Are you GOOD or BAD?

we have a special surprise for those that attend this discussion, but you have to be there on time. the desserts and beverages are FREE. so, grab a friend and tip toe down christopher street for LAST WEDNESDAY. see ya next week!

interview with LLOYD BOSTON

1. Who were your style influences growing up? I went to Catholic school for most of my life. Uniforms had little or no style wiggle room. So I really didn’t get hip to fashion until I started reading GQ and EM in the mid-1980’s. Top models of the day like Rasheed Silvera and Renauld White wearing great suits and wild sweaters started the fire. EM Fashion Editor Jeffrey Tay had a lot to do with that I am sure. What a joy 10 years later to be able to shoot and honor both of those models in my first style book, Men of Color (Artisan).

2. There is a story floating around about how you met Tommy Hilfiger. i've never heard the story straight from the source so tell me... how did you meet Tommy Hilfiger? I attended Morehouse College in the 80’s to study Fine Arts. A bunch of dorm mates convinced me to hit the mall for an event where Tommy Hilfiger was signing autographed duffle bags. I dressed up, got on line with other 200 students and waited my turn. By the time I got to his table I was ready to give him more than my name. I offered advice on how to present his collection in a stronger way. He was shocked at my Black College moxy, yet seemingly impressed. He offered me an internship on the spot, and handed me his home and office numbers. I transferred at the end of the semester back to Rutgers University to get closer to New York. He paid for my last year of college. I began with him, and left 10 years later as his Vice President of Art Direction. I still remain regular consultant to the brand and a friend. Guess I made “The Cut” before there was one.

3. Who would you say are the 3 best dressed women in entertainment right now? Halle Berry, she keeps it simple.Michael Michelle, she snapped back from a baby and looked even better.Erykah Badu, she follows her own vision all day long.

4. So give me the inside scoop on your new book. Speaking of stylish women, my new book, Before You Put That On (Simon and Schuster), is the first ever book of 365 Daily Style Tips for Her. Women kept asking for a book for them after I appeared on Oprah with Make Over Your Man (Doubleday), so I obliged. I also went back to my art roots and illustrated the book myself. It is a fun, daily read with quick affirmations that any woman can use to look fabulous right then and there. No need for a huge, fussy makeover!

5. Okay I want to delve into your personal life for a hot second. are you currently in a relationship? if not, then what exactly are you looking for and be as specific as possible. Not much of a personal life to jump into. Been single for a while now. My work seems to be the only relationship that has succeeded so far. I suffer from that bad combination of personal shyness, and high professional drive. So I wind up going solo for the most part, I think because people may think I am taken and off somewhere fabulous! Not the case.My ideal relationship is based on trust and just good old fun. I like to laugh. I am very different off-camera and away from fashion. Sometimes I feel that potential dates expect me to want to eat where the fashion set are, and hang out in the hippest areas. Just the opposite. I want Jerk wings and DVD rentals on the weekends, since I do “hip” spots all week for work. And the last thing I want to do is dress up and eat tiny portions of “cute food.”I am not into the perfect body and model face, I am hugely attracted to someone with a sweet spirit, unapologetic intellect, and a passion for something more than just punching in, and punching out.

6. Do you have plans on producing clothing line? No time soon. I am interested in partnering with a mass retailer, possibly doing wares of some sort. I’ve had a few great meetings. I am currently the national spokesperson for both Lenscrafters and Jones New York. No complaints for now.

7. What is your favorite holiday and why? Strangely, I have been really getting into Halloween in the last few years. I was little jaded about it in my 20’s. It was so not cool. Lately, I have been thinking about my costume months ahead of time. Thinking about a beast from Greek Mythology for this year, but with a sexy edge. Where’s the party, Nathan?

well if you don't know, now you know. be sure to get a copy of Lloyd Boston's newest book: Before You Put That On. with Thanksgiving and Christmas not too far away, this is the perfect gift for the special women in your life. so, be sure to support Lloyd by making this a
BEST SELLER.

