Meet Kwame King | Author, Cartoonist, Musician, Mentor

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

Hi Kwame, how do you think about risk?
Certain risks are meant to be taken. Particularly the good ones we feel strongly in our spirit – be it financially, emotionally, or spiritually beneficial. When the opportunity for something we manifested presents itself, and its collective potential causes a positive inclination in energy, we often do an injustice to destiny by reducing the instance down to “a coincidence.” I believe moments of such were meant to be. Especially if you’ve never exposed your ideas to anyone. Why else would the opportunity present itself? Go for it!

The biggest risk I took in my adult life was quitting a fulltime unionized hospital job to explore my many talents. I struggled with the theory of walking away from my job for years. Through displacement within the organization when my branch closed, which almost felt like a move from God that I was consciously ignoring. Maybe God was telling me that it was time to remove the umbrella and enjoy my own sunshine. Yet, I accepted displacement at another location under the same umbrella. Through the glimpses of success whenever I’d invest in my talents, and blessings I received in the form of tools to begin my independent journey. I’m talking about a professional music studio in my living room that I could’ve charged an hourly fee for. Why didn’t I fully commit to that? There were even programs on my laptop that brought my artwork to life. I could’ve surely invested time into cartoon animation. I’ll tell you what the problem was. It was much more secure and ethical, although complacent and mentally exhausting, to maintain this unionized position. My paycheck was guaranteed to be in the boss’s office on a bi-weekly basis.

Decades into this clerical position, with all of these gifts piled beneath the stability of a paycheck, I woke up one day with my soul feeling bound by regret. I got out of bed disappointed with myself and laid all of my potential on the table. There was my accomplishments as a musician, pictures of me on different stages, magazines I was interviewed in, a print-sample for my autobiography, and a picture of me recording at Powerhouse Studio. Encouraged like a new fan who heard my music for the first time, “I did this” I processed. “But why haven’t I celebrated myself to the degree of a successor? Is it fear?” My energy soon shifted to, “What if I just take the risk and rely on what I was born with?” I sat in that space for hours. The next morning, I put together the politest resignation letter and slapped it on my boss’s desk. Yup, I risked it all. With no regards as to what anyone would think of my decision, it was time for me to pursue my dreams. And you know what? Seven years later, I only regret never quitting my job sooner. Because in my new journey of self-completion, it may have had its ups and downs, but I learned that I could never fail. If I continue to use my God-given talents, at the very least I’ll go down in my ancestry as a student of success. Cheers to all the risk takers.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m happy to say that I’m a 2-time published author: the writer and illustrator of an urban autobiography titled “Sicko the Stubborn Child of God,” and the writer and illustrator of a forthcoming children’s book titled “Tyler’s Little City.” Both of my books are geared towards knowledge and growth of the African American culture.

Born with a catalog of natural gifts (a sketch artist, painter, digital animator, musician, poet, designer, author, etc.), I believe that my journey comprises coaching and elevating people. You’ll find in my publishing journey that I’ve sold my autobiography through major online stores like Target, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and more. The purpose of having it available on such large platforms wasn’t because I set some impractical goal to retire filthy rich in a foreign land based on sales alone. I wrote because my spirit told me to help anyone who would extract as little as a chapter for support of their progress. Particularly men and women of color who face challenges in America. With that said, I wanted to assure readers that my story was important to the degree of being available on mainstream platforms. The success of its mass upload was a result of “Study and Apply”. Study and Apply is a tactic I use in almost every vision I channel-in on. You’ll find earlier in my creative journey, in my music career, that I’ve featured with multi-platinum selling artists and mainstream entertainers. Although I can’t claim that every lyric was written for the uplifting of any culture, the success I achieved was indeed a result of Study and Apply.

