Meet Chris Crooks | Artist, Creative Director, & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Chris, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I had never lived anywhere else until I moved to Vegas. Cincinnati is one of the best places in the world to me. It’s not a place a lot of people have been but it’s a place that means so much to the people who have. Being from the Midwest is just different when it comes to your hustle, your approach, what you been around and how you move through adversity.

Ohio itself is so rich in music history. From Dayton being the birthplace of Funk to the Isley’s being from Cincinnati. I love my home cause you really can’t have a sound without us.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When it comes to my art, I always treat it like looking in the mirror. I don’t try to hide who I am in my music. Aside from being something that we package for release, music is still very much so therapeutic for me. So I just try to be myself and put it all out there. The good times, the bad times and the lessons we learn from them.

I never wanna have a “holier than thou” approach like people have to do what I say or be who I am. I believe my art has duality and shows everything we love as well as some things we hate. Music is about evoking emotions and I try to make sure you always leave feeling something.

The journey itself has definitely never been easy. I think the hardest part that people have is just trying. Once I got over the fear of trying I stopped being afraid of failing. Sometimes we’re just scared that what we want to do can actually work.

Music and entrepreneurship have their ups and downs and you can only learn those L’s from taking them or seeing them firsthand.

I want the world to know that me, my brand and my story are all about the idea of being everlasting. Being memorable. Being exactly who you wanted to show the world you are. I always want people to see themselves in Chris Crooks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It depends on the city! When I’m home in Cincinnati there are always certain stops I have to make. I always gotta make sure I go to the “Black Coffee Lounge” and support my guys, so I’d probably start the day there. Cincy is so rich in independent black owned business and I always try to expose friends to that when visiting. Whether that’s a coffee shop, a restaurant, clothing store, etc.

Las Vegas is a huge melting pot so there’s always something cool here depending on what you’re looking for. I’m always looking for new restaurants to try and new places to go so Vegas is great for that.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Man, it’s so many people who played a part in my journey I would feel crazy if I left anyone out lol. My parents are some of my biggest supporters. My mom was great with just being there for me and letting me figure out how to do all of this.

By the grace of Allah, I was really blessed to have friends and family who believed in me early on and wanted to see what I was doing grow. So shout out to them for seeing something in me.

Website: https://linktr.ee/chriscrooks_

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

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@forevercrooks96

Image Credits
Austin Price Four Eyed Portraits Taquan Rodgers