Grand Gents

Here we are,

Unnerved to an extent.

Some, empowered.

Others, understandably curious.

All of us, more seasoned.

Here we are.

Sixteen seasons have passed.

If you’re reading this, perhaps you’d agree that we are standing at the crossroads of a unique

moment. We are closing in on the days to mine our collective experiences and empower the

future we desire. Ready to exercise the hard-earned right to vote, here we are.

Now, it doesn’t go without saying how big of an impact local politics plays. Knowing the mayor,

attending city hall meetings, and being economically competent are crucial to strengthening

political power. In fact, it starts where you are. But, with all the social chaos surrounding this

particular presidential election, give yourself some grace if you have yet to invest here

properly—but do invest here.

As you weigh the rhetoric of each candidate, understand the importance of not only realizing

your personal livelihood but that of your neighbors. Do inject a bit of empathy in your framing of

ideas. Do wear a lens for the marginalized, and research with caution and heart. Grand

Gentleman endorses neither candidate but does envision a future where outright hate is not the

baseline. One where police who do wrong and refuse to outperform their biases and prejudices

in our neighborhoods aren’t exempt from prosecution.

The challenges of this country are beyond talking points and as vast as its potential.

In the coming days, please make use of your power. And onwards, continue to be the change

your community immediately needs by studying, learning, and sharing, with an open heart and

mind. There is so much work left to do.

In 1964, Malcolm X said, “It’s time now for you and me to become more politically mature and

realize what the ballot is for; what we’re supposed to get when we cast a ballot.”

That was sixty years ago.

Here we are.

By Sterling A. Wright

THE ART OF ROMANCE

Indulge in an enchanting evening at "The Art of Romance," hosted by Grand Gentlemen Inc. On February 17th at 7 PM, join us for a celebration that intertwines the spirit of Valentine's Day with a vibrant showcase of Black love, art, culture, and history. This dynamic event features live music, captivating performances, spellbinding spoken word poets, and a gallery spotlighting the incredible talents of local artists. Join us as we weave a tapestry of love, creativity, and cultural richness in an unforgettable celebration of the heart.

TICKET BREAKDOWN

We’re offering multiple ticket packages for this event! GENERAL ADMISSION - GA ticket provides entry for 1 guest only, seating is first come first serve. COUPLE’S TICKET - Save money when you bring a lover or a friend, Couples ticket provides entry for 2 guest at a discounted rate. GIRL FRIENDS - Our way of showing love to the ladies, a Girl Friends ticket provides entry for 3 guest at a discounted rate. ALL THE SINGLE LADIES - The more, the merrier! All My Single Ladies is a ticket option that provides entry for 4 guest at a discounted rate. Any additional ticket(s) of groups 5+ have to be purchased through general admission. Get your tickets while you can! $25 GA turns into $35 after 9pm! Seating is limited and we don't want you to miss the show!

Businesses have to incur debt. That is a fact that you cannot change. However, when your debt outweighs your incoming funds, that can leave you scrambling to keep the doors open. Here, Grand Gents offers tips on how to climb out of the darkest depths of debt without overhauling your entire operation.

 Get Help If You Need It

 One of the first steps to understanding your problems is to admit where you need assistance. Not all of us feel like we are great with numbers, taxes, or money in general. Don’t be shy about bringing in an extra set of eyes to help you with any of these areas. A bookkeeper, accountant, or purchasing manager can all help.

 Revise Your Business Structure

 Your business structure might refer to your hierarchical management chart or your legal business entity. For the former, changing to a different management structure might make it easier to keep tabs on your expenditures. For the latter, revising your company to an LLC status might help you pay less in taxes. However, forming an LLC in Oklahoma does come with some expenses, which you can lessen by using a formation service.

 Cut Employee Hours

 You need employees, but do you need them on the clock for 40 hours per week? If you’re a small business, chances are good that you do not. Take a look at your employee roster and match that up to hours they work where they might not be needed. Most workers won’t be highly upset if you cut three or four hours off of their workweek temporarily. If you want to dig even deeper, you might even change the hours of employees that you consider unproductive. Canada’s Liberty Staffing explains that these are the individuals that make excuses, complain, and procrastinate.

