zhi magazine

DaCosta: What are you doing to cope with this CoVid-19 social distancing situation?

Hugh Augustine : I started a food business so I’ve been focusing on growing that. It’s helping me keep a routine and set short term goals.

Do you have a bucket lists? Or goals you want to accomplish in this lifetime?

I don’t have a bucket list exactly but I do have life goals I want to accomplish. A main goal on my list is to create a legacy that can support my family in the long term.

You’ve accomplished some great things thus far. What’s a life lesson you live by that you feel people could benefit from?

I don’t have expectations for anyone other than myself. At the end of the day I don’t allow myself to be let down by the world because I know I can only control my own actions.

Hugh’s IG: @HUGHAUGUSTINEMC

Hugh Augustine

DaCosta: If you didn't rap what would you be doing for a living?

Cho: If I didn't rap... hmm only God knows that but if I was to guess I probably would be gang banging, in jail, or selling the best narcotics the streets have. I try to be the best at whatever I do so if I was working at McDonald's, my goal is try to make you say "damn, this the best Big Mac I've ever had!"

Who would you like to collaborate with? I would like to collab with Pharrell Williams, from the Star Trak/Neptunes days. I always looked up to him and everything he's done. I even pay attention to the people around him, his team, his band, that's a music making machine and I respect and admire his work ethic on unexplainable levels. Oh and Mike Jones. How do you want people to remember you? I just want to make sure I leave a stamp on you. It can be lyrics from a song of mine, maybe you caught me eating a salad or you could've seen me in traffic. Either way I want someone to feel like they had an actual human to human connection. Don't put me on this godly like pedestal, just acknowledge my hard work and connect with me.

Cho’s IG: @CHOCHEEZY

Cho Cheezy 

I met Zenovia in High School, in Southwest Houston, Texas, ALIEF!!! Which is funny because we were both born in California. She was the head cheerleader aka captain and I was senior lieutenant of the drill/dance team. Both our boyfriends played football and after she gave me a ride after school one day we became friends. Zenovia has done so many great things since I’ve known her, yoga is just one of them. The things she does with her body is amazing!! So I asked her a few questions about being a yogi. 

DaCosta: Back when you were cheering, did you see yourself getting into yoga?Zenovia: Definitely didn’t see myself getting into yoga while cheering. I had never even thought about doing yoga back then, I wish I would have.

How has yoga shaped you as a person?

Having a yoga practice on and off the mat continues to shape me as a person by revealing myself to me mentally, physically and spiritually; the good and the bad. My yoga practice makes me more self aware and has helped change my perspection when it comes to a lot of things. 

What’s your ultimate goal in life, so far? To be happy while spreading joy and love using the gifts God has given me.

Zenovia’s IG: @INWITHZEN

Zenovia

DaCosta: What audience do you make music for?

Contra: I make music for all audiences but mostly 18+ hip-hop, trap, r&b, house, dubstep and reggae. What keeps you going as an artist?

The fact that I can create and control how and what I’m suppose to sound like also when i experiment with my sound I’m always getting crazy feed back from my fans and peers. What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I want to leave behind a legacy that shows and inspires people to become entrepreneurs. Own your masters, own your property, be your own boss and you don’t have to belittle yourself or compromise what u believe in to become what u want to be. Contra’s IG: @youngcontra

Contra

I caught up with Kay Dot who shared about her journey with photography. After high school she bought her first camera with her FAFSA check her goals include touring and billboards. She’s also a dancer and she explained that the arts help her with containment by helping her calm down. It helps connect her to other people and it’s a form of expression that keeps her from doing things she shouldn't be doing.

Be like Kay Dot, Do Art, not that other shit. 

DaCosta: What got you into photography? 

