Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mahlon White. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mahlon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on is the new showcase “The Combine” that my company, Levvel, is hosting next month on October 14, which also happens to be my birthday!

“The Combine” is a place where the best of the best are coming to showcase their skills, just like the NFL Combine. Only this time, they’re showcasing their skills on the stage! With school being back in session and football season picking back up, it’s the perfect theme for an October event. Ultimately, we’re all athletic and play many different sports, so our promotional photo displays not only the variety of sports, but the variety of talent coming to the stage.

It’s a blessing to be able to showcase all these amazing artists that I’ve worked so hard with on a particularly special day for me!

Mahlon, 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?

I wear many hats, and the team always jokes about it. But I’d say I’m a creator, director, and artist manager 99% of the time.

I am the creator of the Austin, TX based hip hop, fashion, and media company, Levvel, which is building a synergistic movement that promotes quality, authenticity, and passionate art. We are establishing Austin as the new epicenter for mainstream hip hop appeal. I manage a team of artists who are also the same ones who headline the showcases we throw. We have an in-house production studio with directors, videographers, photographers, editors, etc. And we also have an exclusive streetwear line consisting of luxury materials and custom, unique designs.

I started solely as a photographer and music video director back in 2017-2018 before becoming an artist manager in 2021. I created a number of remarkable relationships with artists who I believe are hands down some of the most talented artists in the entire world, and I knew I needed to find a way to get this talent in front of a real, live audience. I joined forces with my current partners, and created the team Levvel back in 2021. We started throwing shows locally, and garnered attention primarily from social media and word of mouth. We’ve had a few previous “Hip Hop Hall Of Fame” events which I love, but The Combine has a different energy to it that I’m really excited about.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to create a sustainable life surrounded by my passions. I’ve always said “passion will prosper,” and to see it come to fruition in the ways that it has with the team that I’m currently surrounded by is the most rewarding part of this journey.

Come join us for The Combine on October 14th. Tickets on sale now!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The three books that I would recommend to anybody are the same three books that Russ recommends in his music: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra.

There’s a reason behind why I work with the people that I do. All of the artists featured in The Combine have their own unique set of skills and messages that I pull inspiration and discipline from.

From J. Mill’s versatility, to Don Hawk’s confidence, DreTheGr8’s lyricism, ProjectbabyJV’s energy, and DWSN WYNE’s cleverness, all of these artists are making the daily rotation for me on my playlists, and I know there are more people out there who will feel the same way when they listen. I strongly encourage you to come check and see who’s next up on the international charts.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It is truly enjoying the process. I realized when I’m creating a showcase for example, that most of my time isn’t spent at the actual show. The day of it may be 4 to 5 hours, but it’s weeks or even months of preparation leading up to it. All the individual tasks like creating promotional materials, coordinating with the artists, negotiating with venues, etc. take up 99% of my time. So no matter how well the actual event goes the day of, if I don’t genuinely enjoy the process of the day-to-day tasks leading up, I’ll still feel left unfulfilled.

After our first showcase, that’s how I felt. I wasn’t present, and I resented the friction that comes with the process leading up to the showcase instead of embracing it. I thought that I’d feel a new sense of fulfillment once we had the show, but once we threw it, I still felt lost.

Once I realized that each event was just a stepping stone in the greater journey towards our goals, I began to embrace the process, and through this is where I’ve felt the most rewarded. Putting the work in day in and day out, and appreciating the process, has transformed me into the most fulfilled version of myself thus far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mahlonwhite.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahlonwhite
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahlonwhite
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mahlonwhite
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/mahlonwhite

Image Credits
itskellyyadig XSfilming