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It Beats Academic Prison

By CJ Stokes  

      Metro Boomin, at age 25, has a net worth of 8 million dollars; DJ Mustard, 28 years old, 8 million, Murda Beatz, 25, with an estimated net wroth of just over 3 million (Smith, Forbes).   Last but not least is Martin Garrix, a 22-year old Dutchman with a 25+ million-dollar net worth as reported by Forbes in 2017.  

    These young millionaires all beg the answer of one question…

     What the hell are these talented artisans doing in college?  The first three names mentioned above were living lavish by 20; Metro Boomin and Garrix were wealthy some time before their 20th birthday.  

    We’ve seen these success stories time and time again, whether it be technology, (Bill Gates and Steve Jobs) or most specifically music in our case (Will.i.am and David Bowie).  

    Wealth all acquired outside of school, Except for one Martin Garrix, who graduated from the Herman Brood Academy of production in the providence of Utrecht in the Netherlands.

    Yet, most know that schooling systems outside of America move much faster; especially education programs in Europe.

    So, maybe this question requires more specificity… Truly, how lucrative is it for American music producers to attend school, if at all?  A study conducted by the University of Washington, which was last updated in 2017, claims that only 53% of college are “unemployed or working in a job that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree”.  Why go to school if you’re spending nearly $100,000 just to gamble for success?

    Years of practice or timing seem to not even be a factor anymore.  These music entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the internet and social media in ways that accelerate the “grind” or climb to conversations and business cooperation with the elites.  

    Its this constant conflict between the comforting safety blanket of college and the reckless desire to pursue one’s dreams that keeps most complacent.  Yet, the few who are brave enough to take the leap of faith, with respect to some intuitive talents, (presumably through years of listening to music), have seemed reap all the rewards that others too scared to take the leap will never acquire.

    Dropout and hip hop superstar, Metro Boomin told GQ Magazine in a feature promptly titled “the Conflicted College Dropout Who Became Rap’s Hottest Producer” :

“I was at Morehouse [College] for one semester. As grateful as I was to be there, I didn't want to be there. It was bittersweet, because I knew for a fact that I need to put all of my time into music. School is the same as producing: If you want to make it far, there are a million, trillion people trying to do the same thing. If you're not in over-grind mode, it's probably not going to work the way that you want it to. Sure, you can stumble across something. But to be in this shit for real, to be a player and not somebody who's attending the game, you've got to be on over-grind. There was just no way—me being in school and trying to do this. I wasn't going to excel in either one of them.”

      This is the constant tug of war students face.  However, as most “ordinary” folks would argue, “He’s Metro Boomin though!” Not only should we account for the fact that he’s Metro Boomin but we also have to take note that everyone’s measure of success is different.  

    For 21 year old Shajuan Munoz, a current student at Georgia State University, he’s found a way to maintain both the study life as well as his dreams.   He original career hopes were to become an athletic trainer as he fulfilled his course requirements in sports medicine at the institution but he’s found more freedom and less requirements in his new hustle.

    “I don’t even think of it was matter of putting in so much time… Honestly, I’m one of the shyest people you’ll ever meet but I was just fearless online with this. Promoting, marketing myself… I see so many wack beats blow up and I thought there’s no way I can’t do this”.

     This relentless attitude has resulted in Munoz’s accumulation of over $1,500 just this past semester.  Cooperating with the Internet Money Team, (a YouTube conglomerate infamous for their instrumental tutorials as well as overall production expositions), Munoz has been able to cooperate with artists as far as Germany under his trap sound and has even caught the attention of up and coming rap artist ‘Ugly God’ on twitter; who acquired mass fame from his 2016 single ‘Water’.

     “The only reason why I’m still in school in because I’m so close to graduating.  I think I owe it to my mom.  She’s put so much into this and I wouldn’t exactly call it a waste but it’s crazy that the work that has actually allowed me to pay my mom back or her bills is nothing related to school.”

     Munoz continued by noting that extracurricular hobby, which began from his simple love of listening to music, has evolved into his ableness to bless his family with cash and he couldn’t be more grateful.  He also stated that there would be no question about what he would do after school and that he wasn’t sure if he would’ve foregone school with his current courage but he is glad that he’s endured the double life due to his observations of a producer like Tay Keith, producer of ‘Sicko Mode’ and ‘Look Alive’, who has attained a degree while becoming a multimillionaire in the process.

