- 11 minutes ago
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🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Back, party back, know how I give it up
00:02If it's up, then it's up, then it's up, then it's stuck
00:04If it's up, then it's up, then it's up, then it's stuck
00:07Hoping up, then it's up, if it's up, then it's stuck
00:10If it's up, then it's up, then it's up, then it's stuck
00:13I can make the party hot, I can make your body rock
00:16Haters can't do nothing with me, chances are they probably not
00:19If I had a stick, you'd probably make it like a lollipop
00:22Shorty, freaky, cap and knees, hit him with karate chop
00:24I'm forever popping it, pulling up and dropping it
00:27Gotta argue with him, cause you know he love a toxic chick
00:30He's out here playing, gotta make him understand
00:32Ain't no rape on my finger, you ain't calling on my facts
00:35And my face, bomb, abs tight, back, snack, I'm shag
00:38Jury on me, flashlight, I've been listening since last night
00:41Hit him with that good, good, make you wanna act
00:44Broke boys don't deserve no kitty, I know that's
00:47Feeling young, but they treat me like the OG
00:50And they want the tea on me, I swear they knows he
00:53Said he put some money on my head, I guess we gon' see
00:56I won't put no money on his head, my n***** told me
00:58I gotta be single for a while, he can't control me
01:01Move no bills, trace in a race, they can't hold me
01:04And I show my face in a case, so you know it's me
01:07Imitation isn't flattery, it's just annoying me
01:09And I'm too about it, and the dirt that they threw
01:13On my name turned to soil and I grew about it
01:15Time for y'all to figure out what y'all gon' do about it
01:18Big wheels keep rolling, rolling, I'm outside
01:2129, G5, Seesaw, I've been losing friends and finding peace
01:27But honestly that sound like a fair trade to me
01:30If I ever heard one and I'm still here
01:33Outside, front line, south side
01:36I've been losing friends and finding peace
01:38Honestly that sound like a fair trade to me
01:41Look, don't invite me over here if you throw another pretty party
01:44Looking back, it's hard to tell you where I started
01:47I don't know who loved me, but I know that it ain't everybody
01:50I could never love her, she a busybody
01:52Baby, if you want me, can't be turning up with everybody
01:55Nah, can't be, you know, just anybody
01:58Yeah, I got feelings for you, that's the thing about it
02:01Yeah, you know that it's something when I sing about it
02:03Yeah, mama used to be on disability
02:06But gave me this ability
02:07And now she walking with her head high and her back straight
02:10I don't think you feeling me, I'm out here
02:12Being everything they said I wouldn't be, I couldn't be
02:15I don't know what happened to them guys and said they would be
02:18I said, see you at the top and they misunderstood me
02:20I hope no resentment in my heart, just that maturity
02:23And we don't keep it on this anymore, it's with security
02:26I'm outside, 29, G5, Seesaw
02:31I've been losing friends and finding peace
02:32But honestly that sound like a fair trade to me
02:36If I ever heard one and I'm still here
02:38Outside, front line, south side
02:42I've been losing friends and finding peace
02:43Honestly that sound like a fair trade to me
02:47As we proceed, to give you what you need
02:59As we proceed, to give you what you need
03:13Not five more, get locked up
03:17Biggie, give me one more chance
03:20Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:22Biggie, give me one more chance
03:24Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:26Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:28Biggie, give me one more chance
03:30Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:32Biggie, give me one more chance
03:33Biggie, give me one more chance
03:34Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:35Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:36Biggie, biggie, give me one more chance
03:37First things first, I pop up, freaks all the honey, dummies, playboy bunnies, those wanting money, those the ones I like, they don't get Nathan, but penetration, unless it smells like sanitation, garbage I turn like doorknob, heartthrob never, black and ugly as ever, however, I stay coochie down to the socks, rings and wats filled with rocks, and my jam not in your Mitsubishi, they're creepy when they see me, never, or creep me in their teepee, as I lay down laws like island copper, stop it,
04:07if you think they're gonna make a profit, don't see my ones, don't see my love, get it, now tell your friends, papa, hit it, then split it, in two, as I flow with the junior, my player, I don't know what the hell's stopping you, I'm clocking you, Versace shade watching you, once you grin, I'm in, game begins, first I talk about how I dress, it's this, and diamond necklaces, stretch lexuses, the sex is just immaculate, from the back I get deeper and deeper, help you reach the climax that your man can't
04:37call and tell him you'll be home real late, that's in the break
04:40I got that good love, boy, you didn't know?
04:45Give me one more
04:48Says I'm begging me, I give you one more chance
04:53I got that good love, boy, you didn't know?
04:56Niggy, give me one more chance, baby
04:58How do you want me to?
05:04How do you feel?
05:05Come out, baby, I just can't live in the best way
05:09How do you want me to?
05:13How do you feel?
