SED*8 Magazine

Growing Up Hackney is part of a collaboration between Iniva, Discover Young Hackney, and the Hackney Museum, who ran a 5-week course where a group of young people from 17-21 had the opportunity to explore and rediscover their domicile of Hackney – the music and arts venues and its vibrant community.
Taking inspiration from photographer Dennis Morris’ photographs of the community he grew up in, they collaborated with artists Othello de’Souza and Obinna Nwosu.  Their work was on show as part of the Growing Up Black exhibition at the Hackney Museum throughout January 2010.

ALVIN CARPIO
Pr…Pr… Pleease Draw Me
“This guy is a character. The 30-second photo-shoot and the 2 minutes trying to convince him to take the shot were unforgettable. He wouldn’t let us take the photo unless I gave him a toke of my cigarette. If I didn’t sacrifice my cigarette, I wouldn’t have got this shot. What makes it so powerful to me is, not only the way he’s desperately smoking, but the hint of his eye-ball through his glasses.”

ALVIN CARPIO
A Rare Show of Teeth
“It’s funny how photography can bring laughter to life. This man was sitting with an intimidating, if not, protective stare. He sat very still while smoking. But once I started taking photos of him, he lifted his hand to cover his face. Then out of no where he began to chuckle almost crazily creating a hilarious spectacle! It really brightened my day to capture this moment. Everyone else enjoyed it too.”

NICOLETTE MILLER
New Approach

CYNTHIA EDO
Two Girls
Hackney’s got taste and style.

WORDS// Nicole Charles

You make me stink of aromas that remind me of exactly how weak I am,

You’ve manipulated my senses to bring me to the consensuses I’m senseless without you.

When I lay my head to rest I crave you in my bed I crave you in side of me,

You consume a with desire that tightens my chest and yet I abreast you,

I reach out my hand time and time again, and every time I grant you time I wish I could turn back the hands of time to that time I didn’t need you, to that time I didn’t, rely on you,

You’re killing me with your love and yet my body screams for your touch, that gentle elevating, steaming, exuberating touch

I inhale your negativity because you console my insecurities; you secure me with your smell,

You know what I’m saying without me saying a thing it’s our understanding,

I call a shotter on someones phone that ain’t my own

‘cause I only got £10 for a cockle of dro and I’m pay as you go so, you know I’ll always find a way for you to stay in my body for month.

To give me high blood pressure, paranoid schizophrenia, lung cancer, not tomention, dry mouth, munchies and the inability to even speak.

Somehow I find the money for you, even when I can’t afford to get on the tube,

but I ain’t a crack head,

I ain’t an addict

Weed is righteous!?!

Words&Images//David Ramirez

How long have you been blazin’?

I’ve been smoking weed for about 7 years now.

When did you first try it?

I smoked weed for the first time, when I saw my big brother rolling up a spliff, I asked him to draw me in and at first he was reluctant but after I asked him a few times he let me get high.

How often would you say you do it?

I smoke about two to three spliffs a day there’s times when I smoke more than that but that’s the average.

Why?

At first it was cos I thought it was cool, the sensation of been high was a new experience and something a lot of my friends were doing. I smoke weed now because I feel that if I don’t smoke I’m not myself, it’s almost to the point that being high is my sober state!

Do you think it has affected your life in any way, negative or positive, your ability to hold down a job, maintain relationships, both friendly and romantic?

Well since I started working I was already smoking so the effects haven’t been so obvious, my career as a DJ has not been affected if anything it allows me to get a better feeling on the beats. However I have noticed that when I don’t smoke I don’t feel right, the negative aspect of blazing is that a lot of money is spent and your memories starts to fade away… Not everything but there’s times you do stuff that takes you a while to remember, ‘specially if your high..See my dilemma?

Do you do any other drugs?

To be honest I’m a weed man, I have experimented with one or two different drugs but weed is my thing, I’m not interested in anything that’s not green.

Do your close friends also do weed?

My closest circle of friends do smoke weed, however there are some that have cut down a lot and there’s others that stopped for good.

How do you rationalise the habit then?

My opinion on doing weed is that if you do it in moderation its okay , if it becomes a daily ritual then you’re fucked, ‘specially if you are smoking skunk , as it’s much stronger and the chemicals damage your organs a lot more than weed. If you smoke weed daily, slowly you get hooked and there will come a time that you’re gonna wanna stop and you find yourself in a hole that is really hard to get out of… But weed its not all bad it’s not like you can overdose from it or become violent like alcohol… and when done from time to time is alright and relaxing, you be amazed the things you think of and do while your high.. lol, there’s far worse drugs out there!

Do you consider yourself addicted?

Yes.

What is your opinion of weed?

Best plant that exist on this planet.

Do you ever see yourself quitting?

I do see myself cutting down a lot… maybe to the point of doing it a few times a month but to be honest quitting doesn’t seem like its going to happen any time soon… it would be nice though!

CANNABIS: THE FACTS

THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the major active chemical compound in cannabis.

words & pictures: Fran Cornford

It’s an early afternoon in Hackney on one of those sunless days in autumn and I’m walking around Dalston with my camera. I ‘m looking for hairdressers to take some portraits and more importantly to see what makes this place tick.

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Images:  Ahoythere

Design studio Ahoythere is the product of young guns Ross Crawford and David Souch.  It was born out of their final major project at Uni where they both studied Graphic Design and lived in the same shabby house. With diverse creative abilities they collaborated their contemporary style and had such a laugh developing it that they decided to set out into the real world as a two-strong design force.  Having recently graduated the duo has burst onto the design industry with a prestigious ‘Best in Show’ award from the D&AD New Blood Exhibition.  With their work spreading across different medias including web, animation and print, Ahoythere prides itself in being fresh and innovative as well as simply creating good-lookin’ visuals.

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Curtis & Barack, Manhood, Power and Respect by Byron Hurt

The latest internet-release documentary by filmmaker and activist Byron Hurt discusses the very relevant election of the first black President of the USA, Barack Hussein Obama. Hurt is the man who brought us ‘Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes’, a thought-provoking and critical look at black masculinity in American society.  At ten minutes long, his newest addition is short enough to slip in between the Eastenders omnibus and could be the most enlightening ten minutes of your day.

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