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Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Desmond Smith of Kansas City, Missouri

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We’re looking forward to introducing you to Desmond Smith. Check out our conversation below.

Desmond , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Monday through Thursday I work from 6am – 4:30pm. I wake up around 4:45 to start my day.. shower, brush my teeth and smoke a joint before I head out! (thats if my morning is going as planned) Depending on when I get to work, I’ll give my self a chance to settle in before I grab some coffee and proceed with my shift. I get 3 breaks (2 paid, 1 Lunch) and i genuinely like to spend those moments with my coworkers!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Greetings to All who may read this! My name is Desmond Smith, I also go by “RøkkßtäR”, WGMP Dez, or just Dez. I make music and I dip and dabble in all genres that peek my interest the most! I am also pursuing a fashion brand of my own i call “Distressed and Obsessed” (DnO for short) but I’ve taking a brief break to continue to help support my stable living! I’m in LOVE with fashion and clothes, and I personally hate dressing what I would consider basic. I am apart of a local music group we call “Wxlf Gxng”.. andd we all make music:) For the most part we ALL “Rap” but I would consider ourselves much more than just “Rappers”.
Music is definitely a big part of my life, I don’t know how my day-to-day life would be without it! I first realized I wanted to make music when me and my childhood best friend Jason (Bliizo) first started rapping in my room at an old house I lived in while I was a freshman in Highschool… we tried freestyling and we definitely weren’t any good, but we made a commitment that day to become better artists overall and went full force! Time passed by and we finally got the chance to start recording music and even though the quality wasn’t all that good, we were making music like we had a 10 thousand dollar setup and couldn’t keep us out the booth! lol but it helped us develop and become more than just music artists, bht musical geniuses as far as getting on a mic with our vocals and a hard trap beat.. or a super poppy type of sound!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
So there were maybe 2 people who saw me for who I am before I knew for myself.. but there were different parts of me that they saw at different times that kind of helped me put all of them together to kind of become the Man I’ve grown to be and become! My grandmother was definitely one of them! My whole life my grandmother has made me feel special and now that I don’t have her in my life anymore.. I guess i don’t feel as special anymore.. She was always supportive and pushing me to become a better version of myself! The One thing I would say she noticed is the Good in me and the Will to become better! I was never a bad kid for the most part and I always only wanted to do what made me feel like me. Whether I was spending time with my family or doing sports or karate, all she wanted was for me to keep my faith in God! My Sister Deserae.. is great! I love her a lot and we’ve got so much in common shes like my twin! She helped me realize I didn’t need anyone’s approval for anything! With that type of attitude added to my sweet sense of personality.. I mayy have gained a little extra cocky confidence:) She always approved of my fashion choices and just from that alone she knew I was somewhat a rebel because I didn’t style like the “rules” we are confined to! Her helping me realize that only made me feel like I could do anything in life! She helped me realize that I do have the confidence and skill/talent to take me where I want to go!

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Failure.. Im scared to fail at the things I want in life the most! My goal is to set up my future family for generational wealth in many different ways! Im scared that if I fail to much or to hard that I won’t want to get back up and try again.. Im scared that if I fail I might quit, and I don’t want that by any means. I’ll have to learn how to take risk and not fear failure!

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say so! I don’t change how I am based on my environment! I might at most change how I would interact with people depending on where I am and what’s appropriate! Im the same at work, with a few exceptions of character I won’t show for more professionalism! No matter what I try and bring my vibey/rockstar energy out as much as I get the chance to (all the time lol).

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If immortality was real, a few things would need to be required as well! I want perfect health the whole time and no disease could affect my blood or bloodline! But I would easily want to build and empire, where me and all my brothers and our families rule at the top! There will be no more violence where we reside, and every thing should be settled amongst one another by a simple fight, but only if it’s necessary! People wont have the need for crime of any sorts for all of everyone’s personal needs will be met! Health care of any kind will be ALL ACCESS for those in need and medicine will only cost you kindness! In my dream empire everyone is decently happy and wont have to hate for any reason..

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