We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Hamilton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

To be honest, I had been considering using “Time Is Now” as an album name for a while. Then, while managing artist Javion “Jaydawg 301” Hall, I was inspired by his album “Every Dawg Has Its Day” with the boldly highlighted title “Time Is Now Presents” on the cover. I noticed that “Time Is Now” was one of my favorite quotes, as I used it in every post after #nowornever #timeisnow. So, I took it upon myself to check if the name was available and registered it, along with purchasing domain names. I started my business in late March, specifically on March 26th, which held significance as it was the birthdate of my first child and I felt it was the smartest gift I could give amidst the pandemic. This was also a personal emancipation for me, as I had always believed that “Time Is Now” for a change and pursuing what you love. The business was officially approved on June 7th. At this point, I had been hosting and promoting events for almost three years, and many artists saw something different in me. My intention was to build a core family of artists, and my brother Sean Neil Hamilton introduced me to my second artist, Tajae “Oney Da Don” Pusey. Later, I was introduced to rapper “TuDeuce” through a family friend while living in New York. After operating and setting up the business structure in Queens, I moved back to the D.M.V area to execute my well-planned strategy and be closer to my child, Shiloh Grace. Upon my return, I created an official radio/TV show for @timeisnowrecords and a clothing line manufactured by Alphamin Leathers in Pakistan. During an early interview where I introduced the core of the label and discussed my first EP, “Time Is Now Global,” I received love and respect for the idea, design, and execution. Despite the uncertainty of what would come next, I pushed forward. It was during this time that I met Lady Cee aka Lyric, who joined the movement and helped me in various ways, such as referring me to this great platform as well as others. It has been four years now, and I can honestly say that initially, there were many days of struggle and confusion as I tried to figure out what works best for myself and those around me. My main focus since then has been on branding and prioritizing quality over quantity. The realization that my clothing line had buyers from Australia within a few months of its creation showed me the worldwide potential of my endeavor. This led me to invest more time and money into the clothing line, although it took away from my music recording and mixing time. Along the way, I developed a passion for DJing and running my radio/TV show. I created a party/showcase called “International Fridaze,” which highlighted the best music and artists from around the world and allowed me to transition from being just a host to also being a DJ and promoter. This unexpectedly accelerated the growth of my business and name, keeping me incredibly busy ever since. However, despite the challenges, my label and I continue to shine brightly and grow as an independent label, clothing line, and more. What excites me the most is witnessing the growth, transitions, and transformations of all the individuals I have been fortunate to work with. I have met incredible people who have become like family, including the global producers who introduced me to my producer and DJ, Demonte “Amazing Makem” Dean. Demonte has not only helped build the label through producing beats and DJing but has also supported me in small ways like driving me around when I am overbooked and trying to understand my culture and logic.

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Telopath, but you may know me as David Hamilton. I am a multitalented entertainer and the proud owner of Time Is Now Records. I was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and later migrated to Jamaica, Queens, New York. My journey in the industry began in 2007 when I was discovered freestyling on a record by my close friend Endre “Marveldust” Edwards. This caught the attention of the renowned producer and engineer, David Kennedy, who helped shape and produce my first professional record, “What’s Life.” After receiving positive reviews from Jamaica’s Star Observer, I realized that I had tapped into something special. Although I had always been creative, David Kennedy elevated my professionalism and taught me about cadence and breathing as an emcee. Rather than relying on others or seeking handouts, I took the initiative to enroll myself in the Edna Manley School of Arts, where I received voice training. This boosted my creativity and confidence, fueling my desire to pursue a full-time career in music. In 2008, I made the move to the United States, initially residing in Queens, New York. Over time, I ventured down south to North Carolina and Florida before eventually returning north. Today, as the CEO of Time Is Now Records, I am proud to call Maryland my home, where I live with my two beautiful daughters. The creation of Time Is Now Records came during the pandemic. With the closure of my million-dollar retail clothing store due to the Coronavirus, I began to reflect on my life and realized that I had wasted valuable time by not fully pursuing my music career after migrating. This led to the realization that “now or never” and “the time is now” resonated deeply with me. I decided to embrace this philosophy and transform Time Is Now into a globally recognized name and entertainment company, offering various services such as DJ services, hosting, club rentals, artist bookings, and more. Our main focus these days is solving the problems associated with setting up and running clubs, DJ equipment, speakers, as well as recording and mixing music. Additionally, we continue to prioritize the design and manufacturing of clothing. I take immense pride in being alive and witnessing the growth of my business, as well as seeing my beautiful daughters grow. Celebrating four years of Time Is Now Records has been a significant milestone for me, and I am grateful for everyone who has been part of this journey. Above all, I want everyone to understand the truth and the foundation upon which everything has been built. Everything I do, both as Telopath and through Time Is Now Records, comes from the depths of my heart and soul.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

Yes, I actually have my own clothing line called Time Is Now Records. It all started a few years ago when I was promoting my first official mixtape/album titled “My Jamaican Soul.” I decided to create merchandise to promote the product, and it ended up changing my life and mindset. During this time, I took a new path, but unfortunately, I got caught up and ended up being locked up for about a week. After being released on probation, I realized that this was the first time I had legitimately sold clothes. Believe it or not, I was able to generate enough income to pay my lawyer by selling 100 pieces, including sweatshirts and shirts in over 13 different colors. Initially, I worked with Custom Ink, a manufacturer based in California. However, as time went on, I realized that there was no easy option for me to include tags in my original designs here in America and expand my business. That’s when I was referred to Alphamin Leathers by IamYungP, a Maryland rapper, friend, and fellow fashion designer and owner of Stonerville. IamYungP liked what I was doing and had some experience running his own clothing line for a few years. He directed me to Alphamin Leathers, a clothing manufacturer in Pakistan. They handled everything from designs to tag insertions. With their help, I created shirts, hoodies, underwear, socks, and the ever-popular tracksuits. What started as selling out of my trunk eventually grew to selling in stores and online. I even received purchases on Etsy, reaching as far as Australia.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of clients for me has been from word-of-mouth promotion, and referrals from others. Other than that, I have to say online promotion is very important because it has helped me reached people in different walks of life whom I wouldn’t necessarily be able to reach otherwise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://untd.io/a/telopath
• Instagram: @telopath @timeisnowrecords
• Facebook: @telopath1 @timeisnowrecords
• Linkedin: @telopath @timeisnowrecords
• Twitter: @telopath @timeisnowrecords
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Telopath
• Yelp: @telopath @timeisnowtrecords

Image Credits
Demonte “Amazing Makem” Dean