Q-Vision: Respect the Lens

Welcome to what I call "Q-VIsion".......

So what is "Q-VIsion?" "What does it stand for?"

-Q-VIsion is basically a representation of looking in to the eye of myself. Seeing what I'm seeing. Allowing yourself to capture the true essence of what i shoot. In this world we visualize thing that we believe suits our lifestyle or even swings us in the brightest or even darkest moods. My goal is to bring you that representation.

How did you start off taking pictures?

-Honestly I always had an eye for beautiful scenery and beautiful people. When i was young I used to pretend I was a professional photographer and take pictures of this girl I really liked in school during recess! I just always knew that certain things i saw put me in this mood, be it good or bad. I started out shooting professionally at the age of 20, and since then I've never put down my camera. But to tell you the truth, I can remember back when I was in the 3rd grade, where it all started, and my eyes just opened up to the beauty of what this world shares.

Is there any other things you enjoy doing besides taking photos?

-Well I'm a HUGE music major and I've been into music since I was very little. I play over 5 different instruments. Music has played a major role in my life and is responsible for reshaping my life. Im into ALL types of genres; I produce music under the production label "Rebelizim Music" which I currently have ownership of. I've also ama HUGE gear-head. A big fan of Nissan vehicles, I'm a guy thats into import cars and really into the drifting/track-racing scene. I love to go fast!

What are some things we can expect out of you with Rebelized Culture?

-Well I must say....BE READY. I'll show you everything that i know, from learning to become a first time photographer, tips on what

The WHY

In this first article, before we get into all the sweat, blood, and tears associated with fitness( just kidding – not really) we have to get to the most important part of fitness and that is MOTIVATION, or what I like to call “The Why”. First, a couple of rules about “The Why”:

1. There is no reason too big for “The Why”.

2. There is no reason too small for “The Why”.

3. There is no reason too outlandish for “The Why”.

4. There is no reason too selfish for “The Why”.

5. It does not matter how others feel towards your “ The Why”.

6. You can have several ”Why’s” during your lifetime.

Now before you assume I have gotten all Fight Club on you let me clarify. If wanting to beat cancer is the reason you go run five miles a day and learn better eating habits, bravo. If wanting to be able to see your toes is the reason why you hit the weights, awesome! If that little black dress, or getting that “look” (you know the one where your significant other looks up, looks down and then looks again, forgetting whatever task they had at hand), then great. Whether it’s for your grandkids, your heart, to get some glances at the beach, or just to increase your confidence so the cute girl at the party talks to you then go for it. So long as you have the ”Why” and embrace it and don’t look back, and remember that the cheesecake you put down today is a trade off for the heart/toes/girl/black dress/guy (please tell me you get it by now) then you will do fine. So find your why.

- Rome

The Perfect Middleground

Nas said it best, "hip hop is dead". This is the term he spit out a couple of years back that shook up the world. It means a ton of different things , and can stem a great amount of arguments within the rap community. So, 2010 , where have things moved to since that statement? Well lets take a look. As far as mainstream music: still pretty pathetic . As far as underground: stayed doing well and pumping out quality music. But what about that zone right between underground and mainstream? The cats that have strayed away from the limelight and secured themselves a place in hip hop history books, all within the revolution of bringing quality rap back into what should be the mainstream.

It was about late last year, around the time Ghostface dropped his "Wizard of Poetry" album that things started really shaping up for the middleground: Jay Electronica heavy on the shows and dropping a classic every quarter; Cats like Ski-Beatz working on projects that are leaving fans at the edge of their seat, working with artists like Joell Ortiz, Mos Def, Currency, and the list goes on and on; Erykah Badu, with her ground breaking video (that should be getting way more exposure). Much more to talk about than the likes of a drunken Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan.

Inspectah Deck's dropping a banger, and the "Wu-Massacre" album was extra incredible. Not just for music, but the anticipation, the classic artwork, just the feel of buying an album in general. These are the things that would've made TV stations like MTV and BET go nuts back in the 90's. But oh well, let's face it, we are not in an era where quality and keeping it real is the fad. We're at the end of times, and the most accesible music is defenitely the music that should be at the bottom of our shelves . But like my man Ghostface says "What's first shall be last and whats last shall be first".

