Name: BISHOP V BLACK
Age :OLD ENOUGH
Location: HOUSTON
Goals: MAXIMIZING MY GOD GIVEN PURPOSE
Motivation: MY CHILDREN AND FAMILY
Talents: U SHOULD ASK ME WHAT I DON’T DO WHICH IS MESS AROUND. Achievements: :THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS “BEING MY KID’S HERO”.
What made you decide to get into wine, fashion & music while in school holding a 3.6 Gpa at the same time?
BB….IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I’VE BEEN BACK TO SCHOOL. MY KID’S ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME TO FIN ISH. THEY’VE WATCHED THEIR MOM GRADUATE, MY BROTHER AND A HOST OF FAMILY. THEY WERE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER MY FIRST COLLEGE GRADUATION LOL.THEY PUSH ME SO MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE BETTERMENT OF MYSELF AND LIFE FOR THEM GO FIGURE LOL.THE WINE FASHION AND MUSIC COMES WITH THE TERRITORY OF BEING GREAT,BLESSED,SMART,AND MINDFUL AT THE SAME TIME. I LOOK AT MY ENVIORMENT MY BRAND SOME OF MY OWN SELFISH DESIRES AND REALISTICALLY WHATS OBTAINABLE FOR ME.THAT 3.6 WAS A MATTER OFFOCUS,COMITTMENT,AND GREAT TEACHERS SHOUT OUT TO MRS.SPARKMAN,MR. TAYLOR,AND MS. JENKINS
What’s the name of your wine & how did that come about?
BB….THE NAME IS “DePaul Franklin” AND IT WAS A PLAN THATS BEEN IN THE WORKS MY WORLD OF ART FITS ME IM NOT TRYING TO DEPICT SOMETHING IM NOT THE WINE WAS A GREAT FIT. AS AN ART IST U HAVE TO MARKET YOURSELF FROM WHAT I DO IN EVERYDAY LIFE FROM HOW I PREPARE TO HOW I PLAY. IT WAS ACTUALLY NO COIENCEDENCE A SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY CAME. IT’S RARE FOR A YOUNG BLACK MALE TO HAVE BACKING BY A WINE COMPANY UNHEARD OF ACTUALLY. WINE COMPA NIES DONT SPONSOR ARTIST LET ALONE HIP HOP. WHATS THE NEED? WHATS THE DESIRE? WHAT’S THE MOTIVE?
HMMMMMMMMM I ASKED MYSELF THESE SAME QUESTIONS AND WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT BELIEVED IT WHAT WE ARE DOING BUT ALSO TRYING TO CONNECT TO THE WORLD I LIVE IN IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. BEING WHO I AM I TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF EVERYTHING SO DONT JUST SPONSOR ME LET US DO REAL BUSINESS.ANY ONE CAN TAKE PICTURES AND GET THE PERKS OF FREE STUFF.
MONEY WAS THE KEY TO THIS UNDERSTANDING I KNEW I COULD MAKE MORE WITH THEM THAN FOR THEM BECAUSE MUSIC IS SO FICKLE THESE DAYS.YOUR HOT NOW THEN POOL WATER IN DECEMBER IN ALASKA THEN NEXT.
What made you decide to get into music?
BB….MUSIC HAS BEEN INSIDE OF ME FOREVER I LIVED AND BREATHED TO IT AT A YOUNG AGE U COULD SEE IT IN MY EYES,WALK,SPEECH AND EXPRESSION. MY MOM ALWAYS SAID I NEED U ON TV DOING SOMETHING U HAVE TALENT. TALENT AT WHAT MOM LOL I CAN DO A LOT IT STARTED OFF WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING FOR SCHOOL,CHURCH,PUBLIC AND STATE OFFICIALS EVERYWHERE. IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS TALKING THE MARTIN LUTHER KING APPROACH SERIOUSLY BUT WITH THE FLAIR OF MY HIP HOP GENERATION.THEN I STARTED WRITING POETRY WHICH WASN’T DIFFICULT BECAUSE I WROTE MY OWN SPEECHES. I WOULD SING FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR MONEY LOL BUT WHEN I GOT OLDER AROUND PEOPLE THAT COULD REALLY SING I JUST WROTE FOR THEM.IT WAS IN ME BUT CAME TOO EASY IT SO I WOULD WORK BUT DIDN’T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAD. ANYONE IN SCHOOL KNEW I COULD GET U ANY GIRL U WANTED WITH WORDS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TOO. JUST A GOD GIVEN GIFT I TRIED TO START A SINGING GROUP WITH MY BROTHERS CALLED ‘4 SHADES OF PASSION” BUT WE ONLY HAD 3 MEMBERS SMH. MY YOUNGER BROTHER IN THE GROUP SEEMED TO ONLY PRODUCE HIP HOP FUSED TRACKS AND MY ELDEST BROTHER IN THE GROUP LEFT ON A HEAVILY
RECRUITED FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP. THERE IS WAS IN DECISION MODE AGAIN I TRIED HOOKS AND CONCEPTS FOR HIP HOP ARTIST BUT THEY WERE LIKE “THATS U AND U CAN DO THIS TOO SO RHYME’. ME RHYME WTH LOL BUT I FOUND OUT I COULD DO THAT TOO THE REST IS A GROWING LEGACY.