05:15Coming up as a blue
05:17The cash came living in the best way
05:19I'm real
05:20I love the way you activate your hips and push your head out
05:23Got a brother on it so bad I'm about to pass out
05:25Gonna dig you
05:26And I can't even lie about it, baby
05:28Just alleviate you close
05:29I'm the fly about it, catch you at the club
05:31Your hips have got me feeling
05:32Body talking quick to me
05:33But I can't comprehend the meaning
05:35Now if you wanna roll with me
05:36Then there's your chance to win 80 on the freeway
05:39Catch me if you can
05:40Forgive me, I'm a rider
05:41Still, I'm just a simple man
05:43All I want is money plus the fame
05:44I'm a simple man
05:45Mr. International
05:46Player with a passport
05:47Just like a Latin switch
05:49Get you anything you ask for
05:50Either him or me
05:51The champagne and the seeds
05:53Favorite of my homies when we floss
05:54On our enemies
05:55Witness as we creep to a low speed
05:57Be what my foes need
05:58Make some OGs
06:00For you don't need
06:01Approaching women with a passion
06:02For the long date
06:03But I've been driven by attraction
06:05In a strong way
06:06Your body is banging
06:07Baby, I love the way you're flown
06:08Time to give it to daddy
06:10Sugar, now tell me how you want it
06:11How do you want it?
06:14How do you feel?
06:15Coming up as an eye
06:17The cash came living
06:18In the best late night for real
06:20How do you want it?
06:24How do you feel?
06:26Coming up as a queen
06:27The cash came living
06:28In the best late night for real
06:30Tell me, baby, is it cool to touch?
06:32Tell me a man that you can trust
06:33Not just a fool and lust
06:34Coming to get you on the bus
06:35It's so ironic
06:36Exotic on the verge of a vibe
06:38I'm hitting switches on misses
06:39Like I've been fixed with hydraulics
06:40My up and down like a roller coaster
06:42Can I come inside you?
06:43I ain't stopping until the show is over
06:45Cause I'm a part of ending now
06:46It's like a robbery
06:47I'll probably be a freak
06:48And let you get on top of me
06:49If the rock and knees
06:51Night is full of Alize
06:52A living legend
06:53You ain't heard about them players
06:54Living Cali days
06:55Dolores Tucker
06:56You were faking me
06:57Instead of trying to help
06:58What?
07:00What?
07:02What?
07:03What?
07:04What?
07:05What?
07:07What?
07:08What?
07:09What?
07:10What?
07:12What?
07:13What?
07:14What?
07:16What?
07:17What?
07:18What?
07:19Stop
07:20Drop
07:21Shut them down
07:22Open up shop
07:23Oh
07:25No
07:26That's how rough fighters roll
07:29Stop
07:30Drop
07:31Shut them down
07:33Open up shop
07:34Oh
07:35No
07:36That's how rough fighters roll
07:39Snitches wanna try
07:40Snitches wanna lie
07:41The snitches wonder why
07:42Snitches wanna die
07:44All I know is pain
07:45All I feel is rain
07:46I cannot maintain
07:48With madness on my brain
07:49I resort to violence
07:50My killers move in silence
07:51Like you don't know what I'm styling
07:53Then your killers are wildest
07:54My dogs is with it
07:55You want it?
07:56Come and get it
07:57Took it then we split it
07:58Damn right we did it
07:59What the F you gon' do
08:00When we run up on you
08:02Messin' with the wrong crew
08:03Don't know what we goin' through
08:04I'ma have to show
08:05How easily we blow
08:06When we find out there's some more
08:08That's runnin' with Joe
08:09Nothing we can't handle
08:10Break it up and dismantle
08:12Light it up like a candle
08:13Just cause I can't stand you
08:14Put my s*** on tapes
08:15Like you bustin' graves
08:17Think you holdin' weight
08:18And you haven't met the apes
08:19Hey
08:28When it come to you
08:29Pistol like bars
08:31Issue with trust
08:32Won't let no one get a piece of your love
08:34Yeah
08:35Base it on loyalty
08:36Base it on us
08:37I ain't the picture perfect type
08:38But I'm makin' it up
08:39You say you're on a bad flip
08:41But I can't get enough
08:42I return now
08:42But when I'm with you
08:43I'm better it's
08:44Forbidden food on apple juice
08:45Can I sip on the cup
08:46Mix it with some 1942
08:48And I'm beatin' you up
08:49Girl you chosen
08:49Get up when you bust wide open
08:52It's an ocean
08:53I'm just imposing
08:54That you give it to me
08:56And just me only
08:57Yeah
08:57Girl you chosen
08:59Get up when you bust wide open
09:02It's an ocean
09:03I'm just imposing
09:04That you give it to me
09:05And just me only
09:06Girl you chosen
09:10Sign this NDA
09:11No you can't bring no phones in
09:13We walkin' in the night
09:14Like what's all the commotion
09:15No he can't step up
09:16Put it in here
09:17If we don't know him
09:17Treat you special
09:18Girl I'll hit you
09:19With the roses
09:20Can't stand your boyfriend
09:21Into control
09:22Man
09:23You get along
09:24Better with me
09:25Get up when you bust wide open
09:27Girl you chosen
09:28Get up when you bust wide open
09:31It's an ocean
09:32I'm just imposing
09:33That you give it to me
09:35And just me only
09:36Yeah
09:36Girl you chosen
09:38Get up when you bust wide open
09:40It's an ocean
09:42I'm just imposing
09:43That you give it to me
09:44That you give it to me
09:44And just me only
09:45Yeah
09:47What up
09:47Yeah
09:48Brand new Rollie got you frozen
09:50Two more shots
09:51Got that wide open
09:52Till she wanna go another round
09:54Don't provoke him
09:54Shorty up and down
09:56On the pole like she voting
09:57I like when you talk to me
09:59Ain't nothing new
10:01But you know how to do it
10:02But you know how to do it
10:02Face down
10:03Face down
10:04Face down
