Meet Trenton Pinkston | Founder of Hip Hop Appreciation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trenton Pinkston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trenton, how do you think about risk?
I think risk is an essential part of everyone’s journey, especially in business. People have to make decisions as to what they think is the best option when choosing a career path. Investing your time and money into going to college can be a risk in itself. Making financial investments, choosing job opportunities, and forming relationships with people are just a few examples of risk-taking that all of us experience. For me, following my passion by creating my own platform in hopes of turning it into a lucrative business is a leap of faith considering there are no guarantees that any entrepreneur will find success, which greatly depends on my effort, dedication, and ideas. I take risks when experimenting with new content ideas as well. There is a chance that my audience won’t resonate with some ideas or artists and when that happens I simply go back to basics and brainstorm other ideas that will increase engagement and my following overtime.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business focuses on curating and creating content centered around hip-hop music and culture. I offer promotions and advertising services to music artists, record labels, marketing companies, as well as brands through social media where I currently have a following of over 235 thousand between Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as of June 2023. After diving deeper into hip-hop music in high school, I chose to start an Instagram page dedicated to the genre. With consistency in posting engaging content on a daily basis, I was not only able to bring in thousands of followers every year, but also reach millions of accounts and eventually turned it into a real business opportunity. Major artists such as Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Erykah Badu have all engaged with the platform. I’m very proud of how much progress it has made. Being a full-time student and the only person responsible for content up to this point, burnout can sometimes be a challenge. However, my ambition towards making my brand a success keeps me going. I’ve also learned helpful skills in digital marketing, content creation, and social media management through my business. If you are a fan of rap music and looking for a platform that shares the same admiration while providing a diverse community with a chance to discuss topics, discover artists, and expand their knowledge on the art form, Hip Hop Appreciation is the perfect outlet for you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlantic Station is a hotspot in Atlanta, There are stores to shop at, some decent foods spots, and a nice Regal movie theatre that I go to with my friends a lot. Ponce City Market is also a good hangout spot with a bunch of different shops and restaurants. I recommend going up to the Rooftop if you choose to visit. You can find a bar with some nice drinks and a view of the city. If you enjoy a chill spot for riding scooters and bikes or just a walk, try visiting The Beltline. Krog Street Tunnel is nearby, where you can find dope graffiti from local street artists.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my family and friends for their support and encouragement, especially my mother. She has always helped and motivated me in achieving whatever dream or aspiration of mine I’ve had in any way she can and made a lot of sacrifices along the way. I’ll always appreciate her for that. I would also like to acknowledge many of my educators throughout my high school and college career that helped expand my understanding of how the business world works as well as finances. Lastly, I want to shoutout the artists who inspired me to start my platform including Nas, 2Pac, Biggie, Rakim, Slick Rick, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and many others. Their work sparked my interest in hip-hop at a young age, which would soon lead me to start Hip Hop Appreciation. I wouldn’t be able to build a business centered around my passion if it wasn’t for their contributions.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiphopappreciation/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hhappreciation

Other: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hha_tre/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hhappreciation?_t=8dB0DnJr65r&_r=1

Image Credits
Caiya Moye Xavier Willcox