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

Alright, Jamal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

The firsts dollar I earned as a creative was back when I first put my music out on streaming platforms like in 2014? 2015? Something like that. I don’t really do music anymore but that was a proud moment for me back then.

This was when platforms like distrokid, and tunecore were 1st starting to gain traction. It used to be such a mystery how to get your music on like Apple Music or Spotify back then. It was a great feeling to look on those platforms and see my music next to the people I looked up to. It wasn’t much at all but I was in college back then and when you’re a broke college student everything helps.

Jamal , 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?

Well I’m Jamal Cristopher, and I pretty much approach everyday with how can I be the best version of myself. I share parts of my life and my interest with the world and there’s people out there who apparently like it and that’s cool with me.

My journey really kicked out years ago when I was pursuing music a bit. And after some time of not growing in terms of fanfare, I started to look into how can I change that. I didn’t really have the resources or popularity necessary, and I felt social media was a way. Started thinking of how I can grow my social media, and I realized that if I present my real life on there in a way that’s cool, official, people will relate and like it. From where I eat, to what I wear, what basketball team I like, everything. It just seemed to grow.

From there I didn’t really dip back into the music. I ended up just leaning into lifestyle. Not intentionally but yeah. I’m far from a fashionista but I’d show off a fit or something and ppl would dm me offering money to wear their clothes. Started collabing with people, sport teams shouts to the clippers, and now that’s just my thing. No real goal or anything I just showcase what I like. Even if I can share my mentality and perspective on life I’ve seen that some people look to me for it. So yeah it’s just cool to live my life, share parts of it, and people like it and..,yeah I don’t know get inspired, or just get happy. It’s all love.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is that you get to live life on your own terms. Win or lose you’re living your life your way and that’s as fulfilling as it gets. And if you’re lucky you can make a living off of it. That’s a freedom that’s unrivaled and as I get older I realize how valuable that is.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I think there’s more than one way to skin a cat. I built my audience in a variety of ways. In the beginning it was through my music journey. I’ve never had a popping song or anything like that. But just by the music being good and taking it serious, collaborating with magazines and other publications, people saw me taking it serious and they tapped in.

I eventually moved on to (accidentally) creating content that people could relate to, and presented it in an official way and people liked that. Now it’s that, and now I have a bit of a following when it comes to the NBA and the LA Clippers and that just comes from sharing my thoughts and being myself.

I’ve learned that the little parts of your life you think are insignificant, if you present it in an attractive way people will care. That’s all that influencing is…you know drake has become the biggest artist in the world rapping about his own life. Kai cenat is the biggest streamer ever just streaming his life from his room. There’s this guy drew walls who’s viral right now because he records his visits to target. So that’d be my advice. Tweets, post, tik toks, whatever. Showcase YOUR real life but do it in a way where you know what you’re doing. Take it serious. If you take it serious and project that, the people will give that back to you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/JamalCristopher
• Twitter: Twitter.com/JamCristopher