1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: This is my ghetto celebrity O, my ghetto spaghetti. Hey, 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: I'm Colleen with and we are on another episode of 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: Eating wall Broke. Today, I have the lovely AJ Crimson 4 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: from a J Crimson Beauty and he is whipping us. 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: Uh lovely. It looks like a gore Mate eating Wall 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Broke dish. So tell us what you're making for us. 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: So today I'm gonna make an amazing spaghetti that I 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: just absolutely love. And yeah, you're gonna love it, ya excited? Okay, 9 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: well this doesn't look like a traditional Eating Wall Broke dish, 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:37,840 Speaker 1: so um, one feed me. I'm definitely going to. Yeah, 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: I'm definitely going to. So it's gonna be great. So 12 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: I mean yeah, and I guess when what I heard 13 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: about it and you're like, hey, like, what's the dish 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: that you were that you ate while you were broke? 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: And I was like, Okay, I had to think about 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: it for a little while because it was either going 17 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: to be like rice, you know, because I kind of 18 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: getting like eggs and rice. But then also too, I 19 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: eat a lot of noodles and need a lot of 20 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: spaghetti noodles. So um, so this is gonna be my 21 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: version of that. So yeah, night, I mean we have 22 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: we have the water boiling over here, which is really great. 23 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: You just rest that right over there. We'll do that 24 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: right here. So take something, should just do the whole thing, 25 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: do the whole thing. Let's just do it. Why not 26 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: live a large exactly and actually can eat all of 27 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: these but myself like in one sitting, So I really 28 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: love spaghetti. I do. Actually I did a little switch 29 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: up that A J does not know about today. Um, 30 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: I just found out that they have protein noodles. Really, 31 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: what is that what we're about to eat today? Protein noodles? 32 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: Because I wanted to watch the carbs. What that's a 33 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: lot of salt. It's for the water, so it's really 34 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: for the water. You really won't taste it than the noodles. 35 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: But also this is Himalayan sea salt, so you don't 36 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: want to use too much because Himalayan sea salt tends 37 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: to be a lot saltier than regular table salt, and 38 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: but it's also healthier too. So oh was that one? 39 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: I was? I was actually wondering what the difference between 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,559 Speaker 1: the Himalayan and that's when I start did a question 41 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: your brokeness right there? So I'm definitely a little bougie. 42 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: I'm I'm bougie broke for sure. Um, I think that. Uh. 43 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: My dad used to tell me, I can tell this 44 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: that was a great story. Actually. So I had to 45 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: be about maybe twelve or thirteen, and we were picking 46 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: out um silverware for the house and I just was 47 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: thumbing through. It's like, oh, what do you think? And 48 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: whatever I picked, I guess it was like super expensive. 49 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: And he said, boy, you've got rich taste in poor pockets. 50 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: And I just I've always remembered that, but I was like, oh, 51 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: like I have to I love that I have rich taste, 52 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: but now I can't have poor pockets, you know, so 53 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: I have to I have to catch up to myself. 54 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: So I think it's just kind of always been in 55 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: me too, like nice things. Yeah, and you know what 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: I like about. My mom used to always say, uh, 57 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna sit because because you're doing all the cookie, 58 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: you don't want to help. Uh uh, I'll help with 59 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: the party. This is good. This is just how you 60 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: do it at home too, like when everything is like 61 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: bubbling over, messing up the stove. Um. But but yeah, 62 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: my mom used to always say that, uh, poor is 63 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: more long term and broke is temporary. So even when 64 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: we were doing Eating Well Broke, It's awesome to have 65 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: entrepreneurs like yourself, self made individuals like yourself on the show, because, honestly, 66 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: I think sometimes when you're in the situation of being 67 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: brokeer you don't have enough money to get whatever project 68 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: off the ground. It's like you can sometimes think it's 69 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: a forever plan, but you and other self made individuals 70 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: are living proof that it's possible. So with that being said, 71 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: I'm curious, how did you get a J. Crimson Beauty 72 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: off the ground. So Crimson Beauty was actually founded in 73 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and thirteen. This is my second brand. My 74 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: first brand was called Kisspical Tour, which I launched in 75 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven. But I learned a lot when 76 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: I was building that brand, so that by the time 77 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: Agan Crimson Beauty came along. Um I knew that I 78 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna spend as much money, you know, as I 79 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: did with the first brand. I knew that I was 80 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: gonna utilize social media a little bit more. Um So 81 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: I started this brand with about five thousand dollars and 82 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: it was but to basically level that out, I had 83 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: already started some of the formulation in the old brand. 84 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: You know, while doing the old brand, I was just 85 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: like I knew what I wanted to do. So by 86 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: the time this idea and this concept had come along, 87 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: it was just more of a about implementation and I 88 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 1: started really small. I started really small. I think that 89 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: people often think that they have to go big and 90 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: you know, have forty five colors. I started with eight 91 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: shades that I had already kind of developed, and I 92 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: needed to get a concept around. I took it to 93 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: a trade show. People seem to resonate with it, and 94 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: uh and I sold out that first day, which was 95 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:04,119 Speaker 1: really amaz zing. I'll use this And you said, two thousand, 96 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve is kind of when I started like 97 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: actually developing. But two it came out in two thousand 98 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: and thirteen year, so this is all before the fancies 99 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: of the world all that came out. So we've been inclusive. 