Planet Thirty

Episode 40: YHNG Clothing

In 2013 a group of high school friends decided to formalize themselves as a unit. This has happened for generations all over the world. Groups of guys and gals have joined forces to form named cliques. These cliques serve different purposes depending on the group. More often than not teenagers identify themselves with like-minded persons and try to establish as much social capitol as possible.

Most of these cliques or crews fizzle out with time. Members graduate, secure jobs, leave for college and build families; leaving any memories of their high school glory days, nick names and clique names for the occasional reunion at carnival or Christmas. Most sentences of course starting with “Remember that time when…”

But, ”YHNG or Young Hustlers New Generation” is not most cliques. Not only have they remained friends, but they have now gone into business together. YHNG the group has created YHNG the clothing line. What started as a one-off idea for a t-shirt design and group logo during their high school years, has snowballed into a fully-fledged brand, boasting several styles and designs, for every demographic. Their brand is huge in the North Eastern Caribbean and is growing rapidly. What is most impressive is the group’s ability to organize and move with a level of efficiency that larger companies should both emulate and envy.

Although it is a relatively young company, YHNG has already started to demonstrate why they are one of Anguilla’s top corporate citizens. The company supplied dozens of electric fans for classrooms around the island in order to ensure students’ comfort. Their brilliant marketing strategy sees them throwing innovative events such as their recent virtual party, where DJs from the Virgin Islands and New York City were projected unto a jumbo screen at a night club in Anguilla. The DJs also had a video feed of the crowd streamed to them. Virtual interaction at its finest.

But this is just the beginning for YHNG. They have plans. BIG PLANS. In the meantime, this is the story… thus far… Of YHNG, Young Hustlers New Generation.

Episode 39: Diction Edwards

Diction Edwards called me late one night. He was on tour and had some down time. From the background noise on his side I could hear that he was outdoors. I automatically assumed that he was on the other side of the globe, as he often is. I was correct, he informed me that he was some 15 hours ahead of my time in New Caledonia, a French territory in the Pacific Ocean.

Phone calls like this are not a rare occurrence. Diction has worked very hard in the music industry, and work trips like these are the fruits of his labor.

What started in high school as friendly rap battles with his friend and now fellow artist J.R. Da Lion, turned into a full-fledged career.

After high school, Diction attended University in Orlando Florida. Though he fully appreciated the opportunity music kept tugging at his heart strings. Diction’s University days also introduced him to a crew of friends that in essence became a ring of creativity. Diction and his friends eventually formed ODBMG, Out Da Box Music Group, an entity that produced a soca band called Jus Action, several mix tapes, producers, songwriters and artists. Although they were popular in their home turf of Orlando, the group debuted a record in 2007 that would take their profile to new heights. “Island Girls” became an anthem in several Caribbean islands, the Eastern United States and parts of Europe. This was followed by group member Iyaz being signed to Warner Music and Sean Kingston’s Time Is Money Imprint. Diction was there every step of the way as one of the main architects of the entire movement.

Several years after his high school rap battles, Diction has emerged as a prolific and accomplished songwriter, tour manager, booking agent and concert promoter. He is Mr. Entertainment! But he is not done yet. In his own words.

This is the story… thus far… of Diction Edwards.

 

 

 

Episode 38: Jibri Lewis

Jibri Lewis’ grandmother perfected a pastry on the island of Anguilla some decades ago. That pastry is known as a cheese patty by legions of local fans. Jibri’s dad took the cheese patty to new levels and has turned it into one of the most popular on the go meals on the island. Jibri, cannot make the cheese patty.

Though his culinary skills have much to be desired as far as the cheese patty is concerned, he makes up for it with sheer scientific genius. Jibri is very modest and quite simply one of the nicest people you will ever meet, therefore he will disapprove of my next statement. Jibri is BRILLIANT!

Few people can testify that their entry into a high school science fair was the base for a mechanism that has the potential to change the way the world produces electricity. A science fair that he did not win by the way.