interview with GORDON JAMES

1. So tell me what this whole 3some thing is about. Well since I started performing my poetry and characters in 2000, audience members and fans have been berating me for not having any product (a book, a cd, a dvd) for them to take home with them. So I decided to create a cd so people would stop yelling at me. I didn't want it to just be me talking on a cd, so I recruited the talents of soulful songstress Maritri and operatic soprano Kanari Haywood to help me with the background vocals. Maritri introduced me to talented producer and dj Ian Friday and the OUTBURST cd was born. I took 9 of the most popular characters from the show and put them to music. Never one to launch anything half-assed, I decided to do an "event" to get the word out and came up with the "3some" idea when Kanari and Maritri told me they would be able to perform live with me on October 7th at Bric Studios in Brooklyn. In essence it will be a special show where I perform with two other talented artists who I respect and who constantly inspire me. As a treat I plan to preview some excerpts from my next one man show BAGGAGE as well to whet people's appetite for my planned spring/summer performances. Like all 3somes, I hope those who partake will bring their own energy and leave completely satisfied.

2. I've seen your work and i must say it's outstanding, how do you plan to wow audiences with this piece? Well for all the people who liked OUTBURSTS, it will still be a new experience in that the characters have never had live music/perfomers with them, so that should bring a whole new flavor to the mix. The excerpts I do from BAGGAGE are, as the name implies about the "weight" we carry around with us around certain topics like race, sexuality, and relationships. The poems/characters from BAGGAGE are not quite as "upbeat" and optimistic as the OUTBURSTS characters so I am hoping the mix of the two types of character types will really take people on a ride.

3. Should we expect new characters, if so, do tell. BAGGAGE will have all new characters and I plan to offer the first preview of at least 3 of them at this show. All the character poems we are performing from the cd will be the same with the addition of the music and vocals in the background.

4. What made you decide to do a CD? I touched on this b4, but I just personally don't think the poems hit home as quickly or as directly as they do when performed. People don't always have time to sit through a show or watch a dvd, so the cd gives you everything aurally at your own pace.

5. Who are some of your influences? My friends and family are my greatest influences as are current events and T.V. Most of my poetry is born out of me watching or hearing about something that makes me go 'hmmmmn"

6. Can audiences expect to see that beautifully sculpted body of yours in this next piece? LOL. Well I don't have any poems on the roster that would demand that I be out of my clothes this time around, so I'll do my best to please the audience with my clothes on. However, if someone requests that certain poem that requires I show some skin (yeah it's on the cd too), I may comply :)

7. What has been your biggest challenge to date, in terms of your performance. I must say I have been very blessed so far with my performances. Some very extraordinary producers have worked with me and taken on the tedious chores that go into bringing the show to my audiences and people are constantly trying to bring me to their cities to perform. I think the greatest challenge is finding the time to do it all. But it's always better to be busy than not, so I aint mad at all.

be sure to check out gordon's website. www.outbursts.net

photo: Michael Scott Jones

interview with WILLIAM SCOTT

1. Tell me about your musical influences, who inspire you to do what you do? Honestly, I have been influenced by every sound or melody I have ever heard. But I do have three main influences. Prince inspired me to be an independent and versatile artist. Donny Hathaway inspired me to move people in the way that he moved me. And Jimi Hendrix taught me how to channel the outrage that you can feel as a black child growing up in America and that blackness + talent + originality and drive can = ROCKSTAR!

2. How do you classify your music? I call my music freesoul music. I feel that one of the most important things in life is being able to define yourself for yourself. This definition allows me to be exactly what I am as a musician, a music lover.

3. If you had to choose 3 female artists to do a song with who would they be? Well, that’s a hard one. Hmm, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, and Michelle N’degeocello. If I had to pick 3.

4. What has been your biggest challenge with producing your first album? The biggest problem that I’ve faced is trying to work with people who can’t see the sun for the sky. What I mean by that is that this industry conditions people to be so hungry for success that they can not work together to accomplish a common goal. It teaches us (like we’ve always been taught) that competition is the only way. When in actuality, all of our gifts are golden and deserve a prize all their own.

5. How do you measure success? I measure success by seeing or hearing how my music and art have positively affected people. I will have really succeeded when I can live off of that positivity.

6. When you get on stage, what makes you give it your all? I give it my all because I like to move people emotionally to the point of change. Music can calm the most vicious beast and that possibility drives me.

7. Tell me about your most embarrassing moment. My most embarrassing moment was when I was 9 years old, I had gotten hit by a car while trying to get to an ice cream truck. Having to tell people how I got hit by the car was worse than anything I’ve gone through in my adult life.

Be sure to hear William Scott LIVE on OCTOBER 14th. He is most definitely one to watch!