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RAMIN DJAWADI – WESTWORLD

WaterTower Music is thrilled to announce that Emmy Award- Winning, Grammy Award – nominated composer Ramin Djawadi‘s (Game of Thrones, Westworld, Iron Man and the forthcoming House of the Dragon) Westworld: Season 4 (Soundtrack from the HBO Series) has just been released and is now available to stream and download at all digital retailers. As has been Djawadi‘s thematic approach on each of his Westworld soundtracks from HBO’s Emmy-winning drama series, the 34-track album features the lauded composer’s original music along with unique versions of well-known songs which were originally performed by Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean, Metallica, Lana Del Rey, Nine Inch Nails, and Lou Reed all of which were heard throughout Westworld: Season 4.

Fans can experience all the incredible music from each season of Westworld in the Official Westworld Playlist, which includes all the music from Westworld: Season 4 along with Djawadi’s imaginative musical choices from previous seasons, including incredible versions of tracks originally performed by artists such as The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Amy Winehouse, Nirvana, Guns N Roses, among many others.

The Westworld: Season 4 (Soundtrack from the HBO Series) is now available and the track list is as follows:

Main Title Theme Westworld
Parasite
The Day the World Went Away
Bad Acid
Olympiad
Video Games
Time to Transcend
Welcome to the Golden Age
Annees Folles
Bad Guy
Sweetwater Temperance
Enter Sandman
Outliers
Pink + White
The Tower
Hale’s World
Do You Have an Appointment?
Knowledge
Winner Takes All
Perfect Day
Wrong Exit
A Message
They Are After Your Hooch
What We Are
No More Waiting
Ancient Wisdom
Host City
Watch You Grow Up
Finish What We Started
Blue Dress
Pyramid Song
Set Ourselves Free
Sweetwater Reprise
Our World

Westworld returned for its fourth season June 26 on HBO and HBO Max. The Emmy-winning drama series is a dark odyssey about the fate of sentient life on earth, starring Evan Rachel Wood, Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson, Luke Hemsworth, Aaron Paul, James Marsden, and Angela Sarafyan.

Westworld was created for television by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy, who are executive producers with Alison Schapker, Denise The, J.J. Abrams, Athena Wickham, Richard J. Lewis, and Ben Stephenson. Production companies: Kilter Films and Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television; based on the film written by Michael Crichton.

CHEF SHIN THOMPSON

Listen to 360 MAG Vaughn Lowery and Chef Shin Podcast: HERE

Chef Shin Thompson was an underground Cookman turned Michelin star chef in Chicago for his Chicago Restaurant. Although he spends most of his career in Chicago. He now recently moved to LA to start a new Japanese BBQ restaurant.

The challenge he had to have to earn the star for the restaurant in Chicago is that you must be able to cook well for 365 days. Chef Shin Thompson felt accomplished that the people were able to realize the passion that he has for the food. He said, “It was a great feeling to be recognized for all the hard work that went over the years.”

At first, he got interested in being a chef because of his parents. He said, “My dad was really big into cooking at home and replicating recipes from his travels and so really where I got interested in it.”

As a child, he would spend most of his time traveling with his dad. He said, “I first got exposed to food from all the different travels, my dad used to take me out of school for weeks at a time…so take me out of school and we just learn about different cultures, and we traveled all over Europe and all over Asia.”

His family comes from a Japanese household; therefore, it played a huge role in introducing him to the food. “My mother is Japanese, so anybody who’s in a Japanese family will tell you that food is a big part of the culture in Japan and is a heritage to be a big cook if you’re Japanese. So, my mom was always cooking Japanese food and my dad was always cooking food from all of these different cultures, so I got exposed to a lot of different things at a young age.” He spoke.

While he works on a restaurant tour, he introduces us to his challenges and thoughts on what means to succeed in the restaurant business. He said, “The interesting part about the restaurant business that I find fascinating is it takes different skills sets, so you need to be an artist from the chef perspective you need a business person that can really understand the numbers and the food costs, labor costs, you need marketing and being able to or more like psychology getting into the mind of the people who coming into the restaurant.”

According to Chef Shin Thompson, the restaurant will have private rooms with “Asian-looking screens.” Along with the modern look and Japanese style. It will have the décor of “Japanese charred wood, which is called Shou Sugi Ban, which is a Japanese technique that is used in ancient times, where they actually charred the wood and they would use it for the siding in their homes” he said. It’s good for resisting fire. The reason is that there is nothing to burn since the wood is already charred.

For the menu, “The BBQ grill menu is about $148 dollars for domestic tasting, which includes full meal” he said. There will be an A5 version that is not domestic, however, it will more expensive. In Japan, having a restaurant being A5 means the best.

Some of the upgrades that are still in progress are the “wine cellar that we will have in the middle of the dining room, as well as several dry agers that will be built in the wall as a display.” Therefore, when a guest walks in, they will see the dry agers that will have meat.

