Life & Work with Tyran Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyran Brown.

Hi Tyran, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It honestly started in the early 90s just looking up to Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. I was also heavily influenced by Kriss Kross. We would be in my friend’s room in Inglewood, CA watching their video, trying to imitate them. I was a naturally gifted writer and in class, when we would have to present our own stories, I would turn mine into poems or raps. When I was in 5th grade, I started writing songs while my friend would make melodies on his keyboard. While I was in middle school and really started to get in trouble and go through hardships, music became my escape and my comfort. I was heavily listening to Nas, DMX, and Tupac and was inspired by how much they would put their life in their music.

Following their blueprint, I began crafting songs to vent out my frustration. I began recording songs while I was in high school, but chose to put music on the back burner when I decided to attend college. After graduating college in Las Vegas, and not having a clear direction on what I wanted to do, I turned my attention back toward music and moved back to Los Angeles. I released my first mix tape Road II Da Riches in 2011 and performed all over Southern California. In 2012, I met a songwriter named Malik Yusef, who at the time had been nominated for 5 Grammys. He took me under his wing, invited me to some studio sessions and I even traveled with him some. Through his connections, I was able to receive my first songwriting placement on Wiz Khalifa’s second album ONIFC. This was my initial introduction into the music industry from a professional standpoint. It’s been a non-stop journey ever since.

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’s absolutely not been a smooth road. Being from Los Angeles, but moving away in my teens, then coming back in my mid-twenties, it was awkward balancing chasing my dream and readjusting to a normal life after having lived in Las Vegas for seven years. It may seem advantageous to be from LA, but spending all those years in Las Vegas and not making music heavily, I hadn’t built a foundation as an artist in LA, so most of the people who already knew me personally didn’t gravitate toward my music initially. I went from living a comfortable life in Las Vegas to sharing a room with my cousin at my grandparents’ house and working odd jobs trying to get my feet on the ground. My relationship with my grandparents became strained because they didn’t understand what I was doing, which weighed on me greatly.

I ended up moving into my own apartment for peace of mind, which forced me to have to work more but was still trying to be as active in music as I could be. My then-manager and I would try to strategize ways we could make money that would complement my career at the same time. After meeting with an A&R who asked if I could write pop songs, I decided to heavily focus on songwriting which is a whole different beast than being an artist. There have been many highs and lows financially. I even went through a stretch where my overhead was so high I decided to give up my apartment and become homeless just to keep the ball rolling. There have been many situations where I have been either misled or given the runaround, which frustrated me to the point where I would second guess if I still wanted to be in this industry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a recording artist, songwriter and SAG/AFTRA actor. I specialize in crafting melodies, lyrics and hooks for artists of all genres. I’m most proud of being able to live life on my terms while understanding I chose a path that is unconventional. What sets me apart from others is my adaptability; the ease I have with making various creatives with different styles comfortable. In my evolution, I have been equally influenced by Rap music, EDM music, R&B and Pop, which has allowed me to have no creative boundaries.

What does success mean to you?
I define success by being able to look in the mirror and be proud of the decisions you make, being able to fend for yourself while staying true to your core belief system, and being able to have an impact on people with something that started off as just an idea in your head.

Contact Info:

• Instagram:  tyranbrown247
• Email:  [email protected]