STILL SNOWIN' | JAY "JEEZY" JENKINS

As we settle into the Fall, we know that the weeks ahead will be productive and busy! We’re navigating a number of projects while looking ahead to 2026! This month’s cover is definitely on that same wavelength! Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins is a 4X Grammy nominated artist, New York Times Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist who is known for a number of songs that have been on rotation on our playlists and more.

We wanted to know more about how he got into the industry, his passion for music, and his creative process. We also wanted to delve into his national TM: 101 Live Orchestra Tour which has been sold out. Due to the success of this tour, he announced his residency in Las Vegas at PH Live at Planet Hollywood with The Masquerade (Oct 31st + Nov 1st) and The Nutcracker (Dec 19th + 21st). On Sept 28th, he dropped his latest album, Still Snowin’! We had to find out this and more from the man himself!

ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s a pleasure to speak with you as I have been a fan, and I have enjoyed your body of work musically, as well as being an entrepreneur, so we’re thrilled to have you as the cover of Athleisure Mag this month!

JEEZY: I love that! Thank you so much! This is amazing!

AM: So, you’ve said that for you, music was a vehicle for business. When did you fall in love with rap, and when did you realize you wanted to be an entertainer?

J: I fell in love with music at a very young age. I think my mother bought me like a Fat Boy’s tape, EPMD tape, and that’s kind of when I was just like, “okay, this is something I love, and when we moved from abroad and came back to the States right before my parents separated, we moved into this small apartment complex. The lady, her name was Dimitri. She lived next door, she was, you know about my father’s age and she played Supersonic. Like, all day, every day, I mean, like J.J. Fad, Supersonic, and it was like, I heard this song literally from when the sun went up to when the sun went down. Because she would play it, and I would just put my ear to the the wall and just listen to it. I just couldn’t believe, like what I was hearing, because I was feeling it. As I started coming of age and you know, I found the people that I liked, I ended up discovering Tupac and I just felt like he was for me. Like, I just couldn’t believe somebody else had the same views I did, and that’s why I really like fell in love with it. And I was, like, okay, you can learn from this. I can enjoy it. This is it. That was the moment.

As far as the artistry, I think I was forced more into being an artist more than I chose to be. I learned from music like music has always been my teacher. One of the real reasons why, I still, you know, listen to podcasts is that I’m learning something. I feel like I always learn from the people I listen to. But the first entrepreneurs that I ever saw were the local hustlers or when Cash Money or No Limit, when they were taking off. I was, like, okay, I could do that, but I want to be a CEO, so I basically, was grinding up money to be a CEO of a label, so I would put my money into the artists, and it didn’t work, you know. And over time, I kind of left with no money, a studio, and really a dream. And one of my guys said, “man, you might as well, just try it yourself, because, you’re the most dedicated and devoted to it, but also, it’s your life.”

AM: Wow!

J: I thought about it and I was like, you know what, you’re right. And I just started to, you know, get in the booth and it took me 10 years. But I stuck with it and the next thing, you know, I was dropping, Tha Streets Iz Watchin, Trap or Die, and then Thug Motivation. It’s been on ever since then.

AM: I mean, where do you get your inspiration from when it comes to creating new music and what is your creative process like?

J: Hmm, creating new music for me, so I never looked at it as music. It’s almost like a journal. You have to live to journal. Like, if you’re not living, you don’t got nothing to journal about. You’ve gotta go through some good times, some bad times, some setbacks, some adversity.

AM: Yup.

J: For me, my process is living. You know, I go out. I have all these new experiences. I learn all these new things. You know, I’ll take a couple of chances, take some risks and with that, I’m able to basically journal about what I’m going through right or what just happened. I navigate through it, and that’s how I go into albums. They’re more like journals.

It’s like, what happened? How did you deal with it? How you feel? What are you gonna do better? What are you inspired to do? What’s in line with your purpose? That’s how I write the music. Now, as far as like the temperament of it, and the sound just depends on where I’m at. If I’m in a place where I’m in a great space, like, right now and this project that I’m about to release now, the music’s going to feel that way, you know, like, Still Snowin’ it feels like I’m in a good place, but, my last project I Might Forgive ... But I Don’t Forget, I was in a bad place, so the music was darker. The sound was darker, the production was deeper. The tempo was slower. So it just depends on how you feel. So, my process is where I live. It’s about enjoying your life no matter what state you’re in and when you take a break from the world and you start to journal, let that come out in the music. The rest is pretty much art.

AM: Right?

J: It’s almost like, if you’re trying to keep up with the trends or trying to stay on the radio and stuff like that - it might be a little more tricky because you’re not yelling it from a real place.

AM: I love the idea of you saying, you’re coming from a place of when you’re living, and so it is very interesting. When you’re hearing your music, but it’s always so super authentic, which I really appreciate.

J: Mmm yeah I receive that – thank you. I think the key to this game - any game really is to stay true to yourself. Staying true to how you really feel, stay present and stay in your flow. Don’t really get caught up in the noise because as artists, you have a million people to tell you how to do it, but they have never done it. And then you have people telling you what you should do and it’s almost like a recipe you get from your grandmother. She taught you how to do it and you understand it and nobody else can come and tell you how to remix this recipe if it has been a family secret. Culture is like our family secret. Nobody can come in and tell me how to remix culture. I’ve had people try and you know, I made some unpopular decisions to stay in my flow. Of course, I went through some turmoil, but it all came back around because I stayed solid, and I kept the Integrity of who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m saying. So, I don’t want to be the guy at the park you know, out with my daughters and somebody’s like, “oh, that’s got to make that whack something!”

AM: Right!

You’ve been in the industry for 20 years, which is not only incredible, but it’s a cultural milestone. You’ve been on this live orchestra tour focusing on your debut album and performing in like some insane venues at the Apollo Theater here in New York. How did you come together and decide that you wanted to incorporate a 26 piece orchestra and and really pushing the boundaries of what blending hip-hop and classical music is together?

J: Well, the thing is, growing up, you know, we watched all the mafia movies. So, John Gotti stuff and all that, and we just associated that with the good life, right?

AM: Yeah.

J: You get to that point in life you just us see it through a different lens because you made it to this point, which is why we were always fascinated with the narcos and all of that.