One piece of advice that Chef Shin Thompson gives to young chefs is “there are a lot of sacrifices that you need to put in as a young chef and in order to make sure it is worthwhile, you need to be 100% passionate about what you do.”

How Extreme Heat Affects Pain

The Heat Is (Still) On For People In Pain

By: Joseph Pergolizzi, MD, Healthy Directions

The dog days of summer may have come to an end, but the heat of summer may still be taking a toll on many people dealing with arthritis and other conditions. Pain and heat don’t mix well and can make pain issues worse.

How Heat Affects Pain

The science behind how extreme weather changes can affect a person’s pain levels is not completely clear. However, we know from the medical literature that heat can trigger intense pain based on many documents by physicians who have treated patients who suffer more painful symptoms in hot weather.

One theory is that the increased humidity in the air can cause swelling and inflammation in the joints. Temperature sensitivity is common for people with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia — some being sensitive to hot weather, while others are more sensitive to cooler weather.

Some patients with arthritis report that they can predict the weather based on how their joints feel. Some people notice their pain and stiffness flares up in the cold and wet winter months, while others find hot and humid summer weather can intensify their symptoms.

Scientists have identified that muscles, bones and tendons become larger and smaller in response to atmospheric changes, but exactly how and why barometric pressure changes affect the joints is still unclear. It could be related to the pressure of the fluid oiling the joints or increased nerve sensitivity. Each person’s response to heat may also depend on the type of arthritis they have.

While further study is needed to provide insight into how extreme heat affects pain, there are several strategies that we can access now to minimize heat induced pain.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

We’ve all heard this advice before: you don’t want to wait until you are parched to start drinking water — continue to hydrate all day long even if you don’t feel thirsty.

The obvious advice is to drink water. The not-so-obvious advice is to drink food. Yes, the good news is that hydration can also come in the form of food since certain foods are high in water content. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 20% of our water consumption comes from foods – primarily fruits and veggies. So indulge in hydrating foods like: watermelon, cucumbers, zucchini, celery, carrots, radishes, kiwi, peaches, cantaloupe, eggplant, tomatoes, strawberries, iceberg lettuce, pineapple, grapefruit, apples and even potatoes, which contain about 80% water and are a good source of potassium, a key mineral in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

You may not want to hear this advice, but limiting alcohol and caffeine is key to staying hydrated. It’s not that you have to eliminate caffeine and alcoholic beverages, but try to alternate them between a large glass of water to keep your hydration in check.

Avoid Direct Sun

The sun may feel fantastic on your skin at first, but the heat is secretly doing it damage. Even staying hydrated and slathering on lotion and creams will not put back all the moisture that the sun drains away from it so quickly. Every moment spent in the shade allows your skin to repair itself and reduce the chances of sunburn, which can cause skin damage and intensify any existing aches and pains.

During the summer months, never leave home without a wide-brim hat and sunglasses. Some people even find an umbrella helpful so you are producing your own shade wherever you go. Whenever possible, move towards the shade and avoid walking or sitting in the direct sunlight.

Those who suffer from headaches should avoid bright sunlight as much as possible. While just being out in the heat stresses your body, direct sunlight can cause sunburn and intensify pain.

Mix Sunscreen With Pain Cream

We know the benefits of protecting the skin from being burnt by the sun by using sunscreen, but adding some pain cream to that sunscreen will also help mitigate painful muscle spasms, which can occur even if you have never had them before, and especially if the body gets too warm and can’t cool itself down fast enough. An effective pain relief cream can work much faster than oral pain medications, usually within a few minutes, and you are able to target the pain relief more precisely by putting the cream exactly where you are feeling the pain. Topical pain relief creams have been so effective for my patients, that I developed a formula called Instaflex Pain Relief Cream that can be applied directly on the affected joints or muscles, providing a first-line, instant pain defense for the body. This specific formula combines essential oxygenated oil with menthol to provide fast, targeted relief. Because it uses specially designed oils, less menthol is used, making it less harsh, but just as effective for pain.

Unlike pain pills, topical pain relief formulas do not adversely affect the gastrointestinal system or the heart or the brain. If you apply a pain relief cream to the shoulder, for example, it positively affects the joint and tendons and muscles around the shoulder to provide pain relief. You can also apply the pain relief cream more frequently than you can take an oral pain relief medication, where you would have to wait 6 to 8 hours between doses. Pills also take much longer to absorb in the body versus putting the pain relief cream directly on the affected joints or muscles, providing instant pain relief.

Dress To Protect

If you know you will be outside and exposed to heat for more than an hour, plan a wardrobe to protect accordingly. Choose to wear loose, breathable clothing. Avoid dark colored clothing and instead wear white or light-colored clothing to keep you cooler. Be mindful that UV light can still penetrate through the micro holes in the weaves of regular clothes or can even travel directly through a light-colored shirt. So add UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing options to your summer wardrobe that will provide a more protective block from the sun.