100 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: We were inclusive before inclusive became like a buzzword. Oh 101 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 1: can you for the people like myself, what does that mean? Inclusive? 102 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: So right now you know, everybody's like, oh, diversity, and 103 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: everybody wants to get in diversity training and making sure 104 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: that everybody is included in their voice matters. When I 105 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: started Age of Crimson Beauty, it was really I've been 106 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: traveling and touring with like Hillary Duff and Fergie and 107 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: Estelle and the Stell for like three years. So Christina, Million, 108 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: Faith Evans, all these girls. I have been working with 109 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: Amory and there are a myriad of shades, and I 110 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: always had to kind of come to the table and 111 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: figure out like how I was going to match their 112 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: foundation or matt do the things that I needed to 113 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: do for them, you know, so they look and feel 114 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: their best as a compartist, right And there weren't a 115 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: lot of colors on the market. There weren't a lot 116 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: of It just wasn't a lot of everything, you know, 117 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: in a in a way that spoke black women or 118 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: women of color directly. And I think that's what we're 119 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 1: dealing with now. That's what we're seeing more of. Now 120 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: Black women are standing up and saying, hey, you know, 121 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: I have a voice. I would like to see myself 122 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: in the ad campaigns that kind of thing. So Adrian 123 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: comes in beauty from the start was always about not 124 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: leaving that girl out. You know. We started with the 125 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 1: darkest color first and worked our way, worked our way backwards, 126 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: um to make sure that you know she was seeing Yeah, 127 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: you know, And it sounds like you had a lot 128 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: of experience because you were working with it sounds like 129 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 1: you were working with white girls and black girls. Sure. 130 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: When I was a kid, and I joke about this, 131 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: it's not really a jokematic, but I came from a 132 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: little bit of child abuse. And I remember when you 133 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: try to cover up bruises and I'm mixed. You know, 134 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 1: you couldn't find a palette that would cover And this 135 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: sounds completely ridiculous, but you couldn't find a color to 136 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: cover my face because at that time, there was no like, 137 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: you know, the sixth grades in between of shades. It 138 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: was just either white or black. And it was like, oh, 139 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: you know, so many things are like that. You're right, 140 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: and I think that was that was what I was 141 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: up against, you know, it really was again, like I 142 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: started with, I felt like the lighter shades were easier 143 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: to make. Um. It was the deeper colors that you 144 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: just didn't see. Like I started with a girl who's 145 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: South Sudanese, and I was like, hey, if I can 146 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: match her on my first round was terrible. It was horrible. 147 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: Like I literally I thought I had the darkest color. 148 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: I was testing it a trade show. I put it on. 149 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: This girl was like, hey, I got the perfect color 150 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: for you. She came up. I was like, give me 151 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: your hand and I went to swatch it and uh. 152 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: We literally looked at it. All I can see was 153 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: green in it. She looked at it, she looked at me, 154 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: and I was just like, okay, it was no way 155 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: to spin it, spin it to make it feel better work. 156 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: And I was like, all right, I gotta go back 157 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: to the drawing board. But that's how it happens, you 158 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: know what I mean. I didn't stress out about it, 159 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: but I knew it had to happen there first because 160 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: no one talks to her, you know. And once we 161 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: got it right, then I was able to really mix 162 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: and blend all the other colors backwards nice. So that 163 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: was cool. So now you do have a shade that 164 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: can work for you in my brand, so I would 165 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: definitely make sure you get that. Thank you. And I 166 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: love this of color. By the way, I'm superde so 167 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: good this col um actually made that for Cassie. I'm 168 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: really okay, Well, I'm wearing Okay, okay, I feel even 169 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: more special. Custom how does someone from Detroit and I 170 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: and I say that with endearment? Detroit? I feel like 171 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: is uh has been the underdog for a long time. 172 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: When I hear you say names like Hillary Duff or 173 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: or a Stell, I'm just like, how do you how? 174 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: How do you make your way from Detroit to Hollywood? UM, 175 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: I was very ambitious. I've always been very ambitious. I 176 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: think that, UM, since I was a little kid, I've 177 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: never I didn't know how it was going to be successful. 