10:04All right folks
10:05Great afternoon
10:07Great afternoon
10:08Great afternoon
10:09Listen we are kicking off
10:10Yet another amazing panel
10:12I wanna welcome to the stage
10:14Three more amazing CEOs
10:18And you heard me correctly
10:19I didn't say CEOs
10:20I'm talking about
10:22It's some black women in power
10:24Come on to the stage ladies
10:26Y'all clap it up for them
10:28Cause they are gorgeous
10:29Not only are they gorgeous
10:32They got beauty and brains
10:34Okay
10:34Come on ladies
10:36Have a seat
10:36Have a seat
10:37So
10:41Let's get the party started
10:43What is one word
10:45To describe your experience
10:48At Essence this year
10:49One word
10:51Phenomenal
10:53Phenomenal
10:54Amazing
10:55Amazing
10:56Overwhelming
10:58Overwhelming
10:59A first timer
11:00First timer
11:01Y'all
11:01Any other first timers
11:03Out here
11:03Let's clap it up
11:05For the first timers
11:06At Essence
11:07Hey
11:08All right folks
11:09So
11:10Let's get into it
11:11Tell me
11:12Who are you
11:13And let's hear a bit
11:14About your brand
11:15I'm Christina
11:17Founder of 54 Thrones
11:19We are an African
11:21Inspired beauty brand
11:22We're carried in
11:23Sephora
11:23Nordstrom
11:24We're Oprah's
11:25Favorite things
11:25We just launched
11:27A new product
11:28With Sephora
11:29On Tuesday
11:30It's called
11:30The Barrier Repair
11:31Cloud Cream
11:31And we're like
11:33We have it
11:34We're over here
11:34Doing interviews
11:35We're all about
11:36Essence Fest
11:36And just having
11:37An amazing time
11:38I love it
11:40She said she made
11:41Y'all know I love Oprah
11:42Y'all heard me talking
11:43All day
11:44I love Oprah
11:45She made Oprah's
11:47Favorite list
11:48I love it
11:48Hi everyone
11:50My name is Jasmine Foster
11:51I'm the founder
11:52Of Be Rooted
11:52We're an inclusively designed
11:54Stationery brand
11:55We're here to uplift
11:56And celebrate
11:57Women of color
11:57Let you know
11:58That you are seen
11:58And heard
11:59And look y'all
12:00We were the first
12:01Black-owned stationery company
12:02Sold at Target
12:03Clap it up
12:05The first black-owned company
12:08In Target
12:10I love it
12:10And you
12:11Madam
12:12Hi
12:12I'm Rochelle Ivory
12:13From Compton, California
12:15I'm the CEO
12:16And founder of
12:17On the Edge Baby Hair
12:18We're a line of
12:19Functional and protective
12:21Hairstyling tools
12:22That inspire creativity
12:24And inspires creativity
12:26And we love to do our edges
12:28So we wanted to make
12:29Those baby hairstyling tools
12:30Thank you guys
12:32So very much
12:33So you know
12:34It's hip-hop 50 right
12:36So we're discussing
12:37All things hip-hop
12:38All things culture
12:39Like one of the newest ones
12:40There you know
12:41I kind of like it
12:42I'll be honest
12:43Started from the bottom
12:44Now we're here
12:45Started from the bottom
12:47Now
12:47Okay you heard it
12:48Started from the bottom
12:49Amen
12:49It's Sunday
12:50All right
12:51So talk to me
12:53About your beginnings
12:54Because right now
12:55We hear you
12:56I hear you saying
12:57Listen
12:58Oprah know me
12:59Right
13:01I hear you saying
13:02Listen
13:02I am in Target
13:03And we know
13:05You have it going on
13:06Right
13:06But talk to me
13:08About how it began
13:09Was it always
13:11That way
13:12Well for me
13:14With 54 Thrones
13:15It began with family
13:16Family
13:18Is how I got the inspiration
13:19I'm Nigerian-American
13:21So I was inspired
13:22From the Nigerian side
13:23Of my family
13:24And learning more
13:25About that
13:25And learning about
13:26The beautiful parts
13:27Of Africa
13:27A lot
13:28That we don't normally
13:29See in the media
13:30So really embracing
13:31That
13:32Embracing who I was
13:33And I started my brand
13:35In 2016
13:36After I quit my job
13:39And I just
13:39Bought a flight
13:40To Nigeria
13:41And I started
13:42Traveling all around
13:43Africa
13:43So 54 Thrones
13:45Is honors
13:46The 54 countries
13:47Of Africa
13:48That's what the name
13:50Signifies
13:51And so
13:52Being inspired
13:53By the Nigerian side
13:54Of my family
13:55Having the idea
13:56Going back home
13:57To Houston
13:58And having my
13:59My mother's side
14:01My mother's there
14:02And my aunt
14:02My sister
14:03Having them help me
14:05Fill the tubes
14:06Of our products
14:06And the jars
14:07In my kitchen
14:08Like we started
14:09Literally in my kitchen
14:10And that was in 2016
14:13And all through the pandemic
14:14And then
14:15We got to the point
14:16Where we were able
14:17To get with the
14:17Manufacturer and grow
14:19But I think
14:20You know
14:20This panel is all about
14:21How to support
14:22Black businesses
14:23And I think that
14:25I can speak for
14:2654 Thrones
14:27Since 2020
14:28We have had
14:28An incredible amount
14:30Of support
14:30From the community
14:33And so I think
14:34Patronizing
14:35Shopping with us
14:37Is one
14:37Is the easiest way
14:39You can support us
14:40I know we'll get into
14:40Some of the other ways
14:41But that's the easiest way
14:42To support black business
14:43Is to shop with us
14:45I love it
14:46I love it
14:47So our last panel
14:48We were talking about
14:49The black family
14:50In business
14:51And if most of us
14:53Are honest
14:54My mama nem
14:55My child
14:58My sister nem
14:59Have been
15:01My biggest cheerleaders
15:02And my biggest supporters
15:03So thank you
15:04For bringing that out
15:05Like black culture
15:06Is all about
15:08Black family
15:09Family is the core
15:10Of who we are
