Shoe of the Week!

 

Hello Good Lifers,
Winter is fast approaching and it is time to bring out the heavy coats and the warm boot. The shoe of the week is really a boot, but I think you  guys will let us slide this time. I will admit here at Good Life, a few people are obsessed with Polo so this week's shoe (boot) is from the Polo winter collection. The boots can be found on the Polo website, and may be in your local mall soon. 

Meet Kendra Lewis AKA Miss Kenge The Model!

What's the deal GoodLife fam??  You know what it is over here!  In no other way can we stress that we bring the ABSOLUTE best in everything we do, whether it be fashion, music, or in this case, The Model!!  Easily the best blend of looks and intelligence put in the same package that is ever so pleasing to look at.  Her beauty is only matched by her confidence and drive to be the best at whatever she is doing.  Only thing wrong is her last name isn't Thrash(LOL yet), it's Lewis.  Kendra Lewis AKA Miss Kenge, The Hustla in Heels!!  This Muskegon native can more than hold her own in any arena, and still sport the most unforgetable smile while doing so.  Whether it is video shoots with both local and nationally known acts, promoting the latest hotspot in the area, or just hanging out with the girlfriends, Miss Kenge's energy demands the spotlight.  We had the opportunity to sit down with her during the video shoot for La the Darkman and Willie the Kid's video shot at the Love Lounge in Grand Rapids, Michigan!!

GLC: So Miss Kenge, What is your definition of the GoodLife??

Miss Kenge: Being successful.  Being able to buy what you want, and being appreciative for what you already have.

GLC: So what made you start modeling??

Miss Kenge: I was brought into the game by Klass wit a K.  He seen a lot of the promotion work that I had already been doing, so I joined his team IDC.  I began to get a lot of attention while out promoting parties and events.  A lot of local artists were asking me to appear in their video and photo shoots.  This began to happen so frequently, the modeling avenue was the next logical step.  So basically off the strength of the people, and their love for me as a whole is what brings me here today.

GLC: So besides your obvious physical traits, what do you think it is about you that attracts people to you??

Miss Kenge: I feel that a lot of people can connect with me because I'm not stuck up or booshie.  I don't feel like I'm above anyone else.  I just stay true to being humble and I think a lot of people can relate to that.  In addition to that, I'm a hard worker.  I'm dedicated and passionate about whatever I'm doing.  I keep it real in everything I do.

GLC: Here at the GoodLifeCampaign we feel that music is a KEY component in achieve any sort of piece of the GoodLife.  So on your free time what do you like to listen to?

Miss Kenge: I love to listen to alot of local artists. When I'm given a CD and asked my opinion, I love to get into the entire album.  I love hip hop, but at the same time I'm an old soul.  I'm not afraid to bring out The Temptations or Earth, Wind , and Fire, and really just unwind and relax.

GLC: Now just paying a little attention to your various model and promotion pages, I seem like you are constantly on the grind.  So whenever you do have time to get away, where would be your ideal vacation spot?

Miss Kenge: When I'm not promoting or modeling I actually, believe it or not, have a regular 9 to 5.  I'm out here doing the best that I can to provide for my family.  I have a daughter that is almost 5 years old and is getting ready to start school.  If I'm not doing one of those two things, then I often volunteer on my free time.  I volunteer at the local food pantry, help coach soccer, and do some scrapbooking, which is my little nerdy passion!!  I really don't have a particular vacation spot, just anywhere with my daughter would be perfectly fine!

GLC: You only have $25 and you need to get something to eat, drink, and listen to.  What would they be?

Miss Kenge: Let's see, something to drink I'd probably go with a Bud Light, possibly two!  Something to eat I have to go with some fries because they are my weakness.  And the CD would have to be that Erykah Badu Live Album, the one with the song "Tyrone" on it! LOL! I think every woman can relate to that song.

GLC: So.. I know this is a question I know all the fellas would want me to ask, Are You Single??

Miss Kenge: I am Absolutely 100% Single.

