Mama, We Made It!

"Be completely present and conscious of what you're in." Evan Haskell is an entrepreneur, and Founder/CEO of the hospitality brand Urban Flat. But before building a multi-city, luxury housing company, Evan was class clown with a 2.3 gpa, with childhood dreams of being a firefighter.He grew up in the hills of LA, a privileged area, and a different city experience, where coyotes roamed the streets, and stargazing was an nightly ritual. In his house, it was always family first. His brothers are his greatest gift, and his father is his biggest role model.As a kid, Evan wasn't interested in the academic side of school, but rather sports and the social aspect. Moving from public school to private school was an uncomfortable challenge, and when it was time for college, Evan got rejected by almost every university he applied to. And although Evan was a star baseball player, a snowboarding accident threw a massive curveball in his path.But it wasn't until his first year playing college baseball that Evan was faced wit

"We all have an extraordinary set of skills. Discover how to use them, and bet on your magic." Laci is a multi-disciplinary graphic designer, creative director, and entrepreneur, who has worked with Disney, CAA, and brands like Nike, Jordan, and Hibbett Sports. But as young child growing up in Hunstville, Alabama, Laci has memories of crying to her mother saying, "why am I not creative?" However, it wasn't that Laci lacked creativity, but rather confidence to let it out.As an observant kid, from divorced parents, with four older brothers, Laci developed a strong sense of independence. Always focused on how to be successful, she often took on opportunities for "optics", knowing they would look good on her resume, and for the next steps in her life.However, it wasn't until the tragic event of her older brother getting murdered, that Laci's path would soon change forever. He was the one person in her life who inspired her to be creative, and his dream became hers. Attending University of Alabama, Laci studied cr

"Share your story, people need to hear your struggle." Born in West Virginia, raised in Colorado, Chief was from a military family, where learning to be resilient was a cornerstone of his upbringing. At a young age, he was a part of a music and dance group, with his father at the helm, leading like a drill sergeant. While other kids were playing sports and games, Chief and his group were practicing day and night, performing throughout the city, and winning competitions. However, paralleling this road was also that of hanging around gangsters, selling drugs, violence, and being one decision away from ruining his life. It was this tumultuous environment where Chief learned how to navigate - but music was home, a place where would always come back to among life's madness.As he got older, moving from Colorado to New Orleans, Atlanta and eventually LA, Chief was caught in the tornado of working job after job, hustling, making money, and pursuing music. But at the same time, when he once thought had it all, he was

"When you're doing what you're supposed to, everything clicks." Davin is a designer, artist, and co-founder of the clothing brands Premium Co. and Diet Starts Monday. Raised by his mother in Madisonville, Kentucky, Davin grew up in a trailer park, and would often struggle with his identity. Dealing with issues of race and wealth, Davin would find himself escaping through worlds of skating, basketball, and drawing. But it wasn't until after high school, when he would fully tap into his creative side. Influenced by legendary painter, Bob Ross, Davin began to hand paint t-shirts and sell them to all the DJ crews, rappers and artists throughout the music scene. Gully Originals was born and would last for six years, as Davin committed to laying the foundation of his entrepreneur path. Soon expanding to graphic design, and creating mixtape covers, Davin was becoming one of the most sought out artists among the community, with his name and reputation spreading fast. His ability to evolve and

“The moment I gain personal happiness is when I stop caring.” LYNWOOD STAND UP! This one’s for y’all. Enter Willie B aka The Ichiban Don. Willie grew up Lynwood, CA - a city with integrity and respect, but “you don’t take no shit!” Everyone knows each other, grows up together, but divided by two sides of gangs. But, Willie was someone who got along with everyone, a neutral character with a positive soul. Willie’s household built on the foundation of morals. His mother was from Mississippi, and his father from Cleveland, both hard workers who provided Willie with a good childhood and encouraged his artistic and creative endeavors - drawing and music. “Music and Art are the same. I see colors in every record.” Throughout high school, Willie gravitated and focused on all performing arts - from battle rapping to singing in choirs. Music would soon completely take over, as he finally “understood” it. But it wasn’t until college when Willie was introduced to the world of beat-making and production,