As far as our culture, we just want to get it to a place where - you know, it was once a dream, a hope, and a prayer that you made it past 21 because of the circumstances you were in. As you make it past 21, you start to think, like, “damn, what am I going to do now?” And as I have matured into this, to meet the next level is this or that, and the next level for me is 20 years later. Staying in my truth was something that I always dreamed of doing with an orchestra. I was able to do that in Atlanta at the High Museum. It was the first time at 45 years old that I had even seen an orchestra! So, you know, on top of being, nervous, because I’m like, “okay, how does this work for me?” I wondered whether people would accept it. By the third song, I was, like, “oh my God, I gotta take this around the world because this is aligned with my purpose, It’s inspiring and uplifting my culture.”

There are people that I see in this crowd that have suits on that I’ve never seen in suits, Right?

AM: Right!

J: There’s people here celebrating life and just happy to be here because they feel as good as they look – and that’s a feeling right? I said to myself, for my 20-year anniversary, I’m going to take this around the world because there’s somebody in Kansas City that’s never been to an orchestra before, there’s someone in DC that hasn’t, there’s somebody in Miami, there’s somebody in Detroit and they deserve that! The best thing I could do is bring this experience to them and present it in a way that’s cool. It was a date night to see all these married couples are out having a great time together because they grew up on the music. But now they get to celebrate together.

It’s the first of its kind and to do it as a tour and to do it independently as well!

AM: That’s quite an undertaking to do for you to personally back it yourself. The logistics that are around that, like, how has that been to put all that together?

J: I gotta say, I have an amazing team, you know? We tight, but we’re strong. Everybody believed in the vision, and we hit the ground - boots on the ground, and we hit the ground running. The experience of some of the orchestra members and their dedication. You know, the people that were breaking down the equipment, and like everybody was just in on this, like everybody gave it, they’re all it’s one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever been a part of, especially in the touring world.

I heard a lot of whispers out there, like, “Jeezy, don’t come to the West Coast.” I was, like, “no, we love the West Coast.” So, just for that, we just got a residency in Las Vegas. We’re bringing a 101 piece orchestra - first time to ever do it and we’re doing it at Planet Hollywood. We’re doing The Masquerade on October 31st, and November 1st, and then we’re coming back with The Nutcracker on December 19th and December 21st with that 101 piece orchestra members, Adam Blackstone, Derrick Hodge, DJ Drama, DJ Ace, and we bringing the whole show to the West Coast, and we want to make it a destination, so it’s more of an experience. Now, mind you, everybody else in the world is more than welcome to come. But I wanted to set up in the West Coast, just for the West Coast.

AM: It sounds amazing. We have previously interviewed Adam Blackstone a couple years ago. I find his artistry to be top notch and he is everywhere! Derrick Hodge, DJ Drama, DJ Ace - all of you coming together, creating this. How has that been?

J: It’s been amazing. I mean, I tell them all the time. Man, you know, I’m rocking with the best.

AM: Yup!

J: Adam Blackstone, brilliant. He’s brilliant, Derrick Hodge is phenomenal. Like, I’ve never seen someone that understands the way he understands how to mobilize the orchestra. Color of Noize Orchestra, has been phenomenal. Everything they’ve done doing, this tour has been nothing less than great. DJ Drama is the legend! The records that we have created and the synergy we have to see him open up the show - it’s almost like I’m getting hyped in my dressing room. Me and DJ Ace, we’ve been together almost 12 years now and we’re like Batman and Robin – you can’t have one without the other! We still give people that so you’re really getting 3 shows!

To me, it’s just like seeing everybody go down memory lane and really, just celebrating! By the way, it is not just a celebration of 20 years of Thug Motivation! 20 years ago, they were not in tuxedos listening to this music. That means you’ve done well for yourself to even be here. I’m just the guest of honor, and I’m coming to help you party! What I love is, in the beginning, a lot of people didn’t understand what an orchestra was because they hadn’t been to one before. So they were thinking more like they were going to come and my music would be playing. They didn’t think that I would be there. Once they realized that no, this is still a party, and when you get here and you stand on your feet, you never sit down - it’s been a party ever since!

AM: Wow!

What do you think your takeaway is going to be once the orchestra tour is completed, and obviously, this residency is an immersive environment. What are your takeaways going to be from doing these kinds of shows?

J: So always bet on yourself. To always stick with your vision no matter how many times people will tell you that it won’t work and what people won’t do and just hold your nose and jump in.

AM: Alright now!

J: That’s it! You have to take chances. You’ve gotta do things that are great. You gotta push the envelope and I just feel like, when you’re independent, you can do all those things. You don’t have to go back and forth with someone and try to get them to see what you see – you just take a chance. I hope and I pray that the generation behind being a generation behind them actually get a chance to see that you can evolve in this. You can give yourself permission to evolve. You don’t have to stay in this box that they put you in because that’s the way you came out in the beginning. You don’t have to stay that person you’re allowed to grow in this, you know?

We didn’t get to see Tupac get to his full potential. We didn’t see some of these greats get to their full potential. We didn’t see that from Bob Marley, you know - you get the right to grow in this. You get the right to evolve in this. Just be unapologetic of yourself and lean in and just be present meaning - I know where I’m at in my career, I know it’s been 20 years, but I feel younger than I’ve ever felt.

AM: Yeah.

J: I feel more creative than I have ever felt. I have more wisdom, more knowledge than that, I have more resources as well as relationships. And it’s just like, the thing that I don’t like when it comes to our culture and our music is that they feel like they can put a timeline on you.

AM: Facts.

J: You don’t get that with country music or rock music. Matter of fact, the older you get in rock, the greater you are. You know what I’m saying? Why can’t you be like that for us?

AM: As you know, sometimes we’re harder on ourselves?

J: Right!

AM: You’re absolutely right! I see Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Metallica, The Rolling Stones and it’s like oh my God, iconic – they’re still doing it and killing it, but we have that, too, and that should be respected within the culture.

J: And by the way, Richard Pryor when he was young he was probably cold but, Richard Pryor when he got older ha ha – he was a whole different beast, a whole different monster! He was a whole different animal!

AM: Facts!