15:11So I don't
15:12I don't see us
15:13Ever really honestly
15:14Separating that
15:14From our business
15:15Right
15:16Because it's at our core
15:17So tell me
15:18About those humble beginnings
15:19Of yours
15:20Yeah so I spent my last 10 years
15:23Helping build other brands
15:25And helping other people
15:26Chase their dreams
15:26And at the top
15:28Wait wait
15:28Okay I'm sorry
15:29Because y'all said
15:29We could have a conversation
15:30Absolutely
15:31We're having a conversation
15:32Because this stage
15:33Is about education
15:35Empowerment
15:36Motivation
15:37And inspiration
15:37How many of us
15:39Have been guilty
15:41Of putting everybody else's dreams
15:45And needs
15:45And wants ahead
15:46Of our
15:47Today stop it
15:48I give you permission
15:49Matter of fact
15:50I declare and decree
15:51That today is a phenomenal day
15:54Because what can happen
15:56If you decide
15:58To start putting your dreams
16:00Ahead
16:01Right
16:02Come on with it
16:02Let's hear the story
16:03So at the top of 2020
16:05You know it was a very scary time
16:07But for me it was the first time
16:08That I wasn't running
16:09A thousand miles per hour
16:11Building somebody else's empire
16:13And so I've always been
16:15A stationary obsessed young girl
16:17I had way too many journals
16:18Planners
16:19Decorating my locker
16:20Was my favorite thing to do
16:21For every school season
16:22I think gift giving
16:24Is my love language
16:24And I've been a champion
16:26Of black women
16:27And all things black
16:28For a very long time
16:29And I've felt like
16:30There's been so much messaging
16:31That wasn't positive
16:33And uplifting towards us
16:34And so I thought about
16:35Like what if I created a brand
16:37That was both reflective
16:39From imagery
16:40But also intertwining
16:42Uplifting and positive messaging
16:44And products that you carry
16:45With you in your everyday life
16:46So products that are in your purse
16:48That are on your desk
16:48That are on your bedside
16:50That you can continuously look at
16:51To uplift you
16:52And so I started the brand
16:54With literally just four journals
16:56And launched them with no logo
16:58Back in June of 2020
17:00And the reason why I did that
17:02Was because I feel like
17:03Sometimes people start
17:04With the sexy part
17:05Of building a brand
17:05That's coming up with the name
17:07That's getting the branding right
17:09And what I wanted to do
17:10Was say
17:10Let me put this product
17:12Out into the world
17:13And see if it has
17:14Community impact
17:15At the same time I launched
17:17Was the same time
17:18The Buy Black movement started
17:19Could not have planned that
17:21And we sold out
17:23Multiple different times
17:24Got so much amazing press
17:26That was like
17:27This little side hustle
17:28Passion thing
17:29That I'm doing
17:29While I have a full time job
17:30Needs to turn into
17:32A full time business
17:33And so it was not
17:34Without the support
17:35Of the community
17:35In those early stages
17:36That gave me the courage
17:38To then continue on
17:40To get people like Target
17:41Looking at our brand
17:43And saying
17:43Yo we need that on shelf
17:45Like now
17:46I love it
17:47Thank you
17:48Thank you for sharing that
17:49So I have very
17:51Very humble beginnings
17:52So for me
17:53No matter how I wear my hair
17:54Whether it's natural
17:55Braids
17:56Wig
17:56Wee straight
17:57Whatever
17:57I'm slaying my edges
17:59Whether I'm swooping
18:00And swirling
18:00Or I'm just slicking them back
18:01I'm slaying my edges
18:03And I like many other young girls
18:05Grew up using what
18:06A toothbrush
18:07To slay her edges
18:08So I had my daughter
18:09Four years ago
18:10And I reached for that toothbrush
18:12To do her little edges
18:13And I thought
18:13What if this tool
18:15That is not made for hair
18:17That we use for our hair
18:18Looked a little better
18:20Felt a little better
18:21You know
18:22Inspired our vibe
18:23Our creativity
18:24And so I said
18:26I'm gonna make it
18:27And that's what I did
18:28I researched
18:29I googled
18:29I don't know any
18:30Entrepreneurs in my family
18:32I didn't know how to make
18:33A physical product
18:34Where to make a physical product
18:35Anything
18:36So I just googled
18:37I asked people
18:38I looked on the internet
18:39And I ended up
18:40Getting a prototype done
18:41A 3D prototype
18:42And then I said
18:43Okay well how do I want it to look
18:45What colors
18:45I didn't want it to look basic
18:46Because we're not basic
18:48And our edges are not basic
18:49I'm from Compton
18:50I'm from LA
18:51So I said
18:51I'm gonna put some swag on it
18:53So my brushes come in
18:54A patented design
18:56I did patent the design
18:57And they're in shiny gold colors
18:59All different bandana colors
19:01Red, blue, black, pink, purple
19:03So I just wanted
19:04The tool that we use
19:06Every single day
19:07That when you're done using
19:09When you're done slaying your edges
19:10You don't even have to
19:11Put it in the counter
19:12You can leave it on your counter
19:13You don't have to put it in the drawer
19:15You can leave it in the counter
19:16I love it
19:16Y'all know we at church
19:17Because y'all didn't go
19:18Look at your neighbor
19:20And tell them
19:21We are not basic
19:23We are not basic
19:25Look and find someone else
19:26We are not basic
19:29We're not basic
19:31I love it so very much
19:32So this panel
19:33We're talking about
19:34How do you support
19:35Black business, right?
