blkbnd

BLKBND 001 | EARRY HALL /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 001

CONCEPTUaL DESIGNER, ART DIRECTOR

Who are you?

I'm Earry Hall. I'm from the south-side of Chicago. I grew up in a single parent home to a Queen (my Mom) and with a Princess (my little sister). 

What words do you live by?

No one will pay you like you will.  

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.

Happy, Introspective, Ambitious.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Happy, Introspective, Ambitious

What do you fear?

Fear itself.

What are you proud of?

I'm proud of my patience and where I came from.

What are you searching for?

My greatest self.

How will you find it?

Patience with myself.

Who do you want to become?

Myself.  

What do you want to accomplish?

Happiness.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?

I've created the battering ram to knock down doors for myself, the tools build new ones in myself, and the circle that encourages me to run through those doors of myself. 

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?

When I got a huge job at a huge brand my Mom told me to remember who I am. She knew I was more than a worker bee and that confidence and wisdom still echoes in my conscious. 

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

I've tried to consistently look at myself objectively. If I'm proud of that person I keep pushing, if I have work to do, I start doing the work. My goals depend on my ability to look at myself from a distance. 

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

Honesty. Think about who you are and how you feel that and dress like that person. 

The BLKBND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

I try to make sure that I focus on being a great human first, keeping in mind that I'm a black man is a part of that focus. I feel that the greatest thing we as black men can do for our ethnicity/culture is to be great human beings. 

BLKBND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

Success is happiness. However it looks, you're successful when you're happy. 

site earryhall.com
instagram earryhall

BLKBND 002 | SAM ADEGOKE /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 002

ACTOR, CLOTHING DESIGNER

Who are you? 

I’m a Nigerian born actor, artist, and designer who migrated to the states as a child: first New York then Minnesota. As the youngest of 7, we never had much, but my folks bootstrapped and instilled in us values of discipline and gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity afforded us to make a better life in America; discipline of hard work in honor of those less fortunate in Nigeria that would make the most if given the same opportunity.  

What words do you live by?

"Turn things you've always wanted to do into things you've done." — TS Elliot

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.  

Adventurous, Growing, Focused.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Inspirational, Innovative, Fearless.

What do you fear?  

Inertia.

What are you proud of?  

The daily strides I’m making to mobilize, expand, and elevate.

What are you searching for?

Self-actualization.

How will you find it?  

Remaining a curious student of learning, taking risks, consistently exposing myself to new people, ideas and more Yoga. I have tight hips.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?  

An agent of social change and a vessel to leave this world in a better state than I entered it.  Life cannot be lived solely for our own gain, unaware and unaffected by those around us. I believe we were put here to love one another and that love is tangibly demonstrated through servitude: consciously utilizing the talents, circumstances, and gifts we’ve been given to better those less fortunate than us. No matter how desolate our circumstances may seem, there is someone who has it far worse.  I want to be an advocate for those people.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?  

In myself: a promise: act accordingly in order to never wonder what if. For myself: a daily practice of affirmation and meditation to block out the noise and listen to my own creative voice. Of myself: Everything. No sacrifice is too great.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?  

The passing of my good friend 3 years ago abruptly, painfully and violently made me aware of my own mortality. I am thankful however that from that tragedy and awareness came a new boldness to live purposefully, doing what I love until my number is called.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

I don’t know that I’ve crafted a persona as much as my experiences have shaped it. Family upbringing, heartache, social economic challenges, cultural influences, and race relations have all summed up to who I am and how I perceive and live.  

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

I’ve rested on simplicity. I live in black. Life is complex enough.

The BLKBND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

Adapt or perish.  It goes for all men but the black male in particular. We cannot successfully navigate this life as black men unwilling to adapt.

BLKBND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

A BLKBND to me does the work and does it honorably knowing he must be excellent to excel but that he cannot do it alone.  Its important to individually build ourselves and forge paths to greatness, but we cannot be so consumed with our own success that we abandon, neglect, or ignore one another. We have to make an investment in the brotherhood and rally to one another’s aid in times of need. Unity amongst black men is not simply a virtuous notion, our survival depends on it.
 
Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. That’s not me, I jacked it from Earl Nightingale who has a piece on YouTube that everyone needs to hear, called ‘The Strangest Secret. “ Listen to it, no less than 100 times. Then listen to it again.

imdb sam adegoke
instagram sam.adegoke

BLKBND 003 | SAMMI ROTIBI /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 003

ACTOR

Who are you? 

I’m originally from west Africa Nigeria. Grew up there, then was in England for a bit. I came to the states at age 16, first to Miami, Florida, then finally Los Angeles.

What words do you live by?

No man is your friend or enemy, but your teacher.

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.  

Hunger for creativity, holiday blues, want to escape. That’s more than 3 words.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Innovator, Happy, Successful.

