James Hackett

A deconstructed Jacket I did some months ago

Takes a deep breath.

Since people may be asking my views lot for the  next few days ( weeks).

I give Anya she win. I eh even vex about it, is a path that she took upon herself to walk and it paid off for her, well done!

The TV show is a TV show, and she was the right story for it. Plus her timing is good, the fashion industry, and by extension, the art world is looking for fresh new stars. I believe the Caribbean is ground zero for that. She is creative and her graphic design background plus her traveling and building her clothing line over the last few years was quite an arsenal.

Then again, is not about Anya, is it?

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This is the first in a series of interviews I am doing with WE DOES DRAW. Click to see the interview

Apparantly the police is all over a youtube video, now down, that was published in our local newspapers today. Seems like some local version of a ganster video has made quite a stir, with the rappers from Laventille in Trinidad (usually synonymous with gang related culture).

Obviously a violent gritty production it shows artist Shines (his peforming name) spewing out lyrics about killing “babylon” and all the other things that people that kill babylon do. No doubt inspired by popular American gangster rap all the way back to Niggas With an Attitude (NWA) these guys have managed to achieve popularity like no other street performer of this time.

These guys are probably in hiding from the police detectives currently looking for them, I just think the entire situation is hilarious since the local newspapers (Trinidad Express) transcribed the song in the papers. What kind of stupidness is that?

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The voice of the people is the voice of Earth - The Mighty Shadow

Adrian was flung into the room. Soucouyant was losing her human form as her chalk white skin started to show. Adrian held his mask trying not to be intimidated. If Moko was right then the power Maljo would protect him.

She watched the mask and opened her hand. The heat of invisible flames burned Adrian’s hands. It soon became too intense and Adrian was forced to put the mask on. Unbelievable power surged through his body.

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Rhonda dashed for her mask. Madame was not going to win this time.

“I am not here to stop you child, I am here to,” she paused as she looked at Adrian who had secured his blue mask, “…I am here to help.”

Rhonda had one brown mask and a multicoloured one. The brown mask glowed in her hand. Slowly at first but then a bit more courageously she put the mask on her head. Soucouyant seemed desperate as Adrian considered putting on his own glowing blue mask. Moko had told him that it was the mask that would give him control over the jumbies.

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The name glowed brightly in colourful neon outside the building. The black light caressed the carnage of children dancing, body to body, blood to blood, obeying the commands of the music. There, dreams were traded for a night of desire. It is the heart of Soucouyant’s empire-the opposite of Adrenaline City, and-unbeknownst to most—the portal to the depths of hell. The Club was rocking. Adrian was making his rounds keeping everything together. He was the one that Madame had entrusted with most of this work. For some reason she had found favour in him, and he had found favour in this life. This was a far cry from his Maloney beginnings. He was heir to an empire. At times Adrian wondered if he could wrestle all this from powerful jumbies like Madame and Mr Gahoor- A Ligahoo that had redefined himself as a powerful businessman. Gahoor hated Adrian and he always tried to get rid of him. Adrian was glad that Soucouyant had liked him or he swore that he may have been faced with the option of hitting the streets again-or even far worse, knowing Gahoor’s ‘bad mind’.

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It exists just north and east of Trinidad. It can be seen as a bright star when the north-east trade winds blow the clouds away and reveal a passage of light. This is the destiny of all that belong to the nation that it overlooks. Adrenaline City.

It is a spiritual place. It is here that the ambient spirit of Carnival finds a home. The limitations of the flesh are cast aside and all enter this place with a new life and everlasting solace.

Pan stormed through the hallways. Costumes of traditional Carnival characters looked down on him. Bois was after him.

“Why you doing this now?”

” You know he going and get them now.” Pan cast back angrily over his shoulder. He swung his massive mallet forward and the gates to Trinidad opened. Rapso was right behind him. Bois shouted to Pan.

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This story was the seed for Warren Le Platte’s own ongoing series (which he is currently developing further for SHiZZiES).

After the events of the previous night involving Rhonda’s Kidnapping, David and his grandparents arrive at their intended destination. David’s life has begun to take a very weird and interesting twist. Will he be strong enough in mind and body to survive?

“You’re sure it’s safe Peter?” Glenda asked her husband.

“He’ll be fine dear,” Peter replied calmly “let the boy sleep.”

“yes but suppose they come?” she whispered. “he did say they would try to capture David.”

“Look Glenda, we have time. He is still safe, now come on let’s go,” he said, leading his wife out of the Land Rover and into the foliage.

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At the graduation Ball last week, Kayla and Rhonda made a spectacular entrance, only to be upstaged by Keston, who had three hotties draped all over him. Meanwhile Adrian and his ragtag posse of night creatures prepare to storm the festivities.

Crushed. Kayla was totally crushed. Her golden-brown skin reddened. Keston and the girls went inside the party. Kayla could not believe it, she stormed after them. Rhonda followed close behind knowing the girl well enough to fear for what she may do. Inside, Rhonda noticed David was with his girl Jihan. It pained Rhonda to see him in the arms of another woman.

Trying to take her mind off it, she turned her attention to Kayla, who stood with a serious screwface off the end of the party. Young bodies moved to the music, celebrating their freedom, their minds at liberty and their bodies a physical reflection of that. Rhonda could not help but feel the energy that was around and was glad she attended. At the bar Rhonda purchased two drinks and gave one to Kayla who finished it in one gulp.

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The action continues as we get closer to the Graduation. What is in store, what bacchanal lies ahead? Can Kayla compete with smallie? Will Rhonda meet David? It all unfolds as we head to the big event.

Keston sat waiting on smallie-strangely, he thought, he never got her name. However, she entered the living room with her two friends and he quickly forgot everything that was in his head.

“Girl, you look real good. I might as well walk with protection.”

“Protection…?” A playful smile slowly spread across her face.

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Foreseeing Redman’s death the soucouyant had made plans for a new leader, Adrian. Though he is a bit reluctant, he may prove to be even worse than Redman. Two more episodes to graduation.

Adrian walked across the promenade, and threw away the cigarette, in his mouth. He was a different person now. The past few weeks had changed him-drastically. He led the group of boys across the street. They moved like a pack of wild animals. People watched them and stayed from these hooligans fearing that they would attack them, so fearsome were their demeanor. The group went up some stairs into a building overlooking the promenade. Adrian looked at it through the tinted glass, a shade darker than it really was. He had entered a darker side of Trinidad; a Trinidad that he thought never existed. Reaching up the fifth flight they entered a room. A party with mostly young people was taking place. Not staying there, the boys went to a back room. Inside there was Madame -the fire woman- sitting and drinking a glass of wine.

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Narrowly escaping Redman and his crew, Rhonda and her friends seek to put an end those that have been like a picker patch in their sides from the beginning.

As the children fled deeper into the tunnel, Rhonda found an open space with a current of fresh air blowing -a possible exit- and shouted the news back to her friends. Rhonda stepped through the hole and realised that they had been under the cemetery still despite the distance they ran. Grabbing a stick she pointed to a break in the cemetery wall. Redman and the others were in pursuit not far behind.

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