While loose fitting clothing allows for airflow, choosing fabrics that allow sweat to evaporate more easily will feel even cooler. These fabrics include: cotton, linen, rayon, chambray, and bamboo, along with those that have been designed with moisture-wicking technology.

If you want to be fashionable and sun safe, don that hat. Luckily, many fashion hats are now embracing the fact that SPF is a key factor to design. The brim of your hat also matters so embrace your inner Audrey Hepburn and go for the wide brim look. The wider the brim, the more skin protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a three-inch brim circumference or at least a three-inch bill with a permanently attached drape covering the ears and neck. The key is to cover as much skin as possible. Be mindful that front-brimmed hats, like baseball caps and visors, only shade the eyes, not the skin.

Pain Or Not

Hot weather by itself can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, and muscle cramps, even in people who do not normally have muscle pain so these heat reducing tips are good advice for everyone. Pain can easily sneak up on anyone so practicing these heat reducing techniques will create good habits that will protect your skin and minimize your pain in the long run. The key is to do your best to stay cool and pain-free while you enjoy one of the most pleasurable times of the year.

Biography: Joseph Pergolizzi, Jr., MD, is a leading pain physician who combines the latest medical advances and scientific breakthroughs with a profound professional compassion for patients facing painful, life-altering conditions. He earned his BS in physical chemistry from St. John’s University and an MD with the highest honors from Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in anesthesia at Georgetown University School of Medicine and a clinical research fellowship in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Pergolizzi is currently a senior partner at Naples Anesthesia and Pain Associates, Inc. Additionally, he works with Healthy Directions as an adviser and educator on natural solutions for pain management. As a physician, inventor, research scientist, and advocate for pain patients, Dr. Pergolizzi has authored over 350 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts, platform presentations, and book chapters.

Website: HERE

ROLLS-ROYCE BEVERLY HILLS

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Beverly Hills announced today that it has signed a lease for approximately 18,000-square-foot ground-floor retail location 9460 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The location will serve as the Beverly Hills flagship showroom for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Beverly Hills, part of O’Gara Coach is perennially one of the world’s largest Rolls-Royce dealers. For the past two years running the operation has been awarded top ‘Provenance’ dealer globally for the world’s premier luxury brand. The new showroom will occupy the high-profile retail space located at the prominent corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive. The mid-century, nine-story, 97,000-square-foot office building is steps from the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills’ retail district referred to as the Golden Triangle.

“The Beverly Hills luxury strip brings to life the young and vibrant culture that defines the Rolls-Royce brand of today. This new showcase location lies at the heart of Beverly Hills where the world of luxury, entertainment, sports and business intersect. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Beverly Hills is an award winning member of the Rolls-Royce Motor Car family, and we look forward to the O’Gara Coach team setting new records in this new illustrious location,” said Martin Fritsches, President and CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas.

For more than 45 years O’Gara Coach has been Southern California’s leading destination for the discerning driver of exotic cars and luxury brands.

Leclerc has the spirit to be a world champion, but he’ll have to do more to overtake Verstappen

As Charles Leclerc departed Budapest following another dramatic weekend that defined his Ferrari team’s first half of the 2022 Formula One season, the talented Monégasque stayed stubbornly hopeful.

This pilot has had a difficult period that would put anyone to the test. In the first three races of the season, the 24-year-old, competing for the championship for the first time in his still-young career, delivered the type of results that shout world champion potential. His result was a 46-point advantage (almost two races) over current titleholder Max Verstappen. His driving endeavors were near immaculate, his speed breathtaking, and the Ferrari package he was handed was the finest they’d supplied in decades. Leclerc and Ferrari were legitimate title challengers, and rightly so. Such pilots are worth betting on if you find a good, reliable booking company. Go to Superbet South Africa to learn about such an online company.

Except for a spectacular triumph in Austria, every race afterward has been fraught with heartbreak. In Imola, Leclerc whirled unexpectedly and fell from third to sixth. When dominating in Spain and Azerbaijan, engine issues occurred. In Monaco and Silverstone, poor strategic choices cost him the advantage. Due to an unorthodox tire strategy in Hungary, he dropped from first to sixth place. And a blunder while attempting to close the distance on Verstappen caused him to crash and lose the lead in France.

That puts Leclerc 80 points behind Verstappen with nine Grands Prix remaining. After those heartbreaking setbacks, Leclerc presented a despondent image in the TV booth. His expression reveals the dissatisfaction that is gnawing at him. When a team error occurs, Leclerc protects Ferrari because he is a genuine team player. When it’s his fault, he has no cover—he is highly critical of himself.

In France, he admitted his mistake. He didn’t blame the weather or try to come up with another reason. That’s not his personality. But he also didn’t retaliate for trying to create a gap and looking for that additional tenth of a second because, in his perspective, if he isn’t doing that, he isn’t doing everything he can to win the championship and return the title to Ferrari for the first time in more than a decade.

