We were lucky to catch up with Kory Graham recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kory, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience is purely a product of my ability to adapt. I am the oldest of 7 kids in a single parent household placed in arguable the most dangerous neighborhoods of my hometown, Indianapolis. I think when you truly envision that lifestyle you can understand the gist of how important being a leader, tone setter & difference maker truly is.
Resilience, for me, developed by way of all of these factors & my willingness to pursue whatever goal I’ve set out for myself & those around me.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Firstly, I am a recording artist who goes by 4200Kory (or just Kory for namesake). I create music that’s reflective my story & my environment in the best ways I know how. Music for me has become a means to the end goal of being a true entrepreneur. I own a creative collective by the name of “Slumbaby Family” which is an LLC that serves as a resource for independent creatives of multiple mediums. Helping like minded individuals develop community within their brands.
The best part of being an artist is being able to paint a picture that otherwise wouldn’t be understood. Music has allowed me to express myself in a healthy way opposed to that in which I grew up around. It’s also allowed me to set an example for people where I’m from, showing them that there are different approaches and metrics to being “successful”. All of which are personal to the pursuant.
Being an owner of an LLC, Slumbaby Family, has blessed me with the fulfillment of giving and receiving. Investing my time and energy into other people’s careers and goals has this immediate payoff of fulfillment. I get to see lives change before my eyes in the sense of personal/artist development & also contribute to something larger than me when I’m geared on building community through food giveaways, listening events & music performances.
At 22, I consider all of my endeavors to be a blessing. Being apart of all these things has given me a profound sense of pride. I honestly wouldn’t trade anything for it all.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
There were quite a few skills that I consider imperative for my journey. First being Patience. Having the quality of being able to wait your turn, withstand the process & see things through is an art.
Secondly, the art of listening. I’ve learned to absorb and be a sponge to those around me. Learning from those who’ve taken risks has served me well.
Third, I’d say that giving myself grace would be a huge quality that’s allowed me to keep pushing. Mental health is paramount in any situation & I think that being able to bump my head and still push to chase my goals is like a boost. It’s easy to fall victim to a tough situation & sometimes you have to step back and realize you’re only one person.
In terms of advice, surround yourself with like minded individuals who don’t necessarily approach life the same way as you. I’ve been lucky enough to cross paths and befriend folks who don’t come from the same kind of environment as me but they share the same kind of drive, dreams & character. This allows for you to be held accountable & be pushed by those around you.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Yes there is actually. Understanding the levels & tiers of growth within music is a goal of mine right now. The challenge I’m facing is finding ways to be a better leader for those around me. Leading them to success within the music industry is a task as is, but getting them to a concrete & lucrative position is a mission for sure.
Contact Info:
- Website: Linktr.ee/4200kory
- Instagram: @4200Kory
- Facebook: FourtyTwoHunnid Kory
- Linkedin: Kory Graham
- Twitter: @4200Kory
- Youtube: @4200kory
- SoundCloud: @4200Kory
Image Credits
TCP Filmz , WavytooG & Wildstyle
