We had the good fortune of connecting with Call Me Ace and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Call Me Ace, do you have a budget?
Absolutely. Well first, I couldn’t have appreciate it budget when for the first 6 months after I graduated because I didn’t have a job, income, or a pace to live. But once I finally got my first official job, I learned about this budget principle called “the 50/30/20 rule” – 50% of your check spent on NEEDS (e.g. rent, utilities, groceries, etc.); 30% on WANTS (e.g. eating out, clothes, etc.); 20% on SAVINGS. However, once I started budgeting, it was more like the “40/10/50 rule” for me – I was saving half of my paycheck every time it came in. And this is back when I was living in New York City on non-profit money. I’m saying, I was ordering $3 egg sandwiches from the bodegas for breakfast and $5 chicken and rice plates from the halal carts that I’d split in half for lunch and dinner. I already learned how to survive off of little-to-nothing due to my upbringing, so acting like I had no money and putting the majority of it in savings wasn’t too farfetched for me. It’s what allowed to be able to go travel abroad several times – London, Paris, Copenhagen, Medellín, Santorini, etc. – before I even went to business school and started working in corporate. The only thing that’s changed the older I’ve gotten is that I learned there’s actually a cap to how much you should be “saving” – once you reach that, then you start investing.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At the end of the day, I’m here to encourage my listeners to live a rich life, not just a life full of riches. I use my music, experiences, and platform as a way to create access and opportunity, especially for those from similar disenfranchised communities as mine. I keep it authentic, I keep it me. I also do all of this while maintaining a full-time job at a Big Tech firm in the Bay Area. Definitely not easy, but one of the biggest keys is just remembering my purpose for doing this. My whole platform is purpose-driven. My proudest moments haven’t been the awards, accolades, or big recognitions (although those are all cool for sure). They’ve been when I’ll get a message out of nowhere – someone in the UK, Russia, Norway, Canada, or even here in the Bay Area – someone telling me how my music has impacted and inspired them in a significant way, that they’re a new fan, and to keep going. That’s why I do what I do – that’s why I keep going.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well since I’m in Oakland now, I gotta take you to some of my favorite spots. Definitely gotta hit up places like Miss Ollie’s, Blue Nile, and Oeste. Definitely kick it hard at Lake Merritt, maybe slide through Jack London and be bougie for a bit. Everything else is finna be a surprise…
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the High Grade Society for all the constant love and support, ensuring that this plane keeps rising. Big ups to wifey for holding me down through it all. And all praise and glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Website: https://callmeace.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/callmeacelegit
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/acepatterson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/callmeacelegit
Facebook: https://facebook.com/callmeacelegit
Youtube: https://youtube.com/callmeace
Image Credits
Miss Lopez Media