Meet John

We were lucky to catch up with John recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi John , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

As a homeschooled middle child in a pastor’s family, I grew up feeling isolated and unseen. I didn’t develop social confidence early on, and I learned to hide parts of myself just to feel accepted. But that isolation also pushed me into my gifts — hours studying vinyls in my grandmother’s basement, drawing, and singing because creativity was all I had.

Years later, when I started performing on Carnival Cruise Lines, imposter syndrome showed up hard. Singing three hours a night, six nights a week, for months at a time forced me to grow fast. My residency in Long Beach in 2020 helped me discover my star potential — stage presence, confidence, crowd work, and discipline.

The real breakthrough came from therapy and my relationship with God. I learned I was overly attached to how people saw me — my family, friends, audiences, outcomes. I had to detach and build a stable identity not based on approval, money, or circumstances.

When I stepped back, I realized I had the receipts: NBA commercials, placements from Steve Harvey, working with major artists, TV appearances like Empire. My career already proved my worth — I just had to believe it.

I overcame imposter syndrome through faith, discipline, and renewing my mindset. I started completing daily goals, tuning out negative thoughts, working out, praying, and reminding myself that I am who God says I am. My worth is internal now, not circumstantial. And that shift gave me the confidence to move forward with clarity and unshakable faith.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a multi-hyphenate creative — illustrator, singer-songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur — building a brand that blends visual art, music, film, and storytelling. I launched my company in 2013 as a teen caricature artist at Navy Pier, earning enough to help fund my education at Clark Atlanta University. Today, that business has grown into a full creative studio producing artwork and animations for the NBA, Taraji P. Henson, Steve Harvey, Layla Hathaway, Gucci Mane, and more. I also created Trap Disney, a reimagined pop culture art series that has taken me to major corporate events nationwide, including a recent activation in Maui.

In entertainment, my career continues to expand through music, acting, and production. I got my first sync placements on the Steve Harvey show, joined the Chicago Federation of Musicians for my work on Empire, and signed a publishing deal with PAQ in 2024. I’ve written over 100 songs in the last seven months, released Noah’s Ark and Sorry for the Drip, and I’m preparing two major projects: Chilanta and my pop/R&B and inspirational album Chocolate Cake. I’m also developing animated series — including one inspired by my cruise ship years — and I recently won my episode of Pictionary with Eva from All The Queen’s Men, where they crowned me the “Most Fashionable Contestant.”

On stage, I’ve been performing with gospel legend Mark Hubbard and DCASE, hosting the Taste of Chicago karaoke competition, and recently sharing the stage with Yolanda Adams, Terry Hunter, Jazzy Jeff, and Deon Cole. I’m currently working with Jack Daniels on a potential R&B + Comedy tour, collaborating with comedian Shawty Shawty and producer Sean Garrett, and building partnerships with HBCUs for future tours and creative ventures.

My long-term vision is to become a blend of Smokey Robinson, Jamie Foxx, and Walt Disney — a creator who builds entire worlds through music, animation, fashion, and storytelling. Vocally, my biggest influences are D’Angelo and Usher, and I plan to continue merging all these inspirations into a global creative empire.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three Qualities That Impacted My Journey & My Advice to Others

The three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, discipline, and creativity.

Resilience has been essential, because my path has been full of starts and stops. I made Rhythm & Flow Season 2 during my residency in Long Beach, but when the director and much of the staff were fired, the show rebooted without me. My label situation with A-List Music Group dissolved because our visions no longer aligned. I’ve been invited to tours and major opportunities that ended up falling through. Even getting let go from Carnival was a moment that could’ve crushed me, but instead it pushed me to rebuild through my own company, explore new cruise lines, and create my own opportunities. Every setback forced me to pivot without losing momentum.

Discipline has carried me through the unpredictable parts of the industry. Even when things didn’t make sense, I stayed consistent. I invested $15,000 into a venture and had to maintain everything in my life until I recouped. I kept writing, kept performing, kept showing up. Discipline was the bridge between who I was and who I wanted to become.

