Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodney McDonald.
Rodney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Well, I would say it started in High School in Detroit Michigan, I was voted best dress in high school. I have always had a passion for a fashionable expression. In College, playing football and bored when not, I started putting my drawing skills to use by painting art and charters on shirts mainly to match my jeans but it became popular fast. So fast that growing impact was creating pressure to give an official name fitting the myriad of designs; that pressure birthed “NDCYSVE”. I got a taste of giving my ideas away to others; what an amazing feeling to have people desire to express themselves in or through your ideas and art. Within a year of starting, I moved back to Detroit and opened up my 1st store/boutique in 2004. It was small but in a nice area in Southfield, Michigan. The 1st store served its purpose, making enough to pay the rent; my work reached a guy named Robert who was starring on P. Diddy’s show “Making The Band”. He felt passionate that these custom pieces I was creating for him would ensure he crushed the competition while easily standing out the most. That was my 1st Television Brand Exposure or Styling experience.
That led me to moving to Atlanta in 2007 & again in 2010 to follow my dreams. A place where I felt dreams could be born and thrive in an environment where opportunities of a lifetime were frequent occurrences. Skipping right over the 2007 move (which is another story) and right into the move in 2010, it took a while to learn the city, the areas, scenes and who’s who. While I learned, I created, dreamed, imagined, sacrificed, talked about and consistently worked on securing another boutique in 2012. Truly it was by the grace and favor of GOD I opened my 2nd boutique and my 1st in Buckhead, Atlanta; on Piedmont Rd appropriately named “ALL Things Creative Studios ATL” selling Women’s Fashion, Art and Ink. The opening of this boutique was truly Grand; performances, fashion shows, dancers, celebrity guests, customers, DJs, Music, cocktail servers, rooftop night show, a quarter-mile candlelit runway, press, art and of course fashion.
This time the dream was bigger and clearer, so the response was a direct reflection. I gained more experience and partnered with a childhood friend from back home who just moved from Detroit. We hired a fashion expert/merchandise buyer and new store location opener for ZARA as our fashion consultant. We vetted and hired teachable assistants and interns from Art Institute of Atlanta and lastly public relations Jonell Whit. Jonell whom I met at a networking event called “Get Connected” came highly recommended. At 23, I challenged the idea that someone so young had this amazing boutique in Buckhead that I described to her. Ms. Jonell mentioned she would come by and see my boutique the following day, she did and never left. Through her services and connections, I immediately started wardrobe styling for TV shows, Magazines like Sister to Sister, and Videos shoots that were being shot in Atlanta. I even orchestrated two separate fashion shows with 25 models in my pieces at Tyler Perry’s House from the Diary of a Mad Black Women Movie. God will always give unexpected blessings or serendipities that will show you, you’re not dreaming big enough. Anything and everything possible.
Fast forward to the present day, 2022 I am an Artist, I am a Designer, I am a businessman, I am a business owner, I am a creator, I am a server of many, I am a father, I am I am. These days I own multiple businesses one of which is Vitals By Rodney McDonald. Vitals is a wall art, mural, and art piece creation company. The concept of my custom art style is an elegant and grand artistic depiction/representation of your vitals in other words, a lifeline on a wall.
I am a co-owner of WBC Wealth Building Consulting. WBC is a business consulting company that focuses on scaling other businesses by pairing them with the most up-to-date funding opportunities, programs and leveraging credit to take their businesses to the next level. Our motto is to serve, serve, serve, and service to many will bring forth everything you desire.
I own a chauffeur boat rental service called Chauffeur Boat Tours ATL. Accommodating boat tours, parties, birthdays, date nights, girl’s night out, small events, gender reveals, sunset cruises and more on Lake Allatoona.
Music is something I have always loved and gave me a platform to paint a picture or express my life’s experiences through my incredibly distinctive voice. As a musical artist, I go by Sir Rock which sounds an awful lot like CIROC, but worked in my favor as CIROC sponsored my 1st official video, “Bottles and Sparklers”. My music journey has been one filled with passion, creativity, fun, love, cultivation of my craft, growth and collaboration. Through music, I have worked with, performed with and written for some of the top producers and artists in the music industry. The desire within me to continuously create music from experiences will never die. As I’ll always have something to say, it is a form of service to share your life’s experiences with others. A few other popular records ‘Molly Poppin Holloywood’ “OTW” ‘Dope” and “HammerTime”.
