it in only a year. Yes, it is a huge venue, but many people don’t take into consideration the unseen factors and challenges that go on behind our event. With the growth of our crowd security was becoming a growing concern. www.actbadd.com/sneakers

“It became somewhat of a monster, and I became the guy that had to tame

that monster.”


SNEAKERS TOP FIVE





Nice Guys Don’t Finish Last

The Nice Guys are that breath of fresh air that the Houston rap scene much needed. The city is full of hood-bangers, but this quartet of friends has made valuable product with their musical efforts. MC Yves, DJ Candlestick, and producers Todd “Christolph” and Winfrey “Free” have eliminated the middleman of the music business and have attempted to tackle the process themselves. So far, with the recent release of James Kelley, an album that includes collaborations with Bun B and Slim Thug, we can pretty much agree that The Nice Guys need no longer be considered freshman. After kicking back and letting lose, we got the inside scoop.


Y’all know I have to ask, who is James Kelley?Yves: a friend… Candlestick: a very important friend!Yves: …President and lead engineer of Wire Road Studios

Y’all have 17 songs on the new al-bum?Free: yeah

How did the process come along?

Free: Started out just messing around, doing the EP, and it was called The James Kelley EP, that was after the show, we just decided to convert to an album, we had a lot of ideas, so we decided f*** it, lets make it a full length album

What’s so different between James Kelley and The Show?Todd: we really wanted the show to seem “live”, we wanted it to have a show feel, it was what it was. The show was different;

we wanted it to be like “The Rat Pack” type of show. I don’t know how you would describe that.

Was the chemistry any different in making this album?Todd: it was a bit different in the creative process because the last album we just did on a whim, in the house with just beats and what not, but this album was way different. This album we, for the majority, recorded in the studio.


How long did it take?Free: shit, a while. We started December 2010…Yves: we started in 2010 and it was supposed to be a quick EP after The Show, Free: he’s saying what I said earlier…Yves: See how I say it is more live; see how I’m more engaging? I was supposed to be a quick thing, but it matured and became something bigger.Candlestick: that’s why I don’t say too much, because they argue a lot.

Todd: we basically argue about everything. Yves: yeah we argue but we’re brothers. That’s what we do. People who work together in an environment argue but, we finish the product, and it’s damn good.

How is this one compared to the other mixtape you dropped? Todd: it’s just awesome!Yves: can I get this one? Ok. Here’s how it is; people say we “grew”, “this album is

completely different”, that doesn’t mean it’s better. This album is different and it’s better, because WE got better. That’s how it’s different. Todd: if you’re not making your shit better than your last album, then what the f*** are you doing?Free: if you ain’t getting better, you ain’t getting cheddar!

I see that you stay back a bit (candlestick), how much input do



you have in the music?Candlestick: I got one…Free: he actually produced one of the bangers on the albumYves: He actually won an award for Best DJ by the Houston PressCandlestick: I got to the venue and all the people were leaving and they were like “so you’re the DJ we’ve been waiting on?” Todd: they were mad at us that night. Honestly, they thought we were some “boogi” mother****** that night Yves: (points to Todd) he actually produced “Married to the MOB” that featured Slim Thug.

And as for you two, how many songs did each of you produce?Free: it was pretty much right down the middle. Half and half.Todd: yeah I say me and Free got equal production Yves: yeah, and James Kelley and Nick Greer, or Corey Wilson, or Hazy Grey that also produced on the albumTodd: shout out to Nick Greer!Yves: shout out to Uncle Bun!

Shout out to Bun indeed. Yves: he’s on “Ari Gold remix”Free: and Slim, he’s on “Married to the MOB”

Any other features on this project?Free: we got Nick Greer singing on the song and playing piano on the song

Do you guys even like doing features or would you rather keep it strictly Nice Guys?Todd: a lot of times features are forced. It’s not about the name. If you’re good we’ll f*** with you.

