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

Phillip , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I grew up in San Antonio Texas born with Drugs in my system I was immediately placed in the hands of Child Protective Services as a ward of the state. I was moved from the hospital to the Emergency Children’s Shelter and then to the Baptist Children’s Home long term program where I lived until a foster home was found for my 3 sisters and I. We lived in a foster home together for years before being split up and separated. I lived in over 25 shelter’s and group homes before enrolling into a trade school Gary Job Corps in San Marcos, Texas. I obtained my highschool diploma and trade as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) I was told that I needed to finish school in order to get Free college in the state of Texas. I was then emancipated from child protective services at the age of 21 having the longest stay in the Foster Care System in the state of Texas. I worked in nursing homes for years before getting hired as a temp at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. They ended up hiring me on full time and I had the pleasure of working in every department in the hospital and connected with and took care of great men and women who served our country. After about 3 years I was contacted my a local music promoter who had been looking for me and I was placed on tour with Snoop Dogg. I toured with Snoop Dogg Cypress Hill Too Short E40 DMX Afro-man Glasses Malone and many more over the years before getting involed in the community and seeing a need for change.

Phillip , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started drinking nothing but water years before I got into the business. I knew with the influence I have I can start a water brand and influence so many people to want to drink water. Many people Have trried to discourage me in many ways trying to convice me to sell an energy drink soda juice or something sugary but my goal is to bring water to the inner city youth who are surrounded by unhealthy sugary drinks. I did alot of reseach to learn about the different qualities of water and packaging. Our Spring Water is sustainabily souced deep in The Appalachian Mountains Of Georgia where our source receives over 65 inches of rainfall a year on average. Our Spring Water is bottled in reuseable/recycle BPA-free Aluminum Cans manking us fully sustainable and the best choice. We want to educate people to Reduce Reuse And Recycle their cans afteruse. We are located in convience stores in San Antonio and surrounding Texas areas. You can find Thuggizzle Water in Museums Aquirums Bexar County Courthouse and most recently we have officially partnered with The Hyatt. Thuggizzle Water is now available in Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk and soon to spread throughout all Hyatt locations in the state of Texas. We are also working on partnering Thuggizzle Appalachian Mountain Spring Water with Carnival Cruise Line. I have been investing in cruising to open up the conversation with Carnival Criuise Line. I think we are getting very close. I have also recently heard back from The San Luis Hotel located in Galveston Texas and they have given me the ok. I’m very grateful for partnerships as investment has been a struggle for my company to obtain. Our goal is to break into major retail stores like QT H-E-B Walmart etc. Silver Eagle is a local Texas beverage distribution company who has agreed to distribute us If we can get a major retail store to bring us in. The biggest struggle for us is investment. We need investment money to keep growing and I’ve been fully self invested since 2021. I know It will come great things that last long take time. People know our Spring Water as a good water great cause because my non-profit organization Thuggizzle Cares Inc. gives back alot with no overhead. I started this Thuggizzle Cares Inc. for breast cancer awareness and now our organization supports over 30 causes ranging from reading to kids and make the grade programs for kids to Autism Awareness Sexual Abuse Awareness Thuggizzle Takes A Stand Against Bullies and many more. We just launched “Lil Phillip Cares” a series developed around awareness and education for kids now streaming on the Official Youtube channel for Thuggizzle Reads To Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h131SQsDTbE&list=PL_KflNlDsmJYS35p6X4IqS_pd3kAAZpS7 where I read to ther kids and teach them sight words.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Thuggizzle wants to bring water to the inner city youth and make drinking water just as cool as sugary drinks and educate them on the 3 R’s Reduce Reuse and Recycle

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Thinking you can just put a product in stores and sell It and that was all to the process

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iamthuggizzle.com
• Instagram: @thuggizzle
• Facebook: @thuggizzle
• Linkedin: @thuggizzle
• Twitter: @thuggizzle
• Youtube: @thuggizzle
• Other: Thuggizzle is now over 1 Million Subscribers on Youtube and growing. Thuggizzle has music availible on all music streaming platforms. You can purchase merchandise from two online stores Spreadshop and Spring. Thuggizzle Cares Cares Inc. is set up to collect donations through social media and other outlets set up for non-profits. Our non-profit website https://thuggizzlecares.org

Image Credits

@thuggizzle photo credit