178 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: I just knew I was going to be successful. And 179 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: there weren't a lot of people that necessarily believed in 180 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: that dream or maybe even I wouldn't say but didn't 181 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: believe in it. They just didn't know how to believe 182 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: in it. And UM, but I knew I had to Uh, 183 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 1: I had to figure that out. And uh, I just 184 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:26,599 Speaker 1: had made connections. So I used to work at a 185 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: radio station called w j LB. UM. It was the 186 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: number one station in the city, and I produced the 187 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: music the six to ten show from with Bushman at 188 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: the time. And UM, I end up meeting a woman 189 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,839 Speaker 1: named Peggy Body, who was the arts development coordinator for 190 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: Bilten Records and Michael Bivns decided to do an album 191 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: project with a couple of kids in Detroit. So I 192 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: helped to kind of find those groups. I went to 193 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: intern for her. Then it turned into me actually styling 194 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: one of the groups. And I was like, oh, this 195 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: is dope, and you know, like, okay, so I'm starting 196 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 1: to put the words together for the things that I 197 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: had interest in, but I didn't know what they were, 198 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: you know, so find like, oh, fashion stylist, okay, cool, 199 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 1: like makeup artist, how you like maybe seventeen or eighteen 200 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: around this time, and uh, and it was it was 201 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: just a good It was just a good time, you 202 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: know what I mean, like just figuring all of that 203 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: stuff out. So um, having worked on that, I styled 204 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: my first video and all that stuff, and fast forward. 205 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: I had a friend who was a director, a local director. 206 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: She ended up getting a job as an art department 207 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: coordinator on UM on eight Mile, a movie eight Mile 208 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: with eminem and Brittany Murphy. And she was an age 209 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: you don't even need to show and you don't know 210 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: a mile? Then what are you doing? I don't know? 211 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: But yeah, so so she was like a j like 212 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm working on this movie. You need to give me 213 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: your resume. And at that time I had got a 214 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: job at a max store to just kind of learn 215 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: makeup and everything. I was just trying to learn everything 216 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: I could, you know, And um, I gave him my 217 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: resume for a wardrobe and for makeup, and the wardrobe 218 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: department actually got back to me first. Um. So with 219 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: eight Mile, I was actually walking into my job, my 220 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: part time job at mac and uh. And I only 221 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: took this job because I really wanted to just learn 222 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 1: skin and foundation, because I, you know, I worked with 223 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: an artist prior to that, and the makeup partis that 224 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: we had hired could not get the references. And I'm 225 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 1: really big on reference, Like I just you know, that's 226 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: what I was taught, you know. So when the makeup 227 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: artists did her own thing outside of the book of 228 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,439 Speaker 1: reference that we had created, I was like what. I 229 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: was like, can you show me this in the book? 230 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: And she was like, oh, I just decided to do this, 231 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: and I was like, I was like, no, I'm pretty 232 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: literal about my references. I wish I had your stuff 233 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: because I would do it myself, you know. And I 234 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: think it sounded kind of rude when it came out, 235 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: but there's a lot of money on the line, right 236 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: and we're doing an album cover shoot, so um, I 237 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: took the girl to a Mac, to that Mac store 238 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: and I was like, hey, like, can you guys recreate 239 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: one of these looks? And because I thought about what 240 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: I said, I was I'm gonna learn how to do 241 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: the makeup that I want to see, um, just to 242 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 1: see if I could do it. They end up hiring 243 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,719 Speaker 1: me because I went back for a job on this 244 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: particular day that that's costume supervisor called. I was walking 245 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: into that job and they're like, hey, like, we'd love 246 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: to interview you. We have your resume, like what can 247 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: you know? Can you come down and meet us? And 248 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, like, you know, I'm getting ready 249 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: to walk into work, like can we you know, can 250 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: we do it like another day? And uh, I feel 251 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: like I'm talking. We have a I've never been on 252 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: this side of the table. Feel sure. I'm sure I'm 253 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: piste off all the video guys in the room, but 254 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: oh no, I'm so sorry. It looks great, So go 255 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: on continue with this. You and I can talk for days, 256 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: just so you know, I feel like we can future. 257 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: Let's do it, let's do that, let's let's not stop this. 258 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: So um so John Casey called me. He was like, hey, 259 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: like can you come down for an interview? And I 260 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 1: was just like uh. I was like, I'm walking into 261 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: work right now. Can we do it like another day? 262 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: Like no, Like we're actually trying to look for this 263 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: right now, so you know, if something else comes up, 264 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: we'll give you a call back. And in that moment, 265 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: like I was devastated, like my heart literally dropped because 266 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: it was just like hold on, like what just happened here? 267 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: Like I'm walking into a job that is not my 268 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: career at all, to not go an interview for the 269 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: job that absolutely my career go you know what I mean? 270 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: And I was like no. I just couldn't believe it 271 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 1: was happening to me. And I was heartbroken, you know, 272 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: to be honest, So you you actually showed up to work, Well, 273 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 1: I was right there. I was in front of it. 274 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: I was in front of the door. I couldn't I 275 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: couldn't have. I didn't, you know. But I'm very loyal 276 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: and I'm also committed. Like when I make commitments like 277 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: I you know, it's like you keep your commitments, right, 278 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: You don't just you don't just bail on people like 279 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: they were depending. Um, I don't think I did, Like 280 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: I literally thought. That's when I was like, I'll never 281 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: let I'll never let something like that happened to me again, 282 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: you know, like this is my this is my life 283 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: on the line. You know. So I was actually on 284 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: eight Mile with a photographer looking at the photographs that 285 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: we had worked on and I'm gonna turn this up 286 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: just a little bit. And what was he doing here? 287 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: We were looking at the pictures and I got another 288 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: phone call and I was like, yeah, like where are 289 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: you guys at, Like I'll come and meet you. I'm 290 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: actually on eight Mile, like right now. And they were 291 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: like okay, cool, like come down and meet us. I 292 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: did have to work that day at the Max door um, 293 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: and when I got down there, they were like hey, 294 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: like you know, so this is the job. It is 295 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: doing laundry overnight. And I was like okay, sounds good 296 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: and they were like are you concerned? I was like no, 297 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: Like can you do laundry? Was like yeah, like I can. 298 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: I can figure it out. If you show me what 299 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: you need, I'll do. And it's like it was like, well, 300 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: you're probably thinking like why do we need you to 301 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: do laundry? And I was like, yeah, like why do 302 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: you need me to do laundry? And they're like, well 303 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: because in Hollywood, like we have you know, overnight laundry 304 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: services that send the costumes out and they come back 305 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: the next morning fresh for the actors. Are cool like, 306 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: obviously we're in Detroit, we don't have that cleaners, so 307 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: you're going to be the twenty four cleaner. I was like, 308 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: all right, sounds good. Like this job doesn't pay very well, 309 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: it's not. I was hoping you're going to stay it 310 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: paid well. They're like, it doesn't pay a lot, doesn't 311 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: pay a lot, Like, well, how much does it pay? 312 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: It's like, well it pays. Um it pays a hundred 313 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: dollars a day. Is it's the right one? Yeah? Um, 314 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: since it pays a hundred dollars a day. And I 315 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: was like, okay, well that sounds good. I'll take that 316 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: and um like you're sure? I was like yeah, And 317 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: then I was like when do you need me to start? 318 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: Like can you start right now? I was like I sure, can. 319 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: Let me make a phone call. So it sounds like 320 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: you went from you were doing makeup. You temporarily was 321 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: the laundry man, which is amazing because I think a 322 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: lot of people, well some people probably would have taken it, 323 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: but a lot of people maybe what a half. I 324 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: think that was a good judgment call on your part, 325 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: for sure. I mean it's not always about the money, 326 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: and I think that's where a lot of people out 327 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: on opportunities these days, because they're thinking about the money, 328 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: especially when you don't have experience. Now, yes I had 329 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: some experience, but I had never worked on a movie, 330 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: like a major motion picture before, not not enough to 331 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: where I could demand anything. And you and again, there 332 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: was a bigger picture, and the bigger picture was for 333 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: someone to want to take me out of Detroit, to 334 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: like take me out of their wing and say, hey, 335 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: you're coming with us, Like when this when this movie 336 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: leaves here, I want to go with it. So that 337 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: week that I ended up in the hospital and not 338 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: being able to go, I told the doctor I was like, hey, 339 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: like when do we start, Like how do we get 340 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: this going? He's like, what are you? Like? Where are 341 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: you in such a rush? I was like, I said, 342 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: I have a flight on Friday. I said, He's like, 343 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: where are you going? So I'm going to l A. 344 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: I'm going to start a new life, Like I literally 345 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: those are my words. I was like, I'm going to 346 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: start my new life on Friday, I'll be I'm moving 347 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: to l A. My dad end up telling me that 348 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: it wasn't gonna happen that way, And it took about 349 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: two months from my face to go back down. But 350 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: I started watching behind the music, and I want to say, 351 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: on the last day of my appointment, where everything was 352 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: clear and I was good to go, my car blew 353 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: up up, Like the engine in my car had blown up. 354 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: It's like car like one of my my home girls 355 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: like given me, you know. So um, I was just 356 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: like I just started laughing because I was like, what 357 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 1: am I gonna do? Like what like I don't have 358 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: I don't have ship else, you know what I mean? 359 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: Like my I had burnt my hand. I had a 360 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: third degree burn on my hand, you know, which had 361 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: happened like a couple of weeks before that. I was 362 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 1: just like, what is happening with this city? Like why 363 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: is it trying to hold me back like this? And 364 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: did you feel like it was holding you back or 365 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: do you feel like and I and I sometimes feel 366 