We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Flores recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brandon, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
For a long time throughout my career as a creative I had to diversify my skills to be able to be as much fully vertically integrated as possible. You plan correctly you’ll get some wins throughout the process but definitely will go through some losses. Each win and loss hitting differently in their own way. Yet Lord blessing I continued to build a foundation to a point I was able to earn some money but nothing to pay the bills. I worked alot of time in different kitchens while in school and doing what I can to flip what I could get. It was never much but you gotta make it shake with what ya got.
I continued with my education earning a minor in Audio Technology and a Bachelors then Masters in Science in Quantitative Sociology it was all true blessings. The biggest one being my family which is that anchor that you’ll always need to hold ya down. Then COVID hit and the world shut down and felt I needed to go back to school to obtain my doctorate in order to get right where I needed to be. Lord blessing after getting accepted I was able to do research for a living along with my music. All blessings with the one I never saw coming, BIGG FACCZ L.L.C., the baby of it all and he’s still growing.
All in all nothing was easy, nothing was clear, and a lot of people came and went since my time started here on this space. But Lord blessing through belief in Him in Christ name through his consistent energy of hustle put in my chest helped me grow into something I wouldn’t have never believed.
Brandon, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I always loved music and started writing since I was in elementary. I got my first demo of FL in middle school and stayed up hours producing beats because you could only export the song because its free you couldn’t save and reopen it. So I worked on my craft producing, writing, recording, mixing, mastering, and all other facets of this entertainment industry. I’ve done interviews, videos, shows, mixtapes, demos, and engineering all before I graduate high school.
Music for me was the only other way of truly doing something other than a 9-5. Something that was good money outside of slangin dope. Once in college I refined my skills, built my catalog, and increased my online presence. I performed at shows, did features with legends out the game, and was able to put out music that to this day are “any day bangers”. Cause at anyday with just a play you gon get that same head nod you got before.
My music, my degrees, my business; was all seen as a way out. A way into a life that was never taught to youngins like us living in the projects. If my moms was still here she’d probably never believe cause the way it was is no where close to how it is and I’m grateful to God for that.
This music I make is for those who been through the game and was able to get out on the other side. Theres not many, but its for them I make this music for. We all got similar stories its just my flava from The South.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
As our multi-level entertainment company grows I tell my partners all the time, ” I wish I knew what I knew now back then!” I think its something we all say at one point or another. The thing about it is its just not about the resources because sometimes you know whats there but its your goals. The overall objective and whats currently going on. Whats the money to be spent and the biggest thing; whats the return? I’ve been able to move well throughout the years with this music and get it out further than initially anticipated. Yet I know what I know now and I know I could’ve had better outcomes with the same opportunities. Just having a different approach. Not that what I feel I did was wrong back then but I know now how to refine it. An with growth that should happen to everyone so in all things its natural. Dont hesitate to take risks, have a solid team around you, and be patient. Do rush nothing that dont need to be rushed. Everything will happen as it should Lord blessing just keep working.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to express yourself in various ways yet still being true. How is it that one can show various acts yet still remain true to self? This creativity within the arts allows you to express yourself in different ways yet all being true to myself. When I write music or when I write research I treat it the same. Its both of me and its both completely different. To all my applied data analysts, you know how you have to be creative to make data not boring. Its a skill you need if you want to change policy and publish literature.
From my audio engineering, beat production, and again to my research techniques when analyzing data; I am creative in each of those aspects. Yet some of those things are nothing alike. Thats whats rewarding about it. I dont have to do just one thing or even two things to express who I am. I can do more things than I could ever imagine that wouldn’t just change my life for the better but also those around me. To see everyone around me eat with me is priceless.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://biggfaccz.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btptherealist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BTPTheRealist/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-flores-ab97b778
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/btptherealist
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/burtv
Image Credits
BIGG FACCZ L.L.C. NEW HOPE FILMS