My achievements as a whole are the products of isolation, study, and work ethic. I often isolate myself to be available for The Creator to make installments. Then, I set my mind on the mission and lock-in for weeks or even months to learn programs and format templates. In that time, I’m removed from the world. I’m playing around with layers and studying the business aspect. Eventually, I’m able to do the footwork for an imagination that I made appear on the surface. If you ask me, that makes me a magician.

My biggest challenge in my professional creative life was probably the transition from a lyricist to an author. The mechanics were totally different, but the engine was the same. Consistency was still the key. Consistency is the only reason that I was able to figure out the mechanics. Consistency prompted helpers to walk me into the right rooms. Consistency showed investors that I was confident with my product. Consistency welcomed algorithm to be in my favor. In this day and age however, where mental stamina has drastically decreased, consistency has to be backed by some sought of performance. You’re nearly entitled to create daily content around the initial creation. The reach however, will almost always stay within the limits of one’s personal following. That’s where media sponsorship packages come into play. The first time I ever paid for advertisements, was for my clothing brand (Komplx by Ladarius Bleu – www.KomplxCollection.com). I ran all my ads concurrent, through YouTube, Google, Facebook and Instagram. Although there was no major spike in sales, my social media presence increased, as did my email subscription list. When I sent out my first newsletter, things began to make cents. I was able to monitor clicks to determine my hot commodities and customize email templates accordingly. I’m proud to say that by the second newsletter some subscribers were already making their second purchase. These were all social media friends who proudly reported seeing my advertisement appear on their news feed.

When people look at my catalog or read my story, hopefully they’ll extract the courage to know that a gift should never die inside of them. They’ll develop the power to remove any illusional limits and be the creator of their own happiness. Because we can anticipate a few challenges, if not many. My hope for you through every barrier that you face, is that you be able to close your eyes and see the vision that initially fueled the purpose, so the possibility of one day nurturing your gift on the surface can give you the strength to leap. You can do it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been showing people the beauty of my city lately, so if one of my friends came into town for the weekend, we’d probably spend a lot of time in the Bronx. Fordham Road alone is a long walk of history and shopping. Speaking of Fordham Road, we’d have to visit the lounge (Salsa Con Fuego) on a comedy night for some laughs. They’d enjoy that. Just to show off the beauty of City Island, I’d take them to Sea Shore for some good eats. Nothing like having a king crab by the boat dock.

Fan or not, if it was their first time coming into my city, they’d have to see why we New Yorkers proudly wear that NY logo above our brim. Yup, we’re going to catch a Yankees game on 161st Street. While we’re down there, because I’m a musician, we’d visit the Universal Hip Hop Museum on 149th Street.

The Bronx has the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Museum, Bay Plaza Mall, Cedar Park, and so many other places we could visit for fun, eats, drinks and entertainment. Oh yea, I still play basketball. Cedar Park, off of Burnside Avenue and Sedgwick Avenue, is where I’d take this visitor had he or she talked trash. I be happy to get my wins there. That’s where we find the birthplace of hip-hop, and also the area where I was born and raised. I’m a West Bronx baby!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to the One Hundred Black Men foundation (https://www.ohbm.org), which was the first mentorship organization that I ever mentored under. Placing me in those public-school classrooms with students who looked just like me, and entrusting me to influence greatness, has sparked a new journey in my life. You guys deserve a huge shoutout.

Shoutout to my photographer, Visions By Jeff (https://www.instagram.com/visionsbyjeff). This young celebrity photographer has made himself available for me on many occasions. His catalogue in the mainstream media is extensive. Thank you for your service. You deserve a huge shoutout.

Shoutout to Dr. Marion Bobb-Mckoy from New Jersey. You are a beautiful black successful physician who has been great encouragement throughout my journey as an author. You deserve a huge shoutout!

Website: www.KwameKing.com

Instagram: authorkwameking

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

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@authorkwameking

Other: Clothing Brand: www.KomplxCollection.com Publishing Company: www.VictoryLiftPublishing.com

Image Credits
Photos by Angle 26 Images, @VisionsbyJeff, and Walter “Walt” Miller