How have y’alls beats progressed?Todd: when we first started out I didn’t know much, but Free taught me a lot,Free: I’m a bad teacher, I taught him a bit and he just took it from thereYves: you know what Free told him? He said, “you’ll never be better than me!”Todd: He wasn’t saying that so I could get good, he was just saying that to be a b**** a** n****. Candlestick: Todd gave me a bit of help too

Y’all had listening party for James Kelly, how was it?Yves: Great. Everybody loved it. We toasted.

We loved the feedback. The energy was there and you could feel it when you walked in there.Candlestick: I think the reaction from everybody was what I remembered. Everyone seemed surprise, like “this came from y’all?” I like that. It’s a compliment because it shows people are impressed.Free: you forget while you’re doing the project about how good it is. People’s reaction is reassuring.

Any more visuals coming out for James Kelly?Todd: the plan is to have a visual for every song, tour or video.

The Nice Guys have a style on stage from what I have seen. Will your stage performance be any different as you guys start showcasing James Kelly?Free: every show is like a stage party.Yves: we give it our all, ALL the time. Whatever we have going on that day, we go out and give it our all and we are going to continue doing just that. Go hard.

Y’all started in 2007…and after dropping James Kelley, there’s no looking back…how do you feel?Todd: we feel great. All about moving forward

Lets get into the Red Bull Tour. How was this experience?Candlestick: we started out in Houston and met Manny Fresh. He basically gave us some tips and pointers. Then we moved on to Dallas and linked up with Chingo Bling, then on to Fort Worth and met with Paul Wall, then San Antonio with Mike Watts, and finished in Corpus Christi with Bun B. Yves: we forget Soren Baker. He was with us the whole time. He’s a hip hop journalist.

What was the craziest thing on tour?Todd: I’d say the bus driver Eddie! After the Houston show, I get on the bus, I’m the only guy on there. There were some spinny chairs…Candlestick: now don’t get him in trouble!Todd: yeah, never mind thenYves: let’s just say it was crazy

I hear this wasn’t the only time you got to experience the Red Bull bus. Yves: The bus stopped at SXSW and it was crazy. One of our friends got so drunk. It was out of control. Crazy. Candlestick: Imagine the bottom of the bus

I think the reaction from

everybody was what I remembered.

Everyone seemed surprise, like “this came from y’all?”

- Candlestick


where the luggage goes full of liquor and Red Bull. It was a good time.

I know this isn’t the only thing y’all did up in Austin. So tell me how many shows did y’all do at SXSW?Yves: It was 7Todd: it was 5 or 6Free: I’m sure it was 6

How do y’all feel about labels?Yves: I love labels. N***** get money. Its not always the time for a labelFree: rich is a label!Yves: Doing independent is hard! And at some point it would be good to cash in on a beat package! Now I don’t claim to know too much about it, I don’t think any of us know too much about it, but when the time is right, yes, The Nice Guys are going to sign the s*** of a contract.Todd: if you would have asked us this question two years ago, we would have given a real hip-hop answer, like “yo independent is it”.

Has there been talk?Yves: I don’t like to talk too much about that because yeah there’s always some guy from a label going out and talking Todd: dudes will sign you just to shelve youFree: just so no one else signs youYves: really the music game is just like what you see everyday in these streets. Same sharks. Same bulls***; you can smell it.

After the first couple of questions, it seemed that the interview was going to be slightly difficult given the fact that these nice guys seemed more like funny guys. Candlestick was the quietest, but other than that, neither was quieter or less outspoken than the other. It appears that although they are in the business of making music and developing their image, they haven’t lost sight of what makes their group so unique. First and foremost The Nice Guys are friends, friends and confidants who with both creativity and drive are beginning to see their dreams come true. They ALL collaborate in making the best product possible and truly enjoy their jobs doing it. How many of us can say that?

if you would have asked us this question two years ago, we would have given a real hip-hop answer,

like “yo independent is it”.-Todd




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ASAP ROCKYHouston, TXFebruary 2012







DANCE GT

Meet Gregory Thomas Jerralds, aka GT. GT lists tumbler, dancer, stepper, and all around entertainer as his occupation and is otherwise known as an “expert on awesome”, as he states on his website. Standing at five feet-four inches, he’s a well oiled, agile machine that makes the typical yoga class seem like a mommy-and-me tumbling class. With a blend of acrobatics and dance moves, he is setting the stage on fire as a member of the phenomenal ACRODUNK, as featured on America’s Got Talent. He managed to take some time out to give us a glimpse into why he loves what he does and what is it that truly makes him awesome.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from?