19:37So in that same vein
19:39And we talked about this
19:40I think Friday, right?
19:42So one of Lauren
19:43One of my favorite songs
19:44Of Lauren, he was
19:44Ready or not
19:45Here I come
19:47You can't hide
19:48Y'all help me sing it
19:49I'm gonna find you
19:51And make you
19:53Want me
19:54Okay, so
19:55Talking about support
19:57How did you find your tribe, right?
20:02Who is like that ideal customer for you?
20:06How did they find them
20:07And how did you find them?
20:10Vice versa, right?
20:10How did you guys find each other?
20:12I can take that really fast
20:13Only because I have a lot of nieces and nephews
20:15I have a lot of nieces
20:16And I have a lot of friends
20:17With teenage daughters
20:18So I just gave it to them
20:20I said, here
20:20Record you slaying your edges
20:23Because they do
20:23I mean, they get crazy with their edges
20:25I know mine look fabulous today
20:26But this is not an everyday thing for me, right?
20:28But it is for our young girls
20:3016, you know, 18 year old girls
20:32So I gave them to all of my friends
20:34Their daughters
20:35My nieces
20:36And I said, slay your edges
20:38And so they just started recording themselves
20:40Their friends were like
20:41Oh, where did you get that brush?
20:42That brush is cute
20:44You know, my auntie
20:45It's my auntie's brand
20:46You know, go to her Instagram
20:47Go to her website
20:48And then we got out there
20:49Doing vendor shows
20:50And things like that
20:52And you know, they found us
20:53I love it
20:54I love it
20:55I think for me
20:56A lot of people that I was crazy
20:58Like, you're about to start a brand
20:59That's based on paper
21:00Do people still write?
21:02Like, aren't people in their laptops all day?
21:05But for us
21:06People really connect it with the artwork
21:08And I feel like we're regenerating
21:10The next generation of people
21:11Who actually get back into journaling
21:13And planning
21:13And so from doing shows like this
21:16We hit like 20 shows our first year
21:19To get ourselves out there
21:21And people fell in love with the artwork
21:23And we found our stationery obsessed
21:25Notebook lovers
21:27Planner lovers
21:28Just like myself
21:29By getting out there
21:30And at first
21:31No one knew who we were
21:32And so now it's really cool
21:33To be here at Essence
21:34And people are like
21:36Be rooted?
21:37Like, wait
21:38I've seen that before
21:39When this time last year
21:41People are like
21:42What is this?
21:43I love it
21:44I love it
21:44And what about you?
21:46Well, we started in 2016
21:47That's when I launched
21:4854 Thrones
21:49And first of all
21:51Who knows about Afro Beats?
21:55Okay
21:55Everybody
21:56So when I started in 2016
21:59It was like the wave
22:00Of like people getting interested
22:02In Afro Beats music
22:04African food
22:05And you know
22:06So we were coming up with that
22:07So what I did
22:09Is I just put out
22:10Unapologetically real content
22:13That resonated with what I was trying to do
22:15Because I didn't see brands
22:17That showed
22:17You know
22:18There were brands
22:19That sold shea butter
22:20Of course
22:21I'm not the first brand
22:22To sell shea butter
22:22But
22:23The experience of going to buy shea butter
22:26Was not elevated
22:28You had to go to the hair store
22:30The African store
22:31It's on the bottom shelf
22:32It's in a dusty little tub
22:33You get it
22:34You take it home
22:35You break it down
22:36You melt it
22:36You mix it
22:37All of that
22:38And it wasn't an elevated experience
22:40And I felt like
22:41We deserve better
22:42We deserve more
22:43And so
22:43I put our butter
22:45And first of all
22:46We get shea butter from Ghana
22:47And from East Africa
22:49And Uganda
22:50Two different types of shea butter
22:52No other brand was doing that
22:53So I had to figure out
22:54How could I differentiate
22:5654 Thrones
22:57Second of all
22:59We put our butter
23:00In shiny beautiful gold tubes
23:02So you're able to put it in your purse
23:04Put it on your desk
23:05It's beautiful
23:06You want to pull it out
23:07You want to show it
23:08You want to share it
23:09So the way that I found my tribe
23:11Was just doing something different
23:13Solving a problem
23:15That was important to me
23:16And my community
23:17And doing it in a beautiful
23:18Elegant
23:19Sexy
23:20Joyous
23:20Like beautiful way
23:22Because a lot of the
23:23African inspired brands
23:25That I had saw
23:25Were very black and white
23:27They were very minimal
23:28They were very stark
23:29And I've been to so many
23:30Different African countries
23:31And it's
23:32It's like you
23:33It's vibrant
23:34It's like joyous
23:35It's you know
23:35And I wanted the brand
23:36To reflect that happiness
23:38And not really show
23:39You know
