Sometimes in life when it comes to friends and so-called family, we have a difficult time saying no. Trust me when I tell you that as we age and if we are truly taking lessons as being learned, this becomes less of the case. Ive heard some people say that there are some old people who were idiots when they were young and grow to become older idiots. Although, this may be true the difference is that a youth has yet to reach the age of the elder, and in fact may not make it to that age, however the elder person has been given the opportunity to live long enough to learn a lesson. Whether they make use of that time is why many people may die lonely, old, sick, unfulfilled and broken-hearted. In the face of obstacles and adversity many who have proclaimed their strong faith, religious or spiritual belief, back down. I can clearly remember my mom, who worked as a housekeeper during her lifetime, coming home and without taking a breath go from cleaning the home of lawyers, doctors and rich white folk to putting on an apron and cooking for a 4-member family of five including herself. Because of this, I did not want to be married, have children or be tied down in any way and never knew until recently that this memory could be the reason. My mother was definitely a people pleaser and had a big heart, however, she did not mind expressing discontent with things. With all of that pressure to do this, do that. Serve the children, serve the man, and oh, and when did she have a moment to offer herself, self-service? When I hear the stories of women like the multi-award winning, actor Viola Davis, Dr. Maya Angelou, Dorothy Dandridge, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, and many other untold stories, that if we were to hear them in their authenticity it would make one weep. Learning to say no, even if you want to say yes, roll back to NO. When one has harmed you, you’ve moved on, you’ve healed and ready to forward to a brighter version of you, Roll back to NO. To protect sanity and peace of mind, the word no is the best remedy for pain and suffering caused by our own poor choices and in some cases, even poorer options. No and setting boundaries is a one healthy key to having peace and helping others to make use of their own peace. So why does it seem to be that women have such strength, resilience and have such strong faith, when the doo doo from the whomever comes flying right smack up in your face? Women naturally give birth, if that is their decision to do so of course, however because of this capacity it gives women a certain kind of inner synchronization that matches our natural karmic circumstances, which is to be born as women. I am just discovering my own roots of strength and fortitude. The parts of us that we never felt safe enough to share. What it is to be truly a woman, not the body, not the beauty but to have the soul of many women. Our mothers and grandmothers, our sisters, aunts and those who play mamas and aunties. To hold these courageous beings within the peripheral view of why we should learn how and certainly when we should say no. Those who have come and gone. The many who have given their breasts as placated nourishment to be divided amongst those who supposedly need it most or do they? Those who are a part of the global wellness center, and whether it be her home, or someone else’s, we are designed to do just that nurture and we lack the coldness in our hearts to say no and let us not forget about those who have been handed death as a result of the lack of or ability to firmly say no. Men may be the beam, but we give the beam the foundation it needs to remain firmly rooted to the ground. We also hold the gold medal for being the quickest to snap a finger, twist a neck and with no emotion except for the distinct anger in our voices, say NO. Learning to say no is the best way to get to the best part of saying yes. Image by OsirisMunir