Jibri’s proposal to improve an already existing wave turbine was eventually examined by professors at MIT. MIT was hungry to learn more about Jibri’s research and about Jibri himself. After some negotiation, Jibri traded his research with MIT for the opportunity to attend and earn both his bachelors and master’s degrees free of cost. In addition, the consummate island boy was not fond of Boston’s brutal winters. He further persuaded the institution to allow him to take classes from Anguilla and fly to Boston every few months for examinations. Jibri was attending University from his living room, long before Covid 19 ever thought of it.

Today, additions have been made to Jibri’s research and new wave turbines that house the essence of Jibri’s initial brilliant idea are being tested in several countries including Australia and Puerto Rico.

An idea sparked by a science fair led Jibri to become one of the world’s most celebrated young physicists. But there is so much more to tell.

This is the story… thus far… of Jibri Lewis.

 

 

 

Episode 37: Lori Webster

There are very few black female filmmakers that have been acknowledged by mainstream media and Hollywood. By no means does it mean that the work of such artists is not good enough. Kasi Lemmons, Ava DuVernay, Julie Dash and Euzhan Palsy are but a few that have had the opportunity to breakthrough. Their work is exquisite, only surpassed by their work ethic.

It is from this lineage and tutelage that Lori Webster emerges. Lori grew up in a small town in North Carolina. She was fascinated with stories and more importantly storytelling as far back as her childhood years. That fascination led her to shoot, direct and edit her first film by her teens. She admits that the film was her 16-year old interpretation of John Singleton’s Boys in the Hood set in her beloved North Carolina.

Lori’s experimental film solidified her love for the artform and ushered her thoughts in one direction. When others were wondering what their major would be in college, Lori knew that she was destined for the world of media. She was convinced that being a storyteller was her calling. A series of life events including pageants, (she’ll tell you about that later) and travel to several countries, plus 18-hour days at several networks has produced in my estimation one of the next great African American filmmakers.

Lori’s eye is among the best, her imagination limitless, her ability to compose and deliver stories… exceptional. From her work in documentary to narrative tales, Lori Webster is a name that you should remember. Though I have attempted to provide a brief synopsis of Lori the filmmaker, she is somewhat of a renaissance woman. In her own words,

This is the story… thus far… Of Lori Webster.

Episode 36: Trudy Nixon

Trudy Nixon cooks a mean pot of curry. This however is not the extend of her talents. Trudy was raised on a farm in a little town in the English countryside. By the time she had graduated high school, Trudy had developed a love for the arts and especially for language and writing.

Her University years gave her the opportunity to explore several facets of the arts both inside and outside of the classroom. While she sharpened her writing skills during the day, she explored the sights and sounds of the city at night. It was during this time that Trudy discovered her absolute passion for live music. But she’ll tell you more about that in our conversation.

After some years working in England and exploring Europe, Trudy decided to take a trip to the Caribbean to visit friends. Her travels in the archipelago took her to St. Martin. While there, she discovered Anguilla. She decided to visit. She was smitten. There was something special about Anguilla and she fell in love with the island. Trudy went back to the UK with Anguilla on her mind. She made her way back to the island sometime later and has called Anguilla home ever since.

The little girl that grew up in the countryside in Britain, has become a staple and a very important fixture in her island’s community. Trudy plays an essential role in the promotion of the island’s tourism product through among other things her magazine True Anguilla and her PR company True Communications. And by the way, Trudy loves dancing and soca music. You can offer to dance with her, but be warned, she has become a true island girl and you may not be able to keep up. She is a writer, publisher, PR consultant, chef, soca lover, dancer and so much more.

This is the story… thus far… of Trudy Nixon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 35: Ron Elliot

As a child, Ron Elliot was a lover of comic books. He bought them, he sold them, he read them. He loved comic books. Comic books truly introduced Ron to the world of fantasy and stretched his imagination. While he was an elementary school student, Ron wrote, produced and directed his first play. His teacher was thoroughly impressed. This was the beginning of Ron Elliot the storyteller.