What do you fear?  

Myself.

What are you proud of?  

My tenacity.

What are you searching for?

Freedom in creativity, life and love.

How will you find it?  

Still trying to figure that out. I’m lost. I think I need help.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?  

I want to mean something. I want to make a mark, be a pioneer of some sort. Or go live in Timbuktu!

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?  

My art! My acting! Constantly pushing to be better. Learning. Creativity.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?  

Doing my first play: JONIN. The experience was the biggest high I’ve ever had. That’s when I decided: this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. And it’s the same feeling today. From wanting to be an Architect... to becoming an Actor.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

It's a culmination of my journey from Nigeria, with a strict upbringing and values, and my life experiences from the different places I’ve been to. Africa, Europe and America.  

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

Be true to yourself. FUCK conformity! Be a rebel! I’m a leader! I don’t follow.

“I will not be a common man, I will stir the smooth sands of monotony." — Peter O'Toole (one of my favorite actors)

The BLKBND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

His knowledge, skills, style, swagger. He’s a leader. Confident but not cocky.

BLKBND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

You have to be tenacious and working hard to get what you want or become who you aspire to be. And you have to be true to yourself and your values in the process. Whether you succeed or fail (as long as you get up again and never give up), that is success. The fact that you tried and put in the effort—you’ve already won.

imdb sammi rotibi
instagram sammirotibi 

BLKBND 004 | MAMADY CONDÉ /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 004

DIRECTOR

Who are you?

Mamady Condé, Syracuse, New York. 

What words do you live by?

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.

Balanced, Kind, Ruthless.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Loving, Giving, Humble.

What do you fear?

I fear not doing what makes me happy.

What are you proud of?

I’m proud of being a risk taker and pursuing my dreams no matter the struggles.

What are you searching for?

I'm not searching for anything in particular. I just enjoy creating worlds for people, to help them escape.

How will you find it?

By learning, creating more, and continuing to find inspiration around me.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?

I hope to make something that is unfathomable and so inspirational that it helps get people through tough times, or helps them forget their problems for even just a moment. It would be great to have a person say to me someday, 'I didn’t give up because of you.'

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?

I am my own inspiration at times because my passion is so strong, I constantly remind myself I do this because it makes me feel good. I don’t even know how to explain it. It just feels right.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative? 

The moment that changed me was when I realized I’ll never stop learning—to always humble yourself. When you do that, the world opens up.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world? Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

I find things in the world that inspire me, and I combine them into a melting pot, shaving away what I don’t like. In the mix of that my upbringing you will find me the anomaly.

The BLK BND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

You just have to live and not put too much thought into it.

BLK BND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you? 

If you never give up, there is no way you will not become successful and success is so one-sided, who can really say? All I know is for me, success is being loved and admired for being yourself.

BLKBND 005 | CHARLES RENFROW /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 005

CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BRAND STRATEGIST

Who are you? 

was born in Washington DC. I grew up in a single parent household as an only child. And although we actually owned our tiny row house in the S.E. side of DC I grew up directly across the street from one of DC most notorious neighborhoods, East Capitol Dwelling, 600 nit public housing complex.

What words do you live by?

Perseverance. Determination. Fearlessness.

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.

Optimistic. Inspired. Sincere. 

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Inspirational. Helpful. Respected.

What do you fear?

Time.

What are you proud of?

The life and relationships I've created for myself. 

What are you searching for? 

'FUCK YOU' money.

How will you find it?

Relentless effort. 

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?

My ultimate goal is to use my skills as a tool to craft and create amazing stories through film. 

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?

Confidence. 

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?

At 22 I had very little in the way of direction. I also was of the mindset that in order to accomplish anything of note in life you had to come from particular stock or have a certain pedigree. t that time I had a chance meeting with a guy who happened to graduate Harvard Law at the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA. After a few days of idle conversation he made an observation and statement. He stated "I think you should re-think who you think you are, I went to school with people who aren't remotely as intelligent as you." That one comment from such an influential source was a turning point for me that dramatically changed the trajectory of my journey.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

By being unrelenting in my genuine understanding of my value and always working to ensure that I accept nothing less than my worth.

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

I like simple, basic, clean, and classic style. I feel like clothing should be an extension of you rather than a mask.

The BLK BND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

Be relevant. Be intense. Be strategic. Be a force for advancement. 

BLK BND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

tability and self-ownership are the most illusive characteristics for black men. Finding away to create that stability in your life while maintaining ownership of your time and integrity are the ultimate demonstrations of the BLKBND. I've tried to manifest those pillars in my life and hopefully the expression of that can serve as a blueprint for many more of us to do the same.

BLKBND 006 | RAALON KENNEDY /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 006

MODEL, WRITER

Who are you? 