Leclerc is racing at a good degree; he is second in F1’s Standings with an 8.3 out of 10, 0.5 points behind Verstappen, and has seven poles in this season’s 13 races. The bad news is that he only won two of those P1 positions and has just five podiums, one fewer than teammate Carlos Sainz.

He has the lowest average race finishing position among the top four drivers in the championship. Verstappen has a 1.82, Sergio Perez has a 2.80, Sainz has a 2.89, and the Monegasque has a 3.20. Leclerc, on the other hand, is upbeat.

Taking into consideration the fastest lap points and scores for the Sprint in Brazil, there are still 242 points available on the table. Just like the championship swung 46 points to Leclerc and then 80 to Verstappen, it can swing again—even though his Dutch adversary is riding high right now.

According to Leclerc, Ferrari’s F1-75 is quick. That is the most difficult part. They just need to cut out the blunders and wish for some good fortune along the road. Leclerc’s ability to categorize the anguish of poor reliability or incorrect strategy calls, as well as his faults, means that if those issues are straightened out, he can get the best of a speedy car.

His goal now is simple: win every race left in the season and pray that’s sufficient to beat Verstappen.

ITALIAN SERIE A

The most spectacular defenders currently in the Italian Serie A

In football, we are often more enthused about the goals and the heroics of the attackers. But we too often forget that winning teams need good defenders to keep things neat at the back as much as they need attackers to score goals.

The Italian Serie A has some of the finest defenders in the game. These warriors have a masterful combination of intelligence, bravado, tenancy, and patience.

Care to know some of them?

Fikayo Tomori

After graduating from the Chelsea Academy, Fikayo found it difficult to earn a spot in the team, which led to loan stints at Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City, and Derby County. After these largely unsuccessful loan stints, he returned to Stamford Bridge for the 2019–2020 season, and this time, he was successful in earning first-team appearances for the Blues.

His flashes of brilliance convinced AC Milan to offer him another loan stint with the club in the January 2021 transfer window, with the possibility of a long-term deal. Four impressed immediately, displaying formidable defensive capabilities and scoring his first goal in a three-nil win over Juventus four months later. He signed a long-term contract with the team in June of that same year, keeping him there through 2025.

Thanks to teammate Simon Kjaer‘s injury, Fikayo became a regular in the team, playing a pivotal role in the defense. Fikayo is quick and well composed on the ball. Additionally, he can read the game well, making crucial interceptions and creating obstacles in the way of the opposing strikers.

Due to his talent, Fikayo has emerged as one of the top defenders in Serie A and not just for AC Milan. He assisted his team in winning the Scudetto in the 2021–2022 season, their first in 11 years while conceding only 32 goals—the fewest of any Serie A team other than Napoli.

Milan Skrinair

The Slovakian captain is another Serie A center-back worthy of mention. The 27-year-old plies his trade with Inter Milan, joining the club in 2017.

After his €20 million move to the Serie A side, Skrinair immediately integrated into the team, nailing down a starting place as a center-back and playing in all 38 league matches of the 2017-2018 season.

Skrinair has since developed to be more formidable at the back, notorious for bullying opponents with his imposing figure and strong tackling as he attempts to clear the ball. He is also very good at getting into the right positions when necessary and has a good aerial capability.

Skrinair was part of the Inter Milan team that won the Scudetto in the 2020-2021 season, featuring in 32 games in the league that season.

Gleison Bremer

Prior to this time, Gleison Bremer was a relatively unknown name, even though he has been a professional football player since his youth days in his home country Brazil with Desportivo Brasil. However, his arrival at Torino in 2018 after spells with Sao Paulo and Athletico Mineiro turned out to be the turning point of his career.

The 25-year-old developed steadily, initially used as a reserve before securing a starter’s role as a defender. Subsequently, he became a regular, featuring in 27, 33, and 33 league appearances in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 seasons, respectively.

The right-footed center-back is known for his speed and physicality. He is also very versatile, with situational awareness and good positioning.

Bremer’s prowess earned him the Serie A’s best defender of the season in the just concluded 2021-2022 season. In addition, top-tiered Juventus couldn’t help but notice his talent, securing his services on a five-year deal.

Stefan De Vrij

De Vrij started his Serie A campaign with Lazio in 2014, representing the club till 2018 when he left for Inter Milan on a free transfer. It was at Inter Milan that he solidified his position as a defender, further developing to be one of the best defenders in Serie A.

Since his arrival, the Dutch international has become a regular for the Milan side, consecutively featuring in more than 20 league appearances for the club in each season so far.

De Vrij is a versatile defender with a knack for making crucial interceptions. He is also strong and resilient, giving his all to ensure that the opponent does not get past him. His prowess saw him win the Serie A best defender award in the 2019-2020 season. In addition, he was also part of the Inter Milan squad that won the Scudetto the following year.

Gianluca Mancini

A.S Roma also has one of the finest Serie A center-backs to grace this list – Gianluca Mancini. The Italian defender is not a newcomer to the Italian league, having spent his entire career in Italy playing for Fiorentina, Perugia, and Atalanta.

