Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kenny Hailey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kenny, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My faith and spirituality give me resilience. Being resilient is a way of life, not simply a word. It’s about accepting defeat and using it as a teaching opportunity. My life has always revolved on learning from my struggles and emerging stronger on the other side. The obstacles just appeared to get bigger as I got older. From experiencing loss, homelessness, trying to make ends meet, etc., to discovering joy in the little things around me and embracing every day with bravery and grace with the knowledge that I can get beyond any challenge that stands in my way.
My family is made up of pastors and ministers. I was therefore born with a strong faith in the fruitfulness of prayer and the guiding hand of a higher power. Central Union Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. is where my father, Kenneth Sr., required us to go every Sunday, and it is also where I put both him and my mother to rest, which was when I needed to be the most resilient.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As an entrepreneur, I’m responsible for operating numerous businesses, but my primary focus will always remain my profession as an artist. Someone asked me the other day, what’s your dream? And that threw me off guard because, until I thought about it, I hadn’t realized I’d been living it for quite some time.
It made me think about about moving from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles on and off during the last five years. I’m 27 years old, and I started writing and producing music when I was around eight years old. Music is and will always be an instrument of expression for me, but I also see it as a gift that I can utilize for more than just myself. Because of this, I’m motivated to share my experiences on the “KENNY EP,” which serves as an introduction to who I am.
I’m known for leaving an interesting cliffhanger, so that’s what excites me the most. I can, however, share that my team and I are working on new music releases, brand partnerships, our nonprofit, fashion releases, and later this year, I’ll be revealing the record label I recently partnered with.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I can say that fear, patience, and resilience have had the most effects on my journey. If you’re just starting out on your own journey, focusing on ongoing self-improvement will be the most beneficial to your development.
Fear activates survival instincts and provides desire to avoid negative consequences, but excessive fear can lead to a lack of motion and avoidance. At 23, I needed fear to travel across the country by myself in search of what I was looking for. Using fear allowed me assess the risk I was taking and adjust to different situations.
I’ve never looked for external validation or accolades to prove myself; what I’m doing aligns with the saying “It’s deeper than rap”. I even questioned if “I should be further” or “I should be here” by this point in my career, but when you genuinely let go and let God, you stop worrying about the “When” and realize the value of being patient.
Lastly, because life is like a roller coaster, you must be resilient or you will fail at what you want to do. You have an ambition or a dream, but life hits you like Mike Tyson against Trevor Berbick. I could never have predicted losing both of my parents, becoming homeless, or having to do things beneath me in order to survive; I had no option but to adapt to the circumstances and manage life’s trials with strength and perseverance. And it was never about avoiding difficulties altogether, but rather about embracing them as opportunities for growth and learning.
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?
Fasho! I am looking for folks to collaborate with. But only under one condition: they have to be a risk taker. I’m not looking to work with just anybody, regardless of how well-known or well-established you are. I’m seeking for people that are similar to me because I live my life rolling the dice and betting on myself. It shows you have a strong sense of self-motivation, pursue your goals with determination, and embrace the unknown all while having faith in your potential for success. If that sounds like you, send me a DM on Instagram and lets collaborate.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/kennyhailey_
Image Credits
@akabundji @byweschen @portraitswithpassionla