    At the other end of the extreme is inevitable trials and tribulations; or otherwise certain failure if one gives up.  

    Former Trident Technical Student, Brandon Harvey, double down on his hatred for college but also its aura of necessity.

    “Let’s face it, I’d bet that about 80 or 90% of us are only there [enrolled] to ease our folks.  I’d give you any dollar in my pocket.  I couldn’t do it man.  I thought I could make beats… hit the lottery with it and I couldn’t do that either.” Harvey has recently begun some local construction work around the Charleston area but while he reaffirmed his passion and his current employment’s purpose in supporting that passion, he admits that his folks have encouraged him to reenroll.  

     “I know where they’re coming from but the money has always been tight.  I rather be happy and struggling then depressed and rich”.

    Everyone can only capture the glitz and glamour when whenever they’re seeking is unattainable but these dreamers have to be aware of the which accompanies either path.  Munoz also admitted that though his brash decision to produce proved to bear fruit he did catch a taste of what his downfall could have been if he hadn’t been so quick on his toes.  His grades and funds took a turn for the worse at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey and he still questions whether he should drop out till this day. He couldn’t describe a correlation between persistence of time and success due to his quick rise but he was aware of a considerable difference in wealth and stability between young producers who had been perfecting their craft well before college or simply a longer duration than those who began their not so promising careers on a whim.

    As for Harvey he can’t help but ponder about how his passion wanes while the pressures of life request his commitment.  For Harvey college, with a focus on audio production, could be helpful to craft his skills but overall, he sees the experience as unnecessary and his predecessors prove that he is not wrong.  

     Wheezy Wade, Mike Will Made It, Turbo, Jetson Made This Beat, Ronny J, Zaytoven, and London on Da track all forewent college on their path to the superstardom; many of them feeding off of their musical backgrounds (playing piano or other instruments as they were raised in the church).  London even began his career by giving away beats for free just to increase his network and as Murda Beatz repeated your “network is your networth”.

    One sentiment also shared between nearly all of these producers are the words and wisdom uttered by the late activist, CEO, entrepreneur and producer/artist Nipsey Hussle.  “Coming into it, we [were] hustling.  So, it was a setback to want to pursue music.  It was something that I had to really believe in to pursue it.  That’s why I call my [brand] the marathon.  I’m not gon’ lie and portray this ultimate poise like I [always] had it figured out.  Nah, I just didn’t quit.  

    That’s the only distinguishing quality from me and whoever else is going through this, went through this, or is going to go through this is that I didn’t quit. I went through every emotion while trying to pursue this thing.  You have to really take this stance of I’m willing to die behind what I’m doing”.

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The Sexual Metrosexual Heterosexual

     By CJ Stokes

    He’s a rap superstar, (a genre most infamously known for its machismo and Mafioso themes), yet he’s wearing nail polish and shorts that would be alarming to even the most liberal parents of a daughter.

    He’s also a Pop and Reggaeton superstar.  Until you stumble upon his Instagram videos, you wouldn’t notice that he actually has the voice of an opera star as well yet he uses his spotless voice to tell women his filthiest fantasies, i.e.  A 200 millas en un jetski, ¡eh! Si tú quieres te lo meto aquí, ¡eh!  Debajo del sol, debajo del sol.

     Translation: Going 200 MPH on a Jetski, if you want I’ll park it and we can f*** right here!  Right under the sun!

    I was just chilling all alone in my off campus apartment’s living room, or at least feeling that way due to the disconnect with my roommates when I heard through the twitter grapevine that Latin superstar Bad Bunny would be releasing his debut studio album on the most unexpected music release day of the week, Sunday.  Not only would he drop it this day but also Sunday night.  

    I shouldn’t have expected anything different; as detailed above El Conejito Mal or Bad Bunny is far from predictable and Sunday, a day of reality between myself and it was the perfect day to drop.  I can only understand about 35% of Spanish but Bad Bunny made this arguably the best album

.... Image a version of yourself that is truly absent of apprehension due to the judgement of others and relentless in chasing aspirations which make your heart alone pulsate with passion.  Or even when life goes awry around your newfound sense of invincibility, you know exactly what to do to bounce back, recover.