23:40Like this really
23:41Minimal packaging
23:43Ours is going to be gold
23:44And pastel
23:45And colorful
23:46And beautiful
23:46And loud
23:47That's how I found my tribe
23:49I love it
23:50I love it
23:50So again
23:51We're talking support
23:51What does support mean to you
23:53As an entrepreneur
23:54What does support mean to you
23:56As a black female entrepreneur
23:59What does that mean
24:01And then
24:01How can people support you
24:03I think obviously
24:04Definitely
24:05You know
24:06Shopping with us
24:07But another key
24:08You know
24:09Like way to support
24:10Is to give
24:11Black entrepreneurs
24:13The same grace
24:14You give
24:15Absolutely
24:16Targets
24:16You give the Walmarts
24:18You give the L'Oreal
24:19Hold up y'all
24:19We need that same
24:20We need that same grace
24:23Because you know
24:25I'm self-funded
24:26We're in Sephora
24:27I'm funding that
24:28In my pockets
24:29Right
24:29We make mistakes
24:31We're trying our best
24:32And so
24:32A lot of times
24:33You'll see
24:34Black owned brands
24:35Make a mistake
24:36And then we're so quick
24:37To cancel them
24:38Like the black community
24:40Cancels these black founders
24:41Who are trying their best
24:43And so giving us more grace
24:45And with that grace
24:46We also have to
24:47Hold ourselves accountable
24:49Right
24:49We have to hold
24:50Ourselves accountable
24:51We have to communicate
24:52When there's a formula change
24:55Or we made a mistake
24:56Or there's something
24:56With the packaging
24:57We have to also do that
24:59So the onus is on us
25:00But the onus is also
25:01On our community
25:02Because without y'all
25:04There's no us
25:04Right
25:05And so we need our community
25:06To give us that grace
25:08Allow us to grow
25:10To make mistakes
25:11To get better
25:12And then we also have
25:13That responsibility
25:14To be clear
25:15To be transparent
25:16And communicate that as well
25:17I absolutely love that
25:19Put that one in your palm pilot
25:20I told you
25:21I'm a teacher
25:21Put it in your palm pilot
25:23What you need
25:25As an entrepreneur
25:26Every day
25:27You need your mirror
25:28For self-reflection
25:30Yes
25:30Self-reflection
25:31Is a game changer
25:32You gotta be real with you
25:34If you're gonna grow
25:35And get better
25:36But also
25:37A dose of grace
25:38Every day
25:38I don't know about you
25:39But I woke up
25:39With a fresh slate today
25:41Oh yes
25:42Look at your neighbor
25:43Tell them girl
25:43You got some too
25:44Right
25:46So it's very important
25:47That we are
25:49As entrepreneurs
25:50That we have our mirror
25:51And our grace
25:52But then
25:52As a culture
25:53As a community
25:54That we are offering
25:55Each other grace as well
25:56I love that
25:58What about you
25:59What does support mean to you
26:00And how can you be supported
26:01As an entrepreneur
26:02Yes
26:03I would say
26:04The number one thing for me
26:06Is to engage with us
26:07So if you have shopped our brand
26:10If you have feedback
26:11Leave a review
26:12Leave a review
26:13Not only on my site
26:14Leave a review on my retailer site
26:16They look at all of that
26:18To see if we're actually connected
26:21To our community
26:22If we don't show them
26:23Not only that we have amazing product
26:25But that we connect
26:27With our community
26:27In a way that these big national brands
26:30With huge budgets can't
26:31They don't see our point of differentiation
26:33So please, please, please
26:35At any point
26:36If you've ever purchased anything
26:38Leave a review
26:38Also slide in my DMs
26:41I look at everything
26:42And if there's something
26:43That you have
26:43That's a negative experience
26:44Or a positive experience
26:46Let me know
26:47It's free market research
26:49For me to transparently
26:50I don't have the big budgets
26:51That the big L'Oreal's
26:53And the big P&G's
26:54Have to do consumer focus groups
26:56And so
26:56If you come by our booth
26:58And you're like
26:59Yo, I would really love to see X
27:00Or I would literally love to see Y
27:02My team tells me that
27:04And that helps me
27:05As I'm doing product development
27:06In the future
27:07To make sure I'm actually
27:08Making the stuff that you want
27:09And so
27:10Engage, engage, engage
27:12It's the number one ask I have
27:14It pays back tenfold
27:15It allows for me to go back
27:17To my retail partners
27:18To my potential investors
27:19And say
27:20Look
27:21The community loves us
27:22This is what they want
27:23And I know that we have
27:24Room to scale
27:25Because I hear them
27:26And they see me
27:27I love it
27:28So here we go
27:29I asked
27:30How can we support
27:31Black entrepreneurs
27:32We heard offer grace
27:34We heard engage
27:36Come on with it baby girl
27:37What you got?
