Conversations with Dwyland Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwyland Johnson.

Hi Dwyland, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I would say my story began as a child watching my mother’s entrepreneurial journey as a barber and stylist. I watched her turn what was initially just a thought into something that was actually able to provide for me and my sister and she did it with very little support. We didn’t have a lot and we absolutely struggled at times but as a single mother, she always found a way to make away and she did it HER WAY. I feel like vicariously, I developed that sense of hustle, grind and entrepreneurial spirit from her. So as a child, I found myself constantly looking for ways to make my own way. So whether it was me trying to find ways to hustle and make money or me working a 9-5 I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t trying to get it. With that being said, I’ve always been ambitious!

Fast forward MANY years later, after many failed ventures, King of Kaps LLC was born… July of 2018, to be exact. King of Kaps was an idea for a headwear business I had been wanting to explore a few years before I decided to actually take the leap. During this time, I was really investing into my mind, body and soul, listening to the likes of Les Brown, E.T., Dr. Myles Munroe, Jim Rohn, Napolean Hill and many more. Practically anybody that spoke positivity and the power of positive thinking. Along with a regular workout routine, eating clean and listening to who would become my favorite and most influential music artist, Nipsey Hussle. Around this time, my energy was at an all-time high and I felt unstoppable and nothing would stand in my way, hence DEFY THE ODDS, which would become my apparel brand. Initially, DEFY THE ODDS was just an affirmation to myself to never quit and that we don’t get WHAT WE WANT. We get WHAT WE DESERVE. So I knew I had to put the work in and make it happen, no matter what!

So in the beginning, DEFY THE ODDS was just supposed to be a line of streetwear caps. However, I feel like people could resonate with the term and what it stood for so over time, it turned into a thing of it’s own. So I’m doing market aftermarket, building, learning and just enjoying the process. Till this day, I’m still just enjoying every moment of the process and watching my vision grow into what I know it is destined to be as long as I do the work. So of course, in building a new business and just life in general, we are bound to face obstacles. Fast forward, 2020, I went through a rough patch in my journey of which my mental health. During this time, I had to find a way to push through. Fortunately, I was able to creatively channel that pain and unwanted energy into my passion which was my brand! This was during the time the NBA was playing in “the bubble” due to the pandemic. So I always tell people I was in my own bubble and by the grace of God, I was able to come out with a new logo, new collection, new vibe, new energy and a website solely for DEFY THE ODDS. Since the new release, the growth has been amazing and I couldn’t be more excited about how far I’ve come and where we’re I’m going!

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?
Fast forward, 2020 I went through a rough patch in my journey of which my mental health. During this time, I had to find a way to push through. Fortunately, I was able to creatively channel that pain and unwanted energy into my passion which was my brand! This was during the time the NBA was playing in “the bubble” due to the pandemic. So I always tell people I was in my own bubble and by the grace of GOD, I was able to come out with a new logo, new collection, new vibe, new energy and a website solely for DEFY THE ODDS.

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’ve always been a creative and visionary. In my earlier years, I was heavy in the music and promotions industry. I’ve been a member of an R&B group, a hip-hop group, studio engineer, producer and writer. Most notably, I was a co-owner of what became a fairly popular open-mic platform on the southside of Atlanta called NEXT2BLOW. I can attribute much of my marketing skills and just being able to relate to urban culture to my experience in these fields. A lot of how I present my brand is directly influenced by what I’ve learned from past experiences. I feel I’m able to connect with the culture because I’m cut from the same fabric.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is being able to accomplish a multitude of small goals in route to a bigger one. So basically, I guess you could say success is synonymous with growth! If you’re growing, you’re succeeding… KEEP GROWING and the ultimate goal is inevitable.

Contact Info:

• Website: Defytheoddsbrand.com
• Instagram: @defytheoddsbrand
• Facebook: @defytheoddsbrand
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyeqiP2eEqw&feature=youtu.be