We were lucky to catch up with Roderick Taylor & Jacari Gentry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Roderick Taylor & Jacari Gentry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Roderick & Cari together: I wouldn’t say we wish we had started earlier, but I wish we would’ve been taking the podcast a lot more serious earlier. When we started the show in 2018, it was just fun for us. We didn’t really see it or think of it as a business we could really grow & scale. We weren’t thinking about things like promotion, our social media presence, etc. & we didn’t pay much attention to those things until about 2022. For a long period of time, it was just some guys talking rap in front of a mic. Fast-forward to 2023, as we’re just now taking real steps for the show to become our primary source of income, we can only imagine how much further ahead in our journey we would be had we been operating the podcast like a true business, the way we have the past year.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Well, together we host The Rise & Grind Podcast. Every Monday & Thursday, we get together & discuss all things rap music, & everything around the Hip-Hop culture. We’re available for listen on all audio platforms, available for view on Youtube, and on all social media platforms. I think the biggest thing sets us apart is our purpose. a lot of people saw how big the podcast business has gotten over the last couple of years, & started their shows because they want their piece of the pie. They just wanna be like everyone else. We’ve been here since 2018. We’re here because we truly care about the state of Hip-Hop music. We care about our content, how we’re seen, & what goes into this show.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Roderick: To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing the response we get from the people. To know all of our work is appreciated, to know it’s not for nothing. That means the world. As long as I’m happy with my performance, & the people are happy with our work, I’m good.

Jacari: It’s knowing that there are no limits for what you can achieve. When you’re a creative, the only ceiling you can have is one that you place upon yourself. For myself, knowing that is the most rewarding aspect. Any idea, any sudden thought, any concept that comes to mind can be brought to life. With our podcast, this is the mindset we apply every single day. We hardly ever tell ourselves “no” or we “cant.” With that being said, not every idea or concept is going to be the one that propels you to the level of success you’re striving for. You are going to fail. when you fail, you are going to have to pick yourself up and try again. There’s not going to be any one there to do it for you. however with being a creative, you can’t let your failures dictate your future. You can only treat them as lessons and keep going if you want to be successful.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Roderick: The Cashflow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki has to be one of the most impactful books I’ve read, as it pertains to my business mindset. Behind the Bible, I think it’s the most important book there is. In less than 300 pages, the book separates the workforce into 4 quadrants, shows you where in the world you are, explains which quadrants best suit your goals, & shows you exactly how to get there, using real life examples. I think it’s the best book any entrepreneur can read as they take the next steps toward financial freedom.

Jacari: The Compound Effect By Darren Hardy. Without any doubts, this book has played a huge role in how I approach my every day life and business approach. Hardy breaks down how our everyday thoughts and actions ‘compound’ or affects our everyday lives, whether it be positively or negatively. If you consistently have positive thoughts, choose to always treat people the right way, and remain grateful, then you will continue to have positive things happening in your life. On the other hand, the cycle works the same way for any negative thought or action you may have. If you’re continuing to pour negativity into your life, then that will continue to be your outcome. The choice is yours. Choose your consistency.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/riseandgrindpod
• Instagram: @riseandgrindpod
• Twitter: @risegrindpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@riseandgrindpod

Image Credits
@ue_ked