Meet Nick Bravo of Los Angeles County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Bravo

Nick, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a natural-born winner from a fatherless home and now as a survivor of long covid still battling severe symptoms, I am a motivational speaker, rapper, spoken word artist, film producer and CEO. I have consistently used music, poetry, film and motivational talks infused with meaningful messages to help others overcome the challenges they face. While many artists have used rap music to negatively influence youth, I aim to use his music to help teens, adults and business professionals rise above their circumstances to live with passion and purpose. I believe everyone has the ability to “level up” and create a better life for themselves and those around them. I help empower people to blaze their own trails, break through barriers and help them to live to their fullest potential.

I have been writing Hip Hop music for over 20 years and helped create the first ever tour in the Los Angeles County juvenile hall system. I helped work with local artists to provide motivational faith based hip hop concerts to help inspire and encourage at risk juveniles. I was recognized by the former Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti as well as the White House for my active involvement in the community. I received a National Father of the Year Award from an International Non Profit Fathers and Family Coalition of America. I recently did my first TEDx talk entailing my 3.5 years suffering from Long Covid. I am now the CEO of Dream Builders CCMG and Level Up Marketing. I have recently began producing short film integrating hip hop to help inspire youth and adults. Our newest project in the works is called “Dreamers” This project is a short film that combines original rap music by me with cinematic storytelling to tell the true story of two Native American
brothers who grew up on the same reservation in the same loving family but made different choices that led to drastically different outcomes: One tragically died at an early age. The other is went on to become an NFL Executive. The purpose of this project is to show youth, in a captivating yet relatable way, that no matter their upbringing, their beginning, or their present situation their choices today can determine their future. We aim to clearly show young people two paths — death and life — and help steer them to choose rightly, that they and their future generations would become all they were made to be.

This project has garnered a lot of attention and we have assembled an all star team. One of our producers is Will Maurer who is most known for his work as an Executive Producer on Pokémon Detective Pikachu and Mad Max Fury. He also has worked on special effects for Ninja Turtles, as well as other projects with Disney, Legendary, Hulu, Apple, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Universal, Paramount Pictures and many other notable brands.

I have also personally been offered the opportunity to start writing motivational hip hop music for large brands, sporting events, etc. I was an extra in Season 5 of Yellowstone on Paramount Pictures and acted in a main role as a Roman Soldier for a short film called “King of the Jews”

In order to truly inspire others I believe you must live an inspiring life yourself. I have come from a fatherless home, currently suffer from Long Covid, yet have found a way to develop my skills in music, film and business to help launch me into this next season of my life which includes Motivational Film, Motivational Speaking and Motivational Rap. I have never let set backs or suffering limit me but I have always seen hardship as a necessary tool to shape and develop me for the next season of my life.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I addressed this in the intro, no nothing has come easy. Sure I have a lot of gifts and natural skills but growing up without a father has been incredibly difficult but its the reason why I have had so much compassion for at Risk Youth. When I walk into a juvenile facility I don’t see criminals I see young men and women who are fatherless, lacking direction. I use my hard upbringing of having a father in prison to let these youth know that they can come from hardship and become what they didn’t have. I am a father of 3 teenage girls and have been married for 16 years. I have found a way to be successful in spite of the many difficulties I face. My life isn’t defined by my failures, which I have many, but by my willingness to get back up and keep fighting. More recently Long Covid has been one of the most difficult things I have had to deal with. I have half my energy, and a body that doesn’t work normally, I cant exercise and suffer from brain fog, daily fatigue and central nervous system issues. It was this illness though that propelled me into my opportunity with TEDx, It was this illness that caused me to look deep inside myself and ask myself what it is I want to do with my life. Every hardship in my life has been the very thing that has shaped my character, developed in me grit and perseverance. Anyone who is ever successful in life needs to have the ability to persevere and overcome.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
There is a lot of Hip hop artists. But very few Motivational Rappers. What sets me apart is my message. I believe Rap and Hip Hop is not just music, its the ability to communicate a powerful message through rhyme. I also believe the ability to create at a high level provides a lot of influence as well. The question I have always had is, “What are you going to do with your influence and message?” “Will you use it to enrich yourself and boost your ego or will you use it to enrich others and lift them up?” I believe what makes me different is the content that I communicate through music and film. As well as my motives behind them. I have faith in God and I believe my faith is what fuels me to serve others.

I not only create Motivational Hip Hop/Rap for business brands to help them elevate their brand and message but I also create faith based content through music and film to inspire this generation to live for a grater purpose.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I have learned a tremendous amount of compassion. After suffering from Long Covid for 3.5 years I have seen so many others like me suffering as well. I have done my best to be supportive and provide hope.

To learn more you can see my TEDx on Long Covid here

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.levelup.global
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnickbravo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.bravo.9275/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialNickBravoSpeaks
• Other: https://www.nick-bravo.com