Meet Stephen Tyson Jr. | Dr. Stephen Tyson Jr. (aka Ellect) – Rapper & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephen Tyson Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I established JusListen Entertainment as a company in 2017, but the idea for it began when I was a college student back in 2005. Hip Hop was always in my spirit, and it became the primary way for me to express myself. I understood that when it came to my contribution to the culture, I wanted creative freedom and financial control.

I didn’t want to worry about anyone’s oversight when producing my music, podcasts, music videos, education programs, and anything else I set my mind to. I can have the freedom to collaborate with some incredible people and make the things that I want to hear and see or would be interested in attending and discussing.

The first person that I ever saw doing this in a way I connected with was KRS-One. Not only is he an incredible MC, but he can also step into any concert venue or into any institution of higher education and express himself effectively in both spaces. He can teach you about the history of Hip Hop culture and then give you an incredible performance afterward.

That’s exactly what I wanted to do. And I wanted to do that with my own company, with my own team. First, for my community and then for the global community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from others is my intention to keep some sort of social message in my music. Whether it’s a few bars or it’s a whole song, I like creating music that is dedicated toward addressing or trying to provoke thought around some sort of social change. And that can be on a variety of topics, you know?

I see what’s happening in the news, I see how it affects me, I see how it affects my friends and family, and so I write about it. I talk about it. And that’s how I come up with and create songs like “BLM”, like “Give Us Free”, like “Hope”, like “Mother Earth”. And then I’m also telling my story as well. Whether it’s love, or introspection, or it’s thoughts and anxieties. All of these things I express through songs like “Gold”, or “Make It Happen”, or “Time”. Even giving tribute to Hip Hop with songs and music videos like “Ol’ School”.

I adhere to the principles of Hip Hop culture, which are peace, unity, love, and having fun. But at the same time, I recognize that the platform could also be used by artists in that manner that attempts to change human society for the better.

How did I get to where I am today? I mean, I’ve basically stayed on the same journey. For almost 20 years now, I’ve produced my own music, written my own songs, DJ’d live events, I’ve done radio programs and podcasts, I’ve filmed and created my own music videos. All of those skills I’ve been building over nearly the last 20 years. Getting experience in the field, studying at various colleges and universities, even doing programs at New York Film Academy.

It wasn’t easy. It was very difficult. But overcoming challenges is the only way anyone can keep moving forward. There were so many things trying to pull me in other directions, but I knew that my spirit and my creative energy are fed through Hip Hop. So, I had to bend my opportunities toward my will and not let circumstance defeat me.

One lesson I learned early along the way was that not everybody is going to follow through with what they say they can do for you, no matter how much they gas you. So you need to make sure that your plan doesn’t have to rely on anybody else’s approval to make it happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like to be inspired, and so do my friends. So we’d hit up some places that could give us that opportunity. We’d definitely go see the Hawks play, get dinner at some staples like Bones or Mary Mac’s, hit up some spots like Full Circle or Versus, check out some art, go to a few concerts. Things like that.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely want to shout out all of my family and friends for your support! It’s been a long, fun, challenging journey and things are just getting started! To my lady for being a loving, brilliant, inspiring, creative mind. And a special shout out to my newborn son, Miles, for the adventures we’re going to have and making me a proud dad.

Website: https://stephentyson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellect217/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephentysonjr/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ellect217

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ellect217/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/juslistenent

Image Credits
Headshot/primary photo credited to Xavier Luciano