GLC: Obviously by choice, so what type of man, if you were looking, would you be into?

Miss Kenge: I'm looking for the type of man that can, first and foremost, if we are out in public be able to let me get hit on.  I like the type of guy who is confident enough to let me do me and fend for myself while we are out, but at the same time still keep an eye on me.  If he sees that someone is overstepping and making me uncomfortable, be able to step in and take control of the situation.  I like a BOSS!!  A guy that can use his use his mouthpiece to get what he wants without being tacky.

GLC:  When I say West Michigan, Muskegon, what comes to mind.  What are some unique experiences you can share that makes you love this area?

Miss Kenge:  Family BBQs!!  My family isn't really big on the words, I Love You, we show it.  We show it mostly through food and music. I can remember the soul train lines, all the dancing and laughter.  A good BBQ always brought people together.  Summer Celebration as well!! I can remember going shopping to pick out the baddest outfit trying to be seen down at the Summer Celebration.  I still enjoy going to Summer Celebration to this day and seeing everybody at the carnival.  I love Muskegon.  I'm always excited and eager to get away, but I always find my way back.  It's home! S/O to good ole Katy's Discount.

GLC: You are seriously on the grind all the time!  Where do you see yourself in five years?  Whether modeling or any of your other hustles, what do you envision?

Miss Kenge: In five years I just hope to more established.  More established as a model, and that I continue to be taken seriously in whatever I'm doing.  My main goal outside of modeling is to start my own non profit organization for "Baby Daddies".  I feel like there are alot of good dads out there that are forced to pay amounts of child support that their situations don't allow them to.  I believe in putting special programs in place to help assist the man in paying, or assisting in helping find a way for them to help support.  When you have a baby as a man and you aren't married to the mother, you start out in about $10,000 in debt because of the child birth and they definitely come after the guys.  One reason the Muskegon County Jail is so overcrowded and they are releasing people early is the amount of people they are locking up over Child Support.  In today's economy I think it is unfair the way the system is set up for the males involved.  I have a "baby daddy," and personally I feel the time he spends with his daughter is more important that just financial support.

Videos to catch Miss Kenge In!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUD2XejxkPQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVjN5yNDRqQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92jhtr_t16Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih1eFSaHlLk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYj58cqehFY&feature=share.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY3jMcZwYV8Yung

Be Sure to Check Her Out on FB and Follow On Twitter!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Miss-Kenge-The-Model/179912182029590

@MisssKENGE on Twitter!!

More Pics and Videos on the FB page!!  Super Hot!!

42-0!

Here at Good Life, we are all about local talent, and the biggest name from the city of Grand Rapids is Floyd "Money" Mayweather. Over the weekend, Money May proved again that he is the best pound for pound fighter. With a dominating performance against Viscous Victor Ortiz; finishing him off with a 4th round knockout. Some may say that it was a cheap shot, but any fighter will tell you otherwise. Good Life would just like to salute Floyd on another outstanding performance, and ALWAYS reppin the city of Grand Rapids.
Remember... Protect Yourself At All Times! GLC   

Neighborhood Watch!! GLC Sits Down with The Neighborhood Kid!!

What's the deal GoodLife fam?!  Yall know what it is over this way, we continue to bring you everything in our area that represents, well the GoodLife of course!!  This interview is no different!

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with David Cooper, AKA The Neighborhood Kid.  What stands out about this cat, besides his versatility on the mic, is the fact that he REALLY reps the city of Grand Rapids!  When he says The Neighborhood Kid he REALLY means it.  Look no further than the love he gets on stage, whether rocking the stage at BattleMania or the 36th Street Lounge, you can't deny he is the people's choice.  He certainly picked up a new fan with his new joint called, "Bacon and Eggs".  If you haven't heard it make sure you make that a priority!! All in All The Neighborhood Kid is a cat you can't help but like, musically and personally.  Come join us!

GLC: What is your definition of the GoodLife?