.... This is the power of Bad Bunny’s 100XPRE.  

.... Just a little after 11 o’clock I had accessed exactly what I was feening for; an escape. The slightly somber chords of perhaps a ukulele or some other miniature guitar were the first sounds to reach my ears.  The chords were just as conflicted as I was about many long terms questions within my lifestyle.. Then, I picked apart as many words as I could from Bunny’s first sonic grunts (also with digital translator handy).  

.... “Sin ti no me va bien, tampoco me va mal

Pase lo que pase no te voy a llamar

Ya yo me quité, tú nunca me va' a amar

Pa' no pensar en ti tengo que fumar

.... Without you, I'm not doing well, it's not going bad either Whatever happens, I will not call you I already took off, you will never love me To not think about you I have to smoke

.... After that came a rolling Latin Trap bass line which fused with mellow dramatic chords and a reggae percussion.  Just like that, within the first four lines of the chorus, Bunny had tapped into this boundless feeling of hopelessness and insecurity when I don’t get what I want or who I want to be more specific.  Not only, did he articulate this usually inexplicable feeling but he also had a solution.  Yes, I know, not a healthy solution or one that works upon the first dose but he found one nonetheless and a hedonistic solution which suited my philosophy.  

    Amidst the void of satisfaction, Bunny’s sonics, vocals and instrumental included allowed me to envision a therapeutic, tropical afternoon, in Puerto Rico, (Bunny’s birthplace) where only the beachgoer and the beach can speak with each other.  The breeze serves as a moderator or peanut gallery but its simply you and the waves sorting out your mental peace.  

     In that same introductory song Bunny says that this girl who causes him to smoke to forget her will remember him when she looks in her wallet and she has nothing. She’ll remember him when he puts “it” in her and she feels nothing; when she feels lonely lost in nothingness and she can fix it but she does nothing then he thanks her for nothing.  

    The vibes that would follow in Bunny’s tracklist are a mixture of his free spirit as well as more vulnerable moments from a man who is a paradox of the stereotype of modern masculinity.

     He is humble yet brash; shy but also the catalyst of any conversation.  

Take tracks two and three, 200 MPH and Quien Tu Eres?  Remember that jet ski I told you about earlier?  Bunny brags about how much better at sex he is than any one his jet ski passenger has been with.  Quien Tu Eres? Dime socio Quien Tu Eres?  They know who I am.  I’m Bad Bunny, who are you, loser?!

    Yet his high horse is sporadic following those two songs come more heartbreak and regret.  He hates the text message “we have to talk” on ‘Tenemos Que Hablar’ and he still wonders what would’ve had happened if this toxic relationship with this woman would have been repaired while they were together on ‘Si Estuvimos Juntos’.  

    The roller coaster of vulnerable honesty to impenetrable confidence continued as any day on Earth would and Bunny captured each transition perfectly. However, what was most outstanding during this first listen of Bunny’s album was that I was having an epiphany. Bunny’s audacity to be himself was inspiring me to do the same from my own living room.  

    As I stated before, I can barely understand Spanish without help so much of my first experience was spent enjoying the sonics of the album however, from the fearless lyrics that I did catch.  I was imagining a fearless future for myself.  I’d chase my dreams and the dream girl.  I wouldn’t apologize for my willingness and passion while doing so.  

    In Bunny’s Complex interview with J Balvin in which they discussed their upcoming projects.  Bunny said

“I remember when they used to make fun of me at every studio when I started… I mean when I was a nobody… Because of my pants but to me it was normal.  I always liked to wear short pants, really short pants, not the ones used by [Carlos Vives’] Not shorts that reach your ankles.  To me those were shorts that were good for jumping over puddles.  There was always a dude who would make fun of me.  He would say something.  And since I’ve always been lowkey and I’ve always been alone.  Now look at them; all following”.

    After playing the album non-stop that night I had a phone call with my longtime comrade and Puerto Rican native Carlos Trujillo, where he told me that Bad Bunny had to be his spirit animal.

    “He says Benito [Bad Bunny], says everything a man can’t say.  Everything you’re scared to say…I can’t even relate to the nail polish but he doesn’t make me scared of what I don’t want to do.  He makes me confident in doing everything I can’t do”.

