Life & Work with BIZ’ Dhvrd GasMaskTribe of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to BIZ’ Dhvrd GasMaskTribe.

Hi BIZ’ dhvrd, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Biz McKenzie, founder of Biz Entertainment Network and the artist behind Dirtyharvard. My journey started in Los Angeles through music, live performance, and overcoming difficult environments early in life, including foster care and instability at home. Music became both an outlet and a way for me to build purpose, discipline, and opportunity.

I began performing professionally as a drummer at a young age and eventually toured across the United States and Canada, working with and alongside Grammy-level artists, producers, and entertainers. Over the years, I expanded beyond performing into music production, songwriting, podcasting, media production, event coordination, and artist development.

As social media and digital content evolved, I focused heavily on building independent platforms instead of waiting for traditional industry opportunities. That led to the growth of Biz Entertainment Network, a multimedia platform centered around music, live entertainment, podcasts, interviews, and creative entrepreneurship. Collectively, the brand has generated millions of organic views and streams while helping independent artists and creatives gain exposure and better understand the business side of entertainment.

Today, I continue building Biz Entertainment Network as both a creative and business platform—combining live performances, content creation, media production, and community-focused storytelling. My goal is to create opportunities not only for myself, but also for independent artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives looking to grow without depending entirely on major industry gatekeepers.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. A lot of people see the content, the performances, the interviews, or the numbers online, but they don’t see the years behind it.

I came from foster care, instability, poverty, and environments where survival was normal. I’ve dealt with losing opportunities, fake industry relationships, financial setbacks, self-doubt, burnout, and moments where I questioned whether everything I built was even worth continuing. There were times I was touring and performing in front of crowds while privately trying to figure out life, bills, family pressure, and mental exhaustion behind the scenes.

One of the biggest struggles was realizing talent alone doesn’t save you. You can be gifted, hardworking, and still get overlooked if you don’t understand business, branding, relationships, and ownership. I had to learn how to stop thinking only like an artist and start thinking like a builder.

I’ve also seen how the entertainment industry can glamorize success while hiding the mental pressure that comes with chasing dreams. A lot of creatives are silently fighting depression, anxiety, identity struggles, and financial stress while trying to look successful online. That’s one reason why I speak openly about purpose, mental health, and growth in my music and platforms today.

But honestly, those struggles shaped me. They taught me discipline, awareness, adaptability, and how to keep creating even when life isn’t perfect. I think people connect with my story because it’s real. I’m not trying to present a fake “overnight success” image. I’m someone who kept going, kept evolving, and kept building through pressure, mistakes, and setbacks.

Now I use everything I went through as fuel—not just for music, but to help inspire other artists, entrepreneurs, and people who feel stuck between survival mode and their bigger purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a drummer, performer, producer, media creator, and founder of Biz Entertainment Network, a Los Angeles-based entertainment and media platform built around music, storytelling, live events, and independent culture. I’m also the artist behind Dirtyharvard, a genre-blending project that mixes alternative hip-hop, reggae, soul, rock, and what I call “California Island” energy.

What I specialize in is turning creativity into real-world impact. A lot of artists know how to make music, but not everyone knows how to build an audience, create content consistently, organize live shows, market themselves, or turn attention into income. I’ve spent years learning every side of the business—from touring and recording to video production, branding, podcasting, and event coordination.

I’m probably most proud of the fact that I built everything independently. No major label. No big investors. No industry handouts. Just years of performing, networking, creating, failing, learning, and staying consistent. We’ve generated millions of organic views, over a million streams, produced hundreds of interviews and podcast episodes, and built real relationships with people through authenticity and consistency.

What sets me apart is versatility and real-life experience. I’ve performed in clubs, festivals, churches, community events, private venues, podcasts, and corporate spaces. I’ve worked with Grammy-level talent, but I’ve also stayed connected to everyday people and independent artists trying to figure life out. My story isn’t built around pretending to be perfect—it’s built around surviving difficult situations, adapting, and turning pain, culture, humor, music, and business into something meaningful.

I think people connect with me because I’m honest about the journey. A lot of people see entertainment as fame, but for me it’s been about freedom, ownership, and creating opportunities for myself and others.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, is freedom and impact. It’s waking up knowing your gift, your story, and your work are creating opportunities not just for you, but for other people too.

A lot of people chase success through money, clout, or validation, but I’ve learned that real success is being able to survive hard situations without losing your vision. I came from instability, foster care, broken environments, and moments where quitting would’ve been easier. The fact that I turned pain, music, creativity, and discipline into a platform that reaches people around the world—that’s success to me.

I also define success by ownership. Owning your creativity. Owning your voice. Owning your audience. Not waiting for someone to “discover” you before believing in yourself.

Of course, financial success matters too. I believe creatives deserve to make real money from their talent and not struggle forever just because they chose art or entrepreneurship. That’s a big reason why I built Biz Entertainment Network—to show independent artists and creators that you can build something meaningful without waiting for permission.

At the end of the day, success is growth. If I’m becoming a better man, creating opportunities, inspiring people to think bigger, and building something that lasts beyond me, then I’m successful.

Pricing:

• Live performances and festival appearances typically range from $2,200–$10,000+ depending on venue size, location, production requirements, and event type.
• Podcast/media production packages for artists, brands, and entrepreneurs start at $200/month for basic content and platform development services.
• Custom music production, songwriting, and media packages vary based on project scope, licensing, and creative direction.
• Brand sponsorships and promotional campaigns are customized depending on campaign reach, content creation, event activation, and distribution needs. Biz Entertainment Network also offers tailored packages for: Artist development Live event production Podcast setup and distribution Social media content creation Press/EPK development Business and branding consultation
• Pricing is flexible depending on partnership goals, long-term collaborations, and community-focused projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/dirtyharvard
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/dirtyharvard
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/dirtyharvard
• Youtube: https://Youtube.com/dirtyharvard
• Soundcloud: https://Soundcloud.com/dirtyharvard

Image Credits
Biz McKenzie (dhvrd) live in Santa Monica, CA.