Meet Tiyahnn Bryant | Founder and CEO of Roll Up Life Inc.

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

Hi Tiyahnn, how do you think about risk?
Risk-Taking (n.) – the act or fact of doing something that involves danger or risk in order to achieve a goal.

Most things in life have an upside and a downside. In education the price of passing is failing. In sports the price of winning is losing. In romance the price of love is heartbreak. In order to achieve the desired goal theres a chance that your choice outcome isn’t what plays out. Coming to terms with that is when we find out if our goal is worth it. When you’re willing to put failure on the line, understand the obstacles that may be in your way, and accept the mental journey you will embark on with your risk then you have a risk worth taking.

I’ve been to this point numerous times in my life. As a child, a teenager, and currently as a young adult. As a child I didn’t get a sibling until I was 10. Outside of my younger cousin Jabrill, I had a difficult time making friends. I was a nerdy kid who just so happened to be good in sports. One day the other kids at school were playing football. Personally I was just tired of watching so I joined the pool of available players to be picked. My first time playing I was picked last, that was fine with me because at least today I was playing. We’re on defense first, and some play during that first series I caught an interception. Everyone asked my name after that. I’ll never forget what my gym teacher Mr. L told my Aunt Step when she picked me up from school. “He needs to play little league football.” The next day the guys talked to me, it was great. I rode that high into the summer and signed up and played tackle football for the East Orange Rams.

As a teen I struggled with who I was. The things I liked were very atypical. I really liked skateboard culture, as a non-skateboarder. Being from an urban city at the time that culture wasn’t mainstream yet. Vans weren’t cool, and slimmer fitting pants were weird. That didn’t really matter to me because that style was very cool personally. I dressed like that amid all of the crazy thoughts I drafted up in my head. It was received well in school too. Being different isn’t bad. Just do what makes you happy.

Currently as I sit here and type these answers, I cant help to think of the risk that it took to get here. Thinking back to 2016, I’m at a point in my life where the NFL isn’t an option. I’m a regular college student in Idaho majoring in political science. The west coast cannabis scene is underway, and New Jersey was a medical marijuana state. Following the politics you understand that medical is a precursor to recreation. Understanding the industry you see that most players don’t look like you. Understanding life you get that people who look like you are more likely to be arrested for the same cannabis offense. Understanding business you realize it isn’t often you get to be alive for the birth of an industry. Cannabis, something that I already enjoyed looked to be a life changing opportunity. Getting involved was something I felt was a necessity. My cousins were arrested numerous times for cannabis. I personally spent a singular night for a dime bag. This was a chance to right the wrongs for everyone. I get back to NJ and just study away. I learn the industry as much as I can. What did the industry need? How can I fill that niche? These are the questions I told myself that I needed to answer. In finding these answers I found Roll Up Life. The cannabis industry lacked the proper logistics infrastructure. I told the people who I thought would not only make great teammates but strengthen our company with their individual talents. Our COO Precious was first. She’s a marketing and organizational wizard. She also is one of my best friends. Excited I presented it to her. She declined. I was shocked, and internally trying to figure out if this was worth it. It was. I had to push forward no matter the odds or what people thought.

All in all taking risk defined me. The right risk are the ones that will change your life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When You Need Us, We’ll Roll Up.

Roll Up Life, where our mission is to be the premier provider and transporter of cannabis and related products.

Through our unique technology, supreme branding, and social impact we expect to show why you should come roll with us.

What I’m most excited about with our company is the connection that we have with the community. The people we get to talk to everyday and inspire down their own paths. The chance that we get to rebuild the city that we know and love. Im proud to be apart of the Roll Up Life family. Im honored to represent my hometown. We’re aiming to bring this to communities everywhere. That brings me so much joy.

To get to where RUL is today it started with a strategy. Understanding that while we weren’t able to start directly with cannabis yet we needed to gain experience and knowledge. We also understood that we needed to be a voice in advocating, and educating the urban community. We struggled early on. We had a poor logo, a bad website and very few products. The one thing going for us was our community connection. A rebrand was necessary. We cleaned up RUL. We branded behind our ‘R’ and it resonated with the people more. Secondly it gave us a more professional logo, and we followed that up with a better website. We not only were we the part, but we finally looked it. We were able to attract more brands to carry and a local CBD shop to deliver for. We started to do more in the community and our brand began to get national recognition. This roller coaster ride was far from easy and we still have a long way to go. The long nights, studying cannabis ordinances, getting revenue models together, investor meetings, and pitch competitions were difficult. They challenged us to refine everything that we did. We argued, cried, and laughed but at the end we always banded together as family. RUL is here for the people. Together we will build this industry.

For the world I want them to prepare for RUL. I think that we are so relatable that the people can get behind us. Young black entrepreneurs looking to give back to working class communities. Understand that at RUL we will remain innovative, advanced logistically, and community driven. When you see that ‘R’ we want you to see cannabis without seeing it. We want that to be as recognizable as the golden arches. We want to continue to inspire children from urban communities that you can start your own company as well. We look to be a beacon of hope.

In regards to myself I want to world to know I’m a go getter. Life hasn’t always given me the easies path. Through the challenges, ups and downs I was able to not only think of RUL, but execute that thought. Many people have brilliant ideas but they don’t execute on them. If you think it you and achieve it. That is something I hold near and dear to my heart. Make sure you never quit.

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?
East Orange isn’t the biggest city out there and it is still developing, so there isn’t too much to do. Yet. the very first thing would do is get an Italian cheeseburger from Sandwiches Unlimited. We would have to get some breakfast from Mario’s, and taco bowls from Chipot’Lee. Its a funny name but the food is very good. We have fun at South Beach and catch the vibes. Utilizing the greater area we would have to get a drink from Ringside in Jersey City. My favorite drink personally is called a ‘Liquid Marijuana’ ironically. We would have to see the Nets play. I love the Nets. Depending on the season hiking at South Mountain is always fun as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Special shoutouts go to my mom Wykeasa Bryant Great-Grandmom Lillie Bryant
Great-Granddad Vernell Jones
Grandmom Bobbi Oliver
Aunts, Ivory Bryant, Stephanie Bryant, and Alice Bryant
Uncles, James Bryant, Clyde Bryant, Amin Ingram

Coach Marion Bell, Coach Stanley Edwards, Coach Calvin Thompson

For Roll Up Life we would be nothing without
COO Precious Osagie-Erese
CTO Semaj Andrews
CLO A.J. Tribue
Bobbi Paley
Hope Wiseman
Ed Tobias
Mike McQueeny
Paul Lieberman
Roz McCarthy
Jasi Edwards
Leo Bridgewater
Fruqan Mouzan
Amanda Terpstra

Website: rolluplife.com

Instagram: @tiyahnn

Linkedin: Tiyahnn Bryant

Twitter: @Tiyahnn