Just the other day as I was coming home after walking my dog, I thought about how the day before, after, standing under a tree for a little bit, I had an arm full of mosquito bites, I’m not certain how old many of you may be however even the youngest person can attest to the fact that we can no longer hear mosquitoes coming before they bite. Lets take a closer look at this unfortunate phenomena. Mosquitoes were not only bigger one could hear the zzzzz before they were bitten. It was a warning that they were coming. Most likely, they would make the high rise up to the ceiling fan, then swoop down ever so lightly on an unprotected neck, arm, or leg so that it could suck the blood out of the unwilful victim. What about the Bees who have all but disappeared due to the pesticide, habitat and pathogen triad that mankind has unleashed upon this beautiful planet that we were given guardianship. Pesticides in sub lethal doses can seep into the delicate tissues of plants and affect the navigational patterns of bees blocking their memory and foraging abilities. Certain parasites like mites weaken hives while vast forms of farming allow some parasites to feed while others starve. Lets step up the subject and put it down on the block about the use of the word authenticity. Algorithms and mass production allow many a unnoble word to go viral and copycats multiply like baby crickets when hatching in the summer months. Derivatives can look hollow because they have to mimic the surface. I always say, “discard the shallow and seek the profound”.. Although style may very well be mimicked its origin cannot. I suppose that when artist emit a certain conviction and purpose in vulnerability and an unmatched raw truth there can be an immediate emotional response that resonates in the minds of the audience which can sometimes feel empathic and authentic. Hip-Hop is he first to say, “that we can all keep it real”, and that we should keep it real. When an artist or performer attempts to perform authentically, by copying another’s person’s life path of experiences, their aesthetic or cadence the audience instinctively senses the detachment. Because the underlying emotional truth isn’t there the spirit of the work falls flat. There are many words called synonyms that mean the same thing and antonyms which means the opposite of what synonyms mean. With such a wide and vast variety of words, sentences and phrases there should be no need for copycats however, the strong need of the individual to be accepted by a communal group can feel pressured and often can cause certain imbalances in the natural life language of the person. Resonance in individual life forces can be empathically felt however not replace the original source of the energetic pattern. The one thing that I love about youth is thier ability to flex. Flexibility of mind, body and spirit is key to lengevity is my opinion. So why is it that as humans we cannot see past our own noses let alone the eyebrows on our face without a mirror? In Buddhism there are the ten worlds. The ten worlds are the states of life or conditions that we experience as humans from moment to moment. Those conditions are: hell, hunger, animality, anger, humanity, heaven, learning, realization, bodhisattva and buddhahood. We react to our environments daily. If we stay true to ourselves there is nothing that we cant endure. The times are now more open to the lean into change and the options available to everyone are many. There is no way that one has to mimic another, not in fashion, not personal style, or in any other manner. We can all strive to overcome our weaknesses and our own lack of flexibility in body, mind and spirit. If we all seek to change our internal coding then world peace, over time is attainable.

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First of all, let it be said that the man’s name is ice, yes fire is hot, but ice is not only cool but can run hot as well. One could clearly understand why anyone with first name Peter would place a stake on the last name of Kayz. As an influential in French hip-hop history his mission to encourage, promote and bring attention to the what belief in self can do is commendable. Having parents who loved him and nurtured his natural talents gave deep and cultural meaning to his life. Aligning with hip-hop as a purpose started for Kayz at a very young age. Influenced by Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, LeBron James and Chris Paul, it would stand to reason that a bloody young French kid with a love of hip music would help to form international ties with prominent artist from across the globe. His personal experiences give him the kind of depth and credibility that are major ingredients for the correct recipe to success. He is humanly authentic in every sense of the word. As a single father, which he describes as the deepest and most rewarding experience that he has ever had to date. He is often quick in his response about parenting, resources available to black men and leaving a legacy for his son. This life lesson, in particular, has helped him to develop a more heightened level of intuition and how it has taught him to fell vulnerable enough to open his heart. This kind of emotional intelligence is what led him to work and release tracks in 2023 with Swift Guad and Eech. When identifying his music, it could best be described as a unique blend of classic French lyricism, pan African rhythms, modern trap and electronic elements. While being signed to labels like Sony and PIAS his talented skills as a beatmaker, formidable songwriter and invaluable contribution to the music community were highly recognized. He holds a gold disc for his popular collaboration with major artists across French rap and international genres including Doc Gyne’co, Haftbefehl , and Congolese legend Werrason. A few of his notable tracks are, “Paname est triste”, “La Racette: “J-1” and “Mauvais Signal”. In addition to Kayz’s musical skills he host an acclaimed partnership with Airbnb, centered in the 18th Arrondissement (Montmartre/Goutte D’Or) in the heartland of French rap history. He guides tours for tourist and music lovers through the history of French hip-hop comparing US and French rap influences. Because of these in-depth tours local clubs and cafés like Combo have become a safe space to listen to good music. IG:IAMKAYZ

