We had the good fortune of connecting with Dat Gurl Secrete and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dat Gurl, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my first business because I wanted to have the freedom of job security and the ability to have a flexible schedule so that I could increase my overall quality of life. Instead of working hard to build someone else’s company, I decided to be brave and venture out as an independent business owner. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made in life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a musical artist, I love to explore various styles of music. Feelings and life experiences have played a huge role in how, why, and when I create music. When I first started pursuing a professional career in music four years ago, I was new to the music scene as well as how the industry worked. However, building lasting relationships and networking with the right people helped to catapult me in the right direction for success! I started my own record label, “PrimeTime Productions Music Group” and started to release my music independently. When I was not creating music, I started to find a passion in cooking. As a result, in 2018, I opened Secrete’s Jamerican Bar & Grill in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I continued to pursue music while traveling back and forth from the U.S. Maintaining my record label and restaurant independently has not been an easy feat. Hard-work, due diligence, persistence, and research are simply a few of the necessary tools required to succeed as an independent business owner.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A few of my favorite go-to places in Atlanta are Krog Street Market on the Beltline in Edgewood. I’d definitely recommend spending a Saturday at Krog Street Market to explore of all the amazing food and shops available. Another amazing, must-see place in Atlanta is the Atlanta History Center. Here, you can learn about the rich southern history and heritage that has made ATL into the multicultural magnet that it has become. For nightlife, I’d definitely recommend the Star Community Bar. This place is amazing! Great food and dining as well as comedy on Monday nights, DJs and dancing on Tuesdays, and live music Wednesday through Saturday until 3 a.m. These are all great spots to check out if you want to explore Atlanta like an ATL local.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate a special shoutout to my family, friends, and supporters! Special shoutout to all of my fans and social media followers! Shout out to the entire PrimeTime Productions Music Group family and everyone else who has ever helped me through this journey we call life!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretetheboss/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/datgurlsecrete?lang=en
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/DatGurlSecrete/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXablVSFjiwPKC19uf_ofPg

Image Credits
Justin Sicard NY4TI PrimeTime Productions Music Group

Nominate someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.