27:38So I'm the baby brand up here
27:39On the edge baby hair
27:40Is just two years old
27:42So for me
27:42Support is just sharing
27:44I know a lot of times
27:45People say
27:45I don't even do my edges
27:47Okay, you don't
27:48But you know somebody
27:49Who does
27:50Your sister
27:51Your niece
27:52Your girlfriends
27:53Whomever
27:54So you can just share
27:55Follow us on Instagram
27:57O-T-E underscore baby hair
27:59Follow us on Instagram
28:00Share our posts
28:01Come by our booth over there
28:03And just say
28:03Hey, I just saw you on the panel
28:05I just want to take a look
28:06At your brushes
28:06Sharing goes a long way
28:09With us
28:09A follow is free
28:11It goes a long way for us
28:13I haven't hit retail just yet
28:15You got it girl
28:16We're claiming it
28:16It's coming
28:17We're declaring and decreeing today
28:18It's coming
28:19Exactly, speaking it into existence
28:20But brand awareness
28:21For me right now
28:22For on the edge baby hair
28:23Is big
28:24So just sharing
28:25Liking
28:26And just letting somebody know
28:28Word of mouth goes a long way
28:30For any of us
28:31Last thing
28:33What do you say
28:35To the young entrepreneurs
28:37Who are sitting right here
28:38In front of us
28:39Or those who are thinking
28:40About entrepreneurship
28:42What are your encouraging words
28:45For them to get started today?
28:46I would first say
28:50I mean
28:50Don't take advice
28:52From anyone
28:53Who is not gone
28:54Or is where you want to be
28:56Because a lot of times
28:58We have this idea
28:59We're telling our friends
29:00And our family
29:01No shade to your friends
29:02And your family
29:03But if they've never
29:04Started something
29:05They're not going to be able
29:08To point you in the right direction
29:09Or give you the tools
29:10That you need
29:11And a lot of times
29:13It can serve as a distraction
29:14I remember when I
29:15Had the idea
29:16Of 54 Thrones
29:17It took me forever
29:18To come up with a name
29:19And I told a family member
29:21And they were like
29:22I hate it
29:22It's not going to work
29:23And I said
29:25You know what
29:25I'm not talking to
29:26None of y'all
29:27About this
29:28Okay so I hate to plug it
29:30Back in
29:30But what did Oprah
29:31Tell us yesterday
29:32Or the day before yesterday
29:32What did she say
29:33We are messing ourselves up
29:36By seeking so much validation
29:39And guidance from people
29:42Other than our creator
29:43And what's deep within
29:44Right
29:45So that's what that's about
29:46We've got to trust
29:47Totally
29:47Yeah we've got to learn
29:48To trust that
29:49And our creator
29:50Right
29:50We got to lean into that
29:51So I love that
29:52Totally
29:53I would
29:53So that right
29:55Don't go out there
29:56A certain validation
29:57From people who haven't
29:58Even been to where
29:59You're trying to go
30:00I would also
30:02I think another
30:04Like buzz word right now
30:06Is
30:06Is the market saturated
30:10I always hear that
30:11Like I want to start
30:12A beauty brand
30:12But there's so many
30:13Beauty brands
30:14You know I don't
30:14I would get that thought
30:16Out of your mind
30:17Because whatever your idea is
30:20No one can do it
30:21Like you
30:22Right
30:23I'm selling shea butter
30:24And all types of other products
30:26No one's doing it like me
30:28Right
30:28They can sell the exact same thing
30:30But it's not going to be like me
30:31So I would get that
30:32Out of your mind
30:33Like forget about it
30:35And if you really think about it
30:36Look at all the beauty products
30:38That you have
30:39Or all the products
30:40I have tons of different brands
30:41And I love them all
30:42So I would get the idea of like
30:45Psyching yourself out
30:46Like it's oversaturated
30:47Or it's not going to work
30:48There's so many this
30:49There's so many that
30:50Get laser focused
30:51On whatever it is
30:52You're trying to do
30:53And make sure that
30:54You're solving a problem
30:56Because we don't just
30:57Need another brand
30:58What problem are you solving
30:59And it doesn't have to be
31:01Like brain surgery
31:02Like she made a tool
31:04That has bandanas
31:06And it matches
31:06And it's for your edges
31:08And that is a pain point
31:10For us
31:11So figure out the problem
31:12That you're solving
31:13And be very specific with it
31:15Because nowadays
31:17In 2023
31:18We love brands
31:20That are speaking directly to us
31:21And are speaking our language
31:23That are using our colloquialisms
31:24That use our references
31:26So you can get very specific
31:28And when you do that
31:29The people who find your brand
31:31Are going to love you forever
31:32Because you're solving
31:33Their specific problem
31:35So make sure that
31:36You're solving a problem
31:37And make sure that
31:38It's something that is
31:40A pain point
31:40To a group of people
31:42It doesn't have to be
31:43Millions of people
31:44Just go deep
31:45And go really really strong
31:47In whatever it is
31:48You're trying to create
31:48So those are some of my pieces
31:50Of advice that I would say
31:51I love it
31:52So what did Beyonce say
31:53On Unique
31:54What are the words
31:54The beginning of that song
31:55What does she say
31:56I'm one of one
31:57I am one of what
31:59I'm one of one
32:00The only
32:01The only one
32:03We are all divinely
32:05Uniquely
32:06Fearfully
32:06Wonderfully made
32:07Right
32:07You are one of one
32:09And we've got to think that way
32:10Even with our brand
32:11So I love that
32:12Come on with it
32:12Y'all
32:13Let's go
32:13Y'all
32:14Y'all heard it
32:14Country girl
32:15So I have two
32:17I mean I think the first thing is
