Today we’d like to introduce you to DaSan “Onyx” Frazier.
Hi DaSan “Onyx”, 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 all started over quarantine for me, as I was bored at home like everyone else I just hopped on Tiktok and started creating videos for fun. Next thing I knew, I was gaining followers rapidly over the course of a few months. I first noticed I hit 2k followers then all of a sudden I was at 10k. I just kept making videos that I felt people could relate to and the numbers were just going up. Over the 2020-2021 school year, I had a lot of time on my hands being that we weren’t in person so I continued to make videos. Once I started networking, I was able to meet other black creators in the field. A person in particular that I met was Keith Dorsey. The founder of Collab Crib which is the only all black social media house in Atlanta. The biggest thing for me though is that I’ve always had a passion for acting. I would say Tik Tok played a big part in me taking my acting career seriously, because it gave me that confidence boost and creative space I needed to tap into my acting craft. I had the privilege to be a student of the Tasha Smith Actors Workshop (TSAW) where we studied the Chubbuck Technique. I booked my first role-playing Darius Dunning in an upcoming film named Blackcard which is focused on the HBCU lifestyle. I currently take acting classes at Clark Atlanta University as well as Spelman College. This last year and a half, I have learned so much which has provided me with a new found respect for acting. I’m looking forward to the journey God takes me on as I continue to push myself and pursue different acting roles.
As of right now, I have over 570k followers on my Tik Tok platform and have worked with brands such as the NBA All-Star 2020, NFL, Spotify, DoorDash 2x, DirectTV2x, HBCU Legacy Classic (basketball game), and partnered with Triller. My videos have been reposted and featured on the BET Instagram page, House of Highlights, as well as, The Shade Room and many more just to name a few.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has definitely had some obstacles to overcome. I would say as far as being a content creator, you’re going to go through your ups and downs with just feeling like views are going down or content isn’t getting as much engagement as it once was in the past and that could make a creator feel like giving up. Also, being an athlete, it wasn’t the type stereotype to be making videos about goofy stuff, so I had teammates laughing at me in the beginning and making jokes about how I’m a “Tik Toker”. Some could have looked at that as an obstacle, but I’m very secure in who I am and how I’m defining me vs others. One of the biggest obstacles that has been presented to me and that you will hear other minorities (especially black creators) discuss is getting paid the rate at which I deserve. Being a minority, sometimes companies would low ball us and not offer us a worthy pay rate for our content. Networking and discussing such topics as pay rate, creative content, and brand collaborations with other creators who have really made a name and space for themselves in this market have advised me that “I’m the creator, companies have sought me out to collaborate with and I state my pay rates confidently”. These discussions definitely have helped me standardize my pay rates to get the respect and money I deserve.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full-time student-athlete at Morehouse College, graduating May 14th, 2022 and becoming a Morehouse Man. I was recruited by the Morehouse Tigers as a football scholar, as a defensive back, and an academic scholarship from UNCF. On campus, I’m known for my social media platforms, which I try to bring laughter, blessings, and relevant content to others. The relevancy of my content is geared towards college students (especially us at an HBCU) and I have found out that my following appreciates just being able to relate to everyday life that we are all going through. I am most proud of the opportunities that I have endured while being here at Morehouse College. For example, being one of 7 HBCU students to interview the NBA players before the 2020 NBA All-Star game. I was selected to interview Waka Flaka Flame at the HBCU Legacy Classic in Newark, NJ (December of 2021) and I’m grateful for all of the other blessings that I have received and those unseen that have come my way. What sets me apart from others is my faith in myself and my work ethic. It’s not easy to balance school, football, and creating new content on my social media, but I know that there are things in my life that I want and nobody else is going to be able to get those things for me, but me. The way I see it, this is the perfect time to go after my dreams while I’m young and I still have energy in my body, lol.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My mother and I just created an LLC called Defining Me. We want to encourage others to write their own stories. To no longer fall into the stereotypes of society, but to believe in themselves, to build excellence, and when faced with adversity, to say, I’m DEFINING ME…..
Contact Info:
- Email: Dasanfraziertalent@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dasan.frazier/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dasanfrazier7
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCffSir4iYjs8K4BMMBkjTIw