The seed was planted. Ron was in love with telling his own stories. The realm of possibility however, was taken to another level, once Ron experienced his first Star Wars film. That was it for him. He knew what his passion was.

As a young man, Ron opted to join the military. Even while in the Middle East, fighting for his country in Dessert Storm, Ron thought about a career in the entertainment industry once he returned to the United States. He kept that promise to himself. Upon his return, he tried his hand at music production. He observed his friend’s success in the industry and was determined to produce beats as good as or even better. He admits, it didn’t quite turn out the way he planned. Although he decided against being a music producer, Ron landed a job at storied record label Def Jam Recordings in the promotions dept. It is there that Ron sharpened his skills in marketing among other things.

Ron moved up the ranks and through Def Jam he was introduced to the world of music videos. Music videos were just mini movies. The sets, the costumes, the ideas, the scripts all resurrected that little boy who had dreams of writing. Ron used the opportunity to work and learn from the likes of legendary directors like Hype Williams and Benny Boom.

Life’s journey would take Ron to BET, MTV, Tempo, NBC and a bevy of other networks. He became one of the most sought-after post-production specialists in the industry, known for his accuracy and speed in editing.

But Ron was not done. He started to write, direct, and shoot his own films. He reached his childhood dream. Today, Ron stands on several awards and has no plans of slowing down. His films have been screened at major film festivals and are available on digital platforms.  

Ron Elliot that little boy with exceptional writing ability is now Ron Elliot the master storyteller. But wait until you hear what he has planned next.

This is the story… thus far… Of Ron Elliot.

Episode 34: Cherrod Lewis

Cherrod Lewis remembers listening to R&B for most of his childhood. His two older sisters were uber fans of the genre. Naturally their love for the genre and music in general had a huge impact on their little brother. Cherrod’s thoughts however ran a lot deeper than just knowing the hit songs. He wanted to know how they were created. He recalls spending hours trying to deconstruct the tones, drums, melodies and other sounds that he was hearing.

By his early teenage years, he was convinced. Music wasn’t just something that he loved; music was who he was. Cherrod joined with a few friends and formed The Supreme Band. They were an instant hit. Supreme would go on to produced 3 albums and become one of the new it bands among teens on the island.

One night outside of a local beach bar, Cherrod was approached by the artist Panther. Panther is one of Anguilla’s biggest Soca stars. Panther complimented him on the night’s performance but then shocked him by asking him to join his band. It was a no brainer, Cherrod had dreamed about such an opportunity since childhood. After studying every one of the songs on the bands’ latest album, he blew away the band’s members and the band’s management at his audition. Within days he would hit the stage with the infamous Panther Vibes International (PVI).

As one of two producers with PVI, Cherrod’s star continued to rise as he produced and assisted with creating hit after hit for the band. Life was good. Cherrod however did not want to be complacent. He decided to hoist his anchor and enroll in Full Sail University in Florida. Full Sail opened an entire new world to Cherrod. By the time he graduated he was one of the most sought-after young producer/ engineers in the Caribbean.

Today, he splits his time between studios in Miami, his native Anguilla and Trinidad. Do you need a smash hit? Get in line. Cherrod is usually booked solid. A testament to his penchant for producing hits and making them sound exquisite through his engineering. He has already produced for Soca’s A list, but Cherrod is not finished. He has his sights set on new markets and new artists. And if history is an indicator, he will accomplish those goals.

In the meantime. This is the story, thus far… of Cherrod Lewis.

 

 

Episode 33: Zahira Marmar

Sint Maarten, not to be confused with St. Martin is the Dutch half of the small Caribbean island shared by the Netherlands and France. Zahira Marmar was raised there. She was introduced to farming by her immediate family. She fell in love with it.

Typically, this story would continue to tell you how Zahira grew peas, pumpkins and corn. However, Zahira fell in love with herbs. Herbs for seasoning? Well yes… but more specifically, herbs for teas and herbs for healing. Zahira recognized the benefits of the herbs that grew naturally on her island. Her mother taught her how to make teas for different purposes and how to combine those herbs to create different flavors and to help the body.