Last week we pulled back the curtain on some deeply raw and vulnerable material. We unpacked the multi-layered dynamics of human sexuality desire and the emotional languages that we speak to each other. We opened the door to discussing forbidden topics. I have no idea of how things that are seen as being so forbidden are constantly pushed in front of our faces. Today we scratch the surface as we get into a mini macro slice of life, it’s called the science of the subconscious decoding modern metaphors. So much of what we see, feel and hear. Our desires and our unwanted fears and motivations aren’t randomly generated. Each day we are quietly influenced by symbols, words, cinematic motifs and soundscapes that we absorb every single day. Shifting from the heart to the inner architecture of the mind. Uncovering how modern media programs our internal landscapes. How do we reclaim complete control over our own mental threading? There is a movie called Mirrors. Keifer Sutherland plays an ex- cop turned nighttime security guard. A wall of mirrors become the backdrop for mental neurosis when they begin to reflect back to him the dark forces that are there to frighten and manipulate, he and his family. Wife Paula Patton attempts to understand however fails and threatens to take away his privileges for seeing their children. Mirrors are reflective and often give us a way to look both outward and in. Even the most resilient of minds will break if those minds are tested over and over again by feeding them negative sets of impulses. These impulses at times can be embedded in television and radio. Television has both visual and audio impact. The constant sounds that we hear which are repetitive can hurt or harm us. The hearing of a dog is set at a range that is impossible for humans to hear, well unless you’re, Wolverine from the X-Men. Stories are now created as digital extensions of the human nervous systems. The differences in volume are clearly one of the most advantageous ways of seduction that are meted out in the most basic forms of surrealism. For instance, the way hip-hop and pop have such strong influences that are driven by color, sound, frequency and fantasy. The way a dancers hips move and according to the angle of the camera and lighting that controls the eye, the image can last for days and in some cases years. The more seductive, the stronger of an imprint that the object of worship has upon the mind. We all need nurturing to some degree or the other. Our humanness requires love just as much as it requires food and clothing. The three lower worlds hell, hunger and animality are always prevalent within the body of a society that feeds on negative nonsense. Food is another not so hidden metaphor that when combined with external stimulants strikes down any resistance to lust and greed that one may have. Soundwaves are one of the newest forms of digital concord. Using intentional patterns of sound and repetitive themes to trigger instantaneous emotional and mental recall. So, the question should be how do we regain psychological sovereignty one thing that we can do is to curate our own environmental space by designing our own visuals and acoustics. Sounds and visuals that align with who we are as a trans clear being will release that part of us that can control the landscape of our own mind.

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When we talk about sexuality, sensuality, and intimacy, it is important to recognize that each reflects a different dimension of human connection. Sexuality may involve physical attraction or expression, sensuality focuses on awareness, affection, and emotional presence, while intimacy is rooted in trust, vulnerability, and deep personal connection. Love, romance, and desire can overlap, but they are not the same; understanding their differences helps us build healthier and more meaningful relationships. There have been wars fought over it. Men murdered because of it and women who walk the streets to sell it. So, what makes the idea, the thought of sex so powerful. There is a big difference in sexuality, sensuality and intimacy. I suppose that there is a lack of understanding of the basic universal law of cause and effect which permeates and spans over past present and future. So, let’s break down some of those areas of love that no one wants to talk about and in my opinion why there is so much mental illness and obstruction to peace, in our world. If we really understood universal law and how much untapped power that we all have, the management of our daily lives would look very different. The level of self-respect and turn respect for others would be at its highest level First of all, let’s be honest adults here, there is nothing pretty about sex. In the movies, sex and sensuality are played up to be beautifully seductive and usually paired with alcohol or drugs. Perhaps a room can be displayed as an enjoyable setting or clothing arranged in a comfortable elegant manner worn in a hot bed of lust and wrapped with the energy of come and get me, nowww. The very act of human sexual desire and erotica and raw animal instinct becomes blurred. At the end of the day, it’s our raw, animal nature with no line in between. What should we do with all of this excess energy. This bundle of erratic kinetic rawness that when left unbalanced will turn on itself and transparently implode.