J: That’s what I’m saying! For me, we’ve got to grow up as a culture! We have to grow up as a people. We have to grow up as men. We can’t shy away from that. I’m listening to classical music in the morning, I’m not negating that. No more Patron for me, but I’ll take some red wine! That’s my life!

AM: There you go!

J: You know what I’m saying, ain’t nothing wrong with that!

AM: As someone as busy as you are and you’re on the road touring, how do you stay in shape to optimize yourself? Here at Athleisure Mag, we’re always talking about fitness and/or wellness routines. So, what are 3 things that you do, because you’re always on the go?

J: Yeah, I mean, the good thing is, I’ve been busy pretty much 90% of my life, so I have been dialed in. I would say first, you know, you got to start off, you know, with your mental health. For me, that’s waking up meditating, praying about how grateful I am even when things aren’t going well. Taking the time to journal in the morning and step outside to get some fresh air. I’m definitely gonna go to the gym, and sometimes you know you might not have as much time as you would like, but you still got to do something.

AM: Exactly.

J: That’s my thing, just do something every day. And also, you know, of course, your vitamins, your nutrients, and stuff like that. I think eating right is a big part of that, but also like to be honest with you, the biggest thing I’ve learned through all this is like, don’t let none of this stuff stress you.

AM: That part!

J: If it’s not in your control, there’s nothing that you can do, it’s in God’s hand. He can handle everything.

AM: Exactly!

J: There is nothing for you to worry about.

AM: There’s many a time that I’m like, that’s on you, Lord – I know you got that and this.

J: Then just make decisions! Try your best to make decisions, you know, as quick as you can, so you don’t dwell on them. If you can’t make you that decision, just make sure you got some people that you trust that you can run things by just to get some insight.

I would say, you know, eating right, working out, taking care of your mind, taking care of you, and just knowing when it’s enough because you gotta have a work/life balance. I think that’s how you stay young. If you’re just working, and you’re not playing or doing things that charge you or fuel you, then you’ll be depleted.

AM: Absolutely.

J: Start with God first, then start with your mind, and then start with your physical health and just take care of yourself. Just treat yourself how you would treat your best friend!

AM: Pretty much!

You celebrated your birthday by dropping another project Still Snowin’ on your birthday, September 28th with DJ Drama. The live IG with you. hosted by DJ D-Nice was great, The office went nuts!

J: Yes!

AM: Tell me more about this, and why did you want to do this? I mean, you’re putting on a whole orchestra, and you’ve got this going on.

J: I know right? I couldn’t resist it! We were in Miami and I was getting ready for the tour, and I was just like, “you know, come out and put a studio in this bedroom!”

AM: Ha!

J: I know when it’s time. It was time for me and I felt with the orchestra and all of these things inspiring me this time, you know and getting back into my art bag as far as art collecting and stuff like that, which was one of the reasons why I tapped, Dr. Fahamu Pecou to do the cover art and actually paint the painting for the project.

For me, it’s just like, when you feel it, you gotta go. Because when you’re forcing it, it’s when you shouldn’t be doing it. If you’re doing it for money, you definitely shouldn’t be doing it. But if you’re doing it for the love of it, the passion of it, and it happens to come with some kind of monetary gain – absolutely! I’m doing this for the people that have always had love for me. I feel like they deserve it. In the words of the great Andre 3000, “if you want to hear something, make it yourself. He told me that one time, if you like something and you want to hear it, make it yourself.” That’s what I did, and this project is definitely where I’m at and I feel like, culturally, we need this, the fame needs, the people need this. It’s got to be a higher vibration. This is that. I want people to feel good, you know? I want people to feel good while they out here grinding, anybody out here, you know, solving the puzzle of life. I just wanted them to have some theme music!

AM: Well, one of the things I appreciate about you, is that you’re always involved in various projects, and I recently saw that you were in Trap City. What did you enjoy about being in this film and can we expect to see you more in TV /film as an actor?

J: This film to me was really cool because I had a lot of creative control. I was able to play a preacher that has street ties. I had to preach a sermon, so imagine that!

AM: Right!

J: It was actually fun, though it was one of those things where there was some down time. I was like, let’s try this again. Being in front of a camera, shooting music videos and doing this for most of your career, you just get really comfortable in front of the camera. It’s always those things you do when you have time, and you want to push yourself.

To me, it’s like, that’s another challenge - remembering lines, and showing up on time. Capturing those emotions because they told me that I had to cry and I said, I don’t know about that, but we’ll figure it out.

AM: As someone who is an entrepreneur with an ever growing portfolio, you most recently collaborated with Eastside Golf for their limited edition collab this past August. What was that process like, and what do you think the synergy is between hip-hop and golf?

J: I think it’s the synergy between men and golf and Black men in golf? I think that we looked at the sport as if we had no say in it. Shout out to Olajuwon Ajanaku who just went pro and he is the CEO over there at Eastside Golf. He’s one of the best players that I’ve ever seen, but we joke all the time about making golf cool. Golf is a part of my mental health if I’m honest. When you’re out there on that course and you’re able to have that fellowship, deal with people and be out there in that fresh air and listening to great music - it’s really how these meaningful conversations take place that helps your mental health. It brings up a level of peace you wouldn’t believe, and I think that’s what it is, I think us as Black men - we’re in a place right now, where we love peace, and this adds on to it. So I think that’s what people are actually doing, and the love! Golf is like like, you can never beat the course – you just play it. Sometimes you play good and sometimes you play bad. You’re not going to beat the course. You’re not going to go out there and get a hole in one every time you play the ball. The lesson is, every shot sets you up for the next shot. That’s how you have to live life. Every thing sets you up for the next thing.

AM: You also launched EDGE Energy Drink. Love the packaging. Love the can. Why did you want to add this to your diverse portfolio, and what can you tell me about the assortment of beverages?

J: Well, I’ve never been an energy drink guy. But the first time I had a taste of this, I was, like, oh my God, this is amazing. No aftertaste, it’s fresh. I had them bring down the sugar content in it.

AM: Nice.

J: I love the packaging. I love what it stood for, and I’ve had energy drinks and some of them could be really harsh. Some of them could make you really jittery. This was nothing of the sort. What I really love about EDGE is the opportunity to promote it and market it as a mixer as well.

