We had the good fortune of connecting with Jazz V. Hawkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jazz V., what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
You are a business, a brand… the CEO of your life. If you don’t like the way life is going, then it’s up to you to take charge and change it! Starting a business to me is taking charge of your own life. You can’t dwell on the what-if’s or focus on the opinions of anyone else. It is hard, yes, but so is the struggle. Failure is simply a part of the process and a part of growth. So you have to pick your ”hard” and persevere through that, always with your end-goal in mind.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started writing poetry at the age of eight, and I was rapping by the age of ten. I joined a rap group at 16, accepted Christ at 22, and stopped rapping for many years. However, I never stopped writing or sharing poetry. I started hosting poetry events and open mics in 2017, which led to everyone hearing my “bars” come out. God had to purify the gift to use it for His glory. I released my first poetic music project in 2019, called The Voice. I’m releasing my fourth album in 2024, titled Victory. Everyone does not agree with rapping for God, so many don’t support it. I’ve learned to always pray and just go with God, regardless. I had no idea what I was doing in 2017, but I had a word from God! He told me I am a voice for Him, and that my gift came from Him. I wasn’t taught this, I didn’t go to school for it, and I didn’t have mentors in this area. It’s all God. My advice to anyone is to just trust Him. Block out every other voice and tune in to the one that matters. I actually performed my first rap at the age of 10, at a youth revival, in church. I know I’ve been chosen for this. You have to know what you’ve been chosen for, and believe it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s much to see and experience when visiting New Orleans. Visiting the historical French Quarter is a must! From the French Market, to Jackson Square, to the St. Louis Cathedral, to Bourbon and Canal Street, the time will be well spent. You can catch the brass band on Frenchmen Street on a Saturday night, but might also see a musical performance on your way to another location. The restaurants, cafes and food trucks are good and plentiful. So it depends on what you have a taste for… crawfish, gumbo, etouffee, yakamein, or a sweet tooth. We have it all! Just make sure you swing by Cafe Du Monde for some beignets before you leave!

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?
A person who inspired me to boss up would be Dr. Tamanika Odinga. She saw great potential in me when I was young and at one of my lowest points. I watched her not only lead a successful early childhood program in a public school system (that expanded to the surrounding communities), but also build leaders in the process. While some may have spoken negatively about her influence and authority, I found it quite admirable. I caught a lot from her and am still able to apply it to what I do now. A book that built me into who I am today as a woman, a mother, an artist, and everything else, is the Holy Bible… the inspired Word of God. Listen to my music, and you will understand! So big shoutout to God and Doc!

Website: www.jazzvhawk.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.v.hawk?igsh=MXQzM3FvYnVnaGM1Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@j.v.hawk?_t=8jrsKjspfgd&_r=1

Image Credits
Rena Jackson Dale Scott

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