Check out Khia Jackson’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khia Jackson.

Khia, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I designed The 1998 Deck as a way to pay homage to a time period that is near and dear to my heart. It was around a period that I felt the younger rappers that were advancing were paying little to no respect to the generation before them. I particularly saw it in the war between Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj. The late 90s reminds me of a good spades game with Bad Boy bumping in the back, so that is what I created. A piece of that time period. Added to that I love the idea of teaching through entertainment. I want college kids to grow up seeing faces that looked like theirs as Kings and Queens, and part of their everyday life. They are not perfect, but the rappers that emerge as celebrities from all of the hundreds of thousands who try are usually much more gifted than people give them credit for. Biggie and JayZ are literally geniuses, Missy Elliott skipped two grades. Snoop Dogg, Lady Luck, and Redman are capable of rapping freestyle for…damned near ever. This is what genius looks like when it comes up from poverty, and it’s fantastic. Don’t ever forget that…as I whoop your butt in spades

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I’m a graphic designer. I’ve worked in the industry for years now, I’ve worked in entertainment, fashion and on magazines. I’m really proud that my career has allowed me to do work for some of the biggest names on the planet ( Like Beyonce and Michelle Obama). So I’m personally most proud of my brand work, especially the things that have impacted the youth. The 1998 Deck makes me proud every day. I interact with appreciative customers and so many other entrepreneurs on social media and at events. I love to see the love the community pours out to myself and other women entrepreneurs. The arts community is really lifting itself up and keeping itself alive. That’s pretty dope. I don’t know what sets me apart from others, other than my focus and determination and the fact that no matter what I do or how I do it, it will be filled to the brim with passion…and I’m going to have fun doing it.

Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
In my experience, the greatest hindrance to female leadership is the fact that the societal roles of women defy the things that it takes to be a good leader. So in order to become a great leader you have to go against your own social structure and oftentimes take heat for it.

Being: Independent, Decisive, Insistent, Stubborn, Strong-Willed, Brave, Ostentatious, Powerful…all of these things make a good leader but also fly in the face of the “she’s a good woman” conversation.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, you HAVE to follow your own path to be a leader, but men have the advantage in that arena since they are encouraged to take up leadership while the opposite is true with women.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.the1998deck.com
• Email: contact@the1998deck.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/the1998deck
• Facebook: facebook.com/the1998deck
• Twitter: twitter.com/the1998deck

Image Credit:
Grant Sylvester

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