“Take every negative, and outweigh it with a positive.” Born and raised in Queens, NY, Hommy grew up quickly, with a savviness that could only be learned from the streets. His parents immigrated from the Dominican Republic, and while Hommy was learning English by reading TV Guides, and immersed in the rich culture of his family, he also was exposed to the deep poverty of the country, making him truly grateful for all that he had. At an early age, Hommy started drawing, and began tapping into his creativity. But it wasn’t until he discovered the art of skateboarding, that his creativity would begin to blossom. From the graphics on the board, to the tricks, style, and fashion, Hommy’s identity was quickly being shaped, and so was his network. When it was time for college, Hommy decided to double down on the world of art, pursuing art school, and crafting his dream. This would soon become one of the most challenging, yet fulfilling times of Hommy’s life. He was the underdog, an

“Trust the timing of your life.” Amelian is a multi-disciplinary, wardrobe stylist, painter, artist, visionary, creative, and a true sartorialist. Her mother is from Japan, and her father is from East Oakland, and both met in Anchorage, Alaska where Amelian was born and raised. Although she would find herself battling to sometimes fit in, Amelian loved and embraced her mixed background, and always had a lot of pride in who she was. Her deep passion for the arts, guided her through school, as well as the tough times of moving, tumultuous relationships, financial struggles, and self-doubt and guilt. Art became her rock, her community, her identity, and her dream - something she would never quit. After going to college in Las Vegas, and experiencing a life beyond Alaska, Amelian found her way to LA to quickly dive into the world of fashion and style. There, she would experience the life she thought she dreamed of - working with some of the biggest entertainers, making good money, an

“You have to invest in yourself before anyone can look at your situation and offer help. That’s what separates people.” Born in Nyack, NY, with the same birthday as Kobe, James entered this world to do something great. His family is first generation Haitian, and James grew up in a diverse neighborhood, as a kid playing basketball, loving hip hop, and into girls, clothes, and his tight crew of friends. But at 14 years old, his life was turned upside down, as he would have to leave everything he knew, and move to Georgia. Challenged with making new friends, experiencing racism, adapting to a new culture, and battling depression, James had to look in the mirror and ask himself “Who am I? What made me, me?”. As he progressed into college at Georgia State, pursuing pharmacy, photography, marketing, and learning the “art of the finesse”, James’ quest of self discovery continued. Then in 5 minutes, his whole life would change once again. A last minute trip to OVO fest would soon tu

“Everything I do is the business card for my next job.” Born and raised in LA, Danny grew up in the parallel of sports and creativity. He learned the value of strength, work ethic, and discipline from his mother, and discovered his passion for photography through old photos of her journey from Jamaica to the US. Music also played a major role in Danny’s household, and was first introduced to the industry through his older brother. This would soon lead Danny to the world of promotion, as he and his high school friends became a powerhouse crew working with the biggest artists and record labels that would come through LA. Danny’s relationships, money, and entrepreneurial spirit were growing. But it wasn’t until college, that he moved away from the comforts and certainty of LA, and into the fears and doubts of a new city. “LA raised me, the Bay made me.” It was this time period where Danny was alone, struggling not to get kicked out of school, challenging his talents, figuring out wh

“The root of all suffering is desire.” From a suburb just outside St. Louis, Joe Weil was quickly on the path of exploring all his creative impulses, getting lost in stories of adventures and different worlds, and truly falling in love with art, and movies. But it wasn’t until a run for 8th grade student body president that “The Election” would be the start of Psycho Films, and his entrepreneurial journey as a filmmaker. Joe was often labeled as the “weird, artsy movie-making kid” but rather than fighting it, he fully embraced it, and used this ability to connect with people, while making full length feature films. It wasn’t until Joe moved to LA for college, where his skills, dedication, work ethic, and sense of self were tested against the best up and coming filmmakers in the world. And in true Joe Weil fashion, he used this as an opportunity to bring the best together, to form something bigger than them all. From being wild and fearless college kids, to building one of the freshest companies, making v