Kay Dot: Watching America’s Next Top Model, it wasn’t the modelling that intrigued me it was the photos and the end result of what they looked like. Being able to manipulate images (for creative purposes) was fascinating to me. I didn’t even correlate that I was in high school receiving a certificate from my teacher, taking photoshop as an elective and being able to use this certificate to work for companies. But I decided to use it for myself, cause why not. It’s hard finding, even in just starting, an editor who is willing to grow with you. We all deserve to be paid for our time. But that’s what got me really into photography and it was a hobby of my grandfather’s, so it may have always been embedded in my subconscious and brought to life after high school What are your photography goals? 

Billboards and artist tours. I’ve always seen my photography across billboards since I started. A dream would be to do a Gap and Levi’s Denim campaign. The simplicity in their brands is what I live for. I love traveling so touring with and for multiple artists to catch their greatest and most vulnerable moments is something to treasure. A journey you know? Beautiful really.  Who is a photographer or creative you find inspirational?

There’s a few inspirational people, Walter Brady (@walterbrady) for sure! His mind is like astral projection in the flesh and I love it. Adrian Jovan another insane creative. Especially his motion visual work and now his music, amazing. Zyaire Porter (@porterhousela) and Cassy Athena (@cassyathenaphoto) just cause sport photography isn’t really my field, however, these two are phenomenal in this realm. I draw inspiration from a lot of peers and people I get put onto. My homie Creator (@witeraven), not my homie but Xonie (@xonie_) - his shit is nice too! There’s just so many people! But that’s just the few to start with all here in Los Angeles. 

Instagram handles provided by Kay Dot

Kay Dot’s IG: @kaydotstheory 

K. Dot

DaCosta: Who is your biggest inspiration?

Seyara: My biggest inspiration in modeling is the one and only Tyra Banks. I have learned so much and have been able to self teach myself a lot of necessary skills from watching America’s Next Top Model. I would spend so much time taking notes on posing, attitude, smizing, runway, commercial, editorial, etc. My favorite and most used things that I’ve learned from Tyra is the the very very necessary tool of practice. Someone also very inspirational to my modeling is model Demi Hannah Scott. I was really impressed with her edgy look and personality during a Rihanna Fenty Puma runway show. I since have embraced my edgy characteristics, understanding that it is a strength and a necessary part of my look.

What’s your greatest accomplishment so far?

My greatest accomplishment so far would have to be learning self love and good intentions. I wouldn’t be where I am today in any manner without it. This includes any belief that I can do something. I feel like this is a lot deeper than just belief. I’m so sure of myself. Just like I’m sure I’m going to breathe. Just like I’m sure I can blink and move my toes. I believe this much about everything, but first starting with how I feel about myself and what my intentions are. It took a lot of time and practice. A lot of healing from trauma and pain too. I hope to inspire others to have a level of love like this. We all deserve it.

What are your modelling dreams?

My modeling dreams are to work for all major brands and agencies all over the world. Fenty, Nike, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Rolex, OVO, Levi’s, Hermès...Wilhelmina, Next, Elite, Ford.

I will walk in all major fashion week runway shows and work passionately with innovative designers and creatives. My dreams are to be the soul of projects. I want to connect with like minds and work closely with those who have inspired me. My dreams are to learn and teach the skills I obtain. To help guide and inspire others.

Seyara’s IG: @seyaramist 

Seyara

Seyara

DaCosta: When did you start break dancing?

Darryl: I started 15 years ago after I had seen this movie, You Got Served. Right after seeing that movie I knew my destiny involved dancing.

What’s your biggest inspiration?

Biggest inspiration would be battle of the year competition. Every year it gets more and more intense and inspirational.

What do you want to achieve with breaking?

I want to be notorious.

Darryl’s IG: @bboydfault

Darryl

DaCosta:  What do you do?

Mathan:  “Oh shit I work as a server, model and I’m studying real estate.”

What do you think is your strongest characteristic & why?

“I’d say my strongest characteristic would be a positive attitude & just like outgoing personality. I just love meeting new people and spending the love.”

What advice would you give your younger self?

To just be yourself and follow your dreams.

Mathan’s IG: @mathan_a_cephas