 Add Employees

 You also want to look at the possibility that you are not making enough money to cover your debt simply because you don’t have the manpower. If you’re turning down jobs, experiencing delayed customer service, or your best staff is working at entry-level because there simply is no one to cover menial tasks, it might be time to post a listing on several job boards.

 Learn to Budget

 Budgeting is the process of watching where your dollars come from and where they go. Take the time to actually learn about all the aspects of managing your company’s money. This should include reading financial reports, such as your aging and accounts receivable. You can take a class online to improve your financial knowledge. In turn, you’ll be a better business owner and will be able to lay a solid foundation for the future.

 Create New Revenue Streams

 If your company is overall stable, it might be wise to add new revenue streams so that you can pay off debt sooner. This involves looking at your current lineup of products and services and then looking for ways you can maximize profits from each. For example, if you own a home services company, you might offer a monthly service contract, which, for a small fee, will give your customers priority and complimentary services.

 Consolidate High-Interest Debt

 Take a look at the debt you have outstanding. It makes the most sense to have one large payment each month instead of several small ones with different interest rates. Consolidating your debt into one payment also means you’ll avoid pesky late charges on accounts you forget to pay because you’re overwhelmed.

 There are many components that go into running a business, and managing your debt is one of them. You don’t have to do it alone, and there are many professionals that you can bring in to lend a helping hand. There are also small steps you can take, like taking an accounting course and cutting back on employee hours, that will make a big difference in your bottom line.

We’re snowed in and finally have time to get off a few recent movie reviews! So first things first - Regina King REALLY hits the ground running in her directorial debut with One Night in Miami. The story, originally a screen play by Kemp Powers, recants a legendary evening spent between four of the most influential African Americans of the time, if not all time. We promised to keep this one short because (no surprise here) we loved this film and encourage you to watch it yourself - but Regina definitely makes this look easy.

Given how important these men are for Black culture, it just feels GOOD to be able to watch this film and not see them die. We are tired of seeing our hero’s die, especially after a year like 2020, so even though the film is politically driven, we get to see these legends just be guys hanging out and that means something. The actors were all incredible, the sets were on point, wardrobe was perfect, the writing got a little cliche at times (for instance, we cant imagine a 22 year old Cassius Clay using the word “Unapologetic” to describe himself, or any of the other men in that room on that night, if theres footage please share) but we understand WHY those cliche lines are in this story, its because this movie actually has something to say.

Here we have a GIANT of a historical figure, Malcolm X trying to convince Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and the newly crowned world heavy weight champ, then Cassius Clay that they need to be doing MORE to help the Black struggle. Even though these men have all done something to give back to their people, X argues throughout the night that it is not enough, and just because these men have found fortune and fame doesn’t mean they get to turn their back on their people. Its important to understand that prior to this time, no one in America cared about what a Black man had to say - unless you were maybe Frederick Douglass. Malcolm urges that they take this new found Black social power and turn it into economic and political power by using their platforms to echo the voice of the struggle.

Knowing America's history and the injustices that come with it concerning African-Americans, it shouldn't be a shocker to see the state of America in 2020. After the most recent case of police brutality which resulted in George Floyd's death, there's been a revamp of the Black Lives Matter movement, and this time it's hitting harder than it ever has. 

This time, though, our approach has to be different. We have to be aggressive, yet strategic in our quest towards justice. There needs to be a distinct gameplan in place to overthrow an old American system that has held African-Americans back for centuries. While that gameplan is still to be determined, here are some things that the average Black man can do to help our situation. 

As Black men, we have to step forward as leaders in our communities. 

First things first, we have to stop killing each other. Black people killing each other has plagued our community for decades, which only makes the job easier for policemen with ulterior motives. The gang violence has to stop. Secondly, taking leadership roles in our communities, starting businesses, and shaping the next generation of Black men is key. There's no reason why more of us shouldn't be running for political offices. There's no reason why more young Black men shouldn't be joining the police force to make it more diverse and inclusive. 