Now with Roma, he has developed into a world-class defender, competing with the best that the league has to offer.

Mancini is a physically strong defender who stops at nothing to ensure that the opponent is stopped in his tracks. Besides, his 6ft 3in height makes him an aerial goal threat during set pieces.

The defender has featured regularly for Roma, notching up 33 league appearances for Roma in the just concluded 2021-2022 season. In addition, he is part of the team that won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League. You can find out more about the Conference League HERE.

Leonardo Bonucci

The 35-year-old Italian defense maestro is an old face in the league. He has spent the larger part of his career with Juventus having first signed for them in 2010. With the Old Ladies, he has since secured both starting and regular roles, also helping them to win many trophies.

Bonucci is known for his passing techniques and the ability to start up attacks from the back with long passes. He also has a good positioning sense, is a good tackler, and often poses an aerial threat.

Thanks to his capabilities, Bonucci has won many individual honors. He has also won the Serie A eight times in his career.

Spotlight: Issac Ryan Brown

Listen to Vaughn Lowery chat with Issac Ryan Brown on the 360 MAG Apple/Spotify podcast.

Brown announces seven song debut EP Project, WHAT I’M ON, to officially release on July 12 through SSK Records/Universal Distribution

Actor and R&C/pop singer/songwriter Issac Ryan Brown has announced his debut seven song EP project, What I’m On, which will officially release on July 12. To celebrate his 17^th birthday today, his friends and family held an exclusive launch party at his Los Angeles home. The EP will be released through Steven Machat’s SSK Records, distributed through Universal.

Machat, the man who executive produced and/or worked with Phil Collins, Leonard Cohen, Peter Gabriel, Bobby Brown New Edition, Ready for the World, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Bizzy Bone and Seal with Adamski to name a few, is at the helm of Brown’s EP release which will be available everywhere.

The EP will be a first for Brown, although he has made numerous special appearances as a musical artist throughout his longtime career run. ‘‘Detroit and Motown have greatly influenced the sound and energy of my music.’’

Currently in his fifth season starring as Booker Baxter-Carter on Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home,” the on-screen son of the series star and exec. producer Raven-Simone.

Originally from Detroit, Issac Ryan Brown got his great break at the age of six when he dazzled audiences on “America’s Got Talent.” Since then, he has been regularly working in television, film, voiceovers, commercials, and he is becoming a singer. One of the best known is the Raven Series, ‘‘It has been so much fun, and I love everyone there and Ray is like a big sister to me’’ Brown says. They have a song together called ‘Win It.’ Not only Raven Symone is a reference for Brown but also Nick Cannon in his musical career since the rapper’s music inspires him. “I haven’t had any conversations with him, but I look up to him as a pop culture icon for the black community. ”

His voiceover credits include Puppy Dog Pals, Bubble Guppies, Miles from Tomorrowland, and The Stinky & Dirty Show. He enjoys volunteering at the Salvation Army in his additional time.

Additionally, Brown loves reading and coming from a poor reading town has created a small foundation to put books in children’s backpacks. ”Detroit is technically illiterate…There’s a link to my Instagram bio where you can go, and you can sign up to get your backpacks”. DETROIT stand up!! Returning this year for Brown’s annual FREE backpack giveaway, and this will be the biggest one yet. According to him ‘‘Come out and support several of Detroit’s local small businesses. Together we can continue to grow our community!’’ Click HERE to get more info about it.

In real life, Brown is quickly building an impactful future as an artist far beyond his renown as a popular young TV star – a journey which began at age six when he wowed the judges, including Howie Mandel (who called him a “superstar”) auditioning for “America’s Got Talent” with a spirited song and dance of “I Want You Back,” embodying Brown’s musical hero Michael Jackson.

During the pandemic lockdown, with “Raven’s Home” on indefinite hiatus, Brown got together with some pals from his native Detroit, headed down to Atlanta and recorded a few songs and shot some videos. In recent months, he’s been spending his time on weekends in the studio working on his upcoming debut EP with beatmakers Hollywood, K Young and Aroc and engineer and vocal producer C Minor. His songs include “Inch Away,” “What I’m On,” “Feel Like,” “You Do,” “Easy” and “On Me.”

“The EP captures my musical spirit of doing many things and is a reminder to people that I love to sing,” Brown says. “It’s great to have the opportunity to express all the things I love to do musically. The songs reflect my growth and how far I’ve come as an artist, with most of the lyrics based on personal experiences I’ve been through and things that I feel will matter to me and others as well. I’m excited to share this part of me and make music an equally important part of my future in entertainment.”

Believing strongly in giving back, Brown has a passion for charitable cause and inspiring young people to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams just as he has done. Concerned that many inner city kids growing up in his area of Detroit aren’t learning to read, he started a foundation called the “I Can” Literacy Foundation, whose mission is to encourage young people to set and achieve goals based on “I Can ____” sentences, like “I can read,” “I can run,” “I can fly,” or anything they set their minds to.