    With my suspicions confirmed, I decided to fuel my future with Bunny’s inspiration as well. I felt so appeased by the album’s sounds that I realized that the Latin music scene could be an untapped niche for an aspiring producer.  Me, me of all people, a black man, fluent in the Spanish industry.  I could find a gold mine while simply being different and being mysef.  100XPRE has taught me to be comfortable being uncomfortable.  

    Even regardless of my career choices, I can find peace within my relationship problems with Bad Bunny.  I can sift through my future with this ocean Bad Bunny provides.  

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These Chords Saved My Cheeks

(BlackBoxGuild e.g.)

    By CJ Stokes

     I’ve cried over three topics in my life: sports, death, and due to one or two special women crying; but all tears stopped due to music. 

     I lie; I’ve also cried during an a** whooping from my mother.  Music did not stop those tears but it did allow me to feel tranquil before her wrath.

     My first encounter with music’s power: Allegedly, I had done something wrong yet again in school.  See, my mother had prepared me all too well for elementary school.  From birth she wanted me to be advanced. 

     She even gave me a non-cultural, (possibly white-washed), name like Christopher Jared so my job application wouldn’t be skipped by hiring managers. 

     She placed me in a rather advanced private school in Charleston, SC which, I admit, placed much of my academic skills above most of the average South Carolina, (one of the worst education systems in the states), classroom competition.  As a result, the only child would grow bored and cause a little ruckus for the wise mouth elementary teachers he encountered. 

     Mind you, these classrooms were by far some of the comfiest I’ve ever come across.  Filled with carpet, (perfect sleep texture), and some dialogue that I’ve heard all before.  They even had the wooden desk with the cubby opening.

    I had everyone in there.  All the class clowns and even the girl whose race I couldn’t determine but her tone was sun kissed yet her hair stayed bronze.  She was beyond a crush.  I was considering marriage.

     I analyzed the wispy, white and gray hair of this middle-aged lady for the last time before I decided to entertain myself amongst a full classroom.  Additionally, who the hell wants to listen to English at 2:30 when they just left a football sized field with swing sets and no clouds?  The sun was beginning to crawl down and so would my eyes if I didn’t do something to entertain myself.  To add fuel to the fire my compadres thought I was extra humorous this day.  Whatever I did in the chair, from pretending/not pretending to sleep or fake singing songs, seemed to start a giggle trend and you know you laugh ten times as hard when you’re not supposed to be laughing.  The things that make second graders laugh.  I was full of adrenaline.  With all this motivation to spread laughter, you guessed it, I decided to cartwheel my way over to the pencil sharpener. 

     Before I could even complete 180 degrees of my wheel, I heard the sounds of pure joy.  Although some were laughing so hard that they were coughing, I knew this vibrant reaction was too loud to ignore. 

     My crush was laughing so hard that she had to cover her mouth and catch her breath, but my teacher was so displeased that she nearly gripped and ripped me out of my wheel.  Of course, I was a little tike at the time but this usually gingerly old woman couldn’t have been any taller than me and I felt a lot of muscle.  I felt like an ant under a hot magnifying glass as she stared me down through her glasses.

    Of course, I was placed in the principal’s office.  My friends giggles and the “oooouuu’s” of I’m in trouble faded like a passing car siren as she hauled me down the hallway.  Plus, this wasn’t my first encounter with the principal; we were well acquainted by now.  My mind was already elsewhere.

    Once they finally let me out of that office, I peddled my way home faster than ever. Faster than when that pit bull chased me off of his premises and faster than when I thought this stocky old man was staring at me.  I knew my mother would be home early today and she was bringing hell with her.  I felt and heard nothing but wind not even the spin of my bike chain.  I couldn’t even admire my tree lined route home like I usually do.

    I locked myself inside my aqua painted room all the way in the back of the house, even though no one was home yet.  I opened the blinds since the sun gave me some joy and hope that I wiggle my way out this a** whooping but I knew the inevitable was coming.  I had a widescreen flat screen Polaroid on top of my wooden dresser but I was too anxious to focus on any TV.

    On the opposite side of that dresser and my bed I had a series of three shelves hammered in by my mother and on that second shelf lay a radio also bought by mother. For some reason, I believed some reason would help me think of how to respond to the 100 questions my mother would ask me of why I decided to Cirque de Soleil my way to the pencil sharpener.