You know, these signature drinks you like these signature cocktails. Instead of putting all this stuff in it with all this sugar and all this caffeine, you can go with something like EDGE and enjoy the taste and still get the energy you want. I like to do things that align with my purpose and my lifestyle.

You know, I might have 1 a day, 2 a day. I want to run it around so that it gives me the energy to get my work done. If I do, you know, ever, ever have a cocktail or something, I’ll just throw some EDGE in there instead of putting all this other stuff in there. It’s an amazing product. I’m actually excited about it. We’re gonna have a great year next year with Edge, for sure!

AM: When you’re not on the road or working on projects, how do you take time for yourself?

J: I really like to take a lot of time to work on myself spiritually, mentally, healthwise and to say grounded. So a lot of my free time, I’m really looking to be the best version of myself and really making sure that I am balancing my life. I know that balance is a word that doesn’t really exist, but you know, at the same time, I think that it is important to make sure that you are pouring into yourself and that you continue to grow so that when it is time for you to share back into the world, you’re more prepared.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for?

J: I mean, as far as right now, my philanthropy is the next thing on my table. My annual Snowball will be on Oct 9th in Atlanta, GA. It’s the gala for my non-profit foundation, Street Dreamz Foundation. This foundation is for at risk inner city youths. It’s a big, big, big, big deal this year. This year, the theme is Forever I Love Atlanta. Ludacris Bridges will be hosting. So it’s going to be amazing! I have some special surprises for all of my Atlanta folks. We’re going to raise a lot of money for a great cause and for some great kids.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be known as? You are a 4X Grammy Nominee, you have sold over 10 million albums worldwide, you’re a profound storyteller, NYT Best Selling Author, you have an impressive portfolio entrepreneurially - what do you want people to feel or say about you when they think about you and your body of work?

J: You know, I want to be a great father and to continue to be a great brother. As far as my legacy, I want to be known as somebody who took all of the risks that he had to take to pour back into his community, to pour back into his culture, to pour back into his people, and also the younger generation that it’s 1,000% ok to evolve. It’s 1,000% ok to be in your truth. It’s 1,000% ok to who you are.

AM: It was so great to sit down and talk with you as I know you have a busy few weeks ahead! As a fan of your music, I’ve enjoyed hearing about your vision, purpose, your com mitment, and your focus on community. I think that’s super important and that you’re a reflection of what people should look for when it comes to someone who is resilient and just doing it.

J: I appreciate that and receive it!

IG @jeezy

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT/BACK COVER Matt Swinsky | PG 16 - 33 + PG 36 -39 JWJ Enterprises | PG 34 Erika Goldring |

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see STILL SNOWIN’ | Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins in mag.

IN THE ZONE WITH RIOT TEN

Over the past few weeks, we've started to see a number of our favorite artists hitting the road to perform at residencies, events and more! It's so exciting to see how we have begun getting into a modified new normal. We caught up with RIOT TEN, a producer and DJ who we have enjoyed including his songs in our playlist. We wanted to find out how he got into the industry, how he stays inspired when making his music, about his new album that launches next month on Dim Mak's label and his upcoming performance at Lollapalooza.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music and when did you realize that you wanted to work in the industry?

RIOT TEN: For as long as I can remember I always loved music. But it wasn't until the start of high school that I began experimenting with it. That's really where it all started. From then on, I knew I wanted to make music for the rest of my life and there was no one that could tell me otherwise.

AM: How did you get your start?

RT: Well, I guess it depends how you would define "start", but I'd say mine was when I first downloaded FL Studio. I was introduced to it by a friend of mine, Jack Bass, during my sophomore year of High School. The rest is just history.

AM: How would you define your style of music?

RT: I'd describe my style as loud, obnoxious, and high energy. Haha I know it doesn't sound very inviting, but when you're playing in front of thousands of people, and you feel the energy, it makes a bit more sense.

AM: Who would you identify as your mentors musically?

RT: That's a hard one to be honest. As far as producer mentors, I never really had anyone take me under their wing so to speak, but influences are a completely different ferent story. I still draw influence from so many artists, all different genres and different sizes. I also had some artists supporting my music early on that played a big role in my growth. I toured with Yellow Claw, Adventure Club, Excision, and others early on.

AM: You’ve been producing music since you were 15, when did you realize that you wanted to DJ and at what point did you feel that you made it in the industry?

RT: I was around 18 I believe, playing at house parties, when I realized I wanted to DJ. The energy from those parties was something I'd never felt and I was addicted to it. And I'd say I was around 25 when I began feeling "legitimate" in the scene. I know I still have a long way to go, so even though I may be on a larger stage, I still don't necessarily feel like I've "made it"... If that makes sense. When I start headlining festivals, and my music hits #1 on Billboard, maybe then I can rest.

AM: You’re known for dubstep and hardtrap, when you’re not making music, who do you enjoy listening to when you’re just relaxing at home?

RT: I'm a big fan of rap and hiphop, so when I'm driving I'm usually listening to that. Some Smokepurpp, DaBaby, Ludacris, Lil Jon, etc. If I'm relaxing at home, some chill house music does the job. Artists like Kaskade, Deadmau5, stuff like that. But if I'm in my feels, I love some Hans Zimmer, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Ryuichi Sakamoto. That might come as a surprise to some.

AM: Creatively, what’s your process like when you’re creating your music?

RT: It really varies. Sometimes I have a concept of what i want to do and other times I just play around with sounds and see if something cool comes out of it. There are also times where i'll just sit there for hours and nothing good comes out of it. Patience is key.

AM: This past year or so has been one that we couldn’t have scripted. With the lack of being able to tour and with plans being in the air, how did you approach continuing to make music?

RT: It was a hard time for so many of us, but I really do think I wrote some of the best music I've ever made. It gave me so much more time to really experiment, hone in on my craft with different sounds and styles, etc... Although financially difficult, in hindsight it was everything I really needed to continue my career.

AM: What did you learn about yourself during the pandemic?

RT: I realized that I wanted to help others more. I wanted to do more good deeds and be a better person overall. I've always believed in good energy, so the time off at home really helped me actualize it.