TNK: The GoodLife is prosperity, good health, good vision, a little bit of gwap in your pocket, you know cuz money does make the world go around.  Just waking up positive every single day, and just feeling good about everything in general.

GLC: So where does your music fall into the meaning of the GoodLife?

TNK: My music is for everybody.  I go by the name The Neighborhood Kid, and I'm not the only one.  You're a neighborhood kid, she(waitress walking past) is a neighborhood kid, they(people on the sidewalk) are all neighborhood kids.  I make songs for everyone.  I'm here to bring you back, help you remember your childhood and teenage years.  I also make music about all the adult situations that we can all relate to as well.

GLC: What neighborhood did you come from?

TNK: I was born and raised on the west side of Grand Rapids.  I moved around the city a little bit, the NE side, the SE side for a minute, but the west side of Grand Rapids, AKA Gun Ru, is home!  Been on the west side all through school.  All of my fam is one the west, my studio is on the west right off Broadway(S/O Sugar Shane and Broadway St.!).  But yeah it's the West side all day, Gun Ru, Grand Rapids, MI, it's all love!

GLC: We can tell you have love for your city, how does that resonate in your music?

TNK: Right now Grand Rapids is formulating a big local hip hop scene.  You see a lot more hip hop nights, more live performances popping up at several bars and nightclubs in the area.  A lot of hip hop love is being shown in the city right now.  As far as my music goes, I gotta say Gun Ru, I gotta say Grand Rapids, I gotta show love to my city.  That's just what it is!! I dont know any different. 

GLC: You have approximately $25 in your pocket, you have to get something to eat, drink and something to listen to.  What is it gonna be?

TNK: I gotta go with an Arizona Iced tea, either Wing Heaven or El Sombero's for something to eat.  El Sombero's is a spot on the west side where the burritos are banging!  If I had to pick up any album it would have to be Biggie Smalls, Ready to Die. 

GLC: Why the Ready to Die album?

TNK: Man that album just brings me back!  The memories.  Living life to that album, doin dirt to that album, getting down to that album, poppin off, getting drunk, getting high to that album! Just brings me back to that frame of time growing up, that mindstate.  Great memories!

GLC: So what are some of your favorite childhood memories growing up in Grand Rapids??

TNK: My memories kinda attach themselves to the seasons.  One of my favorite summer memories is just being in the front yard slap boxing with my dad.  Him just teaching me how to hold my own and be a man. I really miss that.  Fall time was about getting geared up!! Hoodies and Tims start to come out.  Great time for music too, a lot of classic third quarter releases!  In the winter is was bumper hitchin' with all the other neighborhood kids.  In the Spring I remember everybody getting that spring fever and just being excited to get out and breathe fresh air.

GLC: Name some local artists the really deal with, or keep an eye on in the city?

TNK: Big S/O to Sugar Shane, my producer who has been there from day one!  DJ Hunnid Grand AKA Jelani Akil Brown who is also one of my producers and has been doing his thing for a minute and has Eastown locked up.  S/O to A.N.T Anthony Lazar who has a serious movement going on with TTMG and the BattleMania series.  Big ups to AB and Coconut Brown, Martel Noir, Rod B Gutta, Michigan Militia, The Red Planet Boys who are up and coming, Ill Kontent and E Dub, who both have been killing the game for a minute.  Oh and Wille the Kid and La the Darkman really set a nice foundation for hip hop in the city.  It's great to see them comeback and show love to the city they came from.

GLC: Give us 5 words that describe you as an artist.

TNK: 1) Casually-Urban  2)Poverty-Stricken  3)Swagtastic(I try not to brag and boast much but Hip Hop makes you feel good!) 4) Real  5) Fortunate

GLC: So say you blow up, what will keep the Neighborhood Kid grounded??  What will keep you from being like the rest of these cats that can only rap about their newfound fame and money?

