Meet Bryant Lamar | Artist/Producer, Owner 4U Media Group, Operations Director BHM Entertainment

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

Hi Bryant, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’m a big advocate of entrepreneurship. I was raised by an entrepreneur, my grandmother, who did her due diligence of maintaining her 9-5 but always kept her personal agenda of being an author, minister, city development board member, and more at the forefront. I believe that having your own business is a key factor to success. I think many people are intimidated by the idea of starting their own business and think they have to start with a multi-level corporation such as Google, Apple, or Amazon. They forget that the local businesses that they frequent from day to day, or the subscription service they forgot about is a business as well. Having a business is all about finding a need and meeting it, or seeing the way someone else meets a need and then doing it your own way. Currently, I own my own small business called 4U Media Group. We provide media solutions to small businesses. Our goal is to be the media department for local businesses, so they don’t have to think about it. Currently, I am testing expansion opportunities to service martial arts gyms, and more. I am also an artist/producer. I produce my own music and perform with my band Bryant Lamar & A Day of Stars. Not to mention I’ve gotten a lot of work mixing, coaching, and producing for other artists this year, which works well with my business as we also put on local-artist-friendly events to raise awareness and provide a platform for many of the artists I work with on the music side.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Oh, that’s easy. Life. I’m responsible for a lot but I can’t lie, I have help. Juggling being an artist and everything that goes into having successful campaigns and thinking through release strategies, partnerships and collaborations. To keep things going with my business of outlining and refining our processes, modifying our strategies per client, and keeping those client relationships intact. Stack that on top of a part-time job for family health benefits, and being a husband and father of two. What doesn’t keep me busy professionally? Like I said, I can’t lie. I have the help of an amazing team for the Bryant Lamar artist/producer. Shout out to my bro Jaime Gaeta, and my wife Merlyn Hamilton.

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?
Living in San Diego is hands down one of the best experiences I have ever had. I don’t know how long my journey here will last but I plan to make an impact and enjoy life while I’m here. Anytime I have a friend or client fly into work with me I always make an experience out of it. The first thing is we have to take them to Senior Mangos between Adams Ave, and El Cajon Blvd. The best Acai bowls in SD for sure. I always say, “You never cheat on your acai bowl provider.” San Diego beaches are all fun and unique in their own way. I usually base what beach we go to off the individual. PB for young single guys and/or teens. Sunset Cliffs is a must-see regardless of personal preference, it’s just breathtaking. OB for the young adults, and some older clients who have never seen a real beach town. Downtown with my business partners and people with families. For food, we all know Southeast San Diego has the best taco shops in all of San Diego but I also like taking people to Flavors of East Africa, Louisiana Purchase, or Titas Kitchen. If they have a passport I like to take people to Mexico, I enjoy showing people how you can just walk across and walk back. If not then there is plenty to do for nightlife in SD. To the young single friend, PB all day. To the young married guy North Park or Downtown, to the more diverse and inclusive friends Hillcrest. Regardless of where we go, San Diego has a lot to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, this segment alone is enough to fill the whole interview. I have always said I am a byproduct of impartation. Meaning, I am only where I am by the sacrifices of those who came before me. The unique thing about my journey is that none of the people that took the time to cultivate the greatness they saw in me had any obligation to do so. They could’ve ignored me and went about life as usual, but they didn’t and I’m forever grateful. The first will always be my grandmother Dr. Pat of Higher Esteem. She took me in when I was a child, and gifted me with knowledge, kindness, and faith. I’ve seen miracles done through her and for her. Watching her has always been a reminder that with God (Yah) anything is possible. The second would have to be the man I call father, Mike Hill of the Gospel Rap Group, End-Time Warriors (ETW). There would be no Bryant Lamar without Mike Hill, he was the one who taught me how to engineer and produce. Pops passed away 3 years ago, and although the pain of his passing is still real from day to day, I am determined to carry on his legacy of making music that represents the sound but uplifts the spirit. Lastly, I couldn’t leave this thread without paying homage to my mentors of today. Jerry Compere, former Music Director for Wycleff and music producer for the Netflix special, “Cops and Robbers”, and Michael Todd, senior pastor of Transformation Church. Both of these gentlemen have gone on to accomplish great things. Jerry took my piano playing from basic to beyond, we both came from classical music backgrounds so I felt as though he spoke my language. Mike Todd is now a celebrity pastor but is also the one that gave me my first sample pack and told me, “show me what you can do with that and I’ll have more for you.” My first financial investor, mentor, and friend. I call these guys my big brothers. Everyone mentioned lives selfless life that shows me that the things I’m pushing for are possible as they have already achieved them. I hope to be able to say to them, I was here, I left my mark, I helped people, I broke generational cycles, I created generational wealth and made some amazing music along the way. Thank You

Website: bryantlamar.com

Instagram: iambryantlamar

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryant-lamar-81125634/

Twitter: iambryantlamar

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc9Isv25uuEGgsYzqrjSwiQ

Image Credits
Ryan Joseph