AM: We have been playing “Don’t You” on loop as it’s cool to listen to when you’re relaxing but is also awesome for working out. This song has such an ethereal quality to it, what inspired you in creating this?

RT: Honestly, this song was a bit of an accident. It was just one of those times when I was messing around with random sounds while warming up. I started to catch a groove and it literally all came together in the same session. For me, the vocals really opened up a lot of possibilities in the song and sort of became the glue.

AM: You’re releasing your latest album, Hype or Die: Homecoming in July on Dim Mak, tell us about the album and what can we expect?

RT: It's my best body of work, hands down. As far as expectations, you can expect a lot of different styles of bass music. Some of the songs are slow, some fast, some high energy, some more melodic, some aggressive, some tame. I think overall the listening experience is the best I've put out and I am beyond excited for this release.

AM: Who are 3 people that you have yet to work with that are on your list?

RT: Honestly an easy #1 for me is Meek Mill. The energy and rawness he has is something I've always wanted on a song of mine. For the more melodic stuff that I make I would love to work with Maroon 5, or at least Adam. His voice is A1. And on the production side, however cliche it seems, Skrillex would be the ultimate collaboration.

AM: With things reopening again, you’re back on the road performing and you have a number of festivals coming up – you’re playing Lollapalooza – how excited are you to play this festival as well as to get back to juggling a schedule?

RT: I think excited would be the understatement of the century. Haha playing at Lollapalooza has been a bucket lister of mine since I began touring and I'm going to make a major statement with that set. Overall though, don't get me wrong, I did enjoy being at home with the family, so I'm going to miss that a lot. But nothing beats delayed flights, airport food, and crying babies on a plane every week. I'm so ready for it all again. haha

AM: Are there additional projects that you have coming up that we should keep an eye out for?

RT: Sitting on A LOT of unreleased music right now. We have a new single this month with a music video, a full length album in July, and I just about have the follow up EP finished as well. In addition, I have a side project that I'll be announcing soon as well. We've released a handful of singles already under the alias, but I've yet to disclose my involvement. Excited to see the reaction to this!

AM: When you’re not making music or hitting the road, what do you do in your downtime?

RT: I'm at home with my 2 boys and my girlfriend. I really don't like to go anywhere when I'm not traveling, so you can catch me spending time with the family or playing Xbox with friends. I'd consider myself a gamer, so I definitely like to escape sometimes and play some Apex Legends and Rocket League.

IG @RIOTTENMUSIC

PHOTOS COURTESY | RIOT TEN

Read the Jun Issue #66 of Athleisure Mag and see In the Zone with RIOT TEN in mag.

THE FIT SET

A day in the life of Team Athleisure Mag can be in the studio for a session, on set for a shoot, and checking out new brands/products coming to market. Earlier this month we spent the day at Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival here in NYC at the Seaport District  (the next stop is Chicago on Aug. 11th) for an entire day of workouts, sessions and we took some time to chat with celebrity fitness trainers and personalities in between workouts.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve enjoyed seeing you over the past two seasons on E! Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian – how did you get involved in that show?

HARLEY PASTERNAK: I have been good friends with Kanye for about 15 years. So I’m inherited into the family. I’m good friends with Kim and Kanye, and with Kris, Khloe and the whole family. So when they were doing the show, Khloe reached out – I said let’s go!

AM: How long have you been with Propel and what was it that made you want to connect with the brand?

HP: That’s a good question. My background was originally in performance nutrition so I ran the performance lab/nutrition lab for the military for a number of years and most of the information on performance – a lot of it came from years ago from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. That was the go to place for us as scientists to get our information to use with the soldiers. So the importance of functional foods and functional beverages has always been a big part of what I do and I really have had an issue with sometimes the sugar content of some of these beverages, and I met the Propel team through some mutual friends and I learned more about what Propel was doing. It reminded me so much of what Gatorade did back in the day and establishing itself as the definitive sports performance information source. Propel has really done the same with fitness and it’s not about the beverage, it’s about the lifestyle, the networking, the fitness community sharing with one another and celebrating together. Then they started explaining to me about Propel Co:Labs and it was really about the future and the present. I got so excited that I became a terrible negotiator because I said, “I’m in”.

The Co:Labs have been really great. As a fitness professional, it's often very individual and almost a very lonely experience. Everyone is so competitive with one another – so competitive but they have created these environments where people are sharing ideas and thoughts and celebrating moving together. They're bringing in pop stars and giving the due and professional attention to the fitness industry that most brands haven’t even come close to.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Gunnar, can you tell us about your background?

GUNNAR PETERSON: I’ve been a personal trainer in Beverly Hills for 29 years. I started working with the LA Lakers last year as  the Director of Strength and Endurance and am reprising my role this year – should be a new challenge and a lot of fun. And I’ve been working with Propel for a number of years because I think that they do it better than anybody in bringing fitness and sports together by collaborating versus all the people that kind of horde information and don’t share and feel that their way is better. I think that Propel opens it up and makes it the way that it should be.

AM: What’s your method or the way that you like to work and train people?

GP: I do different workouts with people because everyone is different as they have different goals, perceptions weaknesses, injury histories, likes and dislikes – although that doesn’t play that much of a part. I'm strength based and I do a lot of cardio intervals to it, movement, mobility etc it’s pretty comprehensive. The one group that we don’t cater to or get asked to do something is body builders or those that are looking to put mass on – that’s not what we do.

AM: A lot of our readers loved seeing you in Khloe Kardashian’s Revenge Body on E! and wanted to know how you got involved in that!

GP: Well I’ve known Kris and the clan – I’ve known those guys for 20 years. I worked with Kris and Kim so when Khloe came to me to make a big change in her life, we got after it. She puts the work in like any athlete that I have worked with and she had her moment. She made huge changes into her body and I wrote the passage on fitness in her book and she created the show and asked me to be on it and there was no way that I was going to miss out on that opportunity to share a small part of what she did with other people and to put it out there for everyone to see. I mean I have had text messages from a lot of people that have had huge takeaways from this.

AM: So how excited are you to be here today for this event?