What are some resources for change? 

The biggest resource that'll impact our people the quickest is voting, and that's something everyone over 18 can do. Another resource is joining and getting involved in organizations like the NAACP, which is an organization that has initiated change for our people for 111 years. While it's beneficial, it has to be replenished with young, forward-minded people to keep up with the times. 

How can we inspire and get other Black men involved?

We have to change the focus of our young Black men. The harsh reality is that too many of us idolize the wrong people. Especially in our current society. We have to stop supporting and idolizing organizations and individuals that promote hate, or violence. Somehow, we have to make it 'cool' to get involved in our communities. Being smart, being articulate, and being in touch with social and political issues have to become the norm for Black men.

How to deal with the trauma that comes with the violence within our community, and the violence caused by outside factors, like the police. 

Mental health and the discussion of mental health has been labeled as a weakness in the Black community. It goes back to the days of slavery where mental illness wasn't an excuse. African-Americans had to be strong, regardless of what our mind was going through. That has bled into our current society. One of the most common forms of mental illness in our community is PTSD, which could be caused by a multitude of traumatic experiences, but a common one is seeing our Black brothers dying in the street, repeatedly. 

Overcoming this starts with acknowledging that we have a problem, not being afraid to voice it, and asking for help. That's the only way we'll be able to overcome, or at least get a hold on it. 

We must continue to uplift each other. That's the only way we'll be able to overthrow the current corruption in our country is if we stick to that plan. As Grand Gentlemen, we're playing our part by uplifting the next generation, helping them go to college so that they can pursue an honest career, and take leadership roles at their universities and in their careers. 

Us doing our part is the Man of the Year scholarship that we offer to Black males that are graduating high school and are headed to college. If you have anyone in mind that you want to nominate for next years scholarship, visit https://www.grandgentlemen.com/scholarship. 

Story by Addam Francisco. For my from Addam and Grand Gents, follow @SuaveFrancisco_, @TheSuaveReport, @GrandGentlemen

Participants will meet Monday evenings to socialize as well as participate in projects that help tackle issues young men face in their own community. This program will inspire boys to speak up, receive mentoring and guidance from positive men in the community, and take charge of their future in a positive and healthy way.

In the past several years HBO seems to be leading the pack when it comes to high quality television, the network’s new series Euphoria continues that trend. Written, produced, directed, and created by by Sam Levinson (each episode has a new director, cinematographer, and co writers), Euphoria is a look at life for a group of high school students as they grapple with issues like drugs, sex, sexuality, and violence.

We don’t believe in spoiling shows midway through a season here at Grand Gentlemen, but we will tell you why you should watch Euphoria. This show executes in 5 major ways that lead to good programming.

1. Is the story good? Although we’re only three episodes in, Euphoria’s method of story telling hasn’t just been good, it’s been brilliant. Levinson has drawn us in to this world by slowly developing several different characters each episode, basically by revealing their trauma, but we’ll talk more about that later. It started off with learning about “Rue” brilliantly played by Zendaya, and her drug addiction, and by episode 3 we’re diving into the character “Kat” played by Barbie Ferreira, but all the seeds for episode 3 were brilliantly planted in episode 1. The pacing so far has been brilliant and each episode leaves you wanting more.

2. Is the acting good? With the exception of a few cliches, the acting in the series has been phenomenal, we can’t say too much here without giving away some plot points, but Zendaya has really been given the opportunity to let her star shine as she plays the character of Rue Bennett brilliantly, portraying everyday life as a high schooler as well as a recovering addict.

3. Is it shot well? Yes. Yes is is. Euphoria really shines in its cinematography by living up to its name, the Euphoric drug trips and flashback scenes are some of the best shots in all of television right now. Theres a scene in episode 1 that almost left us speechless, wondering how exactly they did it. We also have to acknowledge how sharp the editing is through the first 3 episodes! The show changes character perspective several times throughout each episode and every transition is seamless.