"Make the best of what's in front of you." The Town is once again in the building!! Oakland, CA, a young kid with fire engine red hair, rocking his mom's stylish jacket, dope sneakers, and a die-hard fan of 90s cartoons; enter Devan. His mother was a cosmetologist, who exposed Devan to the creative culture of style, fashion and art, while instilling confidence and teaching him the invaluable life lesson of being yourself. However, as kids, it can be tough to be yourself when others view you as an outcast. And for Devan, it was something that he would struggle with until high school. Moving to Georgia to live with his father, Devan was exposed to a different type of lifestyle and culture, and would discover new things about himself. From rapping, to customizing sneakers, his creative side began to flourish. He would soon move back to Oakland, bringing his style with him, and the once outcast was now accepted. His passion for sneakers guided him through school and college, but he realized the one thing that sep

"Our relationships, our friendships with our family members, and our friends...those are our real assets." Morrisville, PA, a middle-class suburb that gave Asher a diverse experience, and humble upbringing. Growing up with two influential older sisters, and loving, supportive parents, Asher has a deep appreciation for family (just listen to "Family Man"). As a kid, he was someone who could naturally bridge social gaps, and simply got along with everyone. But when he was faced with a new environment in middle school, he found himself struggling with anxiety, which would play a pivotal role in how he views life. Entering high school, during a time when Hip-Hop was booming, Asher's confidence grew as he began rapping with friends for fun. But he never expected, nor even meant for it to become a career- and more so, an identity. As he would soon be plucked from college, and thrown directly into mainstream, the aspiring elementary school teacher found himself on top of the music industry. But did he really belong

"Risk it all, bet it all, because you're going to land on your feet." Itika was born in the projects in Richmond, CA, surrounded by working-class families who wanted to better themselves and help one another. However, she spent her early years growing up in an upper-middle class suburb outside of Richmond, where she was shown a new world of possibility. But it wasn't until she moved back to Richmond to live with her grandparents (shot out to Big Mama!) that the culture shock set in. From that point on, the focus was getting out of Richmond...and the only way was through education and college. Itika was never ashamed of being smart and studious, and embraced its coolness. With her thirst for knowledge, and driven by immense curiosity, Itika would soon conquer her initial dream, and move to LA to become a UCLA Bruin (winter Bruin to be exact). She got outta Richmond...so what happens next? With only blank pages to fill, Itika's quest to discover one's self would begin. From Perry Mason aspirations, to working f

"The dream does not stop." Born in Middletown, OH, Keith came into this world "blessed" - just ask his strong, supportive mother who would guide his hand while drawing at the age of 1. Keith's father was a minister and a musician, and even tho they kept a religious household, both his parents always allowed and encouraged Keith to experience life to the fullest. His love for drawing became his life, spending his time getting lost in portraits, and mastering his own style and craft. But as he entered high school, his hunger for being challenged grew, and soon found a new, humbling path in acting. With the driving support of his parents, the family moved from small town to big city in Cincinnati, so Keith could go to performing arts school. It was here where his evolution took place, uncovering new skills and talents, while finding his true self. It would be this foundation, that would set the stage (pun intended) for a young kid from Ohio to conquer dreams in LA. This is a story about takin

"The quicker you grow to love the struggle, the easier it is." Pasadena, CA, a young Mdot grew up loving all things creative. His bedroom walls were completely covered with pics from magazines like the Source, XXL. Moving around every year after 10 years old, leaving friends as soon as he made them, and discovering new ways to survive socially, Mdot's only real place to find his identity was through the hip-hop culture. This creative space was a place for him to also escape the realities of gang violence and poverty that encompassed his neighborhood. However, as he was entering high school, Mdot was given a unique opportunity to witness wealth and abundance, and for the first time, see a world of possibility. This would become the most pivotal moment in his life. Always knowing that he would seek a path driven by his creativity, he was fueled by his entrepreneurial spirit, and resourceful abilities, to push through the barriers of his harsh environment, and thrive. "I grew up around lions

