We recently connected with Tyson Crookmind and have shared our conversation below.
Tyson , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
The thing my parents did right was be brutally honest. As a result of that brutal honesty it prepared me to deal accordingly with people, places and personalities. My Father would always remind that “if you don’t work then you don’t eat.” That alone help cultivate my work ethic. He would also reminded me constantly that “the worst person you can fool is yourself.” That allowed me and set me up to always be honest with myself in terms of seeing things, situations and people for who and what they truly are. My mom taught me be outspoken and never to be afraid to ask questions. All valuable tools I use and exercise daily.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hello, I am Tyson Crookmind., I am a philanthropist, philosopher and artist. I was born and raised on the east side of South Central Los Angeles (South L.A.) I was raised by both of my parents but mainly by my grandmother. My grandmother kept me in sports to keep me occupied and also to keep me away from the gang activities that were very prevalent during that time… I loved sports and was born naturally gifted. I was destined to be a great athlete of some sort, however, the gang influence won over. Eventually, by the age of nineteen (19) I ended up in prison where I served a sixteen (16) year prison sentence for voluntary manslaughter. While there (in Prison), however, a great thing occurred and I was able to find myself through reading a lot, exercising, meditation and most importantly believing and trusting in God. As a result of that, I was then able to tap into my inner/higher self and unlock my unique talents and creativity. Thereby preparing me to enter into the music and entertainment industry upon my release from prison. Now the world can find my Story, music, art etc. on many platforms across the globe. And as far as solving problems and the services I provide for my fan base and clients are cornered, I’m here to use my personal experiences and journey to help shed light and provide solutions and answers about the ebb and flow life to ppl who are going thru and experiencing similar circumstances and upbringings as my own.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was a history lesson. I discovered that none of my ancestors, great-great grandparents, great grandparents etc. came off of a slave ship from Africa. As a result of extensive research, family stories and genealogy I discovered that our nationality is American Indian. (Cherokee/Choctaw in particular) That we were Indigenous to the Americas and that we were already flourishing and thriving here long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the conquistadors. (Research 1968 Indian civil rights act)
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is being able to present and express oneself thoroughly, effectively and eloquently without worry of being misunderstood or misrepresented.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tyson_cm @thecherryontopclothing
- Youtube: Tyson Crookmind
- Soundcloud: Tyson Crookmind
Image Credits
@seanietsunami300