Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Long.
Hi Brandon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with music started at 9 years old in St. Louis, by 13 I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do and I was determined to do it. My father was a performer of sorts and would always talk to me about how he worked the crowd, and I witnessed his charm, charisma, and flair numerous times with the crowd.
My teenager years were filed with running the streets, and music of course and I was determined to make a name for myself. I began doing freestyle battles and met a friend who had a studio and he let me record free based off pure talent and he saw something in me. We began recording and two years later we had made five mixtapes together. Each mixtape I hustled and sold the best way I knew how by beating the streets and the pavement. I began gaining popularity throughout St. Louis from the mixtape, the notoriety I was gaining as a battle rapper, and the extreme all-out nature of my hustle in general. A mentality of an artist who would not be denied and felt he was one of the best.
I kept going and going finally breaking radio airwaves and getting more city-wide attention, I took that and used it as fuel to elevate and keep growing.
Years later I found myself in California sitting in a meeting with Warner Bros. records. Unfortunately, I was seen as a liability rather than asset due to my dealings in the streets. They decided to pass on signing me and wished me luck.
Feeling like a failure and feeling rejected, I went back to what I knew; the streets. I now had a daughter; my dream had been rejected and I needed to provide however I could whether it be the right or wrong way. I chose the wrong way.
In 2010 I was arrested for armed robbery and kidnapping and sentenced to 10 years in prison. It was time to sit down and really re-evaluate where my life was headed. I’m now away from my 17-month-old-year-old daughter and her mother, I got a lot of time in front of me, I was able to frequently see my daughter and family, along with music; the ability to write and still use words never left me. I won talent shows and poetry slams and it didn’t take long for the others to see I was special. I would talk to friends that were not incarcerated and would ask them to put the phone up to the radio speakers in their car so I could hear the music that was hot at the time. I asked them about artists they would hear about in the streets, what clubs and venues were popular, what DJs they often heard about, the promoters that were throwing the best parties. When I was released, I already knew who was who and what was what, the rest I could fill in as I go. Learn the way, sprinkle “you” on that thang, turn that oven on turn up the heat and get to it.
I had a lot of people as a whole who made sure I stayed out of trouble and that when I was released, I pursued this talent and gift that they had also seen and witnessed. numerous times. I wasn’t going to let my daughter, my family or my people in the trenches down them by any legal means necessary I was going to put in motion all the plans I dreamed of and built while incarcerated and I was going to make sure it happened.
I was released February 2019; it was all gas no brakes from that point. I had been strategizing and mentally planning for 8 years, 4 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day.; it was time to execute with high level of fervency. My first recorded song “Wat Up” hit mainstream radio in St. Louis so I had a decent gauge point based off the success of it, and analyzing how I did it and got to that point. I alter strategy a little, keep going. From there it’s been music, movies, videos, shows, appearances, and just out being seen.
Now I’ve grinded, kept it solid all way around, and pursue this dream I got. I don’t accept “no” in music endeavors, you will see me, you will then know me, then you see how hard I work the right way to get it. Once I landed here in Dallas, it’s time to Work.
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?
Life in and of itself has struggles and challenges for us all, my story is pretty straight forward plain as day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What’s sets me apart is my mentality. I know my path and my journey, no person walking this earth can tell me different. Music is who I am. I breath it, live it, love it,
My work ethic my passion for the actual grind, the networking, the shows, the chaos, the pressure! I love it all. It’s MY job to make sure you’re entertained at a show, the moment a microphone is handed to me, it’s time to go. My attention to detail, an analytical mind albeit overly at points. My attack mindset of going after my goals and dreams. It’s all exciting.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Social media is a key tool with networking, you can connect from long distances. To me though, nothing can ever beat a handshake and being able to look a person square in the eyes.
Be yourself, move with honest intentions. If you’re intentions aren’t honest to begin, why are you there?
Know what your actual goals are for every event attended. If it’s meet a DJ, go for it, if it’s meet artists; then do it, if it’s do a show then go kill it. Move in on it and go. Execute your plan and follow through.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ghostx314.com
- Instagram: @ghost_x314
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghostx314
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCUj2RTv58su-IdmkNt9Iedg
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ghostx_314
Image Credits
Keith Brake
Nadia Villasenor