“Be as cool as you can be, to as many people as you can, because that’s what you would hope would happen to you.”  Let the story of Jesus begin.  It was a beautiful day in Oxnard, CA when José and Maria met at church, with a destiny to bring their first son into this world. Raised by his immigrant parents, Jesus was taught to be great at everything he did, and more importantly, respectfully represent for his family and culture. He spent his youth actively in church on one side, and falling in love with sports on the other. But it wasn’t until he was inspired by deep emotional effect that soccer had on this father, that this sport would soon become his life.  It taught him everything from discipline, work ethic, and teamwork, to embracing yourself, and pushing your own limits to reach greatness. With dreams of being a world class goalie, Jesus went all in.  But there often comes a time, when we’re so focused on one thing, that we don’t give ourselves the chance to discov

"Anything culture is always going to be about consistency and longevity." Welcome to the Crenshaw District, home of some of LA's most creative and influential people who push #theculture forward daily. Enter Brandon Banks, a young child with a big imagination, who instantly fell in love with drawing as soon as he picked up a pencil. His fascination with art was nurtured by his mother - a teacher who pushed him to do the things he loved, and at the same time instilled work ethic, and taught him to stay curious. As art continued to guide his journey, he went from loving cartoons and comic books, to magazines like Slam and XXL - infatuated with the details in covers and ads. But how do you turn that into a career? At that time, there were few courses you could take, and no photoshop to download. However, despite not having the tools, Brandon realized that graphic design was the of the future...and the money (let's be real). Out of college, the economy was horrible, and there were very little

"Understand where you fit in." Welcome to LoveRenaissance, or as the tat on Justice's wrist says: LVRN. Growing up in Atlanta, Justice was influenced by his ambitious, hard-working, immigrant father from Ghana, and his strong mother, who instilled the importance of family in Justice early on. However, Justice was always a dreamer, and as he would balance the two worlds of work and family, he never fell into the structured mentality that his parents wanted for him. "Am I going to live the life I want to live, or am I going to live for someone else?" Looking up to people like Jordan, Puffy...and Muggsy Bogues, Justice pushed his own boundaries to understand himself, and discover what his passions were. Starting with basketball and then finding music, from being an artist to an executive, the journey became about pivots. He began managing artists, but more so, building a team. And it was this collective of wildly talented, enterprising, creative, young go-getters that would soon become one of the

“The only thing holding you back, is your own fear of not being good enough.” Los Angeles, CA. Welcome to the School of Unconventional Thought, where we teach people how to use imagination and throw away self doubt. Born on April 7th, at 7am, on the 7th floor of the hospital, David stepped into this world as the Bible dropped from his mother’s hand and landed on the story of “David & Goliath.” David was a loner, wandering his own mind, getting lost in comics and drawing. He gets his fast, abstract style from his father, but it was his mother who put the paint brush in his hand, giving him the tools to become an artist. David never connected with school, and spent his elementary years in the principal’s office or getting kicked out. Hard to believe for someone who skipped 3 grades, but David was guided much farther by his imagination than academics. It wasn’t until he was a teen that it was time to leave school, and start fulfilling his romanticized vision of life. Driven by the values of creating and mate

“Be nice, and be good to work with.” From a small corner of Richmond, Vancouver, Cole grew up among the outdoors, charged with creativity and adventure. He came from a supportive family, where his mother instilled trust that he’d always make the right decision. Being biracial, Chinese and white, Cole struggled with feeling alienated. But as he got older, he embraced both his cultures as it gave him a greater ability to connect with others. Cole expressed himself through breakdancing, and skateboarding; two art forms that require relentless dedication and drive. But it was skateboarding that made him realize he could do something different and find success at it. As he continued to excel, with sponsorships and acclaim, he suddenly faced a tragic moment that completely flipped his world upside down. And from there, everything stopped as he was faced with a choice; to live his life upset and angry, or use this moment for good. Entering college, with a blank canvas, Cole was drawn to a new found love in film. Ena