4. The Music. Euphoria has an incredible soundtrack through 3 episodes and it is very diverse, ranging from Drake to Bobby Womack, every use of music feels organic and fitting to whats happening on the screen. Also, each episode title besides the first pilot is named after a hip hop song, which is incredibly dope. However, the show is executively produced by Drake so we’re not all that surprised.

5. Does it do anything different? HELL YES! The amount of representation in the show is admirable. HBO and the production team did a wonderful job of making the cast extremely diverse. Euphoria displays marginalized groups in ways that are respectful as well as natural and believable. The show has a way of keeping these characters grounded in the realism of everyday life as to not make any member of the audience feel as if they’re having some sort of message jammed down their throat, and thats a good thing. Does that mean things can get ugly? Sure, but it adds to the experience in ways that continue to draw the viewer in. For instance, there is a brief piece of dialog fat shaming Barbie Ferreira’s character, “Kat”, and the following episode we see her dealing with her own self image and coming up with ways (albeit in a way she may end up regretting but hey, high schoolers make dumb decisions. right?) to take back her confidence! This actually makes us invested in the character more than just feel sorry for them! And Euphoria seems to use this same formula for multiple characters all going through completely different issues and THIS is why diversity and inclusion matters! These writers have us invested in several storylines and NONE are the same!

Grand Gentlemen and GUAPKID present: Culture & Cocktails🍹  A brunch and day party on the roof of the Allied Arts Building, showcasing visual art and live music. This event will serve as an epic conclusion to #GUAPFEST2 Weekend, and all proceeds will go towards Grand Gentlemen’s annual Man of the Year Scholarship. Culture & Cocktails will be on Sunday, June 2nd, live music and lunch from 4:00pm until 6:30, followed by a Day Party hosted by DJ Lyfe and DJ WayneInDisThang until 10pm at the Allied Arts Building rooftop. (1015 N Broadway) Doors open at 3:00 PM

Featuring

Live performances by

Ebony J. Mitchell Nnedimma Sara Byrd Sid Carter Coriano Gibson Meloney Rose Tony Foster Jr 

Visual art from

Jodie Renee Kay Cee Clarissa Watkins Roland Givens

Winter is HERE! The Night King and his army of undead White W alkers are storming the gates of Winterfell in the episode 3 of the final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

But the REAL question that has the internet in a frenzy is, who survives and who dies? Here’s what we think.

Ser Brienne of Tarth Has to go. She has fulfilled her character arch by returning Katlin Stark’s children to Winterfell and becoming a Knight. And is would seem she has found love in our favorite handless Knight, Ser Jamie Lannister. But if you know game of throne’s, you know good things don’t last forever, and neither will Brienne. 

Ser Jorah Mormont is next on our list of characters who must go. Anyone with eyes can tell that the disgraced knight is DEEPLY in love with our favorite Khaleesi, but now that it’s clear Jon Snow will be her love interest, and Tyrion Lannister will remain hand of the Queen, well Ser Jorah serves no real purpose. And characters who have fulfilled their purpose either ride off into the sunset or get killed off, and we know Game of Thrones writers prefer the latter. 

Grey Worm is a strong and confident leader of the unsullied, and one of Daenerys Targaryen’s top generals, but after finding out in episode 2 that he has intentions of running away with Messandei our confidence in his survival have dwindled out. Looking at Grey Worm’s overall story arch, he only serves 2 purposes to the story as a whole, protect Khaleesi, and fall in love with Messandei. We predict he will give his life protecting his queen or die for falling in love with Messandei. The ONLY thing we think can save him at this point would be HBO’s late aspiration to reach viewers of color, in which case, he may survive to prolong diversity on the show (sad, but true. Remember, there are only 2 important black characters in Westeros now! cant kill them all!). 

The comedy-thriller Directed by Hiro Murai “Guava Island” stars Glover, Rihanna, Nonso Anozie, and Letitia Wright. On Guava Island, a local musician played by Glover is determined to throw a festival for everyone to enjoy. Shot entirely in Cuba, Guava Island is not quite a musical, not quite a visual album, but maybe somewhere in between. Murai and Glover take us on a vivid journey as we experience a day with ‘Deni Maroon’ a young BLACK man who’s ENTIRE mission in this film is to bring some joy to his fellow islanders for one day.