GP: This is terrific. I have done a number of these with Propel and they have exceeded expectations and they keep going above and beyond. I mean, every venue is great and this one with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background and this giant rooftop with no space constraints – this is going to be a great day today!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Rachel aka Yoga Girl, tell us about what you're doing at the Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival.

YOGA GIRL: I just taught a class on a rooftop overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s kind of insane. We have 300-400 people here, and it’s been super, super fun. I taught a class [at Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival] in L.A. and then taught a class here, and it’s been so community building and so great.

AM: What is the best way to get started in yoga practice?

YG: I always give the recommendation to go find a studio and go take an actual class. There’s so many things you can do online. There’s YouTube and there’s online yoga. But, having a teacher who you can ask questions to, especially if you’re a beginner, is great so you can learn the poses correctly and have someone to align you if you need help. It’s good to start off with a teacher and then transition a little bit more to home.

AM: What are several yoga postures you would recommend for stress relief?

YG: Anything forward folding or forward bending, especially seated, is really nurturing. Legs up the wall pose is a super distressing pose. A forward bend, legs up the wall, child’s pose and reclined bound angle are good poses.

AM: How do you maintain balance with your busy schedule?

YG: I try to find pockets of rest in my day. If I have a really busy day full of meetings and things, I’ll make sure that I have a whole hour to eat lunch and not do multiple things at the same time all day. I’ll take a bath with my baby in the morning, always. I keep that a super serious thing, and I rest in between all the hectic stuff. And then I find it’s easy to keep the energy up all day.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us what Akin’s Army is?

AKIN AKMAN: Well Akin’s Army is a mindset really. I like to say that it’s a higher standard with everyone that trains with me. The mindset is constant process. It’s a workout obviously but intended initially to tap into the athletes that didn’t have kind of training anymore. But then eventually it became more of a mindset.

AM: Can you tell us a little more about your fitness background?

AA: I grew up playing tennis and I went to IMG Academy which was known as Bollettieri when I went there at age 7. It was everyday except for Sundays which I had off haha. But now I train all day everyday – 7 days a week. So I started there and I got hurt around 16/17 and I was already coaching tennis at the time there too and was looking at playing pro and then when I got injured, I was out for a year and then in that time, I decided to go to college instead of trying to play tournaments. I thought that I would just go back to that when I fully healed. And then, it was tough to heal and when I came back and I was coaching at IMG, at 18, but I got hurt on my right wrist with bruising of the bone – so I moved on from playing tennis as much and started coaching. But it took me awhile before I started making coaching my everything.

I started coaching at Crunch Fitness in South Beach first in 2009. I was already teaching tennis at Flamingo Park in South Beach as well. Then I moved to NYC at the end of 2009/2010 and started teaching at Crunch here and then went onto SoulCycle in 2012 and then I really made it my everything and started teaching 40 classes a week.

AM: We have a number of friends who swear by your SoulCycle classes. How did you get connected with Propel and how did you get connected to Propel Co:Labs?

AA: Now you have to come! For Propel, I did a bootcamp with them awhile back through my sister who had a connection.

We did a roofdeck bootcamp around Chelsea – I don’t even remember the building! I met some of the head people that were putting this kind of a thing together – it was amazing and so much fun! Then we didn’t do anything until this year when they asked me to come back and we did LA and this – it’s been incredible!

AM: What are you doing today as we know you’re on the schedule of events?

AA: My class today is again, it’s a full body workout. The way that I teach, it’s tough but you do as much as you can and it’s more about the perspective and the approach that you come to with it. Staying positive and being in that mindset. I try to keep the people hyped up and just full of energy and to do whatever they can and to give everything that they have got! That’s the point of what today is about!

ATHLEISURE MAG: You train a number of celebs and have been on a number of tours! Can you give us a quick rundown on your background?

NICOLE WINHOFFER: I studied Kinesiology, Alexander Technique, collusive body, Eastern Philosophy of well being and after that, I went on tour with Madonna and started training her dancers. She had an audition after I met her at that, she asked me to be her trainer full time and I worked with her for 5 years and I was the head trainer on her MDNA World Tour and her Sticky and Sweet World Tour, and then after those tours, I started teaching underground classes in NY in the basement of my apartment building in 2013 and we  moved to the Standard Hotel on the 3rd floor of the Highline and I started to train trainers under me. I signed with Adidas by Stella McCartney as the first Global Brand Ambassador in 2014 and I partnered with Propel for the first time in 2016 when they did their first festival. Now we’re on our 3rd year and it has been such a great partnership!

and actresses, fashion designers and wealthy/affluent men and women) to bring my knowledge to people across all demographics across America and to be able to give them results and to instill in them that they have the power in them to achieve what they want. I really liked that process of being able to work with people in that way with those that didn’t really think that it was possible and were never felt to believe that way.  

AM: How cool was it to be able to do your session at Propel Co:Labs in LA with Ludacris performing on stage with you?

NW: It was amazing! I call myself a Fitness Artist because I believe in self expression and music and moving your body as there is no correct way. And when Propel told me that the artist that I was going to share the stage with was going to be Ludacris, I thought – wow! It was so exciting and amazing. We worked with the Ludacris team for 6 weeks to figure out the playlist, timing, and they were so great and we had a soundcheck and the Propel team was so supportive. There were a lot of fun moments – there was one moment on stage where I grabbed the Propel bottle and like landed on a split in the floor and Ludacris looked around like, “what is happening” and I was like “yeah that’s right – this is happening right now”. The crowd loved it because they were all sweating and they didn’t feel like a work out because it was so much fun!

AM: So what is the NW Method?

NW: The NW Method is a 55 minute experience that I take you through in order to free your spirit and to move deeper into your body and accentuate your curves. It’s a type of somatic training – there’s breath work, kundalini and it’s a bit more physical exertion like physical meditation – 20 songs that I match up the BPMs and I play songs that wake up your internal organs. Then it moves people past their brains to their bodies

AM: We saw you on Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian – what was the process like for you being on that show and what have you gotten from being a part of it?
 
NW: They found me on Instagram! The casting director told me that my moves were cool and different and how I encompass eastern movement and dance. So I flew to LA for the audition and got the job. I loved that the show took my message (which I train a lot of A-List actors so they can feel themselves and move into their personal truth.