    At that time, some reggae was the most therapeutic genre I could think of and given the fact that my father had been burning CD’s of all the classics that I should listen to, I stumbled across some Bob Marley.  Three Little Birds was the first track and I didn’t leave that intro song for the next 2 hours and some change until she got home.

    There wasn’t a bird in sight but I could imagine three of them just through Bob’s voice and these wailer guitars.  

    I was pacing in my room before that song came on and after the third replay I was able to at least lie on my back on the carpet.  As I stated before, Bob didn’t save me from an a** whooping but it’s the first time that I felt like everyone would really be alright afterwards.  

    My second encounter with music’s power is far more brief.  My sun kissed crush didn’t last long.  I ended up repeating something I heard in Lil Wayne’s Lollipop to her and that was the first and last time I repeated that.  She told one of the teachers and it all went downhill from there.  I didn’t know what I was really saying.

    I believe that was my next a** whooping as well.  

    So, I found a new crush; about two years later another tan one, golden, chubby cheeks but with light brown eyes and curly light brown hair. Drew, and she had huge eyes that couldn’t even hide behind the glasses.

    This crush was different though.  I wasn’t just attracted to her.  I could talk to her for hours.  We walked each other home everyday.  I even used to practice riding this stupid skateboard every weekend just to impress her. I still remember the name of the little pug she had, “D.O.G.”, (pronounced deo-gee).  Though I thought I found my wife in second grade this was surely her, I’d just take my time with her.

    Our neighborhood was just two big cul-de-sacs, one inside of the other, and her house was just one cut through a neighbor’s yard away.

    She found me so funny.  Her laugh would make me laugh and she knew all of the music that I knew and more, which was the seal on the deal for me.

    Finally, the day came that I could no longer hold in my true feelings for this young lady and fresh out of my last class I decided to pop the question on our traditional walk home.  However, I was a little more mature this time around so no thoughts of marriage would be included even though they were in my head.  I left my bike on purpose and pulled out my new white polo shirt to match my Nike Air Force 1’s.  

    It was a little cloudier today so I should have known something was off.  There was even a contrast in how we were dressed.  Her jeans were dark grey.  I had on khaki’s and her shirt was black.  I should have predicted a response just as lifeless.  

    I waited that whole walk to ask; partly due to our friends deciding to walk with us yet again and partly waiting for our convo about this celebrity drama to end.  

    “Alright, CJ, I’ll see you tomorrow”.  No invitation, I should have caught the hint there.  It kind of seemed like she was tired from school too but I couldn’t resist any longer.  I had to know.  

    “Hey Drew, I gotta ask you a question”.  She turned around before heading up the step with the same look her dog usually has.  Eyebrows raised with the confusion.  The clouds masked the Carolina heat that day but my palms might as well have been dipped in a pool and thank God I didn’t have on a dark colored shirt.  

    A slightly shaky “Do you like me?” sputtered out and of course I had to clarify. “As a friend?” she puzzled.  “No, like, like-like.”  She chuckled in the most nervous, flattered, and disappointing way. “I don’t think so C.J., I like you so much as a friend and I don’t want to ruin that.”

    Is it sad to say that I was so poisoned with puppy love that I kind of believed her? This is the dreaded curse that Pops warned me about.  Of course, I played it off cool as a cucumber as she asked if that’s okay?  I chuckled too, you know to try and relax the tension and said “Nah, of course.  It’s cool. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

    I took the nice steady walk home to my mother whose presence was more comforting than ever. Though I will admit, I walked a little quickly from Drew’s house just in case she was watching and waiting for me to leave from the window.  

    I kicked my Nike’s off one foot at a time so hard that I almost scuffed my toe box against our hard wood floor.  My kicks were worthless now.  My mother was in her home office and I laid flat on my stomach on the floor next to her with my arms folded under my neck.  She couldn’t get what happened out of me for hours though she knew what the subject was during my smirk after her “Some girl, ain’t it?” question.  

   “It’ll be alright, buddy”.   “What’s her name, I’ll fight you know?”  She knew it would make me laugh but I knew I didn’t feel like laughing right now so I went just corner piece of sheet rock away into my room where I laid on the floor with the door shut once again.  

