Meet Tiaunt Lewis of T-diamonds in South LA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiaunt Lewis.

Tiaunt, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When growing up in the streets of LA, I was always dancing, being funny, and acting. I had a lot of energy as a child so I couldn’t focus on one thing, I did it all basketball, football, even tennis. When I was young every one I met used to tell me “you are a star” or “your gonna be famous when you grow up”, I never paid it no mind, I just shrugged it off and kept doing me cause I was little I didn’t know what I was capable of. I went to 6 schools those schools were Marvin elementary, 42nd street, Audubon, Crenshaw high and east side high located in Lancaster. I was never shy when I was young I loved the spotlight and I still do now, I love knowing the fact that I can grab a crowd and control it, it just gives me goosebumps and makes me believe I’m a superhero.

At 42nd street school I had my first talent show, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was me, my friend, Christian, and Isaac, we did a whole dance routine to Michael Jackson’s “thriller”, I choreographed the whole thing. We came in second place but we was still proud of that because that was our first talent show. Crenshaw high school where everything kicked up a notch for me, of course I was always known as the funny person that can dance at every school I went too but we didn’t have social media back in elementary days. Crenshaw high is when Facebook was really takin a tole, I went viral on Facebook for roasting Myles Brown “Chris Browns family member/ dancer” in the halls of Crenshaw high school. It went all over Facebook then everyone knew me as the kid who roasted Myles Brown. It felt great to have people smile at what I do on a regular basis which was, just being a “class clown”. I got kicked out of Crenshaw 2 times before moving to Lancaster with my dad to go to school out there. The school in Lancaster was called East Side High school.

Now I have to admit before I got to that school it was dry, meaning nobody turning the school up, nobody laughing as much, everyone was always serious like no fun. I got to the school and turned it upside down, first day I got there I was beating on the lockers rapping and everyone joined in, it was like high school musical. From that day forward Eastside high became more lit each day I was there and that’s facts. Now my nickname T-diamonds I got that when I was rapping at Crenshaw, I remember asking my homie Roger what should my name be he said diamonds, I asked why he replied “ because your personality shines bright like one, so I put a t in front of that for my first name initial and became T-diamonds. Growing up in the hood forced me to always be doing bad things. Those bad things also made me go to jail, yes I have been to jail I know lol, it’s not funny but it’s life and bad choices. I’ve been to jail three times in my life, the third time I finally found myself and turned my life around and got closer to GOD. 2018 is when I got famous, sure I had little viral videos here and there but the summer of 2018 was my biggest viral video yet. My videos were always local viral, which means they only got around the hood. But not this time I’m the summer of 2018 me and my friends went to the b.e.t experience which we always do every year, but this time it was my year. I remember it was a stage and on it were the dj and his back up dancers or whatever, he put on Ellamai’s song “Boo’d Up” and it was like a spirit took over me cause I was really jamming to it, grinding on the stage at all not caring what no one had to say.

So the next morning everyone is telling me I’m going viral on Facebook so I say ok ok whatever I always go viral on Facebook that’s no biggie, then they say twitter, an eyebrow on my forehead raised, them it was Instagram. Now I’m out my seat like woahh I’m going viral this time, first complex posted it then Dj Mustard posted it, and then “Dun Dun Dun!!!!” The Shaderoom posted it, I was shocked and overwhelmed with joy at this point because one of my goals in my life was to end up on the shaderoom and I finally did it. That video went all over the world it’s at least 8.3 million views right now no cap. So when that viral video was posted all over, I start getting hit ups all over the place. People wanted me to their shows, their music videos, etc.. Almighty suspect told me on tour with him, Az Chike had me in his music video and a whole lot of artists as well. So at this point my platform is big I am now an insta celebrity, the question is what do I do with this platform? I Entertain!!! So I kept that going and all blessings came down to me from being interviewed and being on red carpets etc… A year passes by I’m viral again this time off of dancing and singing to a Dominican song by the name of “el beeper”. This video when viral as well, it’s at about 4.3 million views right now. Everyone was telling to make it into a song so Boom!!! I did just that and now everyone is banging it in their cars, on their radio stations, etc…. The song by the way is called TacosxBurritos by me T-diamonds go download it on Apple Music you won’t be disappointed.

So now that I’m viral, I did shows, I did interviews, etc.. what’s next?? Well, now that I have a big enough platform I decided to spread positivity and good deeds on my Instagram. I want to give back to the city that raised me, I can’t just watch it fall apart. A lot of celebrities with big platforms bigger then mine aren’t even doing nothing for the community, but I am, I choose to stand up and do what’s right. So with that being said I recently went down to the city hall to create an organization where I can give back to the homeless, keep them off the streets and help them get jobs. Me and my homie GMG Speedy cam up with that idea, so that is what I’m currently working on at this moment. In conclusion, I say don’t let any tell you you can’t be something or you can’t do something because you can, it might not be tomorrow it might not be today, but if you keep grinding and showing effort, eventually yo star is gonna shine. Everyone and I mean everyone is a star but in their own space.

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?
I’d say the only struggles in my life were in my past such as going to jail and making bad decisions because that puts you in a position where you can’t do what you wanna do anymore because you are forced to look at four walls everyday it’s not worth it at all. Take it from me my experience, you literally wake up to grown men everyday and y’all staring at the same walls, can’t do nothing except work out. You can’t do what you want to do anymore because of your bad decisions so move smart people!! Another struggle is the people and the size of your circle. I keep my circle small because of the fact you can’t trust nobody at all. I learned that when my best friend turned his back on me, and that was my best friend!!! Only one I talked to shared info with and all of that. So my advice is to keep your circle small and pay attention to how people move.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a self-employed entertainer. I get paid off shows, skits, promo videos anything people want me to use my talent for. If you have a talent put a price on it and sell the hell out of it!! I had jobs I quit my last one because I learned that I can really get paid off of doing what I love instead of doing what someone tells me to do, clocking in when someone tells me to, basically bossing me around. So why be bossed around when you can be your own boss. What I’m proud of is my self-love and my self-respect I got for myself cause without that I’m nothing. What sets me apart from everyone else is I think different like always. I cannot be on what someone else is on, that’s not cool to me, be the leader don’t follow the leader!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
It’s all about how you present yourself, like me, I have a bright personality and I’m always positive. Those things and GOD are what got me where I am today. I always kept my head high. I always said I was a celebrity before I even became one. It’s important to have confidence because if your shy nobodies ever gonna know who you are and what you stand for facts!!!

Pricing:

• $100 to host your event
• $150 to perform
• $80 for a promo video
• &90 for a song feature

Contact Info:

• Email: lewistiaunt@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @tdiamondsofficial_
• Facebook: Tiaunt T-diamonds Lewis

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