When life serves lemons, the saying goes that you can learn to create great lemonade. A great philosopher whom I met when I was well into my spiritual path, my mentor at the time was the great philosopher of Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill who always says that what the mind can believe the mind can achieve. Arnold Garcia wasn’t given a pair of shoes that fit he had to make his own. Born in the Philippines, his life changed when as a teen, he chose to leave his home after he could no longer protect his mother from his father, who beat her on a regular basis. As things begin to happen he gradually grafted a life built on street knowledge. Street living helped him to develop lifelong skills that would move him through many years of difficult times. These experiences taught him how to survive and thrive, motivating him to create SOHM (Shine On Hollywood Magazine). The purpose of SOHM was to take the media which is usually compromised, and transform into good, wholesome and healthy news SOHM is about real lives and real stories. Hollywood as of yet has not reached the balance of the good and not so good. Arnie G, took tragedy and out of it, made a molehill into a mountain. As an award-winning producer and pop artist, his success had to be earned and the very first winning was his ability to hold mastery over himself and his circumstances. He had gone from a wounded trauma based teen to a fully developed marketing and promotion genius. He had big ideas and the positive mental thinking to make them happen. He worked with the mentally ill and learned how to promote and market to an audience who might have initially been limited in their understanding of artists. Their need to create, be heard and understood. After all, his belief did not allow for the usual gossip and put down that goes along with a competitive Hollywood, he learned to dance and sing professionally to act and to believe in others and most of all to believe in ones self. Arnold G is dropping his latest single "Dreams" EDM Dance Remix on his You Tube Channel.

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The movie, The Illusionist, casts Ed Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti, and Rufus Sewell is a perfect example of the new world and the remnants of what’s being left behind by the change. Filmed in the Czech Republic The Illusionist, carries the seed of the truth and art of of magic and illusion.. The talent of how to deceive and why. The Illusionist is the perfect movie to show this. So, the movie starts out with two small children, who care about each other, close friends. Their status in life is miles apart. Biel plays Sophie, who is being groomed to someday grow up and be the wife to a prince, heiress to a throne and of high and noble society. Ed Norton aka Eisenheim a simple yet brilliant lad is interested in magic and someday hopes to be a famous Illusionist, a magician of the highest order. After being escorted out of town by the local authorities, Eisenheim is ordered to never see Sophie again. He strikes out to learn magic and on the way meets a wizard of sorts who teaches him not just magic but the art of illusion. The stranger then disappears. Many years go by and the two child lovers see each other again, this reignites, the passion they felt as children and that they have held in their hearts most of their lives. Thus the story begins. There is a fine line between illusion and reality. As humans we are easily led by our own selfish desires. In my personal experience there are lots of options that come up and many seek clout or an easy life. Karmic bonds are strong. In the imaginative world of Hollywood illusion is a key player when it comes to the making of film and television. In the case of the Illusionist, Eisenheim developed the art of changing the perception of an audience that was so unique that it could arouse them to an uncanny high level and sense of curiosity. For example, he appeared to have taken fresh raw seeds put them into a pot and then erected a full-blown orange tree. A handkerchief taken from the purse of a woman in the theater, was safely returned as it floated back accompanied by two beautiful butterflies. The oranges were shared to the mouths of now, the most enraptured audience. Thus, causing quite a stir within the theatre community. Giamatti steps in first warning Eisenheim to be careful about his illusions and how they may be perceived by the audience. Eisenheim’s popularity spreads far and wide until it reaches the ears of the crown price played by Rufus Sewell. The following evening, Sophie and Eisenheim are then reunited at a special event hosted by the crown prince. A locket designed by Eisenheim when they were children still held very close to Sophie’s heart as the promise was to no matter what, never depart from it forever. Unlike the movies and the magic of Eisenheim, in real life’s these tricks are lies, deception, manipulation and control. Magicians are contracted to perform and to arouse an audience to believe into how the magician sees a world. Cover art painted by Osiris Munir Curator Bibiana Huang