Here's a list of great works that have dropped in this middleground I speak of, sort of like the Boston Celtics of Hip Hop :

Freeway -Philadelphia Freeway 2
J Dilla - J Stay Paid
Guru- Guru 8.0
AZ-Legendary
Mos Def-The Ecstatic
The Alchemist Chemical Warfare
Slaughterhouse-Slaughterhouse
Raekwon -OBCL 2
Ghostface Killah -Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry
Rakim- The Seventh Seal
The Clipse -Till The Casket Drops


Needless to say these hip hop cats are heavy on their grind and do not get the exposure they deserve, and these are big-time names! In my future columns I will look into primetime players in this hip hop game that are one step from making it to the next level. The cats that have the decency and know to stick to the code and not sellout and do pop records like so many others who look to take that shameful path. Looks like hip hop died, but it sure as hell got resurrected, so lets keep it alive yall. Peace.

- Ah-nest Don

EMOETRY: A Renewed Appreciation for Poetry

"Hurry Up! Slow Down!"

I wish Time could hurry up so I can get back home
And let my daughter know her daddy didn't leave her alone
Still so much a man hasn't got to do 'bout yet
But if, Time would just speed up, then my life would be the best . . .
---
Where have all the years gone?
Time, slow up a bit
Days and weeks pass rapid, let us savor the moment
Precious memory I keep
Let me freeze it and hold it
Wait time, let me catch up!
These moments are golden . . .
---
Damn, hurry up Time!
Bring me riches and fame
See I have practiced long enough, put me up in the game
I'll soon turn a year older, I ain't gettin' no younger
So Time . . . hurry up and turn reality to a wonder . . .
---
Wait . . . a year ago seems a blur in my brain
Can we slot it up?  rewind?  and live it again?
What I would've done different?
Truly capture those days
GOD, please, put our lives, to a much slower pace.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Raisin in the Sun (my version)"

I come from a proud people
"Say it loud!" people, like James Brown people
Black
As the strongest pot of coffee on an early morning rise
Hope in our hearts  despite pain in our eyes
---
We struggle, yet strive
Oppressed and disenfranchised
But despite the odds we rise, prosper and thrive
---
How good it is to be alive
To have voted for Obama
To serve the military, and give pride to my momma
To bring into life a daughter
Full of beauty and joy
Who hath given me the growth, to a man from a boy
---
To watch ALL Americans
Bring the hero from within
Knowing we start with a dream
But the journey never ends.

- Lex "1Reazn" Brown -

Barefoot Running: Your Free Orthopedist

There is nothing new under the sun. Such a statement doesn't reveal the true wonder of human experience. To anyone that's had to deal with knee pain from years of running, the relief and healing that can be brought about from barefoot running seems like such a novel idea. How is it that the foot, ankle, knee, and hips can not only be preserved, but strengthened by not protecting them? The common logic says that the more cushion a shoe can provide, the more that it can reduce the impact on the knees which in turn should preserve them, right? That may not be true. A growing generation of minimalist runners will tell you they've never felt healthier than when they threw away their running shoes.

But that doesn't make any sense.

So, let's explore the idea a bit. Barefoot “supporters” (pun intended) base their position behind the idea that correcting human biomechanics (physical movement) will correct most injuries, pains, and imbalances brought on as a result of improper or unnatural movement. Sparing you the science lecture what it comes down to is that wearing shoes can cause people to walk and move differently than they would without shoes. The foot is not allowed to touch or feel the ground and in many instances the heel is elevated resulting in an unnatural stride or gate. This unnatural stride can cause pain and injuries from the ankles, to the knees, all the way up to the hips or spine. In addition, the muscles of the leg don't have to work as hard to stabilize itself since the cushions in the shoes do the work for them. So, the equation goes: improper movement+lazy muscles+5 mile run x 5 years= OUCH.

Still sounds crazy, but, how legit are their claims?

A quick google search reveals tons of research and studies conducted by Kinesiologists that have compared barefoot running to wearing shoes and all have concluded that the strides of a barefoot runner is much different from that of someone running in shoes. The barefoot runner tends to run more so on the toes or middle of the foot and this is a motion that is typically adopted naturally without instruction. Striking the heel to the ground over time encourages the barefoot runner to develop a softer step. In comparison, the runner in shoes strikes heel to toe the majority of the time as there is no real stimulus to encourage any modification. In most instances this leads to various aches and pains in the body ranging from ankle injuries, to knee pain, and even back problems.

Personally, I haven't quite made the full transition yet. I'm running in the Nike Freerun and some Japanese thin soled gym shoes while my body acclimates to the higher demands. Barefoot running can really kill the calves for the newcomer.

When not walking or running with naked feet the Vibram Five Fingers seem to be the shoe of choice for barefoot enthusiasts.

I'm experiencing tons of benefits already not only eliminating knee pain and adjusting my running form, but also increasing strength and balance.

There's a bunch of information to find on the web about barefoot running. Just check out Erwan Le Corre, founder of MovNat.

Droppin Jewels: What Is a Pro?