I was born and raised in San Antonio Texas. Went to a magnet school called Communications Arts High School where I focused on computers.

At what point in your life did you become interested in dance?

3 words. Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I think i was 4 when I started sliding around the living room in my socks trying to moonwalk.

How long have you been dancing?

I’ve always been a performer. When I was little I used to do solos during family reunion talent shows, middle school talent shows, and high school. I think at some point during a high school performance at a pep rally I was doing a step performance and acting as Nelly in Nsync “Girlfriend” with some of my classmates that I fell in love with the attention. However, with all that performing I didnt become a “dancer” until I started training to be on the WNBA Stars dance team. Thats when it went from a hobby to a profession.

You were part of the Spurs entertainment team back in 2005. What kind of experience was that?

Man it was exciting for me because I made a short

term goal to learn how to tumble to be able to audition. I worked everyday for 3 months to be at my best to make my first tumbling pass on hardwood floor at the audition. It was worth it. Definitely my first step in my career of an entertainer. I attended every home game all the way to game 7 of 7 where we won the championship. I was able to receive a championship ring and was able to meet a few stars.

Following your duration with the Spurs you were a member of the famous Harlem Globetrotters. Tell me a little how you got involved in that.

The original Spurs mascot Tim Derk gave me some tips and mentored me when I wasn’t performing and a few other key people got me in touch with the right people organizing a Dunk Team for The Harlem Globetrotters in 05. I went out and auditioned and turned down the position that year to spend an extra year developing my skills before taking off on year tour. On the same day I was promoted at my current job of 2 years KCI to the IT hep desk. I decided to stick around and work on a professional career in case I needed to fall back on something.

How did you transition following your career with the Globetrotters to becoming a part of the Acrodunk phenomena?

I actually had applied to ACRODUNK a year before and I recieved a call back. Unfortunately, The Owner just wanted me to design websites. Following the Globetrotters I reapplied with my newly acquired dunking, performing skills, and passion for preforming and received the invitation. Then it was on like Donkey Kong.

Do you feel that background influenced your decision to be part of the Acrodunk family? What has that experience been like?

By that time I had dunking for about 3 years and finished the Globetrotter Tour. When I was thinking what I wanted to do next , The only real choice was ACRODUNK. ACRODUNK is the Dream Team

of acrobatic slam-dunking. The team is made up of some of the best dunkers in the country and I was honored to even have the chance to try out. In the past 5 years I’ve been able to perform all over the world, been on tv, met celebrities, and had an opportunity to influence thousands of students minds all over the country. Everyone on this team is more than co-workers they all have become my family.You all perform at half time shows, but you also competed on America’s Got Talent and advanced far into the competition. Tell me a little bit about competing on a nationally syndicated show.

It was the best and worst experience of my life. Being on national Tv was amazing. We had around 10.5 million viewers each night. I never thought I’d ever be at able to perform in front of that many people and have them be receptive to what we were trying to accomplish in my life. We had the best group of people together for that show. We choreographed the show ourselves and put on 3 perfect performances with little to no practice. Also, I had a fractured knee for the entire time we were contestants on that show. The worst part was getting voted off after pouring our heart, sweat, tears, and money into our performances. However, After the doing the show and starting a new tour we received a lot of love from people that voted for us around the country. It was also a great feeling to get International love when they began showing the tv show in other countries.

On an average, how many hours a day do you practice? What styles do you incorporate or influence into your routines?

What’s pretty funny is we don’t really practice on a day to day basis. We usually do a Summer camp every year where we get together and get our skills and routines ready for the next year of touring. Other than that, we only practice before we do a performance. When you’ve been performing together as long as we have the timing, skills, and trust are already developed we just basically have to re-warm up to be successful. actbadd.com/dance


DANCE MY 3 SONGS





MOY RIVASMonterrey MX

August 2012



“Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.”-Vince Lombardi

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