We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful WALT-LEON. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with WALT-LEON below.

Hi WALT-LEON, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents dont make excuses and they don’t allow excuses. Even if something is difficult or if something scares you, they always taught us to do it scared. They also taught us that, just because something doesnt exist doesn’t mean it can’t exist. When my mother first transferred to Christopher Newport University, they didn’t have a women’s track team. Track was her passion so the first year there, she was the women’s track program. She was the only athlete and was able to break national records and make history. She is now in the Hall of Fame at that school for believing in something even when it didn’t exist. Now there is an extensive history of great women track runners due to her not making an excuse.

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.

I got into being a creative by being what I needed when I was younger. I didn’t have anyone to look up to or show me how to do Christian Hip-Hop, write and publish a book, create my own clothing brand, or edit videos. That wasn’t something that was easily accessible and when it was accessible it wasn’t in the Christian realm. Ive watched so many people turn to the streets because they provided a way to do what that person enjoyed while, the church wasn’t open to these things at that time. Some churches still aren’t open to it. I believe that God called me to bridge that gap. Also music has always been a love of mine but it wasn’t my dream. Music was the dream of my cousin Jon who passed in 2008. Once he passed I promised to keep his dream alive and fulfill his dreams since he didn’t get a chance to. I am most proud of the impact that I am able to leave. The testimonies that I get to hear and they say it was something that I said in a song or video that gave them the motivation to keep fighting. its priceless.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe if society genuinely gave people a chance then it would be great support for artist. Streams and video plays don’t really pay much, but if someone really likes an artist and they share the song or a video on their own pages, then I believe the consumer takes the power on who really can be successful and it won’t be so force fed by the major industry. There are three parts to the major industry. It is the industry, the artists, and the consumer. If the consumer, (being society) support the actual artists and the type of art that they love instead of what the industry is shoving down their throats, the creatives will be able to give the consumers more of what they desire.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2017 I released the biggest song of my career to date. Everything was going well within my career then I faced divorce and was put on child support for a child that I actively take care of and had at a minimum 4 days per week. I was operating one way then when placed on child support I had to restructure the business and I ended up having to cancel a lot of shows to make it to court dates and the custody order changed the dates that I had my child. Which also changed the dates available to travel and perform. This forced me to grow from just a christian hip-hop artist and poet to now being a published author and it also birthed a clothing line. I also was able to start a movement entitled “Lunch On Me” where I go around and honor fathers who are active in their children’s lives. A lot more great music has also been birthed from this situation. This truly elevated my purpose

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walt_leon
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/waltleonmusic
• Twitter: https://x.com/walt_leon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@waltleonmusictv