Meet Lemond IMAG Brown | Artist, STEAM Activist, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lemond IMAG Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lemond IMAG, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
There is no growth without discomfort. There is no reward without risk. Whether it’s risking rejection by asking someone out, or risking a loss by investing millions into a business, the one who is willing to risk the most usually has the most to lose; and the most gain.

My career didnt even exist when I started, I had never met any STEAM educators. After my parents worked to help put me through engineering school at Drexel University, I was leaning toward a different career path, it was the first time we disagreed strongly on my life choices. In 2011 I was inspired to start a non profit which led me to where I am today as a full time artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. I began volunteering at the regional Boys & Girls Clubs in DC. There I began developing a STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum out of necessity for more engaging STEM programs for the youth in my city. After volunteering for more than 4 months I was offered a grant-paid position, the same week I was offered an Engineering job that would pay twice as much plus benefits. Had I not taken the risk and chose less money up front, maybe I end up spending time doing something I dont like. Now I get to make my own schedule, and I make more than I would have been making in a traditional Engineering job.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creating the new subgenre of Hip Hop known as STEAM Hip Hop is something I’m most proud of. Using my 20 years of artistic experience producing, writing and recording music, I was able to use my passion for music to translate the knowledge I learned in Engineering school at Drexel University in Hip Hop. It took a while for me to rediscover my voice artistically after going from a group to a solo artist. I found that instead of trying so hard to separate my creative work and my foundation work with Swaliga, I could save time and energy by looking for ways to align the goals of the two.

Today I’m known as the STEAM MC. My ability to explain complex science concepts in digestible ways over dope hip hop beats is unique. I haven’t heard any music quite like this, from how the production and sound effects compliment the lyrics and song topic, to the vocabulary words integrated into the curriculum, each song is a cohesive experience. When coming up with something new, it can be challenging to get people to listen. A lot of people are just learning what “STEM” is and most have never heard of STEAM education. There was also a challenge to get people to understand that this is different from educational music like “Sesame Street”, in that this is based around Hip Hop and the topics are much more complex in most cases. It was also difficult to write songs in a way that doesn’t come off as “corny”. The best way to get people to understand is through dedication, productivity and consistency. I’m preparing to release my second STEAM EP. My mission as IMAG the STEAM MC is to create so much STEAM Hip Hop music that I inspire a new generation of learners to get interested in STEAM and to also create their own expressions of this information for generations to come. Connecting my music to the schools and youth we serve around the world through the Swaliga Foundation is an important goal of mine. My contribution to Hip Hop is to raise the status quo of what skill and lyrical content look like. One day I hope to inspire more STEAM MCs to emerge and push the culture toward more intellectual bravado.

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?
If someone were visiting Washington, D.C. I would have to take them to some of the local spots they dont always see on TV. We would visit some of the museums, especially Smithsonian African American Museum of History & Culture. Historic parts of the city such as Anacostia Park and We Act Radio in Southeast DC. We would definitely eat good at spots like Busboys & Poets, Nu Vegan, and Kitchen Cray H St. There are also some good spots in PG County like Jaspers or down the street at the National Harbor. Gotta try some chicken wings and mambo sauce! Also we would have to see some live music, particularly GoGo music from one of the top bands in the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Thank you God! There are so many people that have helped at different points along my journey. My shoutout is dedicated to my family, starting with my parents. While I didn’t choose a typical path, and they couldnt see the vision at first, they still supported me. From showing up to events, sharing the word about our work or making donations, my family has pushed me from the beginning. Then of course new friends that became family along the way. My team including Entaty, VZ, Asha and Lauren. The concept of the Swaliga Foundation being a Tribe was always to be able to welcome people into my family, especially for those who weren’t blessed to have one of their own.

Website: www.imagmusic.com

Instagram: @imagmusic @tribeswaliga

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemond-brown-117a8964

Twitter: @imagmusic

Facebook: facebook.com/thisisimag

Youtube: youtube.com/thisisimag

Other: www.oleent.com www.swaligafoundation.org

Image Credits
Photos by: Olot Photography VZ Visuals