32:19As long as you are walking
32:21In your purpose and passion
32:22You cannot go wrong
32:23I think it was very clear to me
32:25About five to six years ago
32:26That I was put on this earth
32:28To center my work around black women
32:29And so if that looks like
32:31Be Rooted today
32:32And Be Rooted fails tomorrow
32:33I know that there's other ways
32:35In which I can support
32:36And also center black women
32:38That might look like
32:38Investing in black women businesses
32:40In the future
32:41That might look like
32:42Starting a mentorship program
32:43For black women in the future
32:44But no matter what I'm doing right now
32:47As long as I'm continuing
32:48To find myself centering
32:49Around my purpose and passion
32:50It doesn't matter
32:52So don't let that fear stop you
32:54Because as long as
32:55God's put in your heart
32:56What you're supposed to do
32:56You're going to be on the right path
32:58And I will say
32:59Secondly
32:59Is a lot of times
33:00Why people don't get started
33:01Is because they have
33:02This most amazing dream
33:03Right
33:04I want to have
33:04A billion dollar business
33:05That's going to look like this
33:07Feel like this
33:08And touch like this
33:09When I started my brand
33:10I didn't have the money
33:12To work with the factories
33:13That had the most amazing quality
33:15That I wanted
33:16I had to work with
33:17What my money could afford me
33:18At the time right
33:19And so but I knew
33:20That if I took
33:20What I wanted
33:21My big goal was
33:22And break it down
33:23Into more digestible chunks
33:25And know that
33:26It may not
33:26Where I'm started
33:27Is not where I'm going to finish
33:28That I'm okay with that
33:30And so don't allow this like
33:32But gosh
33:33It's not where I want it to be now
33:34Keep you from doing it
33:36You have to start somewhere
33:38And you have to break
33:39That huge humongous idea
33:41Down into digestible chunks
33:42That you can solve right now
33:43Knowing that you can
33:44Always scale and get bigger
33:45In the future
33:46I love it
33:47Love it
33:49So for me
33:50If I were to give
33:51Any young entrepreneurs
33:52Any advice
33:53In addition to what they said
33:55Because what they said
33:56Was great
33:56But would be also
33:57Give yourself grace
33:59Give yourself grace
34:01And just believe in yourself
34:03I can't tell you
34:04How many times
34:05Imposter syndrome has
34:07Like taking me out of the game
34:08Taking me out of an opportunity
34:10Just because I was scared
34:11And I didn't believe in myself
34:12You know
34:13But thank God I have
34:14My beautiful sister there
34:15And my friends and family
34:16And my husband
34:17And they're all like
34:17Just go
34:18Just do it
34:19I almost didn't come to Essence
34:20Because I thought
34:21You know
34:22I'm a small brand
34:23No one's going to buy
34:24You know
34:24What if no one comes and buys
34:26And I'm almost selling out over there
34:27Just do it
34:29Just do it
34:31And believe in yourself
34:32And give yourself grace
34:33You're going to make mistakes
34:34I've made so many mistakes
34:35I'm self-funded
34:36Did I put tons of money here
34:38When it should have went there
34:39You're going to make those mistakes
34:40But give yourself grace
34:42Because this is my first time doing it
34:44It's your first time doing it
34:45We don't have a blueprint
34:46Right
34:46No one's saying
34:47This is exactly how you build
34:49A million dollar brand
34:50Do this exact same thing
34:51No because it's different for everybody
34:53But give yourself grace
34:54I love it
34:55So this has been so much fun
34:57I will wrap this up about support
34:59You know
35:00We talk about our children need a village
35:02So do you
35:03Let me say that again
35:05Yes our children need a village
35:07But as an entrepreneur
35:08As a black female
35:10On the move
35:12You need a village too
35:13And I'm grateful for my village
35:15The village over there
35:17If y'all wave over there
35:18Look them
35:18They're not even looking
35:19But just grateful
35:20When you pass by Dr. Key
35:22Make sure you tell her
35:23Hey
35:24Because she is so many of our villages
35:26She is amazing
35:28But again
35:29This has been a great afternoon
35:30Y'all give it up for these beauties
35:33One more time
35:34And we'll be right back shortly
35:39With Market Moments
35:41We're gonna do some shopping
35:42Again this afternoon
35:43If y'all will look right there
35:45If you'll hold your mic
35:46Right there
35:47We're gonna do some shopping
35:48We're gonna do some shopping
35:49We're gonna do some shopping
35:49We're gonna do some shopping
35:50We're gonna do some shopping
35:50We're gonna do some shopping
35:51We're gonna do some shopping
35:52We're gonna do some shopping
35:52We're gonna do some shopping
35:53We're gonna do some shopping
35:53We're gonna do some shopping
35:54We're gonna do some shopping
35:54We're gonna do some shopping
35:55We're gonna do some shopping
35:56We're gonna do some shopping
35:56We're gonna do some shopping
35:57We're gonna do some shopping
35:57We're gonna do some shopping
35:58We're gonna do some shopping
35:58We're gonna do some shopping
35:59We're gonna do some shopping
35:59We're gonna do some shopping
36:00We're gonna do some shopping
36:00We're gonna do some shopping
36:01We're gonna do some shopping
36:01We're gonna do some shopping
36:02We're gonna do some shopping
36:03Stop, it's the motherfuckers remix
36:05Come on, we ain't hauling the tats
36:07Who in the world want a problem with that?
36:10Come on, I'm real
36:10I heard all of that
36:12Who in the...
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