We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Caldwell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue A professional career as a hip-hop artist when I first saw performances from the BET/BET hip-hop awards show. I used to watch the hip-hop awards all the time as a kid and they always left me in complete amazement. Because all the performances would be so elaborate and so well put together that I would just get inspired. So much so that I would envision myself actually being a part of the show. Like I’m putting together my own personal performance and giving my all to give the best show I could. This sparked my initial feelings of wanting to become a hip-hop artist professionally but it wouldn’t be till I got to Liberty University when I actually started to act on this feeling. So I’ve known in my heart that I wanted to be hip-hop artist since I was a kid.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am 26 year old Black male from Nashville TN.That loves Hip hop, Anime, video games, hooping, and Jesus. I’m also a Hip Hop Artist that that love lyricism and building a community based on authenticity. I got into hip-hop because of my love music and because of what hip-hop stands for at its core. Hip hop at its core is giving a voice to the voiceless in speaking on issues that may not get to see the light of day because of certain circumstances all wrapped in a poetic presentation. I know that some of the things that I’ve experienced in my life may be helpful to others who has grown up a similar way. So I want to help others see that just because you may grow up in a bad situation and see a lot of struggles that doesn’t mean you have to stay there. So anyone that joins me on my journey as an artist will receive a safe space to have conversations about mental health, what its like to grow up in the hood, and some of the struggles that happen all over the black community. I don’t see the people who choose to follow me or my music to be just fans but instead they are more like family. So as family We support each other because I don’t just seek to receive your love and time without repaying people with the same if not more value.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being a hip-hop artist is when I have people genuinely understand where I’m coming from with my music or when my music has inspired something and somebody else. As a new artist it’s often discouraging when you see the process of trying to connect with people and it’s not well received but at the same time do you understand that it’s a process so these things just gonna take time. However, whenever someone randomly DM me or I get a random person reach out to me and tell me yo bro I love what you’re doing keep going. These are the moments I live for as a creative because it means art is actually connecting with people and it like reaffirms I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Like I don’t want to get too caught up in accolades in numbers anything like that I want to genuinely be for the people that support me the most. because as an artist all I want to do is help as many people as I can with the music I’m giving them and if my art is truly helpful then I’m doing my job well.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

As a creator/entrepreneur your journey is never a linear one. Meaning there’s different avenues and ways you can essentially meet to go you’re looking for. Like it isn’t just clocking in at a certain time then clocking out then you make us a set amount of money that was already pre-determined. Instead each and every day you have to find new ways to reach whatever ultimate goal you sit for yourself and essentially there’s no limit to what you can potentially make. However, as an entrepreneur you have to sit what your goal of success is and everyone’s goal isn’t going to look the same. Some people may be looking for a monetary number while others will be more focused on what impact their brand has with his/her consumers. either way there’s no straightforward method that leads to success you have to wake up every morning and choose what’s the focus. every day is a new day to connect to someone and bring value to their life. So as a entrepreneur is my job to figure out what value can I provide today. So it’s imperative that I share my genuine authentic self through my music and through my interactions with people because you never know how people will interpret my brand from that experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creedcaldwell/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/creedcaldwell
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@creedcaldwell https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Jxj7F0VvaUvta8upL5w3L?si=g8BPtFnJSbuIGLShBp10ZQ