In 2020, Brown and his family started a backpack drive in Detroit, where they would fill backpacks full of books targeted to children – including novels, illustrated storybooks and beloved classics. This year, they partnered with a local school to conduct the drive and giveaways on a larger scale.

In between work commitments, Brown often performs and/or speaks at schools in Detroit and L.A., giving away backpacks, signing autographs and encouraging kids to believe anything is possible for their lives if they commit and work hard. “I let them know that, like me, you don’t know what you can achieve until you do it,” he says. “I came up in the same situation as they are, but always felt like I had the capacity to do bigger things in my life. I tell them wherever you live, wherever you are in life, great things are possible – and I’m living proof of that.”

Listen to Issac Ryan Brown’s music on Spotify

Article: Andrea Esteban, Vaughn Lowery

NOVOTEL MIAMI BRICKELL

Summer is a great time to visit Miami. The city’s many beautiful beaches are at their best, establishments are offering deeply discounted packages, and the reduced crowds allow for the leisurely exploring of natural areas and indoor attractions. Novotel Miami Brickell offers some of the best summer promotions in town, paired with an unbeatable central location in the Magic City and its many attractions. We’re inviting top media and influencers to visit the hotel and enjoy its great F&B concepts and onsite activities this summer, please reach out with your preferred dates to coordinate coverage. During your stay, you’ll enjoy:

Rooftop pool and Sunset Sessions with bits, drinks, and live DJ sets
Happy Hour cocktails and bites
Novotel’s signature restaurant, cafe, and pool bar
Easy access to Brickell City Center, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach

Hotel Description

Novotel Miami Brickell is a 12-story property comprising 275 deluxe guest rooms and suites, with 5,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. The hotel also features a rooftop swimming pool, and Vista Pool Bar that boasts stunning views of Brickell’s striking skyline and Biscayne Bay. Located in the lobby area, UVA bar is your home to enjoy a wonderful selection of Chilean and Argentinian wines, signature Latin American spirits, light tapas-style fare, global news, sports and weather. The bar also features a daily happy hour from 4 to 7 pm. At Lima, the hotel’s signature restaurant, guests can experience the thrilling simplicity of flavorful contemporary cuisine with inventive yet well-balanced dishes for wholly delightful meals to enjoy.

Special Programming in the Heart of Downtown Miami

Sun-filled days and longer nights are perfect for locals and guests to enjoy Novotel Miami Brickell’s rooftop pool bar and its special programming of Movies Under the Stars, along with Saturday Yoga and the vibrant Sunset Sessions. High-end international retail brands like Giuseppe Zanotti and Reiss, as well as Apple, Swarovski, department store Saks Fifth Avenue and a CMX VIP cinema experience are within a ten-minute walk at Brickell City Centre. Visitors can also stroll along the adjacent dog-friendly Southside Park to the Millionaire’s Row section of Brickell Avenue, and visit the St. Jude Melkite Catholic Church.

Unparalleled Food and Beverage Options

Novotel Miami Brickell’s onsite food and beverage options are complemented by the neighborhood’s cocktail lounges, karaoke spot, and a bevy of fine-dining and casual eateries, including waterfront establishments and the choices along vibrant Mary Brickell Village. Miami’s special annual food and barrage promotion, Miami Spice, is in full swing from August through September, when dozens of top restaurants showcase special three-course meals for just $28 for lunch/brunch and $42 for dinner.

Central Location

Novotel Miami Brickell offers easy access to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne and its public beaches, nature preservers, parks and Miami Seaquarium. The Metro is steps away from the hotel, a convenient way to journey north to bustling Downtown Miami, home to various parks, theaters, museums, the FTX Arena and the Brightline, a high-speed line that runs from Miami Central Station to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. A quick ten-minute car ride south from Novotel is picturesque Coconut Grove and its CocoWalk of shops and eateries, Italian Renaissance-style Villa Vizcaya, as well as many historic sites and parks. Little Havana, Miami’s Cuban neighborhood, lies to the west with Latin restaurants and live music shows, while South Beach and its nightspots and beautiful beaches are about seven miles away.

Great Weather Fun

In the summer, South Florida is packed with more outdoor concerts than any other season. This year’s calendar includes Bad Bunny, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roger Waters, the Miami Salsa Festival, and Rolling Loud, the three-day event that has become the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world. The can’t- miss checklist for a memorable summer in Miami also includes a visit to the nearby Perez Art Museum Miami, the 250,000 square feet Frost Science Museum, and the Adrienne Arsht Center, home to the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet.

Modern Easy Living

Novotel’s mantra of “Modern Easy Living” drives the brand to always offer guests a comfortable and memorable type of stay. Its intuitive and modern design, coupled with its innovative and cutting-edge technology, continually results in a relaxed, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The hotel exemplifies all the brand’s elements and is centrally located, making it the ideal place to stay for business and leisure travelers. Guests can enjoy its convenient access to the very best of Downtown Miami, Port of Miami, from the area’s top businesses, outstanding shopping, an eclectic dining and nightlife scene, world-class art, and more.