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: this way, like sometimes when you're so focused, I feel like, 367 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: for lack of better words, I'm not trying to object 368 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: to anyone spiritually, but I always feel like the devil 369 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: comes to mess with you right when you're either like 370 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: so close to the goal. It's like I'm gonna distract 371 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: you with a whole bunch of drift. Brath, do you 372 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: feel like it was that or do you feel like 373 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: it was just Detroit was like I'm determined to keep 374 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: you here. I don't think it was. I think it 375 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: was the people, Like I mean, you know, I felt 376 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: like my brother was like, really, you know, sad that 377 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: I was gonna leave because he felt like maybe I 378 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: was leaving him behind. Um. And I think that it 379 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: was just a lot of I think it was a 380 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: lot of sad energy more than anything. UM. Moreover, I 381 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: was like, I don't want us to go out of 382 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,719 Speaker 1: business over here. Um. I think it was a lot 383 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: of that. So this next round, it was really just 384 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: more or less keeping it to myself and like keeping 385 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: it locked inside, but also not allowing whatever that energy 386 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: was too overpower my dream. You know, like I knew 387 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 1: I still had to accomplish the stream and um, and 388 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 1: I just found myself like watching behind the music, and 389 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: and uh I watched one on Ditty and he was 390 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: going back and forth from like d C to UH, 391 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: from DC to UH New York and is this one 392 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: for this one? Yes? And he use our sauce. This 393 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: is our sauce. So this is this is store bought sauce. 394 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: Just so you know, stot sauce progress with the meat, 395 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: well the meat flavor flavor. Yeah, there's an interesting meat flavor, 396 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 1: but it's really good. So uh, I was watching behind 397 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 1: the music. So I watched Jlo, I watched Diddy, and 398 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: I watched Left Eye and each of them had like 399 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: seven hundred and fifty bucks or like one was on 400 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: the bus, like Diddy was on the bus back and 401 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: forth from DC to New York. J Loo had got 402 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: kicked out of her house. You know, I was living 403 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: in the basement of our dance studio, and uh, you know, 404 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: she basically caught the bus uh to l A to 405 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: be a fly girl and you know, ended up dance 406 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: for Janet Jackson and became Jennifer Lopez. And then Left 407 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:29,959 Speaker 1: Eye she took a bus to Philly with seven hundred 408 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: bucks and got into TLC and became one of the 409 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: biggest selling groups of all time. So it's like, all right, cool, 410 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: So how much money you got left? I got about 411 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: seven hundred bucks left for my savings and uh, and 412 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm just gonna get on the bus. 413 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: I think that's what it is. And I got on 414 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 1: the bus. I don't let that heat up a little 415 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: bit more. Um. I bought a bus ticket on a Greyhound. 416 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: I packed one bag of makeup like a carry on, 417 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: and one bag of clothes and I didn't tell anybody. 418 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: My brother was actually supposed to drop me off, and 419 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: he out there late and the day I planned to leave, 420 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 1: and I was already in a cab and when he 421 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: finally showed up, and I just threw my keys out 422 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: the window and I was like, hey, I'll call you 423 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: when I get there. And and because I just couldn't 424 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 1: be I couldn't miss it, you know what I mean, Like, 425 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: And that was like another one of those things where 426 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: the universe was just gonna try to step in and 427 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: stop me because I would if I had been waiting 428 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: on him, then I would have gotten there late and 429 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: I would have missed my bus. So I got down there. 430 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: I called my mother as the bus was backing out, 431 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: and uh, and I was like, Hey, I think I'm 432 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: gonna try to go to l A again. And she 433 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 1: was like, okay, like when do you think you're gonna go? 434 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: And I was like actually right now. She's like where 435 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: are you? I was like, I am on a Greyhound 436 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: and she was like okay, uh, when you come back? 437 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: And I was like I don't know. And she's like 438 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:49,479 Speaker 1: how long is it gonna take you to get there? 439 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: I was like three days. And she was like, when 440 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: you call me when you get there. And I was like, yeah, 441 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: I'll call you when I get there. And I got 442 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: off the phone and I actually I just started to 443 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,160 Speaker 1: cry a little bit, you know what I mean. Think 444 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,359 Speaker 1: it was like I'm even feeling like I want to 445 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: cry now, but like because at that moment just always 446 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: like that's the first time that I ever was like 447 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: getting ready to like just do something as big on 448 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: my own, you know, and uh, and I've been I 449 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: felt like I've been fighting hard for that moment and 450 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: it was finally here. So backed out. Now halfway through 451 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: the trip, maybe I got to Vegas, so I called 452 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: Mark Bridges and this reminds you this two months later. No, 453 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: so we backed out. We backed out of the out 454 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: of the depot. But we're like two days in the 455 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: trip now and I'm in Vegas. And this is also 456 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: two months later from when I had originally spoke to 457 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: Mark about staying at his place when he offered, and Uh, 458 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: I was like, hey, Marcus AJ like. He was like, hey, 459 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:44,639 Speaker 1: what's up? A J Like, how you doing? I was like, 460 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: I'm doing good. He said, you're feeling better. I was like, yeah, 461 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: I'm feeling much better. Like how are you? He's like 462 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: I'm doing great. Um, I know how I want to 463 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: do this. So then I said, hey, is it still 464 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: okay if I come and stay at your place? And 465 00:21:58,280 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: he was like yeah, Like when do you think you 466 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 1: want to come? I was like, I'll be there tomorrow. 