Saturday, November 28, 2015

Indiellectual conversation with author Raqiyah Mays


 

We caught up with the extremely busy author Raqiyah Mays to 
talk about her latest endeavor, the book "The Man Curse" out now. 
Raqiyah speaks on the writing process, how she got a book deal, following your vision,
the creative ways she is promoting the book, helping the community, and more. 
Check out the video below. 









Thursday, November 19, 2015

Indie Review welcomes Raqiyah Mays !!!

Set your reminders and tune in! See ya Saturday :)
Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123 
Tweet: @IndieRevue

RAQIYAH MAYS 

Author, Journalist, Radio Personality, & Activist With 2015 marking her 20th year in the media business, Raqiyah’s influence goes back to Newark, NJ. Born to a teen mother and domestic abuse survivor, Raqiyah’s climb from mastering a speech impediment to being bullied in school, led a shy, insecure, girl into becoming the confident, outspoken, success she is today. Featured in The Limited clothing store’s 2015 nationwide “New Look of Leadership” campaign, she’s been chosen and honored as a female leader for her passionate work as an author, journalist, radio personality, stepmother, and activist. 

A writer at heart, Raqiyah’s debut fiction novel, “The Man Curse,” out now  chronicles the world of Meena, a young women who spends her life trying to break The Man Curse and become the first woman in her family to marry. No stranger to the book world, Raqiyah contributed a chapter to Gil Robertson’s anthology “Where Did Our Love Go: Love & Relationships in the African American community.” She was a featured profile in Thembisa Mshaka’s book of entertainment industry professionals, “Put Your Dreams First: Handle your entertainment business” And Raqiyah was a reporter at large for Cheo Hodari Coker’s VIBE book “Unbelievable: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of The Notorious B.I.G,” which was turned into the critically acclaimed feature film, Notorious.

Raqiyah’s work in journalism goes back to the Quincy Jones owned days of Vibe Magazine. As an intern in the mid-90s, she became Executive Assistant to then Editor in Chief, Danyel Smith. And later, editorial coordinator assisting the managing editor. Moving on to pursue an early career as a freelance hip hop journalist, Raqiyah’s bylines graced cover stories for publications like XXL, The Source, and Billboard. Expanding her beat to report on everything from women and R&B to politics and radio, she scored covers for Black Elegance magazine, profiles, and features for The Associated Press, VIBE, Essence, and Complex. She later became a founder and executive editor of “The Ave” Magazine, dedicated to coverage combining social issues with the intellect and outlook of the hip hop world. Today she writes for Ebony, using her journalism and Hollywood interviews to humanize celebrities through open discussions on real life and the world.

In 2009, named one of VH1’s “Future Leaders of Black History,” Raqiyah was featured in their black history month TV commercial campaign. A trained actress, she performed off-Broadway for five years, touring the country and appearing on stages nationwide as a cast member with the hit play “Platanos & Collard Greens.” Her numerous TV appearances have included correspondent work on Black Enterprise’s TVOne/ABC news show “Our World,” being a regular guest co-host on Arise TV’s film review show “On Screen.” And MTV, BET, VH1, the Fuse Network, and Fox News have all had Raqiyah as a guest.

Raqiyah is a passionate activist for issues affecting women, children, and African Americans. As a child, Raqiyah was a girl scout who became president of Edison, NJ’s NAACP Youth Council. In college, she helped create the Diversity Union on Penn State University’s Altoona campus after acts of racism toward black classmates. Participating in student politics, she regularly represented the campus during Penn State’s gathering of student government officers. After moving to New York, Raqiyah organized community and youth events in Brooklyn. While spending time in Los Angeles, she coordinated fundraising events for non-profits along with training canvassers and managing outreach campaigns in both LA and NY for organizations like The Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU. Today, she continues her penchant for activism. From marching in Ferguson, MO to Baltimore and attending protests in NYC, Raqiyah’s activism spans from events to social media with regular updates on nationwide cases of injustice on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She uses her journalism and celebrity interviews to humanize the entertainment world with shared superstar views on real life, social issues, and outlooks on making change today.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Indie Review welcomes Ali Caldwell !

Set your reminders and tune in! See ya Saturday :)
Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123 
Tweet: @IndieRevue

ALI CALDWELL 

A dynamic and powerful virtuoso with a soothing touch, Ali Caldwell's voice is as thrilling as it is comforting. This is contemporary R&B/soul music that inspires a sense of nostalgia. With whispers that climb into full-throttle belting and back, Ali delivers emotional swings that pick you up, spin you around, plant you firmly back on your feet --- and then repeat, with ease. Jazz notes and meandering harmonies punctuate her work, and her church-gospel background fuels pop sensibilities that provide intensity, conviction, control, and polish. Singer-songwriter Ali Caldwell may be well on her way to accomplishing her dreams. Ali recently released her debut EP “Heart Of Ballads” and finished an international 3 city, 23 show tour as an independent artist (with the help of her imprint 2MaroMusicTM/ 2MaroMedia Inc., which she is also a partner in). Having felt a level of accomplishment, this entrepreneur says she is just getting started. She vows to keep innovating and share her gift with others, spearheading a movement called NoMajorZoneTM — a motivational movement catering to the independent artist. She is determined to show the world that an independent artist can achieve a major level of success through hard work, dedication and consistency...without the help of a “Major Label”. Born and raised in Woodbridge, New Jersey with roots in New Brockton, Alabama, Ali Caldwell fell in love with music through the recordings of Brandy, Tamia, Anita Baker, Beyonce, and Faith Evans. As an eclectic lover of music, she would also listen to Yolanda Adams, Pink, N’Sync, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette. Honing a diverse musical palette, Ali was able to develop a distinct writing style, sound, and vocal ability in conjunction with a mesmerizing stage performance. Having been compared to some of today’s vocal greats such as Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, Beyonce, and Brandy, it is evident in her songs “Counter Clockwise”, “Crazy” and “10 Feet” (from her debut EP) that she has a voice that will be mentioned among the greats of this generation. Ali Caldwell has definitely been making a name for herself in the Mecca of Music, conquering highly esteemed showcases BET Music Matters and Sol Village at the world-renowned SOBs (Sounds Of Brazil) and sharing the stage with an all male lineup including Adrian Marcel, Avery Wilson, Kevin Ross, and Rotimi. Ali headlined her first solo NYC show at the internationally- known Metropolitan Room and performs regularly at marquee venues Drom, Milk River, URBO & the Village Underground NYC. Her extraordinary performances along with the efforts of her executive team at 2MaroMedia Inc / 2MaromusicTM have led to various opportunities to expose her gift and brand nationally and abroad.