   I don’t know if it was my music teacher’s love for this song that made me play it or all those hours I spent playing Madden while hearing this song in the game’s playlist but This Love by Maroon 5 stayed on repeat and although it didn’t make everything alright it provided some comfort as well as the blueprint for all rejections moving forward.  

    I didn’t know what to do.  I wanted to cry and then I wanted to laugh because I wanted to cry because I swore my heart’s defense was impenetrable.  To this day, my mother swears I was crying in that room but I wasn’t thanks to Adam Levine.  I’m sure she got a kick out of it though.

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Welcome to the Page!

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20 Year Old student Richie Dawson is paying off his tuition through video game tournaments

a20 Year Old student Richie Dawson is paying off his tuition through video game tournaments

By CJ STOKES

HARRISBURG – PA

    Its 1 A.M. Saturday morning and while most college students are out and about or playing video games, Richie Dawson is on the job. His headphones are at max volume, dressed only in a t-shirt and boxers and his attention couldn’t be grasped if his mother tried.  

     He’s playing in the semifinal of a Mortal Kombat tournament online and on the verge of earning $1,000 if he finishes first place.  Dawson is planning on using this prize money to cover his food expenses for the week as usual.  

    He owns over 160 video games but that only includes games for his PlayStation four.  Dawson claims that his overall collection is somewhere near 450 and reassures he that he lost count at that exact mark. 

     The African American Bronx, NY native of Jamaican and Italian descent will play in two competitions in early march which total $10,000 but he’s earned enough from his tournaments to consider purchasing a car while he’s here at the Penn State Harrisburg campus.

    The majority of college student’s sole reason for being enrolled in college is to make money.  Dawson is doing so while he’s enrolled and in the same way that most students kill time and relieve stress; video games.  

      During his playing career, Dawson says that he has earned 20-$25,000 in a month at least 3-4 times due to tournament enrollment and looks to earn up to $55,000 in the first quarter of 2018 as he ups his competitive gaming activity.  

    “I started playing video games when I was 3 because of my cousin Chris.  It was 007 on Nintendo 64.  I’ve been playing ever since then”.  Dawson’s cousin Chris was deported to his homeland, Jamaica after a failed robbery attempt however Dawson’s times with Chris remain one of his main inspirations to play.  .

    What’s Dawson’s other inspiration for falling in love with gaming?  Simply being an introvert.  

     “Outside of my friends, people tend to annoy me and I used to be so shy and anxious growing up so video games were my comfort zone.  Maybe bullied a little bit”, He says chuckling.   “Plus, I would usually end up meeting people more like myself or just get lost in the games that I was in the playing”.

     He’s competed in 40 tournaments overall and only won 12. However, he still ranks in the top 500 in the world for the two video game franchises Injustice and Mortal Kombat.  He’s used his competition earnings to help pay his rent in New York and Harrisburg, $1,000 Christian Louboutin shoes and much of his supplies for college.   

     He says that the hand combat genre tends to be the most equal and fair line of gaming where the player who knows the game better will win versus sports, first person/third person shooters which all contain overpowering features towards those who either make in-app/in-game purchases or spend more time on the game. 

         When asked if he’ll pursue a professional gaming career, Dawson insists that he wouldn’t have the time nor desire.  As an accounting major, he hopes to make even bigger returns as an accountant but promises that he’ll still play video games and take people’s money (husling his friends as he often does).

     Realizing he just contradicted he himself, he rubs his beard, snickers and says “Only time will tell”.

    The future is still open and his young career hasn’t even began.

 https://soundcloud.com/c-ee-o/dawsoninterview/s-1IdvO

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“BBB Narrows Gravy’s Playoff chances in a controversial win”

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“Gabby Pruitt is going to be a Hip Hop personality legend”

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Cranberry Township man given 2 Years probation after violent drug history

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“What do You Want to do Before You Die?” Ben Nemtin at Penn State Harrisburg

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What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?

By CJ STOKES

HARRISBURG—PA

    A British Columbian executive producer states that there were only six steps that made it possible for he and his closest friends to play basketball with President Obama, give Tori Biddle a bionic arm, drink a beer with a Prince Harry, and create an MTV show at the age of 21.  

    This same producer crossed all of these tasks of his wish list after dropping out of college.