We’ve taken a few extra days to process this film, and we’ve heard some criticisms of it that quite frankly we think are trash. First of all, the film opens up with a beautiful animation piece that sums up all of the films backstory in a charming and humorous way, by the time the film opems up we know exactly what is going on, which is great considering the film is only 55 minutes long. Once we get into live action shots, the first thing we noticed was how visually STUNNING this film is. Christian Sprenger, the director of photography, captures the essence of the island and all of its inhabitants. From the colors of the buildings, to the water and sand on the beach, even the way Glover’s bright floral shirt contrast his medium brown skin, this film was shot beautifully. We HAVE to highlight this point because it is not easy capturing the skin tones of people of color, specifically darker tones, and Guava Island knocks it out of the park.

The plot is surprisingly, but refreshingly easy to follow and simplistic with underlying themes of the dangers of capitalism, poverty inequality, the wealth gap, black diaspora, black on black violence, relationships, black children growing up without fathers (whom are prematurely taken from them). We’ve read articles about how the overall message of the film lacks nuance, however, we feel Glover made his message extremely accessible and comfortable to digest for an audience who is just looking to be entertained. Glover and Murai are giving creatives and film makers the blue print on how to give an audience a good, enjoyable experience that also reinforces a message that doesn’t turn the audience away. A film doesn’t need 2 hours to tell you how much capitalism sucks, and Guava Island proves this.

The film is extremely Black. The protagonists, antagonist, and everyone in between, literally all Black. We actually didn’t realize this until our second viewing, but this is incredible for obvious reasons. Glover continues to make strides for representation without making it seem like a gimmick. Not to throw shade on Black Panther, we love that film but walking into BP, you KNOW you’re experiencing a Black production. Guava is.. different. We didn’t feel the need to make it a big deal, we just felt like we saw a film about people on and island. Glover is completely normalizing all Black productions and this is apart of his genius we have to acknowledge.

This film is important. It deserves to be considered a modern day classic. Is it going to win film of the year? No. But a Black man created a beautiful, all Black production with dope, relevant themes. Watch it because you’re a Childish Gambino fan. Watch it for the visuals. Watch it for underlying messages. Hell, watch it for Rihanna. Whatever your reason, Guava Island deserves your attention.

The wait is finally over. Gabrielle B. Has FINALLY released her highly anticipated EP Feel Something. The soulful songstress took us on a melodic and intimate journey that feels right on time for spring. At 16 minutes long, the project reintroduces us to Gabrielle’s soothing vocals and jazzy production that WILL leave you longing for more, and with tracks like U Know (interlude) and Close to me the singer shows dexterity with her sound as well as an ability to connect with her listener. This has already become one of our favorite projects of 2019, and we’re sure it will be one of yours as well. 🦋

The Art of Romance is a live music event and art show featuring local R&B singers, hip-hop and spoken word performers, and visual artists. It goes down the day after Valentine’s Day, which is a Friday night.

Bring your lover and friends. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9!

Proceeds benefit the Grand Gentlemen “Man of the Year Award” a scholarship for high school seniors. Learn more about the scholarship here.

Performing Artist include:

Jacobi Ryan

Taylor Leigh

Sid Carter

Chaela B.

Sara Byrd

Poetry by:

Day’Quann Erving

Mac Woods

Visual Art by:

Jodie Renee

Gabby Cobb

Kay Cee

Roland The Artist

We got to catch up with @GUAPKIDQ and ask him some questions about music, Unruly Citizens, and future projects!

What made you want to start DJ’ing? And when/ how did you get your start?

⁃ I played the video game DJ hero and I was super into the movie Juice when I was 15 so I decided that’s what I wanna do. My mom sacrificed and bought me everything I needed. I got an old head DJ, DJ Exclusive a family friend, to teach me the basics. And I just went after it. When I decided I wanted to elevate, I linked up with DJ Keilo and he really taught me a lot about being a good DJ. 