I am Raalon Kennedy, born in Anchorage, Alaska. I grew up in Tacoma, WA in somewhat of an unorthodox setting, having been birthed by a young mother in a struggling family. I am a military kid with a wide range of talents and gifts most people don’t realize I possess. 

What words do you live by?

“Never count yourself out!”

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.  

Adventurous, Courageous, Intelligent.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Influential, Legendary, Heroic.

What do you fear?  

What I fear most is being complacent in life upon achieving my dreams. To a degree I am fearful of what a high level of success would make of me. Though I gladly accept the challenge to face this fear with great prudence and humility.

What are you proud of?  

That I am constantly improving and pursuing what I feel destined to do.

What are you searching for?

I am searching for a resting place for my creativity. A place where my artistry is embraced with open arms and can flourish.

How will you find it?  

Through the continuously improvement of self and perfecting of my crafts.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?  

I want to become a noteworthy artist/humanitarian/entrepreneur. With the growth of my creative endeavors [photography, film, music, literature] I am hoping to build a gallery of some sort that teaches fine art as well as start a café.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?  

What I have created for myself in pursuit of my creative goals is a clear and concise vision of who and what I want to become. With such an over-saturation of faux artists and a growing emphasis on material possessions, I believe that a concise vision is a defining factor in the achievement of personal dreams.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?  

Existential and somewhat circumstantial, a pivotal moment that’s brought clarity as a man/creative was when I resolved to continue to pursue art upon moving from Los Angeles back to my hometown of Tacoma, WA. As difficult as it was to leave an amazing city as Los Angeles, circumstances called I return to WA.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

I’ve created the persona I present to the world through developing a broad world view. Learning is my pastime; I am constantly learning the ideals of different cultures, philosophy, art, etc. Expanding my world view, so that my art might reach a wider range of people.

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

To me, style means originality, authenticity, something of legend. My aim is to embody these on a daily basis.

The BLKBND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

The code of behavior I use to navigate the world first and foremost is that of the classic gentleman, with a dash of the rock star. I think it’s the perfect combination for navigating a dog eat dog world.

BLKBND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

I strive to hold myself and my art to the highest degree in order to break the perception placed on BLK males. So how this comes into play for me is in essence through my creativity. Success for me, is ultimately becoming a noteworthy artist–who, since I was a little kid, I knew I was.

instagram raalonkennedy

BLKBND 007 | JAMAL HENDERSON /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 007

MODEL, ACTOR

Who are you?

I am Jamal Henderson. I was born in Washington D.C., raised in Bridgeport, WV. I come from a single parent household where it was just my mother and I for a majority of my life. My father and mother were never married but I'd still see him during summer visits and other small occasions where he'd come to see me play sports or for graduations. I have 2 sisters but 1 lived with my dad and the other is 7 years older than me so most of the time it was just my mom and I.

What words do you live by?

I honestly don't know if I live by any words... just my feelings really.

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.

Intuitive, Compassionate, Ambitious.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Entrepreneurial, Generous, Patient.

What do you fear?  

The unknown.

What are you proud of?  

I'm proud of my growth and my ability to adapt to the situations and circumstances that have been placed before me. 

What are you searching for?

A spiritual balance and my overall purpose in life.

How will you find it?

Through continuing to grow my faith and connecting with other individuals and learning from them.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?

I want to become the best and truest version of myself, which will honestly constantly be changing. What I want to accomplish: becoming an international model, elite actor, as well as establishing my engineering technology business, which I'm currently working on.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?

I wouldn't necessarily say that I created anything in myself, but more so: discovering an overall passion for business. After realizing that passion, I began to create different opportunities for myself based on past experiences in engineering, as well as through the opportunities shown to me in modeling and acting.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?

I'd have to say the pivotal opportunity had to have been when I signed with my agency, NEXT, in LA before graduating from college at Tennessee State University. Without that happening. I probably would be in Dallas at a traditional 9-5 job in a structural engineering firm, and not at all focused on developing my own business let alone pursuing a career in acting and modeling.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

My persona is one that tends to constantly evolve and adapt. I am pisces so I am very adaptable to many different environments so I am very mellow, easy going, and sociable while always thinking about different aspects of the future. 

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

Like my personality, my style tends to change given the season and most importantly my feelings. I wear clothes based on how I feel in them as opposed to any given labels. I have my core items that I will always be a fan of such as boots, coats, suits, and all sorts of hats. Then I build on those items based on what I feel at the time I look into my closet.

The BLK BND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

Respect and honesty are kind of my staples of behavior. I treat everyone with sincerity, as I'd want people to treat me. 