467 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: It was like where are you? I was like, I'm 468 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: on a greyhound. I said, I know it's like short notice, 469 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: but I didn't. I didn't have a I just couldn't 470 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 1: think about it. I had a window of opportunity. It Oh, 471 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: the door opened and I had to go with it. 472 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: And uh, he was like, you know what, just tell 473 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: me where to pick you up and I'll be there 474 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: and like, can you turn it down for me? And uh, 475 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: and he was there and to pick me up and 476 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: literally that was that was the first day to the 477 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: rest of my life, like you know, like it just 478 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: it just went from there, Like I mean, the awesomeness 479 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: that was that I got to experience just even living 480 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: with him, you know, like at least a Silverstone was 481 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: like in our kitchen like one morning and I walked out. 482 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 1: It was crazy. I have to ask now, and only 483 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: because we're cutting short and it sucks because I have 484 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: so many questions. But I talked to when it comes 485 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: to know you don't um, when it comes to A J. 486 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 1: Crimson Beauty, Yeah, what was like some of the biggest 487 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: hurdles getting the brand off the ground. And I have 488 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: to know, like insider SCOOPO wearing too many hats too, Okay, 489 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: I can see that. So I actually, luckily, like at 490 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: the time I did Agan terms of you, I was 491 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: also running another business, so um, I didn't have to uh, 492 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: So I wasn't struggling. I wasn't on my knuckles, you 493 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: know what I mean, like I was when I first 494 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,199 Speaker 1: got to l A. But um, I think the biggest 495 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: thing I think. I want to say that one of 496 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: the biggest challenges was, like in our growth process was 497 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:32,879 Speaker 1: dealing with um would be would be investors think or 498 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 1: even thinking that I needed an investor, you know what 499 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: I mean, because everybody will have you thinking like, oh, 500 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 1: you you know, you should be doing this, you should 501 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: be selling this much product. You could do this, Like 502 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: when I when I first launched it, I did UM 503 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: I did about sixty thousand in in two months, like 504 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: and that was at launch, you know what I mean. 505 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: And that was just no funding, that was no fundy, 506 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 1: that was me funding it and uh and we're still 507 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: so funded. Actually, I was like, I'm gonna build this 508 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: business and it's gonna fund itself, you know. And uh 509 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: and we'll just grow that way. And so I did 510 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: that sixty thousand just offer Instagram, you know. And that 511 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: was when when you really could do it off Instagram. 512 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: And I love our meal. This meal looks so good. 513 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: I wants to go home and make it for my 514 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: mate so he can think I'm a gourmet chef because 515 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: this is the best looking eating want broken you don't 516 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: I've ever seen Listen, you know, Like I said in 517 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,959 Speaker 1: the beginning, I think broke as a mind broke as 518 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: a mindset, you know what I mean? And I've never 519 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: my god dad said I had rich taste but poor pockets. 520 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 1: But so's it's about taste, you know what I mean. 521 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: I think you just have to kind of go into 522 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: you don't have to just because you don't have a 523 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: lot of money doesn't mean it looks so lovely. Everyone 524 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: to live like it today. We don't have overhead cameras, 525 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: so well I wouln't have over and I don't hopefully 526 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:48,920 Speaker 1: can see it. But okay, I want you to look 527 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 1: so good, so hopefully if you need salt, I don't 528 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: think I'll need salt or pepper. Good sit down with you, 529 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 1: yes please, you slaved in the kitchen for me and 530 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: I got my burners. Yeah, we have the Verdi classic 531 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 1: Verness gingerrele mm hmm delicious, so you can't taste the difference. 532 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: I haven't had that so long. So good, So I'm 533 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: gonna try and take a bite. Well, I'm gonna let 534 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,120 Speaker 1: you take a bite, hopefully, because I didn't taste any 535 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: of this, but I think it's this looks so delicious. 536 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 1: So this is green onions? Um, no, no onions, green pepper, 537 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 1: vegan butter meat, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, and polish sausage. And 538 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: it looks amazing. I was surprised you didn't add cheese 539 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: to this dish. No, no day. M hmm. This is 540 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: so good. Totally finishing this. I'm definitely gonna put it. 541 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: But I'm surprised that you're not taking fun because I 542 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: see a lot of venture capitalists now all of a sudden, 543 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: to say all of a sudden, but it's true, all 544 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: of a sudden's stepping up, and you see brands also 545 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, not only you know, taking in brands, 546 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: but they're also giving decent shelving space, which is yeah, 547 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: a big deal. I felt like for me, the conversations 548 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: I was having they weren't lining up with my values. 