AM: Why do you like working with Propel?

NW: They are a collaborative brand, they listen to my ideas, they support my ideas and they are always looking to stand behind myself and the other artists that they have. Their innovation and willingness to try something new is amazing. The first Propel festival was 3 years ago in LA and it was really different because it was the first time that different fitness people came together and they provided this great experience. The last thing is music – they did a song with Jessie J. last year and the first year they did this song that incorporated a music festival and I built my brand around music. They just really support music in general and it makes it really easy for me to work with them.

AM: We love the bodysuits and the cool legwear that you have – what are your favorite fitness items that you love wearing?

NW: Oooo I’m a dancer so I love wearing Capezio and Danskin. I have friends that are seamstresses and they make me personal outfits so that’s always fun. I love my unitards and wearing bathing suits and anything that’s just not too fitnessy.  

AM: You had this really cool look on your Instagram that was like chaps and a bikini bottom and embellished but it looked very cool!

NW: Yeah, yeah, yeah – that was from Patricia Field for the Propel festival. My friend who is a stylist came over and he sent them over for me to try, but they were way too heavy for me to dance in them haha!

AM: How do you give of your time?

NW: I am part of Girls Inc. which supports young girls in urban markets that don't have access to dance so I teach with them on tour and locally. I work with this group called Core Energetics which is a type of cognitive therapy and I work with some mental patients that don’t have things that healthy humans have through dance and time. I also volunteer once a week at an elderly hospital jut spending time, delivering food and playing games.

AM: Since music is so important to you and is so integral to your brand. What’s on your playlist right now?

NW: Well J Cole for sure – he’s my favorite he has a song called, Kevin’s Heart, I just downloaded the Carter’s album and I went ape shit! I love Rihanna – Needed Me, Ciara – Overdose, Disclosure's Latch featuring Sam Smith, those are my faves right now!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We're fans of Icona Pop as it's on a few of our playlists. You guys have a new album that you are working on – is there anything that you can tell us about that would be amazing!

CAROLINE HJELT: We’ve been writing on this album for quite a long time and we were just talking about it the other day saying, “how could it have taken us this long?” It’s just because we’re so bad at saying no to stuff! Like we love what we do and when we get fun things – we’re like, let’s squeeze it in and then we begin to go touring again. So it’s been taking a long time but we’re almost there and it feels amazing. I would say that I’m just as excited about this album as I am on the first one. It feels like when you're born. We've been working on it for so long and sharing situations and we’re very proud of it.

AM: That’s so exciting and your faces really show how much you’re pumped for this. Is there a drop date.

AINO JAWO: We don’t have a date, but the album will be done at the end of this year. It will be out earlier next year.

AM: So are you guys doing festivals right now?

AJ: Yes we’re doing a lot of festivals in Europe and a couple of shows as well here in the states. I think this is the last one here right?

CH: Yeah and then we move onto Europe.

AM: Did the Coppenhagen festival already happen – Soleima who is also on Big Beat was telling us about it.

CH: Oh yes, you're talking about Roskilde.

AM: Yes!

AJ: Yes Rosklide, we did that last year it was so AMAZING! We have big shows all over the place.

CH: It’s a lot of traveling but we love that!

AJ: We also just got a house in LA where we will have our studio in there as well.

AM: Do you guys also live together?

ICONA POP: YES!!!

AM: How cute is that?

AJ: It’s a big house so you get your space and we’re going to build everything – from a fitness center to a studio.

CH: So we’ll never have to leave and you’ll never see us again! But we’ll have everything that we’ll need haha.

AM: It’s like a glam compound – love it. So what workouts do you guys typically do or what are you building into your home to do?

CH: Well we bought our first thing – the Assault Bike, the first one an all retro one! It’s great for us to have all of those things. I think we’re also planning on putting in a mat so we can do different kinds of workouts.

AJ: Yeah like yoga and my boyfriend is our personal trainer – so he is taking care of all the lifting weights stuff there.

CH: We also love working outside so this gym will be outside. We spend so much time in our studios so it’s great to get that fresh air and to hang out with your friends outside. Meanwhile, we’re working out. We also love working out together and like sometimes you have a longer time and other times your schedule is crazy so it’s important to get it in when you can.

AJ: I like circuit training and that’s a good way to get strong with different types. We always say lift weights with cardio as a lot of women don’t lift weights and that’s stupid.

CH: Yeah and also you realize that it’s a thing that you slowly and slowly get better and that’s when you feel your body start to change. Your posture, you have so much more in your muscles.

AM: So how excited are you guys to be here today with Propel Co:Labs – how did that happen?

CH: I think that they reached out to us and we got super excited because we do work out so much and that’s a huge part of who we are and for us it’s important for us to jump on stage for 1.5 – 2 hours and not gasp for breath! We want to deliver to our fans and be in really good shape and that’s why we were so happy to be a part of this.  

AJ: I think that a lot of times, we do a lot of parties and people see us do shots on stage, but that's just a portion of what we do. There is another part!

CH: Yes, it’s just a part as we’re healthy and a lot of our fans say that they work out to our music. It lets them get over the hump and take their workout to the next level.

AJ: When you’re at the gym it just gives you that energy to say – yes! Sometimes I’m at the gym and I’m like “oh my gosh” this is us and I get a little embarrassed and then I sing along haha.

AM: What keeps you guys inspired when you’re making your music?

CH: I think traveling, hanging out with our friends which is so important to us but also what we’re trying to do right now is that every place we go to, we say what can we do here – what can we see? We really want to work on what we can see and to enjoy, experiencing etc. You can travel all over the world and just see a hotel room. But when you can go and taste the food that is special to that place or to meet the people from that region – that is really inspiring.

AJ: Then I feel like sometimes you need to get bored to like let things sink in. So take a little pause, get bored and then say hmm this is what I want to write. It works very well for us.

AM: Love that, it’s kind of like our belief in disconnecting to connect. So when you guys aren’t working, how do you relax and take time for yourself.

AJ: Mmmm Nature

CH: Yeah! It’s one of those things that’s so easy and sometimes you need a couple of days to say ok I can now breath and I’m not thinking about work too much. But when you come to nature, it happens instantly. Because you can look at water for hours and not feel stressed. You can look at the forest and animals and not feel stressed. This way you can connect with your body immediately as opposed to waiting to 5 days to come down.

