Shane Wilder on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Shane Wilder and have shared our conversation below.

Shane , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
That AREK is more than an entertainment business; AREK is a House hold name with an umbrella of creative visual tangible perspectives. People often forget that AREK is an acronym which stands for “ authentically restoring everyone’s Kuumba” Kuumba meaning creativity in Swahili. our mission is to bring innovation and inspiration to every creative in the world. We promise to maintain artistic freedom of expression, our application of human creative skill, and imagination.

AREK started out as a fashion business and it evolved into a MC/DJ service.

What people generally do not know is I stopped offering videography, photography, creative director mentorship services to focus on DJing so it can put me in different rooms which one day we will revisit these avenues of AREK which would better support the statement of “AREK is bigger than Louis Vuitton “

But most people just see AREK as a Dj service.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, my name is Shane Wilder aka DJ AREK aka The Creators Creator. What I do is bridge the gap between generations using music. I am the founder of AREK which is a brand and a visual arts an entertainment company. It was established in 2017 through vision and in 2018 was when my first event took place. I believe my purpose is to change the world with the talent that God has given me. “AREK is bigger than Louis Vuitton.” is a statement that I think defines how big I dream.

I am becoming a renowned Dj that Bridges the gaps for educators and students. I have DJ for Pepsi to monster to sororities and fraternities and colleges. But the way music brings people together is always beyond my foresight. Whenever I walk into a room I walk in without a plan and I let the spirit lead me in a direction that the atmosphere is shifting.

I am a new father with a 10 month old. This journey has been a blessing. It has taught me a lot about being a man and what means to step up to the plate.

Something that is special right now is I am looking to marry my girlfriend and the thought process and the honesty and the transparency, it takes to get to a position of knowing is truly something that is profound and special.

The next thing that I will be working on is my podcast interviews called D.O.P.E which stands for discovering organic, profound express expression. The purpose of these interviews is to highlight public figures, artist, educators, and people related to what makes you dope and how did you get in a position that you are working and now?

With that being said let’s change the world together!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
During the pandemic, I joined a speakers program called GAMECHANGERS from Eric Thomas and Associates

In this program, there were many blueprints to be becoming a better speaker, presenter and overall brand.

I didn’t join this program to become a speaker right away. I joined to become a better brand. I was a DJ in a speaking program.

Interestingly, enough, Kantis Simmons and Coach Val aka vaLarie Humphrey taught me my value outside of what was currently being shown.

Kantis Simmons booked me my first gig with ETA with all the expenses paid. Truly setting the tone of what’s to come..

Till this day Coach Val has taught me the value to contract and pricing when it comes to how I curate a room and what it means to be comfortable to ask for a certain price and putting me in a position to travel Dj and have all expenses paid. Putting me in the room with The A.K.A’s in other prestigious companies.

I’ve traveled to Chicago for the past four years supporting and taking part in a vision that she has brought to life called “BLACKtopia”. Just coming back from year three – November 8, 2025.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Honestly, I’m not sure, I showed my girlfriend a list of questions and she decided for me she picked a question that is hard for me to answer because you couldn’t have told me that I’ll be doing what I’m doing now.

I guess I will tell myself keep going. I wanted to play football be a wide receiver. I wanted to be in the NFL so to become a DJ that owns a business and successful in his own rights. I saw success differently. – my younger self would be surprised and astonished. My younger self went through struggle was homeless for nine years was committed at the age of 13 into a mental institution.

He overcame so much was resilient and positive to the process didn’t believe what the experts said. My story is I wasn’t supposed to make it past 10 because of a heart condition that I had to be 28 to turning 29 now every day is an anniversary. Every moment is a birthday doctors would be astonished that IMy story is I wasn’t supposed to make it past 10 because of a heart condition that I had to be 28 to turning 29 now every day is a anniversary. Every moment is a birthday doctors would be astonished that I was a triathlete was put in stressful situations and still overcame what professionals would say is a miracle.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think this is an amazing question because most people do not know how to be their authentic self. We live in a world where there’s Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and these social media personas that do not tell the true story of who is behind the camera.

It’s a beautiful feeling to know that the person that I show people outside and behind closed doors I’m pretty much the same person I don’t alter our switch to what someone think I should be, but I wasn’t always like this because I used to really care about what people think that is how I know.

I was over being a people pleaser. You ultimately lose your sense of self identity when you focus on people pleasing

The day that this changed was when I made a decision for my peace to be non-negotiable.

The person that you see in public and behind closed doors lives through honor, integrity, love, and resilience, no matter the situation, circumstance, or struggle.

Actually, just want to change the world one interaction at a time.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
“AREK is bigger than Louis Vuitton.”
“AREK is a household name.”

That I was a generations, Martin Luther King, Malcolm, X Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, prince. – all of these icons placed impact in the field that they were in dominating during a period of time which wrote their names in history books.

That I was able to provide a platform for maintaining the nuance of creative freedom or application of human creative skill and imagination with integrity and honor. In a world that is exposed to an artificial shortcuts to original ideas.

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