How would you describe your music to someone?
BB….I WOULDN’T ANYMORE JUST LISTEN AND I SAY
THAT BECAUSE I TRIED ALL THESE SCENARIOS OF
EXPRESSION OR DESCRIPTION.THAT SHIT GOES IN
ONE EAR OR THE OTHER EITHER THEY LIKE IT
OR THEY DONT.
What do you go to school for?
BB…CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS MY MAJOR AND I HAVE AN ASSOCIATES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Why the t-shirt line?
BB….I WEAR T SHIRTS ALL THE TIME WHY NOT LOL.I NOTICED ALMOST EVERY T SHIRT I HAVE PEOPLE ASK “MAN WHERE DID U GET THAT?”SO IM LIKE I KNOW WHAT I LIKE AND OTHERS LIKE IT. I CAN HAVE THE RARITY OF BEING THE ONLY ONE I SEE WITH IT ON RIGHT NOW TILL THE CELEBRITY OF MY BRAND GROWS OR TASTE OF OTHERS WANT IT.IT JUST SEEMED VERY LOGICAL I SAW A NEED FOR ME IN FASHION ESPECIALLY IF U WANT TO SURVIVE MARKETING WISE.
Would it be a surprise to people that you write poetry as well?
BB….OF COURSE NOT U CAN HEAR POETRY THROUGH MY DELIVERY AND WORDS ITS UNDENIABLE.THE 4 SHADES OF PASSION GIG MAYBE YES LOL
Ever consider doing a book of poetry?
BB….SEE SOMEONE HAS BEEN LETTING U PEEK AT MY TO DO LIST CONFIRMED A POETRY BOOK IS COMING 2013 GOD’S WILLING
What do you look forward to when you hit the stage & preform?
BB….PERFORMING IS NOTHING NEW FOR ME I WANT TO BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE FANS.IM A PERFORMER AND IF U SAW ME 4 NIGHTS IN A ROW U MAY ONLY HEAR 3 OF THE SAME SONGS TWICE.A NEW ENTRANCE EXIT OR SURPRISE EVERY NIGHT.IT’S PRETTY FUNNY BECAUSE NO ONE EXPECTS IT BUT THAT SEXY ASS LOOK FROM THE WOMEN THAT NEVER SAW ME IS MOST EXHILARATING
How do you maintain balance with everything you do & being a dad?
BB….BEING A FATHER IS FIRST MY KIDS ARE ALWAYS WITH ME LOL EVEN AS MUCH AS I WORK.THEY PUSH ME AND ALSO PERFORM AT PERMITTABLE VENUES.WE LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT IN SPIRES US TO DO SO MUCH MORE WHETHER IT’S SCHOOL,MUSIC,DANCE,SPORTS OR LIFE IN GENERAL.THEY ARE WHAT I LOOK TO I SEE THE GOD IN THEM AND THEY SEE THE GOD IN ME ITS AWESOME.PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AT SHOWS AND ASK HOW MY KIDS ARE AND THEY’RE FRIENDS OR CLASSMATES TELL THEM MY MOM LOVES YOUR DADS MUSIC CRAZY I KNOW.MY MOM AND DAD HAD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH ME AS WELL ME BEING THE FAVORITE U KNOW LOL.