Creativity is the core of everything I do — storytelling, art, music, brand-building. I have a writing style I call collage of thought where I turn my journals into lyrics, inspired by artists like Drake. And working with major brands throughout the years — from Miller High Life and Kmart to Salesforce, Dove, and the NBA — taught me the value of marketing, authenticity, and knowing how to present your work to the world.

My Advice for People Early in Their Journey

When I was younger, I was extremely shy. I used to perform with my eyes closed or behind shades because I didn’t want people to see how insecure I felt. I wasn’t socialized growing up, so performing was a crash course in confidence. What helped me was practicing everything:
• your steps,
• your stage patterns,
• your crowd interactions,
• your emotional connection to each song.

Practice until your body knows what to do even when your nerves are loud.

But beyond the technical part, you have to believe who you are becoming. Sing from your heart. Let yourself feel the music before you ask the audience to feel it. And choose material that genuinely reflects you — your story, your emotions, your life. Authenticity resonates louder than perfection.

If you stay resilient through the “no’s,” disciplined when the path doesn’t make sense, and creative enough to keep reinventing yourself, you’ll grow into everything you’re dreaming about — and more.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Are You Looking for Collaborators? (Final Updated Version)

Absolutely. I’m actively looking to collaborate with creatives, brands, and companies who want to build innovative work across music, art, animation, film, and live entertainment. Because I move in multiple lanes — illustration, songwriting, performance, animation, and creative direction — the partnerships I’m seeking reflect that range.

Major Brands & Corporate Partners
• Coca-Cola — I’ve written a jingle specifically for the brand and would love to turn it into a full campaign.
• City Winery — I’m interested in creating a multi-city R&B and art experience with live music, storytelling, and visuals.

Music Labels & Creative Teams

For the music side of my career, I’m looking to align with:
• Motown through Quality Control for my main recording artist deal
• Sony for a dedicated songwriting publishing deal
• OVO to develop an animated series I’ve created centered around birds, cruise lines, and airlines

I’d also love to collaborate with artists and producers I respect, like Chris Brown, Drake, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Usher, Maxwell, Ray J, and others. I also hope to work more closely with Swayvo Twain — D’Angelo and Angie Stone’s son. I’ve already designed artwork for him, and I think there’s a powerful musical collaboration waiting for the right moment.

Film, Television & Stage

I’m also interested in opportunities that merge acting, music, and storytelling:
• Competing on The Voice
• Performing with Virgin Voyages for a residency
• Acting in Broadway productions like The Lion King, Prince of Egypt, or Dreamgirls
• Acting on All The Queen’s Men
• Collaborating with Tyler Perry Studios on both animated and live-action series
• Contributing to the new Barbershop sitcom — through acting, music, and visual art

Animation & Storytelling Studios

As a visual artist, I want to collaborate with:
• Disney Animation
• The Boondocks team
• OVO’s animation division
• Tyler Perry’s studio for a new animated comedy series I’m developing

Live Shows, Touring & Stage Entertainment

I’m also exploring opportunities such as:
• A national R&B + Comedy tour (with Jack Daniels as a potential partner)
• A London tour offer currently on the table
• Select cruise residencies
• Major festival performances and art activations

What I Look for in Collaborators

I’m drawn to people who value originality, professionalism, innovation, and authentic storytelling. I love partnering with visionaries — individuals and companies who aren’t afraid to mix music, animation, comedy, and art to build something fresh.

How to Connect With Me

If you’re interested in partnering, creating, or exploring opportunities, you can reach me at:

Instagram: @johnrenaissance
Linktree: linktr.ee/JohnRenaissance
Email: (Add here if you want it public)

I’m always open to genuine collaborations and big ideas. If the vision aligns with the purpose, I’m ready to build.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Dennis of Haven Cinema

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