The War against Racism

Last weekend in Charlottesville Va the KKK and Neo-Nazis came together in a protest. The protest was about the removal of the statue of Confederate Robert E. Lee. Some say that the statue is a constant reminder of the hate that ran through the city, some say that it is a reminder of the better days of our country. The fact that we live in a country that still allows these factions to be around just shocks me. It seems that we are heading right back down the same path that we were in decades ago. The American Minority is under attack by these terrorist that have the right to operate in our country. The history that our country is filled with courage and also despair, we can never forget the despair because that's part of our history as well.

As the world watches these events happens the response from the White House has everyone in a uproar. With these blatant acts of terrorism we as  nation are tired of it , and have seen enough. The lack of response from our leaders to this tragedy is just uncalled for. Will the events in Charlottesville spread to other places in our country? With the power of the internet they can spread their message world wide and have every right to do so. The Daily Stormer is a publication that the neo-Nazi group uses to reach more people and was hosted by GoDaddy, who recently cut ties with them, after the group made a post mocking the victims of that day.

Heather D. Heyer (32)  a paralegal from the city lost her life due to a hit and run done by James Alex Fields Jr from Ohio. Fields ran into a on going crowd of protesters killing Heyer and injuring others. Two state troopers also lost their lives as well Lt H. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke M. M. Bates while monitoring the event in their helicopter as it fell and caught on fire.

With the last term of President Obama, we've seen race relations crumble and a fight between citizens and government increase. Will we be heading back into the age where we are divided again because of our races? All eyes are one the President and a country that seems to be falling apart at the seams. Who do we blame for all of this a newly elected President or us as a society for letting our hate for one another change our landscape?  On Monday a few members of the Presidents "American Manufacturing Council" quit after the response that the "House" gave after the events in Va.

C.E.O.s from Wal-Mart, Under Armour, Intel and Merck Pharmaceuticals all left the group and are no longer the council.

The fact that we are at this point in our times just is plain scary, we are in troubled times right now. The NFL and their treatment of Colin Kaepernick and still not being signed to a team, is leaving the "Black Community" in a uproar. The fact that he's still a free agent is leaving most people in a head spin. With the likes of Jason Whitlock and others of the media, Kaepernick's life in the NFL this year seems dim.

Will he be signed and will this change, or will he suffer from his actions of last seasons stance against the killing of blacks by the hands of police?

We can only hope that a change will come soon to all of this, but will it come down to a fight? We stand and watch as our country tries to survive this seemingly ongoing war between races and hope that we can rise above it all.

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The Divine Medium

I recently had the chance to talk to Christina Kay Watts also known as The Divine Medium. Now I know what you're thinking, this is a music magazine. Well we wanted to try something different and new. So we will be putting in great new articles about some folks who do some pretty amazing things outside of music. I sat down with Christina and she let me ask her some personal questions. I was very honored for her to let me into her world. She has never let a magazine come in and do a interview before. So this was really special to do and we thank her for it.

So every story has a beginning and Christina has a movie like story for you to hear. Like me she grew up in Johnstown Pa, in the Richland area of town. She comes from a Catholic family and her family is pretty well known in the area. Christina is a graduate of Bishop McCourt in Johnstown Pa and  college graduate attending Cambira Rowe, where she gained a Business Web Design Degree. Christina would also attend Walden University with a study in Forensic Psychology, with this in her arsenal of skills she could work with the Homicide Unit and Victim Services. She then found that being a medium would be too demanding to do both. 

Christina was given a very unique gift, she can see and hear what others can't. When she was a little girl her family lived by a cemetery in their back yard! She had this gift at a very young age and told people about it, but no one believed her. Christina is the youngest of five children, she told two of her sisters but only one of them believed her at that time. Growing up and learning to deal with knowing that she would have to cope by herself was tough.  

In 2009 a car accident would change her life forever. The accident would enhance her ability and  take her to a place where she cold learn more about her gifts. What seemed like such a little time for the Doctors who worked on her during the time of the accident, seemed like decades to Christina.  Imagine going to a place where there is no time and no one grows older than the age of 35! This place would be Heaven and this is where Christina went.

Now you are probably thinking that this can't be true. If you believe in Heaven and Hell then why can't it be true. I believe that there are people that are in tune to the spiritual world more than others. If you have any kind of faith then you believe that there is a higher being than us all. A world where there is peace and unity.Christina has been to this place and has learned things that we can only imagine. Being taught of the different realms in Heaven and learning that you can make your experience in Heaven a personal one. These are some of the things that were shown to her. 

