Page 173 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FASHIO N MAG A ZINE || 173born on the 182nd anniversary of that battle. It%u2019s a country born out of a revolutionary spirit; we%u2019ve had to fight for all that we are. My love of martial arts and writing all go back to that. You can hear me challenge a lot of cultural norms and pop culture status quos in my music.%u201d It was in Bethesda, MD, where his family relocated from Haiti when Philippe was just a baby, where he grew up studying martial arts, drawing, and writing. His father was an MMA instructor at the time and Philippe divulges that, %u201cMartial arts kind of chose me. When I was a child he (his father) used to put me in chokeholds and make me wrestle him! We watched a lot of Kung Fu films together.%u201d When Philippe was about 6 years old his father signed him up for Judo, Tae-Kwon Do, and then later Shaolin Kung Fu, which is still his favorite type to do today. By the time he turned 20, Philippe had already become the international Grand Champion in fighting and Shaolin Kung Fu forms. It was later as a teenager, when Philippe was recruited to do some high fashion modeling and acting, which led to editorials in publications such as Marie Claire, DC Modern Luxury, and New Martial Hero Magazine. Describing his favorite shoot he has ever done so far as a model, Philippe reminisces, that it is was in Athens, %u201con an amazing Greek island that we took a boat to just for the shoot and the scenery was breath-taking. I was with one of the top agencies in Greece, ACE Models, and my roommate and I got cast for the same job so it was particularly fun. We were modeling Lacoste, PRADA, and Ralph Lauren clothing that day.%u201d lthough he is focusing a lot on rapping and his art right now, Philippe says that he will always continue acting and modeling as he is just wired that way. %u201cI naturally love acting and playing different characters in real life. Acting is a part of who I am, and I love it. I have written a few film ideas so I am looking forward to activating my writing and directing side. Modeling-that%u2019s still frame acting in my mind.%u201d As such a multi-talented star, the question is not what he is best at, but rather what he loves the most. Philippe admits he especially enjoys music and fine art as those are the mediums of art through which you and you alone get to be the author of the message you deliver. He reveals that his father, who was such a big influencer for his martial arts, actually made him stay away from rap music when he was a kid so, %u201cit%u2019s mad ironic that I am a rapper now- and that he%u2019s actually a fan.%u201d Philippe says that rapping and martial arts have a special place in his heart as well because he comes from a long line of military generals, political leaders, and revolutionary journalists. %u201cThe whole %u2018rap is a martial art%u2019 idea kind of encompasses those aspects of my family and my nation%u2019s history. I go to war with my pen and my sword.%u201d