In the Music Industry we always hear about the checks and the money to be made, but little is said in regards to how those checks are collected.

Welcome to the world of PROs! Performing Rights Organizations, or PROs, are groups that have composers, songwriters and music publishers as their members. PROs are responsible for tracking and collecting performing rights royalties for the the use of their members' music.

Who Are The Performing Right Organizations?

SESAC- www.sesac.com

BMI- www.bmi.com

ASCAP- www.ascap.com

How Do They Track MY Work?

PROs monitor radio broadcasts for the use of their member's work. Television and films are monitored slightly different. To track for TV and films, PROs PROs use cue sheets.

How Are Cue Sheets Submitted?

This is a rather simple process. Producers(film and TV) fill out the cue sheets and submit them to the PRO with a member who owns the copyright of the music listed in the sheet. If the sheet contains music owned by members from different PROs, the cue sheet needs to be submitted to each PRO.

When Do I Get Paid?

Check with your specific PRO as mailing and distribution dates vary, but typically towards the end of each Quarter.

I hope this sheds a little light on Performing Rights Organizations and their roles. As always, please research each PRO and analyze your needs to see which one is right for you. If you have any questions please feel free to drop us a line.

Get Your Money Right: an IRA That Works for You

Most people are familiar with IRAs, but if you were to ask them exactly what kind of IRA would be best for them, you may get a blank stare or two. So, this is to clear up any confusion you may have about IRAs and to give you some insight for which one you should choose to invest in depending on your individual circumstances.

First of all, IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. It allows you to contribute money/funds over the course of a career or even longer to ensure your financial stability upon retirement. That’s the easy part. Next comes the choice of what kind of IRA to open. Here are the four most popular types of IRAs:

Traditional IRA – Allows you to contribute up to $4,000 annually before taxes, which reduces your taxable income. The money is taxed when you start to withdraw after the age of 65. This particular IRA is also good for those that need help with not dipping into the fund early. There are penalties for early withdrawals, and some providers won’t let you withdraw early at all. Also, you have to start taking money out by the age of 70 or the IRS will take the money away.

Roth IRA – Has a contribution limit of $5,000 a year. You deposit money in after taxes, so when you withdraw at retirement you are not taxed on the money or the growth of the fund. You can also withdraw from the account any time before five years of the account being open without getting penalized. Plus, there is no mandatory withdrawal age, so you can go the rest of your life without using the money and it won’t get touched. This is a good way to leave your money to those you love.

SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA - This is an employer-established and funded IRA. The employer can put up to 15% of your compensation into a special IRA account. You can also do this for yourself if you own a business. These have fewer administrative and tax filing requirements than most retirement plans, which makes them more attractive than 401(K)s.

Simple IRA - This is a new creation, but is gaining popularity. It is employer-sponsored just like the SEP IRA but this particular IRA allows the employer AND the employees to contribute to the account. Employees can contribute up to 100%, but no more than $6,500 per year, into the IRA. There are rules that require employers to contribute a certain amount to the IRAs they open for their employees, and premature distribution penalties apply. Once you get all of that in check, this is great way to start setting up for retirement.

While these are the main types of IRAs, there are others to be considered based on your financial goals. Always do your own research and talk to a financial advisor for more info. Starting an IRA that fits your lifestyle is a great way to get your money right!

The Start of Your New Favorite Magazine (Editor's Brief)

Greetings to all of you Rebels and Trend Dodgers reading this post.  Understand that this is just the beginning, the online startup of a cutting-edge magazine that will also develop into print with a full-fledged website to go along with it.  That is our objective, and our vision is to spread Fearless Originality and Pride in Being Unique through these mediums.

We can only do this with your support and continuous readership.  Don't hold back from shooting us an email letting us know where we can improve or even where we excel.  If you have topics that you'd like to see content written on, email us those as well.  Rebelized Culture Magazine is as much about interaction and your involvement as it is about us bringing you the best content we can find.  We hope that you as a reader will walk with us through these development stages, and be a part of the transformation from nothing to something amazing.

We promise to bring you new material on a weekly basis (Thursdays being the main posts day).  Over the next week you will start seeing our content populate this blog, so check back this weekend and see what Rebelized Culture Magazine has to offer.  I'm gone.

- Lex -

TD-MMA lands big MMA Sponsorship!

Jerome "ROME" Thames of Trend Dodger Mixed-Martial Arts has just officially earned a sponsorship from CRUCIFIX-MMA.  Check out their apparrell and fight gear, and read what they're all about.  Also, be sure to check out ROME and the rest of TD-MMA (Trend Dodger Mixed-Martial Arts) by clicking on TD-MMA.

1Reazn - Black Dynamite

Mick Stillz - International Grind