AJ: I feel like a lot of times you don’t have that many days off. So we try to do mindfulness – just a couple of minutes a day and that usually helps a lot. It’s also about eating good food.

CH: Yeah just enjoying and appreciating eating really good food with people that you like. That’s also a luxury for me.

AJ: And exercise again. I mean you get so much endorphins from doing that. I don’t even see the workout as work as it’s just part of my routine. When I have a day off, I can do it longer and not be stressed about going someplace else. The worst thing is to be stressed in the gym as it breaks my heart.

AM: How do guys prepare before you hit the stage?

AJ: We drink coffee and listen to music.

CH: We usually, put on great music and get ready together as we have to be in sync. We talk about what we are going to focus on during the performance ….

AJ: Andwho we’re going to be on stage.

CH: Yeah like different personalities

AJ: Sometimes it’s David Bowie, sometimes it’s Prince, Michael Jackson – you name it and sometimes it’s just me haha!

PHOTOS COURTESY | Katie June Burton + Stephanie Noritz

Read more from the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Fit Set in magazine.

A MOMENT WITH CLAUDIA JORDAN

When it comes to a girl's girl, we'd add Claudia Jordan to our crew. In addition to being a hard worker (we remember her from her days as being one of Barker's Beauties on The Price is Right), is stunning and is never afraid to speak her mind! As a former BRAVO Real Housewives
of Atlanta, we always loved when she kept it real with her girls.Currently, she is a co-host of the Ice-T produced, The Raw Word talk show that launches this month and has had guests that have included Ludacris, Common, Tracy Morgan and more. We got the scoop on what she's up to, the show, her style and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you become attached to this show, and what about it made you feel that it was aligned with what you are doing in your career?

CLAUDIA JORDAN: I had recently moved back to LA, after passing an offer from “Real Housewives Of Atlanta” as a "friend of the show". I was having second thoughts on whether or not I had made the right decision. I knew I wanted to be on a talk show and I knew I wanted to be in film. I prayed on it. Out of the blue, I got a call to come in and meet with Andre Jetmir, about a possible new talk show. I went in, my heel broke in the interview and I walked out
limping. I saw it as sign that something was going to come of this!

AM: As the Co-Host, what can we expect from you, and what will you focus on during certain segments/stories?

CJ: I love the ability to say the first thing that comes to mind when our topics come up without sounding like it's a safe and rehearsed answer. I want to continue being authentic and say what
our viewers may be thinking. I think I have an almost childlike enthusiasm for life and love talking with people. I love hearing their stories and I hope people can feel my sincerity through the screen.

AM: What guests should we keep an eye on that you were excited to interview?     

CJ: I love interviewing anyone with an inspiring story, especially those recognized as an underdog whether they are a celebrity or not. We had Deon Cole (of ABC's Blackish) on the show, who encouraged people to keep pushing even when things get difficult. He's one of the
most sought after comics in the industry, but shared that he has never booked anything he auditioned for. Things just fell into his lap that were meant to be. Writers have even written roles to fit his character. Deon’s story is inspiring and shows that never giving up is truly important. Rapper Nipsey Hussle came on the show and discussed how he came from the streets. I truly enjoyed listening to him talk about his past and really peel back the layers. I felt honored to be a part of it. I love that I have the chance to show our guests in a different light
and show they are more than the boxes that they are put in to.

AM: In addition to your role here, you're also an actress - do you have any films/special projects that you can share?

CJ: Yes I do! I'm very proud of my budding acting career. I have a film with Brian White, Columbus Short and Kearia Shroeder that was directed by Dame Dash called “The List”. I think people will be surprised when they see me in this role as my character develops. I actually had to get into a coffin in a church for one of the scenes. It was amazing working along side such seasoned actors like Columbus and Brian. They made me a better actress! We start production on our next film “A Woman's Grief” in two weeks, focusing on police brutality.

AM: As an entrepreneur, we know that you have your own wine, handbag line, etc. - how do you take time for yourself?

CJ: Yes, I have my wine company - JUST PEACHY, my bag line - Claudia Jordan and Celfie Cosmetics - a cosmetics company that is expanding greatly in Africa. We are in two countries; Kenya and Uganda, and will be expanding this summer. I'm very excited about that. You can find my peach flavoured sparkling wine in all 276 Cost Plus World Markets. I love the flavor and I highly recommend picking up a bottle! As for time to myself? I barely have any!

AM: In LA, where can we find you shopping, grabbing lunch and a cocktail, and what is your favorite workout studio?

CJ: I love being outdoors, running on the beach, or the hills at Kenneth Hahn Park. I don't like being inside at the gym unless I absolutely have to. As far as shopping, lately I've been shopping online or at the Gucci outlet! You might still find me at the swap meet as well. It all depends on my mood. I'm all about mixing the highs and the lows! For lunch, I love The Ivy in West Hollywood for their stone crab claws.

For cocktails, I love Catch in West Hollywood. They have great lobster rolls and lobster mac and cheese. For din- ner, my favorite is Crustaceans, also in West Hollywood. I suggest getting the garlic noodles with the cracked crab. Thank me later!

AM: How would you describe your style for brunch versus running errands?

CJ: I enjoy being a woman and dressing "girly." I have a pageant background so I guess that's always going to be a part of me. I really don't own sweats and unless I’m working out, you won't catch me in a flat shoe!

AM: How do you give of your time in terms of philanthropy/charity?

CJ: One charity I'm supporting is “My Friends House”, run by my friend Tiffany Rose. Her commitment to helping the homeless is inspiring. She has been doing this for years. I jump at the opportunity to spend time with those less fortunate and do what I can to help whether it's bringing food, or supporting their fundraisers. Homelessness in our nation has always hurt my heart; especially knowing so many people are one paycheck away from being on the streets. I wish there was more being done by our government to help! I personally have started, “Claudia's Closet” where I personally gift young girls with prom dresses. It’s something I hope to continue expanding.

PHOTOS COURTESY | CLAUDIA JORDAN

Read more from the March Issue and see A Moment with Claudia Jordan in mag.