We recently connected with WhoisBrax? and have shared our conversation below.
WhoisBrax?, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
The biggest thing when it comes to mastering your craft, is to make sure you’re working on it everyday. On the music side wether it’s recording, writing, making content, or practicing performing, I’m constantly working on my skills everyday. You have to fall in love with your craft and the process of developing your skills. I also had good mentors such as Mike Maven and Youth Soul Love, who are constantly challenging me creatively; which has helped me elevate my sound. You have to remove the “yes” men from your creative process and learn how to take constructive criticism. On the business side research is key. Im constantly reading and strengthening my business acumen. I’m constanly learning from peers and mentors and really soaking up game. I have the pleasure of working with some real entrepreneurial rockstars such as Sanji, Thomas Fields, Terry Tetris, and Big Mike. I think knowing when to ask for help is key too. It’s impossible to build something great without the right team, and when you have people who specialize in things you might not be too familiar with, it really begins to create this machine. When I was starting out, I used to try to do everything myself, and that’s definitely something I would do different if I could go back. Be open to new ideas, and be open to collaborating.
WhoisBrax?, 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 grew up in Mobile, Alabama and moved to Beaumont, Texas when I was 16. After I graduated High School, I studied Supply Chain Management at the University of Houston. I knew SCM wasn’t the end goal, but it takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true. I was a typical broke college student who needed money for whatever college students need money for (food, books, partying, etc…) and I began selling sneakers. The summer before I started college I actually went on a sneaker selling tour wit my uncle and cousin. We would go to places like Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and California selling sneakers and helping develop some of our own products. We would be in different cities across the US multiple times a month setting up at sneaker conventions while I was in school as well. Around the same time, I also started to deal with my frustrations in life by writing music. At first both the music and reselling were hobbies, but the further I got into my college career the more I began taking both more serious. We began hosting our own sneaker conventions after about two years of touring such as Sneaker University, Whips and Kicks, and Kicks and Sticks. All the while I was still making music and beginning to become recognized for it. Once I graduated I took a job as an Operations Manager at a multi million dollar warehouse. I was making good money and worked with some good people, however it just wasn’t for me. It took me away from everything I loved such as a music and my sneaker company , which ultimately lead me to resign after about a year. After leaving I began an internship with L.O.U.D Muzik where I learned about the business side of music and what goes into breaking an artist. From there I started my creative consulting company, The FLK Creative, and released my first project under the company. Since then I have had much success racking up over 200,000+ streams as well as hosting events under the company as well through FLK Secret Society. As far sneaker company we’ve had opportunities to work with brands such as BET, Red Bull, Paper Route Empire, Sneaker Ball, and Footlocker. I always make the joke that I went to school for 4 years to become a rapper, but if I could go back wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
It’s several books that have helped shaped my entrepreneurial thinking, in a general sense as well as in a know music sense. Hands down the most influential book on the way I approach the music industry is called All You Need to About the Music Business by Donald Passman. This book taught me how to turn my hobby profitable, and help me really figure out how the industry works. Other books such as Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Farris, and The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clayson all helped me develop a general entrepreneurial mindset. I always recommended those to anybody who’s looking to start a business regardless of the industry.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I want to motivate the kids, like me, who might not have been the most popular, or charismatic, or smartest people in the room, but they know what they want and aren’t scared to go after it. I want to show those people that growth doesn’t come overnight, but if you are willing to put in the work, you achieve more the you’ve ever imagined. I want to motivate them to be comfortable in theirown skin and be confident in their pursuit of their dreams. My goal is to not only become a successful entrepreneur, but also help my friends and family become successful as well. When this all said and done, I want to be the guy that helped put other people in position to help them take care of their loved ones. It’s always
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/whoisbrax
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whoisbrax_/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whoisbrax/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/whoisbrax?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOxS_ajUIUnyHnNLO8_5m-A
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/212A3T7VLEFjk7hozhF9qH Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/whoisbrax/1437688150 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/whoisbrax Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whoisbrax_?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESMgow7ei4HfKTKfp6IHpZZd4Rbl%2B6zTOHZBhjgkHtenPW%2FkCCu8yarH3WEb83WGvuUlurGgA%3D&language=en&sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAASAfQsJmBYDF4Rp2KADo0UWB3yQoUd2NqLgN2KjnYd7D1Qj5ojmkgo9FMEg71fJYe&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAASA Can I KickIt?: https://www.canikickit.com
Image Credits
Kwesi Dejean Dana Francis BAMM Network