ALWAYS TOGETHER ALWAYS INVOLVED ALWAYS INVESTING KIDS NEED YOUR TIME EVEN WHEN U DONT HAVE IT.NO MATTER WHATS IN STORE FOR BISHOP V BLACK MY KIDS ARE PUT FIRST.I DON’T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING I DO MUSICALLY FASHION WISE TO IMPRESS THEM THEY ARE INSPIRED AND IMPRESSED BY ME AS A MAN,FATHER AND PROVIDER.WHAT’S UP TIMIA AND SHAAD DADDY LOVES U
Besides showcasing different aspects of your creativity & drive what is something people don’t know about you?
BB….PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT I HAVE YET TO LET THEM KNOW LOL U SEE ME AS I GROW IF U CHOSE TO WATCH.I SHOW U HOW I LIVE, LOVE, LOST,BEEN BLESSED,CURSE MYSELF AND STAND TALL.STAY TUNED
At what age did you realize you had skills when it comes to fashion?
BB….VERY VERY YOUNG I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD GO WITH MY MOM TO STORES AND SHOP FOR EVERYONE.I WOULD READ ESQUIRE,GQ,VOGUE OR WHATEVER AND I DIDNT DRESS LIKE MY CLASSMATES THAT REALLY MADE ME PAY ATTENTION
Explain V.U.R.B.
BB…V.U.R.B=VERBALLY UNEQUIVOCAL RARE BROTHER THAT’S ME LISTEN TO THE MUSIC WATCH THE BRAND YOU’LL UNDERSTAND
What do you remember about your 1st performance?
BB…MY FIRST PERFORMANCE ON STAGE WAS CRAZY IT WAS WITH DJ KOOL EMDEE WE WERE LIKE RAKIM AND ERIC B LOL.HE GAVE ME THIS LOOK AS I WAS RHYMING AND I GAVE HIM THE EYE OF THE TIGER.HE STARTED CUTTIN AND SCRATCHING AS IF WE HAD PRACTICED I DIDN’T PAUSE JUST KEPT ROCKING.WE TRUSTED EACH OTHER IT WAS MAGIC.
What’s the name of your label & how did that come about?
BB…STEREO ARCADE AND IDK I LIKED IT AND WAS LIKE YEAH I LIVE IN THE STEREO AND MY PARTNER SOKAL SEEMS LIKE HE LIVES IN AN ARCADE I GUESS. HE’S A GAMER
What future plans do you have for all of your endeavors?
BB….PROGRESS,FLOURISH,INSPIRE,MAKE MONEY,AND BE AT ITS APEX ALL OF THEM I GOT’S TO HAVE IT “CUE THE MUSIC”
What message do you try to give to people listening to you?
BB….WHATEVER MESSAGE IS RELATABLE TO U PERSONALLY PEOPLE TAKE DIFFERENT THINGS FROM ANYTHING.ME PERSONALLY I SAY JUST LISTEN I LOVE IT LET YOUR MIND RUN FREE NO BOX
What do you hope your future will be like in the next 10 years?
BB…10 YEARS IN THIS CRAZY WORLD JUST BLESSED TO BE ALIVE I WONT EVEN BE 40 BUT HOPE FULLY SET FOR LIFE AND STILL WORKING.
How do you see developing your ideas into reality has had if any effect in your life today?
BB…CRAZY I DON’T EVEN DREAM ANYMORE I LIVE IT IF I SAY IT ME AND THE TEAM GO GET IT.IT’S BEEN LIKE THAT THESE DAYS I RECOGNIZE IT AND CANT WASTE TIME
What artist would you want to collaborate with & why?
BB….THE ARTIST I’M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AND LITTLE DRAGON,PHARELL,ANDRE 3000,ERIC ROBERSON,DWELE,RAHEEM DEVAUGHN,PHANTOGRAM,LITTLE GIANT,BECK,PRINCE,MINT CONDITION,ADELE,ETC
What advise would you give someone wanting to tackle any of the challenges you’ve faced to make it where you see yourself going?
BB…I’D SAY SHUT THE HELL UP STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND DO WHAT U WANT.INVEST TIME ,MONEY,RESOURCES,AND KNOWLEDGE IN YOURSELF AND CRAFT.PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TILL U GIVE IT TO THEM.
THANK U
HPS Magazine 