TNK: Hopefully sticking to my roots here in the city basically.  It's hard to imagine your life instantly filled with multi-millions of dollars.  That's kind of a question I'd have to ask myself again once I make it there. To be honest I think I would truly miss the day to day struggle, and that would help keep me focused also.  Keeping my mother and grandmother close, people I have seen work hard and stuggle every day of my life, would  keep me modest. I don't ever see myself  going Hollywood, or living outside of my means to impress anyone or prove a point.  A $100,000 house is perfectly fine with me. 

GLC: What about your brand of hip hop do you feel is unique and something everyone should hear??

TNK: I feel like I bring every type of feel to my audience.  A little bit of struggle, a little swag, a little something to make you reminince, everything basically.  There are some hardcore tracks, party tracks, reality tracks, a few sad "itchy eyed" tracks, something for every emotion is included.  It's real!!  Every flavor!  I'm trying to keep it like a suicide kool-aid, feel me??!! 


That's what's up fam!!  Be Sure to Friend Request on FB under David Cooper!!
Oh and if y'all don't know what a suicide kool-aid is, check out your nearest Wing Heaven!! 

                                                                             

Meet Singer/ Entrepreneur Christian Nelson

  


Whats up GoodLifer's! We want you to meet a young brotha who is not only doing his thing on the music side but who is killing em in the business world also. I guess you can say Christian Nelson is giving you the best of both worlds. Enough waisting time, lets meet Mr. Nelson.                                                                         

GLC: Christian tell us a little bit about where you're from and what got you started singing?

Christian: Basically I'm from Grand Rapids, MI, that's where I claim. That's where I grew up and that's where I remember most, but I was born in Alabama. Lived in Lansing for a short time when my dad was going to school at Michigan State University. My mother and father they're from Nigeria, but I'm American born so I really got a chance to live the quote on quote American way of life. So pretty much I grew up listening to everything my mom listened to a lot, my mother and father split when I was about nine, but she used to listen to a lot of Toni Braxton, Baby Face, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, so that's really what I came up on. I just grew up picking the pieces from that. I really studied Michael Jackson a lot and I can say he was one of my biggest inspirations. But basically I was singing in the house, had a little karaoke machine, then I took it to high school choir and the plays, and eventually that lead to singing national anthems at different events in my my city, and that really spread to more city opportunities more nation wide opportunities, and from there it's just been about me branding myself.

GLC: How is the music scene in Atlanta, and what made you make that move from Michigan to Atlanta?

Christian: The music scene in Atlanta has been poppin for a long time, you know way before I got here, but what ended up happening was I felt like I hit a brick wall where I was grinding at in Michigan, and I kind of felt like I did enough there, and I had to take it to another level. My sister was actually out in Atlanta grinding with her music, business and modeling thing, and she just recommended that I come out, so I ended up moving out here June 2009, and its just been two years of just grinding, linking up with some of the Aphiliates ( Big shout out to Willie the Kid, La the Darkman) just really kind of linking up with people that were already in positioned out here in Atlanta, and that's how I began to do it, not only in music but also just well rounding myself in the business aspect of things as well.

GLC: Tell us who you look up to in the industry?

Christian: Really right now to me the game is kind of polluted. I mean that's just my point of view, but I get into artist like Ryan Leslie, Babyface, Tank, Musiq Soulchild, Floetry, it goes all over. I think that when you do this music thing you have to appreciate every genre of it, so that's always been the approach that I've taken. Gospel all the way on up to rock, but as far as looking up to people, I've always tried to be a trendsetter, so everything that I do I try to make it my own. I listen to old school too, you know the Marvin Gaye's, Earth Wind and Fire, Teddy P. You just got to pick and choose from generation, but make sure you go back. Make sure that you're doing your research. A real broad approach is always been what I've taken.

                                                                                
GLC: We hear you are quite the entrepreneur. Tell us a little bit about that and what you have going on?