Sustainability Program

The hotel also prides itself on its strong eco-friendly actions. In 2011, its parent company Accor launched Planet 21, a sustainable program to improve its hotels’ performance with sustainable initiatives. The program demonstrates the group’s ambitious goals for 2020, based around four strategic priorities: work with its employees, involve its customers, innovate with its partners and work with local communities. Some other initiatives the hotel participates in each year is the Crandon Park beach clean-up, fights children sexual exploitation and human trafficking with trainings for its employees and communication to their guests, it is LEED certified (Gold level), provides eco-friendly linen and terry clothes and encourages guests to reuse them throughout their stay, uses key cards made of recycled plastic, and has removed single-use plastics, to name a few. The Novotel team also built the Novo Garden at Southside Elementary School, where children grow seven varieties of vegetables.

Novotel Miami Brickell’s Summer Promo

Lights, Camera, Vacation– This summer, book the trip you deserve at Novotel Miami Brickell and create your own magic with up to 25% off at participating destinations throughout North & Central America. Be sure to book from April 19 until September 7 for stays until December 31, 2022.¹Traveler Tip: Members of ALL – Accor Live Limitless can earn 2X Reward points when you register and book by September 7 for stays until December 31, 2022. Plus, save an additional 5% with your Members’ Rate! Not a member? Enroll now.

ABOUT NOVOTEL

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed as comforting and energizing places where guests can ‘press pause’ and take time to enjoy the moments that really matter. The brand’s wide array of hotels, suites and resorts offer a multitude of services for business and leisure guests alike, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious choices; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for the youngest guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers. Novotel, which has over 530 locations in more than 60 countries is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 4,900 hotels and residences across 110 countries.

ABOUT ACCOR

Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 230,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit HERE, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AFROJACK × BLACK V NECK × MUNI LONG

GRAMMY Award-winning producer and multi-platinum selling electronic dance music icon Afrojack and innovative House music duo Black V Neck have combined forces to create the hit single, Day N Night. The addictive House track features vocals by Muni Long, MTV’s Global PUSH Artist of the year and one of the most buzzworthy artists in R&B today. Day N Night is now available on all digital streaming platforms HERE.

Day N Night is a powerful, energizing track with an addictive bassline that leaves audiences craving more after each listen. The dream collaboration of Afrojack, Black V Neck, and Muni Long highlights every aspect of each artist’s talent, and in combination with the rhythmic, pounding production, fans can’t help but be transported into the heart of a colorful dance music festival. Black V Neck have collaborated with Afrojack numerous times in the past, including their collaborative single To The Floor. On top of the elite production, Muni’s vocals add a perfect vibrance and life to the track’s already uplifting sound.

Afrojack has produced some of the biggest hits in the past decade, and cemented his legacy as one of the top names in dance music culture. In late July he released his surprise EP Afrojack Presents NLW, an 8 track project that returned to his club roots. Earlier in July, he teamed up with R3HAB for their first collaboration in a decade with “Worlds On Fire,” released through Tomorrowland Music ahead of their back-to-back performance at Tomorrowland Belgium.

Afrojack also announced a partnership deal with Universal Music Group in July for all his future releases and all the releases on his record label WALL Recordings. Prior to that in March, Afrojack and David Guetta released an all star cross-genre collaboration featuring Missy Elliott, BIA, and Doechii, Trampoline, which can be found HERE. The Dutch musician started the year with his fourth GRAMMY nomination, this time, and for the first time, for Best Dance Recording for his inspiring dance pop crossover Summer song Hero alongside David Guetta.

Long time friends, Ian and Julian came together in 2017 to form the innovative and original House music duo, Black V Neck. They have released popular songs such as Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, which has collected over 21 million streams globally. With the support of underground artists such as Claude VonStroke, Chris Lake, Green Velvet, Lee Foss, and Shiba San, the duo has appeared and collaborated on festival performances, club sets, and radio shows worldwide with some of the biggest names in dance music like, Afrojack, Dipo, Marshmello, Tchami and DJ Snake, to name a few. They have released remixes for tracks by David Guetta, Afrojack, Salvatore Ganacci, John Summit, Tommy Trash, and Walker & Royce, and worked with numerous record labels such as on Sink or Swim, Repopulate Mars, Confession, Insomniac Records, and OWSLA.

One of the most streamed and buzzworthy artists in R&B today, Muni Long has exploded with the success of the certified platinum #1 urban and rhythmic breakthrough smash Hrs And Hrs. The hit single has netted over 200 million streams, has reached the Top 5 of Apple Music, and #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Muni has performed on NBC’s The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, was named the MTVs Global PUSH Artist of the month in June, named to iHeart Radio‘s On The Verge program, BET Amplified, YouTube’s Artist On The Rise, Spotify Frequency Artist, Snapchat Artist to Watch, and Amazon Breakthrough Artist of the Month.

