Today we’d like to introduce you to Akil Harrison.
Akil, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m originally from Houston, Texas. I moved to LA with my family and went to highschool from 2005 to 2009. We moved back to H Town after being evicted. I pursued a rap career while back home and wasn’t really feeling the energy. So I decided in 2011 at 20 years old to relocate back to LA. This time to fully immerse my self in a music career.
In the first two years, I managed to go from couch surfing to having an apartment, getting my song on the radio, and loosing my best friend to murder. All the while, I was being an avid student to hip hop culture (black culture) and influence. Losing the first person outside of my family to believe in me as a music artist, more than myself at times, lit a larger fire within me to make it known that I’m timelessly creative.
Through ups and downs of the pursuit to be the best rapper alive, while MCs in LA like Kendrick, Dom, YG, and many more tore up the streets and west coast music scene, I had to search for a new approach into the door of the culture I admire and breathe. Out of all the artists in the city, I always kept a close look at the moves and minds of Nipsey Hussle! He was always the most authentic and business savvy within his music. Since I first heard him in high school back in 2006. Everyone back then in LA had the privilege to see Nip take his brand and clothing from ground zero to a household and editorial stratum. A blueprint that I observed precisely.
So as the sound of music changed, I decided to take a few steps back to learn the business side of the industry and overall along with tapping into other forms of art and culture. That led me to working in radio on “The Ricci and Nikki Show” at Dash Radio in 2018. That was my first time getting to see someone build and navigate they’re brand up close and to acknowledge how important relationships with people were. This was a gateway for me to work with other black businesses like “Brunch 2 Bomb” and “The Basement LA”.
Working beside these businesswomen was and is inspiring (still with The Basement) and at every event, I went to I noticed a huge energy emerging. All these black people doing phenomenal acts of creativity and business but no actual place to represent, respect, and love it. So I started making IG videos with a hashtag reading #blackheaven on any post with black people being great and looking good doing it. Unapologetically giving my people they’re props while they still here, old or new, young or grown, but just had to be something moving and great.
Did that for some months and then decided to explore creating actual art over dope pics of black people I thought was killing it out here at whatever they do. The response I received was so strong that I kept going at it. Actually trying to pick the pics and create the art with more intent. A couple of artists in and heavy hitters in the game hit me about my artwork as well. At that point I said “Fuck it, Ima put these images on shirts”. And that was the birth of Black Heaven On Earth Apparel. We did our first release entitled “The Burnin 20s” at the Juneteenth festival in Leimert Park.
Great, 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?
Of course. My safety was jeopardized roaming the streets of LA. It was a lot different in the early 2000s in the inner city. Way more dangerous. Along with that was the struggle to stay afloat financially while the cost of living began to surge rapidly but job wages weren’t matching the increase. So there were times I had to work 2 or 3 jobs just to stack my bread. I moved around a lot. But aside of that, there was major positive aspects as well. I got to live and survive in LA before gentrification and experience it’s true authenticity and culture. Seeing the rise of such prolific artists from the mud right around the way. We used to have this dope performance gathering in Leimert Park called “ The Empowerment Project”. Same era as Bananas. It was a really special time. You had to be outside!
Please tell us about Black Heaven On Earth Apparel.
Black Heaven On Earth Apparel (@bhoearth) is an introduction to a M O V E m e n t. Clothing is the initial response to a void and lack of editorial and designer garments specifically representing my people and culture. Also, the untimely passing of Kobe and Nip made me realize how much of a granted we take off our inspirational works of art before they’re deceased. The mantra of BHOE is to “#getchawings” while you’re A L I V E. As black folk, we witness and endure the trauma of watching so many of us being taken away permanently through incarceration or death. Usually, that’s when our faces end up on a piece of clothing or we’re remembered. I want to highlight longevity and being F L Y doing so. High-end authenticity. To be honored now for what you’ve done on G O D S #blackheavenonearth. This is bigger than clothing. It’s bigger than race. A foundation built on Respect and Love.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Christmas at my granny’s house in Port Arthur, Texas back in the 90s. Literally, my entire family, all the adults and they’re children, even step kids, would pile up in a small home on gulfway drive to bring Christmas in together. Granny would fully decorate and cook her secret recipe pecan candy and chocolate chip pecan cookies.
Pricing:
- BHOE T Shirts 45$ ea.
- Limited Edition “Burnin 20s” Collection
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bhoearth / @keepit.thrill
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