BLK BND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

The amount of lives that I can impact in a positive manner as a result of the opportunities I am given throughout my life keeps me grounded and looking forward to each day. I've had so many people reach out to me over the last 2 years about how much they admire me and I hadn't known I'd even affected anyone in that way. Success to me is not in how much money I earn, but what I do with that money and time to be an impact on others.

BLKBND 008 | NU GOTEH /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 008

PRODUCT DESIGNER, BRAND CONSULTANT

Who are you?

Nu Goteh. Born in Monrovia, Liberia. Grew up in Lowell, MA - 30 minutes outside of Boston.

What words do you live by?

"We having a fun, but not playing around." - my own

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.

Thinker, Mover, Maker. 

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Reliable, Inviting, Inspiring.

What do you fear?

I fear what I know, what I don't know—but most importantly what I don't know I don't know.

What are you proud of?

Setting standards for myself and exceeding them. 

What are you searching for? 

Self. 

How will you find it?

From the reflection of those that are the closest to me.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?

I want to become a fruition magician, with the ability to turn fleeting thoughts into sustainable reality.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?

I have created platforms (physical, digital and mental) for people to connect, share and manifest. Selection of some of my digital works—most are tied to a physical experience in some form. 

whatup.nu
Alillouder.com
SDMPrimer.com
movemovemove.party
all-good.co
didwelandonthemoon.org
mixcloud.com/NU_

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?

That moment sophomore year of college when I saw a flyer for a music, art and fashion event as an open invite to email the agency organizing it and ask for an internship. Resulting in my first paid design and marketing gig, which allowed me to meet my mentors, who opened countless doors that I am currently keeping open until we all make it in.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world? 

Confident, in control (of myself), calculated, with a dose of effortless, healthy helping of comfort and a scoop of empathy and compassion. 

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

Style: I think style is about knowing yourself and what works for you. Being able to be the best you in whatever you put on. Not being driven by trends or brands. I don't think you can ever have style without knowing yourself. Style is the nucleus: it's what makes a simple grey tee, jeans and a smile the ideal outfit when everyone else is dressing like a clone of a Kanye clone. 

The BLK BND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

Awareness. Being fully aware of self and thy power but also understanding how it affects others.

BLK BND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

You're only as good as the company you keep. Those who are around you are the best mirror—without your brothers to check you and get you into line, clown on you when you're feeling yourself too much or help you up when you're at the bottom... we would all be lost.

site nugoteh.com
instagram nupacshakur

BLKBND 009 | LARRY 'DIGITAL P' FORD /  by VANNGA NGUYEN

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we published "BLKBND," on the Rise of the Urban Creative, framed by the self-crafted BLK male identity, and the BND of historical brotherhood. See the full editorial here.

Then we asked each BLKBND share a piece of himself.

BLKBND 009

MUSIC ARTIST

Who are you? 

I am Larry "Digital P" Ford, songwriter/music artist and CEO of Determined Entertainment. I was born in South Central California. I was raised by my single mother in the streets of Los Angeles in the late 80's.

What words do you live by?

Be determined, reliable, consistent.

Describe yourself, today, in 3 words.  

Humble, Quiet, and Motivated.

Describe the man you aspire to be, 3 words.

Strong, Successful, Wealthy.

What do you fear?  

I'm God-fearing.

What are you proud of?  

I'm proud to be living.

What are you searching for?

I am searching for my purpose.

How will you find it?  

By trusting in my Heavenly Father.

Who do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish?  

A successful, independent, music mogul. I want to be able to feed the masses the right fruit of the world.

What have you created in yourself, for yourself, and of yourself, to put forth in pursuit of your creative goals?  

I have created a self-motivating man within myself that can achieve any goal he puts his mind to.

What's a pivotal moment or opportunity—whether existential or circumstantial—that's brought you to where you are today, as a man and a creative?  

Life experiences brought me to the path of music. I have always grown up with an appreciation for music as an art and that appreciation continues to grow within.

As a BLK male, how have you crafted the persona that you present to the world?

I pull on the past and the present and mix that with my own creativity.

Speak to your style philosophy. What does it mean to you?

Clean and bold. I always like to stand out, but remind the world what a gentlemen looks like.

The BLKBND is an agent of life. What code of behavior and knowledge does he/do you use to navigate the world as an agent of the black male identity?

Only those who are there to lose, win. You can't be afraid to fail. If you never try, you've already failed, so it's always worth the shot. This is how I navigate through life.

BLKBND also signifies a brotherhood, the bond between men who understand where they come from, and the mindful positioning of self to create success for themselves. How does that come into play in your life? What signifies success to you?

The places I have been and the experiences that I've had have made a profound impact on my life. Music is an art that I do not just hear; I live and breathe it in my soul. I am fortunate to have found a passion in life that can inspire others to bring change to the world. Success in my eyes is achieving my goals in life, and bringing a positive message to the world through my music.

instagram digitalp5000