Ain’t it funny how things happen and how people, things and places come together. In this case my dear friend, who I call Lil sis, happened to be visiting her hometown in the Bay area. By chance she met Nkan Adelua who mentioned that she was a singer, performer and that her country of origin was, Nigeria. After checking out her social media and reading through her bio, it was clear that she was a star not just in the making but already shining. And oh does she wear the shine of success well. We talked about her commanding the stage and her use of language, sound and rhythm to tell a story. How is it that a multilingual artist from Nigeria can make such a brave and bold statement. Her soul stirring performances ringing true to her African heritage and while singing in Yoruba, Pidgin and English, have always had the ability to bring resolve and to make strong and insightful impact. Nkan has been quiet yet forcefully performing hundreds of live performances across the Bay area. Her live performances are luscious thills of powerful vocals with strong audience engagement and authentic stories. She has a wonderful presence. Her life experiences and what they have taught her about, self, life and love are tremendous. Nkan can light up the eyes of all who have seen her at festivals like the Umoja and the Richmond Heights Festival and was once told by a fan who ran up to her after seeing her perform and said , “your voice is so powerful that it could raise the dead”. And believe me when Nkan opens her mouth, the heavens sing. With influences like Miriam Makeba ad the illustrious, Angelique Kidjo it’s no wonder she is such a baddie. Establishing a footprint in her own country performing with the Theater Troupe Black Image and in 2005 released her debut album, Music of Our Ancestor produced by Kayode Samuel. As if that wasn’t good enough 2022, she popped up, Mr. D.J. and then had the creative audacity to bring a 2025 EP Surulere that proved that she was who she said that she was, delivering the hit singles, Jingbala, Tipatipa, as proof. This year in 2026, the hit California Love by Tupac, hit her in the gut. She woke up with it on her mind and begin humming. Several days later the same thing happened, the song California Love” on her mind, and then the humming, she finally decided to take her humming and singing of the hit song to the studio and released her version in February of the year. Nkan is backed by the Nkan and Faraya Band who are ready, willing and able to roll out for the Queen at a moment’s notice.

Nkan is a humanitarian spirited and gifted artist and through her Nkan Hope Foundation she extends this love of life, culture and community to people all over the world. The name Nkan Adelua in the Yoruba language of southwestern Nigeria the proper tonal for the name is Nkan Adelua /Eledua translates to “Something of God” a creation of the creator. Ade means crown or royalty. Eledua refers to creation. The name is associated with natural destiny, unique talent, and spiritual identity. Individuals who are given this name often view it as a testimony to their life, voice, and personal expression are anchored in their life’s purpose. For more information on Nkan Adelua and the Nkan and Faraya Band follow

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/nkan/california-love?utm_campaign=website&