I am a motivational speaker and inspirational leader to many. I spread love, truth, wisdom, knowledge, self-discipline, new philosophies, new paradigms, new ideas, new practices, new ways of thinking, testimonies, new ways of doing and the word of God.
GOD Said do all things with me and you will indeed succeed. So back to my roots, I went to what I’ve always loved and enjoyed fashion. In 2019, I created and designed God Said Couture, a high-end fashion brand that features a substantial use of velvet designs, velvet pieces and extravagant coat designs for men, women and children. God Said Couture expresses the Quality of Couture from the Hand Sewing of Velvet which it is made. Each Garment is Personally Paired with a different yet Perfect Fabric of Artistic Expression, then Hand Cut & Sewed to the Back of each Garment. The Company’s Mission Statement, “Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken” is Heat Pressed onto the Fabric. Lastly, the God Said Couture Logo is Purposefully & Eloquently Embroidered across the left lapel to Serve the Consumer an added touch of Elegance. God Said Couture pushes the idea of individual authentic expression through the creativity and creation of fashion. Of all my businesses, God Said Couture is the one that brings me much internal happiness and has gained international recognition. Present-day God Said Couture styling is expanding to other countries, tours, artists, people and celebrities worldwide. GodSaidCouture.com
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road, some of the struggles I’ve experienced have come from following a dream or idea only I had. Sometimes there were struggles trying articulate my vision to others in a way that would allow them to see it before it was there or in existence. I’ve even struggled with decisions that would require sacrifice before gain, like intentionally defaulting on paying a previous apartment rent so that I could save enough to pay the downpayment for my boutique. Moving to a new state to follow your dreams also has its struggles and realities like moving away from the only support system I’ve ever known. Working a temporary 9-5 to have capitol to start a new business. To even experiencing and overcoming homelessness. The road to success is not always paved. The day I got keys and moved into my live/work boutique was the same day I was evicted from my place I previously lived: talk about divine timing.
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?
I am known for creating, for style, for service, for music, for art, for motivation, for inspiration, for positivity and exuding love. I specialize in creating art in every aspect of life. God Said Couture we specialize in creating the most elegant, stylish, authentic and raved about velvet pieces and coats for the entire family. As a business owner, I specialize in service, solving problems and creating systems that allow those businesses to run on autopilot. I am a motivational speaker and inspirational leader to many. I spread love, truth, wisdom, knowledge, self-discipline, new philosophies, new paradigms, new ideas, new practices, new ways of thinking, testimonies, new ways of doing and the word of God. I am most proud of being an outstanding Father to my four years old son Sir. My son is my Why and I am most proud of fighting for him, for his best interest and receiving full legal and physical custody as well as primary residency. I am proud to be able to cultivate an environment my son can learn, grow and thrive in. What sets me apart outside of how dope and distinctive I look, dress and what I sound like would have to be my self-discipline. My self-discipline’s are at the core of my growth and self-development, allowing me to receive consistent and continuous daily growth toward the better version of myself I am becoming.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am a risk taker. I am an action-oriented person. If I have an idea I move on it because there is no better time than right now. Moving to Atlanta to follow my dreams was undoubtedly a risk, but one I was willing to take to get to where I’m going. Sacrificing my 2nd apartment in Atlanta, intentionally not paying rent for two months while picking up a side job for that same amount of time. To earn enough money to put the downpayment on my live/work boutique was definitely a risk. I was evicted as planned but was blessed with keys to the live workspace within an hour of the eviction starting; Can you say divine timing. One of the biggest and best risks I have taken is fighting for custody of my son not matter how tough and unpleasant the fight had been.
Pricing:
- $125
- $225
- $500
- $625
- $1000
Contact Info:
- Website: GodSaidCouture.com
- Instagram: @SirRock & @GodSaidCouture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evwF8l_F7iw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sirrockmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/32g6amTqXnAEZifA8tFYZd
Image Credits
Rachelle Neal – ID Media Group – @RachelleNeal RaOmega Photography LLC – @RaOmega Cortez Bannerman – RubberBannerman