                       

She explained to me that we all have guides in our lives. They help us through the rough terrain  that we call life.Before we're even born we have a purpose and meaning. A contract is made up of what your purpose in this life will be. Some of us were meant to be leaders and followers. Now Christina is sometime called a Psychic but this is not the case. Psychics' are not Mediums, in fact Psychics only pull things from your "Soul Contract" without knowing where it's meant to be. What psychics do is called "Implanting", and what they do is tell us things from our certain future. These choices haven't been made yet to get to those certain future outcomes. They may have pulled something from your "soul contract" that was suppose to happen 5 years from now! 

Christina is a teacher and a healer, providing her clients with answers to the questions that plague their lives. She has things like crystals and books for learning, and other objects that help raise your vibration, because everyone has their own vibration. She has a great, warm presence about her, I spent some time with her and observed her world. I have seen some stuff that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! The amazing gift that she has been given she uses to help people find peace and meaning in their lives. A genuine person with a huge heart for people here and beyond.

You can follow Christina  on Facebook (the devine  medium) and at www.thedevinemedium.com 

I want to  thank Christina  and her team for letting  me come in and talk with them, and for allowing  me to write this. Thank you.

The World of Jay La'Mont

With the Hip-Hop game the way it is now it's hard to find artists that really stand out. Jay La'Mont is one of the few artists that does. A native of Johnstown Pa La"Mont has gained a following with his music. Doing shows around Pa and surrounding areas, he takes pride in his work and loves the connection with his fans. To Jay La'Mont "Real artists are true to themselves and can adapt to any style." He proves that with every song that he does and puts out.

The founder and leader of "The Genius Society" a cult following of fans that live a laid back and hate free lifestyle. His music stands out in the crowd and send positive messages to his fans. He recently went to Portland to work on a album called "Gold" with Rare Rap Records which is set to be released this fall. He said that he learned a lot from his time there and really honed in on his craft.

His music is influenced by the minds of such great like Wiz, Kanye, Kendrick, The Doors, The Beatles, George Clinton and Jimi Hendrix. He also is a great producer behind the board he makes his own beats and contols his own sound. He is a double threat in the studio and that helps set him apart. He was on VH1's  Save The Music Concert at Thiel College and gained a lot of fans from that. 

You can find most of his work on SoundCloud so you can enjoy songs like "Late at Night" with Trey Ell and "No Breaks.". Jay La'Mont is on his way to the top there is no doubt in anyones' mind. He has the skill and the fire to become one of the best. "Fake artists can't adjust to the changes of music." Jay La'Mont proves time and time again that he can change at will and bring the same level of heat to each and every track. We look forward to seeing where he ends up and becomes in his music. So just sit back and enjoy the ride and by all means "Stay Foolish!"

Mixtape Review: Dange Dizzy

This weekend we will have a review of rap artist Dange Dizzy from The Black Sandz Music Group. His mixtape E.S.D. is now out on soundcloud and we will be breaking it out track by track!

History of The Ground Up Magazine

Nearly  three years ago Shawn " The Rev" McDowell  moved back  to his hometown  of Johnstown  Pennsylvania. He moved back after ten years of being  in Montana. He was a rap artist  and after a bad break up with his then girlfriend  he stopped  writing. He then wanted to start writing  again but not music, he wanted a chance to have all musicians  to have exposure .  Shawn started  The Ground  Up  Magazine  fan page on Facebook  just to cover local artists . The magazine  page quickly  gained exposure  all over the United  States  and abroad !  Giving the independent  and underground  music  artists  the chance to be heard by their  fans and gain new fans as well.

The pages articles get great exposure  and are read by the tons a viewers and fans of the product . The Ground  Up  Magazine  is proud to say that they are part of a few media  sources  that cover only Independent  and  Underground  music  artists  from around the world! The magazine  has covered  music  producers, authors, and athletes. This year they will be having  a movie producor, record labels, a clothing line and a Grey Cup Champion (CFL) in the line up! Big things are happening  this year with the company  with a huge partnership  that will be announced  in the fall of this year.

Shawn and his crew are always looking  for that next great artist  or group to talk to and show them off to the world. The Ground  Up  Magazine  are fans of great music and artists  who love their craft.

Playstation Network Giveaway!!!!

We here at The Ground Up Magazine not only love music but we are into gaming!! So next month in June we will be giving away a free subscription to the Playstation Network! All you have to do is send us a picture of you playing your favorite Playstation game and we will choose the best one. Be creative and fun the drawing will be on June 18 so ssend us your pictures to our fan page or post them on our site!!!!