We were lucky to catch up with Telia Lambey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Telia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was saw the greatness in me I didn’t see in myself and believed in me.

I was always an over achiever, and a gentleman that was into building homes was intrigued by my ambition and drive asked me why wasn’t I running owning and operating my own business. He then proceeded to asked me to tell him if he was to fund my dreams how much would I need and what would I do with it. Then, just like that he sent me a check and I opened my very first business. It didn’t make it pass 3 years but that was the first time in my life anyone ever took a chance on me and that has changed my life forever. The gentleman was a very wealthy home builder and for the privacy of his legacy I can not mention his name but may he rest in peace and forever have a place in my heart for the human kindness he showed me.

I am from a city where it is called the concrete jungle and for the most part your are to fin for yourself. It mattered so much to me what the home builder did for me because that’s when I knew in that moment; why I was placed in the heart of ENY Brooklyn. To matter and to make my community understand that we matter and we can make the difference to turn one person at a time around to get out of your regular element explore the world and be somebody.

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 a multicultural, American Indian and Belizean woman born in Brooklyn, raised in San Diego, and visitor of various lands in the United States of America. I always loved music as cliché as it is for folks in music to say, this is the truth. I grew up listen to all genres of music being raised on a navy base with people from all parts of the world but, when I moved back, at the age of 12 to New York and spent lots of time with my cousins on Milford Street; The Harry’s, I got exposed to Hip/Hop, house music, and old school R&B.

This was the beginnings of my early journey into the music indoustry. I became a rapper and got heavily involved with the entertainment industry as a whole. Not, having much support because families in the hood had to keep there head above water, pay bills, and keep their children out of war zones. There was no extra money to entertain a teen trying to make it in music let alone Hip-Hop industry.

I learned early how to work and work hard for what I wanted and needed. I would go over my cousins house and listen to my older cousin Ray make beats and go in the closet to write to whatever he was playing. Then I would go to school and recite rhymes until the word spread that I was an MC. From there; people would invite me to what they called back then sifa’s and I would recite my rhymes until I eventually, was told to audition for different producers. This eventually landed me in a female girl rap group, and later to a solo artists and then managing artists of my own.

I had to create a lane because being a woman in the game and not having a strong enough financial backing, I had to learn to do it myself. I was doing these things all while going to High School and playing Varsity Basketball. I never got tired my drive kept me fueled up and by the time I was 17 years old, I was the “go to girl” for anyone in my neighborhood who wanted to do something important. I didn’t matter what it was; promote parties, comedy shows, run a label, start a modeling business, I was the girl people would come to to get them going.

This started to become a major set back for my own path because I was constantly, assisting others with there dreams with hopes that when they made it they would help a sister out with her dreams. It took a long run of supporting folks, businesses, movie projects, and careers until I understood that it was time for me to cut all ties and pursue my own.  These folks were helping me if I wasn’t helping them and even then they weren’t helping.

In 2017, I decided to start my own Record Label making myself the very first client to put out a project. That project was an EP called “BWAV” Back with a Vengeance, I hadn’t been recording as an artist for well over 10 years. I had other obligations and at this time I was raising my daughter as a single mom, who was a child performer so it took me a little over a year to complete my project. I am proud of this project that was produced, funded, and headed by me with the assistance of Victor, Dugue. Jr. of New City Connections. Together we piece by piece put the project together and released the full project in 2019. During this time, I reconnected with a long time friend and producer DJ Jovonn international legendary DJ/Producer to work on some records for my label. He was actually the first producer to break me as an artists on the charts with our hit single “Freak Hu” Hip-House record released by label Coco Machete.

Once, this project was completed I had many people asking me to manage them and help with their businesses once again. This time around I made very selective choices of who I would align with and have been building my team steadily every since. We are a family based and oriented Record Label where all of the artists have been mentored by me personally. It helps to keep the quality and artists development that labels are not doing today.

Our team consist of artist, entertainers and performers, producers, song writers, choreographers, musicians, photographers and production crews for stages and studio recordings. What sets us out from the rest is the fact that all the talents here are trained from the bottom up knowing and understanding the different tasks and how every job is important to make the entire movement move. Our drive and compassion to put out quality sets us apart.

I am proud that this company is truly self made no poppa’s here hard work and making a way when there was no way, yet still, able to achieve our goals and put out music. Our diversity in music makes us the ideal clients to hire we want to be known for world music Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, Pop, House, Hip/House, Reggea and Gospel music are the genre we currently cater to.

We are focusing on hitting bigger stages this year so don’t be surprise when you see DBold Records at a venue near you. Holla, at us on our social media pages let us know you are with us!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think being one of the few females to do what I was doing without the help of a major financial backer. I for the most part did what I said I would do; when dealing with people and I got the job done no matter what the obstacles were.

I exceed expectations almost every time and I believe the everyday people appreciated this.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I rented a building that was more than I can handle and lost everything taking on more than I can chew. At the time I lost everything, many people left the company and the few supporters were left slowly one by one diverted and left.

I was in a dark deep place that I had to pick myself up and keep going even in the mist of feeling defeated. What I learned once I got through that place was my load was lightening and my back being against the wall led me to opening my mind to better ways of doing things. In this process, I was doing things smarter and started to build a new more consistent team. People that were being sent to help me and in this, I was able to renew my strength to continue.

I continued to plan and run the business, I started talking to mentors more people that were successful in what they were doing and getting advice. In doing this I have made my alias stronger and gained an industry family who are there for me when I need them to step in.

Never allowing my current situation to cause me to stop even when the going got tuff is what made me activate my resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dboldrecords.com
• Instagram: @dboldrecords
• Linkedin: dboldrecords
• Youtube: dboldrecords

Image Credits
Vandyke Williams