dork magazine.

DM: What's your passion?

It would be impossible for me to just talk about one passion because I have so many. I will try my hardest to just express what is taking up all of my passion at the moment. My wife and son are always my motivation, in everything I do. I am most definitely passionate about providing for them, loving them, and keeping their best interests at the forefront of everything I do. On a professional level I am passionate about building four successful brands from the ground up; Black-Marmalade, Stereotypics, NHS: National Hustle Society, and most recently put into motion Original TasteMakers. These are the things that I love and have seen grow. I am passionate about making my dreams for these brands that I have started a reality. That’s my word!

DM: What keeps you motivated to pursue your passion?

Not any one thing, but rather a conglomerate of rotating things: providing for my wife and son, challenging the way a person thinks and/or sees the world… To someone who doesn’t know me it may seem like I’m exploding in a million directions at times, but my reasoning in doing so isn’t because I’m attempting to be everything to everyone. Rather, there’s such a titanic volume and velocity of thoughts, ideas, etc. of equal importance running through my head, that I want to give it all space. What keeps me motivated to pursue my passion is the dream that one day I will be able to GIVE IT ALL SPACE.

DM: Who are some of your inspirations?

My personal inspirations are my wife Jessica, my son Savion, my mother Twila, my grandfather Esley, and the late great Raymond Alexander Deberry III (a better friend than I could ever be, may he rest in peace). I hate to sound like a broken record with the first two but they are the only two things I need in this world. Professional and heroic inspirations vary and change through time, but the one’s that have stuck with me the longest are Jean Michel Basquiat, Jay-Z, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Joe Carter, and Hulk Hogan lol!

DM: Favorite Song?

Wow! Just one huh? Well, if I had to choose just one it would definitely be “Change Gone Come” By Otis Redding. It so perfectly describes my life. I feel the hell out of that song.

DM: Favorite Movie?

Just one again? Hmm…it would have to be a television show, and if I do that I will have to name more than one. I’ll give you my top three right now. Sleeper Cell, Weeds, and The O.C. That's right, I said the O.C. I have been a fan since it’s inception and if you got a problem with it, oh well, ‘cause beef is stupid.

DM: One thing that you can't live without?

My wife and son. They are one in my eyes. If I lost either one of them at this point in my life, I don’t know what I’d do.

On a superficial level, I could not live without my now “Dying” portable hard drive, my DVR Cable, and my Nike Dunk Pro Cl Low’s.

Check out Black-Marmalade [Website]