549 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: They didn't. They said they saw the vision, but I 550 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: didn't feel like they were there. They were really there 551 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: to try to take over the business. And for me, 552 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: it was never. I didn't put my name on this 553 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,359 Speaker 1: company to be an employee of my own company, you 554 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:28,959 Speaker 1: know what I mean, Like, I didn't do that. And 555 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 1: I even called Bobby Brown, like, you know, twenty five 556 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: years in the business, you know, billion dollar brand, sold 557 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: it to Estate Lauder. I looked at her in the 558 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: d M because I was I was like, who can 559 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: I talk to that has been where I've where I'm 560 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: trying to go, that can offer me some guidance because 561 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 1: when I looked to the people to my left and 562 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:52,200 Speaker 1: to my right, people weren't really actively looking to share, 563 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: you know. And it was also like, who can you 564 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 1: who can you be vulnerable with, you know, without people 565 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: looking down on you, you know, or feeling like or 566 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: making you feel you're not successful or at what you're 567 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: trying to do. And you know, so I just took 568 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: a chance on contacting her and uh and we had 569 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: a really great conversation and you know, and one of 570 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: the things I said, Hey, I need like two million 571 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: dollars like one will you give it to me? Because 572 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: you know, because you got it? She did. She responded. 573 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:16,959 Speaker 1: She was like, I was like, hey, can we can 574 00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:18,199 Speaker 1: we jump on a call? You know, I don't know 575 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: if you remember me. I met you backstage and a 576 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: fashion show like with a Stelle like years ago. It 577 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: would be you know, I have some questions about my 578 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: beauty business. I don't even know if you know about it, 579 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: but you know, here's my page. Check it out. Let 580 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: me know. I was literally sleeping. And I have been 581 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: going through one of the hardest times of my business. 582 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: You know. I was trying to open I had a 583 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: l a location. I was trying to open a New 584 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: York location. I had hired these people to like paint, 585 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: They painted it all wrong, so I had to fly 586 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,920 Speaker 1: to you know, New York to paint it myself because 587 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna pay to do it again. I had 588 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: a girl who would quit on me, you know, just abruptly, 589 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 1: like during a holiday weekend. It was just so many things, 590 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: and I had one employee that was often We're a 591 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: very small team, so it's just like this is too much. 592 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: And I literally found myself in Times Square like what 593 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: am I doing? And I was like what am I doing? 594 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 1: I was like, this is not how it's supposed to be, Like, 595 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: this is not how it's supposed to feel like, you know, 596 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: I can't go back to my friend's house because it's 597 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:10,159 Speaker 1: four o'clock in the morning because I just got I 598 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: don't want to wake them up, you know what I mean. 599 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: And I feel like I don't I can't go but 600 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: check into a hotel, right now because the timing is 601 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: all I was like, this is this is not how 602 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 1: it's supposed to work, you know. So when I hit 603 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: her up, it was really out of It was a 604 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: bit of iolt say, desperation. I was just needed the 605 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: right guidance. I needed somebody to care and somebody just 606 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: to tell me like that I'm on the right path. 607 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: I needed a sign that I was on the right path. 608 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: So when I asked, I was like, hey, like, you know, 609 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: this is what I'm trying to do. This is the 610 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: conversations that I'm having. Uh, you know, this is the 611 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: kind of money I need, you know. She said, why 612 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: did you get you open the Stars? Because every every 613 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: retailer that I went to told me that black women 614 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: don't shop here and they didn't want to take my brand. 615 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: And it wasn't that my brand wasn't good or good 616 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: enough because it rivals. My brand is the blue blue 617 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: for a lot of brands that are out there now, 618 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's the benchmark. So it's just like I 619 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: was like, I had to open I had to make 620 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: my own way. I've always had to make my own way, 621 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: so I was not not accustomed to doing that. But 622 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:12,920 Speaker 1: in this particular case, I was like, hey, like, you know, 623 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: you're getting all this these mixed messages of like what 624 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: business is supposed to be and what your business is 625 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: supposed to be like and um, and I was just 626 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: trying to weigh my options. So I was like, I 627 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:24,760 Speaker 1: think I need two million dollars to really take this 628 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: to the next level. Uh. You know, these are the 629 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: conversations I've been having. I was like, do you have 630 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: two million dollars? You want to invest or a million? 631 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: She was like, well, I can't do it because you know, 632 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 1: like my deal with that State Louder upon her departure, 633 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: but it's very cool, and she said, don't take anybody's money. 