Today we’d like to introduce you to Paron Payne.
Hi Paron, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It’s so many places I can start from when it comes to my story and how I got to where I am today. But when it comes to me as a Hiphop artist, entrepreneur, mentor, etc. I guess I would start around 2008 when life for me was at a real crossroads in every sense of the word. Family, finances, and life were all a rollercoaster ride with no easy end in sight, by 2010 I had lost my only blood brother, and my wife and I had lost our oldest daughter to a brain tumor. Left with only a few options, die in my sorrows, be trapped in my self-pity, and let life obstacles basically kill me off, or live. I decided to live for myself and my family and for others who I didn’t know needed me at that point and time. Being from Philadelphia, it’s a vast majority of us that are born with a “go getta” mentality and the drive to be self-employed, so for lack of a better term (I got that in me), I just had to go through hardships to bring it out.
A music lover, and hiphop artist at heart, my first decision was to live out my dreams and start my music career, and on March 15, 2011, my label (Work For It. ltd Co.) released it’s a first music project which was my first Mixtape “I’m here Take 1″… The date was special because it’s our oldest daughter’s birthday. Since that release, my label is responsible for a total of ten musical projects and three short films and counting. In 2016 I then decided to take the next big step and turn my label into a real brand and services company and try to step away completely from the private sector realm and go independent. It was a risk but without it of course, there’s no reward, So (W.F.I. services) was created. A cleaning company, turnkey, window cleaning, pressure washing, and security company. And if I can’t get it done, I try to have a network of people who can, that come from similar backgrounds and know what it is to work for everything they’ve gotten because I believe my true purpose here is to help, give hope, uplift, and guide.
And it hasn’t been easy at all setbacks, I’ve had to keep (part-time jobs) at times to make sure everything is afloat, living check to check or invoice to invoice. But I guess that is what keeps me going the beauty of the struggle and the feel of accomplishment and success. So along with a couple of small service contracts, my company has had a cleaning and security for three years at the UGA Bookstore in Athens, GA, a place where I once worked for less than nine dollars an hour. You just never know how life will shape up when you really try and start living no matter the age… i.e. How I became a mentor if I had not started my own label and services company, I don’t get invited to Gains elementary career day in 2018 to speak with the kids and tell them how I got started, and show them just because they may come from rough areas doesn’t mean they can’t make it out and do great things in the world. Just to give you a little bit about my startup and me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been easy at all, I’ve had to keep (part-time jobs) at times to make sure everything is afloat, living check to check or invoice to invoice. But I guess that is what keeps me going: the beauty of the struggle and the feel of accomplishment and success. So along with a couple of small service contracts, my company has had a cleaning and security contract for three years at the UGA Bookstore in Athens GA, a place where I once worked for less than nine dollars an hour. You just never know how life will shape up when you really start to live with a purpose… i.e. How I became a mentor if I had not started my own label and services company, I don’t get invited to Gains elementary career day in 2018 to speak with the kids and tell them how I got started, and show them just because they may come from rough areas doesn’t mean they can’t make it out and do great things in the world.
And the challenges are plenty when you’re in the couple of industries that I’m in (Music, Cleaning, and Security). You have to convince people they need your services, or they should listen to your new music or watch your new video. So the biggest struggle would have to be the unknown. Not knowing when you’ll get another cleaning job, not knowing how your new music will be received, not knowing if everything that you’re doing will not just pay off in the end but also last.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a music artist and label head, I write, perform, and produce, and manage. I’ve also directed and produced all three of my short films. “F*** Radio”, “Wake Up”, and “Virus-Free Short Film” Which can be found on my YouTube channel. As a service company owner, I offer residential and office space cleaning, pressure washing for homes, turnkey, and carpet cleaning. And because I have almost 12 years in security, I’m also able to do private security. I would say the one thing that sets me apart from everyone else, is being able to persevere, and not make excuses for being born with 3 strikes, a learning disability, and being a blackman in America.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My family supports me as much as they can. I didn’t have any mentors right there in my face when I was growing up, so I looked towards hip hop music and certain artists. A few big cousins I may have gotten lessons here and there from… And once I moved to Athens, I met a couple of great guys who would become like mentors, or big brothers. The good people at the UGA Bookstore have trusted me for multiple years now to get the job done, whether it’s cleaning or security. But support for me is a funny thing because I didn’t experience a lot of it growing up, and when I got older, either the support came with a cost, it wasn’t real, or it was only done behind closed doors and not out loud. So I don’t put much weight in support, especially from people I know. I think if you can get people who don’t know you to support you is key. Because it doesn’t feel like an obligation. It’s not like I haven’t had any help along the way the people who have been there and who have been instrumental in everything I’ve done know who they are… as well as for the people who didn’t. But for the most part I have to give myself a pat on the back, because it’s well deserved.
Contact Info:
- Email: wfibusy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paron_jamaal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/paron_jamaal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TherealCYN1
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/paronjamaal
Image Credits
Jarvis Scott