Christian: With the whole business its just been crazy because it was always a part of me, but I just never really applied it until I got out to Atlanta full force. Like I said I'm really into trendsetting, so me and my brother partnered up and started our own shoe line. Basically right now we have a tennis athletic basketball shoe but, we've also got a couture classic that's fitted for the more high end high priced fashion. But as far as business it was just understanding that I have product to bring to the table, and getting the attention of people that want to consume, and that was pretty much it. As far as like the stipulations of it you definitely want to make sure you do your research and make sure you got your paper work together.You know there is so many links that you want to make sure you cover. It definitely feels better to be on my own schedule most of the time. Were taking it to the next level. Entrepreneurs in the game!

GLC: If you could compare yourself to somebody in the game right now, who would it be?

Christian: If I could compare myself to anybody right now it would have to be Carl Thomas, as far as his style poetry. He just gives you a poetic feel. But I would also say John Legend, maybe a little Musiq Soulchild, just more modern, more belly, you know a little bit more grunge.  Which is just kind of a representation of what I grew up and saw, and experienced.

GLC: If you had 25 dollars and you had to get something to eat, drink and something to listen to what would they be?

Christian: Eat, I would probably go with a nice Nigerian dish. To drink, probably just some vitamin water, and to listen to I would have to go get the years best music at some CD store just so I can have a variety.
                                                                                  
GLC: How do you about the current state of r&b?


Christian: I feel its at a dying state. I think everything is always evolving. I think that it just has to be resurrected in a way. I knew there was going to be a struggle with this music thing, and for me taking a stand in the way that I do it, but I've accepted the challenge, and if its me independently putting my music out there, and my fans just going to it so be it. Like I said we still got big things going on though, I'm doing some gigs over seas September 30th I'm opening up for Wiz Kid, which is a big Nigerian artist. As long as you exhaust all your option in this music thing, you know don't just bank on the big label deal that's just going to sign you cause your so so hot, just grind and hustle and it'll happen.

GLC: Are you signed with anybody right now?

Christian: To be totally honest I do have distribution with UGF Entertainment but I don't know if we're going to continue the contract after this year, but I'm independently doing it. You can definitely check me on my website christiannelsonmusic.com we got some new things coming for the year 2012. All my fans have been riding with me this whole time threw the ups and the downs and the ins and the outs, we're still going to make things happen and I'm going to continue to represent for the people who held me down since day one.

GLC: Where can we go to check you out?

Christian: Check out pulsewearusa.com which is real real heavy, one of my sponsors. Also check out Young Syrus, he's a young boss in the game, managed by Ra Ra , Shout out to Ra Ra entertainment. Just shot a video called Mayweather. Be on the look out for it. Check out the Lansing Community College Newsletter. I was in there for making the voice cuts for the Voice, which is a show on NBC. Google me, and Facebook me also.

There you have it GoodLifers. A successful young entrepreneur who loves where he's from. Christian is what we here at GoodLifeCampaign call a role model for our youth. Make sure you support this phenomenally talented singer/entrepreneur by checking out his website and not only listening but purchasing his musical talent. Look out for those kicks he got also. Until next time y'all keep it 100.

                                                                            

Grand Rapids ArtPrize Is Back For The Third Time

                                                                                

It really is a good life in Grand Rapids Michigan. The famous ArtPrize is back for the third year in a row and we hear it is going to be better than last year.  If you are not familiar with the Art prize, it is a month long art gallery in downtown Grand Rapids. There are over 192 venues, 1,713 artists and 250,000 plus visitors come for this huge art event. This event kicks off two weeks after labor day which is Sept. 21st. Winner of the ArtPrize receives over $400,000, and is decided by a public vote. The ArtPrize is a platform on which artists can experiment, collaborate and explore new ideas. This event truly brings the whole city together with new life along with beautiful art, so if you are anywhere near the Grand Rapids area come out and support the local art. If u want to register for the ArtPrize got to artprize.org. See you there.

                                                                            

Shoe of the Week!

This past week, Nike unveiled the new Nike Mag shoe. If you are as old as I am, then these kicks should look familiar to you. Micheal J. Fox wore these in the classic Back to the Future movies. The Nike Mag's nicknamed "The Marty Mcfly's" will cost $5,000 and are now available on E bay. All the proceed will go to the Micheal J. Fox Foundation.