How did DJ’ing turn into producing/rapping?  ⁃ I met the Dxxble O (Freshjay, HiVolume, Shot by KC, Scotty, & Skinny) and I became their DJ. I saw them work one time in their home studio and of course I had to pick it up (laughs) I also play 5 (almost 6) instruments so my musical ability was already there. 

You have a unique style on and off the stage, what inspires your look? ⁃ This is a hard question (laughs) James Bond in Skyfall, Rico from Paid in Full, My cousin Koop who passed (shoe game), and @GrandGentlemen  (suit game strong).

Tell us about some of your older projects that got you to this point. (Today is a CRAZY record btw!!)  ⁃ TODAY IS A BANGER!!!! Love that joint. A lot of stamps in the music scene I gained came from my early production and engineering work while I was in NGE. That era of my life taught me a lot about myself and about music. 

Tell us about your relationship with Unruly Citizens. What is that like?  ⁃ I am Unruly’s Official DJ and Team member. It’s dope! It’s def a team vibe with Blake, Kyle, and Samson. We are all different but we bring different, but we bring dope things to the table that keep things lit for the market.

Who are you working with now? What projects are you doing currently?  ⁃ I’m working with the some of the BEST young talent emerging in OK. (OG Toni D, Turp, June Popi, Chris Savage, Soufwessdes, No Hezzo, K2euce, FULLY Otto, etc... Can’t name em all!)

What have you learned about the industry so far?  ⁃ That everything is in your face. You just gotta go get it.. and yes it’s that easy. Also, keep your emotions out of things. Cry at home. You’ll need to cry and sweat, but that’s for your home. 

Have you experienced any shady business yet? How do you overcome / move forward  ⁃ bruh I’ve lost like $13,000 in this industry already. Making rookie mistakes. Trusting the wrong people. You just regroup. Put in that overtime to bounce back and complete your goals. It hurts, but it’s about YOU at the end of the day. Your mind is the biggest asset you posses. 

What future projects do you want to tell us about?  ⁃ Got some unreleased music with Smokepurpp and NBA Youngboy as well that should be emerging in 2019. Really looking forward to the people hearing OG Toni D’s next project ‘Playboy’ dropping next March. I executively produced it, had a heavy hand on creative direction, and directed the visuals for it as well. ALOT OF VIBES!!!

Is there anyone you want to work with that you haven’t yet? Who? (I’d like to work together on some community stuff I’m doing with @GrandGentlemen) ⁃ Key Glock and I would make some flames! His style and rhyme annunciation is crazy. My 808s would bring em out. I’m down for the community service project. I love to give back and bless the people around me. The only way you can truly measure your progress -financially and as a person- is how much you’re able to comfortably do for others. 

What is life like outside of music? ⁃ (laughs) to be real, I really don’t have one! I go to the studio and work long days and sleep when I get home in the morning. Then when I wake up I chill with my bae, shower, eat, play some 2k, then head back to the studio. I love the hustle. I found my peace in it. 

Why the name change (Formerly known as DJGQTHAKID)

-    I felt like it was too close to people who already are famous. Like Rich the Kid etc.. and one of MTVs former DJs name is DJGQ. So I wanted to rebrand one last time and make it something I can stand on.

As someone who started locally and worked to gain a following, what advice would you give to other up and coming artist, DJs or producers?  ⁃ Be yourself. Learn to take “No”. Learn to say NO. Be realistic with yourself and where you’re at. Be proud of yourself, be confident about your skills, but don’t open your mouth to say anything your hands can’t back. Cause it gets cold out here.

Any other exciting news you want to share?? ⁃ I actually just got hired by PINK in Penn Square Mall this past weekend as their Official DJ. So that’s dope. Very different than the niche people expect out of me. So I’m proud of myself for that. There’s some more exciting stuff I can’t share, but just know, things are about to take a new face very soon. Proud to be a lead part of it.