    “l. Figure out what’s important, 2. Write it down to manifest its reality, 3. Talk about it, a closed mouth won’t get fed, 4. Be creative in your persistence, 5. Be audacious and 6. Help others.” 

     This is the quote Ben Nemtin shared with the Harrisburg crowd which embodied the backbone of his accomplishments.  This same quote would help inspire Nemtin and his friends find a young man a kidney, reunite a father and son after 17 years of separation and help cancer stricken children fulfill their life’s dreams as well.

     Nemtin reveals in the middle of his presentation that he struggled with anxiety and depression in his first year in college.  As the flykicker, for the U’s national rugby team the pressure to perform for his team and the monotony of college life made Nemtin distraught and he fell into depression.  It was during this emotional standing that Nemtin decided to do whatever he could have dreamed.  

       Often students lack the confidence to chase their dreams or the realization that action is the final answer to success.  The birth of Nemtin’s success from a blank canvas, a complete lack of inspiration, is fire starter for the commonly confused millennial.

     On this note, Nemtin left the Harrisburg students with two final quotes first “Help others. Happiness is only real when it’s shared.” 

     Another pillar of Nemtin’s success and perseverance, secondly; “Everyone shoots for what’s realistic.  Almost no one shoots for the impossible or the big goals. So the competition is high for what’s realistic and your chances are better for what you think is impossible.  Go do something big guys”.      

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BBB narrows Gravy’s playoff chances in a controversial win

Did BBB narrowly escape underdog Gravy, 42-36, from the help of the referees? After Zakier William’s clutch put back to tie the game in Quarter 4, the referees at the Capital Union Building, Harrisburg (Pa.), decided to keep the clock running as he was sent to the free throw line leaving 1.3 second chance for Gravy to win.  

     A fluster of rants bellowed through the building as the crowd argued that there should have been at least 7 seconds on the clock.

    P.R. Iverson completed a 3 point play just seconds before William’s controversial free throw sequence.  Iverson’s fast break layup put every Gravy fan on their feet. Realizing the game wasn’t over just yet, multiple fans removed their jackets to root on Iverson for the game-tying free throw as the heat of the moment literally captured the gym. 

     Iverson’s effort were just not enough as Gravy failed to match BBB’s offensive prowess and the officiates whistles changed frequency from most often in regular time to non-existent in O.T.

C.‏ @COMM260CJ

Getting a lil feisty in the stands. Too many whistles from the ref

8:04 PM - 30 Jan 2018  

    BBB continued to bully Gravy on the boards, inside the paint leaving John Ukpo with 13 points.  .

C.‏ @COMM260CJ

Definitely missed and wasted clock but no excuse from Gravy. Overtime was a fresh game. Missed free throws. No boxouts.

8:44 PM - 30 Jan 2018

     BBB ran a 3-2 motion offense all night; abusing their height advantage and bringing delight to their fans who consistently yelled for passes into the post and pick and rolls.  Not only did Gravy lack the size to match the triple B’s strategy but they lacked trust and effort.  

C.‏ @COMM260CJ

BBB Pick and Roll game is keeping them alive. Julian Pittman scores his bucket after being fouled off the roll.

8:11 PM - 30 Jan 2018

     Pittman and C. Owalu were mostly ineffective during regular but the opportunities were plentiful.  Offensive Rebounds not only tied the game to send it to overtime but won the game after regulation as well.  

    Official controversy aside, Gravy has to find a way to continue their outside shooting and lean on their leading scorers P.R. Iverson, 16 points, and Richardson, 9 points.  Gravy looks to redeem their 2 game losing streak next Tuesday vs the Red Mambas.  

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Gabby Putri is on her way to Hip Hop Royalty

By CHRISTOPHER STOKES

HARRISBURG – PA

    As an adolescent Gabby became intrigued by Hip Hop as she watched music videos from MTV in middle school but, Gabby wasn’t fully convinced that this would be a lifelong love affair until high school where her closest friends reintroduced to the culture.  

     Add in a few of her favorite artists concerts, wonderful vibes and that effects that the culture has had on some of her favorite heroes such as Oprah and Angie Martinez and the mixture of ambition and excitement has been planted.  

    As a native of Indonesia, Gabby hopes to expand the presence of persons of color within the media and popular culture. More specifically, Gabby would love to carry a torch for her nation’s presence within the mainstream culture.  

