Meet Cedric Acrie

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cedric Acrie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cedric below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Cedric with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I think my work ethic comes from watching my mom grind through everything life threw her way. She had that ‘find a way’ mindset—no excuses, just solutions. Watching her make something out of nothing taught me early that consistency beats comfort every time. My dad played a huge part too—he’s one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever known. I never once heard him complain when things got tough; he just put his head down and worked harder. Between the two of them, I learned that success doesn’t come from talent alone—it comes from discipline, sacrifice, and believing in your own vision even when nobody else does. That foundation shaped who I am today—not just as an artist or entrepreneur, but as a man who refuses to quit.

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

I wear a few hats — I’m a hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and creative from the Inland Empire. Everything I do, whether it’s music, fashion, or business, comes from a place of motivation and purpose. My brand, Money Motivated Apparel, represents the grind — it’s for the people who came from the bottom, who took losses and turned them into lessons. It’s about embracing the journey and proving that being the ‘black sheep’ of society doesn’t mean you’re lost — it means you’re built different.

On the music side, my latest album Slow Feet Don’t Eat is all about staying hungry and pushing forward no matter what life throws your way. I’ve also got a new podcast called Gwaap Talk coming soon, where I’ll be sitting down with other entrepreneurs, artists, and creators to chop it up about business, life, and leveling up.

Another layer to my creativity is writing — I recently wrote a book called Get Out of Your Own Way, which breaks down seven life lessons I’ve learned on this journey. It’s about personal growth, discipline, and getting past the mental barriers that hold us back from reaching our full potential.

What excites me most is building something real — not just chasing trends, but creating a movement that inspires people to go harder. I want my story, my art, and my work ethic to show people that no matter where you come from, you can build something great with consistency and belief in yourself. Right now, I’m focused on expansion — growing the brand, dropping new collections, and setting up future shows and collaborations that continue to put the Inland Empire on the map.

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?

I’d say the three biggest qualities that shaped my journey are discipline, consistency, and belief. Discipline keeps me locked in even when I don’t feel like working. Consistency is what separates people who talk about it from the ones who really live it. And belief — that’s the fuel. You’ve got to believe in yourself even when nobody else sees the vision.

For anyone early in their journey, I’d say start with discipline. Treat your dream like a job before it pays like one. Put in hours every day, even when the results don’t show right away. Then stay consistent — keep showing up, keep learning, keep improving. Small progress adds up if you don’t quit.

And most importantly, protect your belief. People might doubt you, life will test you, but that belief in yourself is what carries you through. Build that mindset first — the skills, money, and opportunities will follow. Everything starts with how bad you want it and how much you’re willing to grind for it.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely. I’m always open to collaborating with like-minded people who are serious about growth, creativity, and impact. I’m looking to connect with individuals and brands that see the value in investing in someone who’s been putting in the work, staying consistent, and is on the rise. Whether it’s music, fashion, business, or creative projects, I want to build with people who move with purpose and bring real energy to the table.

If you’re reading this and want to collaborate, reach out — I’m always down to work with people who share the same drive and vision. You can connect with me through Instagram @MrGwaap
or through my website GetGwaap.com
. Let’s build something powerful.

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