634 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: She's like, don't take anybody. She said, you're not gonna 635 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: want to hear this, but don't take anybody's money. And 636 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: I was like why and she said, because do you 637 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: do that, then the brand is no longer yours. It's 638 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: no longer yours, it belongs it belongs to the person 639 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,840 Speaker 1: that gave you the money. And that you know, because 640 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: I have seen that happen more times than not. People 641 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: have gone into these deals prematurely and thinking like, oh, 642 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: I need this investor, I need to do this as 643 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,640 Speaker 1: opposed to It wasn't that I need an investor. I 644 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: just needed more sales. I needed more sales. I needed 645 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: to hit the ground running and more impact and and 646 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: that was what we did. So after having that conversation, 647 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: I had turned down those bad deals because they really 648 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: were bad deals, Like somebody was trying to get in 649 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: my company for zero dollars and I was like, do 650 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 1: you I do you realize I can make this in 651 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: like the short amount of time I would shut the 652 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: store down. I'll do I'll liquidate before I do you know, 653 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: before I do this kind of deal. And um, and 654 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 1: that was what I did. And you know, I'm proud 655 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: of my journey. I'm I'm proud of the way that 656 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: I stepped my guns and yeah, a hundred percent of it. 657 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: But I fought from a hundred percent of my business 658 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: before we close out. Uh, you own a j Crems 659 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: and Beauty's. When the time comes, If the time comes, 660 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: then yes, I will be open to have a bigger 661 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: conversation about you know, investment partners, but only when, only 662 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 1: when I'm ready and when when the brand is ready 663 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 1: for that and let them beat down your door. I'm 664 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: just curious now, um, where are you? Where can people 665 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: pick up your products? I'm glad you asked, so you 666 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: can always get it from aj Crimson dot com. But 667 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 1: then also we're launching a North Droom. So I think 668 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: that probably by the time, definitely by the time this 669 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: comes out, Nordrom everybody. So I guess the black women 670 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: do go in North Drom, they do, you know. And 671 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: I think I think this time everything is shifted, you know, 672 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: after coming off of you know, the Black Lives Movement, uh, 673 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:39,479 Speaker 1: you know, protests and people really doubling down on accountability 674 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: on the diversity that they say that they have, especially 675 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: and we have to give our hats off to Sharon 676 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 1: Shooter of Oma Beauty because she really kind of kicked 677 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 1: that conversation off and really all people down to the carpet. 678 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: And I think there was that conversation where it got 679 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: everybody on board. And this quarantine like really isolated us 680 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: to a point where we almost kind of when we're 681 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: going crazy, and we got to see the injustice that 682 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: was happening around us as opposed to like living in 683 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:07,080 Speaker 1: our own little bubbles, right and uh, and a lot 684 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: of the retailers, uh, you know, we had conversations with 685 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: but nors From felt the best. They actually as opposed 686 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: to meet like pitching to them, they were pitching to us, 687 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: and they were saying, hey, like, we understand what you 688 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 1: what you're doing. We understand that we have this customer here. 689 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: We love what you've been doing. And what I'm creating 690 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 1: is something so different. You know, it's pro luxury, you know, 691 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: so you know, there isn't a black, black owned brand 692 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: that is a luxury brand, you know, And that was 693 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: what I set out to do and and you know, 694 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: and you have a professional edge. It's pro solutions for 695 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 1: everyday women. So um, I love seeing that translate through. 696 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: I love that I'm with a retail partner that understands 697 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: like my goal and are willing to grow with me. 698 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: They represent that luxury so they're perfect. It's a perfect 699 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: sweet spot like for my brand for sure. And I 700 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 1: think that was something too we had always been thinking about, 701 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,120 Speaker 1: like where does Ajan Crimson get to live? Where does 702 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 1: Ajia Crimson Beauty get to live? Because we're not drug store, 703 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, and you know, we're not middle we're not massige, 704 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 1: you know, like that middle ground. We really are, you know, 705 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: a higher end brand. You know, we just happened to 706 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 1: speak to black women first and and it's an exciting time. 707 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,600 Speaker 1: I'm so excited for you, and now it makes all 708 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:29,720 Speaker 1: the sense in the world why we're eating a luxury 709 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: Eating all Broke meal. Thank you so much for coming 710 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 1: on an episode of Eating All Broke. I secretly want 711 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: you to come back, so hopefully, yes, come back and 712 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: share more stories, because I don't think there's enough time 713 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: in the world too. Even you have so much, like 714 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 1: even behind the scenes, and just I feel like there's 715 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:52,959 Speaker 1: so much knowledge and stuff we could talk about, especially 716 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: when it comes to building a brand and taking it 717 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: to other levels. So I hope you come back with 718 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: a even cooler dish. I'm sure I can think of 719 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 1: okay for sure. So thank you everyone for tuning in too, 720 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: Eating Wall Broke. I'm here with A J. Crimson from 721 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: A J. Crimson Beauty The Luxury of Beauty. Thank you 722 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: so much for coming up. I appreciate you. Thank you 723 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 1: for having me for more. Eating While Broke from I 724 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: Heart Radio and The Black Effect. Visit the I Heart 725 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your 726 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:22,800 Speaker 1: favorite shows.