A huge part of our world has become screens, algorithms and who we can get to join our page, our group and in some cases, we want to join ourselves. The world has truly become a ball of confusion. Techpressionism is becoming more and more of a household concept as with a little mental acuity one can truly see certain aspects of the future, while engaging. All we will have to do is simply speak into our phones or television sets and a home full of screens sharing various shapes and styles that can do just about anything and someday, in the near future these homes could be a simple pop up. There are rooms now that are somewhat able to handle the space needed to present a full on Techpressionist exhibition. On the set, I had the great pleasure of chit chatting with three worldwide famous Techspressionist. On, July 9, 2026 LACDA ( the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art ) will kick off the first Los Angeles showing of this extended progressive art movement. Randi Matushevitz who focuses on the psychological impact. Our environment, chaos and connection. Matushevitz's artwork reflects the fragility of human connectivity. A figurative artist, her portraits, narratives, and videos, illustrate how our point of view impacts our personal world experience in a universal conversation that explores the commonality of uncertainty within the mania and calm surrounding daily life. The images are messy, murky layers of entangled marks creating a dense surface that mimics the human condition. The parameters of her artwork include themes of socio-psychological human connection and formal artistic variety of visual experience. The hypothesis unifies the work that catharsis is an instinctive reaction to engage with the archetype of shadow. The release from the brief exposure to the abject and uncomfortable, the uncertain, from a safe and ultimately healing space. https://www.randimatushevitz.com/work Victor Acevedo, the digital pioneer whose sense of purpose was activated out of his working with computers in the 80’s. He is a digital legend experiencing the days of computer graphics and digital synthesis. Some of his influences are Picasso, Elrich, and Dali to name a few. He blends geometry and photography with psychedelic overlays. He flushed out unnecessary boundaries for how artist can become more expressive on canvas. Truly a bow down indicator, jhe is the OG of computer graphics and uses a very broad and energetic stroke to discuss the ism of the movement. He talked about the process in transitioning from graphics and stills to a living breathing piece and how he was always a techpressionist. His time-based work explores the implications of synesthesia, cymatics, and the geometry of R. Buckminster Fuller’s Synergetic. These Electronic Visual Music (EVM) compositions seem to favor drone works, circuit bending, glitch, and harmonic noise. Born in Los Angeles, Acevedo later studied studio art and art history at The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 1977-1978. https://www.acevedomedia.com/ Lucy Boyd-Wilson has the uncanny ability to synthesize organic life forms, architecture and technology. A budding curator, Lucy has a way of putting the structure of google logs and various coding together. There are so many different languages when it comes to the application of technology from the mind to program to canvas. Lucy says that the movement has given her a secondary portal. The Techspressionist movement was started by Colin Goldberg who coined the term for a solo exhibition in Southampton, New York in 2011. www.techpressionism,com

Cover art by abstract expressionist painter and techspressionist, (c) Osiris Munir. All Rights Reserved 2026.

Life has a way of drawing to us what we need whether we know that we need it or not. In these times that we are in it is truly rare to find those who have clear minds and most importantly pure hearts. The very first time that I met the young man that I am about to speak of: it was truly an auspicious day. My dog , Meatloaf, who is a huge lover of all things sniffable, found a store labeled orange laying on top of fresh earth in the early morning hours. Meaty and I had not walked that way in a while and quickly approached a huge medical office building. As we were crossing the street, out of my left ear I heard a man in a semi-mumbling voiceI heard a man appearing frail had a huge spirit his energy wreaked of uniqueness. He primarily is a sound architect who sends his wonderful entrenched healing from the Los Angeles area Hollywood entertainment circles, his medium is music, indie media production and the local art scene. He is a music producer, and songwriter on the digital landscape and writes, produces and copyrights original material-including heartfelt dedicated emotional tracks (such as his original song, Angel For All”). He is solidly grounded in independent digital content creation and video production. Merrick served as an Associate producer for notable digital comedy projects including specialized musical parodies like Best picture ; The Musical hosting and behind the scenes He has worked as an on-camera host and production collaborator for digital networks like Wayside Digital covering content covering community projects. He maintains a presence on film and production networks like Share Grid. Reflecting his hands on involvement with local camera, lighting and indie filmmaking crews in Los Angeles. He is a recognized donor and supporter of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. For more information on Merrick Yzbick check @Linkedin Merrick Yzbick. IG Merrick Yzbick

Cover art by abstract expressionist painter and techspressionist, (c) Osiris Munir.

All Rights Reserved 2026. .