NFT Ticketing on the Blockchain

Many have claimed that the NFT craze has come and gone, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Rather, NFTs are currently experiencing an evolution — the next stage in their development from a digital asset class that derives its value from its novelty, to one that boasts a genuine use for consumers and businesses. This next stage of NFTs has the potential to disrupt numerous industries, starting with the event ticketing industry.

When NFTs were first introduced to broader consumer markets, they were little more than a few strings of code connected to a JPEG image. “Although hardcore blockchain investors found value in these digital assets, convincing the general public that these assets were worth anything to them was a significant challenge,” explains Hunter Abramson, CEO of innovative NFT ticketing company Relic Tickets. “That is, if you could even get the average person to understand what an NFT was in the first place. But with newer NFTs, it is much easier to show consumers why they are valuable and important.”

Recent trends have seen a shift towards “utility NFTs,” or NFTs that have some real-world value associated with them beyond their value as digital assets. From Bored Apes that serve as their holder’s membership card, to NFTs that can be redeemed for some exclusive reward, these utility NFTs have been taking the world of blockchain by storm. As Abramson tells us, NFT ticketing is only the latest innovation to apply the technology in exciting ways.

The utility of NFT tickets

From the perspective of the user, NFT tickets function virtually the same way as a standard digital ticket. To attend an event, ticket holders simply scan the ticket on their phone and then enter the event in question. What makes an NFT ticket different for the user is what occurs once the event has ended. After the ticket is scanned, it becomes an NFT in the holder’s Ethereum-based crypto wallet, which can then be kept as a digital souvenir, traded, or sold to other users.

The main similarity between live events and NFT projects is that they both depend on a strong community to succeed. Concerts are attended by a group of fans of the performing musician, giving NFT projects a built-in audience. These fans are the type of people who will sometimes spend hundreds of dollars on tickets or tour merchandise, so the digital collectible that is their NFT ticket has an intrinsic value to them.

However, the purpose of NFT tickets is not just their utility to consumers — they also provide safety provisions for both consumers and event organizers that are simply beyond the scope of standard ticketing procedures. The inherent security features offered by blockchain technology will remedy many of the complaints those on both sides of ticketing transactions have about the safety of their tickets.

Many of the ticketing industry’s issues can be attributed to the fact that the technology currently being used is quickly becoming out of date. QR code technology was invented almost 30 years ago, and barcode technology decades before that. Although some more traditional facets of ticketing will still be useful in the next stage of its evolution, such as revolving QR codes, since the industry has been mostly dependent on the same tech for so long, it’s time for a change.

Making the ticketing situation even more urgent is that both consumers and enterprises suffer from the existing technology’s shortcomings. For example, if consumers are scammed, they lose money and are upset at having received a fraudulent ticket that will render them unable to attend a particular event. For the event organizer, that scammed consumer is a ticket that could have been sold, but ultimately equates to lost revenue.

Furthermore, consumers are more empowered than ever to speak out about their frustrations with technologies in the most powerful way possible: with their wallets. “If a potential customer does not feel comfortable making a ticket purchase because they don’t think that the transaction is safe enough, they simply won’t buy the ticket,” explains Abramson. “Consumers have dozens of events to choose from. If you aren’t investing in the safest, most up-to-date ticketing technology as an event organizer, you risk losing sales to your competition.”

Why NFT tickets are safer

Consumers will recognize the benefits of NFT ticketing for the safety of their transactions, especially its potential to reduce fraud. Fake QR codes and barcodes can be produced, but blockchain code cannot be faked. Given the publicly verifiable nature of blockchain technology, NFT ticket holders can rest assured knowing they hold a genuine ticket to an event.

NFT ticketing also virtually eliminates the possibility of scalping. “Scalpers attempt to purchase tickets at a massive scale to resell them at prices above face value, leaving people who genuinely want to attend without the opportunity to see it,” Abramson adds. “Blockchain technology prevents these scalpers from buying up tickets at massive scales by keeping a verifiable record of every transaction. If certain buyers are acting with malicious intent, event organizers can know.”

However, this does not mean that the secondary market is eliminated. In fact, NFT technology enables a much safer secondary market in which fans can buy and sell tickets from one another without fearing whether or not the transaction is genuine. Once sold, sending a ticket is easier than ever, simply changing hands between Ethereum wallets.

Additionally, from the perspective of event organizers, it is much safer to know exactly who holds these tickets at any given time. Every time a ticketing transaction occurs, it is added to the blockchain. Event organizers can then access these blockchain records to communicate important information with attendees, or even keep track of who will attend the event for safety reasons.

NFT ticketing is the proverbial lightning in a bottle for both the world of blockchain and the ticketing industry. By using the technological advantages of blockchain and NFTs to address the needs of an event ticketing agency that has been running on life support for so long, companies like Relic Tickets are breathing life into both. The result is a ticketing experience that is not only far safer for consumers and event organizers, but one that also offers them unique value in the form of a digital NFT collectible.