Like many young people Zahira left her native St. Maarten to attend University. She returned home after college and decided to share her love for herbs through a unique business that she pioneered. Zahira and her team would create and maintain herb gardens for her clients. It was her way of sharing her love for farming and of course… herbs.

With love and marriage Zahira would move to the United States. Again, she figured a way to share her knowledge of herbs and teas with friends. She began to brew small amounts of teas for her immediate circle. Her teas were a hit. Then it hit her. Why not create a beverage?

Zahira, her husband and even her daughter got to work. Her idea became the family’s dream. After a few years of licenses, regulations and meetings, Hrbvor was born.

Zahira was elated and ready for a massive launch in early 2020. Alas, like many others her plans faced the storm which is Covid 19. However, this was not the first storm that Zahira faced in her lifetime. She faced it head on. She is focused and persistent, and Hrbvor made it to shelves all across the New York City area. And yes, she delivers them rain or sunshine. Zahira is an amazing personality with an amazing story and an amazing company!

This is the story… Thus far… Of Zahira Marmar.

Episode 32: Tahirah Banks

Like her father and brother before her, Tahirah Banks was destined for a career in music. At 13 she was the lead singer of one of her island’s rising soca bands. Wanting a change of scenery, Tahirah negotiated with her mother and decided to move to Houston Texas to live with her eldest brother.

Houston opened up a new world of possibility for her and although she was still in love with music, her experiences during both high school and college at the university of Houston expanded her dreams. In addition to the business of music, Tahirah explored the business of… well… Business.

Like many entrepreneurs she wasn’t always sure about what type of business she would start, however she knew one thing. She wanted to be her own boss. Her first venture, a music studio did not exactly work out. This, however, was a mere lesson, not the conclusion of her journey. Tahirah took the lessons learned from that experience and poured it into every other business that she has started since then.

With her entrepreneurial spirit guiding her, Tahirah graduated college and was ready to take on both the music business and her personal ventures. She was ready.

In the fall of 2013. Her world changed forever. Her best friend passed away after a car accident. A devastated Tahirah decided to end her music career and focus on building her empire on her native Anguilla. With the memory of her best friend fueling her, Tahirah has since  started several successful ventures, chief of which is the Thoughtful Agency. An agency that works across multiple platforms, providing marketing and technology solutions to businesses and organizations both in the Caribbean region and internationally.

Her journey has been quite interesting thus far. But it is far from over.

This is the story… thus far… of Tahirah Banks

Episode 31: Oneika Phillips

Oneika Phillips is a burst of energy. She has the type of personality that can light up an entire theatre. And she does… quite often. Oneika has been dancing from ever since she can remember. Born in Guyana and raised in Grenada, Oneika was exposed to musicals via her parents VHS collection. Jesus Christ Superstar was her favorite.

Oneika’s colorful personality and obvious talent and love for dance eventually lead her to attend University in Virginia. She admits that those years were not always the most joyous, however what they did was allow her to look within and discover things about herself that would prove useful both in life and career. Having lived in the Caribbean and East Africa, Oneika for the first time was “the other.” Instead of crumble under the pressures of that title, she embraced it and became just that. Oneika separated herself from the pack with positive thinking and an unbelievable work ethic.

Onieka continues to be “the other”. She is exceptional. That little girl who fell in love with musicals in her living room in Grenada is now a celebrated actor, dancer and singer on theatres biggest platform, Broadway. Oneika has graced the stage and appeared in several of Broadway’s best shows in recent times including Fela! and Westside Story. Being a part of such productions has been rewarding enough, however Oneika has had the privilege of being a part of two casts that have won Tony Awards. In addition, she has danced with some of the best dance companies in New York City. Oneika embodies success, wrapped in a spirit of joy and humanity. She sees her purpose as larger than her individual accomplishments. She does it to encourage, to remember and to inspire. She does it for Grenada, the Caribbean, the ancestors… and for the culture! Even though she has done and accomplished much, Oneika is not done yet.

This is the Story… Thus far… Of Oneika Phillips