    Because of Gabby’s intensive knowledge and inquisitive thirst for hip hop culture, artistry and musical excellence, she will make a splendid host and hip personality.  With great philanthropist, conversationalist and public speakers to mold her path to success after, Putri is well on her way.

     What’s your favorite album?

    “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.  After that the Graduation and then I can’t decide between College Dropout and the Late Registration.  I love Kanye! I almost went to Saint Pablo Tour but then he cancelled the rest of the tour.    

    Would you rather work for a sports network, or just an everyday type—

    Probably music or pop culture.  

    So, something like “Everyday Struggle” on Complex (YouTube TV channel/Magazine)?

    Everyday struggle, Is that on YouTube?  Oh Complex.  Complex for sure.  I subscribe to their channel on Snapchat.  

    So, it has to be something hip hop?  

    Definitely. Especially in Harrisburg because we don’t have hip hop radio here.  If I go to Maryland, New York, or Philly they all have hip hop radio.  We don’t have it here.  Actually, I have a funny story.  

    I just joined the radio club here at Penn State Harrisburg and a lot of the people in the club don’t listen to hip hop. Since I listen to hip hop and r&b mostly, I recommended all of these artists.  One of the artists that I recommended was Joey Bada$$ and one of the people said Joey Bada$$ was too controversial.  I looked at him and said “first of all, Joey Bada$$ is not controversial.  I don’t know. He was just stupid.  

    Yeah!  Wow, I could see if you said Kanye, but that’s crazy.  

    Yeah, I wish hip hop was played more on the radio.  So, that’s one of the reasons why I want to be in radio so that they don’t play the same damn song ten times in a row. 

Because you mentioned Joey Bada$$, would you say you’re more of a lyrical person?

     I listen to both lyrical and beat at the same time.  I listen to lyrical and trap music at the same time.  21 [savage], Lil Uzi, Playboi Carti.  I listen to both.  You need both.

    I’m with you, I feel like if you can’t listen to both, you can’t have fun.

    Yeah, I also want to be in TV for diversity and representation.  Because there’s not many Asian people on the TV. I want to represent my people on TV and I want to bring more power to people of color.    

    Last few questions for you, what’s the one aspect of hip hop that keeps you attracted to the culture and do you aspire to be like Angie Martinez as a hip hop analyst/media personality?

    I can listen to hip hop in any mood I’m in; it always gets me hype.  I definitely do something that she does which is being a radio personality because that’s the genre that I love and know the best.  

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Cranberry Township man given 2 years’ probation after violent drug history

By CHRISTOPHER STOKES

HARRISBURG-PA

    A 34 year old man has been awarded a probation reduction by Judge William Tully after several assault and theft charges. The deciding factor in the reduction falls upon the defendants promise to complete his Inpatient drug rehabilitation programs.

    Judge Tully approved John Reaser’s probation appeal at the hearing Thursday morning upholding the remaining 2 years’ probation of the original 5 years given to Reaser due to Reaser’s incompletion of the Inpatient drug program.  

    John Reaser previously plead guilty to felony conspiracy to commit theft on April 26, 2017 in Cranberry Township.  Judge Tully asked Reaser what the purpose of his thefts were and Reaser admitted that the money he gained went towards his crack cocaine and heroin addiction.

    Prior to his arrest in April, Reaser was charged with simple assault on February 26, 2018; a altercation that ensued from his rage after drug use. 

     After his arrest and sentence in April, Reaser was arrested with charges of possession of contraband and stolen goods on October 10, 2017.  Upon the same arrest, Reaser admitted to using heroin at least 5 times a day.

    After the court clerk finishes reading the docket summary, Judge Tully takes a deep sigh and asks Reaser what he’s been doing to fight his drug addiction.  Reaser responds by mentioning the several drug and rehabilitation classes, (also anger management), that he attended during his 4-8 month sentence in Butler County upon the conspiracy, theft charges.

     Reaser explains that his sister remains in jail, and his brother’s license is currently suspended alongside Reaser’s own license which is why he hasn’t been able to attend his classes.

    Judge Tully’s final request for Reaser is to pay any remaining fines from the state and also attend his remaining dates in the “Inpatient” program.